Get Ready, Get Set, GO!

My first bicycle was pink with a white banana seat that had pink & purple daisies on it. It also had a wicker basket that hung off the high rise handle bars. I very vividly remember the day the training wheels came off although I must have only been 4 or 5 years old? I felt like most kids getting their training wheels off their "big bike".... excitably-terrified. On one hand that meant I was a big girl that could balance on two wheels on the other I could seriously wipe out!

Michelson Trail - Black Hills, SD

I moved up to a Huffy ten speed bike with curved handle bars that was shared between my sister and I as teenagers, then a mountain bike from Walmart as an adult. It wasn't until about 5 years ago when I splurged and purchased a TREK3700. She is cherry red with front shocks, and now that I know the difference between a average joe bike and a bike with shocks, I will never go back.



2010


I don't participate in the local bicycle clubs because I would have to purchase a road bike to keep up to their pace given mountain bikes are considerably heavier. That and they ride on the side of highways and I have seen those bike lanes, there is barely enough space to fit your bike and both legs on each side. A car gets too close; goodbye kneecap hello road rash. But I do try to keep up on charity bicycle runs and I ride the sand trails nearby and at the park from time to time.


May is National Bike Month. For more information visit the League of American Bicyclists here.

Are your tires aired up?

LADY

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others. " ~ Audrey Hepburn

This blog entry is dedicated to all those whom are having a difficult week such as I. Keep the faith. :)

FRIDAY, APRIL 23RD 2010

Today I:

• Wore my hair like this to work. You may recognize the hair pins from the photo in the blog below. A little dressy for scrubs but somedays I just feel like jazzing things up.
• My messy do caused me a lot of trouble at Target and the gas station. One fella followed me around (you know the kind. they keep trying to make eye contact hoping you will open a conversation, all the while you are just walking around in circles hoping he gets the hint to get lost.) as I looked for a watch battery (which I never found) and the other gave me one of those unnerving stare downs as I pumped my gas across from his pump that stopped about the same time mine started yet he never got in his car to leave until I did.
• Paid $3.48 for a small Diet Coke. Two dollars were graciously ate by the mall vending machine, the remainder paid for a fountain soda at a pretzel stand. Fountain soda gives me a headache and today was no exception, but I needed caffeine to get me through the afternoon so I took the risk.
• Was nearly ran over by a white Cadillac as I walked back to work from getting the soda that gave me the headache.
• Disappointed that my Johnny Cash tee didn't come in the mail yet today either.
• Listening to Mr. Cash right now.
• Caught up on reading all my fellow blogger's blogs. I came across this hilarious commerical posted at Handbags & Handguns
  
  
  
  

P.S. I still haven't figured out how to fix the lack of spacing between paragraphs since I switched back to Windows from Firefox. I mean, I put spaces between the paragraphs, they just don't show up when I publish the blog. This happened to me way in the beginning of starting at blogspot, so I will figue it out at some point. Just so you know it irriates me just as much as it probably irriates ya'll.

YOU'VE GOT MAIL

Ever since I first moved away from my hometown in 1993 my mother and sister have periodically sent me "goodie boxes" and vice versa. In these boxes were magazines, newspaper articles, photos, spices, candles, soaps, and/or other small gifts. I have enjoyed all my "goodies" over the years, but todays box in the mail was especially awesome, that was because my ma was sending me things from her trunk. The items in the photo above were her Aunt Millie's and she is passing them onto me because of my love of vintage items that thus far has only included things I have found at thrift stores, consignment shops, or given to me by friends.

Isn't it nice to get something in the mail besides bills & catalogs every once in a while? A goodie box isn't neccessary, just send a friend/family member a card or a handwritten letter, bet you will make them smile.

TEACHER

Mama B's little Dylan

"A great teacher never strives to explain his vision - he simply invites you to stand beside him and see for yourself." ~ R. Inman

HAPPY EASTER

Photo: L3 ~ Gpa ~ sister

What are your memories of Easter Sunday growing up?

Mine:

• Easter dresses that usually matched my older sister's in some fashion (see above photo)
• Easter bonnets/hats
• Running around looking for little plastic colored eggs filled with candy, gum, or quarters
• Coloring/decorating Easter eggs
• Easter morning church service
• Traveling to visit family and enjoying a big meal

We all know the Christian reason for celebrating Easter, however, I have wondered where the Easter "egg" concept came from. I intended to research & write a blog about the meaning behind the Easter "egg", but Miss Jayne beat me too it. Read about it here. I love learning something new, don't you? :)

HAPPY EASTER!

This -N- That for March 28th 2010

*This blog entry is going to be a hodge-podge of randomness all-n-one so please bare with me.*

1. I am sitting here looking out my window when I notice this little man. Does he not realize he is going the wrong way? I mean I live on the second floor so what is he doing so high up? And where is he planning on going?

Made me think of a saying I came across just the other day:

"I am too positive to be doubtful
Too optimistic to be fearful
And too determined to be defeated." ~ unknown

Hmmm..........



2. Which brings me to this -
I saw this at Kohl's on Friday. It made me smile. It says: Don't worry everything is going to be amazing. Yes it is. :O)

3. One of my favorite quotes: "My mind tells me to win, my spirit shows me how, and my body delivers." ~ Anonymous


4. I swiped this from Jayne's blog (whom got it from an email) on how fairy tales really end. I thought it was funny. Maybe it was because I have a Cinderella tattoo?


5. Speaking of tattoos....

before my color session this past Friday

.....during.....

And here she is: Little Miss Be Good by Lisa Murphy. Eight hours total to complete this calf piece. I love it! (don't you?)

This is how the idea started. The doll pictured belongs to my sister. It comes from Norway. I believe the story goes it was given to her by Tim when he went over for business, but it just reminds me of my grandpa who came over from Oslo and where his family still resides.

I asked Lisa to use this photo as the inspiration focus point. I wanted the girl to be playing a concertina in memory of my gma's musical talents and to have "Be Good" somewhere incorporated because that is something she has always said to me. My gma is still with us but she will never see this piece nor to my knowledge does she know about any of my other tattoos.

6. My latest Asshat Award goes to: FireFox browser 3.6

Thanks for the bug that would not allow me to use search engines or get onto blogspot. I deleted you and found an older version (3.5) on the net, hopefully this won't screw up my computer since I am not "updated", however, I did not know what else to do. I am not a fan of IE but don't think I am afraid of switching back if you don't get your act together. :p

7. Runner up for the Asshat Award is the Department of Justice in my county. I was released from jury duty nearly two weeks ago to find another summons in my mail box this past Thursday night. I spoke to the lady at the court house and she said since I was released from the first summons I eligible for the new summons. I asked her if they would like to start picking my lotto numbers. She thought that was way more funny then I meant it to be. :\

And there you have it folks: randomness on a stick.

I hope you all enjoy this beautiful Sunday!