That Tree Came Out of Nowhere

[pshaw_raven]

 I had my first real bike crash yesterday. I am working on learning to turn and corner, so right now I'm playing with balance and steering, trying to keep in a more or less straight line, that sort of thing. Some places are very hard because the sand has gotten dry and soft again, making some areas very hard to keep your momentum in, so there were a few times when I basically just slid sideways - no biggie. Until I got severely off course and hit a tree. Not a big tree, but one covered with those stupid thorny vines that grow everywhere around here! So I just laid there for a moment doing an internal 'system check,' decided I was more okay than not, and slowly began extricating myself from the brambles. I cleaned up my very minor injuries and called it a day. I scraped one elbow, which looks awful because of how much skin was torn off, but is actually a pretty shallow wound, have scratches up my left arm and on my hand, and yesterday was having minor muscle pains in the left leg, probably from tensing up and then falling on it, IDK. But this morning I was all right when I got up (scrapes and cuts aside) and after my morning yoga I don't really feel any muscle or joint pains.

So like the very stupid and very persistent person I am, I'm going out again today. But hopefully I won't be examining any plant life close-up.

I guess I should think about getting a helmet.

 I'm considering doing a supply run Saturday. Again, not low on much except fresh produce, and I'll be topping off other things like cat food, some canned goods, flour if I can find it. I'm pretty sure you've all seen the idiots beating the drum to "re-open America" and I know we're going to just Leeroy Jenkins it. But Fox and I are going to continue staying home as much as possible and keeping contact to a minimum. I understand people want to get back to work because they've been living paycheck to paycheck, and no real help is forthcoming. I also worry about governmental overreach and loss of the freedoms we still have. But I also don't want to go spreading deadly viruses around, either. So when you see me making fun of the "re-open" crowd, I mean the people who just want to go to Bass Pro Shop, or who've been stockpiling dried beans and ammo for decades getting ready for "the big one" and are now losing their shit because Baskin Robbins is closed. "I need a haircut!" No, darlin' you want a haircut, there's a difference and it's not one of mere semantics. 

I mean, I've had a MAD craving for Tijuana Flats these last few days. Florida peeps know what I mean - gotta get some of that Slap My Ass Sauce. ;D I wonder if they're doing curbside take-away. Hmmm. 

Comments

[oracne]

When I was learning to start the bike by going downhill, I crashed and fell into our enormous rose bush. Little prickle marks all over my arms and stomach, though my clothes. Good times.

[pshaw_raven]

Ouch ... well, I remember a story a teacher once told us about learning to ride his bike and crashing into a patch of poison ivy, so obviously, it could be worse!

[expandranon]

Sand is awful to have to ride a bike through. I'd say just go around if you can, but some areas out there are nothing but sandy soil for miles. You'll get used to it and leaning into turns and the like will be second nature in no time. I'll go out for a bike ride today, too!

[pshaw_raven]

After heavy rains like we just had, it firms up for a couple of days, so it's a good time to be riding. Once I feel more confident I may venture out to the hardtop, but I want to wait until I also have a decent helmet before I do that.

[draculard]

Haha oh man, I'm one of those paycheck-to-paycheck people and I've been making fun of the open-em-up crowd, too. It didn't even occur to me that there might be some people like me in there, though I guess there must be. Most people I know living like that are just eagerly waiting for their unemployment benefits to come through and sort of eking by on ramen until then. IDK about Florida, but up here they've got this policy where anyone laid off/hours cut due to COVID gets an extra $600 on top of their unemployment!

So for a lot of people, that's way more than they'd get normally. My dad is lowkey dreading going back to full-time factory work, because his unemployment benefits are so good and he has so much time to work on his house.

Also re: bike fail — oof!! That's the WORST!! I'm glad you're still doing it, though! Also I know I should probably be all "Get a helmet NOW" but tbh, I'm one of those dumbasses who never wears a helmet, so I can't say shit.

[pshaw_raven]

Florida is supposed to be getting the extra $600 but our unemployment system is also specifically designed to be hard to use. There were several news articles about it when they first started talking about the stimulus and unemployment checks. I know one or two people who actually have gotten theirs, though.

I also read that the re-open movement is astroturfing - which I'm not sure I 100% believe, but I am inclined to believe. As someone else commenting here points out, it also seems like the people protesting aren't necessarily looking to get back to work themselves, but they want other people to get back to work serving them.

I was just looking at helmets online and I think I'm going to order one soon. I'm not ready to go ride on the road yet, but it would be good to go ahead and get one. Hopefully no more trees jump out and attack me, but if I'm on the road I will have to worry about motorists.

I have a tale to tell, too

[beachglass]

when I was maybe 8 or 9 years old, still not a pro biker, and riding a borrowed bicycle, I also had a crash landing.

the neighborhood I was riding in had hills on the roads, which was FUN but semi dangerous.

so I rounded a corner coming down fast off a hill and veered off to the side of the road...right into a big, old patch of poison ivy.

ouch.

p.s. I LOVE tijuana flats. I used to work right next to one, and their doggies were patients of ours, so we'd get FREE FOOD!

weirdly enough, my favorite thing about their menu is the crushed ice. haha

Re: I have a tale to tell, too

[pshaw_raven]

Ooooh man, I had a history teacher who did the same thing as a kid - he rode right into a big poison ivy patch.

Fox loves Tijuana Flats' crushed ice, too, he's a big ice-cruncher, LOL. We didn't go out that direction today but I'm thinking next week I'll pick some up to bring home.

Re: I have a tale to tell, too

[beachglass]

haha

yeah, I like to "eat" ice, too.

like, too often, I'd say. apparently it's not good for your teeth, but soooo satisfying :)

now I'm craving t.f.'s!

[broken_record]

Ouch! I’m glad you’re okay. Yes, buy a helmet. I need to get one too. I love riding my bike. It’s so much fun and good exercise!

[pshaw_raven]

I was actually at Academy Outdoors today picking up a gel seat pad and looking briefly at the helmets. I kind of want a kid's helmet just so I can have one with a dragon tail, LOL.

I'm probably going back out to ride more today now that the storms have all passed.

[broken_record]

Haha that's something I would do. Why do only certain people get all the cool clothes/helmets!?

[cdayzee]

Ouch! Hope your injuries heal up quickly. Good for you for getting back on the 'horse'!

Evidently, when I was learning to ride a bike I bit it so bad that my teacher called my parents because she thought I was getting beat at home! My mom said she was skeptical when they told her I'd fallen off my bike. It's probably a common excuse. It must've been bad because I have no recollection of it.

I bet that restaurant is doing curbside pick up. You should go get you some!

[pshaw_raven]

I don't exactly look like I was mauled by a bear, but I felt self-conscious enough that I put some bandaids over the worst scrapes so as not to freak people out when I was out today. I know most don't care, but some people really have issues with 'open wounds.' I mean, mine have all scabbed over nicely, I just don't want to make someone uncomfortable.

They are doing curbside pickup! I just didn't need to go out in that direction this week, but I'm going to pick up some next week to bring home. I also found a new kind of habanero taco sauce at Publix that I can torture my guts with.

[rebeccarobota]

I had the exact same reaction to "I need a haircut." GIRL, YOU HAVE LONG HAIR. Literally no one knows or cares if you've had a haircut recently.

"I mean the people who just want to go to Bass Pro Shop, or who've been stockpiling dried beans and ammo for decades getting ready for "the big one" and are now losing their shit because Baskin Robbins is closed."

YEP.

[pshaw_raven]

I think you and I saw the same photo of Haircut Lady. I have long-ish hair but I'm also quite comfortable trimming my own, so my split ends and frizzies don't get too out of hand. That seems like something people don't really learn to do now, but I remember my mother specifically explaining how as she trimmed me up as a kid. And the sad part is that I was just reading an article about a woman whose salon shut down and she now has to wash her hair ON HER OWN.

I can totally understand if you have trouble lifting your arms and reaching to do that. Before I started getting therapy for my shoulder, I was having trouble shampooing up. But from what I read ... she just never bothered.

[we_are_spc]

Meanwhile I mis King Ribs sause. *sighs* And Ohio doesn't have any so far as I know.

But yeah, Tiajuana Flats'll definitely slap your ass all right. LOL

Good luck with everything.

-T~

[pshaw_raven]

I had to look up King Ribs, their sauce is apparently so popular you can buy gallons! But yeah, I kind of miss Tijuana Flats hot sauce bar. Publix started carrying some new taco sauces in their Hispanic foods, Herdez brand and it's labeled as being taco stand style, something like that. I bought some but we haven't tried it yet.

[dorchadas]

I'm glad you're okay! Especially nowadays when hospital resources are already tied up.

I'd be much more sympathetic to the people protesting if 1) they represented more than a tiny fraction of the country and 2) they were actually people who were in economic trouble and needed to work, rather than people annoyed that they couldn't force other people to serve them anymore.

[pshaw_raven]

The running joke has been don't crash enough to go to the hospital. Or alternately, don't hurt anything that can't be fixed with duck tape. In all seriousness though, I am trying to avoid doing anything TOO dumb and needing professional attention.

And after doing an informal poll of some people I know, most are either fine working from home or fine with their unemployment and stimulus. They'd rather wait until it's safer than risk their health. I mean, heaven forbid a bunch of already wealthy people not continue getting even wealthier. Oh no.