Gonna make a Barn Quilt for my barn!

Sometimes, you just have to delete people from your life. 

Easier said than done. You can't just highlight the person and hit the delete or backspace key like you can in a document. No, depending on how many social network sites you are on and interacted with your object of deletion, it's almost impossible. And don't forget about your phone numbers that were given freely.

I've had to delete people from my life over the years because maintaining the friendship became cumbersome. They had so much 'me' going on it got to be tiresome and they were just toxic. To much drama!

Unfriending and blocking a person will work in the short term if you don't want to go to the trouble of establishing new email accounts and then making sure your other, non-deleted persons are informed.

You can block numbers, but some carriers only give you a 90 day window and then you have to go back in a block the number again.

There are a few people that I have deleted and blocked due to them gaining creeper status. Some have become sanctimonious pricks. They know who they are.

You never REALLY forget how to ride a bike

In this case, a 2004 Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600. I haven’t been on that bike in over two years. Let me begin…

When I lived in Louisiana, I rode my Meanie nearly every day. I was very skilled at handling that 736 lbs beast.

Then Katrina took it away. So, I looked for another bike. Trying out some Harley’s, some Yamaha’s, Triumphs. All just didn’t 'fit' me. I’m a shorty at 5’ 2. So, I found another Meanie just like the one I lost in Katrina. Went all the way to Ohio to get it. Loved that bike! Love the color! Love the power!

Went from traveling nearly each weekend back and forth from Memphis to rebuild my home in La. Fast forward, move home, then moved back to Memphis. Built a house with a long, gravel driveway. With big rocks, little rocks, loose rocks. Now, loose rocks are the bane of motorcyclists. I was riding off and on, but also acquired horses. So, I was spending more time with them then riding the Meanie. And those rocks just kept playing with my head. I didn’t have a problem getting in and out, but when my husband’s bike just stopped and dropped in the deep rocks, that just did it for me.

The heebie-jeebies set in. I would tell myself that it’s not that bad, but then I would go out to get the mail and see how deep the rocks were, how loose, and it would just solidify the heebie-jeebies and me not riding.

So, this year, my son-in-law and granddaughter moved in while my daughter and other grandkids were starting their new life in NC. SIL bought himself a motorcycle. Just like my very first one. Honda Shadow 600. That got me to REALLY thinking about riding again. He was forever asking if he could ride my bike. After all, I had not ridden it in two years. Yes, TWO YEARS! It sat in the garage getting neglected. Dust caked. Spiderwebs all over. Pretty pathetic.

I never did ride his bike, but I started getting it ready to ride again. New battery, oil change, a bath! I let SIL ride my bike. I was thinking I’d get on his bike to get my skills and confidence back up, but the time got away from me. Their move date was pushed up by two months. So, for the last three months, the bike sat again. Until today. Why today? I don’t know. Beautiful, breezy, sunny, cool weather. I went out to mess with the horses, but it was just too muddy, so, I fired up the Meanie.

I had forgotten how heavy it really is. Just backing it out of the garage without my motorcycle boots on was a challenge. Remember, I’m a shorty and can’t fit flat footed unless wearing the right boots.

It fired right up. Well, I did put a new battery in it. Then, I decided, it was time. Time to just do it.

As I was gearing up, I could feel a little bit of adrenalin building up. Lacing up my boots, I could see a slight shake in my hands. Briefly thought, should I be doing this? Yes, I didn’t back down. Put my do-rag on and walked out the door. Went to get my very dusty full-face helmet off the shelf. Wow, neglected and in need of a new helmet. They really only last for four years. Walked back over to the green Meanie and placed my gloves, helmet and sunglasses on the bike. I pulled on my jacket, zipping it up to my chin, making sure the armor was still fitting on my shoulders, elbows, forearms. The plate in the back felt a little weird. My adrenaline was starting to pump.

Now, time for the helmet. Almost forgot how to tighten the helmet, but eventually got it correctly situated. No backing out now.

Pulled on my gloves, getting them over my fingers and my hands were still a little shaky while affixing the velcro straps. Fumbling for my jacket sleeve to tighten it up around my gloved wrists. Sunglasses. Check.

Time to swing my leg over the saddle. I deliberately swung over from the right hand side, since I associate the left side with mounting my horses.

Muscled the beast upright. Switched from front brake with hand to rear brake with right foot. Turned the key. Checked that I was in neutral. Hit the starter and fired it up. Checked my signals were good, placed it into first gear, swallowed my nerves and released the clutch.

Holy cow! It has been over two years since I rode that bike! I could tell! The rocks had been beaten down over the years and become hard packed. But not at the front of the driveway leading to the road. I was going slow, still in first gear and I started stopping to check traffic. Well, I killed it. Popped the clutch. Almost let it go down due to having my hand on the front brake. Was busy worrying about keeping the bike upright with both feet on the ground that I automatically grabbed that front brake. Adrenaline spike.

Started the bike again and slowly pulled up a little more towards the road and nice smooth concrete. Made the turn a little wobbly, but was ok. Then the S curve and I stayed in 3rd gear all the way around, watching the cars come through it. People have a tendency to drift to the other lane in a curve. It’s kind of scary on a motorcycle.

Wow, what a feeling! The wind blowing into my helmet, flapping my ponytail on my back, why did I wait so long?

Car coming up behind me, turn signal on, left turn, slow it down, and holy cow, this bike is heavy! Remember lean into the turn, not too much, reduce speed! Cleared the corner, get it up to fifth gear. Only 50 mph, it’s a country road, slow it down. Concentrate!

Sharp turn coming up, dropped to 3rd, slowed and accelerated through the turn. Remember how fun those turns are? Keep your cool, slow it down. Right turn coming up. Make a complete stop. Remember, slow and steady on the throttle. Starting to relax a bit. Try to enjoy the sights. But, no, must concentrate. Remember your skills! Sharp turn again, slow to 2nd, too slow, crawl through the turn, get it back up to 4th. Stop sign. Do the stop and roll, no feet down. Easy left turn, don’t look at the bicyclists looking at you. CONCENTRATE! Ok, now just easy curvy roads ahead.

Found myself slowing to under the speed limit. Down to 35 mph. Hmm, jump it back to 45. Left turn. Really sharp. Thank goodness no one was coming in that turn, I probably would have ended up in that yard across from it. Ok, easy curves again, just concentrate on maintaining speed and staying upright!

Blind curve ahead. BIG SCARY GARBAGE TRUCK drifting in my lane! HOLY CRAP! Swerved in time. Whew!

Almost home. Last stop sign before turning into driveway. Must scootch up to see down the road. Don’t touch the front brakes with the front wheel turned. Ok, start to enter the curve easy does it, watch for oncoming traffic to make the left into the driveway. Oh, crap, loose rocks! Why didn’t I see those before taking off? Drop to 1st gear and crawl into the drive way. Hit the throttle with a wobble, ease it back down, and slow down, both brakes on. Don’t forget to come to drop both feet to the ground. Don’t turn the wheel while squeezing the front brake! Ease the Meanie back up into the garage in it’s parking place. Kickstand. Engine off. Slowly take off my gear.

Whew! I made it!

Skill assessment: wanting. Need to practice. Will be spending some time on the driving range at the base for practicing.

What a ride!

Drug testing for welfare recipients

I posted this on my Facebook wall in response to seeing this:

 Why only drug test welfare recipients? Why not drug test our public servants? They receive public monies. I'm not talking police and firefighters, but our PUBLIC SERVANTS that WE voted in. That's right, our mayors, aldermen, clerk of courts, etc. And lets not forget our congressional public servants. Senators and Representatives. And don't forget the President. All are elected and receive money through our taxes. Have we forgotten Marion Barry? What about all the people on disability? Shouldn't they get drug tested for illegal drugs? They get public money. 


I went to college working my ass off to pay tuition. I met a person that was on a free ride. Tuition, books, room and board, and a small stipend. Why? He was on disability for anger problems. WTF??
There are better ways to spending the money for drug testing that has been proven to not work (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/us/no-savings-found-in-florida-welfare-drug-tests.html) and better spent on reducing the fraud that is happening. Such as why a person on EBT in front of me has a $600 phone but needs help with groceries? Or why same person get's into an expensive car like an Escalade? Or how about the women on welfare that was living in a million dollar home? http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-feds-accuse-couple-living-in-seattle-mansion-of-welfare-fraud-20111205,0,4813407.story
We NEED welfare reform, but don't spend my hard earned tax dollars on something else that won't work and when it doesn't work, throw more money at it because it will "fix" the system.
Attitude and education are the key to welfare reform. You want grocery money? Go volunteer. Want a smartphone? Go pick up trash in our cities. Want that Escalade? Get an EDUCATION and GET OFF YOUR LAZY BUTT WAITING FOR A HANDOUT!

Cupola

This is my house. Better known as "The Castle House" in my po-dunk town. Mainly because of the turret and the fact that the walls are over 12" thick. Poured concrete. Might discuss in another post.


This is my turret. Or cupola. Depending on where you stand, I guess?





From outside of the house, it's a turret. From inside, it's a cupola since it goes all the way to the roof line.




Got a great carpenter. This time. The original contractor just didn't seem to give a crap. The trim around the cupola was set with a laser level. The structure of the house is not level.






He actually CARES about his workmanship.









This is where you can REALLY tell how bad the house is not level or square.  He's really trying to make it look good.

This is almost finished.

My carpenter/artist finally devised these light boxes to hide the unevenness of the structure. LED rope will be placed in them.

This is the finished product. I have repainted. The window casing will be replaced with stain worthy oak to match the rest of the masterpiece.

What do ya' think so far?

The entire album:

https://plus.google.com/photos/108149545027413837719/albums/5738791095781652513?authkey=CMOT4Mfx48XqEA

I Don't Love Spam

Not even the canned spam. Just one day in my spam folder...

Need a date? Go to Speed dating - get a date in 3 mins flat! Guess they don't realize I'm already married. Just a sec, I'll ask hubby if he minds if I get a date in 3 mins.

Apparently I am old enough to retire since I'm getting spam about retirement communities. If I don't want to retire just yet, I can get a job as a medical assistant. I'll definitely keep the email about getting rid of bed bugs. No telling who's lived in that retirement home before I move in.

Do the spammers think I need sex change operations? Multiple times?

Penis enlargement - Larry
Lose 20 lbs by summer - Lucille

Hungry? Get a free Papa Johns pizza delivered to my door. Woohoo! Free steak at Outback! Olive Garden wants to give me pasta!

Are there any millionaires living by me? According to my email I can look at photos of them! Make me feel small and inadequate while I view luxurious mansions and grounds. 

To make myself feel better I can go to school to become a Behavioral Therapist. I'll make myself behave better. 

I need to learn how to cook (Culinary school) or cook healthier, get a law degree or accounting, and I get a bonus package. Why? Just for being awesome.

Hey there!

For being awesome - which you are... I'm going to toss you

an AMAZING bonus today!

I have a new name - Lydia.

All that in one day! I think I need a drink now. 

Siri, I need your help!

I need Siri so I can record my thoughts and not forget them. Can’t remember to write them down as other things need immediate attention. 

It's not all hay and whinny's around here ya' know. Gotta lot of deep thoughts going on. Like -  

Where's that next tasty blade of grass?

Nine years and counting

Holy freakin' COW!

It's been 9 years since I even thought of this blog! Yep, got that job I was waiting on and am still at it. Had a hurricane or two in there. A major move, some new companions and new friends.

No promises that this will be kept up on a regular basis. Heck, just look at the time between postings.

Since this is my blog, and who DOESN'T have one, it will probably be a bit rambling. Unless I get struck by a MOST brilliant idea overnight and have a focus for it.