Bicycle Diaries

This could be my husband! Well, the man in this article could be my husband. Well, not exactly like that. The man in this article is a musician. So is my hubby. The man in this article writes. So does my husband. The man in this article rides a bike. So does my hubby. Lots of people know this man by name and appearance and his music. Not so much my hubby. I get all of him. I am his biggest fan. His bipolar disorder and all his addictions conflicted with his success. That is a good way of saying it, huh. He has been clean and sober nine years but the bipolar disorder cannot be left behind like the addictions. My hubby has more talent in his baby finger than I could ever hope to have.

Musician, writer, and artist, David Byrne is going to ride a bicycle ..."around Detroit, Istanbul, London, San Francisco, Manila, New York -- you name it. He cycles through cities bike-friendly and bike-hostile, musing on the myriad advantages (and disadvantages) of getting around on two wheels in places where, often, a man on a bike (a famous man, with shockingly white hair, no less) is a strange sight indeed. He muses on everything from urban planning to bike helmets to art criticism to Latin music, often on his bike (but not always). Even if you don't own a bike and have no plans to mount one, you'll pedal through the pages of "Bicycle Diaries" in no time; the book is full of musings by a compelling eccentric."

This post is a preview of a book review of "Bicycle Diaries" by David Byrne, because I am going to buy this book for my hubby's 60th birthday next month. That means I will get to read it too!

My hubby rides his bike at least twenty mornings each month. When I met him he rode his bike every day. At least once. The new meds the doctors have him taking this year have caused him to gain some weight and have affected his thyroid. But my hubby is determined to stay as balanced as possible and not have another manic episode. The exercise regimen of riding the bike shows his determination to be consistent and be as healthy as he can be.

For more information about David Byrne's bicycle tours check his website.

Message Machine

Found at Mother's Got a Dot Com:

"Hi, welcome to Mental Health Hotline…

Do you have a compulsory disorder? Please press 1 again and again and again…

If you have multiple personalities, please press 4, 5 and 6

If you’re paranoid, we know who you are and what you want. Don’t hang up. We’re tracing your call.

Psychotic? Please press 7, and your call will be forwarded to the mothership.

If you’re schizofrenic, please listen carefully, and a little voice will tell you what number to press.

If you’re depressed, press any key. No one will answer anyway.

Dyslectic or dysnumeric? Please press 96745289925380177226634291

If you’ve lost your memory, press 8 and give your name, adress, phone number, date of birth, social security number and your mothers maiden name.

Post- traumatic stress syndrome? Please press 000 s-l-o-w-l-y-a-n-d-c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y…

If you’re bipolar, leave a message before the beep or after the beep or before the beep. Please wait for the beep.

If your short-term memory is bad, please press 9.
If your short-term memory is bad, please press 9.
If your short-term memory is bad, please press 9.
If your short-term memory is bad, please press 9.
If your short-term memory is bad, please press 9.

If your self-esteem is low, please hang up. All our therapists are far too busy to help you.

If you’re a blond, do not touch any keys. You’re bound to screw up.

(For the record - this is not meant to poke fun at mental issues, but at government and other “phone services”. They may not be as bad as this, but “press this, say that, please blow your nose after the beep” has become a d*** nuisance in this country - and I’m guessing it’s a global thing. And don’t get me started on the “music”!!)"

There isn't a problem with this kind of humor at our house since there is plenty of mental health issues to go around. See the hubby's blog here regarding his ongoing issues with Bipolar Disorder. And, I am blond dealing with my own codependent and depression issues. Duh. So A little humor is welcome, huh.