Safety Demon

Keeping it safe is a priority. If you're not keeping it safe, it's possible to bike to where you're going, but it's better still to arrive intact.

Driven by the fact that it's tax season, I decided to take on some tasks that have needed doing for, oh about three months, ten days and counting. Some of these tasks include passing the driving exam (it's 36 questions! doesn't that seem excessive?!) for California and getting my library card. Sweet!

This weekend I took my bike helmet, a bike light, some red duct tape, and combined these objects in such a way that my helmet would have a light on top of it and I would be more visible to oncoming cars while biking. This is where the safety comes in! I feel much more visible with the light on my helmet!

I couldn't help but notice that since creating my light helmet, I've been getting glanced at a bit more while I am biking. A notable amount more. I almost feel like I should create a super hero suit to go along with the light helmet... instead I've settled on creating an alter-ego when I go biking with my light helmet. When I go biking now I am officially... LA Safety Demon!

In the morning I get to make fun statements like:

"Safety Demon is going to work now," while putting on my light helmet.

And at the end of the day Bill will say, "bike safe, Safety Demon," just before I leave work for the day.

One aspect of Safety Demon is that her voice is much louder than my own usually gets. "Watch out!" "Wait!" being screamed at cars as I'm biking, all part of the Safety Demon persona now.

Wednesday night

Making my way around Los Angeles, I take for granted that this is one city where I haven't fallen off my bike, yet at least. I decided I need to go to the art supply store located near SCI-ARC, an art school, today, on my bike.

Made my way down this road, circled around the school... I wrote down directions to the store then forgot them, in my usual fashion. Decided I was looking for a street called Traction Ave and I noticed a youngster (meaning someone close to my age) walking his dog so I called out, "Hey you!" or something to that effect and he came over to where I was stopped on my bike on this not too busy industrial street.

I asked him if he knew where this art store is and he looked at me like he doubted there was any art store anywhere within a ten block radius of here but "Hold on I'll take a look," he said, pulling out his iphone.

This invasion, err development, of technology, in my search for the art store felt like something significant, but then again maybe it was something old, asking for directions, in a mildly new fashion.

He finally pulled up a map of the store, and I, noticing he felt better that there was an art store nearby, thanked him and took off in the general direction of the store.

Quickly got a little aimless in my travel but I smelled sausage floating by and decided I would head in its direction. I knew the store would be near a sausage sandwich restuarant, Bill and I went there a few months ago when I was visiting, so I headed in its direction and presently found the art store.

After walking into this building adjacent to the store and freaking for a second cause the door out wouldn't open, hence the red button next to the door I needed to push to open it. The doors are really close?!? this door was more interesting to walk in ok?! I made it to the store.

Here's a non-sequitur picture from an adventure this past weekend, walking around near Echo Park.



Cacti bitches!

Transit

Writer's block sources from self consciousness for me and I need to keep reminding myself of that. And keep writing. Does anyone reading this use Google Analytics? People've told me they've read my blog... but Google isn't tracking it. Shucks I need the reinforcement!

I've started riding my bike to work and it's been a hugely rewarding experience, if a bit nerve wracking. In the morning the ride is less stressful. Ride down Main up Fifth and turn on Figueroa until I get to those two identical buildings. Home is another type of excursion. Fig turns one way after about a block and I end up riding on the side walk. I feel like something of a jerk! But there's an entry to the 110 there and I'm staying out of the way of all those crazy cars! Sheesh. Along with the road turning one way, there is more traffic throughout the city and more buses. The 2nd street tunnel - I could ride down it but I missed it today, tomorrow I'll give it a shot, making sure my light is on of course.

Here's a blurry picture of the tunnel for you, shot from my phone walking home the other day after I didn't find the bus stop... feel like you're a part of my life ok?