rode my bike downtown today! it felt quite good to be doing something so healthy, although it felt not quite as good to be getting up a half hour earlier. i took a more lengthy route down, because i'm still getting used to the idea that i can ride on the road without getting hit by every car that passes me. took maybe an hour, but only because i was riding very slowly so i didn't turn into a puddle by the time i got here. i might have to find out where the more direct routes are to go home, scary as that will be. and in other exciting news, i got a check from the insurance folks yesterday!!! the woman who cut me off was trying to claim that she saw me the whole way; that i sped up when i saw her getting over, etc. the claim rep i talked to a day or two after sounded like he didn't buy it, and i guess they didn't. got my car back on saturday, so now all is right with the world.