Life Imitates Art & Relaxation Techniques
(You’ll have to click through to read the text of today’s Yehuda moon strip)
Today on my ride into Newcastle, I had a passenger of a car lean out the window as he passed, shouting something or other (doppler - don’t you love it?), and pointing at his shaven head. He may have been indicating that I AM due for a hair cut, or trying to make some comment about how wearing a helmet might save me from being run over. Helmets are, after all, magical implements.
Anyway, I didn’t think on this too long, instead choosing to practice my new-found relaxation technique. It’s called Counting Drivers. Drivers who . . .
- Are on the phone (7)
- Jump red lights (2)
- Park on the pavement (sidewalk) (oh, I lost count)
- Are texting. Oh for feck’s sake (2)
- Are picking their noses (3). Ewww! I mean, haven’t they heard of an air hanky? Actually, that’s pretty gross too. Let’s move on.
Talking to Wife this evening while watching some house porn on TV, I remarked that people are insane to drive an hour each way to work. But riding an hour each way made perfect sense. OK, so there are some double standards going on there. But I see riding a bike is one of those Zen things that helps me empty my head, re-arrange my thoughts, and generally chill out - no matter what the traffic or weather’s doing.
Anyway, what do you find yourself thinking about when you ride?
“Helmets are, after all, magical implements”
Of course, that explains it. It also explains why on several mornings this week while riding along a wide and segregated bike path parallel to a busy road, I was passed by a cyclist riding along the road wearing a helmet. Clearly this wards off danger more effectively.
Somewhat ironically, I’ve been taking advantage of the spring weather and occasionally open car windows to (politely) take some drivers to task for, respectively:
1. Driving through a zebra crossing when someone was crossing (”I didn’t see them!”)
2. Driving through a pelican crossing after it had gone red (”Sorry!”)
3. Stopping in the ASL zone at traffic lights (”Oh, sorry”)
Generally I’m singing - lately, I’ve been favouring Todd Snider’s “Enjoy Yourself (It’s later than you think)” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj0AF34QIBo
Although I often revert to trying to remember the words to Henkie’s “De Fiets Van Piet Van Pa” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_g-jyL9MKg , and singing Jean Narcy’s “Bravo Eddy” (no link available)
What to blog about next, of course
forget cycle-helmets, these are the real-deal
http://casr.adelaide.edu.au/developments/headband/
Car headbands! Why keep unneccesary head furniture to cyclists, share the joy around!