Annabelle is Running!!

Annabelle is back up and running again! It was just a loose nut (not unlike the owner). I'm happy to announce that we will have a running bike to ride over to bike week events this year! Wooo-hooo!!!!!!!! BB and LadyR: You may now comment on Big D's blog post regarding the San Diego trip. He says he spent 11 hours writing it, and if he doesn't see a comment from both of you ladies in the next day or so, he is deleting the post! I think he's making a stand for biker's/writer's/men's rights, or some shit like that...lol!

Generation Y

The Silent Generation... people born between 1925 and 1945. The Baby Boomers... people born between 1946 and 1964. Generation X... people born between 1965 and 1982. Generation Y... people born between 1983 and 1997. Why do we call the last group of people "Generation Y?" I had no idea until I saw this cartoon explanation!

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Big D's Theme Song

So, you'll forgive me for being frank. Well, I'm not really Frank...I'm just a little buzzed tonight. Even though Big D was NOT invited to my little drunk party...he showed up anyway! WTF? Bike has not been touched, and there he sat at my kitchen table like he owned it or something! Anyway, here is Big D's theme song...hope you all enjoy it! :) He's the man!

Arizona Bike Week

Before I begin this post, I want to thank everyone for their prayers and kind words and thoughts. Mom's surgery did not go as well as we first thought. She is expected to go home today, though, and she's very happy to be going home, anyway. Arizona Bike Week is a huge event. This year, it is March 27 - April 5. We have only attended bike week one year in the 9 years we've been out here. This is due to the fact that our bike has only been up and running during one bike week in te 9 years we've been out here. There's always some damn issue that prevents us from partaking in bike week activities. This year, I was looking forward to bike week because our bike has a brand new motor, and things are looking up! Woo-hoo! Right? Well, not so much. Annabelle started acting up on Big D's trip home from San Diego on Monday. She started making a racket, she's pissing out oil, and she needs a new peg. Today is Thursday, and Big D has not even looked at her yet! Hello?! WTF?! Can I get a mechanic in here, please?! Oh, that's right...I'm married to one!!! Big D has been so busy blogging about his trip that he has not been out to the garage yet. This is a problem. We volunteered to man the BACA booth next Saturday, 4/4. And before that, I'd like to take a cruise over to partake in some festivities. I will not go to bike week festivities in the dented ghetto Buick! Big D has a few folks waiting on him for some mechanical work, but they will have to wait. The AZhole Garage is temporarily closed until Annabelle is up and running. This even takes precedence over getting our jacuzzi going...which is very high on Big D's 'honey-do' list. Hopefully, my dear hubby will get the hint, get off the damned computer, get into the garage and get moving! :) There is no time to waste! And since it's been a tough couple of weeks, I am having people over Friday night so we can get our drunk on. Big D will not be a part of these festivities, as he will be busy in the garage. I will have pictures to post over the weekend, I'm sure. I hope you all have a lovely day. :)

Birthday Shout-Out!

Today is my daughter Vicki's 11th birthday! It is also my sister Christine's birthday! With everything going on today, I didn't want to forget a big birthday shout-out to the two soul-sisters in the family! I love you both very much. Have a wonderful day!

Prayers are Welcome - UPDATED

Those of you who know me know that 1. I am not big on organized religion, and 2. I am not a non-believer. That being said, I am not averse to praying when needed. So, I am not being a hypocrite when I say that prayers are welcome. Mom is having her heart surgery this morning, and I'm a bit worked-up about it. I'll be waiting to hear from my sisters on her condition after surgery while I'm at work today. It helps knowing she's at one of the best cardiac units in the world, at one of the best hospitals in Boston. Some of you know that she had made some decisions late last week that I respected, even if I didn't like them. When she spoke to her cardiologist yesterday, she changed her mind. I'm glad she did. I will keep you posted. Thank you for the prayers. Updated 10:15 p.m. March 24, 2009: Thanks to EVERYONE for your kind words, prayers and thoughts. Mom's surgery went well today, but we are still waiting a few days before we declare it a victory. For now, she's doing ok, but please keep the prayers coming. I will keep you all updated on her condition.

A Funny Conversation at a Difficult Time

OK, I know this isn't a Yuma post, and I apologize for that. I do have more to tell, but I have lots of stuff going on right now, and just can't focus on anything. I will try to get back to telling my Yuma story soon. My Mom has been in the hospital over the last week. I call her everyday to check in on her, and she sounds good, but then I talk to my sister and find out it's an act. I expect this; I'm the youngest in the family, and I'm 3,000 miles away, so she doesn't want me to worry. (Annoying!) Yesterday, I tried calling Mom in the morning around the same time I always do, and there was no answer. I tried an hour later, and got the same result. At lunchtime, still no answer. I tried again at about 2:30 and when I still got no answer I called my sister. She said she was worried, too, so she called the nurse's station on Mom's floor. She had been in testing all day. I felt much better after that. At about 3:30, I tried Mom's room again and was finally able to talk to her. I won't go into all the details, but there was a kind of funny part of our conversation: Mom: I retired today. Me: Over the phone? After 35 years?? Mom: (laughing) Yes! I had to let them know... Me: You'd think after 35 years, a face-to-face would be more appropriate. Mom: (laughing more) I never thought about that. How do you retire after 35 years over the phone??? It just tickled my funny bone, which was good, because the rest of our conversation did not. Mom has heart disease and is currently in congestive heart failure. We're hoping she is strong enough to have surgery next week to replace her defibrillator. It was supposed to be today, but they cancelled it due to her strength level, and other areas of concern. So, I'm hoping for the best for now. I may need to take a trip back east to see her soon, we'll see. I'll keep you all posted.