If I ever start to feel bad about my life in any way, I need to remember that now and then I’m able to have days like the one I had today. I’m almost embarrassed to describe it, it was so decadent.
I don’t have classes on Fridays (most faculty members don’t at my school), and I usually spend it working on grading and preparing for classes. But since I’m willing to work (from home) on Saturday and Sunday — and often I have to to get everything done — I can sometimes not do any work at all on Friday. And that was the case today.
I woke up at 8:00 — and right there I realize I’m admitting something that might make people jealous, although the truth is that my teaching schedule is an evening one, so I tend to stay up late and wake up late — and got ready to go on a bike ride. Hobgoblin and I had plans to ride with my cycling BFF (that’s how she referred to me today). We were out the door at 9:00, and although it was only 24 degrees at the time, the temperature was on the way up (to the mid-30s). We rode the beach loop, which, as Emily noted once, sounds like an easy, short spin, although it’s actually a 50-mile loop, largely downhill the way there and largely uphill the way back, three hours total.
Although it was chilly, the day was lovely — perfectly sunny and clear. We dodged a few patches of ice, but mostly the roads were dry. The highlight of the trip, as always, was a stop at Crumbs bakery for a cupcake, and I got my favorite, a very boring but yummy vanilla one, even though Hobgoblin told me it has something like 700 calories. Oh, well — I burned way more calories than that. I think we made a little bit of a scene in the cupcake shop, with our silly-looking clothing and our loud laughter. But it’s so easy to laugh when we’re pumped full of adrenaline, and that’s one of my favorite things about cycling — when I’m with other people and we’re all feeling good, everything everybody says is funny.
After the ride and after a shower and a quick lunch, I was off to the masseuse. Hobgoblin bought me a gift certificate for an hour-long massage for my birthday, and I’d made an appointment for this afternoon. I know massage is a great thing to help my muscles recover from the stress of training, but I’m reluctant to spend the money on it because it seems so self-indulgent. So I’m happy to have someone else spend the money on it for me. It was lovely.
And then it was late afternoon and time for my chiropractic appointment. I know not everyone likes going to the chiropractor, but I love it. It’s a chance to have someone massage my shoulders (again), crack my neck, ask me how I’m doing, give me some attention, and generally indulge me for a while. I’ve been seeing my chiropractor for a few years now, and she’s become a little bit like a friend.
And then it was off to the local drive-in burger joint, the Sycamore, a 50s diner that’s not just 50s-themed, but actually from the 50s. I had a bacon cheeseburger. Yum.
And then I had my weekly Friday evening yoga class. It’s a fairly slow-moving, stretchy class, not at all like power yoga, and it’s the kind of class I can do fine in even if I’ve ridden my bike for 50 miles already that day. The teacher is great and many of the students know each other and are very friendly, so it has an upbeat, light atmosphere. We’re all serious yoga students, but we don’t take the whole thing too, too seriously.
And now I’m home, doing a bit of blogging and planning to pick up some books. Now is that not an absurdly good day, or what?
Of Books and Bicycles 
I love days like this and everyone needs them once in a while (well maybe more often than once in a while really). I love being with friends and laughing and being a little bit silly–really that’s almost as therapeutic as a massage! Actually it sounds like you had a nice well, balanced sort of day–fresh air and exercise and even some sweets. And I can’t believe a little cupcake has 700 calories. Maybe it’s just as well there isn’t a cupcake bakery anywhere near where I live! 🙂 I hope the rest of your weekend is equally as nice!
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That is an excellent day, and I’m very glad you had it. Alas for the calorie count of cupcakes, but you really don’t have to worry!
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That’s an amazing day – with more exercise in it than I manage in a year. You need have no fear of a little cupcake, Dorothy!
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What a wonderful day! Thanks for the chance to live it vicariously.
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It sounds like a very lovely day, and I think cupcake shops are places where you are allowed to wear whatever clothing you want and laugh loudly. It is cupcakes after all!
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Sounds lovely indeed!
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Don’t you wish you could bottle all the chemicals that go into making an absurdly good day? Your day sounds just wonderful.
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Yes. Sounds delicious.
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Your day sounds aMAZing, truly. I love your excursion-based posts!
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What a wonderful, renewing day. I’m having a good day too–skating and sewing, olympics, and only a modicum of kids’ homework.
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Danielle — I did have a nice weekend, although I had to buckle down to my work yesterday and today. But that’s okay — I can’t really complain! Yes, the laughter is definitely therapeutic. I’ll admit the cupcake wasn’t exactly small, but still, it certainly didn’t look like 700 calories!
Musings — thank you! Unfortunately, I’ve learned that it’s entirely possible to ride one’s bike hard for three hours and still weigh more the next day. How it happens I don’t know, but it does.
Litlove — oh, I’m afraid I do have to fear the cupcake — or maybe it’s the huge Valentine’s Day dinner I should fear. Anyway, my body has this way of adapting to lots of exercise so that I burn calories efficiently and can’t eat as much as I’d like. It’s not fair, really.
SFP — oh, I’m glad you enjoyed reading about it!
Alli — you’re right about cupcakes! There’s no need to take the place seriously. Although truthfully, I’m surprised at how few children I see in there. It’s usually mostly adults.
Bardiac — yes, it was!
Jenclair — now that’s an excellent idea — surely there’s a way?? 🙂
Charlotte — yes, delicious in all sorts of ways.
Emily — well, I’m glad to hear that. I worry they get dull or repetitive. I’ll have to make sure I keep going on excursions so I can keep writing about them 🙂
Lilian — skating and sewing and olympics sound great!
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What a great day. It had just the right amount of vigorous and relaxing. Days like that don’t happen often enough.
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That does sound like a good day, if a little energetic 🙂
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A wonderful day! I’m worried about what you told Litlove, though…I truly believed that you exercised so much you could eat anything and everything you like. Please leave me with my illusions that if I continue to ride I can do that too! 🙂
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Stefanie — no, they don’t, indeed, which is why I thought it worthy of celebrating on my blog. Here’s to more of them for both of us!
Jodie — yes, we all have our own ideas of what makes a fun day, right? Although probably most of us would agree about the cupcakes 🙂
Debby — oh, did I say that? What was I thinking?? Of course exercising a lot means you can eat whatever you want! Of course! 🙂
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And you guys did all of this in Winter? Sounds very enjoyable. Enough feel-good chemicals to last you a while I’m sure.
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A truly ABSURDLY wonderful day indeed! Thanks for sharing it so we could enjoy it vicariously!
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