Where's the Good Weather?

7:30 AM: This has been one of those weeks where the weather started out filling us with hope that when our day off came (today) that we would be able to get the tandem out and take our first ride of the year. But the sunny hope week's beginning has given way to the cloudy gloom of week's end.

Here's what today's forecast for Boise says, courtesy of the "Weather Underground": Cloudy with scattered rain showers. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. Highs 50 to 55. Southeast winds up to 10 mph in the morning...shifting to northwest around 10 mph in the afternoon.

At first glance, one would tend to think that 50 - 55 degrees at this time of year would be great riding weather. And, if the sun were out, you'd be right. And there are others who would say that all we need to do is dress for the weather and get out there and do it anyway. You would also have an arguement that would be hard to beat. Enter the "I don't want to" factor.

I don't want to ride in chilly weather. We both have to work outside for a good portion of the day delivering mail. We get to experience the sun, the rain, the wind and the snow whether we want to or not. This week was breezy, and the breeze was nothing like the ambient temperature -- it was bitter at times and cut right through the clothes we were wearing. We were hoping that the weather was on the upswing, rather that the direction it took.

I don't want to ride in the rain. Again, refer to the first few sentences in the paragraph above. Combine "wet" with the chilly wind, and you have even less of a chance for an enjoyable ride. It's not like we were stuck with an office job all week and are dying to get outside, no matter what.

I don't want to catch the flu. I know this sounds silly, but I've managed NOT to come down with a cold or flu this season while Valerie has. And it's cycled back around for her, so she's enjoying it a second time. This is the variety that hangs around for a couple of weeks, and then slowly backs away... but some of the symptoms seem to take a month or more to disappear completely. I've been fortunate this season in that I haven't come down with anything, and Valerie doesn't need to be out begging for pneumonia to come and visit.

I don't want to grow old. But it's happened. If I were young in age and/or spirit, I'd ignore all of the excuses in the above paragraphs and get off of my ever-expanding arse and just go do it. Instead I'll sit here at the computer, with the heater cranked up and a warm mocha in hand and wait until summer arrives. (Which, by the way, is always much too hot to engage in any kind of physical activity when one doesn't absolutely have to!)

10:30 AM: It's been snowing since about 8:30, so the bike ride seems like an even sillier idea to me now! But you know that there's always next weekend!