Riding into work

Now that the fall quarter at the University of Chicago has begun, I am back to working at the reference desk for the evening shift at the reference desk from 5-8. At least until there is danger of ice, it's the best time to ride to work. Riding into Hyde Park from Homewood at 10:30 in the morning and back home sometime after 8:00 p.m. is a breeze. There is something sweet about the ride home of an evening. The surface is smooth, the glow of the traffic around you at 65 m.p.h.. Then there is a nice s-curve at around 103rd street on Interstate 57.


I normally ride the Metra to work. Riding to work during rush hour is just an absolute pain. The bumper to bumper traffic at 5-6 m.p.h. at best is a exercise for your clutch hand. Interstate 57 is not the problem, it's the overcrowded Dan Ryan Expressway. Although the surface is new with a better flow (at least for the ride in), the ride home is always congested.

Our "daily" bread

While spending time meditating this morning, I had focused in on the "our daily bread" section of the lord's prayer. That idea of having what is necessary and being satisfied. In turn this led me to contemplate my obsessive focus on riding, riding gear, accessories, other bikes, and the list goes on. The fever has been terrible for quite some time. While there is little left that I could add to the Concours, gear and apparel options are limitless.

I needed to take an honest look for what I have in terms of the bike and gear. At this point, there is nothing that I need, even if I were to take off for a month long adventure. I am going to having to recite this to myself on a frequent basic, so that I have that gratitude to appreciate what I have and what it allows me to do. With that I may get the freedom from preoccupation with "more" much like the freedom I enjoy while tooling down the road.

Too much of a good things

With monetary needs of home and my struggling daughter, my need for additional money is apparent. During the riding season, it has meant that instead of spending a weekend riding, I have spent quite a bit of time. By the end of the teaching season, I will have taught a full 17 classes and filled in for some of the day for another 4 classes. Each class is 20 hours, but by the time you take into account the prep/set-up time and putting everything away, it's closer to 26 hours per class. I am currently at the beginning of teaching 6 classes in 6 weekends, which means I leave the house by 6:15 and return home around 7:30 both Saturday and Sunday. I will be tired and a little worn out when it is all done.

However I absolutely have to count my blessings. Even in the midst of being tired, I still enjoy teaching each of the class. I would have to make the money doing something that I wouldn't enjoy.

I will have to remember that when I will be outside in the rain for at least 8 hours tomorrow.

It's all good.