Today’s ride: 43:10 Distance: 11.37 miles Average: 94 RPM
I’ve been trying to figure out a way to describe today. The best I could come up with is a metaphor. But this metaphor has a back story:
My mother was probably one of the greatest secretaries that ever lived. She was impeccably organized. She could take dictation as fast as anyone could talk. She could type close to 90 words per minute on a manual typewriter–not only mistake-free, but with perfect margins.
About the only thing that was equal to her success as a secretary was her failure as a cook. She had a wide range of recipes, some of which were good, most of which were mediocre, and some of which were truly horrible. Some day, when we’re drunk, I’ll tell you about her ham-and-celery jell-o.
Right in the middle of her epicurean range was something that she called chili. I called it that, too, because I didn’t know any better at the time. It was this dish made from ground beef, stewed tomatoes and canned kidney beans, served in a watery broth, with barely a hint of flavor from a small dose of something known as chili powder. It wasn’t so bad that I would refuse to eat it, but I never asked for seconds.
Today was a mom’s chili day. I barely got anything done, and I didn’t get on my bike until late in the afternoon. But once I got on–I got going in a hurry. I finished the loop I rode a full four minutes faster than I normally ride. I would have ridden farther, but I would have been late for church.
I wonder if I had gotten on the bike sooner, if the day would have gone better? I guess I’ll never know.
Sounds like my mum’s chilli.
you have my most sincere condolences.
Indeed.
I love chili! But it needs to be numbingly hot!