groovin' like a man in a sleeveless t-shirt

friday night zayne and i packed up the un-leaky subi and headed up to the cawledge for the weekend. it was a beautiful night for a drive, and it just happened to be dinner time as we rolled along side the mighty susquehanna on the north side of harrisburg. anyone familiar with the drive through that neck of the woods has driven past the red rabbit drive-in countless times. the one time i stopped to check out their culinary delights, it happened to be closed. friday night, perhaps indicative of the feel of the rest of the weekend, it was open and the fast-but-not-too-fast food was being served to any and all interested. what luck! a summer night and a drive in serving both cheeseburgers and fish sandwiches. we had hit the big time. i understand now why they say to "make it a habit". good food, good prices, and you don't even have to get out of the car! i recommend you stop the next time you're in the neighborhood. go with a milkshake if you're not sure. you won't be let down.


after a good night's sleep at mom and dad braun's, we headed to the wheelworks. an hour or so later i was the proud new owner of a gorgeous (and speedy) new wheel set with road tires for the IF. i'm antsy to get out on them. maybe later today, more likely later this week. it is crazy hot out there. i digress... i headed into town to see app house, meander around campus a bit, and grabbed lunch at irving's. there is something to be said for a lazy summer morning in a college town that feels like home. no hurry, no worry, just doing whatever comes to mind, checking out what's new, sipping iced chai, perusing the books at webster's. after a few hours of lolling around i made up my mind to head out to rothrock for a little ride. i felt fairly confident i remembered my way around and just hoped the hills would be do-able with the decreased volume. they've got big hills up there, buddy.


my ride was great! there were a few good climbs, on which i took my time, took careful deep breaths, and took a second here and there to check out the view. the descents were fun, speedy and shaded, so they cooled me off and took my breath away in a different sense as i reacquainted myself with the bike. back at the car i spotted some butterflies on the milkweed at bear meadows, daisies being harassed by flies, and met a nice woman who is also a cyclist, but prefers the paved roads to the rocky ones up in the forest. she claimed to be impressed with my fitness and smile so soon after cancer (she asked about my haircut). i was pretty impressed too, which is a new feeling i am adjusting to. i am pretty damn happy with myself these days. proud. not to a fault. just feeling good in my own skin. it is a good feeling. who wouldn't want to feel sure of themselves from time to time?


following my ride i enjoyed some quality time on the porch as dinner was prepared - halibut, whole grain rice, salad, green beans, followed up by vanilla ice cream with raspberries and blueberries. it was the kind of meal where i wish it was appropriate table manners to lick the plate afterwards. that good. i was afraid zayne would have to roll me into town for beers. alas, i still fit behind the wheel and we headed back downtown to the angry mexican, picking up some trouble in the form of barnyard and creek at the firehouse. it was a perfect night to sit outside and sip beers. a good crowd was out and conversations flowed. i couldn't help but smile a lot. the #9 was delicious and the company good as well. once again, who wouldn't want that? friends, foamies... the night, to me at least, didn't need much improvement, but we got more than we bargained for at the grill, where the sleeveless t-shirt, ugly sandal wearing (and assumed big ugly van with purple shag carpet all over owning) man was shakin' his stuff all over the dance floor. i don't know music but i know the stuff being played - live, yeah - was out of key and flat and just bad. the hits rolled on and on, from journey to elton john. barnyard submitted to the manly embarassment of having to split a beer with me while we all watched the dancing, heckled, and from time to time held our breath in anticipation of what just might come next.

sunday began with a pecan waffle for breakfast (one of the many things i craved during treatment) followed by another ride out in the hills. i wasn't thinking i would still feel so great, but going on the skiing trend of feeling better the second day, i took a chance. turns out i was right! i was faster up a couple of the hills and less out of breath and just as happy, if not more. i just beat the worst heat of the day and was happy to round things out with a shower and a late lunch. zayne and i hit the road, neither of us necessarily caring to leave town, but knowing we had to get back to the grind for a bit. what a good weekend. i couldn't have ordered a better one. makes me want to dance... a little bit... but not with sleeveless t-shirt man.