A new city, a new season.

August 30, 2001

So here I am. In the real world at last.

I've settled in Bismarck, adding to the lengthy list of North Dakota cities I've lived in throughout my life. Thus far, my new job has been pleasant and, aside from a few near misses on my bicycle, the city's been welcoming. People coming off the Interstate near my apartment seem to harbor a deep hatred of cyclists.

And so ends another summer. People are going back to school and the temps have already started falling. Surely, the leaves and snow are soon to follow. It was an eventful summer, to say the least. I took an awesome road trip down the Missouri, published a CD-ROM, graduated from UND, rode in yet another CANDISC bike tour, started a new job, and spent money like mad (despite the fact that I didn't work all summer) on a new bike and a digital camera.

Things have really been changing around me. My best friends, Jesse & Melanie McCormack, have moved from their parents' home to their own places in Minot, my brother's grown up and going to college in Bottineau. And here I sit, a college graduate with a salaried position at a good company. It's all very exciting.

But back up a bit . . . I said I had some new toys. In particular, I've got a digital camera. I've wanted one for a long time, and I finally caved and bought one. The plan is to use it to stick a new photo up on this web site every day or two. I'll post a few here for today. Click the "next image" button above to see another image. There are three altogether.

These photos were taken during a bike ride along riverside trail tonight. The bridge in the pictures is Memorial Bridge, over the Missouri here in Bismarck. That's my new bike, a Schwinn Fastback Pro 2001. [note: I'll make the images smaller next time. Sorry if they're too big.]