Here I Am...

I'm here, but I don't have much to say right now. I'll be commenting here and there, but I don't want to post something just to post something, you know? We have a few events coming up over the next few weeks, and I have pictures from our Yuma trip that I'd like to post for you. I'll see if I can get my ass in gear and do that, at least. I just wanted to let you all know that I'm around, just taking some time to reflect. Ride safe.

BACA 2nd Annual 100 Mile Ride

BACA's 2nd annual 100 mile ride is tomorrow in Yuma, AZ. We're heading down late this afternoon and staying the weekend. I know it's short notice, but we'd love to see some of you Cali folks out there, if you can make it. My ass is not looking forward to the weekend, though. We're riding to Yuma tonight, doing 100+ miles tomorrow, then riding home on Sunday. I'll be sure to pack my Advil. :) Here's a short video from the BACA website. I love it, because it shocks people. I used it in a presentation for school to show that things really aren't always as they seem.

Waiting...

Thank the powers-that-be for electronic flight tracking! I want my hubby back home! He'll be here soon...

Making The Most of a Bad Trip

I won't get into all the details of my trip back east here, but I will say that after being married to my wonderful husband of nearly 12 years that he knows exactly how to help me do anything. He knows exactly what my needs are at all times, and he knows exactly how to soothe my soul.

A trip to Massachusetts would not be complete without seeing Joker. Again, I won't go into details, but he made this trip easier on me in many ways, and is a true brother. He attended my mother's wake and funeral and I can't thank him enough for that. And I also can't thank him enough for my Blackstone Valley HOG sweatshirt!

A little side note here: Blackstone Bill, who has left comments on Joker's blog and is a member of Blackstone Valley HOG, asked me if Big D wanted a Blackstone sweatshirt (Joker only gave me one, and I wasn't giving it up.) So I told him he would love one. Now, I'm thinking that he's going to send us one, or something. Blackstone Bill takes off his Blackstone Valley sweatshirt and gives my husband the shirt off his back. The folks of Blackstone Valley HOG totally ROCK! They will literally give you the shirt off their backs! Thanks Blackstone Bill! And the folks at the Boneyard were top notch. What a great place to have a few beers and some grub.

I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful comments I received on my last post. You have no idea how those comments helped me through that most difficult time. My soul is still in the process of healing, but is definitely on the mend.

We had a couple of nice days (weather-wise) while we were back there, after all the necessary things were out of the way. So we decided that a ride was in order. (I really needed a ride.) We borrowed Joker's Grey Lady, and off we went with Joker, and our friend Savina, to the Boneyard. Where else?

Here are a couple of pics...

It was starting to get cold and rainy, so we left the BY after lunch and headed home. After a nice nap, we got into the cage and went back to the BY. It was a much-needed release after the hellacious week I had. And if you're ever at the BY...the Caramel Apple Martinis sound really good, but they're really SOUR. ;)

I also wanted to send a quick shout-out to all the folks of Blackstone Valley HOG: Blackstone Bill, Tracy & Fred (love that rim-job, Fred!), Sherry and others whos names escape me right now. These people were awesome. I hope I can see them all again someday. Not so much for Honda Jim and Ted (he has some self-proclaimed special talents).

One more thing...if I was EVER entertaining thoughts of moving back to my home state, this trip removed those thoughts. It was cold, damp or rainy the whole time. And wearing a helmet SUCKS!

My 451st Post - Bad News

I just wanted to take a moment here. My mother passed away yesterday at 2:30 p.m. She was at home and surrounded by me and my sisters. It was a very peaceful passing, and now she is back together with Dad where she most wanted to be. I will be offline for a while, but I'll return soon. Love to all.

Belated Birthday Shout-Out!

My grandson Jayden turned 1 on Saturday...I'm a bad Grandma! Happy birthday to may favorite 1-year-old baby boy!!!!

No Hiatus, Just Really Busy

I just wanted to let you all know that I'm not actually taking a hiatus, but I won't be able to post or leave many comments for a while. I am starting a new class tonight, and this one is going to be a lot of work. More than the other classes I've taken. Between school and work, I'm busy enough, right? Nope! I thought I would add in a little trip home to see my family this weekend. Which means I need to do homework, laundry and my packing tomorrow night. Fun, fun! So, I'll be around, but I may be silent for a while. I'll post when I have a free moment.

When Bananas Go Bad

I received this from my friend Savina in Massachusetts today. It gave me a chuckle, so I thought I would share it with you.

Thanks, Savina! See you next week! :)

I'm Feeling Random Again

Staying true to the name of my blog, I have some random thoughts I'd like to share today. I have been through 6 classes at University of Phoenix. I got A's in all 6 classes. Now I start my core classes next week. I don't need A's, but they're nice to earn. Critical thinking is next. Being married to Big D will help me with this class, I'm sure. :) I hate getting up at O-dark:30 every morning, but I love how quiet and peaceful the house is at that hour. I joined a CardioFit class at work last month. I go every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for an hour. The instructor is evil, but it's working so well that I just joined for another month. My company pays for it, too. And thanks to this class, I can do a few push-ups, now. ;) I'm flying home next week to see my Mom. I love flying, but my ears are full of fluid. I have been on two rounds of antibiotics and the infection is gone, now I'm on steroid ear drops to try to get the fluid to drain. I hope it does, or landing will be a bitch. When we moved to AZ 9 years ago, cigarettes were about $3-something a pack. After all the state and federal tax hikes, as of this week they are about $7-something a pack. Closer to $8 than $7. That means a carton is somewhere in the neighborhood of $80. Big D and I will be quitting shortly, unless we hit the PowerBall. When I purchase tickets to fly home, if I can't get a non-stop flight, I have to fly through either Atlanta, GA, or Nashville, TN. Those airports have smoking lounges. This will soon be a thing of the past, too. I'm tired of politics. I know the country is going to hell in a handbasket, and I do care, I'm just tired of hearing the blow-by-blow on the news every night. Is this really news? Michelle Obama touched the Queen? Seriously? Just give me the real news, please! In Joker's comments, he replied to someone saying, "There is NO bullshitting of Ann." This is true. I have a very sensitive bullshit detector. I was born with it. Everytime I sniff out bullshit, my right arm goes up. And my right arm was FLYING HIGH when I read Joker's April 1 post! OK...that's enough randomness for today. Have a wonderful day! TGIF!! Ride safe!

Poor Dumb Bob

Bob works hard at the office but spends two nights each week bowling, and plays golf every Saturday. His wife thinks he's pushing himself too hard, so for his birthday she takes him to a local strip club. The doorman at the club greets them and says, 'Hey, Bob! How ya doin?' His wife is puzzled and asks if he's been to this club before. 'Oh no,' says Bob. 'He's in my bowling league.' When they are seated, a waitress asks Bob if he'd like his usual and brings over a Budweiser. His wife is becoming increasingly uncomfortable and says, 'How did she know that you drink Budweiser?' 'I recognize her, she's the waitress from the golf club. I always have a Bud at the end of the 1st nine, honey.' A stripper then comes over to their table, throws her arms around Bob, starts to rub herself all over him and says, 'Hi Bobby. Want your usual table dance, big boy?' Bob's wife, now furious, grabs her purse and storms out of the club. Bob follows and spots her getting into a cab. Before she can slam the door, he jumps in beside her. Bob tries desperately to explain how the stripper must have mistaken him for someone else, but his wife is having none of it. She is screaming at him at the top of her lungs, calling him every 4 letter word in the book. The cabby turns around and says, 'Geez Bob, you picked up a real bitch this time.' Bob's funeral will be on Friday.