Boys were born nine years ago though Pedigree says they are 68 years old! How did this happen?! Dogs don't compare to kids. I know this. Yet these Boys are the closest thing I have to kids. I take care of them, love them, and can't imagine life without them. As a celebration of Boys, I'd like to point you to a blog my friend Diana did. This was such a special gift she gave me that I will treasure always.
I'd also like to end with this quote from author and poet, George Eliot (who also happens to be an ancestor):
"We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment."
Mama loves you, Buddy and Bailey!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
New blog!
I'll be abandoning this blog for the night to promote (and help write) a new blog. Check us out tomorrow, and the 5th and 20th of every month, for musings from a couple of very talented peeps, one in written form, one in visual form. Five Words Musing.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The Loooong Fall and Winter
As some friends and I are starting a new blog (more on that in a moment), I logged in and realized I haven't posted since July! How dare I?! There have been quite a few trips on the bike since July to include Raleigh Bikefest and Myrtle Beach Fall Bike Week in September.
There was also a cold trip to Rider's Roost campground in the NC mountains in October! Much like the trip last year this trip was full of winding roads and cold weather. However this year, we remembered an e-blankie. That's the only way to camp (if you can still call that camping).
One other semi-milestone since the last post was getting my "M" and renting a Harley from Ray Price as part of my riding class last July.
The bike was rented, it was ridden, and then it was dropped. After some nasty bruises and some tweaks from Jim's wrench, it was returned good as new. There may or may not be another blog post in the Spring about the next rental. My bodily bruises have healed, but the ego, well we're still waiting on that bruise to disappear.
Ok, enough of the biking, now, back to the blogging. Yes, we're at it again. In case you didn't know, 2011 was spent reflecting on the full moon of each month in "My Moon, Your Moon". Two very talented friends each shared their perspective, one in written form, one in visual form. They allowed me to tag along for fun and sometimes for my editing skillz. This year, we have a new project, Five Words Musing, the explanation for which can be found here. Stay tuned for more on the 5th and 20th of each month.
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| Raleigh Bikefest-Sept. 2011 |
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| They start 'em early at Myrtle! |
One other semi-milestone since the last post was getting my "M" and renting a Harley from Ray Price as part of my riding class last July.
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| A note from a peep excited to see my new license |
The bike was rented, it was ridden, and then it was dropped. After some nasty bruises and some tweaks from Jim's wrench, it was returned good as new. There may or may not be another blog post in the Spring about the next rental. My bodily bruises have healed, but the ego, well we're still waiting on that bruise to disappear.
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| Proof! |
Monday, July 11, 2011
I Passed (barely)
Ok, so I spoiled the outcome with the title, but the interesting part is the "barely." This past weekend I took the Rider's Edge course through Ray Price Harley Davidson. At the beginning of the class the instructor asked why we wanted to take the class. For me, the main reason was for safety; if for some reason I had to drive the bike somewhere (you know, like if Jim got abducted by aliens), I would know how. The other reason is pure curiosity. I wanted to know what the rush felt like. And now I know. It's pretty darn cool.
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Thursday and Friday night were classroom instruction. Saturday and Sunday was actual field work out at the VIP parking lot at Walnut Creek and by 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, I was driving the bike. Granted, it was in a huge, flat, empty parking lot (with Bojangles' fried chicken and some puke leftover from Friday night's Tim McGraw concert), but wow. I have to admit, it was very stressful. There is so much to think about when you ride. Shifting, braking, swerving, leaning, the list goes on. Saturday afternoon we took the written test, and since I work at a testing company, I use that term VERY loosely.
Sunday started out with the figure 8. Whoever invented figure 8s should be shot. Luckily, there is never an instance in real life where you would have to use this. To get out of a tight spot you could do a three point turn, walk the bike, or have your much more experienced boyfriend turn the bike around for you...see, options! For some unknown reason, some moron decided it's a good idea to put it on the driving test. I would like to show this moron my scraped hand. During the figure 8 portion of the test, I dropped the bike. For those that have never done it, it's not fun. It's a little scary, could be painful, and is super-embarrassing. Thankfully I was wearing gloves, boots, and jeans (safety first people), and the training bike had probably been dropped 100 times before (not by me!) so everything was cool and off I went to the next part of the test.
As it got near the end, the stress began to build. I was tired, hot, and very nervous. This is the time that I was thankful I had selected the ladies-only class. Because I began to cry. Yep, biker chick crying. Not. Cool. The other girls in the class were so encouraging and helpful. Instead of quitting, I got through the last portion and was done. The six of us breathed a collective sigh of relief as he told us our scores. We all passed! Girls rule!
As a bonus to the class, I got to reconnect with one of my first friends when I moved to Raleigh at five years old. Neither one of us knew the other was going to take the class. We've come a long way since playing Barbie's, Nintendo, collecting stuffed animals, and riding bicycles. Now, we're both engaged to big bad bikers and learning to drive our own (different type of) bikes!
Through a teensy bit of blood, buckets of sweat, and a few tears, I passed the class. Next step, NC DMV!
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Thursday and Friday night were classroom instruction. Saturday and Sunday was actual field work out at the VIP parking lot at Walnut Creek and by 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, I was driving the bike. Granted, it was in a huge, flat, empty parking lot (with Bojangles' fried chicken and some puke leftover from Friday night's Tim McGraw concert), but wow. I have to admit, it was very stressful. There is so much to think about when you ride. Shifting, braking, swerving, leaning, the list goes on. Saturday afternoon we took the written test, and since I work at a testing company, I use that term VERY loosely.
Sunday started out with the figure 8. Whoever invented figure 8s should be shot. Luckily, there is never an instance in real life where you would have to use this. To get out of a tight spot you could do a three point turn, walk the bike, or have your much more experienced boyfriend turn the bike around for you...see, options! For some unknown reason, some moron decided it's a good idea to put it on the driving test. I would like to show this moron my scraped hand. During the figure 8 portion of the test, I dropped the bike. For those that have never done it, it's not fun. It's a little scary, could be painful, and is super-embarrassing. Thankfully I was wearing gloves, boots, and jeans (safety first people), and the training bike had probably been dropped 100 times before (not by me!) so everything was cool and off I went to the next part of the test.
As it got near the end, the stress began to build. I was tired, hot, and very nervous. This is the time that I was thankful I had selected the ladies-only class. Because I began to cry. Yep, biker chick crying. Not. Cool. The other girls in the class were so encouraging and helpful. Instead of quitting, I got through the last portion and was done. The six of us breathed a collective sigh of relief as he told us our scores. We all passed! Girls rule!
As a bonus to the class, I got to reconnect with one of my first friends when I moved to Raleigh at five years old. Neither one of us knew the other was going to take the class. We've come a long way since playing Barbie's, Nintendo, collecting stuffed animals, and riding bicycles. Now, we're both engaged to big bad bikers and learning to drive our own (different type of) bikes!
Through a teensy bit of blood, buckets of sweat, and a few tears, I passed the class. Next step, NC DMV!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Hold out for Happiness
I have hesitated writing this blog. Partly because it involves some tough things for me to remember, and partly because I don't want to jinx myself. The past fourteen months have been some of the best, and all because I have found someone to share the rest of my life with.
I've been here before. Fifteen years ago I thought I had found that someone and we got married. It was hard for me to admit that things just weren't right and I wasn't happy. Neither was he. We were so stubborn that we stuck it out for eight years trying our best. But I knew there had to be more and I was ready to try and find that person. And I did.
On our fourteen month anniversary, Jim, with the help of some of my co-workers, planned a surprise dinner at Rey's Restaurant under the guise of a business meeting. I had a suspicion that something was up (I'm a little more keen to his sneakiness now) but just in case was prepared for the meeting. Of course when I showed up he was there with roses, a suit, and his "Hi, babydoll" smirk, satisfied that he had surprised me, yet again! Rather than let me suffer with anticipation through dinner, he got down on one knee and proposed. Of course my answer was "Yes!" and we enjoyed a delicious dinner and dessert. What a lucky girl I am.
One of the main reasons I wanted to write this blog was to give hope to those that are still looking for happiness. Over the past few years I've seen those around me in many different stages of relationships. I have friends that aren't happy with where they are, some that are still searching, and some that have found their happiness. Though it took me a while to find my happiness, I'm thankful I held out and I wish everyone a similar feeling. Life is too short not to!
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I've been here before. Fifteen years ago I thought I had found that someone and we got married. It was hard for me to admit that things just weren't right and I wasn't happy. Neither was he. We were so stubborn that we stuck it out for eight years trying our best. But I knew there had to be more and I was ready to try and find that person. And I did.
On our fourteen month anniversary, Jim, with the help of some of my co-workers, planned a surprise dinner at Rey's Restaurant under the guise of a business meeting. I had a suspicion that something was up (I'm a little more keen to his sneakiness now) but just in case was prepared for the meeting. Of course when I showed up he was there with roses, a suit, and his "Hi, babydoll" smirk, satisfied that he had surprised me, yet again! Rather than let me suffer with anticipation through dinner, he got down on one knee and proposed. Of course my answer was "Yes!" and we enjoyed a delicious dinner and dessert. What a lucky girl I am.
One of the main reasons I wanted to write this blog was to give hope to those that are still looking for happiness. Over the past few years I've seen those around me in many different stages of relationships. I have friends that aren't happy with where they are, some that are still searching, and some that have found their happiness. Though it took me a while to find my happiness, I'm thankful I held out and I wish everyone a similar feeling. Life is too short not to!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
OBX
Last weekend was OBX bike week, my first, at OBX that is. We had 19 in a 3-story cottage on Nags Head. We had meals planned, rides planned, and drinks planned. Here are a few highlights: I had my phone out while riding the bike at 70 miles an hour (ok, sometimes 80, but don't tell mom) down 64 east. All the while looking to the north/northeast at the dark clouds and praying that we didn't hit the storm, Oh, and that I didn't drop my phone. The iPhone should really come with a dummy-cord.
I learned a new drink, the Peppermint Patty. First the chocolate syrup.
Then mix with the Peppermint Schnapps.
Yep, a York Peppermint Patty in my mouth. Delish! Try it immediately.
Then the best part, I got to "ride" a Harley. Get in the driver's seat, shift through the gears up to 60 mph, and everything. Granted, it was on one of those simulator thingys where the back tire is on a roller ball (what is that contraption called?), but still...I did it! Last September I won the Rider's Edge course at Ray Price at a charity auction. I have yet to actually sign up for the course, but being able to feel the throttle is, I have to admit, addicting!
I learned a new drink, the Peppermint Patty. First the chocolate syrup.
Then mix with the Peppermint Schnapps.
Then the best part, I got to "ride" a Harley. Get in the driver's seat, shift through the gears up to 60 mph, and everything. Granted, it was on one of those simulator thingys where the back tire is on a roller ball (what is that contraption called?), but still...I did it! Last September I won the Rider's Edge course at Ray Price at a charity auction. I have yet to actually sign up for the course, but being able to feel the throttle is, I have to admit, addicting!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Mas Tequila, Por Favor
So, I'm in Mexico City for a work trip. Today we went sightseeing. Among the churches, temples, ruins, and pyramids, I learned the most important thing of all, the correct way to shoot tequila. Our guide, Jesus, gave us the tutorial. Most of us have done the whole lick your hand, sprinkle the salt, lick the salt, shoot the tequila, suck the lime, thing. However, according to Jesus, this is the Hollywood way, yes, the gringo way. The correct method, which I will happily demonstrate for all of you upon my return, is as follows: sprinkle the salt on the lime, suck the lime and hold the juice in your mouth, shoot the tequila, and swallow all the yummy goodness. It's not nearly as strong, and tastes like a mini margarita! Thank you, Jesus!
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