Summer is here and gas prices are up - more of us are on bicycles. Remember to use lights for night. Here is some local inspiration: Night riding

What I really dig is when a company takes something that is beneficial yet boring, like safety, and makes it fun. Drivers give you room like you won't believe, kids will love you, everybody else wants to talk to you and riding around on a cloud of neon light is just plain fun.

Yesterday afternoon & this morning were a bit like bicycling through a warm sponge. In a good way, if that makes any sense. As everyone probably knows by now, we are heading into a couple of days of potentially record-breaking warm weather.

Although at the moment, all that hot sunny weather looks entirely theoretical. It's warmer, warm enough that I wore a t-shirt, no jacket, but still quite overcast. I guess the weather peeps know what they're talking about, though.

So don't forget to bike safely: dress lightly, carry (and drink!) plenty of water, and take breaks when you need to. And an extra tip: don't give blood & then expect to ride later in hot weather. I learned that the hard way last summer! I ended up begging a ride home from a co-worker.

On that note: my bikes are both a little too oddly shaped to carry on the bus (grumble grumble grumble) but I do have a couple of co-workers with larger vehicles who have standing offers to take me & my bike home in an emergency. Or if chad360 is around, he can come get me. Or, according to company policy, I think I could check out a company car, although I wouldn't want to put my bike in it! Or, worst case, I can bring my bike in the building and get myself home on the bus.

It's good to have some backup plans, because sometimes stuff happens. So far I've needed a ride 3 times: the aforementioned day, a rainy evening, and the day I almost got hit by a semi on the way in. That time, I thought I was fine, then somebody asked me about it, and I pretty much dissolved.

Anyhow, be safe out there!

What would you do if while out enjoying yourself around a lot of people - suddenly everything goes to hell in a handbasket?

Crowds that turn into mobs, especially when fueled by alcohol, can quickly become ugly and unsafe. We live in troubled times and I think it is very wise for us to educate each other about safety.

Something to be mindful of during a riot is to not blindly follow whoever in the crowd yells the loudest. At best the person might not be thinking clearly, at worst they might purposefully want the adrenaline rush of stirring shit up.

Remain calm. Riots bring intense emotions boiling to the surface, but if you want to survive one you'd be better off keeping yours in check. Your adrenaline and survival instincts will kick in, but try to think rationally and pursue safety methodically.

Stay on the sidelines. If you're caught up in a riot, don't take sides. Try to look as inconspicuous as possible, and slowly and carefully move to the outside of the mob.

The more time you spend in the midst of a riot, the greater your chance of being injured or killed. That said, in most circumstances it's better to move out of a riot slowly. If you run, you will draw attention to yourself, so it's usually best to walk. It can also be dangerous to move against a crowd, so go with the flow until you are able to escape into a doorway or up a side street or alley. It may also be advantageous to stay with the crowd until you are certain you can safely escape because it will help you remain inconspicuous and improve your odds of survival if shots are fired.

More ideas from How to Survive a Riot

also helpful: How to avoid being shot by a Police Officer

The National Weather Service is predicting some much lower temps for us soon - low Sunday night of 21, Monday night 19, and that isn't taking wind chill into account.

If you can help Bread and Roses out with winter needs, give them a call at 360.754.4588.

Although we are not a clothing bank, we do run a Winter Clothing Drive every year. Keep us in mind for your good-condition jackets, sweaters, hoodies, sweatshirts, heavy pants, boots, scarves, gloves and knit hats. We accept blanket donations year-round as well as donations of tents, tarps, and other camping related materials.