{"id":319,"date":"2016-09-15T18:09:17","date_gmt":"2016-09-15T22:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.princetonbookreview.com\/blog\/?p=319"},"modified":"2024-05-29T10:24:45","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T14:24:45","slug":"want-to-be-happy-and-well-read-start-each-day-like-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.princetonbookreview.com\/blog\/want-to-be-happy-and-well-read-start-each-day-like-this\/","title":{"rendered":"Can two things as diverse as books and bikes really be compatible?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"bike-2-2\"<\/i><\/div>\n

M<\/span>ost people are intensely happy when the weather turns warm; they grab a hat, a lounge chair and head to the beach with a good book. \u00a0Me? \u00a0I pull my bike out of storage, grab my helmet and my kindle and start peddling. I think of it as destination reading;\u00a0a fabulous\u00a0way to read more\u00a0and stay healthy.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, where do I bike ? Since I live in NYC, I bike a lot on the streets. \u00a0I’ll be honest,\u00a0cycling in Manhattan\u00a0is\u00a0not for the timid. When the thought first popped into my head, I envisioned sitting upright on my bike, smiling, nodding hello to fellow bikers and all the while taking in the city sights.<\/p>\n

As it turns out, it\u2019s not quite that peaceful, it’s \u00a0more like a\u00a0video game, where all these\u00a0obstacles surprise\u00a0the avatar; like\u00a0signs popping up and beams dropping, but there are no popping signs and no dropping beams in New York, instead it’s\u00a0aggressive cars, vendor carts and construction detours. \u00a0I know… it’s not the most philosophical experience and it’s\u00a0 challenging, but\u00a0what’s a NYC biker to do? Not Bike?<\/p>\n

\"taste2\"<\/i><\/div>\n

I’m actually making it sound worse than it is. In spite of it all, it’s fun.\u00a0But sometimes I do crave\u00a0the other kind of biking- the Disney version, where I can relax and enjoy the day. The fix,\u00a0I jump on a train to Princeton NJ where I have biking\u00a0buddies\u00a0and we wear our selves out cycling the nearby neighborhoods and the Princeton campus.<\/p>\n

It’s easy to lose track of time. but when our stomachs start complaining, we lunch at our favorite restaurant\u00a0-\u201cA Taste of Mexico\u201d. \u00a0If you like Mexican food and you are ever in the area, try it -the food is delicious and healthy, and if not too hot,\u00a0the outdoor tables are great. \u00a0It doesn’t get more perfect for me! Confession: My reading is mostly on the train ride on these days, but that\u2019s still 2 plus hours round-trip.<\/p>\n

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The Manasquan Inlet at the Jersey Shore is another Great place for biking and reading.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although I try to be healthy, I\u2019m completely invested in the 20% 80% rule. That\u2019s 80% trying my best to do it right and the other 20%? Anything goes. I have a weakness for\u00a0Starbucks. \u00a0I can\u2019t resist the vanilla bean scones or the chocolate madeleines and I adore anything pumpkin, so their pumpkin scones\u00a0are always calling my name this time of year.<\/p>\n

\"sb\"Now, what do I read?\u00a0Any\u00a0book you would\u00a0take on vacation or to the beach is perfect. Two of my recent favorites were \u201cA Fall Of Marigolds<\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>by\u00a0Susan Meissner;<\/span> an emotional story that parallels two NYC events that take place a century apart,\u00a0and\u00a0for mystery lovers, \u00a0\u201cThe Woman in Cabin 10<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u201d b<\/span><\/span>y Edith Ware.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0It\u2019s a good suspenseful who-done-it mystery. I haven’t see the movie yet, but I also loved\u00a0\u00a0“The Girl on the Train<\/span><\/span><\/a>” by Paula Hawkins- a fast pasted excellent thriller.<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t bike much when the temps drop below 40(ish) so I\u2019ll be sad when December rolls around and the bike goes back in storage. But reading is an anytime, anywhere activity so all is not lost. I feel empowered and inspired when I combine my love of biking with my love of reading. The enjoyment keeps getting better. As we say at PBR- Just Read.<\/p>\n

Happy Reading,
Linda<\/p>\n

\u00a0Read Reviews:<\/strong><\/span>
\"Book<\/a>\"Book<\/a>\"girl-on-train-bs\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n

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