back to training wheels

So the other day I was riding my bicycle and got hit by a bus.

Ok, not really.  (Did you believe me anyway?)

I actually was mugged and then beaten with a baseball bat.

No?

Fine.  I was riding my bike and I fell off.  Happy?

On Monday I was feeling rather sloth-ish from all the cruise indulgence, so Scot and I went to "'da 'Wal" and I got a shiny new hot pink bicycle and snazzy pink helmet so that I could ride with him.  I ended up actually getting a girls size bike (NOT that little kid ones, come on now), but mine is 2" shorter than the women's size.  I have short legs, you see.  So anyway, we get some, he dragged his bike out of the shed, and we had a lovely afternoon riding around town and hopefully burned lots and lots of cruise calories!

So, 3 days later, while he was at work, I decided to take my bike out by myself and do a few laps down one of the main roads and back to the house.  First lap went fine, it only took me about 20 minutes.  I decided to do another and when I was approaching a side street, a van screeched to a halt in converging with me at the stop sign, noticing almost too late I was fixing to pedal in front of her if she rolled through it.  I swerved a bit, crossed my right-of-way, and went on.  

Know something?  Bikes would be a whole lot safer if they had rear-view mirrors.  That way, when a girl would glance back behind her to check for traffic, she wouldn't run herself off the sidewalk, her new bicycle wouldn't skid out from under her, and she wouldn't find herself on the side of the road underneath a set of twisted up handlebars, gears, and tires.

Owwww.

I got up and tried to roll the bike forward to get going again.  Front tire wouldn't move, and the chain had slipped off.  I ached all over and there was no way in hell I wanted to carry this thing all the way back home!  I went up to the nearest house, rang the bell, and was eventually assisted by a little old Puerto Rican man who had a Craftsman tool box.  We straightened up my brake pads (that's why my wheel was stuck) and put the chain back on, and -after muchos apologies on my part- I was on my way.  

I noticed when I got back home and cleaned up that I have 5 new bruises but only a small scrape.  The biggest issue was the shock my muscles took in the tumble.  I went to work the next day hobbling around, unable to sit like a usually do with a leg folded up underneath my butt because of the bruises.  I definitely look like I took a beating!  Anyway, the injuries haven't led me to be getting much sleep because I normally fall asleep on my stomach or side, and both of those positions are just too uncomfortable with my legs all destroyed now so I've been really groggy at work.  Of course, the soreness doesn't help at all.  I was getting ready for work this morning and didn't realize until after I got to the airport that I'd put eye shadow and mascara on my right eye but not my left.  This is how tired I am!  Fantastic.  Washed it off in the ladies room and somehow zombied through the rest of the day.  Thank goodness tomorrow is my last day before my day off, because I need it!  

Epilogue: I am no longer allowed to ride my bike solo.  Fine by me, I scowl at it anytime I go into the garage now anyway.  I'll be back for you, Pinky....juuuuuust you wait.  We're gonna get us an extra-wide trail and then I'll ride you til you BEG me to put you back in the car and take you home.  With supervision, of course.