My online work just keeps piling on and on! I get so many emails each day that when I miss a day “in the office” I have a ton to sort through and respond to. So I spent over two hours this morning just catching up!
A Lesson In Defensive Driving
When I was learning to drive 10 years ago my dad used to lecture me on defensive driving. “You have to assume the other people aren’t going to know the rules and make mistakes.” You can bet I was rolling my eyes back then, but he was right. Today on my bike I was crossing an intersection and I always look both ways even if it says “walk” and make eye contact with each drive. This lady making a right hand turn totally didn’t stop or look and if I hadn’t slowed down to make sure, she would have hit me. Drive defensively at ALL TIMES!! (That goes for you too Matt!)
So I biked to the gym – 15 minutes there – and spend 30 glorious minutes sweating on the stepmill. Then I did a little stat bike to cool down and ended with 15 minutes of total body weights.
And I came home to this:
A Hugh Jass salad of:
- Mixed greens tossed in balsamic, olive oil, and lime juice
- Peppers
- Carrot
- ~1/3 cup pinto beans tossed in cilantro pesto
- ~2-3 tbsp goat cheese
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- Almonds
- Raisins
And this beauty on the side
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New Breathe Post: Are You Hungry?
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And check out this awesome site for readers: DailyLit. They email or RSS you pieces of a book day by day (at your chosen pace) so you can read them on the go. Some of the newer ones cost, but they have all the classics for free (Lots of Jane Austin in the romance section!). And lots of newer health books too, including cookbooks.
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I’m finishing up some stuff here (BLOG SUMMIT!!) and then headed to work. I’m working from 4-9pm tonight and helping give a presentation in north Charlotte. Dinner is up in the air but I will be packing snacks 🙂
Allison K says
I can’t wait to hear the details of the blog summit…even though I can’t make it!
tina says
I am such a defensive driver!!! I don’t trust anyone on the road except myself!
brandi says
that’s so scary! I’m glad you didn’t get hit!
I can’t wait to hear about the summit – I’m hoping i can be there (whenever it is) and afford it!
Amy says
Hey Kath,
That drive defensively message reaaally ‘hits’ home for me because I follow it religiously, and I was still was hit by a car while biking!
I was going across a crosswalk and when I was hit and THE DRIVER HAD SIGNALED ME TO CROSS! Luckily I had only minor injuries but goodness, now I don’t even go when cars give me a wave.
Thanks for the reminder – saaafety first (cheesy as it sounds).
Amy
Sues says
Glad you’re OK! I totally feel you on the needing to catch up on online stuff. Well, most of my work is online, but I have SO many e-mails and stuff I need to go through; I need a whole 24 hours to get organized!
DailyLit looks awesome!
Linda says
I’m so glad to hear you’re ok. I get mad when I see cars make the right hand turns w/o pausing to check if there are pedestrians or cyclists on the crosswalk. I make an effort to come to a full stop so that I can look both ways first, but always seem like I get honked at by pushy drivers in the cars behind me.
Rose says
Daily Lit? That sounds genius to me! Thanks for the head’s up 🙂
Amanda in Pittsburgh says
YAY summit!! :o)
Nanette says
Glad you were being a defensive driver/rider!
Meant to ask you the other day, what kind of camera is it that you use for all of your blog pics?
Katherine says
I love DailyLit!! It’s such a great way of catching up on so many of the classics I didn’t read in school 🙂
Nanette says
Nevermind, I found it on the FAQ page!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
YIKES! Be careful on that bike Kath! It’s so true that you can never trust other drivers. You never know what they’re thinking or what they’ll do next. Glad you were thinking ahead!
AWESOME summer salad Kath. Loving that nutty additions. Have wonderful evening at work!
Victoria says
I deal with that all the time when I’m running in our neighborhood! People just do not pay attention.
Mom says
I’m glad you listened to your dad. Please be careful!!!!!
Moran (The Running Addict) says
Thanks for the link!
And I am SO jealous of the watermelon!
Courtney (The Hungry Yogini) says
Wow! Luckily you were paying attention. How scary!!!
Lunch looks fab…hope the rest of your day is safe and fabulous!
Priyanka says
Good that you payed attention. Be careful and thanks for the dailylit link!!
Julie says
Scary!!! My husband was in NYC on a business trip and crossed the street on a green cross sign and a driver ran the light and ran him over. Brain surgery, multiple broken bones, and months of rehab later he’s doing ok, but it’s no joke. Cars need to be mindful of others who share the road; both on bikes and on foot. It only takes a moment of distraction to take a human life.
Thanks for the reminder, Kath.
Julie
rhodeygirl says
Of course my fiance, man who knows everyone, has a wedding the weekend of the blog summit that we have to go to in NJ. I am going to try and come up for part of it. Can’t wait to hear the details/location etc!
Megan (The Runner's Kitchen) says
I have had many close encounters with careless drivers. Better to go slow and be safe than sorry. Love your big salad lunch!!
rhodeygirl says
also p.s. i am feeling “hungry” right now and although I know hunger is not an emergency I want an extra snack STAT!
Danielle says
Ha my dad always talked about Defensive driving, but it is super important.
Nicole says
I definitely ride defensively when I’m on my bike. There are just too many careless drivers not to 🙁
sue says
glad you’re okay! i can’t wait to hear more about the blog summit!
april says
What a pretty salad ! I’ve never tried cottage cheese in a salad but I have to!
JENNA says
Great piece of driving advice! it can be so scary out there! people are in their own worlds some days!!
your watermelon looks so juicy! I’m craving it like mad now!
Gillian says
I live downtown Toronto and walk to work now and previously rode my bike when I was a bit further from work (obvy not in the winter time – Toronto winter is SANS fun for bike riding) and there are soooo many times that I wish I could kick/throw something at a car/driver for being a flipping IDIOT and not using their heads and almost hitting me when I have the right of way!
That watermelon looks deeeelish’
Nicole (dishin') says
Yikes! Glad you’re ok. Sharing the road can be scary.
The salad looks delish – especially with goat cheese on top!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Bad drivers are probably my #1 pet peeve!! No excuse for being careless with lives. 😡
That watermelon pyramid looks soo cool!
Jenn
Mary says
Your dad’s advice reminds me of what my dad told me the day I started driving: “Always imagine every other driver is out to kill you.” Kinda brutal to be telling a 15 year old, I know, but it’s a great way to put defensive driving in perspective.
Jen says
Riding on sidewalks is also breaking the rules.
Richard says
OK. Here’s my theory. I’ve only been reading your blog for a few weeks now (love your food photos!) but could it be that you’ve lost SO much weight over the last few years with good eating that drivers can’t see you anymore?
Sarah (LovIN My Tummy) says
Thanks for the link love, Kath! I just finished my own Hugh Jass. That sounds weird…
Ana says
wow that is one Hugh Jass! Looks delish
Kailey says
this post is great because its true. A girl at my school just died in a car accident because she didn’t look before to her right before turning :\ she was only 16, which is just so sad. I think its great advice to drive like a defensive driver!
K says
YIKES! Glad you’re okay!! DailyLit sounds like a great website – thanks for the tip!
Help Meghan Run says
Glad you’re being careful! Riding my bike in my big city scares me. :/ I made an oatmeal pancake yesterday, and it was DELICIOUS! You should make one again. 🙂 Check it out on my blog.
HelpMeghanRun.com
MarathonVal says
Thanks for listing that Lit website! That sounds awesome, I’m going to check it out right now! 🙂
Angie says
Beautiful salad!
Good luck with the presentation tonight!!
Michele | aka Raw Juice Girl says
I’m so glad that lady didn’t hit you! Good for you for being so cautious–thanks to your dad. 😉
That salad looks yummy!! And that’s a pretty bowl.
*smiles*
Michele
Lynette says
That was a wonderful looking salad – anything with goat cheese has my vote. Glad you weren’t hurt today!
Tammy says
Where do you come up with these salads? I love the combos! 🙂
Vanessa (Last Night's Leftovers) says
People can be so ridiculous when they’re driving, Glad you weren’t hurt!
Stacey says
Haha, Hugh Jass… 🙂
One time Jas was cycling and this guy totally cut him off when he had the right away! It made me so mad, but I try to keep my mouth shut 🙂
Yay for Blogger Summit, can’t wait to hear more details! It’s looking like there is a pretty good chance I’ll be there!!
Libby says
My hubby rides a motorbike and they are taught to assume that EVERYONE on the road is out to get them :-). I guess you need to take the same approach on any bike.
Libby
Lauren says
I feel the same way when I miss a day of the norm- I feel all out of place until I get myself entirely caught up.
Kath, I wish that I could share some of my bountiful kale crop with you. I grew it this year and have so much of it, I can hardly keep up with it. Sadly, I don’t think it would ship too well or else I would be sending you a package of my freshly grown kale. 🙂
Have a great night at work.
Shannon (The Daily Balance) says
thanks for sharing the DailyLit! – Love it!
Also love cottage cheese with salad – why don’t people use it more often — or on menus?! so yum!
Christina says
Good tip with the defensive driving. You have to be careful out there, especially on bikes! And the Daily Lit thing sounds awesome, I’ll definitely be checking it out!
Melissa @ For the Love of Health says
There are so many morons on the road! It’s quite scary actually. Good call on being alert at all times 🙂
I love watermelon- the piece you had looks sooooooo juicy!
haya (living and learning) says
cars are scary! i feel much safer on my bike than i do when i’m walking because a) i can move much faster and b) i’m wearing a helmet (maybe i should start wearing protective walking gear??). seriously. i also have the “must make eye contact” rule before crossing roads because right-turners are CRAZY. half of them don’t even bother to look. sometimes i feel like i have pedestrian-rage in the mornings on my way to work.
when i’m biking, crossing is a lot less dangerous because i’m actually on the road, not the sidewalk, so it’s much harder for cars to cut me off.
Mara @ What's for Dinner? says
So glad you’re alright! I’ve been hit and almost hit while driving, and I’m a good driver…can’t even imagine how scary it is on a bike!!!
Danielle says
Awesome Breathe post! I read it at the perfect time, too since I was feeling hungry but shouldn’t have been. 🙂
Kath says
Julie ,
I am so sorry about your husband’s accident. I hope he is doing better 🙁
Lauren ,
Wish you could email me some!!
Kath
Adi (oatonomy.com) says
Yup, I almost got hit tonight on my bike, by drivers who weren’t paying attention! Probably every other time I’m out, that happens. People can be pretty unobservant.
I love that giganto wedge o’ watermelon. Yumm.
Spiceaholic says
Great Breathe article, and very timely!
Thanks for posting the link to DailyLit, will have to check it out!