Unpredictable Weather

I have to confess to something. I have moaned about having to ride our bikes a couple of times in the past couple of weeks when in actual fact, we ended up taking the bus. In the end, the idea of getting all bundled up in bikeable layers was too much for us and we wimped out. However, I have vowed to change back to being a biking fool and starting tonight. There are a couple of reasons for this.

First, Wassenaar is not on a convenient bus schedule. After 7:30pm, there are only two buses an hour and they arrive within 5 minutes of one another! This is a bit skewed since we have arrived a minute or two late a couple of times and then we are stuck waiting for nearly an hour for the next bus. Invariably, we have the following discussion: "You know, if we'd ridden our bikes, we'd be home before the next bus even shows up here..." "Yes, I agree, what WERE we thinking?". And then we say that 'next time' we'll be sure to cycle, no matter what. Normally, we are very good about cycling, to the point that all of our expat friends and many of our Dutch friends think we're a bit nuts, so getting back to it shouldn't be a big deal.

The second reason is that I am continually tricked by the weather forecasts. Why do I keep believing them when they are consistently incorrect. We will be getting ready to head out, I'll check the forecast and say, "Oh wow, look how cold/wet/windy/etc. it's going to be tonight, maybe biking is not such a good idea." Naturally, the prediction does the opposite and I end up stewing because I'm stuck at the bus station, yet again, when I could be not only getting exercise but also getting home in a timely manner!

No More! A belated New Year's resolution: Along the lines of Farragut's famous quote: "Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead!", we will cycle! Ahem...at least that's the intention...

So, tonight, when we join friends to ring in the new president of the U.S. and watch the inaugeration live, Mike and I will be cycling. In fact, I will be leaving fairly soon for that..(and carrying rain gear, just in case!). May I just say, we are so excited by this change in the U.S. government? This is big stuff on so many levels and if this new administration lives up to a fraction of the expectations placed on it, it will still be positive change. Yes He Can, Yes We Can, Yes!

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A final note, I mentioned we were going to see The Visitor last Friday. Great film! It's an independent, so you will get the chance to see actors not in the mainstream, or even brand new on the scene, and they are wonderful. It's a poignant show, with an ending that leaves you wanting to know more, but so very thought-provoking and worth watching. We all walked out feeling quite pensive.