the burning, oh the burning

After a 53 hour workweek last week I seem to have gotten a day off on what appears to be the nicest day the city will see in the foreseeable future. So far I've finished reading 'Where I'm Calling From,' picked up the apartment, gotten groceries, taken stacked-up bottles and cans to the recycling center, and listened to the new album of Scarlett Johansson singing Tom Waits covers. Ask me how I feel about the latter, well, later. I did not, as I usually do on a nice day off, go for a ride. On Sunday I went for a pleasant ride which ended up being a long-distance trek to Wolf Lake, Indiana. After nearly sixty miles and four hours in the mid-day sun, my leg is burning like mad. The worst is the sunburn on my kneecap which reminds me with each step I take not to overdo it again. It wasn't all bad, though, I had a nice ride and saw things I hadn't seen before and only once on the south side did I say, "I really shouldn't be here," due to a gap in the cycling signage.

My leg is still burning but things are looking up because I purchased another pint of my latest obsession, goat milk ice cream. A miracle in every cup.

Summer is here and soon I'll have Kalamazoo Brewing Co's 'Oberon.' For now I'll settle for a sale-priced six pack of Victory's 'Whirlwind' - not bad for $7.99. I also purchased lemonade and Green Mountain Salsa - yep, summer is here indeed. Outside I hear the sounds of bells from ice cream carts and the occasional loop of 'do your ears hang low' - now with an urban hip-hop beat.

Work is going great - I was awarded with recognition of statistically being the 'best buyer in the midwest' and for having the most efficient department in the region. I've also been given an exclusive contract with a famous cheesemaker in London and next month I will be one of two midwestern pervayors of a rare raw-milk stilton, a cheese made from the original culture from the middle ages. Things are going smoothly, though, some of my better vendors are having a hard time supplying me due to the goats being in 'kidding season,' which I find charming every time I say it. My CSA this summer has a learing center where this summer they offer a cheesemaking class. I need to remember to sign up for that soon. Xtina is busy, busy, busy and it has become very clear that there is no way for us to do all the things we want to do before the weather gets cold once again. And so it goes.