Let us dare to rethink and write

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	Gandalf visit Bombadil.. a surprise conversation
Time:	12:17 pm.

“But if you would know, I am turning aside soon. I am going to have a long talk with Bombadil: such a talk as I have not had in all my time. He is a moss-gatherer, and I have been a stone doomed to rolling. But my rolling days are ending, and now we shall have much to say to one another.”— J. R. R. Tolkien

POV: Gandalf the White

I sat for a moment and watched until the four hobbits rode around the bend in the road. They had grown so much in the past year that they were no longer the same lads that walked out of Rivendell. I turned Shadowfax towards Tom’s home and grinned when I heard music coming from the opened front door. The tune was as cheerful as I remembered from long times past and with a loving pat, I sent Shadowfax in search of fat open stables and a fatter less groomed pony. I knew that voice, even though the songs were now of just a ridiculous nonsense.

He and Goldberry met me with a hug upon their doorstep and she lightly stepped off, with a polite farewell and a sly knowing grin spreading across her face. Tom invited me into their house and poured me a much welcome glass of wine. I took the goblet in my hand, noticing the Carn-Dum runes written on it. He too had been busy in this age with the eradication of wraiths in the Barrow-downs. Traveling down the East Road was far from cleaned up but at least their menace would no longer make for a fearful stop between the residents of The Shire and Breeland.

It wasn’t until I got seated in one of his larger comfortable chairs that I could see his facade drop and Ulmo’s musician settled down with his own feet propped up on a footstool. I nearly choked on my wine, thinking and actually knowing were two different things, I just barely managed to swallow the surprise from my face and voice.

“Hello Salmar, we were wondering where you had gotten off to.”

“Heigh-Ho Olorin, did you think that Ulmo had drowned me after I made his pipes?”

“Well..” I paused with a grin and a wink “I had my suspicions about ‘Bombadil’ and his music for many generations. And wasn’t it just funny that you never showed back up after the drowning of Beleriand. But I think Ulmo would be pleased with your choosing a water spirit for your wife."

He smiled at the compliment, how his eyes brightened at the thought of his wife. "Not sure who chose whom that day Olorin, but she makes my heart swell with happiness. Ulmo will just have to make due with Osse in my stead."

"Valinor was much quieter after your music left."

Salmar shrugged his shoulders. “Someone had to stay behind and look after the bits of land for Yavanna. She was worried what Melkor would do, so I just plopped myself down where I could keep at least one blue eye upon him and his ilk.” He turned one of those thoughtful blue eyes away from his drink and towards me. “Of course, I was under the same prohibition as you. I couldn’t go one-on-one against them but I could help those that opposed him. What became of the others Manwe sent with you?"

I set down my goblet and fiddle around my cloak searching for my pipe. "Aiwendil has taken to speaking with birds and beasts over people, not that I can blame him there. Manwe's eagles have been a trusted treasure and I have had to make conversation with them on many occasions, this past age. Yes, they have created a new age, you know how men like to mark the passages of time. Alatar and Pallando went off east and unfortunately, I haven’t heard from them since, perhaps now that everything is settled with Mairon perhaps I will go east and see what has become of them before I take the ship back to Valinor.”

Now we broached the person I was most reluctant to talk about, his falling seeming so complete from Orthanc. “Curumo has given up or rather was forced to leave his.."

I noticed his small nod at that.. "so you have seen him recently?"

Salmar lowered his goblet in response. "Yes, he was passing through the area around mid-year looking much worse for the wear. Not that he could see or care much about Tom Bombadil if he did spy me out. News is far and few between these days, but Farmer Maggot's talk about the Shire makes me wonder if maybe he has gone to hideout there. The Little Folk did good didn't they, you could almost feel the earth breathe a sigh of release when Mairon left it."

"I will tell you that tale, when Goldberry returns. She will want to hear it."

"Yes, of course she liked the elf-friend you chose."

I laughed at that. "I had no hand in the choosing."

"UmmHmmm..." Was all he could reply to that statement.

I told him again that I would tell our tale when Goldberry returned so she could learn of her elf-friend and their other small guests and to no one's surprise our talk traveled off from the hobbits and into the trees and the leaves and into the lands of the great forests of Lorien and Fangorn.

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	14 Days
Time:	10:01 pm.

14 Days to Healing
Muse: Frodo / FOTR
~DandyB

My first coherent thought was of pain. My shoulder was burning with a cold I had never experienced before. How foolish of me to put on the Ring after all the warnings from Gandalf and Strider. Where was Sam? My last sight of him was a crumbled heap by one of tower ruins? How are we going to get to Rivendell? My shoulder ached, a chill wind blew over me, was it his breath? I opened my eyes and spoke "Where is the pale king?"

No..no.. no.. that was not what I meant to ask. I shook my head. The pain from that movement nearly caused me to pass out again.

"Who, sir?" sounded the voice of my concern. Tears ran down my face.

"Oh Sam.. you are okay, I am so glad."

Did I say it? Did I get it right that time? I still could not be sure.

"Help me, Help me to sit up. What happened?"

They did as I requested, then I saw the flames burning bright against the early morning sky. What were they thinking?

"You foolish hobbits have built the fire up again. Where is Strider?" I was beginning to feel better now that I wasn't lying down. Every movement had sent another painful wave down my arm.

Sam looked at the others and then he spoke. "Sir, it was Mr. Strider who told us the build up the fire to keep you warm, don't you remember? He had gone off again looking for a weed or something. After you told him about your shoulder and all, he kept saying something about needing Athelias and when I asked him what that was he said it was kingsfoil, but what he would want with a weed is beyond me, I never heard it had any virtue. He's gone again, begging your pardon sir, I don't know if we can trust him. It's nearly dawn now, sir and he's been gone most of the night."

"Sam, we have been all through this before, he has seemed to guide us well so far, up until last night when I foolishly put on the Ring." Our conversation came abruptly to an end when Strider reappeared.

"Frodo? You are awake? How does your shoulder feel? No, don't speak I can tell it pains you. I have found a plant that will help to heal part of your wound, but it will not heal it all. I have found the black rider’s knife along with a piece of his cloak. " He took a deep breath "Frodo, I am afraid you have a splinter of the knife in your shoulder. That sort of wound is beyond the virtue of my small plant, so we must get to Rivendell as soon as can be. I will have the others breakdown the camp as I cleanse your cut" As he talked he placed water on the fire to boil. "I will have the others divide up the stores and leave what we can here, and you must ride the pony, I see you are still too weak to stand."

When the water was ready, he crushed in three of the leaves, and spoke softly over the bowl. It was elvish, but I could not make out the words. As the smell of the herb blew through the air, I saw the weariness of the restless night drop from the other hobbits faces, and a small smile lit Striders. Taking one of my shirts he tore it into strips and used it to bathe my shoulder before binding it up. He also washed my arm and side, and some of the pain and cold left them. I couldn't use my arm, so he fashioned a sling for it.

"Rest now, while we break camp we are 14 days out of Rivendell, and we must leave as soon as it’s full light."

Only 14 days, it seemed like a lifetime.

Tbc..

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	Cold Michigan Skies
Time:	3:32 pm.

It is cold outside. The skies a Michigan gray.

The frost is laying on the ground

a layer of sugary sand on a fair-weather cake.

Trees are not bent this time under the strain of ice,

did that make it colder?

Perhaps.

However, it is not so nice to look at.

A layer is forming upon the lakeshore.

Ducks and geese scarcely noticing.

They just swim with reckless abandon.

Perhaps.

It carries a fog that lifts

magically from the cold.

Swirling with a quiet solitude.

It's cold outside.

But maybe one of us doesn't mind.

Perhaps.

The one not working.

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	Bridges falling down
Time:	5:29 pm.

North Texas Creeks

Choctaw, Caddo, Caney

Waterways we know so well.

Their waters running swiftly past

What stories they could tell.

They would speak of ancients

Hunting deer they had killed.

They would speak of children

And the sandcastles they would build.

They would speak of bobcats

Leaving tracks upon the shores.

Fishing for lost fossils

And finding them, by the scores.

They would speak of bridges

That have seen their share of death.

Hunters, gatherers, all left behind

And a semi trailer's

last untimely breath.

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	Miss me?
Time:	10:21 am.

"Awakening, I hear the truth-- grey rain on clay." - Michael P. Garofalo, Cuttings

So, I have been spending the last 12 years +/- on facebook. Dano set me up an account there. LOL. Probably to keep an eye on me. LOL. I sorta miss the free style freedom that Live Journaling had. Back then there was no restrictions, no deletions, no blocking, no WOKE b/s declaimers to be found here. Hopefully that is still the same today. If I want to complain about the *president I can. LOL. At least not without my parents and cousin taking exception to my perceptions.

I want to write again. At least with Love [i really meant to type- live] Journaling I can edit easier. I have joined a poetry group on F/b but at least this still gives me a place to work it all out before I post more recent items as opposed to hiding it under the "my eyes only" cover of facebook until i feel it is up to snuff.

So bare with me, if anyone is still out here.

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	The madness of an anniversary..
Time:	6:20 pm.

March 13, 3022
The dark of the moon....

A stab in the dark, an innocence lost.
A drift on the currents, tempest tossed.
Lost and confused, anothers will takes control.
This feeling of pain, overhelming my soul.

The moon is well hidden, alone in the dark.
Hoping for another's voice, to cause a brief spark.
And winter approaches, it brings a chill bite.
No cure in the future, an end with no respite.

Quietly waiting, listening with tears.
A hope for the future, or the silence of fears.
The sky slowly brightens, and sunshine displays
This journey continues..
...and the night slowly fades.

It started with little or no warning, much like it usually does. The light is the first thing I notice and I find myself seeking a darkened corner in which to sit, most times that means little more than a coverlet in a storage closet. It begins with the sharp pain that comes from even just a single lantern or the glowing of embers in the fireplace and I press my hands to my eyes to block the light as I fight my way down a hall and out into the darkness of the night where there was little light except for the stars. Thank Elbereth, it was a new moon night with just the barest sliver of a crescent outlines a curve.

Shooting down the back of my neck and it screams down my shoulder and on though my arm, sending sharp pains flaring as it contacts each joint in it's way. My shoulder flares up with the first protest of movement. Elbow screeches and grinds my teeth tighter, down a forearm to a wrist contracting into a curl around a hand and onward into the knuckle of a finger bitten so as to distract the rest the hand from following suit.

I sink down to the sand to make the distance less likely of a long fall into one of the barrel cacti. In/out a breath catches as if to block off the queasiness that lies beneath the surface. How many years has it been now, I can no longer remember, let alone know what day it is, for thinking hurts far too much.

My hand scratches and scrambles around my neck in surprise. Why is there a pouch and not m'lady Arwen's glass anymore? Had I given it back to Elrond? I can not remember and the more I try to think the more my head pounds out it frustrations. But perhaps. Even here, where there should be some degree of easement it is found in a pouch that contains leaves from a poplar tree. I fumbled open the pouch and pulled a leaf out and ground it between an ache that was burrowing its way through my head. I cringe at the bitter taste but still held out hope to find some sort of relief.

Even here? It takes me a long moment to gather my thoughts into something more coherent, here?, something as simple as who I am at the moment.

I cannot find a name.

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	Christmas Tides
Time:	10:53 pm.

Hiya!

So it is Christmas season again. Yay! Everything is going very well for Dano and me this year. We spent all last spring and summer getting the pontoon boat ready for the lake again. It has new [cranberry colored] carpeting and new white seats that can be moved around the boat to wherever you want to sit and we built a top for it. Pretty cool looking. Made for a great summer project and it was sooooo good to be back on the water again on the weekends.

LOL! We actually had someone drive up wanting to buy it.
We definitely didn’t sell it. Having our boat again is very nice and relaxing during the heat of the summer.

Put in a new front door made of oak and mahogany. Dano did the install and I stained it with redwood and it looks pretty awesome. Now I want to swap out the front porch pillars and stain them to match. We screened in our back patio. I want to extend the deck a little bit more too. So maybe that will be our next project. And put in new windows and trim, and paint the kitchen, and get some more rocks for the driveways, and, and, and and etc..

I am sure you get the idea.

Michael is still in Mayport, Fla. He seems to enjoy being in the Navy. Doesn’t complain so I guess that means it’s all good. He put in for a new job and wanting to do computer networking. That would be a great step for him, he says it may require him to add a couple more years onto his service because of schooling, but that’s prolly the best thing in this current economy. Class should start around April time frame. He can take some college courses on his ship when they go out on deployment next year. I can’t remember what the three are that they are offering. Dano says one of the guys in Norfolk told him that just because they sign up for college classes, doesn’t mean that the Navy gives the sailor’s time for them. LOL! He was home for Turkey day. Looking really good, too. We are so proud of him.

The saddle shop I work for didn’t have to have the outside auditors come in for year end physical this year! YAY! Because our cycle count numbers have looked so good all year they are happy with our division just doing our normal year end and going with the results.

[update: Well when I wrote this we didn’t have to have the auditors come in. Apparently someone changed their minds and they had to come in on the Monday following shutdown. It was still a pretty short day. We only came into work for a few hours before he was satisfied with our numbers and left.]

So that means I didn’t have to come in during the two-week Christmas shut down. Whoo-hoo. *Happy Dances* More time to work on house projects. I should be able to find something! on my list of things that needs to be done. Or a whole lotta something’s.

Any volunteers out there.
*chuckles*

Well that’s about us for now.
Happy Ho-Ho’s and Twinkies.
Luv ya loads.

D and D.B

(Nibble on this.)

Time:

7:40 pm.

I was down at the Pub watching the Toronto hockey game and came up to finish watching it [drink 3 and leave.. LOL. okay so 3.5 was 1.5 guiness's too many] The cook/bartender Tony was cute. I told them to split the tab with him since he waited on me most of the time. The bartenderish [maybe owner?] said he would leave it all to Tony.

Today, along with the lake shore drive, I walked over to CN tower and saw the big woodpecker statue thingy. The convention center is fairly close to the hotel. How cool is that! Am only two or three blocks away so I can walk over there.

Went to the Hockey Hall of Fame and left my fingery prints on LORD STANLEY'S CUP! :) bought a detroit throwback sweater too.

Bounce! Am soooo excited I get to see Toe tomorrow! She was one of my very first online friends. :):):):)

We are going to Niagra Falls.

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Subject:	Celebrations
Time:	12:12 pm.

My Parents 50th anniversary is today.
:):)
<3<3
:):)

(3 sound bites | Nibble on this.)

Subject:	At the Stratcona
Time:	11:52 am.

Toronto has been rainy and cool the last two days. Like Michigan always was.

Am considering a drive down Lake Shore drive this afternoon rain or not.. LOL. My room is small but that's okay since it is just me in it not much room for hanging out in for very long so I am in the cafe having breakfast and coffee.

:) I have wifi now. Should have bought that yesterday but didnt think about it. I went to some of the museums in the area yesterday[arrived and checked in around 2ish] and went to the Harley shop to buy shirts for Dano and Balrog. {and one for me :)] There should be another one close to the convention center [or maybe here on front street} that I will prolly head to on Monday or Tuesday after classes get out.

I saw a street band last night, and even though it was rainy people were out walking all over the downtown area. It was pretty cool. The band was very good and I spent some time there and then went to The Pub which is connected to this hotel [in its basement, actually] Had a Guinness and some Glenlivet mmmmm... yummy.. Dano really needs to restock the liquor cabinet at home.

So that's my taste of Friday night in Toronto. Now I am off to lake shore [Ontario if you are curious which one] Not sure if I will go to Niagra Falls or not. Maybe. Dano has already seen it. I got the coffee cup with my name on it to prove it.

I left a bunny on TOE's doorstep.

He's prolly feeling a bit bedraggled now. Heh!

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	repacking the suitcase..
Time:	7:16 pm.

LOL

I need to repack my conference attire. It is supposed to be 45-60 in Toronto this weekend.. not 55-70 like it was the last time I looked at the temp there.

Well that answers the question about what kinda shoes I will be taking too.

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	ONE MORE WEEK
Time:	7:47 pm.

And I fly off to Toronto!!!!!!!!!!! Yay.
:)

Why do my bosses apparently forget that I have been talking about going to this conference for a year? I told them when I got my passport last year January. When I paid for the attendence to it back in June. When I booked my hotel, plane ticket and car in August. When we were in a meeting at the beginning of September when I asked if they want me to get some literature from the Expo about barcoding [they suggested I get info on rfd technology instead]

Now when it is a week away from flying out they are all suddenly surprised?? Hullo.. Please ignore me some more.

Blargh.

LOL. I cant hear out of my left ear.. It has been a helluva rough week for ragweed.

Stupid sinuses.
They are staging a revolution in my head.

(2 sound bites | Nibble on this.)

Subject:	<3 To my Friends List. <3
Time:	9:13 pm.

I read this today and I just had to say I luff you all.

"Many people will walk in and out of your life,
but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart."

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	Owie
Time:	9:31 pm.

The idea of riding a motorycle is keeping both wheels under you.
Notontop.

Lesson 1:
Motorcycles and "loose gravel" dont like each other much.

Lesson 2:
If you fall off the horse get back on and ride.

Lesson 3:
Thank goodness I didnt buy a Harley as my first bike

:D

Just road rash and a coupla bruises as a result of these lessons.
LOL.

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	Blergh
Time:	1:23 pm.

Been nearly a month since I have updated last. Why are the weeks flying by???

*faceplant*

No Mikey visit this month nor prolly next either *pouts* so I will hold out until December for his base standown time and hope he makes it home for Christmas time. He needs to save up some money anyways. LOL. He is talking that maybe his ship will be sent out on deployment around the start of the new year. Of course he can't say where and I know better than to ask. He gets to strike for a new job in October and is thinking about going for CTN {Networking} he was told that was mostly a "shore" job.. Not that he would be disappointed to have that.. LOL.

My neice who got married at the end of June is five weeks pregnant. She and her hubby are very excited as our my parents since this will be their first great grandchild. :)

Baby kat is walking around gingerly. Finally was able to have fixed on Friday so no more kittens for her. *sighs in relief* its hard to find people who want kittens lucky for us her first [and only] litter was born around Easter and were easier to find homes for. She has been taking the last couple of days easy which is good because that's just what the vet wanted.

My elbow/shoulder/upper back was hurting last week but feels much better today. Dano says it was from playing golf. I think I would agree with that as last weekend was 3 out of 4 days of it in a row. LOL. I played on Friday and Monday and had an hour long learning clinic on Saturday. Since I feel better, maybe I will play on Tuesday this week. The clinic helped as my score was lower afterwards. On Sunday I was chipping around the back yard practising the new swing I learned at the clinic. Ouchie.. my poor achy body.. LOL. Remind me how much exercising hurts.

I bought a new set of ladies hybrid irons which I hit further and straighter than my "used" old set. I traded the used ones to the used club store for a box of golf balls that I like. Both I and the shop owner prolly took advantage of each other. LOL. My new clubs I got for nearly half price at Golf Galaxy since they were the display models [and their last set.] I also used them during the clinic to practise with so I was really happy to see that they worked so well out on the course for me too! I can hit my driver around the 180-200. Straighter is so much better than yanking it off to the right and into the trees at that distance *giggles* lose less of my golf balls that way. Happiness is coming back with the same number of [good] golf balls as you started with. I don't mind losing trashy ones found along the pond's edges. LOL..

US is close to winning [and retaining] the Solheim Cup.
Yay!

(2 sound bites | Nibble on this.)

Time:

7:01 pm.

Happy Monday all.
:)

Not really anything to update with this week. Dano is in DC this week at an FBI site. Told him to kick a few butts while he is in Washington.

Michael is still talking about getting some leave time so maybe will get to see him this month. Dano and I let him know that we would be willing to buy an airline ticket for him even if it is for just a couple of days of leave.

My 401k is only down 2k from what i have put into it. Dont feel so bad about that since it is on its way up from being down 6k way back when things were really bad. I am doing mostly global investments instead of US I think at this stage of our economy that going with the global market is a less risky venture. At least it is on the rise again and maybe I will get to the point where I break even again and watch it start going back up.

I have to buy a plane/hotel/auto package for Toronto. Hopefully expedia still has the 1100 package with the hotel about a block or three from the convention center. :) That hotel looked to be a pretty cool place. It has a "Pub" lol.. cant be all bad if it has one of those.

*snicker* A cellphone speaker confuses the heck out of Baby Kitteh.

See not much of anything to update on.

LOL.

EDIT:
Well the plane/hotel/auto package was 1200. That's what I get for waiting a month to book it. That's okay. I saved 600 by only signing up for the Monday and Tuesday classes instead of all three days,and signing up for it before the end of June. I can do that since I just renewed my certification and the next time I will need to that is five years away. :) The money comes off our taxes at the end of the year so that is cool too.

TOE:
That should give us the full weekend to get together. YAY.

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	With working and vet time spent on Friday
Time:	3:21 pm.

The to do list moves to Saturday [and prolly Sunday]

1) Go get Bike reinspected because of the missing license plate
2) Get the windshield [yay it is in] installed
3) Laundry ..bleh
4) Dishes
5) Put new boat chairs into the boat, put away the porch/lawn chairs

6) Groceries
7) Tequila run

8) clean and vacumn living room. [double blech]
9) Take some time to wonder why 8 wasnt enough on the to do list
~~10) Wash the dust off the motorcycle after item 1 and 2 are finished.~~ LOL.

I like this weather we have been having. Next week they are telling us we are returning to the normal Texas summer heat. Bummer.

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	Eep. Poor Dano.
Time:	3:08 pm.

Dano tipped over his Kawasaki today. That's the second time he has done that. It took both of us to lift the thing. Its far heavier than mine. He has to get a new break lever for it now. Yep. He's bummed.. but now I don't feel so bad anymore about my little fender-bender back in November when he was teaching me to ride. Am glad that it wasnt his Harley.. He would have really, really been steamed about that.

I like my little Rebel. Still need to find somewhere to get an inspection sticker on Monday. I also need to buy one of those plates that sits behind the liscense plate to hold it. Guess who is going to check for her plate everyday from here on out when she arrives at work?

There was a hole-in-one during the canadian open this week where one ball bounced off another to roll into the hole. It was like watching a game of pool. LOL. There have been a huge number of them this week. 5 or something. They are giving the players a BMW Roadster for them. Pretty lil' car. Nothing like my next car however.. Yeah Dano and I considering either the new Chevy Camero or Ford Mustang.. convertable after we have paid his truck off.

(Nibble on this.)

Time:

7:34 pm.

Yep, I had to fill my tank today. Ya know.. I get 76 miles per gal.
:)

I luff my bike. It was a pretty drive in this morning. Got to watch the sunrise as I pulled into work, which is cool since I travel east and didnt have to worry about the sun blasting me in the eyes as I rode in.

I did however lose my liscense and inspection plate somewhere. Bummer there, guess I have to go to the title office tomorrow and get a replacement. :( Dano traveled my route in and didn't find it when I called him at lunch after I realized it was gone off the back. Makes me wonder if it 'really' fell off on the way into work or not. :(

The kitty cat is attacking wilderbeasts and gazelles on the TV. That is funny is heck. *snirk*

ETA:
Dano said that the locking nuts that I used to hold on the plates would not have wriggled loose. :( which means someone took my plate. It was only 6.00 to replace the plate but it will be much more than that to get it inspected again. *blergh* plus however much time at lunch on Monday. And of course not ever inspection place that does auto inspections does motorcycle ones. I am pretty bummed about losing them.

(Nibble on this.)

Time:

7:10 pm.

:)

I rode my motorcycle into work today. LOL. That put 50 more miles onto it round trip. I love the twisty back roads between here and there.

There is one stretch where the road is 70mph. I have yet to get up that high.. not sure i want to without a windshield on the bike.. bugs hurt on the arms at 55-60.. let alone 70.. blergh.. Oh and this section of road is expanding to a double laned road so after they complete that work it wont be so bad. I am only on it for a mile and a half so no worries there.

Personally I like to keep my speed somewhere between 45-55.
Now that is fun.

(5 sound bites | Nibble on this.)

Time:

7:53 pm.

Wondering:

How Meari's job interview went {I hope it rocked!}

How Jenny's first day of work went {I hope that rocked too!}

I think I am going to ride the Motorcycle into work tomorrow. {Provided it isn't raining.} LOL. Then I could park verra, verra close to the door. And not have it be Friday in order to get that sort of parking spot.. Heh.

Ya know.

People at work will freak. *snirk* you should have seen their reactions when someone had bike trouble and they used our driveway to park their bike for just one afternoon. To have someone actually ride one in would cause a stir. Discovering it was me and mine! Would even be more of one. I have rode it in on Friday's when I worked, but not during the main work week.

(7 sound bites | Nibble on this.)

Time:

6:21 pm.

27 years.
:)

(Nibble on this.)

Time:

8:45 pm.

:)

My niece was a beautiful bride. She wore her mom's veil which is pretty cool, it was a close call because it was missing and they finally found it the day before the wedding.

:)

Michael is making noises about maybe being able to come home for a bit in August for leave. I hope he does. I miss my Balrog. LOL. We are supposed to go through the stuff in his room to see what we will keep and move for him or give away/sell,etc. Dano and I are talking about putting the house up for sale and moving to Eastern Michigan or Southern Missouri or Lake Texoma.

We want a smaller house.

And somewhere that is a bit cooler in the summer. Blergh.. You would think that after 26 years that triple digit heat wouldnt bother us anymore..LOL.. not likely.

(Nibble on this.)

Subject:	Gm [Retiree] Woes.
Time:	6:05 pm.

Bummer. Mom and Dad's dental and eye retiree insurance from GM no longer exists after July 1. One of the results of the GM woes.

Dad is going back to work at the Bean canning company, with my niece. He has been doing that for the last four summers so no this isnt anything new. He likes to keep busy. LOL. It started one year when he offered to mow for them. He went inside one day and decided that the ac was much better than being outside mowing. So they put him to work on the canning line. He bought himself a motorcycle too.. It's a black 82 Honda Goldwing.
And he is soo loving it.

The Balrog is doing well. :) They will be heading back to their homeport sometime this next week. LOL. He said that one of the Admirals that is going to be visiting his ship this week shares his last name. He is stoked to talk with him.

(Nibble on this.)

Time:

8:42 pm.

Gah! Sorry about the lack o' updates. It has been really really busy around here.

:)

Rode my motorcycle into work on Friday! Put 52 miles on it since I went over to the Coffeys after work.. They were not home however. Bummer there. :) Still I rode into work! YAY. Plan on doing more of that now. It took 45 minutes on the back rodes. I expected that. Damn though it is a windy ride at 55mph. Cant imagine 65-70 without a windshield installed beforehand. I lurve my new bike. :) Dano would prefer that I ride the Versys however. Says it is smoother, faster, and easier to ride. It is also heavier and the break and clutch are closer to the footpegs. I will need a lot more practise on that before I feel comfortable riding that one.

:)

We are getting ready to go to Michigan next Thursday. All the kittens have found a new home and we are alone with just Baby Kitty again. :) After the Fourth Holiday she is going to be fixed so that we dont have another round of them. My niece is getting married next Saturday so we will be on a week long trip. :) The summer break from work will be nice, but being net free not so much. Still going to take my lap top but I dont expect that we will be able to use them to access the internet. Ah well.

I lurve the new young pups playing golf these days. Some are ubber cute with their celebrations. LOL.

(Nibble on this.)

Time:

7:28 pm.

Wow has it really been two weeks since my last update????
.. blergh..
Things have been busy around here.. This month is my nieces wedding so Dano and I are getting things geared up for a trip northward.

Bought mulch and put it down in places that I [or dano] don't want to weed eat. which by the time I am through will be all the way around the house. LOL. The back looks good. Now I have to finish out the side of the house. Weeded the garden this past Sunday, not sure what to add into the bare spots if anything, for now I will prolly just put down mulch on it and put off choosing til later.

Argh..
I think I have itchy poison ivy spots on my hands from the yard work. LOL. Welcome to spring.

We are working on the house to consider putting it up for sale. October we are talking about taking my take home check to zero and throwing it all into 401k to see what we could do on one salary. If/When we move, than my [and daddys] full time job would be moving us, then finding another job once we get settled again. We think that the proceeds from the sale of this property would pay for our next house since we want to go smaller in house size.

With BOA and my bike paid off should be able to throw 1-1.5k into savings at least once a month. Woot. I am thinking closer to 1.5 but we shall see. Kinda nice to be seeing the savings account going up again. :) Finally.

I did put another 30 miles on my bike this weekend. :) Would have added another 10 if I could have figured out how to bring home groceries with it. LOL. We drove over to Merit which is about 1/3 of the way into work by the back roads. I even had the bike up to 55 for a little bit.. Dang that was cool [as in the colder "cool"] under the trees.

One of the kittens is playing with a bottle cap on the kitchen floor. God are they funny, especially when they get to playing with empty boxes. Since they are all eating from the food dish I might take them to Marty's on Friday while I am off work.. Bummer that I cant do that on the motorcycle either.

That would be almost a 40 mile round trip with lots of twisties.