Live Your Life Now by IHG on Garage Girls.com

You'll have to go on over and visit the Garage Girls site and read my post in The Body section. It's called Live Your Life Now. I wrote it to inspire people to live like there is no tomorrow!

If you can't get to Garage Girls you can read it here too...

My life has been a yo-yo ride of weight loss and gain. I've lived like I'm indestructible and never really cared about my health. I was the person who would sit and watch the Biggest Loser while eating a Big Mac and large fries. Simply put, I was a mess!
In the spring of 2009, as I was thinking of our Sturgis trip in the fall, I decided to try P90X and change my eating habits. I worked hard at it and was seeing results. Weight was dropping off me. I was excited with the lighter me that went to Sturgis that year. I had lost about 20lbs. When we got back from the trip I posted photos from Sturgis on my blog and on Facebook. People kept asking who the skinny girl was. I thought nothing of the comments because I had been working out a lot before the trip. About a month after Sturgis my vision began getting blurry. It got to the point that I was having difficulty seeing so I decided to have my eyes checked. The eye doctor at Lenscrafters was very concerned and told me that I needed to see my family doctor that Monday. He told me that he believed something was wrong with my health. I went to the doctor and he sent me to an eye specialist. The specialist told me that he felt I needed to have blood tests and he also wanted me to see another eye specialist. That specialist also thought I needed to have blood tests. I made another appointment with my family doctor to have blood tests. My husband Dan drove me to the doctor because by then I wasn't able to see well enough to drive. I went in and had the blood tests while Dan waited in the car. As I was returning to the car a nurse came out after me. She said I needed to come back and see the doctor. I walked to the car and told Dan I needed to go back in. He went in with me to wait for the doctor. The nurse told me that my hemoglobin level was so low they were surprised I could even walk. The doctor told me he was sending me right over to John Stoddard Cancer Center because he believed that I had Leukemia.
The ride to the hospital was the longest of my life. I was crying, I was dumbfounded. How was this happening to me? I met with the Oncologist and his nurse, that my doctor referred me to. I was admitted to the hospital that day. That day I received 9 blood transfusions and I also received platelets. A few days after being admitted my Oncologist finally came in and diagnosed me with having Hairy Cell Leukemia. I was moved to the Oncology floor of Methodist Medical Center and spent 29 days of my life there. I underwent 7 straight days of chemotherapy.
During my stay I had a lot of time to think. I thought of how I haven't lived my life to the fullest. I thought of how unhappy I've been throughout my life with how I look and never being "thin" enough. I thought of all the times I've sat and watched when I should have been out there living.
The day I went home was so scary. A person really becomes attached to the health care providers that they see everyday. I swear I took my temperature every 1/2 hour. Day by day I became stronger and would make myself walk around the block. When you are not active you lose allot of strength. I needed to get that strength back so I decided to begin working out again. I lost 40lbs because of Leukemia. 40lbs that I needed to lose but having Leukemia wasn't really how I wanted to lose it. I turned it into a positive though, this was going to be one of the good things that I got out of all of this. I vowed to get healthy. Dan and I purchased a treadmill and I started walking on it daily. One day Dan was showing me some Pod-runner Pod-casts. One of the pod-casts caught my eye, it was called Intervals 1st Day to 5k. At that moment I decided to train for a 5k run. It was slow going at first. I've never been a runner. I was always the slowest kid in school when it came to the Presidential fitness 1 mile run test. The first week I was able to run a mile in 18 minutes. When I got to week 5 I was at 13 minute miles. I made it to week 10 and am now able to run a 5k on the treadmill in 40 minutes. What a huge accomplishment for me. I'm feeling the best I've ever felt. I'm on my way to being a healthy, sexy, strong woman. The woman that has always been inside me but took 41 years to find. No one is stopping me now. Currently I'm working on the Pod-runner Pod-cast Gateway to 8k.
This bump in the road opened my eyes to life. We don't realize how much we take life for granted. A person needs to be in the mindset that one can't put things off until tomorrow because tomorrow may not come. DO IT NOW! Become the best person you can be. Don't wait like I did because a disease like Leukemia smacked you in the face. I was lucky. I got a second chance. Take your first chance and run with it. Live your life NOW!

Route 65 Harley Shop Bike Blessing May 1

Ride the Wind

When I read the news that Bret Michaels had a brain hemorrhage I seriously freaked. I am a true blue product of the 80's. It was big hair and hairbands for me. I remember the first time I heard the song...Talk Dirty to Me. Ironically I've been listening to Flesh and Blood during drive time to and from work. I've seen Poison in concert a few times. I'm a FAN and think Bret Michaels is a Hot Hottie Hot man! I'm not ready to let this one go yet. It sounds like he's recovering and that is good to hear. One of my all time favorite songs from Posion is Ride the Wind. Enjoy and then get out there and RIDE THE WIND!!!

Josh Kurpius Part 1 & 2 Photographer and Biker Extraordinaire

I found out about Josh Kurpius from the HD Dark Customs Blog. This guy blows my mind and he's living the life! WOW! You can also check out the blog that he works on with his 2 friends called Kemosabe and the Lodge. Enjoy...I sure did!




Josh Kurpius Part 2

I'm a Biker Girl on a Steel Horse I Ride!

Wow...thanks to everyone that posted a comment on my last blog entry! This is a very special event in my life and I'm glad your sharing it with me!! I said at the end of the last post, come back for the rest of the story and I got to thinking about that...the rest of the story???...huh? The story is just beginning isn't it. This is the beginning of my big dream.

I took Sadie for her first spin tonight and wouldn't you know it, forgot the camera. Dan and I went to a parking lot and I actually road her, feet up on the pegs. It was a great feeling and for not riding on my own for 3 yrs, I was pretty darn proud of myself. This is going to be a very fun journey for me and I hope you continue to ride with me through it.

Is This a Dream?? No, It's The Answer to One! IHG and Her Motorcycle Become a Reality!

About a month ago Dan said..."Baby, I think we need to get you that motorcycle." I looked at him with that are you pulling my leg look and said..."REALLY?" "Yep...I think we can swing it and you more then deserve a motorcycle of your own." So the hunt began. We looked on craigslist and went to some dealerships. One night Dan said..."Baby, I found the bike for you. Take a look and let me know what you think." I sat down at the computer and looked at the beautiful black Sporty on the eBay site and smiled. I was pretty skeptical about it though because if we won the auction we'd have to drive to Waukesau, Wisconsin to get her. I thought about it for a bit and said to Dan..."Let's bid on her and see what happens." Dan put in the bids and we waited the auction out. I'd look at the auction everyday when I got up, when I got home, and before I went to bed. The auction ended the Saturday before Easter at about 4:15 in the afternoon. When the auction finally ended and the bike was mine I was laughing and crying and jumping up and down. I called Dan at work and was yelling in the phone..."I JUST BOUGHT MYSELF A HARLEY!!! OMG!! IT'S MINE!!!!!"

My folks came on Easter and I told them the great news and asked if we could borrow the pick-up and trailer to go and get my Harley. They of course agreed and wanted to go along to share the experience with me. They have always joked that the Zippy Pickle is their grandchild and now they have another.

The week dragged on but finally Friday night came and Dan and I started out to my parent's place in NE Iowa. About 7 miles outside of Albion, IA, Dan's car overheats and we had to pull over. The car cools down enough to make it to Albion. We park it and call my folks to pick us up. A broken down car was not going to keep me from making my dream a reality. Long story short...the Caddy got towed to a station and is being nursed back to health so Dan can drive it another 100,000 miles. :)

Saturday morning we were up early and on the road to Wisconsin. 4 hours later we were turning into the neighborhood that my new baby currently called home. When I exited the truck I saw her immediately and immediately knew I had made the right choice. She was perfect...beautiful...everything I'd always hoped for when I'd finally be able to purchase a bike of my own. I could tell Angie, the previous owner, was a little sad that she was selling her beloved Harley to someone else. She told me that she was very happy it was being purchased by another female. She won't be without a motorcycle long because she purchased a new one. I could tell though that she loved this bike. It was spotless, it looked like it had just rolled off the showroom floor. Dan took her for a spin and came back to let me know she ran like a dream. And man oh man when you flip that ignition switch those pipes rumble like no other. She sounds amazing!

I talked to Angie for quite a while. I found out my bike has done the Tail of the Dragon. Angie also rode her as a Road Captain of the Milwaukee Chapter HOG. There are stickers on her windshield that show these two accomplishments and I've decided to leave them there because those are part of her history. One wild thing is that Angie is from Ankeny, IA which is a suburb of Des Moines and about 5 miles from where I currently live.

Angie and I were standing there watching the guys strap my bike into the trailer and I said to her..."You know, I'm having a really hard time not crying right now because my dream is coming true." She looked at me and said..."I'm having a hard time too because I'm really going to miss this bike." I gave her a hug and then we had to look away from each other before we both broke down and cried.

We finally were ready to get back on the road and we said our good-byes to Angie. She stood in her garage and watched us drive away. I'm not sure if she was crying but boy I was. This is something I've wanted for years and it finally was real. I finally had a motorcycle of my very own.

I'd like you all to meet my new beautiful baby, Sadie! I'm so happy that I feel like I'm walking on sunshine.

Come back in a day or two for the rest of the story! :)

We're a 2 Harley Family Now!

Life is GRAND!

FOR SALE 2003 Suzuki GZ250 --SOLD

(image not actual motorcycle)
Ready to Ride

Excellent condition

Less than 5k miles

New front brake pads (Spring 2010)

New battery (Spring 2010)

Installed luggage rack (removable)

Well cared for and well maintained

Winterized and stored each year

$1050 Firm

This has been SOLD!!

Women Rider's Month Dinner Ride at Route 65

In honor of Women Rider's Month in May the Route 65 Harley-Davidson Shop in Indianola, Iowa would like to invite all women riders and the guys who love them to ride with us on a Dinner Ride on May 25th. Join members of LOH (Ladies of Harley), the Motor Maids, other women riders and men who support women riders for a fun evening ride. The ride will leave from the Route 65 Harley-Davidson Shop parking lot at 6:00 p.m. sharp. Come early to socialize with other riders. The Dinner Ride destination will be announced as we get closer to May. Please call Route 65 Harley-Davidson Shop at 515-962-2160 if you have any questions.

Bikers Inner Circle - Internet Show

One of the reasons I love Facebook so much is all the new things I've discovered. I ran across Charlie Brechtel and his Bikers Inner Circle Internet Show. He's got everything on this site; music, biker babes,and great interviews with people associated with the culture. There are also great articles about anything from the great barn find to what Billy Lane is doing in prison. It's a one stop shop filled with biker culture.

I would say the section of the site that I enjoyed most are all the live interviews. I love learning new things about the biker world and it's great seeing interviews with people that I admire so much. I encourage you to check out Bikers Inner Circle to watch the many videos that Charlie and his crew have posted.

If you've been around the rallies I'm sure you've probably seen and heard the Charlie Brechtel Band. If not check them out. Great tunes related to the culture that we all love so much!

Cycle Source Indian Larry Commemorative Issue

On August 30, 2004 the world lost an innovator of custom motorcycles. January of this year, Cycle Source Magazine released a commemorative issue dedicated to Indian Larry. If you haven't bought a copy of this you need to find one. If you are an Indian Larry fan like I am this will make you miss him all the more. Below is a video that I found featuring some of the people from Larry's life that helped Cycle Source with the content of the magazine.



Indian Larry, a motorcycle ICON that left us way too soon!

Think! Look, Look, and Look Again for Motorcycles

It's motorcycle season again in the Midwest! It's time to keep your eyes peeled for Motorcycles. Look, Look, and Look again!!

More Jason Aldean - The Backstage Experience on Video!

Here is a video of the backstage experience. TOO COOL!

Road Trips and Guitar Picks - Wide Open with Jason Aldean

Wednesday night Dan and I jumped in the Caddy and pointed it toward Ames. Our destination was Hilton Coliseum for an amazing evening with one of my favorite country singers, Jason Aldean. When Jason came onto the country scene a few years back with the song Hicktown, I was instantly into his music. He was someone I always wanted to see perform live. Well as luck would have it Jay Verner from Country Financial was cruising blogs one day and ran across mine. I opened my e-mail one day and saw this e-mail with the subject line Road Trips and Guitar Picks. I get lots of e-mails from people asking for this and that and offering this and the other thing, so I don't always open e-mails, they usually get deleted. I'm so glad that I opened this one. Jay asked if I'd be interested in attending Jason's March 10th show in Ames. I was instantly excited. I e-mailed him back and asked if this was for real and he responded back that it was. Well I took the bait and said of course I wanted to see Jason Aldean and what sweetened the pot was the fact that I would be going backstage to meet him too! Holy WOW! So all this explains the blog posts I made about Jason Aldean and the videos I posted. It was part of the deal and I certainly was more then happy to promote Jason, Country Financial, and the Road Trips and Guitar Picks site.


So back to heading to Ames. We get there and stand in line at Will Call. I started talking to this guy in front of me, Dan Woessner, and he ended up being an agency manager at Country Financial. He introduced Dan and me to all of the other Country Financial people in the group and weird enough they had all heard of the blogger, IowaHarleyGirl. Thanks to Dan and the other Country Financial team members for letting us tag along with them to get into the venue. Once we were inside I met Jay, who had e-mailed and invited me to the event. He was introducing me to people and they too had all heard of this blogger, Harley Girl. I was beaming, for sure!

The backstage experience was great. They had food and drinks. The room was all decorated for the event with Jason's Billboards. I autographed a sign that is going all over the US with the concert which I thought was pretty cool. Finally we all lined up to meet Jason and have our photo taken with him. I do have to say he is one good looking young man. WOW! I was star struck and all I remember was saying to him, I can't believe I'm actually meeting you...I can't believe I'm actually standing here beside you. After the photos, Jason and two members of his band sang an acoustic version of Big Green Tractor. Then he answered questions. He's a cool guy. Wish I had photos but they weren't allowed. It was very intimate though. An experience I will never forget.




After the meet and greet Dan and I headed upstairs to our seats. They were awesome. Luke Bryan opened the show. He was really really good! I knew a couple of his songs and he swayed me over to being a fan. There was a quick set change and then there he was, Jason Aldean! The boy can rock in a country sorta way!! I always love it when the artist you are seeing loves up the crowd and he really did. His band is amazing too. I couldn't stop dancing once he hit the stage. And he made my knees weak when he said "yeah momma" in the song Johnny Cash! His songs really have that down home twangy country feel that I love. It was a great concert!


I can't thank Country Financial enough for this amazing experience. Thank you so much for finding my blog and asking me to promote this event. I had a blast! This was something I really needed after my whole experience last year. It really made me appreciate what was going on all the more! Thanks to Jason Aldean for taking the time to meet us and share an intimate moment with us. I think it would take a lot to do something like that. We all think we know a star because we've read about them and know things about them but they are coming into the venue not knowing a single thing about any of us. I'm sure it's as surreal for them as it is for us. Anyway...getting a little too deep on this post. :)

If you have a chance to see Jason Aldean or Jewel on the Road Trips and Guitar Picks tour...do it! It's an experience you will love!!!!

Bikers are Animals - A Children's Book on Motorcycling

Press Release - Take a Fun Ride with this Exciting New Children’s Book about Motorcycles and Animals!

Bikers are Animals - A Children’s Book on Motorcycling is released by author Paul Jamiol.

In this new book, cartoonist and motorcycle enthusiast Paul Jamiol introduces children to the world of motorcycling. Meet Thor and Trash, two tough bears that love to ride their motorcycles everywhere. Together they founded the “Bears Motorcycle Club.” They also share their love of motorcycling with other riding animals. Youngsters will meet an eagle named Talon, an elephant named Slick and even a squirrel named Akorn! There are many other animal riders as well. Jamiol introduces the characters of this motorcycle-riding menagerie with a short description of their personalities and their likes and dislikes, followed by a colorful portrait of each character on his or her bike.

Children will enjoy meeting the unusual cartoon characters in Bikers are Animals while they learn about the joys of motorcycling. There is a section on motorcycle safety, and Jamiol even includes a section of line drawings at the end of the book so kids might use their imagination to color some of their favorite Bikers are Animals characters. This reading adventure is for all kids who love animals and who could imagine them having fun in a world of motorcycles.

Author Paul Jamiol, an avid motorcyclist, has been cartooning and illustrating for the past 40 plus years. He has been recognized for his work locally, nationally and internationally. His cartoons and illustrations have been featured in numerous motorcycle magazines and mainstream newspapers.

BIKERS are ANIMALS is a great gift for any young child.

This one-of-a-kind, original children's book from Paul Jamiol retails for $14.95.

Holy Cow...I'm going backstage!!!!

I'm so excited! I'm going to see Jason Aldean on Wednesday and I'm going backstage to meet him!!! OMG!!!! I've gone to my share of concerts and I've never made it backstage!!! Jason is out on the Road Trips and Guitar Picks Tour and he'll be in Ames on March 10th.

Dan asked me if the girl in this video is going to be at the concert. I told him probaby not and he made a sad man face. LOL

Support The SEALs: Drop the Unfair and Outrageous Charges NOW!

This is going to blow your mind! It sure did mine! Please watch both videos. Thanks!!!



Click on link Navy SEAL's Trial Postponed

If you are interested in following this story please go to Support The Seals.

Jason Aldean - March 10th Ames, IA

I'm seriously excited because I might have the chance to see one of my favorite country singers in concert on March 10th. Jason Aldean is on his Road Trips and Guitar Picks Tour presented by Country Financial and he's stopping in Ames, IA at Hilton Coliseum!! Living here in Iowa I'm a countrified city girl!

Sara Liberte at the V Twin Expo

Christina Shook - Photographer and Author of Chicks on Bikes

Christina Shook is one incredible biker chick! She has created an amazing new book called Chicks on Bikes. I hope you enjoy getting to know Christina as much as I have. You've also got to check out Chicks on Bikes and purchase your copy today!


Please give me a bio about yourself....
Hmm a bio…

Well, I live in San Francisco Bay Area. I’m a professional photographer shooting lifestyle photography (my website www.cshook.com) I have an MFA from San Francisco Art Institute. Two little girls 3 and 8 who are the light of my life and a darling supportive husband who is a sound designer for video games. 2 cats, 3 motorcycles.

When did you realize you had a passion for photography?
I got a camera in college and was a journalism major. I quickly found that taking the photos was vastly more fun than the writing aspect.

Are there any photographers that you draw influence from?
Diane Arbus, Joel Peter Witkin, Willliam Eggleston, Weegee, Iriving Penn… oh so many…

When were you first introduced to the motorcycle lifestyle?
When I moved to SF and finally bought my own motorcycle I was instantly biker chick. I wanted to ride all the time and I did. I didn’t have a car for 8 years.

How long have you been riding?
17 years. Yikes that must make me old!

What was your first motorcycle?
A Honda Nighthawk that had electrical problems and I had to push start it 80% of the time. Fortunately I lived on a hill and San Francisco is hilly.

What motorcycle do you currently ride?
1979 BMW R100S, Ducati ST4, Suzuki Bandit 1200

Why did you decide to do a book on women in the motorcycle world?
When I first moved to SF I didn’t know many women. They seemed harder to meet than men. I was studying photography and I love riding my bike. So combining all three interests, I starting shooting women bikers and haven’t stopped since. I feel compelled to photograph the real women bikers I see in part because the media has so absurdly represented us.

What process did you go through when you decided to write Chicks On Bikes?
It started as a documentary project for school. The class ended but I kept meeting and photographing women bikers. I did a portfolio piece after graduating to show art directors of magazines and I wrote little vignettes to go with them. It got a great response particularly with the words.

Tell me about Chicks on Bikes...
Chicks on Bikes is about real women bikers. It embraces and ponders the relationship between women and our machines. Racers, clubs, sisterhood, mechanics, journeys of mind and body, risk… what all these issues mean to women bikers. It’s a photobook at heart with a lot of words. And I hope I’ve captured the spirit of these wonderful women who ride.

If someone would like to purchase your book where can they find it?
One place only! Go to this link, Chicks on Bikes and I’ll send you a signed copy with love.

Is your work strictly based on the motorcycle lifestyle or do you have other areas that you include in your body of work?
I’m exploring the world of scooters for my next book. It’s a fascinating and distinct culture all of its own. I'll have to get a scooter.

Do you feel that women are finally breaking the glass ceiling in the motorcycle world?
Yes I do. I am particularly proud of what women racers are doing.

Do you feel you are a role model for the women of the motorcycle community?
Only in my avid support for all women motorcyclist to come together and promote the joy and freedom of riding to be acceptable for all women. I think that support of one another is vital. Just like what you're doing Stephanie. There are so many amazing women who have blazed fearless trails in the world of motorcycling.

Who are your role models?
Those women riding in the early days really move me. Like those Hotchkiss ladies riding cross country in 1915. Now that took spirit and guts and a great sense of adventure.

I just read Lois on the Loose and I have to take my hat off to Lois Pryce too.

Do you have any advice for girls and women if they are thinking about moving to the front of the motorcycle?
Take a motorcycle safety class and do what feels right for you. Get a bike that fits you and good riding gear.

Do you have any big projects in the works for the future?
I’m still having a great time with Chicks On Bikes. Its opened up so many paths and I’ve met even more amazing people since publishing it.

I’m organizing a mothers day ride here in Nor Cal and would like to try and get others to take their moms for a ride too. Share the passion and the thrill.

What are your other passions beyond motorcycles?
My kids are #1 with me. Also love yoga, leaning to play piano. I’ve been into Twitter and blogging:

Follow me on Twitter: cshookup

My blog: http://cshook.wordpress.com/

Is there a motto that you live by?
You mostly regret the things you didn’t do.

If you could change anything about yourself or your life what would it be?
I’d like to live in San Francisco and not the pretty but boring suburb I live in. I’d like to be independently wealthy. And somehow find more time to ride : )

Honestly I feel very fortunate to have work I love, a supportive loving husband, smart happy kids, good heath and live in gorgeous northern California.

Thank you Christina for taking the time for this interview! You are truly a woman that other biker chicks can look up to.