Post-Minicon Diet

... coming along okay. After several attempts (and a visit to their website) I finally figured out how to build a delicious, healthy meal at Q-Doba (one of those new-wave Mexican fast-food joints that makes their burritos gigantic by filling them up with rice). A burrito full of rice is really stupid, sort of like a bread sandwich. The trick is to leave out either the rice or the tortilla. I chose to skip the tortilla and added an extra serving of sauteed vegies (probably intended to be used in the vegetarian burrito). Black beans, yes. Cheese/guacamole/sour cream, no. The result is absolutely yummy, very filling: 630 calories. Mmmm. The nice thing about dieting is that food tasts so good.

Bicyling in Minneapolis

Did you know that Minneapolis is considered one of the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S.? I've been biking around Minneapolis for 35 years now, and I must say that the biking environment gets better every year: more off-road trails, bike racks on mass transit, and fewer bike lanes that end abruptly in the middle of heavy traffic. I just found the website of the City of Minneapolis Bicyling Department. If you're an urban biker, check it out. There are some surprising things here.

For instance, did you know that "the City has Master Bicycle Plan?" That there is a Bicycle Advisory Committee that meets on a monthly basis to guide the City's Bicycle Program? What, you knew all that? Well, how about this: the Guaranteed Ride Home!

"Have a flat tire? Stranded at work in a snowstorm? Can’t make it home quickly enough to tend to a sick family member? If you bike to work or school 3 or more days per week, you are eligible to participate in Metro Transit’s Guaranteed Ride Home Program. Simply fill out the online registration form, and you will be sent two coupons every six months (upon renewal), good for a free transit ride or a cab fare of up to $25. Coupons may be used whenever you feel you have an emergency situation, particularly when it is not safe or possible for you to reach your destination by bike." Is that cool or what?