the dot connection in new mexico

I finally bit the bullet and headed out on my bike into dreaded NE Heights territory. I had several errands out that way and have wanted to get past the sense that I "must" drive when I simply must go into the Heights. I've seen some of those streets marked "Bike Route," and it doesn't much look like some of those cars want to share the road.

I chose Griegos/Comanche as my best route out, and it wasn't half bad. It goes back and forth between bike lane and bike route (a bike route is where there is no separate lane but cars are reminded by signs to share the road.) Most of it felt fairly comfortable.

I'm starting to get pissed about how difficult it is to really switch from car-driving to more environmentally-friendly modes of transportation here in this lovely but highly unsustainably planned city of Albuquerque.

Today I'd intended to take the bus to TJs camera to bring in my print order. Looking at the bus schedule, had to concede that a four hour bus ride to perform a two minute errand 8 miles away is a way too inefficient use of my time. If I could combine errands it would be different, but even to do the two errands I need to do out in the NE Heights would probably turn it into an 8 hour, 8 bus ride prospect.

I came across this article about the Mayo Clinic developing and promoting workstations where people walk on a treadmill or stand rather than sit--a pretty cool idea and one that makes a lot of sense.

Since I work in the public schools, this got me to thinking about the obesity problem in children in the US. How come, in spite of the link of obesity to sedentary lifestyles, schools are still promoting a paradigm of sitting to work?

I mean, kids are being asked to sit still a lot younger and a lot longer than they used to. At the preschool level, some classes now spend the majority of their time sitting to do "pre-academic" work.

I've been doing pretty good with getting around my neighborhood by bike. It's been harder, when I'm neeing to trek out a little further, to make the time to ride the Albuquerque bus. It's so hard to choose what might be an 1 1/2 trip all told when you know it's only 20 minutes by car!

Today I wanted to go to the Patriot Act Town Meeting (www.reformthepatriotact.com) at the Peace and Justice Center (A two bus ride for me), and had plenty of time before and after, so I decided it was a good day to go for it.

It took just under an hour to get to the University area, which gave me time for a pleasant pit stop at El Patio before the meeting. I enjoy riding the bus. It's nice to not be driving and not be hurrying--to have the time and space to just space out. Good people-watching also. It reminded me of what I like so much about riding the subway when I visit my sibs in NYC.

sometimes political activism can be terribly hard. it's hard not just because what we are facing is often huge and ominous, but many times because "fun" is rarely one of the objectives. sometimes it might even seem "wrong" to have while doing our oh-so-serious work. there are a few groups who regularly make it a point to inject fun into their work and it is a good reminder for me as i engage in several areas.

act up has a history for changing the way the government and churches felt about at aids and aids funding. much of what was accomplished in the past 18 years (i can't believe it's been that long) has been as a result of direct actions and civil disobedience -- and having fun.