cycling – Jam and Idleness

Bicycle accident(s)

I know Spring has really, finally arrived in Toronto because during a bicycle ride a few days ago, I became one of several moving hills upon which countless millions of gnats died. Runners and other cyclists shrieked their shocked way through these clouds as though this doesn’t happen literally every year (we’ve killed off many…

Bicycle-riding during the apocalypse

The first time I heard about climate change was in the early or mid-’80s. My babysitter (the lovely Mrs. B.), her cozy back turned to me while she washed the lunch dishes, delivered this warning about the future: “In fifteen years, the climates of Nova Scotia and California are going to be switched.” I don’t…

Real darkness

Last week, I got up early to go for a bicycle ride before heading into work. I tricked myself out in the appropriate number of insulating layers; it’s cold enough now that the wind chill provided by nature combined with the one I create myself can quickly become discouraging. I am generally quite sensible (about…

Handwork for the over-educated and generally helpless youngish lady of the early 21st century

My formal higher education went on for approximately 500 uninterrupted years before I segued smoothly into the highly lucrative career of selling secondhand books. During my tenure as a pusher of moldering paperbacks, primarily of the Danielle Steele and Tom Clancy variety, I engaged in on the job training including, but not limited to: Updating…