Miscellaneous updates

Got the rug hung properly–sewed Velcro to the back, nailed up a board with Velcro glued on, and hung the rug from the board. It’s apparently the approach museum conservators favor when hanging delicate things–I went websurfing looking for the best way to hang a rug, and that was it. I did have to drive several pins into the wall around the edge of the rug to keep it flat, though.

I’ve ordered 3 yards of upholstery fabric so I can reupholster my dining room chairs. Who would ever have thought I could be so domestic…? It’s a burgundy damask with a complex floral pattern. I like it quite a bit, picked it out of seven or eight other upholstery swatches. Matches the futon cover and the tapestries nicely.

I’ve also ordered three kinds of dupioni silk! I’ve decided to try riding the AIDS Ride in full costume (i.e. not just a tutu and regular cycling jersey), so I bought some silk in hot pink, flaming orange, and bright purple. I’m going to try making fabulous cycling tops to go with my tutus. Still gotta finish the bright pink knitted tutu, now that I think of it.

I don’t know if those costumes will be ridable (i.e. whether I’ll be able to ride in them without dying from the heat), but since I just got myself a new Camelbak (water pack), I’m less worried about it. The new Camelbak has enough cargo space to carry an extra jersey in the back, so that if I run into problems with the costume, I can ditch it and go back to a regular cycling jersey. That gives me the freedom to go for it whole hog with the costuming.

Training continues to go well. I have two long rides (this Saturday and next Saturday) left, and I plan to use them to rid myself of my cycling demons: this Saturday I plan to ride down to Los Gatos, then back up and over through Congress Springs Road, down Page Mill Road, and back into Palo Alto. This is a pretty challenging route, and one on which I wound up shivering and exhausted four or five years ago, when I tried it as a novice rider without any idea how difficult it would be. (I wound up having to call my partner to come and rescue me, which was mortally embarrassing but better than hypothermia.) So it should be a nice confidence-booster.

The following week’s ride will be the real challenge: up Page Mill Road and down 84. This is the exact route I took three years ago when I crashed and tore a ligament in my left knee. Because of all the relapses, I haven’t been able to do this route since–Page Mill is a very challenging climb and my knee simply hasn’t been up to it. I feel like I have to do this route at least once to finally be “over” my accident. But the idea of riding it rather terrifies me. I’m not sure if I’m ready, and I’m not sure if my cycling confidence is enough to get me down 84.

I’m sure I’ll be fine, though, and I think it’s important to push through this kind of thing. So if I can do those two rides, I’ll be satisfied.

B. and I continue to be quite happy together–which surprises and delights me; I thought I’d gone beyond cynicism on the subject of relationships. I’m very, very happy with how things are going. 🙂

Off to bed; tomorrow morning’s an early ride, 2.5 hours.