Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Dirt Bike School

I told you about the dirt biking class that we were planning on going to this past weekend. It was lots of fun and we all learned tons. They did a great job of dividing everyone into groups based on skill level and making sure everyone got what they wanted out of it.



Here is Sebass cruising around one of the tracks we practiced on. There were three different groups and Paul, Sebass and myself were all in different groups.

I was amazed at all the kids taking jumps and handling the turns with an amazing skill level. I don't know how many times I was passed by 6 and 7 year olds.



A couple of tips on how to turn and how to sit on the bike and I feel way more comfortable on the bike. I think you take this course once every year and get something out of it every time.

I achieved my goals: I learned how to corner with confidence, I made it to third gear and as a bonus on my last trip around the track I got a little airtime. I think I rode as aggressively as I ever want to, rest easy mom and dad, third gear is plenty for me.

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This is one of the instructor's taking a quick rip around the track at the very end:


Most of the instructors are competitive racers. Very cool to watch but not for me to do.

A bit of Girly Stuff:

I mentioned this to Shannon when I was visiting earlier in the month. As my body has been changing with age (read I think I might be peri-menopausal) I have been getting nasty headaches when I ovulate and when my cycle begins. I went to the health food store and had a chat with one of the ladies that works there, who I find to be very knowledgeable. I told her what was going on that my gut feeling was it was related to hormone changes as I age. She suggested I try Her Energy

I find I have way more energy since I have been on it. It has cleaned me out a little bit if you know what I mean, but not in a drastic or uncomfortable way. I lost 5 pounds of belly fat in the first two weeks and have held steady since. I had my ovulation headache yesterday but it did not last long and the intensity of it came down. I had been taking Advil for them (and I hate taking crap like that) and I got through the headache with no medication, I just upped my water intake for the day.

I have felt great the past two weeks and I often start to feel the season change this time of year and get a bit down. The time change this weekend will be a great test to see if this supplement continues to help me out.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Acorn Ass

I was going to tittle it "Acorn Butt" but let's face it "Acorn Ass" has a nice ring to it.




You don't see a whole lot of Oak trees where I live. It is one of the first things I noticed (after the I got over the whole cold/snow thing) when I moved up here. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Oak trees.

We had a huge Oak that grew in the backyard of the house we grew up in. I remember a particular camp ground we would go to that was full of big beautiful Oak trees. How about that huge Oak that grew right in the middle of the main street in downtown Danville. (I think it may be gone now?)

I noticed this Oak tree while walking the kids to school one day. I have meaning to take its picture for a couple of seasons now. The changing colours had me out of the house with my camera on a special walk just to grab a few pictures of it.

In the picture above I was not really trying to get the ass end of the acorn. The wind was blowing like mad and that is the end mother nature pointed at me when the camera clicked. I love it.

Pictured below: that's me, on a dirt bike. My maiden voyage. Fun and bit scary. I never did make it out of second gear. I played around with changing gears a lot. First to second, second to first, getting the hang of the clutch being in my hand and the changing gears with my foot when I have done just the opposite since I learned to drive.

Sunday Paul, Sebass and myself are taking a dirt bike course with the Yamaha dealership here in town. If you are going to do it you may as well learn as much as you can about technique. I am hoping they cover tips and tricks on how to fall...

Another One

I just came accross this one reading my morning blog posts. I could not help but load one more. It is just so perfect. I guess everyone knows I cast my vote.

I am really learning to love Fridays. I work Monday through Thursday and have Fridays off. Today the kids have an in-service day and we are having a relaxing pajama morning. I am planning to catch up on laundry house work through-out the day.

I have another blog post planned after I download some photos from last weekend so stay tuned. I am going for two posts in one day! Shocking I know.

Maybe I will even get a chance to finish a sock and practice my piano today. I have high hopes don't I. I am always surprised at how fast the day slips buy when I work around the house and play with the kids.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Have you Seen This?

I think some of you have already seen this, but it is worth a second look if you have.

It made me bust a gut.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Reunion

The reunion was a great time. I think both Shannon and I had more fun than we expected to have. In high school I was never quiet sure where I fit in, so I was not sure where I would fit in at the reunion. As I spoke with many old friends and some people I barely knew in school it turns out that almost all of us seemed to feel that way.

Shannon was a great date, she looked hot, got tipsy on only one drink and we got hit on as a couple. One guy bought Shannon and I both a beer and chatted us up. He was quite flirty with us until he pointedly asked us "What's up with the two of you?" Shannon and I replied that we were sisters and he disappeared without another word. Once he realized he was not getting luck with lesbians he just turned around and walked away. Shannon and I got a great laugh out of it.

Most everyone looked great. The women have all taken care of themselves and looked beautiful. There were a couple of guys that had gotten paunchy but not to bad. Anyone going bald went for the shaved look that is so fashionable now anyway.

There were several people there that I renewed relationships with and I am sure we will keep in touch now. So glad that I went.

The visit with Shannon and Will was loads of fun. I had a great time bonding with Taylor and Morgan without my kids around. I got to really spend some time with them without my kids competing for my attention. Taylor talked my ear off and held my hand all through the corn maze, what a character she is! Morgan is at that great age where you can embarrass him with the right word dropped into casual conversation....fun stuff that.

Mom and Darryl are amazing with the horses, I wish I had more of a visit with Darryl, but he had to work. Their house looks wonderful and they seem very happy and lead a full and wonderful life.

Shannon and I had lunch with Dad on Monday. I got to bond with everyone...the trip was such a wonderful whirlwind. I just can't tell you all how glad I am that I went (I guess saying twice will have to do the trick)

Monday, October 06, 2008

Muddy Fun Weekend

This weekend we took the kids out to Inks Lake to do some dirt biking. It was a blast. The weather was perfect: enough rain to make some good puddles and enough sun for a rainbow. We packed a lunch and had sunshine and wore our t-shirts it was great.



Sebass rode his own dirt bike and did a great job. He and Paul are registered for a dirt bike course together in a couple of weeks. I think they will have a great time and learn a lot of safety stuff.



The quad belongs to my friend Doug. He was kind enough to let us borrow it for the weekend. I had PJ and Q on the quad with me some of the time and sometimes Q rode on the front of Paul's dirt bike.



Don't worry to much I was the only one with a speedometer and I don't think any one went faster than about 20KPH. I did go 35ish once but on an easy road. It was a blast.



Here is Sebass after slipping a bit in a puddle, he pulled himself out and then kick started his bike on his own. He had a great time. It looks like Q is riding Paul's bike, but he just sitting on it waiting for Paul.



One of the best things about the bikes and quad is being able to go to places like this:



and spending time with these people:



Priceless.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Time Flys

I can't believe how long it has been since my last post. Where has it gone? I am feeling more like I have found my rhythm the past week. It is as it blogging about it smoothed things out a bit. Thank you all for the comments and great ideas to help keep me grounded. The ideas from so many moms that are there or have been there is so helpful.

I am headed to California for a weekend. Sounds crazy doesn't it? Remember that Paul went to his 20 year high school reunion not long ago? Mine is this year as well, Paul has encouraged me to go to mine because he enjoyed his so much.

I will fly out of Bellingham on Friday afternoon, the 10th? I don't know the date and don't have a calender in front of me and I fly back on the Monday evening. Quick and dirty. I got a great price on airline tickets, about $200, I told Paul even with the airline tickets I will probably spend less money than he did at his! He laughed. He has no idea I am planning a trip to the BE store with mom and Shannon that should add a little cost to my trip!

It seemed like my trip was months and months away and now it is around the corner. I keep thinking have lots of time to get some shoes to go with my dress and now I realize I don't have to much time at all.

Q had a birthday late last week. He turned 5. Be still my heart, they are all growing up so quickly. I have some pictures to post for you, but I had a computer incident have been unable to download my photos.

I moved my Sony laptop (the one with Vista on it) buy grabbing both the base and a steadying hand on the screen and the screen cracked under my thumb! The LCD is totally shot and you can see nothing on the screen. This has made it a bit hard to see the pictures. I am hoping to have it covered under warranty but who knows?