Live your life with arms wide open

Thursday night, I planned on going to Porky's for bike night. Thursday, we had thunderstorms, and a tornado watch, I actually found out where the basement is at work. So I was figuring that by 6 when I got off, we wouldn't be going to Porky's, well, Karli decided that since the severe weather had passed we should go anyway, and I wasn't gonna complain. Karli, her mom, me and Kevin started out for Porky's only to be called by Karli's mom's friend and told that Porky's was locked up, so we went to Trophies instead (the place the bikers go after Porky's). That was fun, got to hang out with bikers and look at bikes, then we decided to go to The Jungle Room, a karoke (sp?) bar where a great number of the bikers congregate after Trophies. I never go to sing, I just like to watch, I was very entertained because Karli and her mom were dancing. I kinda felt sorry for Kevin cause he seemed so bored. As mean as it sounds, I'm thinking next time I go, we're leaving him at home. He was so out of his element. You know how bikers have a certain stance about them (and if you don't I'm not gonna explain it, cause you won't understand anyway)? Kevin just didn't fit in with them.
I was talking to my boss yesterday about it, and she said I need to have a list of stuff I want/need in a guy. Is that true? I was so happy just having A guy, I don't want to go and make a list and maybe find out that there's not a lot on it that he fits with. I'm extremely confused. I've never had a boyfriend (yes, we are officially girlfriend and boyfriend) before, so I don't know anything about relationships, but I know I love cuddling on the couch, I also know it's not going to go beyond cuddling, even if I have to dump him, it's not happening.
Any advice from my small subset of readers?

Back when the old stuff was new

So, this weekend was the first time I ran into bitchy bikers. Me and dad had to go to the gas station to get some gas for the mower on Sunday. We're at the pump and these bikers roll up, the ones with the big cushy bikes, older bikers, guys with chicks on the back, all dressed up like they just got done with a ride. One of them rolls up behind me and dad like we weren't using the pump. I think he was trying to intimidate us with him being a biker and all. Yeah, good luck intimidating me buddy. Once I finished pumping the gas, I made a mess, so I was cleaning it up with the paper towels they have out there, and I asked one of the chicks where they had gone on their ride and she just ignored me. So much for the theory all bikers bond. I had one of my Harley shirts on, so my kitty was showing, so it was visible that I was a biker.
Maybe they thought I was just one of those people that wanted to be a biker and wasn't actually, I don't know. I've just never run into bikers so rude like that. Yes, I know they exist (thank you people), I just hadn't run into any. Oh well, I'm not gonna let 4 bikers ruin my thoughts about the rest of us.

The hotel bar hangover whiskeys gone dry

UGH! I am so sick of waiting for this bathroom project to be done. I'm sick of being mellow and reassuring myself that it will be done soon. It's not gonna be done by Friday, my mom told the guys that they didn't have to work last Sat, basically meaning they didn't have as strict a deadline as before. When they were tearing up the floors/walls last week they found a pretty big hole in one of the pipes, so today they were replacing the pipe, but apparently something happened where they had to call the plumbing inspector to make sure they could cut so far (whatever, I'm not really sure), and that delayed them hooking up the pipes for the shower drain. They did finish the piping for the toilet, plus there. But as of now, all I have is a plywood floor, 2x4's as a wall where the end of the shower is gonna be, and some wall supports. THAT'S IT!!! I'M SO SICK OF HAVING TO GO DOWNSTAIRS EVERYTIME I HAVE TO TAKE A PISS!!! I was already used to having to go downstairs for a shower, though that's annoying too. Is it so bad to want to come home from the Dierks Bentley concert Saturday morning and use my OWN DAMN TOILET?
My mom figured while we had the wall opened behind my bed, she'd get an electrician to add some outlets in the wall, since there aren't any at the moment. So, once I got home from work, I stirpped down to my tank top and underwear and had to move shit out of the way. Course while I was in there I dug out my motorcycle helmet (cause one of my work buddies said we might go for a ride on Thurs). I figured since I would just be changing into my pajamas and I didn't want all the shit from the floor to get on my pajamas and into my bed, I'd just work in less clothes. I'd have to say it's pretty comfortable and its not like anyone but me and my pig are seeing me.

A few rider's proverbs for all you bikers out there, I bolded the ones that I really love.

Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.
Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars
Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold everything you need.
Never try to race an old geezer, he may have one more gear than you.
It takes more love to share the saddle than it does to share the bed.
The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rearview mirror.
Never be afraid to slow down.
Sometimes it takes a whole tankful of fuel before you can think straight.
Riding faster than everyone else only guarantees you'll ride alone.
Never hesitate to ride past the last street light at the edge of town.
Never do less than twenty miles before breakfast.
If you don't ride in the rain, you don't ride.
A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.
Young riders pick a destination and go... Old riders pick a direction and go.
A good mechanic will let you watch without charging you for it.
Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to stop for the night. a
Always back your bike into the curb, and sit where you can see it.
Work to ride & ride to work.
Whatever it is, it's better in the wind.
Two-lane blacktop isn't a highway - it's an attitude.
Keep your bike in good repair:
Motorcycle boots are NOT comfortable for walking.
People are like Motorcycles: each is customized a bit differently.
Sometimes, the best communication happens when you're on separate bikes.
The best alarm clock is sunshine on chrome.
The twisties - not the superslabs - separate the riders from the squids.
When you're riding lead, don't spit.
A friend is someone who'll get out of bed at 2 am to drive his pickup to the middle of nowhere to get you when you're broken down.
Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt @ 70 mph can double your vocabulary.
If you want to get somewhere before sundown, you can't stop at every tavern.
There's something ugly about a NEW bike on a trailer.
Don't lead the pack if you don't know where you're going.
Practice wrenching on your own bike.
Don't argue with an 18-wheeler.
Never be ashamed to unlearn an old habit.
A good long ride can clear your mind, restore your faith, and use up a lot of fuel.
If you can't get it going with bungee cords and electrician' s tape, it's serious.
Bikes parked out front mean good chicken-fried steak inside.
Gray-haired riders don't get that way from pure luck.
There are drunk riders. There are old riders. There are NO old, drunk riders.
Thin leather looks good in the bar, but it won't save your butt from "road rash" if you go down.
You can forget what you do for a living when your knees are in the breeze.
Patience is the ability to keep your motor idling.
Only a Biker knows why a dog sticks his head out of a car window.
Keep the paint up, and the rubber down!
There are two types of people in this world, people who ride motorcycles and people who wish they could ride motorcycles.
Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly.
It is good to have an end to journey; but it is the journey that matters in the end.
Ride as if your life depended on it!!
Bikers eat more bugs.
When life throws you a curve, lean into the saddle.
Life may begin at 30, but it doesn't get real interesting until about 100..
If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.
Midnight bugs taste the best.
When life throws you a curve, lean into it.

I follow my heart

I found this in one of my email groups, thought it was pretty cool, and yet sad at the same time.

Just a biker
I saw you hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line.
You didn't see me put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday.

I saw you pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk.
You didn't see me playing Santa at the local mall.

I saw you change your mind about going into the restaurant.
You didn't see me attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.

I saw you roll up your window and shake your head when I rode by
You didn't see me driving behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.

I saw you frown at me when I smiled at your children.
You didn't see me when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.

I saw you stare at my long hair.
You didn't see me and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you roll your eyes at our leather coats and gloves.
You didn't see me and my brothers donate our old coats and gloves to those that had none.

I saw you look in fright at my tattoos.
You didn't see me cry as my children were born and having their name tattooed on my skin and in my heart.

I saw you change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere.
You didn't see me going home to be with my family.

I saw you complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be.
You didn't see me when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

I saw you yelling at your kids in the car.
You didn't see me pat my child's hands knowing he was safe behind me.

I saw you reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road.
You didn't see me squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you race down the road in the rain.
You didn't see me get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time.
You didn't see me trying to turn right.

I saw you cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in.
You didn't see me leave the road.

I saw you waiting impatiently for my friends to pass.
You didn't see me. I wasn't there.

I saw you go home to your family.
You didn't see me because I died that day when you cut me off.

I was just a biker and a person with friends and family.
You didn't see me.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON FOR YOUR FRIENDS WHO RIDE OR had someone WHO MAY HAVE DIED WHILE RIDING A MOTORCYCLE.

Sha la la la

UGH! So I went out with my friends today and we went to the mall (not very exciting but I wanted to get some calendars), I got me a day-by-day Corvette and Mustang calendar, and a monthly OCC wall calendar. I was pissed because I wanted to get the OCC, a wolves, and a fighter jet wall calendar, but the kiosk in the middle of the mall wasn't going to take my gift card for Borders (even though it was the same damn company). So, now I need another wall calendar (to replace my 2 cop wall calendars from last year). Unfortunately I couldn't find a nice one in Borders. I realized how little there is to do here. We ran into a couple friends at the mall, went out to lunch with them and had a nice time. That I wouldn't mind doing again.
I went to visit my friend who runs an eyeglasses shop (to drop off a prescription, so I didn't lose it) and I told him he should get a bunch of his biker buddies and take me on a ride to celebrate my graduation. He said we'd do it some Thurs night when it got warm. Thurs because that's when Porky's and Trophies (two biker bars in DM) have their bike nights. Now, I'm really itching for a ride. Damn.
So now, I'm sitting here listening to some Bruce Springsteen (just need some nice loud music, and I listened to Hicktown and Amarillo Sky incessantly this morning, though I won't be skipping them if they come up in my shuffle). I'm so yearning for a drink and a ride.
And can someone tell me where the last 2 hrs went? I got home about 2 from hanging out with my friends, and now it's 4 I don't get it.

Just walking through the front door puts a smile on my face

Oh Dream Guy, you are so hott, you have a sweet truck, a gorgeous bike, a cute dog, you're in the profession I love, you're a country fan (or at least a Rascal Flatts fan), and you make me drool and blush everytime I see you. Won't you be mine?

Yes, I found out Dream Guy likes country, or like I said above Rascal Flatts. Can't I just take him? Sigh. So, I'm pissed, happy, and want to get drunk. How's that for a mood? I'm pissed about something at work, but I'm not gonna discuss it, cause work is the one thing I will not discuss on here. Happy because I took my last final today, I hope I got enough to get me a C- or above in the class, cross your fingers, hold your breath and say a prayer, ok? And I want to get drunk because I'm pissed and happy.
So, yeah, no more finals, all that's left is to wander across the stage on Sat, pick up my diploma holder (cause final grades aren't due until the 19th, and then they'll send us our diplomas). I love how we go through the graduation ceremony BEFORE we really know if we got the grades and passed everything. Yeah that's helpful.
And, I've started a graduation fund already, with the $$ Karli's mom gave me, the $$ my bosses at the library gave me & the money they gave me as a holiday present, plus the $$ I got for selling my textbooks, I've already got enough to be drunk for awhile, or at least cover 1 month's rent.
I don't know if I wanna get drunk, I'd love to have the birthday party I didn't have this year. Nice fruity drinks, cause I don't like wine or beer, cake, presents, money, friends, warm weather, and bikes, what more could a girl want?

Some days you wanna go...

So, I figured out my element, the place I really feel like I belong. Kinda like in Cheers, "Where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same You wanna be where everybody knows Your name." only, not everybody knows my name, they can tell that I belong there. This past August when I went to the biker bar in DM, Porky's and then we rode to Trophies afterward, and then The Jungle Room after that. Most or all the people at those bars were bikers, and everyone I ran into could tell I belonged there, that I was a biker.
Anyways, I was just thinking about that because on Saturday I graduate college/the Univ, and my friends and I are going out to eat (yes, it's changed, it was supposed to be, we were going out for drinks, but then I realized all the other graduates plus normal bar-goers would be at the bars, and I don't like crowds, that's why I don't go to bars in the first place, so I decided it would be more fun, for me, if we went out to eat at a place that served drinks), and then I was thinking about August, and if we had a biker bar here, that would be the perfect place to go. Alas, we do not, and I don't know where to go. It would be nice to go to DM, but that's about a 40 min drive from here, and I'm guessing, we're gonna be tired at the end of the night.

I was also thinking that my favorite all time outfit is blue jeans, barefoot, tank top, and hair down. In yahoo, my avatar is sooo me. I don't think you could get it any more me. It's a chick (obviously) red shoulder-length hair, white tank top, blue jeans, boots (cause these avatars don't have a choice for barefoot), in front of a biker bar, with a wolf beside her, green eyes, glasses. Now how funny/wierd is that, I can make any avatar I want, and I stick glasses on her. As much as I hate my face, I love my glasses. Oops, I forgot, it doesn't have ink, that's how you could make it more me. Cause I love my ink, I want more, but due to circumstances, can't have any more at the moment.

Yeah, I know it's short, but that's what I was thinking about today, and I thought I'd share it with y'all. Whether or not you care

Gonna feel like hell tonight

So, it's been an OK week. Monday, nothing exciting happened. Tuesday, got me a nice 20 min ride in the middle of the day. Wed, nothing exciting happened (ok something did, but it's not gonna do anything for me if I talk about it, so you don't get to know, and it was more nervous than exciting). And today, got me an almost 2 hr ride. Yeah, it was pretty damn cold, 55 or lower, even with my leather, the lining, a sweatshirt and a 3/4 sleeve shirt. It was mostly my legs and arms that got cold. But it was sweet. My buddy kept asking me if I was cold, but I wasn't gonna complain, there's nothing I could do about it, so why bother. And I tell ya, at the end, my legs were getting painful. So, I took myself a nice warm shower, you have no idea how nice that felt. And tomorrow, I get a free lunch (with my mother, but my friend's coming too, so hopefully she won't be as bad).

So today, my bosses were talking about the SWAT team and that guy in Colorado. I hate it how people are always judging cops for the actions they take. I never get in those conversations, I just won't do it. I've never been in any situations, and I don't feel it's right to judge officers if I haven't been there (personally, I try not to do that in any situation I haven't been in). But they kept asking why the officers didn't act sooner, and all that shit. And then they said that the girl's parents will probably file a lawsuit. What is wrong with people? Think about how the officers are feeling. They probably (like I said, I really don't know) are wondering if they couldn't have done anything more, and all the while you have tons of civilians saying you should have done this or that, or whatever. Kinda like how people always say officers should just shoot the arm. They never think about how hard it is to shoot a hand, how stressful the situation is anyway, and how small amount of time the officers have to make this decision.

Sorry, enough rambling for tonight

Go bikers

"Instead of mocking him for going after them, they perhaps set their own safety aside to reach over and rescue him from a position of danger" That's taken from this article where a drunk guy threatened a group of bikers with a billiard cue and got hit by his own car. The guy was offended by the skeletons on some of thier leather Harley Davidson jackets.
So, my weekend kinda sucked. Actually not all of it, just certain parts.
Went to the Hog Roast at the Harley Store here on Sat with my friend Karli, I was kinda bummed cause we didn't stay that long, but that's life, it was actually good in the end, cause I got to go on a walk and still get a ton of reading done for school. So, yeah, got a tiny walk done back from Karli's stopped off at the grocery store and bought me some fruit Cheerios, and some Mike's Hard Cranberry Lemonade (doesn't sound too yummy but it is good). Ran into a friend and chatted with him and his girlfriend for awhile. Got home and did some reading, I was trying to get caught up in my classes (that didn't actually happen, I'll explain that later on). Drank one of my Mike's (if you read my earlier post, you know that), and that basically knocked me out, but considering I hadn't had supper, and I know you shouldn't drink on an empty stomach, but I wasn't going anywhere except to bed, so I decided it was ok.
Sunday, woke up at 7:30 when my mom called me to go out to breakfast. Went to Perkins to try those new 3 egg omelets they've been advertising, had the mushroom and steak one, that was really yummy, filled me right up and the steak was just perfect, nice and tender.
Went to the Art Festival around 10:30, bought me some lavender (now I don't know what to do with it), and an ornament for my mom for Christmas. Cleaned my pig's house (she smells so much nicer now), mowed both lawns (one for the last time because all the paperwork is final today, and it switches hands, I just hope they take good care of it), and then developed this nasty ass headache after that, which made it so I couldn't read, so about 6:30, went and laid down, and set my VCR up, finally went to sleep about 7:30, and woke up today about 6:30, I'm very rested.

I just think it's a nice place to relax

I was in my element tonight. Becki and I went to Porky's in DM tonight. It's a diner where bikers go, park their bikes chat and drink, so after hanging out there for awhile, Becki's friend, Dale, met us, as well as Becki's cousin, Paul. Then Paul and Dale took us over to Trophies, and we hung out there for awhile where we met up with a friend of Dale's, Randy, then Becki and I rode with Randy and Dale over to The Jungle Room where we hung out with more bikers and listened to karaoke.
I really enjoyed the short tiny rides, and hanging out at Trophies and Porky's. I love going on rides with large groups of bikers (15 or more bikes), and then getting together and just hanging out. I didn't quite enjoy the bar (the Jungle Room) that much, but just cause there was cigarette smoke, and lots of noise, so you really can't hear each other talk. But I love Porky's and Trophies.

Stand your ground when everyone's giving in

On one of my other blogs I was telling a friend he needed to get away from life. Well, I had my therapy in that form last night. Now I've been on 4 motorcycle rides this season, Yes it's very sad and not good enough and I'm dying inside because of it. Karli's mom, Becki, invited me to go to Bike Night in Baxter last night. So, we went, I had a liquid supper of a Mike's Cold Hard Cranberry Lemonade (sounds kinda gross, but it's not too bad), stuck around there chatting with Becki's friend, Dale. Then we left about 10, and Dale took me on a little 8 mile ride. I've decided I don't mind riding at night, except it was a little chilly in my tank top, but hell if I was gonna complain. I'm also glad I had a helmet this year (I did this same thing last year, it was a little bit earlier, before Sturgis, so it was warmer then), it nicely protected me from the breeze, which is always stronger when you're riding.
So, I read in the paper, Tuesday, I believe, that Joe Rosenthal died, that's the guy that took the famous picture of the flag raising on Iwo Jima.
Also, Pluto is no longer considered a planet, that's right, now it's only a star.

What burns me

As they say on Blue Collar Comedy Tour.
One of the guys I work with has a bike and he rides it frequently (which is what you do if you have a bike). And he keeps saying he'll take me for a ride if he's ever in town with it, I've come to realize that he's just stringing me on when he says that, it's never gonna happen. Anyway, he comes in and says "Guess what I did last night/this weekend?" Not a hard guess, and then he goes on to tell me in detail about his rides and stuff about his bike. And it just drives me nuts. I don't get to ride often and, that doesn't bother me as much as someone shoving it in my face that they ride a lot. Sometimes I just wanna AAARRGGHHH!!!
I understand that I can't rub stuff in people's faces (that's just rude), I know how much it bugs Karli that she can't ride, so I don't mention the bikes I see on my walks or if I have a potential ride. I don't see the need to make her feel bad because she can't ride. Cause I know she misses riding her bike.
I think I've also become content not to ride (unless someone shoves it in my face when they come into the library). I'm very content to go on my walks and oogle at the hott guys, the sweet cars, and the nice bikes. As long as I get out and enjoy the weather, I'm fine. Yeah, I'm kinda bummed that I really haven't been able to break my helmet in too well (I've only used it twice since I bought it), but I'm ok with that.