Monday, October 31, 2005

Thank You for Your Sacrifice

November 11th is Veterans' Day. No matter what you feel about the war going on now in the Middle East or the wars of the past, we need to thank our Veterans and our troops serving now, for the sacrifices they have made for us. We are the luckiest people in the world! We can live where we want to live, have our own religious beliefs, buy whatever we want to buy, Vote, get an education...the list is endless. Can you seriously imagine what it is like to live in terror every day of your life that you may die because of a suicide car bomber or because of your religious or political beliefs? I don't think you can. We are spoiled and lucky as Hell that we are able to live in this country. I thank God everyday that I was born here and that I am so lucky to live the American Dream! And I also thank God everyday that we have Men and Women who sacrifice so that I can live this life by keeping the USA safe! The Toby Keith song American Soldier touches my heart everytime I hear it......


"American Soldier"
I'm just trying to be a father,
Raise a daughter and a son,
Be a lover to their mother,
Everything to everyone.
Up and at 'em bright and early,
I'm all business in my suit,
Yeah, I'm dressed for success from my head down to my boots,
I don't do it for money, there's still bills that I can't pay,
I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway,
Providing for our future's my responsibility,
Yeah I'm real good under pressure, being all that I can be,
And I can't call in sick on Mondays when the weekends been to strong,
I just work straight through the holidays,
And sometimes all night long.
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey I'm true down to the core,
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,
Oh, and I don't want to die for you,
But if dyin's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with an honor,
'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an american soldier, an american,
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,
When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right,
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
American soldier, I'm an American,
An American,
An American Soldier
Thank you to all of our Veterans, Past and Present. Thank you to our troops serving now, here in the United States and all over this world! Thank you for the sacrifice that you make so that I can do whatever I want to do each and every day of my life. God Bless the USA and God Bless Our Service Men and Women!

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

What should I do with myself?

There is a song in the movie Crazy/Beautiful that fits me so well. The chorus goes like this:

It shouldn't hurt me to be free
It's what I really need to pull myself together
But if it's so good being free
Would you mind telling me
Why I don't know what to do with myself

I'm coming up on my 37th birthday in November and for the life of me I don't know what I'm going to do with the next 37 years. It has to be more than I've done. I need to hurry up and do the things I keep say that I'm going to or I'm going to be staring down 74 and saying to myself why didn't I do that when I was younger?

What I want to do:

Film a documentary
Sky Dive
Fly in a Fighter Jet
Ride across the USA on a Harley
Build a Habitat for Humanity Home
Go to a NFL game
Get a tattoo
Travel overseas to Italy
Go to Daytona Bike Week
Build a motorcycle
Visit Washington State and San Francisco

I better get busy!

Black and White - Foggy

Black and White - Foggy, never colorful and clear.
Strange but real dreams of old boyfriends, old friends, people currently in my life.
All jumbled together in my mind.
Sometimes I wake with tears, other times I wake with wonder;
especially when I dream of someone I have no real interest in but mysteriously shows up there.
Dreams of Harleys, romance, sex, famous people.
Dreams of being a child and laughing.
Dreams of lost loved ones who come to me with advice or to tell me they are watching over me.
Being chased by dogs, being kissed by a tall dark stranger.
So many dreams all in Black and White - Foggy.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Things that make me go...What the F**K!?!?

People who pull in front of you and then decide to turn.

People who don't wash their hands after using the restroom.

People who stand at the corner of Merle Hay and I 80 with signs begging for money. (why would you want to be homeless in Iowa anyway, especially in the winter)

People who use the 12 items or less line when they have 20 items in their cart.

Crotch Rocket riders who pop wheelies at speeds of 80 miles per hour.

Sex Offenders (they need their own island far away from us all!!)

People who don't take responsibility for their own actions.

Having to stop at every stop light in town, especially when their are no cars coming from the other direction.

Celebrities that are found "Not Guilty" for crimes they did commit.

Gas Prices

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Did you forget the words to "Melt"?

As predicted I cried when they sang Skin. It is truly a touching song. Here's to You, Broken Road, Mayberry...they sang them all and sang them well. The crowd was pumped. The encore came...I'm thinking they are going to end with Melt. I love the song...what a great encore. Pour Some Sugar on Me, You Give Love a Bad Name, Born in the USA...all great songs but is this a cover band? NO...It's Rascal Flatts! The fans come to hear their songs...I was hoping to hear Melt. As a fan I don't really care if you are tired of singing it. I paid to see you and I want to hear it. Other than that disappointment, it was a very good show. Blake Shelton rocked...I'd love to see him again. He's funny, talented...oh and very tall and good looking. And newcomer Blaine Larson was good too. Here's to You Blaine, Blake and Rascal Flatts...thanks for a very entertaining evening, even though I didn't get to Melt!

Saturday, October 22, 2005

Music

Tonight I'm going to see Rascal Flatts. So excited. I love their music. I'm all over the board on music though. I love country but I'm also into classic rock and I enjoy jazz and blues. I've always loved music. My parents used to play the radio at night before they went to bed. To this day I can hear one of those songs from the 70's and can sing along. I'm the kind of person that listens to every word and feels those words. For the most part people hear a song and they are like...oh that's a sad song...but they never get a tear in their eye or really show any emotion. Totally different story for me. I feel the music deep in my soul. Music moves me. Tonight at Rascal Flatts when they sing "Skin", I know I'll cry. It's one of the most touching songs I've ever heard. Better take some Kleenex!

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Harvest Moon

There was a harvest moon tonight. It rose from the horizon larger than usual, with a light orange hue. I sat watching it until it was large no more and the light orange hue had disappeared. It was normal again, something you just glance at quickly and think...oh the moon.

Monday, October 17, 2005

Artist Group

I belong to an artist play group that meets every Monday except for the first Monday of the month. It is made up of the most amazing women I've ever met in my life. They all inspire me to be a better person, not just more creative. They are the best friends you could ever ask for. I have always felt honored that they invited me to join the group since I'm not a professional artist like many of the women that belong. We get together and have a potluck dinner, have a fun warm up activity, and then we work on whatever project we have in the works at the time. I've been out of sorts lately and wasn't as active as I should have been. They all stuck by me and let me have my moment and welcomed me back with open arms when I was ready to return. Tonight they all made me feel like the most special person. I recently moved into a new townhouse and as you know when you move into a new home people sometimes give you house warming presents. Each one of them (6 total) painted me a picture and framed them in matching frames. 3 of the pictures have a motorcycle theme, 1 was a very beautiful piece of painted furniture, another was a beautiful abstract piece, and 1 was a painting of one of my favorite artists Frieda Kahlo. I had to hold back the tears. I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful group of friends and now I have 6 amazing original pieces of artwork made especially for me. How lucky am I? LUCKY!

Sunday, October 16, 2005

Bikers

You know...I love being a biker chick! It gives me confidence and a little attitude. I think that most bikers have that quality about them. Maybe it is from years of being outcast. Generally bikers are good people. There are the very few that have slightly tarnished the way for us and for the most part I think motorcycle gangs were just a big hype. But than I didn't live back in the days of the Hells Angels. I grew up in a town where the Son's of Silence had a compound. The thing is, you never really saw them out and about, they pretty much kept to themselves and didn't bother a soul. I do have to admit that rallies are a little wild but it's all good adult fun. Nobody gets hurt and the men get to see a bunch of naked breasts. Really the rallies are just an added bonus to the biker world. The best part about being a biker is riding your motorcycle. There is nothing like being out on the open road. The wind blowing through your hair. Being able to smell, feel and sometimes taste(bugs-yuck!) the elements is amazing.

I went to the Sturgis bike rally in 2004. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I think made me a stronger woman. I went with my good friend Kristen. We stayed at the Buffalo Chip campground, which if you have ever been there isn't full of amenities. I'm a little bit of a tomboy but for the most part I'm a girlie girl. The lack of privacy was very different for me and took a little adjusting. Anyway...on our way to Sturgis we experienced the most amazing act of nature I've ever seen. We were riding toward the town we were going to stay in for the night and it started to storm. The wind was intense as we made our way down the highway. To my left hand side there was a rainbow in the sky, in front of me was lightening and to the right of me was the most beautiful pink sunset I had ever seen. It gives me chill bumps just thinking about it. Even though at times I was scared out of my mind that I was going to blow over and I kept praying to God that we'd make it to our destination, I couldn't believe how lucky I was to be experiencing such an event. In a car it would have not been the same experience because you are not out in the elements feeling it and smelling it. I'll never forget that part of the trip. We went to Rushmore, which I now appreciate. When I was young and was on our family trip it was just a big rock with faces carved on it. Needles Highway was breathtaking. The rides were more than I ever wished for.

Kristen and I hung out at the Full Throttle Saloon everyday searching for Billy Lane. We are both fans of his and we made it our mission to meet him and get our pictures taken with him. For me it was like a spiritual experience of some weird kind. I tried to talk to him but the words just came out very softly. I was shaking as he moved in for the picture and after it was all done and I walked away I started to cry like a little girl. I had met him...the artist who makes the most amazing choppers that I've ever seen. And an added bonus is the fact that he is so incredibly good looking and such a bad boy!

There are so many more stories which I might share later. I don't want to go on and on about Sturgis in one Posting. If you ever get the chance though, go to Sturgis at least once in your lifetime and experience the madness and the rides. Live to Ride, Ride to Live!

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Wine

Watched Sideways again tonight and had a couple bottles of wine. I love wine. Have you ever just sat and drank in the smells of a great wine? The feeling you get from just inhaling the aroma is tantalizing. There are so many combinations...oak...cloves...flowery aromas. The next time you open a bottle of wine, don't just drink it, experience it. My favorite scene in Sideways is when Miles says he's not going to drink any "Fucking Merlot". I used to be only a Merlot drinker until I took a leap and tried Pinot, Sauvingnon Blanc and Cabernet, Syrah, Shiraz. There are so many wonderful wines out there other than Merlot. Even a good Chianti can tickle your taste buds. I don't think I'm a wine snob though...I just enjoy smelling and tasting wine. It's sensual in a way, even sexy. Bottoms up and good night.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Is it seriously almost 2006?

I can't believe that summer is over and the Iowa motorcycle season is coming to an end.(some years you can ride into January but it's a little nippy) You know as you get older life just starts to fly by so darn fast. I can't believe it's going to be 2006 in a few months or the fact that I turn 37 in November. YIKES! I know, I know...it's just a number but that number is freaking me out. I think that's why I call myself HarleyGirl because I still feel completely young and actually I still look pretty young, at least in my mind. Question - do you ever start feeling like an adult around your parents or for your entire life do you feel like a kid? When they are 80 and I'm 53 will I still feel like they think I'm a kid? Someone please tell me you feel the same way that I do about that!

IowaHarleyGirl's first posting...OH MY!

Welcome to my blog! Don't worry, I'm not going to just blog about Harley Davidson motorcycles. I'm going to blog about everything that interests me or makes me go "HUM". I've wanted to do this for so long and I finally am. How exciting! So welcome...visit as often as you like and leave comments if you so feel the need.