by 4 wheels or by 2

the chalking updates are not as frequent as i would like. there are three main reasons for that. first, i was gone for a month this summer and the chalker quietly sat back at home. second, i don't have a sign in the windows this year inviting people to chalk. i think that makes a big difference and i may need to put that back. third, i'm not driving as much any more. with the beautiful weather, the cost of gas, and state of the environment, i've been traveling by bike a lot more. it makes you more aware of your surroundings plus makes you feel better too. it's about 6 miles to work from my home. by car i never noticed the quaint little irish pub i pass, or the beauty of the crew rowing down the calm mississippi river. i also notice how inattentive other drivers can be. this summer i've been cut off more than once. it usually happens on turns. people aren't paying attention and aren't checking their mirrors. i actually ran into a car the other day as a car pulled right in front of me and then decided to make a turn into a parking lot. to swerve one way would have sent me into traffic and to swerve the other way would have sent me into pedestrians on the sidewalk. i slammed on my brakes but it wasn't enough and i ended up on this driver's trunk. he yelled at me. i simply said "watch for bikes" and rode away. there are some drivers that just have a intense hatred for bicycles and i don't want to fuel that anger. plus riding my bike is a great pleasure and i don't want to ruin my joy by a few bad drivers. i think this photo taken on a bike ride up mt. tabor in portland, or sums it up the best.

take time to relax and watch the world around you.
-david m. hanson
1916-1994

i may try to attend an event at the midtown global market tomorrow. there will be other art cars and events for kids. kids tend to make the best chalkings so that should be a good time.