perfect sunset

Sometimes all you need is a perfect sunset.

And that, my friends, was what I saw tonight. Sometimes all you need are

life's simple pleasures. I didn't need

anything more than my

soul, a camera and my bike.

Yippeee for my bike, ps. :)

I'm a recovered recovering soul. But I'm learning that life is all

about picking up your bags, carrying on and moving forward. Take a minute to bike down the Charles. Find a small little spot on a secluded dock. Poke your toes in the water and watch the sun gently crest the

horizon. It'll sink behind a tall building, but don't worry. It's not gone yet...

The twilight teases you, just for a moment. You think it's falling away.. Yet it holds on just for a little longer. As the warmth falls away from your face, there is nothing more fulfilling, more provocative. It tantalizes your senses and teases your mind. As if it might come back..

And then it's gone.


What astounds me is that it remains consistent. If for a day I turn my back, I know it'll be back when I wake tomorrow. I can put my trust and faith in it and will always feel it's warmth on my face. There is nothing better than saying goodnight to the sun. Because it is never really goodbye.

And it shows that nothing really has to be permanent.
With tomorrow comes a new sun. A new beauty on which the day will blossom. It shines forgiving rays and will cover you in a blanket of comfort. Much like grandma's quilt, it too provides an assured safety and delight. It is a fresh start.
So for tonight, goodnight. I look forward to seeing you, dear sun, in the morning.

goodbye, july

The minutes are counting down. We're an hour away from August. Which means... birthday is just around the corner. Two weeks and two days. Woo hoo.

As an early gift to myself, I went bike hunting today. Don't worry, it's not as glam as it sounds. But in checking out bikes in Boston, I learned a couple tough lessons:

1. Boston/Cambridge will not do resale bikes. No second hand. No used. Why? Too many bikes are stolen and sold black market. Go figure! So the only feasible response for bike stores is...

2. Bike stores only sell new bikes. Well of course! Why sell a used bike for $100 when you could sell a new one for $500? Or for that matter, a single speed cruiser for $499, 10-speed for $599 and... if you are the god of bikes, a fancy racing one in the thousands.

I respect cyclists. I do. For those of you who race or live your life on your bike, invest. I will never judge you. BUT. . . if you're a jack-around-town like me, just using it for a little back and forth to work, quick gym time, a visit to the Charles river on a gorgeous Sunday, why would you ever spend five hundred big ones on a bike from that shop?

(I suppose you could always check Murderlist Craigslist, but I'm not wasting my time on something without a guarantee or refund policy. Yay Target with a 90 day return policy and a 'lifetime warranty.')

Shop local, yes. I would normally argue that as well. But I'm also a fan of shopping smart. Granted my Target special (imagine the French me saying tar-shjay) doesn't come with a free year's worth of tune ups (and maybe I'm saying this too soon), but I'm pretty content. This ole bike hung in for an entire day. The lights still work, the bell still chimes and the gears seem to shift like they're supposed to. I'm a happy camper and feel as if I'm a smart consumer.
Not to mention the most exciting part: I'm now FREE! Free to see gorgeous parts of Boston without anything holding me back! See for yourself below... gorgeous. Get yourself a bike and join my club - the Boston bicycle cool kids club.

a day at sea

Just another beautiful day in Boston.

Boat.... Check.
Sunscreen.... Check.
Friends.... Check.
Vino.... Check.

Gorgeous day..... Check.

We boated around Boston harbor, felt the incredible rush as planes took off overhead from Logan airport, and went along the Charles. We did some tubing (and I didn't chip a tooth this time, be proud!), wakeboarding and cruised the harbor.

For the ocean, I suppose it was relatively calm on the sea. For a boy who grew up on lakes in mid-Missouri, it was wicked rough. But was one hell of a time!

Thanks for such a great afternoon to my new and old friends.

out this panoramic photo, too. From the Charles River, you can see Cambridge and Boston, including the Prudential, John Hancock and other noteworthy buildings on the horizon.

Crazy how the summer is already on the downhill slide. Tomorrow is August! What's next? I need a few more adventures before the summer can be archived in the memories of 2011. Any suggestions?