zen and the art of bicycle maintenance

I read in a magazine that if you go biking for forty minutes and you bike fast the whole time you lose more weight than if you biked slow the whole time.
Duh.
BUT then I read that if you bike slow(ish) for forty minutes with bursts of speed every few minutes then you will lose the most weight.
How interesting...
So I tried that.
And apparently biking in spurts of speed on a beach bike on a windy, bumpy, root-covered trail breaks your bike.

Oops. I guess that's my own fault entirely and I should have seen it coming.
The chain came off my bike and I was headed down a very narrow, wiggly path without brakes. I dragged my feet (drug my feet? drigged my feet? honestly...) until I stopped.
Then, while listening to Iron and Wine, and wearing a white skirt, and being in the middle of a state park (aka in the woods), I PUT THE CHAIN BACK ON MY BIKE.
It was really hard, and I had to say a little prayer after the first unsuccessful ten minutes.
But I am impressed with myself, and you should also be impressed.
I tried to wash my hands in a puddle.
Then I tried to wipe them off on leaves.

Then I biked home, and took pictures of my blackened fingers.


Too bad I washed these fingers in a puddle. Otherwise you could see how really dirty I was.

I love these.

I'm trying to win one, okay?

the cat is out of the bag

uh no.
i'm afraid of my home ward knowing that i have a boyfriend, because i know that it will be only a short time before i am pestered about the things that mormons love to pester other mormons about.
i have told a few people from my home ward. people that i like and trust, and talk to on a regular basis. that list is very short.
today i accidentally told Tina.
this is the tale of how it happened.
yesterday i lost my keys.
today when i got home, i realized that i still didn't have my keys.
i banged on my door for ten minutes, and i know my roommates were home, but no one answered the door.
i pedaled my cute new bike (as pictured here)
to the housing office to ask for help.
Tina was outside the office.

Tina: Hi Becky!
Becky: Hey Tina
Tina: That bike is SO cute.
Becky: Thanks, I got it for Valentine's day.
*moment of confused silence*
Tina: From your parents?
Becky: No. From my boyfriend.
*moment of stunned silence*
Tina: You have a boyfriend!? OH MY GOSH! I am shocked! Not that you have a boyfriend, but because OH MY GOSH. I didn't know you had a boyfriend.
*Mormon questions begin*
*Becky realizes her mistake*

so now my ward will know.

Also, I realized none of you had seen my cute bike. That's the real reason for this post. I made Lauren come outside and take my picture whilst being on my bike.
She took this one from her window. I am on the phone with her.
Calling to tell her to come outside and take my picture.

Lauren is sick.
She needs to stay in her home.
I'm at her home, too.
Yesterday I went to Travis's family's house.
Travis's mom said: How's Lauren? Where is she? I thought you were connected.
That is correct ma'am.
It's only a matter of time until your son and I are both sick, too. Yesterday I slept in Lauren's bed, and read her stories.
I don't feel sick yet.

the epitome of cool

that's me.
I am the the epitome of cool. If you were wondering.

Yesterday my mom told me to stay away from the Coal Umbrella.
Today I bought myself sunglasses at the Coal Umbrella.
Can I help it they're so cheap, and so vintage, and that the sun is so derned bright?
No, sir. (or ma'am.)

Want to hear the things I did today that made me feel cool? Here:
I rode my bike to school, wearing a summer dress and cowboyish boots, listening to local indie music.
I went to French, where I ate a loaf of bread, and tried to converse with my bad accent.
I went to my writing class where I was praised as a genius. (kind of... okay, not really, but I did receive high compliments)
I ordered take-out Chinese food in CHINESE.
No. I didn't. That was a flat out lie. I ordered Chinese food in English. It was delicious.
I went with my documentary-film-making boyfriend to the Pennyroyal, and Sego and the Coal Umbrella to conduct interviews, and discuss becoming more personally involved in making Provo be artsy and cool. All of the people that own and work at these venues recognize me on sight and some of them know me by name.
They all freaking love Travis and all want him to work with them making podcasts, videos, and the like.

(Let me take this moment to advertise. If you live in Provo, GO TO THE GALLERY STROLL. It is awesome. It is in downtown Provo on the first Friday of every month, from like 6-10. Everywhere opens up with art, most of it local. The Coleman Studios, Sego, even a church, and almost everywhere has food and music and awesome things happening.)

We rode Travis's scooter all about Provo.
Yeah, I know. Rad right?

I got myself some cheap sunglasses.
ZZ Top would be pleased, I think.
That's all I could ever ask for.

concerning bikes

(This is Bruno. The cutest child actor to ever emerge from Italy.)




I think bikes are lovely.
I love when I see people ride by on beach bikes, or bikes with baskets.
There are charming. They are pretty. They are cute and summery.
Did I mention in my Valentines day post that my boyfriend bought me a beautiful, blue beach bike with a bell? (say that five times fast)
Well he did. I love it. It is pretty. When I ride it, I feel cute.
Until this morning, though, it was living at his house.
I stole this picture of Claire's blog ages ago because I thought it was cute.
Recently I stole THIS picture of Claire's blog because it made me happy.


The idea of bikes makes me happy.

Unfortunately, whenever I try to ride a bike uphill, (or even on flat surfaces for a long distance) I begin to contemplate suicide.

Today I was tricked.
"Hey, do you want a ride to school today?" asked Travis.
"Yes please," said Becky.
"Okay," said Travis, "I'm leaving work now. I'll swing by my place and get some things, fill up the scooter, and be right over."
"Okay, yay!" said Becky. "By the way, we should get my bike soon, I want it at my house."
"Consider it done."
"Thanks! See you soon!"

That sounds like I was going to get a ride to school, didn't it? It sounded like I would get to ride the scooter, which is just like a bike, but faster and involving way less work. I LOVE the scooter, because of the little bit of work involved.

Then Travis came, and we biked to school.
I had to.
I had missed the bus, assuming I would have a car to transport me to French.
The beginning and end were fine. The middle was up a HILL!

But biking home freaking kicked butt. and I looked darling.
If I do say so.
Bikes make people more cute.
Unless the bike looks like this:Or like this:
Happy:


See? pictures of cute bikes holding still?
Also: look. MORE happy:

Good morning, Neverland!

This morning, right before I stepped into the JSB I heard bells jingling happily. I'm sure it was someone on a bike, or something, but then I heard someone yell "Good morning, Pan!"
maybe they were yelling "Good morning, JEN," or something likewise.

But this morning, outside my classroom I heard the tinkling of faerie bells, and the wake-up call of the lost boys.
I can't stop smiling.

Home again?

well, I've moved back into Wyview.




Yeah, Lana, shut up. I know your stuff is everywhere. I like it, okay?

Pros:
it's nicer, bigger, and way less sucktastic than Glenwood.

My new roommates seem nice.

I fit all my stuff in very well, thank you. Who said I have too much?

I have three cupboards in the kitchen! Whooo!

Upperclassmen ward

Church is in an actual church.

Lauren and Sophie live practically next door.

I finally figured out a way to steal the internet of my neighbors. Shesh, it took me all day!

The new roommates are into Yo Gabba Gabba? crazy...

I am already the music, literature, film, and tech expert in my apartment, that's sweet. and
definitely a first.

I have a new bike! Thanks, roommate in London!


Cons:

It's farther away from Campus than Glenwood.

It's on the top floor.

I have a few posters of the Beatles up. "who is that?' asked roommate 1. "The Beatles!" said roommate 2, "which one is Paul? I think he's my favorite..."

It's very quiet unless I am playing music, something my roommates don't do.

I lost my bookshelf.

I know some of my neighbors, and don't like them.

My computer has developed a strong aversion to cords, and will not accept it's umbilical cord... er, um... ethernet, I mean.

BYU internet means YouTube is blocked

I have the top bunk, that means, I hit my head every morning.

Lauren, Lana, Hilary, and Paige are now ex-roommates (Pro: also, future-roommates!)

Within five minutes of checking in, my newly engaged friend tried to set me up with someone... wait. That might be a pro.

:)

anyways. . .
take care.