Rethinking the Bike

I bought a bike this summer. The idea was that I could get some exercise and save a little gas (and thus in some small way help save the world). I knew I hadn't ridden a bike in about 10 years, maybe more, but I thought I would remember. I test drove the bike and felt like I could handle it. I got the helmet, a mirror, pads, a lock, even a bag so I can carry library books or groceries. I figured maybe I could ride to work once a week or something.
I quickly discovered that I am not currently strong enough to ride my bike to work. I made it one day (after a spill that prompted me to buy the elbow pads), but there is a decent sized hill on the main road outside our subdivision and I can't get enough speed to really be safe, especially at rush hour. So the goal was to build up some muscle so I could ride to work. My second problem was that I get to spend very little time with the girls, and I didn't want to interrupt that time to go on a bike ride alone. (I am a little faster than they are on their bikes). I can't ride at night because Kentucky's only bike law seems to be that you need to have a light to ride at night. Therefor, I haven't had much practice with the bike.
So after having the bike for almost two months I went to the store on Tuesday and while on the hill in our neighborhood I was barely able to pass the little old lady out for a morning stroll.
I had gone to the store to pick up a prescription. Of course, the pharmacy doesn't open until nine, so I had to wait to go, which meant I was a bit pressed for time for getting to work. I took my car keys, because my house key is attached and threw it in the bag with my wallet (which has a spare car key) and the key for the bike lock. So it took me a while to sort through all the keys to lock up my bike while I was at the store. On the way home, I was pondering how much gas I might have "saved" thus far. It would be generous to say that I might have travelled 12 miles on my bike. That's about half a gallon of gas, or (again, generously) $1.50. [Incidentally I had to pay 75cents to put air in my tires while I was at the store].
Then I got home. I couldn't find my keys. I had the bike lock keys. I had my wallet with my car key, but no house key. I didn't have time to ride my bike back to the store, so I drove. (At least I found the keys quickly) So much for saving gas today. Then I drove to work. Of course, I completely forgot that the ample parking at 8 am is non existent at 10am. So I drove around the block several times trying to find a spot. I think I thus negated the remainder of my $1.50 savings and any corresponding environmental benefit. And I still can barely make it up the hill.