The Arkansas Blizzard of 2012

Now that we live here, Arkansas had their first Blizzard Warning announcement ever. Ever. It was the deepest snow in 86 years or something crazy like that. We always laugh and say Oh, no, it never really snows in Arkansas. 

Snow means Bonnie the dog is wearing shoes to protect her deliciate, furry little paws. 

This better not happen again for another 86 years.
It was really pretty the first morning but now it's just a cold icy-patched mess. 

A cool dude did donuts in this parking lot. 

Glad I saved some of my key winter items. 

Luckily, with the crazy way Arkansas weather works, it could turn around and be really warm any moment now. Any moment now, OK? 

My Flickr set of all my blizzard related photos is here. 

Small Gifts

It's a small and lovely gift when Central Park is closed to vehicular traffic. It really gives me a little thrill when I turn the corner to enter the park and find out that it's exclusively for bicycles and people and doggies. (It is closed to cars on the weekends and late night, but not M - F on my commute to work.) I guess all that snow on Saturday was the cause for this treat.

I saw this double-scary stuff right before the park - DIRTY SNOW + DUMP TRUCK so I stayed back. Yuck. Getting dirty will not be tolerated.


When I saw the barricades at the Park I was so happy. No cars. Peaceful.


It set me off to a great start on Monday morning.

I pull my glove/pot-holder off with my teeth so I can operate my camera.
A red jacket is excellent for visibility. 

I never take pictures of this view of Central Park South because it's usually too stressful and congested.


Before I put my helmet on, I took pictures of my all-the-way-around-my-eye eyeliner. I never do eyeliner on the bottom and wanted to check it in the camera. I blurred or smudged it pretty well. I thought I looked more EMO but I look ok in the picture. My outfit was all black. I wasn't trying to be EMO, but I do like themes.


Monday I also tried out some new super-cheap-o glitter oxfords.

These guys are pretty excellent bicycle shoes. 

I'm Snow Crazy and Adventurous

I never peer-pressure anyone about riding a bike. I don't pressure anyone, but I'm happy to share and teach what I know. And I'm full of opinions.

Dressing for this snow-day ride wasn't a biggie since it's actually been much colder recently. 

I don't want to make anyone think they should ride in the snow like this. I think I am crazy. I know I am crazy and that's how I do my commute every day through Times Square and down 7th Avenue. I think it takes a little insanity on my part to ride where I ride.

I only did this little experiment because I was not going far, and I knew I would be home before dark.
I took it easy on the small side streets and tried to stay in the ruts.

Sometimes there wasn't really a rut at all and I went extremely slow. I did a little pedaling just to keep rolling smoothly which I think kept me going straight. Delivery guys kept me company for most of my adventure.


I went straight over to 5th Ave. which was pretty clear.


Slightly messier and tighter spot on 5th Ave.


You bet I took the lane where I felt like it. I was utilizing the bus lane a little down 5th Ave.


No one honked at me, and I actually got one nice gentleman who rolled down his window (on a side street) to tell me to go ahead. It was still the ultimate in politeness toward a lady on a bicycle and I appreciated it.

I really only went about 20 small blocks and a couple avenues. I live on the far east side and my destination was the Paley Center between 5th & 6th.

I went to meet Malaika to see Carrie & Fred from Portlandia do a Q&A moderated by Julie Klausner.
It was pretty funny. Fred A. kind-of hogged it. Carrie should have talked more. He's nuts but he's really funny.
The Paley Center has a Project Runway All Stars dress display from the Miss Piggy challenge on view til Feb 2nd.


Outside the Paley Center.



This was an OK side street.

I think my little experiment was OK for the conditions I knew starting out - Saturday lack of urgency and traffic and daylight only.

I realized I was in serious danger of getting SPLASHED and thankfully, that didn't happen.
I also realized this is a terrible idea because if cars had lost control, I would have been smashed. I stayed the hell away from cars to the best of my ability. Even though I went slow enough to pretty much stand up and run, it was probably dangerous and maybe I shouldn't have done it. But it was OK.

Funky gray snow.

You know, I'm pretty down on Linus, so I'm just riding Kate Middleton into the ground like I did my old bicycle until it got mystery murdered.

I didn't want to shame the Linus Dutchie on the internet, but when I meet people in public, I tell them I don't recommend it. That comes as no shock to them when they notice the rust. Yes, my bicycle, Kate Middleton has rust at several points and she has never spent one night outdoors. She is 7months old, new out of the box.

I've also replaced so many parts on it. I love my cute pink parts, and I love the girly look, but I think the original parts were really quite shitty and there was really no question the Linus parts had to go.

Pink Puffer Bicycle Style Ridin' All the Miles...

I was able to safely and confidently commute today and it felt awesome!

I love my new Roxy puffer. It's so bright and cozy and I could feel the powerful electric pink repelling cars from driving too close to me.


Yep, Gold Reeboks!


I also had an amazing hair day. I got the vented brush Gwynne told me to get and I used the brush & blow-dry technique she just taught me.


It's like take a vented little brush and brush it to one side really drastic and then go the other way...and the back will look nice and smooth like this:


Often I use these benches as a tripod for my self-timer bicycle shots but they were still covered in snow-


Many things are still covered in snow, but the streets were quite clear - They re-enacted parking tickets and the laws about moving your car around, so people had to dig their cars out and this cleared that area where bicyclists ride. That factor and near 40º temps had me high on bicycle life.




I ended up removing the hood because it was distracting in my periferral vision. I still feel super-safe in this hot-ass pink puffer. -With lights at night on my way home of course!

Friday - We are So Over this Snow

Major mangy-polar-bear faux fur coat and Bonnie in her purple rubber slippers.

Blah Blah Blizzards!

Thumbs Down to no bus service this morning in my neighborhood.





Thank goodness for these boots! Rubber boots rule in this mess.

Though I'm so tired of wearing them. 


This is a very stressful rush-hour time trying to get onto the subway. Several cars passed before I could wedge my way into one. It was the body-to-body kind of time where people get groped & robbed and infested with bed bugs. Misery.


After I got close to work, after a stressful subway experience, I got happy and enjoyed the scenery. 30º has never felt so warm!


The poor Lions at the Library!



I have never been up close and personal with so many snow-blowers.


I had a silly idea after work to walk across Central Park to get home and that didn't last. I turned around and got in line for a bus!

My Melody (one of my McDonald's Happy meal watches) is keeping me on time. 

Work let-out early and I was able to go to H&M to get some Valentine's sorpresas for my little niece. I also got some tights and these heart-shaped sunglasses. I want everything in life to be heart shaped.

This is an after-work casual outfit for sitting on the couch with husband & doggie.

This will mark the first week since April where I haven't bicycle commuted at least one day. So sad! 
I hate wedging my body into the rush-hour subway!

Tuesday Commuter Moods

Snowing! Again! This winter must be stopped!


My outerwear look. Thank goodness for this little parasol. It's not a wide umbrella, which feels rude on cramped sidewalks, but it protects me.


This is really the 2nd time I've actually attempted to wear these Sam Edelman Faye shoes and they really are hard to walk in. I didn't even attempt to wear them outdoors. 

Sloppy Snow Friday

I woke up to a thick fluffy snow. When I walked Bonnie it was absolutely everywhere. By the time I was almost at work (about 2.5 hours later) the sidewalks were clear. Only the sewing man and the ginormous button were still covered with snow.


I guess he's super busy, but he looks lonely.

I meant to wear flats/sneakers today to give my feet a rest from cute shoes, but these booties make my silhouette look so much better I had to go through with it/them.


Zac Posen for Target Cardi, Chandi Tiger Tank, Levi Jeggings, Forever 21 Brown booties.

Tonight Matt picked me up from work and we simply rode the subway home together and picked up Chipotle on the way home. It's disrespectfully cold outside, so we sat on the couch and caught up on our Jersey Shore/30 Rock/Parks and Rec. watching.

I made a little collage to take to my hair appointment tomorrow.