Filial

I have a phone that can dial long distance, and fingers that can write letters, but I do neither. I'm on the other side of the country from 98% of my family and I haven't talked to them in ages. I've been a lousy family member.

Since I know my step mom visits this blog, here's my update, crude as it is. I'm going to try and call tomorrow night, as well.

First off, I'm alive and well. Nothing is broken, nothing is wrong. I'm sorry for the delay. I'm just lazy in some regards.

Here's a picture of me, right before I sat down in bed to write this. Kasey is already asleep; she has to get up at Four tomorrow to make the breakfast sandwiches at work. She only does this twice a week and gets off at Two.

She's doing good, she just got her first tattoo weekend before last. She got a pair of headphones under her left collar bone, with a heart making up the inside of the ear piece. It looks really good. I'm probably going to get one on Saturday on my calf. Can't decide though.

Our One Year Anniversary was Friday. It seems already like I've been out here for ages, although it's been less than a full year. I'm starting to figure out all the different cities and how to get places pretty confidently, although it's a lot different from the grids of Phoenix or the island towns of Idaho.

My legs are getting huge! For a few weeks now I've been taking creatine and protein on a daily basis, and I can really tell a difference. As an athletic vegetarian I've been missing out on some key muscle building materials, I guess. I set a goal of eighteen miles per hour average speed on my daily commutes and I've been hitting it regular the last couple of weeks, wind and all, although some days the wind and I think the meal from the night before drop it back down to the seventeen mph range, haha.

I've made a couple friends in the cycling community here. I'm a regular at an adorable and tiny local bike shop and get regular discounts and advice from the guys that run/own it. I'm going to help restore a red bicycle from the 70s and buy it when it's done, if I can ever get in there to do it. This Saturday I'm doing a race around some of the towns here. The one I did before was super fun and this one should be the same, I'm looking forward to it. I'm gonna try to plan one myself here pretty soon.

The pets are all good. Maudie and Riley get attention from the ladies of all ages wherever we go. The gerbil is kicking away, she totally knows her name and pops her head up from her little burrows when I call. I'm training the rabbit to ring a bell we put in her cage when she wants something and it's working already. I make her eat out of my hand before I give her the rest of the food. Kasey's cat, Tilly, lives with us. She's probably the best cat I've ever met. She's a talker and a cuddler, although she rarely meows. I think she's fallen in love with me.

I've been reading a ton lately. TV is just pissing me off to the point I can barely tolerate to sit and watch it, unless it's Law & Order or cartoons. I'm in the middle of a used library book I bought about a bicycle messenger in Chicago, as well as the book that No Country for Old Men movie was made of. I really enjoyed that movie. We watch it all the time. The same guys who did Raising Arizona way back in the day did it. A little violent, but Tommy Lee Jones (and all the actors) are awesome in it. I also got a book about cycling health that covers everything from road rash to bad knees. I been thumbing through it.

Before I forget, I am getting time off for Aunt Brandon's graduation. I put in for it weeks ago and my boss has told me it should be fine. I'm looking at train schedules to get there! I've never ridden a train, it should be fun. Kasey will be coming too. I can't wait to see you guys. I'm going to try and kidnap you and make you stay in Portsmouth for a while. We'll go to the beach and such. Don't struggle!

The weather here has been warming up. A day or two in the high sixties/low seventies, but mostly low forties and high fifties. Tomorrow it's supposed to be seventy-something. I'm looking forward to not having to bike in a ton of layers, although I do better when I'm a bit cold. I'm glad Daylight Savings rolled around, I was getting depressed biking to work in the overcast mornings and biking home in the dark. Now it's sunshine all the way. When the snow thaws there, you better get out on them bikes! Cuz when I come visit we're going to ride, and you're going to have a hard time keeping up with this 135 pound powerhouse! I beat school buses and dump trucks up hills, after all. ;)

Thanks for those pictures of Seth and us. I have them up on the shelving I recently installed. I'm going to take one to my office pretty soon, just can't figure out which one. Probably the one of Dad, Thad, and Seth. I like that one the best. I keep having dreams about you guys, I figure it's cuz I feel bad about the lapse in communication. It's all good dreams about us visiting each other. Every day I think how much I'd love for you guys to come here.

Alright, I'm going to lay down. Hope all is well, I'll call tomorrow.

Yours,
David