Getting closer to riding a bicycle again. Honey was right...there was still some rim liner wrapped around the free hub between the gears and the protector. I got in there with a bamboo kabob spear and worked on it until I got it to loosen and unravel. Turned out to be almost a foot long! It was pulled taut and wrapped tightly around the hub. After removing that piece, I took the bike out for a short test ride during my lunch break, up and down the street. It sounds like one link in the chain is still rusted and not bending though, and it makes a clunking sound as it goes through the derailer. I will have to go one link at time, bending each connection, to find it and get some extra lube in there.

And! I found a bike helmet! I went to a Sierra store last evening to see if they might have helmets. You never know what they'll have at these stores. But I was in luck! They had a size small that didn't overwhelm my head and was as light as air. The two shades of pink isn't thrilling, but at least it doesn't have children's pictures on it. And best of all, it is a $90 helmet that I got for $30! (I also looked this model up online to confirm the price savings and features.) What a difference between a quality helmet and a cheapo from big box discount store. I'm pretty thrilled about it. I really want to get on the road with my bike! But it will have to wait as it is going to be cold and rainy/snowy for the rest of the week 😞 Anyway, Sierra also had an electric bike for $600, so that's something to keep in mind should I want to upgrade.

I haven't written about the war much, but that is because I feel so helpless about it and it takes me to an emotionally devastating place when I think about the destruction and innocent lives being taken, when the disagreement is between only a handful of thugs leading both countries. I want to see the thugs pay for their war crimes, not innocent people. I want to know who charges them. I want to know when they will be charged. I want to know if any govt has ever been charged and convicted of war crimes and what the penalty is. And it sickens me that people in the states cheer this on. The same people who would wail if the same were done on this continent. Sickos.

I want to know why the thugs 'leading' the states of america are not being charged in any of their war crimes??? Why are they getting away with killing people in the Caribbean haphazardly and why are they getting away with bombing schools, and now threats of destroying utilities in Iran? Why is Putin getting away with it too?? If there is a hell, I hope there is two, one just for these horrible pieces of shit.

And why is there a billion dollars a day for this war and not a billion dollars a day to feed or provide medical care for our citizens?

And this is why I can't think about it, because it is all so overwhelming and unfair and hard to believe.

But this morning, all was okay. The lake is 100% ice out. I saw the scaups again, but in the wetland this time, not the lake. And a coyote crossed very closely in front of me, making its way home after a long night. At first I thought it was someone's off-leash dog since I was very close to the dog park. Once I realized what it was, I stopped it in its tracks by saying 'I see you'. It stopped and looked at me and then continued on its way.