The last few years that my stepdaughter lived in Manhattan. She lived on Sullivan Street off Houston by McDougall. It's really fun to wake up in the morning, Walk out of the building and have all sorts of options for coffee and baked goods and then again for lunch and dinner even.

Thursday's bike commute was pleasant. I was thinking about how to write it up when a couple miles from home. I did something stupid that I don't want to remember or really think about except to remember not to do it again. It didn't have to do with cycling per se but rather an encounter with a person. Unasked, I tried to be helpful and got involved in something that became complicated to extricate myself from. In the end I suffered no consequences but felt stupid and ashamed.

Friday I didn't feel like riding. I had a late dessert of ice cream while watching TV with the wife and the sugar caused me to feel stiff and achy the next morning.

I took the big big heavy rock hopper again today. I just love that bike. It was a little bit nippy in the low 30s when I started but in the low 40s when I arrived at work half an hour later.

On a quiet side street there was a car coming from another quiet street on the left and signaling to make a right. But as I passed him he began to accelerate and veer right towards me. I honked my air horn and he slammed on his brakes and put his hands up and was mouthing. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. At least I think that's what he was saying.

It was a moderately busy and very satisfying day at work. It was clear and in the mid-60s so I rode home in just shorts and a hi-vis top. The bike felt half its weight and I had this feeling that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I stopped at the pharmacy on the way home and as I was walking in I realized I was really happy and content. I mean, as an adult, I have learned to compartmentalize my thoughts and emotions somewhat so that I can concentrate on work or riding and not let world events or problems relating to my family or personal life intrude to the point where I can't function or enjoy what I'm doing. I don't think it's poking my head in the sand, I just think it's waiting until there's an appropriate time of the day or appropriate situation where these feelings can be considered and expressed.

​​​​​​ Biking to work certainly helps, and 16 years of improv have also helped me to go with the flow and trust that I will land on my feet more or less.

Actually, a lot of it is just cycling, especially in the warmer weather where as I have mentioned before, it's much easier to make eye contact with pedestrians and other cyclists and just share a smile.