This weekend DmentD and I went shopping for my belated birthday present, a bike. I’ve been cycling since Christmas for exercise (aside from when it started hitting the hundreds!), but on his bike, big, heavy, cumbersome and too tall for me. Only by a couple of inches, but enough of a difference to mean that I had to stop by kerbs *grins*

We rang round a couple of places in town to see if they had anything within our price range, I didn’t need something sporty, fancy or extravagant, just something to get me from A to B comfortably with no difficulties. We ended up at University Cyclery, which had been recommended to us, and I would recommend on to anyone else looking for a not too expensive bike.

The assistant talked us through a couple of the styles they had that fitted our criteria, got a couple down and let me try them out in the car park. It was actually the first bike I tried that I went for, the other felt too bulky. And they give a good service, a discount off all accessories for a year, along with two free tune ups over the next year (we figure I’ll do one in 6 months, and one just before the year is up), they also gave me the serial number, so I don’t have to remember to go looking for it.

We got them to put a kickstand, bottle holder and lights on it there, and we were able to get it home by taking the front wheel off (it has a cam level to take them on and off rather than needing a wrench). While we were shopping we picked up a lock, pump and saddlebag which DmentD fitted when we got home. He also got to readjust his bike back to his height, and put his saddle back on it.

As you can see, we also got some much needed rain yesterday, it didn’t last long, but it was enough to mean we didn’t have to water the lawn *grins* It’s very exciting, our peppers have some flowers coming up now, as do the pumpkins, though they haven’t bloomed yet.

Saturday night we were round at a friend’s house, I got introduced to the game Mall of Terror which was fun. I think I’d need to play it a time or two more to fully grasp the strategy rather than running about randomly, but it was a good game. We also played a card game Grave Robbers From Outer Space, campy horror B-movie fun! I’m not sure you’d want to play it regularly since the cards are the most source of fun, but it was entertaining, and DmentD and I are contemplating getting it, or one of the others in the series.

The weekend ended with me making an absolutely delicious (even if I do say so myself) chicken and mushroom risotto. We didn’t have any onions and we forgot to pick some up, but it was still good, and my hands still smell of garlic this morning! The HEB actually had the arborio rice for not too expensive so we were able to pick up a couple of bags to have on hand, and since it was just regular chicken and mushroom (though I do love a risotto with wild mushrooms) it worked out surprisingly decent for cost. We have some for dinner tonight which I am looking forward too, DmentD has lunch for tomorrow and then we even have some stashed away in the freezer! I’m liking keeping the freezer stocked with home cooked meals.

In other news, about the only other news I have, I have a job!! *happybouncywonderful*

I was asked if I wanted to go into my externship on Friday, to decorate a couple of cakes. This wasn’t something they had let me do a whole lot of so I jumped at the opportunity. I got in and my task for the day was to carve and decorate a cow and a horse for a farmyard birthday party. The cakes were stacked ready so I had to carve, crumb coat, cover and then add the details. It took me, probably longer than it should have, but not all day *grins*

I had a really good day, I enjoyed doing the cakes, and while I did the carving and covering in the main kitchen I got to set up in the tasting room to do the detail work, out of the heat, without getting jostled and bumped about, and left to my own devices, just getting checked on occasionally, it was a good day. And while the finished products aren’t perfect, I know what I could do differently so I learnt from it, they turned out good, and the customer was happy with them.

As I was leaving, I got asked if I had a few minutes to spare. And I got offered a job there. Of course I took it *grins* it’ll be five days a week, Monday through Friday, no more early Saturdays (for now at any rate)! Working 10 til closing so not bad hours. I’ll be doing what I’m doing there now, plus stacking and filling all the cakes will become my responsibility, then they’re going to train me up as their cake decorator. The starting pay isn’t great, but it’ll get better with time.

This is the last week of my externship, so I’ll be starting next week, and this week we get to sort out the paperwork. Tonight DmentD and I get to play about with maths and figure out how I’ll be filling taxes, oh joy!