so.
today was a nice day. i feel more established within the cleveland community after purchasing tickets for a cleveland film festival movie, meeting with my cleveland refugee family, and visiting the bike co-op in ohio city.

i had a great experience at the bike co-op. i'm not so familiar with the west side, so it took me awhile to find. it's down a road right along the river that is very industrial looking. there's a little sign that says "ohio city bike co-op, in rear". so i pulled into the parking lot...there were some cars, but no sign of an entrance into any of the buildings i was surrounded by. there was this garage-looking thing, easily could have been abandoned. i pulled around to the back of it where there was a man standing, and at first i was sure i had stumbled upon a homeless dwelling. but alas, it was the co-op. despite the disheveled look of the building, it was prime real estate - the bank of the river was literally ten feet away from the entrance. it was gorgeous. so i went inside and said something dumb, like "is this right?" and everyone kind of gave me a strange look. i am so awkward.

but then a nice man with a handlebar mustache showed me the road bikes and got me fitted for a really sweet one. he explained how their co-op worked with their membership program, which is pretty neat. after being there for about an hour, they had me sold on the bike and the membership. they assured me that it wasn't an all-male co-op (which i wasn't positive about at first, there were a bunch of middle-aged men hanging around and no female presence) and that it also was not filled with bike snobs. and i basically never have to pay for anything! i just volunteer my time and earn credits to get free stuff. and i get free repairs. and free bicycle maintenence classes. neato.

so i am the proud owner of a new (used) bicycle and a member of the ohio city bike co-op. wow, i don't remember the last thing i was a member of. maybe i'll make friends.

so i guess now would be a good time to unveil my summer plan of living in a tipi, getting a job at a vineyard, and riding my bike all over northern geauga county. i can't figure out what i want to do with my life, except this. for the summer anyway. bathing in creeks may get old after awhile. we'll see.

i keep feeling all this pressure to be a "professional" now that i've graduated college. it's like as soon as people find out i'm done with school their next question is, "what are you doing now?" and it feels like i have to say something prestigious sounding, or i look like a bum who isn't going anywhere with my life. i don't want to wear dress pants and a blouse every day. i don't want to have a blackberry. i definitely don't want to be a part of linkedin, which i've quickly learned is the professional thing to do. i don't really want to hear about networking or getting my name out there or meeting people who can help me get a job. if my dad tells me one more time that for every forty resumes i send out only three places will call, i won't survive it. i don't want to be a professional. i want to enjoy life, which isn't measured for me by a successful job or career path.

besides, i want to learn some sweet wilderness skills.

and yes. i am still obsessing over pioneer woman.