Late on Saturday mornings, we load up the bikes for a day touring Chicago. Sometimes it’s a leisurely trip – exploring neighborhoods and marveling at the changes a few blocks can make. Sometimes, though, like yesterday, it’s a balls-out ride through the city.

Two and a half hours and 20 miles after we left our courtyard, we were ready to lock up the bikes and call it a day.

Our route

We did get an opportunity to stop here for lunch after wheezing through the special effects smoke the filming of Transformers 3 down on Michigan & Wacker. (No, there were no Shia LaBeouf sightings, but we did see the crew parking lot and catering tables.)

And now on to the list:

• Leftover steamed vegetables and rice for lunch.
• This link that Mr. Hot sent me.
• Dog beaches.
• Listening to Shortman playing Johnny Cash on Guitar Hero.
• Wrap dresses for work.

—- Amazingly enough, my knees survived the ride. Pippin, though, echoed my thoughts when we got back. —-

I can haz nap nao?

I have a confession. I’m not a good summer blogger. (Pick that jaw up off the floor and don’t let that “duh” come out of your mouth, m’kay?)

By the time I get home from the office on weekdays, it’s after 6 o’clock – and the patio, a vodka/limeade, a good book and Mr. Hot are calling my name. On the weekends, in order to make every attempt at getting some sort of exercise, we’ve been tooling around the city on our bikes.

I think I need to start a new series here – something to get me writing again with some regularity. Scenes from Chicago bike rides? The crazy people I see on my street?

I’m working on it. But, in the meantime:

• Spending the 4th at Wrigley Stadium. Unfortunately, the Cubs lost.
• Ribs cooking in the slow cooker – I’m drooling on my keyboard here.
• Today’s the last day I’ll have to listen to the vuvuzelas on television. Right???
• Going to the beach yesterday. It’s only 15 minutes by bike.
• Shortman returning safely from Michigan after spending 4 days with his girlfriend’s family.

—- He drove himself there and back. I hyperventilated the whole time he was gone. I’m still not sure if it was because he had the new car or because THERE’S.A.GIRLFRIEND. —-

Wrigley Field, July 4th, 2010. Cubs 3, Reds 14.

• Nice neighbors
• Gardening in the city
• Sleeping with the windows open
• Hugs from Shortman
• Baby feet

—- The nice neighbors have a 9-month old girl and I get to play gramma beloved aunt. —-

Wage a battle against embitterment and take part in Grace in Small Things. Thanks to Schmutzie, as always.

• Fresh fruit – strawberries, pineapple, bananas and kiwis – from the supermercado down the road.
• A box of mangos for $5 from the guy on the corner.
• An almost-ready for prime time living room.
• Chicago Closet Works. They saved me. And relatively inexpensively, too.
• This stupid cold that I’ve had since Wednesday is almost gone.

—- It’s 84 in Chicago right now. All the windows are open and there’s FRESH juice in my future. —-

• Riding bikes around the city with Mr. Hot.
• A sunny weekend.
• Wheat cakes for breakfast at the local diner.
• Cats sleeping in the windowsill.
• A parking place in front of the building.

—- And the smell of the corn dogs Shortman is heating up for dinner. —-

Wage a battle against embitterment and take part in Grace in Small Things. Thanks to Schmutzie, as always.