I have to use some kind of euphemism to describe them to convince myself I still like bike commuting. I'm still picking scaly pseudo-scar material from my elbow

I have to use some kind of euphemism to describe them to convince myself I still like bike commuting. I'm still picking scaly pseudo-scar material from my elbow. Of particular note: the first big crash was due in part to me being inexperienced, only back on the bike for a few months. I wasn't riding the way I should have been, and I was not prepared for the situation. The second crash happened because I spent too much time scanning the road for cars and road hazards, and not enough time noting my surroundings. A co-worker saw me hit the deer (he was a few cars back) and says he saw it in the field from the top of the hill, before it wandered into the deeper brush that it'd eventually jump out of right in front of me. Taking some of the blame and acknowledging that both crashes were ultimately avoidable has helped keep me on the bike, and it's sharpened me up a bit while riding.