Off Road

It's funny that I should choose today to blog about what's happening off road, considering today I got back on my bicycle, and the road, to cycle out to Metcalfe. A good cycle, all in all, and I'm thankful to be literally back in the saddle, but I did want to talk about things besides running and cycling on occasion on this blog.
I'd like to get down some of the other ways I've been spending my time this summer. In years past, my biggest summer complaint has been boredom, but strangely enough, I'm not really bored yet this summer. (Oh, I hope I haven't jinxed it by claiming this.) Maybe it's because I've been sick off and on, or maybe it's the addition of cycling, for whatever reason, I've been somewhat content. I've had many hours of idleness, but it's been okay. Here's how I've been spending some of them:
Reading
So far this summer, I've read:
Of Human Bondage (re-read, but the first time was in 1976)
Snowflower and The Secret Fan (for book club)
Eat Pray Love (loved it - could even be why I'm more content, some great insights and "ah-ha" moments)
The Film Club ( a memoir by David Gilmour about time spent with his 16-year old son when he dropped out of high school)
I'm currently starting Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, and working my way through Naked by David Sedaris.
Movies
After the Wedding (truly great Scandinavian flick - my kind of movie)
Into the Wild (read the book, which I enjoyed much more than the movie - but still loved the Eddie Vedder tracks)
Once (the music is amazing)
The Jane Austen Book Club and Becoming Jane (which is why I'm now reading Northanger Abbey)
The Other Boleyn Girl (entertaining but didn't love it)
August Rush
Waitress (both of these Keri Russell films were largely forgettable)
Charlie Wilson's War (very watchable, but at the end of the day there wasn't much there)
Scrabulous
I loved this game as a teenager. It's been fun to play again and some of the Scrabulous features have made me a better player. I've been playing mostly with Jane and Frederica. Yesterday, I scored my first bingo with SUNBURN for 76 points.
Our Bistro Patio
Most of my time outdoors, besides on the road, has been in our teeny backyard. It's a lovely spot this year, with more greenery and a new acacia (teak-like) table and chairs from IKEA. We've been trying to eat out there as often as we can. Peter has grilled some delicious suppers for us. I often take a book out in the afternoon. My favourite time is when we stay out long enough to turn on the little white lights and listen to music over glasses of wine.
There's still a lot of summer left. Tonight we're going with Frederica to swim in Meech Lake. They'll be triathlon training but I'll just splash around a bit, then read my book.
I've got a few weeks' holiday left. I'd like to keep up what I've been doing but also work in more picnics, beaches, and maybe a mini-trip to Montreal.