The Elegant Gathering of White Snows

This is an amazing book. I am passing it on to my very good friend Melinda who has had a few bumps in the road this year but who remains a source of strength to all who know her. I have left instructions in the book to continue to pass it from woman to woman after it has been read and to include a rock with the book when you pass it on. The rock is to be kept by the next woman reading the book and she is to include a rock and so on...(you'll need to read the book to find out the meaning behind the rocks) I've also asked that they log onto my blog and let me know where they are sending it next. Hopefully this will work and if it doesn't it doesn't. Sometimes things do not influence another person the way it has you. I'm crossing my fingers though that this book will touch many women's lives and they will find inspiration in it like I have. Time will tell.

Another cool thing about the author of this book is that she rides a motorcycle. Very cool! I didn't find that out until I ended the book and read about her on the back cover. Thank you for the amazing book, Kris Radish!

Love this License Plate

Note to All War Protestors

Click on the Picture to Enlarge...

Support Our Troops because they support you each and every day of your life!!

Thanks for the Advice Biker Chick!!

Dan and I got up early this morning to get some riding in before it got too hot. We headed north on Highway 141 finally stopping to look at the map in a little town called Willey. I always forget how friendly small town Iowans are. I needed directions to Carroll, IA because Willey isn't on the Harley map...lol. The woman I asked for directions was so darn nice I was simply amazed. We found Carroll and ventured into town before heading back and stopping at the Harley Dealership there. I had a few deja vu moments from my Sturgis trip in 2004. I don't think I've been to that part of Iowa since that trip so I had some memory flash backs. I ride with Dan because even though I have my license I can't afford a bike right now.(I'm taking donations...LMAO!!) Seriously, I do have a "Saving for my Motorcycle" piggy bank that I bought at J & P Cycles. So anyway...back to my story here...lol....I was sitting on a Sportster because I thought that would be a good bike to start with. There were a couple Biker Chicks that had come in and one of them walked over to me and said...you don't want a Sportster, you will hate it after a 1000 miles. Start with the big bike. This is the second time I've heard this from a woman rider so I'm definitely taking her advice when I'm finally able to buy my dream!! I've had so many male riders tell me I don't want a Sportster but when it's coming from them you are like thinking...don't tell me what I need to get. All you ladies out there know what I mean. HA! So anyway...it was great to hear from a female that she thought the Sportster was a mistake. She even let me sit on her Deluxe. It was a sweet ride. So we left there and I was having I wish I was riding my own ride pangs as we made our way to Boone. We came across a stranded couple on a Street Glide with a flat. To every biker out there...even if you have no knowledge of how the hell to fix a bike...for godsake stop and offer assistance. We stopped and you could tell they really appreciated us checking on them. I'm sure countless bikers passed em by without even giving it another thought...that's just freaking RUDE!!! It's a brother and sisterhood we have with our fellow riders and we need to stick together and support one another. Ok...I'm off track here...So we got to Boone and drove around the town for a bit. Stopped at Kum and Go and then got back on the road heading for Ames. Go Cyclones!!! Rode out to Zylstras...boring...nothing exciting going on at that dealership. LOL It was beginning to get HOT HOT HOT so we went for lunch and headed back south to Johnston. It was a great ride...I enjoyed every minute of it. I always do...each ride is a new adventure...a new journey with exciting moments all around. I seriously Live to Ride. It's in my soul. I love it!

I love this quote...

For you Sex and the City fanatics...Carrie says almost the exact quote after she walks away from Big and spots a horse going wild in Central Park. She relates the spirit of the horse to her wild spirit.

Oh and have you heard...THERE IS GOING TO BE A SEX AND THE CITY MOVIE!!!!! OMG...it's a dream come true!!!!

Oh Baby...Talk Dirty to Me!!

Last Saturday Mitzi, Todd, Dan, and I traveled over to Newton to see Veins of Jenna, Great White, Dokken, Ratt, and Poison. Great White was actually not too bad and Poison ROCKED the Speedway. I've been to many a concert in my life. The best concert I've seen to date was Rob Zombie but Poison has now pushed Rob down to number 2. I totally felt like I was 17 again. When Bret and the boys ripped into Talk Dirty to Me I had an image of myself in scary Larry's basement hearing that song for the first time and just loving it! I was hooked!! Now all these years later with his long rocker hair(still wondering if it is really a wig) and his rock star look, Bret Michaels was amazing. Thanks for making me feel like a wild teenage girl again! I let out a big whoop when he mentioned Sturgis before he sang Ride the Wind and he brought tears to my eyes when he sang Something to Believe in. I took a few pictures on my phone.(Bret's Bus, Great White performing, Jack Russell, and the crowd during the song Something to Believe in.) They are not the best but there are a few highlights. My final comment on this exciting Saturday adventure is...Don Dokken...hang it up...you SUCK!!!!!!!(you walked off the stage after 15 minutes when I saw you back in the late 80's and buddy...you should have just kept on a walking!)

Oh...and Baby...ahhhhh...Talk Dirty to Me!!!

Cairn by Greg

My father, Greg, built this amazing Cairn in the front yard of their home in Northeast Iowa. He found inspiration from a Cairn that was built at the Des Moines Art Center by Andrew Goldsworthy. Each piece was stacked by hand and no mortar has been used to hold the pieces together. It's truly an amazing work of Art. I'm very proud of what my father has created and wanted to share it with the world. It's beautiful, Dad!

Minneapolis

All involved in the horrific bridge collapse in Minneapolis...you are in my prayers!

Veterans Rally Winter Park, CO August 17 - 19

Click on the picture and it will make the flyer larger. Support Our Vets!

I think this guy had FUN!!!

Here are the effects that hundreds of miles on a bike and too many beers will have on ya! Thanks for the picture dude!!! He's passed out under the tire of a semi...I hope the driver looked before he/she pulled away!!!

The Sturgis of Bicycle Riding...Ragbrai 2007

Friday, July 27th thousands of bicycle riders ascended on the town of Dyersville, Iowa. And since I'm always on the search for a fun time and the fact that my sister and her husband live there I trekked up to Northeast Iowa to see the action. Margo and I got up early and went down to where the bicycle riders were entering the town and welcomed them with Morning greetings...clapping and cheers. It was fun to see all the different people come through the tunnel that the volunteers from Dyersville had created. During the evening we went down and partied with the riders on their final night and had a great time. I did keep thinking the entire time though that I wished that the bicycles were motorcycles and that I was actually in Sturgis, South Dakota partying with all my fellow bikers!

21 Shrines

For the longest time this Catholic Chick...meaning me...thought that Shrines to Mary were called Novenas. WRONG! I did a little research and the Novena is actually the prayer or prayers that you say during a 9 day period of time or something like that. OK so funny story...my sister and her husband live in a very Catholic community in northeast Iowa. One weekend I was visiting them and we were driving around. We started counting Shrines to Mary...one, two, five, ten...the three of us were laughing and marveling at all the different shrines...twelve, fifteen...it got to the point were we had to find just one more...we were shooting for 20 and would yell out loud when we would see another one. Kind of scary that 3 grown people were finding thrills in doing this on a Saturday night. Well before we returned to their home we had counted 21. I would have to say Tim and Margo live in a very Blessed Neighborhood with 21 Shrines to Mary watching over them.

Bike Down to I-Town

Kristen(left)Stephanie(right)
Me(above) with the Street Glide aka Zippy Pickle!:)

Kristen, Brent, Dan, & I traveled down to the best bike night in Iowa on Friday! It was awesome to hang with Kristen,Brent, and Dan. Great Ride and Great Friends. Beers and Fun! Love I-Town!!!! Can't wait til the next one!!

Jasmine Cain - The Inside

I listened to the most incredible female artist that I've heard in sometime. Jasmine Cain's album The Inside is incredible. Holy Shit...the entire album is awesome. The song that got me the most was November. It was so haunting and brought tears to my eyes. The other song that really got me was Sweet Euphoria. Jasmine is from South Dakota so naturally she will be in Sturgis for the big rally. Check out her myspace page for the dates and times. www.myspace.com/jasminecain

How do you like me now?

This is probably silly but whenever I post my picture I always get that song from Toby Keith in my head...How do you like me now? This year was my 20 yr class reunion and I kind of failed to attend even though I was so going to. I think I look pretty damn great for 38 yrs old! Yep that's right...I'm 38 yrs old and damn proud of it. And this 38 yr old chick is going to be an Auntie! My sister Margo and her husband Tim are going to have a new baby in March!!! I'm so darn excited. I think baby Ketels will be a girl and she will drag race cars and ride motorcycles. And if a little boy is born he will drag race cars and ride motorcycles. LOL :)~ Boy or Girl doesn't matter as long as he or she is healthy. So anyway...Congrats Margo and Tim! I bet LaRue has already been to Von Maur and bought up some baby rack bargins. LOL!

Share the Road!

I have a plea to Cage drivers...SHARE THE ROAD!!!!(for those of you that read my blog and are not motorcycle riders or passengers and don't know the biker speak...Cage = Car,Truck,Van,etc.) Don't drive right on top of us when you are behind us. Don't try to share our lane with us. If we meet on a two way street and you have to wait on the other side before you can pass by the cars on your side then wait...you don't try to go when a car goes by, don't you usually wait until they are past so you don't hit each other?? YES!!! HELL YES YOU DO!!!! Don't think you can out run a motorcycle by turning in front of us...we are coming at you faster then you think. I realize we are sometimes difficult to see but you also need to look around...don't just look in your mirrors...turn and look in your blindspots too. It could save a life!

113th Cavalry leaves Camp Dodge, Johnston

Troop A, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry is based at Camp Dodge, Johnston and performs reconnaissance and surveillance missions to assist commanders in planning and executing combat operations, the release said. The unit was last deployed for peacekeeping operations in Kosovo from September 2003 to September 2004. - KCCI.com

The 113th left for Camp Shelby, Mississippi before their deployment to Iraq. May your guardian angels watch over you during your deployment to Iraq.

God Bless America and God Bless Our Troops! Keep them in your hearts always. Without their selfless acts we would not have the freedom we so take for granted. Freedom isn't free! Don't ever forget it!!

Best Bike Night in Iowa!!!!

Ok...I'm voting this the best bike night in Iowa! The third Friday night of each month bikers from all over Central Iowa show up in Indianola, IA for the best bike night! If you love live music, beer, good eats, 1000+ motorcycles, and good looking biker men then this is the bike night for you. Oh geesh I forgot...for the guys there are good looking biker women too. Hope to see ya'll on June 15th!

Big Barn Harley Davidson

Ok...so they sold and changed the name of the Harley Dealership in Des Moines. Granted the building was constructed to look like a big huge barn but that didn't mean the new owners needed to take it so literally. Over night it went from Zook's to Big Barn Harley Davidson. They could have at least made the name more fun and called it like Hawg Farm Harley Davidson...Big Barn??...Come on.

Remember Our Fallen Heroes

Please pause for a few moments this weekend to remember Our Nation's Fallen Heroes and the sacrifice they gave for our freedom.