Last night we were walking our usual route along Evanston’s curving lakeshore. We paused at a spot that provides a great view of Chicago’s skyline to the south – its sky filled with a pinkish, orange glow.

Tonight though, we had a little extra color. Navy Pier, the furthest eastern point downtown, was shooting off their traditional summer fireworks. They do this all summer long, probably in an attempt to seem more like Disney World. Don’t know about that, but it does explain the rates at their parking garage.

Watching the display from 11 miles to the north, we sat in the dark on our flat, cool boulders. We’d see a burst of color, but hear nothing. Then, about 50 seconds later the rumbling explosions would reach us. After the silent finale had finished, we waited. I imagined the sound as a cloud – racing along the surface of Lake Michigan as it was dulled by the tops of the waves lapping at it’s underside. Finally we heard the blasts. It was so cool.

We’re doing more biking these days on our dynamic, distinctive Dahons. And with Melissa loving nothing quite as much as a visit to Evanston’s Farmer’s Market, we rode over this morning to try out my new bike accessories.

First, I picked up some new handlebar grips. The stock ones were pathetic, chunky, knobby ones that left my hands tingling after riding for 15 or 20 minutes. I had to do a little cutting to make these new ones work with the shifter integrated into the handlebar, but the results are really wonderful. I could ride all day with these, which flare out to cup the palm of your hands.

After walking around to admire arugula, browse bread and sample snap peas, I unfolded the newest weapon – dual collapsible wire baskets. They held everything Melissa had bought and then some, so we cruised home along the beach and pulled into the garage just as rain moved in and soaked the rest of the day.

I’ve spent most of the remainder of the weekend doing sketches for my children’s animated DVD project, but hopefully we can begin every weekend from now until November at the market – it just kind of puts you in a good mood.

Talked it over with Melis tonight, then we cancelled our $50 a month basic cable service. See, Comcast is the only game in town for cable and if you ever took Econ 101… you know what that means. The 900 lb. gorilla can giddily charge whatever he pleases – and has proved it by jacking up the price by $20 a month over the past two years. I should’ve done this long ago, if only to send these idiots a message.

Don’t get me wrong – I’ll greatly miss Myth Busters, The Daily Show, some Discovery shows about Earth, a car makeover show now and then, House Hunters International when they’re in France or Italy, CNN, and Travel Channel shows like Superhomes and Megayachts for People So Rich You’ll Vomit. Melissa loves the Food Network for Barefoot Contessa and Everyday Italian. Oh, and M’s favorite way to fall asleep? The Weather Channel.

Well, no more of that!

Maybe in the fall I’ll upgrade again for the new shows. But for now I’m too busy with work, bike rides and spending time at the beach to justify shelling out 600 bucks a year on something that amounts to 90% trash.