Look! It's a whale on a bike!

I have a confession. I'm 33 weeks pregant and I'm still commuting to work by bike. And I love it.

Saturday, Blob and I were stopped at a light on our ride back from breakfast.  Our friends drove by yelling out the window: "Look!  It's a whale on a bike!"  (They meant me)  I was thrilled.

Starting the morning commute--33 weeks pregnant

Most women probably wouldn't be too happy to be referred to as a whale (on a bike or elsewhere).  But I should explain: I've been desensitized.  Completely.  From the day the pregnancy test came out positive, Blob immediately began the baby whale jokes.  Note: I hadn't gained a pound by this point, nor would I for at least 4-6 more weeks!  I also don't have any body image issues and he knows me well enough to know that I'd find it hilarious, rather than be offended; 7.5 months in, it still cracks me up.

Anyway, I'm still commuting to and from work by bike.  I should explain that my commute is only two miles. It's pretty flat and mostly on bike paths or with protected bike lanes. I've also slowed down quite a bit, though still get excited if I manage to pass people! And also, as a child, more of my waking hours were spent on a bike than off, so I feel pretty stable and comfortable on bikes.  It's also an incredibly stable bike--kind of like a tank.

I know some nervous people may have trouble with this, but I tend to be less risk-averse than the average person. I'm not in risk-denial, but I don't sit still well and don't like the idea of being overly cautious when the risks are minimal. I'm still capable of doing quite a bit. And, I feel so much better after any small bit of exercise that I couldn't imagine denying my body or my baby that feeling.  Of course, I continuously assess the risks of riding and will be honest with myself if I start to feel wobbly, but until that point, I'm going to keep riding. And keep loving it.

I had to stop running at 22 weeks due to some issues with my feet. While I love running and hoped to be one of those people who ran through the 8th month, I gave it up when my body told me it was done. While walking also exacerbates my feet issues, I still walk quite a bit, but that doesn't provide the same effect. So I swim and do prenatal yoga and ride my bike to and from work.

Even though biking is still physically comfortable, I'm having a really hard time bending over to roll up my pants!

TSA, it's not OK

We recently took another trip. This time to visit Blob's sister and brother-in-law. It was a quick flight and a great visit.  Except for the airport security.

Just a couple years after Sept 11, 2001, most people had figured out how to travel with the new security requirements--bag your liquids, take your shoes and belts off, remove your computers, etc. But, in the past year or two, security has become more of a production. I'm blaming the full body scanners.

Not sure if they're actually the cause, but since they've been implemented, lines take longer and everything seems to be more of an ordeal. Blob likes to call it "security theater", since he doesn't think the full body scanners provide any benefit on top of the pre-existing safeguards...besides annoying the passengers.

Since there is a dearth of evidence on the effects of these full body scanners and to annoy the TSA agents, Blob and I usually opt out of the full body scan when we're shuffled through it.  As a consolation prize, we get patted down by a TSA officer.  Apparently, as part of their protocol, they have to check the top bits of your pants.  On a recent trip during the pat down, one TSA officer at RDU said:

"This is why I love patting down pregnant women!"

Really?  She was genuinely excited.  She was referring to the (yes, it's fabulous) elastic waistband in my preggy pants.  I get it, they're great.  I'll probably wear them forever.  But is it too much to ask that she should be a little less excited about it!?