got engaged!
saturday, march 23rd, 2024.
It's been a busy few weeks. Perhaps most importantly, my partner and I got engaged! We're getting married at the courthouse next Friday— keeping it low-key, but we've got a lovely electric blue tux and pink dress picked out and our folks are coming to watch. I actually proposed with a Ring Pop, which was kinda silly but fits our relationship so well! We went out shopping for actual rings at the local antique shops and found some quite beautiful rings that'll last a wee bit longer than candy. We framed the wrapper, though!
Fortunately, the second auto shop we brought the Subawu to about a coolant leak ran a pressure test and decided we didn't need repairs, after all. So we're gonna hold onto that cash for a future honeymoon in the Fall sometime. We're thinking of taking Amtrak's Calfornia Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco. Sleeper car and everything! I've gotta save up leave so that I've got enough time off for the trip, so alas— we've got to wait for a little while before we can ride the train and visit California for a week. We're both super excited about it!
Other than that, I've been pushing along our bicycle advocacy organization a great deal. Been to a few council meetings, created a Facebook page for the organization (gross!), and have been running advertisements on a shoestring budget to start building up some steam and get some folks out to our group rides. One downside, which I think applies to many business and nonprofit folks that feel compelled to have a social media presence, is that I have to be back on social media. The personal account with which I created the organization's page won't have friends, though. I really don't want to do that again. Finding that balance where I can keep building up the organization without falling down the social media rabbit hole is going to be difficult.
Speaking of group rides, I joined a local cycling group for a 20 mile ride last week. It's their "beginner" ride, but I was definitely the only guy with a hybrid bike. Everyone else had road or racing bicycles. Still, I kept up with the pack at an average pace a smidge above 14 mph! The bike store owner came along for the ride, too. We were next to each other on one of the straightaways and I commented, "I'm looking forward to getting a better bike for this sort of riding," and he replied: "whatcha need that for? You're keeping up just fine!" Those guys sure made me feel welcome and I'll definitely be back.
That's all for now, I suppose! Been busy, busy, busy, but I'm still alive— promise!
Until next time, be well! :)