up from below

the amount of rain we have been getting lately is unreal. today it hailed again. I personally love summer rain. i especially love riding my bike in it with all my clothing clinging to me and my shoes making that squish squash noise. rain is soothing and comforting to me. when i am indoors and it rains i feel safe and comfortable. i use to really like to bake when it rained. i like to cry in the rain. rain is re-birthing, it washes it all always and starts out fresh. i like the smell of the air after a rain. i like to run in the rain.

more then i like the rain i like the light after the storm. there is nothing compared to that quality of light. being a storm chasing photographer must be nice. i like the star burst explosions in the sky    

today's storm as it rolled in. view from the window at work

the rest of these are from my home. i would have actually liked to have shot these with a real camera but that did not work out.

 

far from below how high can we go

100 miles you you ain't no thing

this is also much overdue. in july i rode my first ever century ride. that's right 100 miles. this was an chicago district rei employee ride. man was this fun! i love my friends, co-workers, and my bike. things like this make life worth living. i still think one of the best parts... well if not the best the funniest... was when greg got a flat in front of a bar trying to do a bikini babe car wash. the elk in elk grove village were pretty spectacular too, i never knew that elk  grove actually had elk. did you? it was a day of strengthening bonds with good friends and making new one's with new friends.