it was all about me

it was all about me this weekend and i didn't even want to go.

okay, so that takes a little explanation. ye found this dirt diva ride this weekend and determined way back in august that i should partake. well, back about then i felt as much like dirtbiking as i did about taking a rusty spoon and gouging out my own eyes. there was absolutely no way i would be ready for dirt. i just got back on the street a few precious weeks ago. then again, i had completed physical therapy and was feeling really great. last week i rode, yes r.o.d.e. to my surgeon's appt. to ask for my release to return back to work full time.

so anyway. with the weekend approaching, i decided a camping trip was indeed in order. the grandkids were looking forward to it, so what the heck. i planned and packed and decided to make a few small upgrades to our camping supplies, particularly where it came to the kids. it paid off and they slept like angels. of course a large amount of that could have been chalked up to the fact that they ran and played the entire day, filling every crevice on their bodies with desert dirt, desert dust being kicked up from numerous dirtbikes and relatively clean air. and maybe not just the air mattresses. ;-) but it gave me something to spend money on, as ye would say.

anyway, back to the campout. it was a much larger turnout than we had expected. as all the women gathered for a trail ride on saturday, i decided to throw in my hat. i did tell the ride sweeps that i would most likely be dropping out before many miles and explained my situation. i haven't done any dirt riding in over 6 months. and i still was unsure of how i would feel.

so i joined them and went. i rode for quite a while and we stopped for the second time to do a head count, etc. we were 2/3 into the ride. i decided that i was feeling really good, and not to push it as i still needed to ride back. so i bid my farewells and headed back to camp. about halfway back, i checked my 6 and their was another rider there. when i stopped to see what was up, she informed me that they didn't want me taking off by myself so she was sent to ride with me. i thought it unnecessary, but didn't argue as it really is the safest way to ride.

all was really uneventful, except that when i was nearing the camping spot, i realized that on august 1 of this year, i laid in an icu hospital bed and they were not sure whether my organs were going to re-engage. here i was, by God's loving grace, returning from my first dirt bike ride since my surgery. i was smiling.

AND i won a bluetooth. :-D

new things are happening at the casa

first we begin with the purchase of a new, double sleeping bag. this purchase was absolutely necessary after our most recent camping trip. we both had our rough 'gator heels sticking to the chintzy polyester lining of our cheap sleeping bag. the cheap sleeping bag was purchased after i lost the nice, matching, zip-together sleeping bag (not once, but twice, in baja).

so, anyway, we are back on track. we bought new tent stakes, victoria got her own camping whistle and an extra bottle of propane for the camping stove. i also repacked all the kitchen gear. it had become sand blasted from the trip. the tension knot in my shoulders is beginning to relax. :-)

i rode my moto to work on monday. yaay me. i continue to get stronger.

as mentioned above, we went camping in puerto penasco (rocky point) this past weekend. rocky point is very americanized and not my favorite place to be. if i want to hang around americans, i can stay here. i think you see my point.

but it was nice to get away. it was my first real trip since surgery. i had to give my back some relief every now and again from the hard van seat, but all in all, it went pretty well.

i joined one of those coupon sites. you pay a small monthly fee, no contract, get the coupons from the newspapers (mostly). i'll get a weekly newsletter that simplifies my shopping by providing the ads, the stores and what coupons are good for that week. it's complicated stuff, although sold under the guise of easy. shyeah, right. but since it's on a monthly basis, i'll give it a try for not too much money. i have a couple of friends that say they get lots of "free" stuff.

more later. . .

a new week

unbelievable as it sounds, my attitude actually got worse. by saturday i was ready to eat my young. don't know where that all came from, but due to the miracle of pharmaceuticals, i do believe i'm back on track.

i am, however, still sick of the campaign.

but i've moved on from my meltdown so. . .

last sunday we took the grandkids to a company sponsored day at the zoo. lifelock just rocks, i continue to assert. the kids had a great time. they spent some time in the "splash park" and although they were shivering little icicles, they had fun.

next weekend we are off to "church on the beach" in puerto penasco mexico. we've been once before and just love it. although penasco (more commonly known as "rocky point") is in mexico, it more like a southern extension of tucson as there are so many gringos there now. that is NOT my favorite part of mexico.

we will be taking the van as i'm still not ready to ride that far, but that may be better for camping anyway. so i'm looking forward to a little "away time."

a special "happy birthday" shout out to ann (actually yesterday). hope your vacation is fabulous!! i've been thinking of you, sending positive thoughts your way!!

Annoyances

i'm sick of the campaign already. i'm annoyed that i receive phone surveys, have to read other people's bumper stickers, blogs and opinions.

none of those things will influence my decision one way or the other. i believe the act of voting is quite personal. research the issues and vote accordingly. period, no need to discuss it, poke fun at it, flaunt it, post it, wear it or share your political views. as nike says, "just do it."

• pink eye
• people that talk but don't listen
• people that think they know something when they don't,
• people that don't think things through before they speak,
• people that can turn their backs because they don't want to see,
• people that do things, just so others will see.

i'm annoyed.