This is the route of today’s bike ride—probably the last one of my 52^nd year, given the forecast for the next two days. The weather was near perfect, though I do like it when the wind is calm. While averaging 10.7 mph, it seems to me that I spent an inordinate amount of time waiting on stoplights.

My employee gave his two-weeks notice on Wednesday, leaving for a better opportunity. While I wish him luck, I’m a bit pissed about the timing. I’ve had to cut two or three days out of my week-long birthday vacation in order to catch up on all the tasks I’ve assigned to him over the past few years. It will be the first time in over twenty years I have worked any one day this week.

I used to take this week off to goof off and party in a very understated way, that is, with no one else. It was a good week to get a tattoo or piercing before summer. In some years I also took the week off to avoid biting anyone’s head off at work, particularly for the 39^th, 40^th, 45^th, 49^th and 50^th birthdays. Getting older makes me crabby. This year I just wanted to goof off alone and with J for a week. And with the loud and annoying Little Monster.

For some reason, the weather almost always seems to suck this week.

I’ve got an eye appointment on Monday and J is going with me to get new frames on Tuesday. I’m assuming that looking at frames on Monday with my eyes dilated will be less than optimal. I’m seriously considering changing frames for the first time in fifteen years or so. I’ve had three pair sequentially with the same frames. I’m not buying anything that makes me look older, though.

I’m probably picking up an iPad this weekend too. Or I might wait until next weekend and get the 3G model. But everyone says that 3G in NYC is a waste of money; you can never connect, so I might be getting WiFi sooner.

I’m working on a baby blanket for said soon-to-be-ex-employee. I thought I had a month or so to work on it, but now I have only a week. Wunderbar. I have also been swatching for J’s sweater. I’ve settled on a design, but I still need measurements.

Jury duty was a wash. I did not get called and the Brooklyn Central Jury Room provides free wifi access. Only one other person was knitting. Everyone else was wasting his/her opportunity.

The three yarns I have tried out for J’s sweater so far have panned out. The Queensland Collection Kathmandu DK and the Lana Grossa Royal Tweed both were too rustic for what we both want in a sweater, but might make a nice winter cap.The Lana Grossa Cashtweed only produced an acceptable fabric on 4mm needles, instead of the recommended 6mm, and would have been prohibitively expensive, particularly relative to the gansey that I just finished. I’m waiting for a couple of yarns from WEBS that he might like the look of and I might tolerate knitting. If those don’t work then he gets to visit some more LYS’s.

And I’m waiting for a new bike to come in. I will be able to lift it with one hand. All drag contributed to my ride will be contributed solely by my excess avoirdupois.

Because a blog needs pictures, here are my Malabrigo socks. And my knees. Everyone should see my knees.

Those were tired calves too. I got in 18.6 miles on the bike in an hour-forty.

The city put in a new bi-directional bike path on Kent Avenue and made the street one-way northbound. Every moron in Williamsburgh seems to think it is a great place to stroll or unload the car into. It’s a lane of traffic, people. Just because it’s painted green doesn’t mean it’s grass and you can have your picnic there. Kent Avenue is ruined for biking on the weekend.

Carroll Gardens… Gowanus… Sunset Park… Bay Ridge… Bath Beach… Bensonhurst… Coney Island… Brighton Beach… Sheepshead Bay… the Knapp Street sewage treatment plant… some neighborhoods whose names I don’t yet know… Midwood… Kensington… Windsor Terrace… Park Slope and home. Barely winded. In high gear. Mostly.

Got to scare a pedestrian, too. He was crossing against the light and not looking. I can be loud when I want to.

Feather & Fan is at 80%. Twenty rows and the crocheted binding to go.

Last Sunday’s Route

Twenty-four and half miles, following on 20.5 the day before.

Feather & Fan

Less than 25% remaining. I’m sorry, it is tedious. It is nice though.