it's a two-fer!

as in, two-fer-the-price-o-one! two posts in one day! actually, that's cheating a bit. i wrote that last one a few weeks ago, and forgot to post it. it had been sitting in my "drafts" pile until i noticed it there this morning. oopsie.

well, i got back from chicago a few weeks ago. the SAA conference was a success - met some new folks, caught up with old pals, glad-handed and did some networking. drank too much at the swank closing party. all good times! i also did a lot of walking and sight-seeing - at least one of the days, my pedometer (which i didn't even have on me all the time) read 6.87 miles! for one day! that's a lot, for me. it stunk that scott couldn't go with me... but next year, the conference is being held in san fransicso - yahoo! i think he is going to make it a priority to come with me to CA. i mean, free hotel? comped meals? what more could you ask for...

in other news, i started bike commuting last week! i've been talkin'-big about doing it for a month or so, but i finally took the plunge last week. i'm going to try and bike in at least two days per week. last week i did two, this week so far i've done two. pretty good start! and it's getting a bit easier each time. the trip is about 9 miles each way - so that's 18 miles in one day! it sounds more staggering than it really is, but it's still more biking than i'd have the patience to do at the gym. the trip to work in the morning is mostly flat - several miles of gradual downhill (which is nice) and a few short steep hills. unfortunately, that means the trip home (when i am the most weary) ends with several miles of gradual incline. yuck. i am usually ready to kiss the ground by the time i get home. i really need a better bike though. mine (looks like this, but mint green) is so heavy and slow. i have mentally spent my tax return for next year - come spring 2008, melly is getting a new bike!

i had a really horribly day yesterday. i rode my bike to work, and i was about 3 miles from home when i realized i forgot my purse. :( and my lunch. too late to turn back, i just kept going. i was a few minutes late for work, then i got a call from the dentist reminding me that my cleaning appointment was that afternoon. my dentist is in downtown DC. !!! i couldn't just leave my bike at the office and take the metro downtown - since i left my purse at home, i had to go there first anyway. so i changed back into my sweaty clothes and rode home. halfway home, i ran through a huge length of fishing line that some jackass left laying around, and it wrapped all around my gears. without a pocketknife, i hacked away with pointy rocks for about 20 minutes in the blazing sun. i got my bike to pedal forward, but i couldn't coast or stop without my chain falling off. EVERY TIME. and i was stuck in the hardest gear. i almost got run over by two semi-trucks - at the same time. and it took me an hour and a half to get home. then i had to walk to the train, go downtown, walk about 6 blocks to the dentist... then repeat. i was BEAT last night, but had many chores to do and didn't get to bed until after midnight. :( good news being, i was able to remove the fishing line and my bike seems to be okay.

it's finally fall, here in the city... cool nights, warm sunny days. yay! everything is still green, but i imagine we'll start seeing some leaf-changes in a couple of weeks. september and october are already filling up with "events" - virginia state fair, renaissance festival, apple-picking, full moon hike at the arboretum... side trip to visit tammy in hershey, PA. and! jessie's baby shower is this coming weekend!!!!! i can't wait! i have some presents to wrap - i've been crafty lately... i hear there are cousins stay at mom and dad's, and a bonfire/wienie-roast on friday!

i'll post some pictures tomorrow or soon. i have chicago pictures and other assorted shots to put on my flickr page, and i need to empty the camera before i come home this weekend.