we can all use a little chauvinism sometimes

Since I was going to be someone's date last Tuesday for the Farewell Fearless Leader party -- what I called the retirement party for my company's CEO/the coronation of our new captain -- I brought in a few dresses to work, wore a different one each day, and felt glamorous the entire week.

My office husband and I take in the "new" Meadowlands:

Look at the rock star:

My boss was also in town. Slowly but surely she's figuring out that I hang with the bad boys, and she's actually sort of proud. She claims I'm good at networking -- it took a lot of willpower not to reply If that's you call showing a little leg and having guys get you drinks -- and gave me an amazing compliment: "You look so happy. You must be in love."¹

I can't recall the last time I've been so comfortable in my own skin. I'm still not ready to date -- I went on a few recently and just kind of shut down during the last one -- but the IT cronies are helping.

I went out with one of the guys on Wednesday. Sitting in the sun at a rooftop bar we ordered the booze not served at the beer-and-wine-only event the previous night. After four drinks each -- three on him -- we called it a night. During the train ride to the city, we somehow got to talking about Green Day. He asked what my favorite song was, and I answered "Jesus of Suburbia."

"Mine too!" he replied, and he inched into the seat between us, a gesture so young and innocent -- except he's not young and I'm not innocent.

I like how things are, that the pressure is off with these men. I can flirt as much as I want, but there's that line that none of us will cross, so it never gets uncomfortable. Too bad dating can't be as fun as hanging out with them.

¹ Here, I didn't hold back my immediate response and said: "I'm in love with my bike!"

burning rubber

I completed the five-borough bike tour on Sunday, May 1. Bitchcakes and I finished the route in almost exactly four hours, which is pretty good time for ~40 miles with two rests and a few bottlenecks. We biked on roads that are usually off limits to cyclists, like the FDR Drive and Verrazano Bridge, and couldn’t have asked for better weather! The toughest parts were over the Gowanus on the BQE (the elevation is killer) and along Shore Parkway (regardless of the flat terrain we were biking, as Bob Seger would say, against the wind).

I want to give a big THANK YOU to Bitchcakes for allowing me to accompany her during the ride. She prefers riding alone, and originally I was only heading to the start with her (over the Brooklyn Bridge around 5:30am -- the only time it's not flooded with people!), but we made a good team, I think. When my bags fell off my new rack in Astoria, I expected her to zoom out of sight, but she was kind enough to wait. She also took this triumphant photo of me at the end:

I made the Verrazano my bitch, a photo by bitchcakesny on Flickr.

It's surprising how great this achievement makes me feel, and it makes me sad that I wasn't able to feel as incredible after last year's 55-mile Century Tour. I was arguably in better shape last year, but that tour took its toll. This year, however, I was all smiles and celebration, kvelling to anyone who'd listen.

And, because I'm insane, I biked to Punk Rope at the 14th Street Y the following day, leaving around 10:30 after two happy-hour beers. I survived the round trip in one piece!

After taking my mom to the much talked-about M. Wells in LIC for Mother's Day, I did something I never thought I'd do: I ran an errand in Manhattan on my bike, taking the Williamsburg Bridge to Housingworks Bookstore Cafe. It's so invigorating, and I wish I had the opportunity to ride every day.