The Test Run

So I rode my bike some. I'm totally not used to riding a men's bicycle, as was witnessed by half of Coburg half a dozen times when I tried to get off it yesterday. Oh well, practice makes perfect, I guess.

I tried taking off the lock, but it's not as easy as it first seemed. Yes, the tiny bolts came off easily enough, but there's one last bolt, stuck in the most awkward position ever. It looks like I have to remove my brakes if I want to get rid of the lock, and I'm not confident enough in my own abilities to do so. Right now, I'm hoping my dad will visit during July and know how to fix it. Otherwise, I'm waiting til I have a job and am paying someone to get the blasted thing off. It's getting on my nerves in the worst of ways.

But I took it out for a spin. We needed bread and shampoo, which is about a minute from the house by bike, but somehow I ended up near Kaufhof. Oops. ;-) Yes, the pajama pants were calling to me. Yes, I got them. Yes, they're loud and comfy. They even have a pocket. Oh, and I got a potato peeling knife. Fifty cents for exactly what I want? Check. It's currently undergoing trial by fire in the dishwasher. I'm praying we don't have to scrape molten plastic off the machine again.

I looked at their biking section, too, hoping for a rain cover, which they did not have. They did have a gel seat cushion, which might solve Boyfriend's bike's problem of a very hard seat for little money. I didn't buy it, but told him about it when I got back. He said he'd come look at it sometime this week. So now I'm nagging at him to go get his bike so we can go go go go! Impatient, who me?

Downstairs in the mall, there's still a display of nationalistic pride. Germany making it to the world football cup is the only time, it seems, where Germany is allowed to be proud in its Germanness without the rest of the United Nations starting to squeal about fascism and neonazism. So the country is enjoying decking everything out with flags and black-red-gold colors, mostly cars. Now, I know those car flags are hell on fuel economy and such, but I bought one anyway. I don't have a car, and the attachment system works on my bike's luggage rack as well. I now ride around waving a tiny German flag as I go. It makes getting on and off even more difficult, but I'm willing to make sacrifices for my sense of whimsy.

I eventually made it to the supermarket, where I spent some a lot of time picking out a shower gel. Unlike in Belgium, I had options if I wanted to be frugal. Prices didn't start at two euros seventy in the grown-up selection of soapy goodness, and the cheapest brand was also the most plentiful. In the end, I went with something fruity. I recognised fruity. I have no idea what the 'African Savannah' one is supposed to smell like. What if I end up smelling like lion pee?

Bread, I knew where to find. I didn't even look at the selection of chips and candy. Honest. Does the ice cream display count? Whoops. I managed to resist temptation, though. Something about Calippos in the freezer at home, and lots of other frozen treats boyfriend had brought with him in Friday. But since I get an upset tummy from ice cream, I'm sticking mostly to the popsicles. They're lower in calories and they're safe. Also, they're cheap as mud. Once I polish off the brand-name things, I'm going back for the generic ones that had popping candy in them.

I looked in at the biking store across the street when I finally made it back, but they were closed early for some reason. I came back today and bought a rain cover for my saddle. It's been raining a lot, and I don't like walking around with a wet butt.

Of course, now I've found the thing and wrapped my white seat in clashing black faux-leather, the clouds are clearing, the sun is shining, the weather is screaming at me to go out and explore with Boyfriend, but Boyfriend is busy making packages and selling things, so I have to wait.

I guess I'll go make myself useful and tidy up the bedroom while I do so.