Farewell February

Sundays nights were spent at Dublins Pub for Live Wire Trivia. Talk about too much useless knowledge and too much rum! Our team Nuts & Bolt has won a few rounds thanks to at least one person on the team knowing at least one thing and Marc's major brains knowing pretty much everything. The Maine Coon Cat Legend team will go by Just Plain Nuts once this Bolt stops coming out as often. Carry on my wayward friends with two less brains. 

Monday nights were spent in front of the boob tube watching Two and A Half Men. Talk about too much much testosterone and too many puns, but hilarious is the only word to describe it and disappointment when it was a rerun. Hurry up and get outta rehab Charlie. While your fans are waiting, we're tuning over to CMT's According To Jim, where the estrogen always wins!

Tuesday nights were spent at the Bow Island Bowling Alley. Talk about too much wine and too much fun. Our team Knibbs & Bolts actually won the League! Phantom Bowling, great grub and Doreen and June Bug were great subs! We will be bowling off in April for the titles, cash with a banquet at the Legion. 

Wednesday nights were spent doing something different each week. From celebrating birthdays, (Mary and Kris) to meetings in Bow Island (Steer Butte Wind Project) and just running errands on hump day. With two days til the weekend on too little sleep, big plans to go to bed early will have to wait til tomorrow.

Thursday nights were spent resting up for the weekend. Talk about too much to do and not enough time to do it. Exhaustion sets in after 4 days on the go and batteries running low. Need to recharge for energy to keep going and going and going. Soon the week will be gone but none to worry, it will also begin again!

Friday nights were split between hosting Work Force Winners at Bourbon Street in the Coast Hotel, jamming in Seven Persons with Dave and Gail and making wine in the Hat with Stan and Brenda. Talk about too much of everything rolled into one!

Saturdays were spent puttering around the house, as in laundry, cleaning, organizing and maybe even a little baking, squeezing in a night at the Esplanade watching Andre Phillipe Gagnon with the gang and I spent a night at Panorama Lanes for The Big Brothers, Big Sisters Bowl For Kids Sake! Talk about nonstop laughing and non stop fun!

One thing for sure about February was Winter wasn't going anywhere. The groundhog was absolutely right about 6 more weeks til Spring. Talk about too much cold and not enough sun but it was definitely a month of fun.

Time is precious and should be spent wisely, but every moment spent having fun with friends, be it wisely or not, is still well spent. From an hour with baby Monroe, a day ice fishing or a week with friends and another month of living and loving life. It's my time and I am privileged to spend it how I want to.

“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.”

~ Henry Van Dyke 

New Years News

Wow! I cannot believe the first month the new year is almost done. It definitely started out with a bang, and it was the weather that hit us hard and pretty much did so all month long. The calm before the storm started New Years Eve at the Conquerville Hall down the road from us. We were at the reverse raffle dance with friends Darrin, Tracey, Paul & Wanda. Inside the hall was hopping but outside the still night was a sign of what was yet to come, and even some of the members of Cold Shot, the band playing that night, were prepared for the worst and brought sleeping bags to bunker down in the Hall for the night. With 3 empty bedrooms at our place down the road, there would be no sleeping on the floors for them. After 2 am we slowly made our way down the 5 or so miles in the blowing and drifting snow. The party lasted til the wee hours of the morning and it was a breakfast of bacon & eggs, toast & hash browns for those that rose before 10. Good thing there were left overs for those who didn't. Even Ray did not go to work that morning, but was called out at 2 in the afternoon. You know it's bad when you can't see the Sauer's yard light a mile down the road at the Etzikom Highway, let alone the 5 grain bins in our very own yard . No one was going any where far. So we broke open the poker cards and did our best to eat, drink and be merry all day long. And this time all were in bed before midnight. The next day by 9 it was still blowing, but Nate, Abby and what's his name, the funny one.. ha ha ...had to go back to the hall and get their equipment and head for their day jobs in the Hat. It was cold as a witch's you know what and that southeast wind blew all week long, Ray calls it a Manyberries Chinook, and nothing good ever came out of Manyberries except an empty bus (Kidding!).

for cindy

From an email forwarded to me today

This was made at Providence St. Vincent.

Our daughter-in-law, Emily (MacInnes) Somers, created, directed and choreographed this in Portland last week for her Medline glove division as a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. This was all her idea to help promote their new pink gloves. I don't know how she got so many employees, doctors and patients to participate, but it started to really catch on and they all had a lot of fun doing it.

When the video gets 1 million hits, Medline will be making a huge contribution to the hospital, as well as offering free mammograms for the community. Please check it out. It's an easy and great way to donate to a wonderful cause, and who hasn't been touched by breast cancer.

Ann Somers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEdVfyt-mLw

redneck sleigh ride

I am just tucked in bed with a heating pad on my aching feet, reading the new issue of Homemakers magazine. The minute I read this article, I immediately had to run to the living room and get my laptop to share. Susan Jurkowski wrote (and won a prize) about her plan to control holiday spending. Her idea is wonderful, joyful and inexpensive.

Rather than buy gifts for extended family and friends, she suggested everyone get together in the New Year for a free family fun days of tobogganing and building snowmen, It filled their January and February with "healthy, fun-filled play dates... Not one child complained about not getting gifts from their friends at Christmas." Her family alone saved almost $500 and everyone was grateful, since they were thinking about it as well, but no one wanted to be the one to ask. Even though I have no little ones at home, my circle of friends have children of varying ages, and the child in each of us will surely enjoy and outing of youthful fun.

Although it was never intended as a "Christmas" gift, just the other day, my friend Lisa was having a bad day and her friend Trudy drove all the way from Airdrie (4 hours away) to cheer her up. I suggested coming out to the farm (another 45 minute drive) for a sleep over. I even invited our friend Wanda with whom we haven't spent a lot of time with over the past two years to join us as well. With the extra work of packing and carting the kids for them and washing sheets and making beds for me, we all had a wonderful evening of bonding in front of the fire with glasses of wine while the kids played and watched tv on the other side of the house. After a late night and 5 hours sleep, the 4 mothers, 3 girls and 2 boys were treated to breakfast cooked by 1 wonderful man (not a partridge in a pear tree) who took all the kids for a "redneck sleigh ride" (pulling a hood off an old mazda truck behind the quad) while the ladies cleaned the kitchen and packed for their trips back home. The gift of time and energy is always well worth the reward of the smiles and hugs and laughter of everyone, who want to do it again soon.

not so feel good ripple

Yesterday was cranky coworkers day and I would hate to have had to work with the jerk I encountered on the road - he's driving along at 60 in an 80, kind of weaving back and forth within the lane, I'm thinking he's texting or on his phone so I was going to pass, but a car was coming and I should have then- had lots of time, but decided to wait and then had to wait for 2 more cars. He was gradually speeding up, but when I did finally try to pass, he guns it and won't let me in, so I speed up more, and he still speeds and I'm running out of road - and dotted line. I have to back off and pull in behind him and at the stop sign, the guy gets out of his truck, comes over to my car and asks me - "What the f%#k my problem was??

MY problem?? - I'm the one with the broken line and I can pass!! You're the one who not driving properly!!! Well, after talking to the police, we were both in the wrong. Yes I was speeding...but i wasn't the one trying to run someone else off the road!!!!!- Two wrongs don't make a right and I should have remembered the feel good ripple rule for yesterday as well and just let him be, which i did in the end, but I know where he lives... muahahahah! (kidding)

Feel Good Ripple

This morning when I got up I felt okay. Five hours sleep was not really enough but hey, I had my Servus Credit Union Feel Good Ripple Card tucked in my purse and gift ready to go so that made me feel good. My day started out as usual with shower, get dressed, hair, makeup and a 45 mile drive to work. On the way, I felt even better.

My Program Directer and Morning man Jeff Michaels at CJCY 102.1 The Lounge, played a song by Bobby McFerrin. "Don't Worry, Be Happy". It actually made me tingle, gave me goosebumps and made me smile as I snapped my fingers and sang along to the song. Talk about a feel good ripple just from a song.

When I got into work, I was telling Jeff how much that song made a difference and today was the day I planned on passing it along. I had gotten some foot and body scrub for the security guard that marks our tires in the parking lot in front of our building on Dunmore Road, who yes, has given me parking tickets in the past, but she's just doing her job. Then she walked by the studio window so I grabbed the gift bag of Avon along with the Feel Good Ripple Card inside and ran out the front door to hand her the gift.

She was totally surprised and then I gave her a big hug and left her standing on the sidewalk with a huge smile on her face! I wonder who she will pass the feel good ripple card on to, and I hope to find out next time I catch her walking her way through work. A thought, a song and an action has made today wonderful for more than just one person. Paying it forward with pride, at 102.1 The Lounge.

On the 12th day of Sturgis

it was colder than can be....

fingers were a numbing

now here I sit a typing

the blog that I'm a keeping

and the clock I keep a glancing

to end this blog on biking

that you are now a skimming

my mind it is a straying

hope I don't DRIVE you away!

For I am lost for words

Me sitting in the den

waiting for my love

and thank him for a wonderful tree.....p!

I know, I'm lame. Plus I'm bored as I sit in my pj's on the couch for the second day in a row, doing laundry and watching tv. Here's the final day of Sturgis. Could I get a drum roll please? (If I had 12 drummers drumming but my fingers are just numbing) We made it through the border fine and stopped to plug in our heated vests, and got to the Hat and immediately began running errands. We stopped in to order my new lenses and even picked up my bike from Medicine Hat Motorcycle. Thankfully Corey was in, even though the shop was closed. I put my new black sheepskin cover on my seat and was off riding my own bike and not on the narrow back seat of the Harley (thank you Al for the gel seat cover you lent more for the ride home, or should I say my butt thanks you - lol)

We rode to Ray's parents and ate dinnner while it rained. When it stopped we rode to our friends Darrin and Tracey's, parked the bikes and grabbed a cab over to Alablamas to join them after their Golf Tournament. It was a night of fish bowls, tippy cups and prizes as it continued to rain. Then it was back to their place to listen to loud rock music accompanyied by live drums. I got my drum rolls after all, Might have been just one drummer drumming, but an awesome end to an awesome trip to our first Sturgis/Black Hills Rally! The end. (insert applause here) lol

On the 11th day of Sturgis

My true love gave to me...

in heaven vipers sniping? typing?

K, I'm tapped out, lol - been blogging for 2 days straight but I want to get this wrapped up as the trip was winding down and has wrapped up almost 2 months ago. It was our final day in the US being able to ride without helmets, but we probably should have worn them just to keep our heads warm. It was the coolest day so far and I was not only cold but still tired. Maybe 2 week vacations are too much for me, because I am wiped and could have fallen asleep on the back of the bike. We stopped for lunch at the same place in Grass Range on day 2 and were back on the road again. With me not staying focused on the ride, and not keeping the GPS handy, we missed our shortcut turn to Fort Belknap and ended up headed to Malta instead. We stopped to fill up with gas and drop a 20 in the slots at the casino next door as the drizzle began. Hoping it would pass, we realized we were headed straight for it no matter what.

Donning our rain gear, we continued to Havre only stopping once along the way for cheap cigarettes and then checked into the Best Western Annex. We dined at the Duck Inn again and it was straight to bed (and watch the weather channel) I can't believe how tuckered I am. Move over Lewis and Clark - One more sleep!

On the 10th day of Sturgis

my true love gave to me....

a night of snores & sleeping (kidding)

Actually I was dead to the world and slept in til past 10 and my camera battery was dead also. Have gone through both I brought and didn't bring the charger so pictures from here on in are from the web. We had to change plans about going to Yellowstone National Park since a) we were running short on time and b) weather was turning for the worse. Rather than head northwest towards the rain, we decided to head back to Billings instead. We arrived in time for an early supper at Red Lobster and after driving around for at least an hour, found room at the Inn, the C'mon Inn.

With a waterfall and fish pond, pool and 5 hot tubs, 8 jacuzzi suites - Happy Birthday and Anniversary to me all over again! We settled in and then found the vending and ice machine, held the door open for a couple of women unloading bags of groceries (It looked like they were getting hunkered down for a few days) and went back to the room for a nap. A very LONG nap. Glad you can't get stranded on a island after a 3 hour snooze! My kids called from their vacation in Ontario with their birthday wishes and I was pretty incoherant, but at least I do remember they called. We got up to wander the atrium and check out the hot tubs and pools, and ended up joining the 2 grocery ladies (notice I refrained from calling them bag ladies) for a drink outside their room by the pool . Then it was a soak in the tub and another night's sleep in a quite comfortable bed for a hotel. Only 2 more sleeps til back home in our own!

On the 9th day of Sturgis

My true love gave to me ...

one night of romancing

Sweet! Perfectly rhymes with dancing, or should it rhyme with drumming? I've googled the lyrics to the song and discovered two different versions but i'll stick with this since it's the day before my birthday and romance is in the air, as well as the moon above Devil's Tower.

We rode only as far as the trading post at the base of the national monument as I was already hot and tired by mid morning and didn't have the energy to climb the rock. It's not like I was going to have a close encounter of the third kind. Instead I had a close encounter with a bird trying to steal my ice cream cone while sitting on the picnic table in front of the store. There we other bikers there, just not same amount that were probably there the week before, but we talked with other tourists, took pictures and jumped back on the bike.

After slathering ourselves in sunscreen, we "head out on the highway" (looking for adventure - like we haven't found enough yet eh?) towards Gillette, Wy for lunch. It was strange riding the red highways of Wyoming after spending the last week in the "Black" Hills of South Dakota it was strange to ride the Red Highways of Wyoming and return to the flat prairie like landscape. Felt a lot like home. Gillette is a coal mining town, and Ray was astounded at the size of the open mines and I am sure we will definetly return someday for a tour so he can fully embrace the magnitude of the operation. Working in a gas field, with everything underground, is quite a different mode of harvesting energy in comparison, and with a windmill farm being planned near his farm, it's quite intriguing to say the least. Anyhoo, I'm kinda paraphrasing but Ray has given me the okay to publish this so I'm all cool and he's down with that!

After lunch at Taco John's, it was back on the road which changed from straight and narrow to long and winding (went from quoting steffenwolf to the beatles now). We were planning on heading up to Sheridan and over to Cody but discovered, thanks to the GPS, that it was shorter to head southwest from Buffalo and also thanks to the locals, we even ignored the GPS and took their recommended shortcuts. The terrain on the drive reminded us of the drive from Lethbridge to Calgary, plains on the east, foothills and rockies to the west. Not exactly the magnatude of the Canadian Rockies, but still a part of them. I didn't realize they extended so far south, but then again I haven't picked up a geography book in ages, You would think the queen of google would know these things! ha! One is never too old to learn!

We rode on through the prairies and the canyons to Cody, Wy and looked for a place to rest for the night so after dinner, and many phone calls in search of a jaccuzi suite, we got ready to settle in for the night. Ray asked me if I wanted a suite tonight or tomorrow, the night of my birthday (what's wrong with both?) and I chose tonight, for I would wake on my birthday to a huge tub to soak my aching muscles. It's not only hard on the driver but the rider on the back as well on such long trips. But then again, it's not all about me. Today is our anniversay (3 years, 11 months) We always celebrate it monthly, whether it's something extravegant like a jaccuzi suite or simply a card and an I love you, Sept 12th is OUR day!

We ended up at Buffalo Bill's Antler Inn. There were antler coat racks and antler chandeliers, but it would be better named Buffalo Bill's Tree Hotel. (hmm, sounds like a hotel for trees so maybe not) As you can see, the bed and frame is made of natural trees, as were the lamps, desk and vanity legs in the bathroom. There was the biggest (and greenest) jacuzzi tub that was calling my name. I had a wonderfully long soak while Ray went in search of...I can't remember now. May have been food, mix, bike wash or all three. It didn't matter at the time. The only thing that mattered to me was hot, steamy bubbly water and a soft warm bed. I was out like a light before midnight. Here my birthday was beginning and I'm already dreaming of the day to come.