6footsix

chris and bikes

Most people ride their bike for exercise.  Some people, mostly kids, ride for fun.  Even fewer ride their bike for transportation.  I ride for all of these reasons.  As a kid in my purely fun days, a Trek Antelope 800 carried me on my journeys.  Growing up near Washington DC, that hybrid bike took me anywhere I wanted to go: to and from school, up and down the C&O Canal, friend's houses, basketball courts and soccer fields.  It gave me freedom at a young age.

During my undergrad years at Ohio State, I rode my bicycle to classes as well.  I vividly remember riding to school in the rain, with my notebook safely zip-locked and arriving to class just in the nick of time.  My dripping pant legs formed a massive puddle during the 50 minute lecture.  It was also during those college years that I learned the importance of always locking up my bike and taking it in at night.  Bicycles are commodities regardless of the condition they are in, which brings me to another point: regardless of the condition your bike is in, it doesn't take much to fix it up for riding condition and take it to work or school.  After I graduated, I moved to Arlington, Virginia and rode my bike to work, moonlighting as a high school teacher.  You can pretty much say that my bicycle has been my main source of transportation throughout my life.

These days, mountain biking is one of my favorite ways to stay in shape.  Living in Southern California, near the hills, there are miles and miles of trails in close proximity to my house.  This means I take a loop from my garage to Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park, which is about 14 miles round trip.  Thus, not requiring the use of a car.  Convenient, given that I don’t own one.  And sometimes, I see the most epic sunsets.  In the one below, you can see a snow capped Mt. Baldy in the distance.

I will be taking many trips to the beach this coming year.  One of my goals will be commuting via bicycle.  Yup, Riverside to the ocean.  The annual 'Smog to Surf,' leisure ride which now goes by the more playful name, 'Riverside to Surfside' is the route I plan to take.  I am hoping that Colleen will occasionally follow my lead, riding behind me on her new custom made Trek FX.  We will see how 60 miles treats her spirit, her bike, and her butt.  When was the last time YOU rode your bike for over 2 hours?  Do it! Tomorrow!  It gets easier after the first 45 minutes.

Glædelig jul og godt nytår from Jheri in København!

Glædelig jul og godt nytår!  

This is Colleen's friend Jheri from København and this is my guest post.  

We don't have much light this far North, so we light candles starting around the first of December to shatter the darkness and invite people to smile and dream.   I ride down the streets after dark and see candles in all of the windows.  A bit of gliding along and I pass windows with candles flickering and adding motion and warmth to my motion. It may be cold, but I grin.  Sometimes after a few kilometers of this, there are tears streaming down your cheeks from the beauty.  Something very deep is singing to you. 

Christmas here is very old and even goes before the Christmas you may know.  It is Jul and that is the old nordic for feast.  Danes are masters at feasts.  If you go into one of the houses you will see a tree with decorations like fruits, sweets, maybe little Danish flags, straw goats, drums, horns, and real candles and there will be a lot of food.  I can't imagine a tree without goats and real candles! If it is Christmas eve the candles are lit filling the room with warmth and even more if the tree catches on fire.  We are mostly careful and not that many homes burn.

This is the perfect season and I love gliding along a quiet street on my bike soaking in the candle light.  Sometimes you find a other people doing the same thing and then more and more join.  I have seen them start to sing and pretty soon there are a hundred or more bike carolers who may not know each other.  It is a very beautiful thing. 

Bikes are wonderful.  Here we see them as transportation rather than a toy or something for sport.  We can use them for sport, but that is not the point.  We use them all year and this season is special on one.  

They are a way to have free movement with your own body.  Many people use bikes rather than cars and I do not own a car.  I have two bikes. One is a Batavus and is made in the Netherlands.  These are sane bikes that are made for errands and commuting.  Mine goes in the rain and the snow and I use it for groceries, laundry and many of my trips. I have racks and regularly carry up to 30 kg with me.  When I need to carry something heavier I rent a cargo bike like a Christiania.  These have two wheels in front and a huge basket that you can carry a few people in if you like.  It is very common to see a young Danish woman riding a bike like this with two young children in the basket in front of her. 

I call my favorite bike Kirsebær She is bright red and fits me perfectly. My legs are not long like Colleen's but are still long enough, so she had to be specially made for me by Sögreni.   Just thinking about her makes me smile.  She is only one speed and that is my flying speed. We know each other very well and if the weather is good, we are together.  Sometimes I am am even wearing a beautiful dress and heels because I am proud to mix the beauty of my motion with what bit of prettiness I may have.

Most countries are not as friendly for bicycles as much as Denmark, but that should not stop you from using one.  Danish women have the best butts and legs in the world and that is because so many of us ride bikes to get around. There aren't many fat people either.  Come and see if you don't believe me!

But now it is December and the Solstice is soon. You don't need a bike for that, just your soul and those who are special to you.

You should enjoy this Winter holiday no matter your religion or even if you have none.   Find a dark place and watch the stars.  You can do this for your own spirit or better with other people that you love or even perhaps those may not even know well yet.  Listen to their stories and laugh and sing with them.  The starlight and their words will bless you.   With time it will get cold, so invite them in and make something warm like hot chocolate and have it with cookies and fruit and continue the stories.  Do not watch the clock as this is a special time where time should not hold.  If you go past the dawn that is fine because special times like this are rare.

Smile until it hurts, laugh too much and dance until you can dance no more. 

I will think of the people I love who are a long distance from me and I will do a special dance for them.  This is my Jheridance and it feels like a warm hug to me.  You can do your own special dance for those you love too.  It is sad to not be with them, but it is good that you will have extra chocolate and fruit to yourself.

Light some candles for me.  Ride your bike through the evening quiet or walk through it.  Leave some good things for the animals.  Look to the night sky and find some pieces of ancient light.  Cry tears of joy even though you are too old for that and smile so much that it hurts.  Dance!

Remember that candle

Jheri out

build it, draw it, write it, sing it! homemade holiday gifts the sequel

ssshh

i'm going to  let you in on a little secret

there is a way to avoid some of the frustration from the various holiday seasons and bring back what is really important.   it  isn't for everyone, but you may be just the right kind of person.  you are reading this blog after all. 

imagine a friend and close your eyes

(closed?)

ok

i don't know how you are reading this with your eyes closed, but stranger things have happened.  
now think about them.  what music do they like? what makes them smile? what are their favorite foods? 

now strap in for the tricky part...

what are the things you could make or do that would be special? they are friends or family, so i've given you a huge advantage as you know them.  make them laugh, make time smile, maybe even bring a happy tear is you are really lucky.

if you are stumped there is a way out.  still imagine the special, but maybe you can find someone to create what you might have problems with.  you can always try again next year.

if this gives you any great ideas, feel free to post comments.

the green team at 6footsix is all about recycling and zula thought it would be a good idea to repeat last year's posting.   she was right  

__________________________

 The  holidays are coming up soon and it is time to think about what to do for friends and family.  You can go out and buy things made in China in the mall, but what fun is that? 

Maybe it is better to give something that you or a local crafts person have made.  Something really special and from the heart.

Kids probably want the latest toys, but those of us who are a little more mature love the thought, the time and the love that go into something special.  Maybe you can sew. Maybe you can draw.  Maybe you are good at woodworking.  Maybe you can make amazing jams and jellies.  Maybe you can write a little story for someone.  Maybe you can tell stories and can make a recording.   Repair something special that is old and broken.  Teach them how to play volleyball or how to become more  fit.  Show them they are one of a kind by giving them something one of a kind.

You have to worry about the quality because it is you that is coming through. There are a lot of special touches you can use. If you draw or write something, you might want to use great paper.  

Smile and think of them while you do this.  Listen to the music that makes you think of them.  Don't choose too many so you have the time and maybe you can tell them ahead of time that it is homemade and suggest they do the same.

You can have a wonderful holiday and focus on love and friendship rather than racing around the mall looking for something.

Another great thing that can still be personal is to find local artisans.  People who make beautiful things.  Sometimes you can describe what you want and still find something very special.

and remember

Remember the dreamers and those who are doing impossible things.  The person doing amazing things in college.  That totally awesome athlete who may need a bit of help.  The person with a passion and a cause. Find a way to support them that may not be conventional.  Make them smile and make them stronger.

Remember the animals. Zula and Daisy Mae give so much as it is that they don't have to make anything special, but they enjoy getting special things and aren't very picky about neatness.

It may seem like a lot, but start out with a few people and spend a few weekends thinking and maybe writing, sketching, baking, sewing or building.  There will still be regular store-bought gifts, but just give this a try and see if it works.

Your time is a very special gift.  For many of us it is more special than money.  Give things that time rather than money buys to those who are close to you.

So what are you waiting for?  Go out an get started!!

maybe kids get smarter with exercise

Hey kids! 

It may be that you can make yourself smarter by exercising. Scientists have known that exercise maybe good for your brain and now there are signs that what you should do is aerobic exercise.  This means exercise that makes your heart and lungs work harder.  You can feel yourself breathing harder and your heart is beating faster. 

Training for volleyball uses different types of exercise, and a lot of it is aerobic.  You need to build your endurance to play all of those matches. There are a lot of benefits besides being able to think better. You'll feel better and will get stronger and your body is going to look better for it.  Find something that you like and keep doing it.  

Maybe you can bike to school.  You may have to ride fast to get your heart rate up but that can be a lot of fun too.  There are so many other ways.  Daisy Mae and Zula are crazy runners and chasing  them makes your heart beat faster.  

Just find something fun and do it! And don't worry if you're not a kid.  You'll get the same benefits. 

A big goal of the  Green Team project  is getting people more physically active. If you ride your bike rather than take a car you'll be doing yourself and the planet a favor.  The Green Team is all about doing things that are fun, healthy and good for the Earth.  And getting a better looking body while you're at it is pretty awesome.

A  dance for  Jheri for bringing up the New York Times article!

have you ever flown through the tail of a comet?

(guest post by Steve)

There are few things that approach the beauty of the night sky.  Find a blanket and some mosquito repellant on a warm and clear Summer night far away from the lights of a city and just watch.   On a good night you can see thousands of stars and even find a galaxy whose light started its journey over two million years ago.  You can loose yourself in the slowly moving beauty of the heavens.  

Remember the nights can be chilly and bring some warm clothing.  Bring some food and a friend and you will have something potentially deep and memorable.  As a teen I used to spend time on the prairie just watching - among other things I learned coyotes love corn chips.

But wait!  

Every now and then a meteor streaks by.  

And this is why I am writing.  One of the best meteor showers of the year, the Perseids, peak on August 12^th.  The Earth is moving through the path traced out by a comet with the poetic name 109P/Swift-Tuttle.  The comet takes about 130 years to make its elliptical orbit around the Sun.  As it moves it leaves a bit of dust along its way.  The closing speed of this dust and our own rock is about 35 miles per second.  As these tiny bits of stuff (many are about the size of a grain of rice) strike the atmosphere, they give off a bright glow as they quickly vaporize. 

The intensity of the shower has been building for a few weeks and we'll go through the densest part soon.  Ideally there is a very dark sky with no moon, but this year a waning moon rises about 11pm local time.  It will wash out the dimmer meteors, but you will still see something.

The best time, given the rising moon, is probably after midnight until perhaps two in the morning local time.  If you are lucky you may see as many as one a minute, but even one every five minutes is worth it as the experience is experiencing the sky and the randomly spaced pieces of a comet.

Don't worry about knowing where to look.  Your eyes have a wide field of view and will catch the motion. If you trace the paths backwards you'll notice they converge on an area in the sky near the constellation Perseus - hence the name. 

There is beautiful stuff out there.  Slow down enough to catch something the size of a grain of rice seventy or more miles away as it silently streaks along at 35 miles per second.

Oh - if you want to stay up until dawn I won't tell anyone.

finding your own magical path through life

A guest post by Sukie:

Which would you rather do:  have an adventure or buy yourself something?  

How happy are you long term afterward?

A new study  has been released which indicates that people get more lasting reward from purchased experiences than from purchased items.

Purchased experiences provide memory capital," Ryan Howell, assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University in San Francisco, Calif., was quoted as saying. "We don’t tend to get bored of happy memories like we do with a material object.

It is even possible to have some of those experiences for free and while helping others by providing free labor. 

Tips:

1. Donate some time in a field that you don't use for your everyday job.  When you get to learn something new that is even more of a win.

2. Volunteer at places like museums, libraries, schools, volunteer public services, etc.  They need the help, you will meet wonderful people, and you'll come away feeling good about yourself while helping others.

3. Join groups that do things which interest you such as acting or doing make-up for amateur theater groups, reading for the blind or for children, helping at animal shelters, building homes for the poor, and so on.

4.  Plant a garden for yourself or for a community shelter.  Helping something grow is very rewarding.

5. Break routine. That is important.  An experience is even more of a mini-vacation if it is very different from your daily life.

Too often finding temporary relaxation through purchases can create a nasty cycle of having to work your tail off to afford those belongings while having less time to relax.  Living more modestly but comfortably can instead give you time to enjoy the experiences which matter to you, and to treasure those memories for your lifetime.

Experience life!

image cc by spunkinator

and then ringing like steel on steel

 

(a guest post from Steve after watching a thunderstorm)

thunderstorms are such amazingly beautiful things.

a flash 

   

a pause  

 

a crack of thunder that sometimes rings like steel on steel.

...  so much beautiful variation from storm to storm.  there aren't many in southern california so they are even more amazing when they happen.

john muir wrote this about thunderstorms in the sierra 

The weather of spring and summer in the middle region of the Sierra is
usually well flecked with rains and light dustings of snow, most of
which are far too obviously joyful and life-giving to be regarded as
storms; and in the picturesque beauty and clearness of outlines of their
clouds they offer striking contrasts to those boundless, all-embracing
cloud-mantles of the storms of winter. The smallest and most perfectly
individualized specimens present a richly modeled cumulous cloud rising
above the dark woods, about 11 A.M., swelling with a visible motion
straight up into the calm, sunny sky to a height of 12,000 to 14,000
feet above the sea, its white, pearly bosses relieved by gray and pale
purple shadows in the hollows, and showing outlines as keenly defined as
those of the glacier-polished domes. In less than an hour it attains
full development and stands poised in the blazing sunshine like some
colossal mountain, as beautiful in form and finish as if it were to
become a permanent addition to the landscape. Presently a thunderbolt
crashes through the crisp air, ringing like steel on steel, sharp and
clear, its startling detonation breaking into a spray of echoes against
the cliffs and cañon walls. Then down comes a cataract of rain. The big
drops sift through the pine-needles, plash and patter on the granite
pavements, and pour down the sides of ridges and domes in a network of
gray, bubbling rills. In a few minutes the cloud withers to a mesh of
dim filaments and disappears, leaving the sky perfectly clear and
bright, every dust-particle wiped and washed out of it. Everything is
refreshed and invigorated, a steam of fragrance rises, and the storm is
finished--one cloud, one lightning-stroke, and one dash of rain. This is
the Sierra mid-summer thunder-storm reduced to its lowest terms. But
some of them attain much larger proportions, and assume a grandeur and
energy of expression hardly surpassed by those bred in the depths of
winter, producing those sudden floods called "cloud-bursts," which are
local, and to a considerable extent periodical, for they appear nearly
every day about the same time for weeks, usually about eleven o'clock,
and lasting from five minutes to an hour or two. One soon becomes so
accustomed to see them that the noon sky seems empty and abandoned
without them, as if Nature were forgetting something. When the glorious
pearl and alabaster clouds of these noonday storms are being built I
never give attention to anything else. No mountain or mountain-range,
however divinely clothed with light, has a more enduring charm than
those fleeting mountains of the sky--floating fountains bearing water
for every well, the angels of the streams and lakes; brooding in the
deep azure, or sweeping softly along the ground over ridge and dome,
over meadow, over forest, over garden and grove; lingering with cooling
shadows, refreshing every flower, and soothing rugged rock-brows with a
gentleness of touch and gesture wholly divine.

The most beautiful and imposing of the summer storms rise just above the
upper edge of the Silver Fir zone, and all are so beautiful that it is
not easy to choose any one for particular description. The one that I
remember best fell on the mountains near Yosemite Valley, July 19, 1869,
while I was encamped in the Silver Fir woods. A range of bossy cumuli
took possession of the sky, huge domes and peaks rising one beyond
another with deep cañons between them, bending this way and that in long
curves and reaches, interrupted here and there with white upboiling
masses that looked like the spray of waterfalls. Zigzag lances of
lightning followed each other in quick succession, and the thunder was
so gloriously loud and massive it seemed as if surely an entire mountain
was being shattered at every stroke. Only the trees were touched,
however, so far as I could see,--a few firs 200 feet high, perhaps, and
five to six feet in diameter, were split into long rails and slivers
from top to bottom and scattered to all points of the compass. Then came
the rain in a hearty flood, covering the ground and making it shine with
a continuous sheet of water that, like a transparent film or skin,
fitted closely down over all the rugged anatomy of the landscape.

from The Mountains of California 1894.  (full text)

the colors of nature

Have you ever taken the time to appreciate how beautiful the colors of nature are? There is so much subtlety and the contrast with the colors of  things people make can be jarring. Take a walk today and see what I mean! 

and there are the trees....

so beautiful!

You can get on your back and just gaze up for the longest time. Colors, sounds, motion .. Squirrels run around and birds work on their nests. You feel small, but also part of it and that is beautiful.   

build or fix something today

Today is Black Friday when everyone goes to the malls for the sales. 

Here is another idea 

Why don't you spend some time repairing what you have or making something with your own hands. Homemade things make wonderful gifts from the heart and fixing stuff means it isn't going to the dump and you save. 

This is really good if you are a kid. Show 'em how creative you are! Zula and Daisy Mae would do it if they could, but you can't imagine how dangerous they are with power tools.

(image is cc geishaboy500)

game consoles use waaaaay too much energy

Hey kids - here is a place where you can make a real difference! 

Big game consoles like the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 use a lot of power. The National Resources Defense Council says these games use about as much power as two refrigerators! (here is a paper for those of you who want to learn about it)... about 150 watts.

Let's see how much 150 watts is...

Daisy-Mae says energy is power something uses times how long it is on.  If  you just leave the game on, you use 8760 hours in a year times 150 watts for a total of 1,314,000 watt-hours of energy. The electric company sells energy in kilowatt-hours (1000 watts in a kiloatt), so this is 1314 kilowatt hours. Where Daisy-Mae and Zula live electricity is about 14 cents a kilowatt-hour, so this is over $180 a year! Not only are you wasting money, but a lot of carbon is being emitted.

This is definitely not cool.

These games have idle modes, but they use almost as much power as when you are playing a game.  You can set them for auto-shutdown, but you have to do that as they don't come that way.  Leaving it plugged in and idling is almost as expensive as using it around the clock. 

Better yet just unplug them when you aren't playing!  

Tell all of your friends about this and kids can lead the way and save a lot of energy.  Maybe you can make a deal with your parents that they will pay you something for making sure your game console is unplugged when it isn't being used.   

Here's another suggestion.  Games are nice, but you won't get strong playing computer games.  A Wii might be cool, but try playing something real.  Play fetch with your dog, race your bike with friends, run, play some football, shoot some hoops, or play some volleyball.  Not only is it more fun than a game, you'll get stronger and look better than kids who just sit around indoors.