H is for Hades and Humid

I've lived in Las Vegas.  It's a dry heat. Well, actually with the weather they're getting right now it is just darned hot.  But they expect that. I mean, DEATH VALLEY is called that for a reason, and it's just next door.

But now I live in Virginia. Northern Virginia.  This morning I rode over to Ashburn (about 10 miles) to meet with a friend. Coming home around noon it was AWFUL.  The humidity was off the charts and the air was just ... mucky.

By the time I limped home, I was drained in every way you can imagine. Even after eating some lunch, cooling down, drinking a ton of water, and getting a shower, I was still pretty useless. I managed to cook some dinner because some people around here insist on eating EVERY DAY. But it was chicken and rice and salad so easy-peasy.

Sheesh, it was miserable today!

Tomorrow I'll start and finish early!

I did see a cool license plate though...

Rackin' them up

I'm on a committee for my community called the PBAC. It stands for Pedestrian Bicyclist Advisory Committee.  One of the goals we're working towards is a "Bike Friendly Community" designation from the League of American Bicyclists.

We met last night and one of the questions on the application is "number of bicycle parking places in your community."  We divided the areas to go count bike racks. I got "South side schools and shopping centers". Since there are six schools on the south side and 2 shopping centers, it was pretty easy.  In the middle of that  loop I also mailed a package to my nephew who is a camp counselor.

At any rate, here are my photos!

 

Langston Hughes MS

North Side Hunters Woods ES

South Side Hunters Woods ES

South Lakes HS

Sunrise Valley ES

Terraset ES

Safeway @ South Lakes Village Shopping Center

Starbucks @ South Lakes Village Shopping Center

Outside Cafesano @ South Lakes Village Shopping Center

Wordless Wednesday

I don't really participate in this meme, but it seemed fitting today.  Photos from last Friday at Arlington National Cemetery. RIP dad.

Seen at the Collision Center

Teach Your Children Well

What is WRONG with people today?  The kids and I went to World Market to see what was there. I parked a ways out so I could pull through on a parking space. When we returned to the car, someone had sideswiped it, damaging the passenger and driver door.

And big surprise -- no note.

I was SO TICKED!!! I'm using it as an opportunity to remind the kids that you ALWAYS try to wait for the owner if you do damage or leave a note as to where they can get ahold of you. (And use their cells phones to document damage if they cause it).

Why is that such a hard thing to do? Perhaps because as a culture we want to avoid responsibility.

Sigh.

What Happened to "Partly Cloudy"?

Yep, that was the forecast!  When I headed out to ride this morning to the next town over for a hair appointment, it was lovely -- overcast and muggy but cool.  When I arrived I discovered that my appointment wasn't today. As I got ready to head home, a few drops fell, then a few more ...

I didn't get soaked, but I was glad I had turned around quickly.  If I HAD waited the hour or so to begin my return, I would have been in driving rain...which I was later but in the car.

So squeezed in some saddle time -- 16 miles, and saw a great, big, fat, groundhog along the way.

Good day.

Not So Exciting

Just riding to do errands today.  Went to our HOA to get a pool pass for my son, and then on to Target to pick up some things.  Took the long way home so I could justify eating leftover pizza when I got home.

Here's a photo of some pretty hydrangeas at our HOA building.  Did you know you can change the color of the blossoms by changing the pH of the soil?  Pretty cool.