Changing hosting packages

I recently decided to move my website to a new hosting company - the customer service at my old host had gotten pretty bad. I wasn't getting emails regarding renewals on sites, I wasn't able to contact the customer service department, sometimes for weeks on end, and when I did, I wouldn't always hear back from them.
So last week I moved my site over to another hosting company that I've used with other sites - Globat. I've been very happy with their service and will probably move all my sites over to them throughout the next year, as they come due.
I've also changed my domain name from rogerswebnet.net to aroundtheloopdesigns.com - I'd had this new domain for several months, but at this point I'll only be using it; the rogerswebnet.net domain will go dormant.
My site is currently down, because of some problems with the DNS servers, but I hope the site will be back up by first of next week at the latest. When it does come back online, I'll also be moving my blog over to aroundtheloopdesigns.com/wp, so this will probably be my last post on this blog. I'm moving all the posts, comments and other information while I'm waiting.
Make sure you change your bookmarks and check out the new blog - the look will change slightly on both the site and the blog - there will be many more similarities between the two. Hope you like the new look!

Share a Smile Thursday

I've been challenged by Angelika over at Angelika Heart Talk to share a smile today, so here goes:
When my older kids were little, they enjoyed watching Disney's Sing a Long Songs videos. One of our favorites was Figaro and Cleo from Pinnochio.

Anytime I want to visit those days again, all I need to do is catch one of these video clips on Youtube and I'm there again, on the sofa with my kids, all of us singing along.
I have four favorite grandsons, Hunter, Dyllan, Reid and Talan, as well as six favorite granddaughters, named Chloe, Khloe, Destiny, Laynie, Nevaeh [read hers backwards!] and our newest one, who will be born sometime this fall.
Here's a story about Reid:
This last fall, I was talking to Reid (who is 2 1/2 and helps his dad farm and take care of the cows), and asked him about his newest surprise. He looked at me and said, "I got a trike-cycle!" I said, "Well, my goodness! What color is it, red?" He looked at me with these big solemn eyes, and said, scornfully, "No, it's GWEEN!"
I should have known- what self-respecting John Deere-tractor-riding farmer boy would ride a Massey-Ferguson red trike-cycle?
And just so I represent the girls as well, here's one from Laynie:
Laynie, who is four, has a nice fenced in back yard with a trampoline. Once when we were visiting her, I talked to her while she jumped. When I asked her if she jumped a lot, she said, "Yes, I like to, but the neighbors don't like for me to because sometimes I jump over their fence." All this was said with a straight face and no thought beforehand. If she doesn't work in the entertainment field, I'm going to be surprised.
These are just some of the reasons I love talking to my grandchildren- they educate me in so many ways, I can't even count. If I don't learn something from them, it's because I'm not paying attention.
If you need a smile, and can't find one, just hang around a little kid for a little while- they'll loan you one of theirs.

I'm so Thankful...

Just a short note today about how thankful I am.
I'm so thankful that my work allows me to be with folks who need me. I've got friends who need someone to drive them to their doctor's visit today, and because my schedule is flexible, I'm able to do that.
I'm also thankful about my schedule, because some of our younger granddaughters may need to come stay with us this summer, because their parents both may have to have surgery during the same time. I'll be able to take care of them while their parents are recuperating; their parents won't have to worry about doing the things that little girls need and can get well quicker.
I'm glad I work from home, so I can do these things - the things I lose because I don't work in an office are nothing stacked up against the blessings I get from being at home with my family.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

I was recently challenged by another blogger (30 Things) to read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I picked it up at our local Books-a-Million store (my favorite) and started in.
I wasn't sure what to expect- the clerk who waited on me asked if I was buying this for a class assignment; when I told her no, she said that she had seen more copies of the book sold in the last few weeks than she'd ever noticed before.
I think I understand the reason for it- someone who's read the book, sees the parallels between something in the book and today's news, and suggests it to a friend. The cycle goes on and on...
At one point in the book, someone states that all personal land should only be held for the public trust- in other words, land that you inherit from your grandfather should be made available to all who are interested in using it; instead of it being yours to do with as you wish. (Sound familiar?)
Or how about one character who ruined a factory. They purchased the factory by suing a bank who wouldn't give them a loan (they had no collateral and no experience in running a factory). After buying the factory, they changed several things: they paid all workers, maintenance crew, unskilled and skilled labor, all the way up to the president of the company - everyone received the same salary. Twice a year, everyone in the factory was able to ask for things as they needed it. Those whose need was voted on as being worthy got the money they needed. They also voted on whether folks were doing as much as they were capable of - those who did not meet expectations were forced to work overtime with no extra pay, or they paid fines. Money that should have been invested in labs and research on newer and better products, was instead put into redecorating the factory so the workers could be more comfortable in their surroundings (play room, rest areas, etc). The factory collapsed within a very short time - no surprise there. The man who was in charge of the factory complained because he wasn't given everything he needed to succeed.
There are so many parallels between this book and today's society, that I'm not able to read it as quickly as I'd like. I tend to read a passage several times, to let everything sink in.
Now don't get me wrong- I don't think money is the be-all and end-all of everything. But I do think that folks ought to be able to work as hard as they want, and to be rewarded for their work at whatever the free market will allow. That's the key though- the free marketplace will work itself out, if the government will stay out of it. If someone doesn't know how to run a business , the business will either fail or flounder- hopefully the owner of the business will learn from mistakes, and also hopefully get help so they can improve their business and be successful.
I know this sounds harsh, but it's the only way our country is going to succeed- we have the right to pursue happiness, but happiness itself is not guaranteed by the Constitution.

New Babies

Several months ago, Randy added an outside wall to our carport - probably I should say bikeport, but that sounds funny. We park our bikes under the carport, and he figured closing it in would help protect the bikes during bad weather, and it would also give us some more storage space, since he added shelves to the inside of that wall.
A few weeks later, he was changing out some parts on the bike, and left an empty box on the top of one of the shelves. Then one day, I was working in our living room and looked out the window onto the carport and noticed a bird was carrying twigs and leaves. As I watched, she went into the box, the box shook a bit, and then she popped back out. I kept watching over the next day or so, and she eventually finished the nest she was working on.
I've worried about the nest, because we have two cats who like to play in and around the bikes; one actually takes a nap on one of the shelves. At one point, we thought the nest had been abandoned, but when Randy picked the box up to throw it away, the bird came flying out of the box - I don't know who it startled more, Randy or the bird.
Then over the weekend, Randy picked up the box to see if it was still being used, and guess what he saw? Three little mouths open wide, waiting for lunch.
I'm still a bit nervous about the cats- they are champion hunters, and love to go after noisy little animals. But hopefully the mama bird is watching them, and the box itself is in a spot that would be hard for the cats to reach. I'm just going to trust that God will keep His hands on the babies until they can get out on their own.

Food, glorious food

What trip review would be complete without talking about the food you ate? So here's a breakdown of the best places we hit while we were on the road.
We took in several nice places - the two best were Mel's Diner, which was right across from our hotel, and Flapjacks, a hunting-lodge type place.
Mel's Diner looks like a real diner from back in the 50s - lots of movie posters and ads, blue and white leather booths, coat racks on each booth... items on the menu were named after characters on Happy Days and other 50s-related personalities.
For example, I had the Abbott and Costello Jumbo Wings, with mild sauce. There were six on the plate, and there was more than enough for me for lunch; it would make great appetizers for two or three folks. Jenn had the cheeseburger with bacon, mushrooms and chili; she said hers was great as well.
The wait staff was very friendly and helpful without being clingy; they made sure our glasses stayed full, and quickly moved dishes out of our way.
Flapjacks is a pancake house that's decorated like a hunting lodge. It was hard to make a choice, but I decided on the Wild Mountain Blueberry pancakes- six huge blueberry pancakes that overflowed the platter, topped with powdered sugar and more blueberries. They brought blueberry syrup and warm maple syrup. Less than $7, I made it through about half of them. They were the best pancakes I think I've ever had, almost floating off the plate. Jenn and Randy had breakfast skillets, which consisted of eggs, grits or hashbrowns, pancakes, biscuits and gravy and sausage or bacon. There were several different ways to order a skillet, each with it's own choices.
The wait staff at Flapjacks were also very friendly; our waitress kept a close eye on how we were doing, without standing over us.
There are several Flapjacks restaurants in the area- we ate at the one on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, and for me, it was the best meal of the trip.
We also stopped at Mama's Farmhouse. A huge airy building, with gingham curtains and old-timey ceiling fans, was very welcoming. The staff all wore overalls and were very friendly. It was all-you-could-eat, served family style. Fried chicken, pork roast slices, country-fried steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, buttered corn, peach cobbler and banana pudding were available as well as vegetable soup, biscuits and corn muffins. The food was good, but $17 a plate was a bit steep, especially sincce the food wasn't outstanding.
One night, we ate at a small local pizza place (Geno's?) that was also good. The crust was handmade and was delicious, with plenty of toppings, cooked to perfection.

Turns, Twists and Treasures

If you're looking for some gorgeous scenery and nice roads to ride, a trip through the foothills of the Smoky Mountains is a great place to start.
On our recent trip, we took mostly state and county roads; riding the interstate can help you make good time, but it's the most boring thing I can imagine. All those miles, with hardly anything of interest to see - just mileposts, billboards and gas stations. If I've got time to make up, I use the interstate; otherwise it's the regular roads. To quote Daniel Meyer, "sometimes the journey is the destination".
The final leg of the trip on the way up was from Townsend to Pigeon Forge on Highway 321. It's about 18 miles, and there are some very nice twisties, plus one switchback, turning sharply to the right and climbing an incline at the same time; if you've got time to really look, you can see that the vehicles ahead of you are almost over your head. I always get my heart in my throat during that kind of switchback, so I really had the adrenaline going.
There were lots of long slow curves as well, which are just as much fun to ride, even if it's not so exciting. Lots of other bikers have discovered this little piece of road, so we were meeting them regularly. Even as tired as I was (at that point we'd been on the road for most of 12 hours), it was enjoyable.
During Friday's ride, we headed out from Pigeon Forge, planning on riding up towards Rutledge, TN. We had found a route on Motorcycle Roads and Trips that sounded great. The description was very good, and the directions were wonderful, but we made a few changes and ended up seeing some other lovely country. We rode about 70 miles on that ride, and saw some very nice curvy roads, hilly country and lots of beautiful water and trees.
Our last stop before heading back to PF was at a combination general store/deli/parts store/garage. We just meant to stop for a minute, take a bathroom break, get a drink and head back out, but as most bikers know, it hardly ever works out that way.
When we first pulled up, we noticed a beautiful old car sitting near the entrance to the garage. I got my Elph out and walked towards it to take a few pictures, and the mechanic came out of the shop and asked if we'd like to see the engine. Of course, we said yes, and he popped the hood. While we stood and talked, he told about buying the car from it's original owner; it had less than 8,000 miles on it. He also had several other antique vehicles that he'd gotten from other local folks over the years - he maintains them and works to improve them, but he uses them as transportation too. These cars don't just sit up somewhere to be admired- they were designed and created to carry people from one place to another, and they're being used that way.
The owner and some of his buddies also told us about several other good rides to make, on another day; it's always nice to have local folks tell you good places to ride and see things, so we'll keep that in our ride idea list (getting longer all the time).
When we went inside the store to get a drink, we had some more pleasant surprises: I found a Sunkist Orange (one of my favorites) in a real glass bottle, not the plastic kind we usually get. The decor inside the store was one-of-a-kind: someone's old toy trucks, cars and machinery had been set up along the counters in the deli area, and it brought back lots of childhood memories - I saw some of the same toys my brothers played with, as well as some that looked like the ones my sons played with.
There were also all kinds of "kids treasure" on the walls - some still in it's packaging.
We finally dragged ourselves away and got back on the road - another 30 minutes or so and we were riding by Dollywood. Dolly Parton has really done a lot for the area - it's grown up beautifully, with lots of nice businesses serving customers. The small-town kindness is still there, even in three and four-lane traffic- I don't think I ever heard someone blow their horn in anger at another driver, and I never saw someone giving the one-finger salute. And southern courtesy was in evidence as well- several times when we were trying to get back on the road in heavy traffic, someone would motion for us to come on out, even though it held them up for a minute.
It was an enjoyable day all the way around; I'd suggest a trip to the area for anyone who wants to see beautiful country, ride some fun roads and get treated with some of the best southern hospitality you could ask for.

Interesting/odd/weird things on the road

Between the time we left Rutledge and the time we got to Pigeon Forge, we had seen all kinds of great/interesting/odd things.
We saw:

• a full-sized horse statue on top of someone's house
• a combination adult bookstore and fruit stand (I don't even want to think about it)
• more carved bears than I would have though imaginable
• Elvis' white Caddy (at least, one of his white Caddy's)
• a lighthouse sitting on top of a garage overlooking a lake
• old tricycles used as garden decorations
• a 'Dam Store' (general store near a hydro-electric dam - can you imagine what you'd find in a store owned by someone who has that sense of humor?)
• a Bush's Baked Beans factory (didn't see Duke the dog though)
• some type of farm equipment that was tall enough to easily drive my bike under it- hubby says it's used to spray corn - we met it on the road
• an upside down building (Wonderworks)

Sixteen years ago today...

Today's my baby girl's birthday- she's sixteen years old, and she's one of my heroes. She stands by her friends, no matter what; she believes in them and encourages them. And she won't stand for someone putting them down- woe to you if you 'dog out' her friends, because she'll cut you off at the knees.
She goes her own path, and she marches to her own beat. She does things her way and doesn't care if anyone else likes it or not. She's not disrespectful, or mean, but she stands by what she believes in, and she'll go toe to toe with anyone over it.
Jenn, I'm proud to be your Mama, and I'm glad to be able to watch you grow up into a beautiful young woman. I can't wait to see what God's got in store for you!

Gum can be hazardous...

This is one of the toughest posts I've had to write- but I have to. As much as I've been frustrated and even angry because of someone else's driving distracted, I have to tell this so hopefully others won't get into the same situation.
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At one stop on our way home, I must have stepped in some gum. It stuck right at the ball of my left foot and I didn't notice it until we were on our way. By then, it was warm enough to stick my boot to my floorboard, which was very aggravating while trying to change gears. I could move my foot, but it was more of an effort than usual.
Since we were still in the foothills, we were going up and down hills, and around curves. I know I should have stopped as soon as I realized how much trouble it was giving me, but I decided to just wait until we stopped either for gas or a rest break, but I didn't. That was my first mistake.
As we rode along, we gradually fell in line behind several vehicles. Since the road was only a two-lane local road, we didn't get a chance to pass them, so we were going along about 50 mph or so. That ended up being a blessing. As we were riding along, meeting bikes and waving, (and me still worrying with the gum on my boot) the first vehicle in line needed to turn left, so they had to stop for oncoming traffic.
Since I was distracted by the gum (and the bikers we were meeting) I didnt' start braking quite quickly enough. When I did, I got on the brakes too hard - my back tire was squealing and it started sliding around to the right. The road conditions didn't help- it was a local road that had lots of tar poured on top of breaks and cracks, which made it more slippery.
I let off a bit, which stopped the sideways slide, but I was still too close to the car ahead of me, so I had to get right back on the brakes; I did finally get it stopped without going into the other lane, which still had traffic in it. If I'd laid the bike down, it would have gone under the SUV in front of us, or into the oncoming traffic, which was still mostly bikers. I'd hate to think I caused other bikers to go down because of my being distracted.
I've talked it over with Randy- we were pretty much riding axle to axle so I wasn't going too fast; I just didn't start braking the second I should have- only a second or two, but that's all it took...
I'm still not sure if I ended up using the front brake as well; if I did, it was God helping me do it, because I didn't jerk it. I do know at one point I was thinking 'did I let off the gas' but I knew I wasn't because the engine wasn't racing- guess you have crazy thoughts go through your head at times like that.
We couldn't pull over immediately because of the road and traffic conditions, which was even harder for me- I wanted to stop and lay down and cry right there. But believe me, I stopped at the very next spot I could find and got the goop off my boot and the floorboard. I also was super-careful not to follow too close until I could take care of it.
I will not make that mistake again- I'll check my boots just like I check my tires, and if I notice something that feels 'off' I'll stop as soon as I can, to correct it.
I know the good Lord was right there with me, because I didn't panic, I got the bike stopped without laying it down, I didn't immediately faint from fear, and I didn't throw up all over my bike when it was over. (and oh, did I want to).
I'm just thankful I had some help to get the bike stopped, and I didn't hurt anyone else. I'm also thankful the folks behind us slowed up and gave me plenty of room - they could see I needed some space and they gave it to me.
I've learned several lessons on this trip, but this was by far the most important.

Wild and Crazy

It's always fun to add to my list of people who know I'm crazy.
We left out for Pigeon Forge around 7 am, and stopped in Montgomery at the Waffle House for breakfast. After we ate, we got back on the road, and as we stopped at a light, I started cutting up at my daughter, who's riding behind my husband on his bike. They're to my right - I'm waving my arms, 'dancing', making faces, pretending to talk on a cell phone (my hand), just generally acting crazy. I hear laughter to my left- I didn't realize we had company. The guys in the pickup truck in the next lane were enjoying my little show... they asked where we were headed, and we told them Pigeon Forge. They wished us a safe trip, and we were on our way!

The Perception of 'Bad'...

It always amazes me to watch someone make a snap judgment about a person, simply by the way they look: if a person is overweight, they're lazy; if they wear glasses, they're smart; and if they're bikers, they're obviously in a gang that's just robbed the church.
For some reason, black leather, doo rags, tattoos and biker boots means bad news, to adults, at least... a little kid usually has a totally different take on things. For example, while on our way home from Pigeon Forge, we stopped for a rest break. As we were walking towards the bathrooms, a little blonde cutie-pie came out holding her grandmother's hand. She took one look at my husband (big ol' teddy bear of a guy: full beard and mustache, dark glasses, gloves and boots, a smile as wide as the horizon and of course, a doo rag) and said "look, Grandma, a pirate!" with a big smile. Then she spotted me and said, "oh, another pirate!" She then made fast friends with my husband and talked to him for several minutes. We almost always get smiles and waves from kids.
We've had a few negative responses as well, usually from adults. They either don't like how we look, or that we're riding motorcycles. They look like they smell something bad...
But those folks are in the minority - most folks are about as friendly as they can be - I smile and they smile back. One little old lady at a bank patted my arm just like my grandma would have, and said, 'honey you just have air conditioning all the time, don't you? you be safe out there!" and then walked on with a smile.I always try to smile and be friendly towards other folks, to reach out to them and show them it's OK to smile at me and say hello.
I think the folks who judge me and mine harshly are those whose deepest heart's desire was once to ride, but something kept them from it - either fear, whether of judgment or of an accident; or someone with authority over them refused to let them ride.
So, I guess I should pity those who look down on us - they either want to be where we are, but don't have the strength to do it, or they think we're less than them because of who and what we are. Maybe we look like we're having too good a time to care whether our hair is combed, or that I'm not wearing makeup; maybe they can see on our faces that we're doing something enjoyable and don't care what others think; or maybe they just never learned to be happy. Either way, I'm sorry for them...
In the end, my newest patch says it all: Judge me all you want, just keep your verdict to yourself.

What Will You be Doing on Memorial Day?

Our county has truly served her country well- we have many veterans living among us, from World War II, Korea, Viet Nam and all the way to current-day conflicts.
I read a statistic that our country, on average, is losing over one thousand World War II veterans every day, and that’s not counting vets from other wars. What are we doing to insure that the history within those men and women doesn’t die with them? And more importantly, what are we doing to make sure all veterans know we hold them in honor and respect?
Whether we agree with the wars they fought in or not, we owe these men and women a debt of gratitude we can never repay.
I’d like to challenge you to do two things. First, if you know of someone who is a veteran, spend time with them. Get to know them- at some point, they may want to share their experiences with you. Whether they do or not, make sure you tell them how much you appreciate the sacrifices they made for you and your family.
Second, remember that we have many veterans who are buried in cemeteries in our area- and many of those cemeteries depend on the family members for maintenance. I’ve seen some graves that have gone untended, either because the family has moved away or died, or because family members are no longer able to keep them clean. If each one of us adopted a grave and made an effort to keep it cleaned up, what a difference it would make! The simple act of placing a small flag on the grave would be another way to show honor to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Someone once said we live in the land of the free, because of the brave. Please remember to thank those brave men and women who answered the call of their country.

Kids, Trains and Motorcycles

My friend Chessie has a great post on train clubs, trains and motorcycles; it reminds me of how much I love trains (and of course motorcycles) as well.
How many of you remember hearing the train whistle when the train came through town? We always wanted to be in a spot to see it when it came by. It was even better when it crossed the street to the school- you had an automatic excuse for being late!
My dad and brothers had a train set when we were young; as much as I enjoyed watching them play with it, I never got to run it as much as I'd like-after all, I was a girl!
One of my favorite places to visit is Chattanooga - besides Rock City and Ruby Falls, they've got a great train museum downtown, complete with a miniature version of Chattanooga and the trains that run through her. You can also have lunch in a train car, or buy gifts in the gift shop.
And that brings me back around to motorcycles- as much as I loved trains as a girl, I loved motorcycles more. My older cousins always had bikes, and if I begged my mom enough, I could ride behind them.
I love to see kids' faces when I'm riding my bike. They almost always want to wave and smile (unless they're afraid of the noise) and of course, I wave back. The parents aren't always so friendly, but the kids are! One little boy in a Wal-Mart parking lot just kept yelling "hey motorcycle!" as I rode past.
Last year, when several of us were on a ride together, we stopped at a small gas station for a break before heading home. There were about ten of us, all in one corner, standing by our bikes, drinking water. A very small boy, about 3 or so, and his Nana, came out of the store, and started walking across the parking lot towards their van. All the way across, he kept yelling "Wild Hogs, Nana, Wild Hogs!" I walked over to them and asked if he'd like to come see our bikes a little closer, and he did. He wouldn't get too close (guess there were too many of us) but he did seem to enjoy looking at them.
I wonder what it is about our chemical makeup that makes us so drawn to bikes and trains? Do you think that maybe, even at that young age, we recognize that those things are outside "normal" for most folks? Or is it the sense of wonder and adventure we all have as children - when we see things that are different, we're drawn to it.
As we become teenagers and adults, most of us fight to fit in- we want to be just like everyone else, so folks don't think we're weird.
But for those few of us who want to be different... ah, the freedom to be who we want to be, no matter what anyone else thinks. Ride on!

About my Mom...

Someone twittered a request for memories of our moms; here are some of mine.
* When my youngest brother was about five, he did something to get in trouble, and Mama was going to spank him. He decided he could outrun her, so he started down the hall and into his room, which had slick wooden floors. He hit the floor and slid under his bed to get away - when he turned around, Mama was right there behind him. His eyes were big as saucers!
*The first time I was pregnant (1978), my mom found out before me- I had to go out of town for the day, so I took my little specimen cup to the doctor's office. I asked my mom to call for me to find out the results. Since she had to leave before I got home, and she wanted me to be the first to know, she cut a picture of a baby out of a magazine and put it in an envelope and left it for me.
*The day she held her first grandchild for the first time- my daughter Mary Beth - May 21, 1979. In September 2007, she held her first great-grandchild - Mary Beth's son Reid. My baby's baby...
*When I was pregnant with my youngest daughter, my husband and I didn't want to know whether she was a girl or boy but Mama did, so when we had the ultrasound done, the tech printed a picture and wrote "it's a girl!", sealed it in an envelope and we gave it to her. During all those months, she never let it slip to us what we were having. I know it had to be hard for her, but she did it!
I have a great Mom- she's made a lot of sacrifices for me and my brothers, and I think she and Daddy did a great job raising us - they taught us how to be honorable people. If we've failed in doing that it's through no fault of theirs.

What a great day!

I got up with some riding buddies of mine and we headed out over to the Pioneer Museum in Troy, Alabama. They were having their second annual "Butter Churnin, Syrup Soppin' Saturday" today and I knew we'd have fun.
They were finishing up the butter churning when we got there so we sat and listened to some old-fashioned music and checked out the displays in the main building. We saw some awesome quilts including one which was older than the US- it's been certified to have been quilted the country was formed. The pattern is a "Princess Feather" if I understood the lady at the museum.
We finally made it back down to the cabins where the food was being served- delicious homemade biscuits (by ladies in bonnets and aprons!), hand-churned butter, Carson Anne syrup, and smoked sausage - mmm, delicious!
Afterwards, we visited the other cabins and stores, including a military memorabilia place.
When we finally got ready to come home, it was a beautiful ride- enough wind to stay cool and sun and clouds made a beautiful picture to watch coming home.
And then...when I got home, the excitement really started. You see, I'd forgotten to take my house keys with me.
I tried the back storm door- it was hooked. I knew the front door was locked, but I knew if I could get on my backporch I had a way in the house (secret key and all that). But I couldn't get the door open. I decided to try to yank the door open using a large pair of pliers; I got very enthusiastic about it, but never got the back door opened.
Of course, Cookie's in the house barking- he heard the bike drive up and couldn't figure out why I didn't come on in.
I finally pried the screen off a window and climbed in using a ladder - Cookie barking all the time. Of course he never did anything brave like run up and lick me in the face, but he did bark from under the table.
I finally got in, and laid on the sofa to cool off a bit; then I went back out to put the screen back on and get the rest of my gear inside.
Nice to know my house is fairly secure and that my dog will at least bark when someone tries to get in.
I'm headed out in a bit to get another key made.

Just a little brag on Boss Bags...

My husband bought a 2000 Yamaha Roadstar about 2 1/2 years ago from a local bike dealer. It was dressed out, including good pipes, Corbin seats with backrests, and a set of Boss Bags.
When he bought the bike, one of the buckles was missing, but he didn't worry about it too much; the other buckle was there, and the lids are heavy enough to stay down even unfastened, unless he's REALLY moving.
Over the weekend someone mentioned to him that he might be able to get a replacement buckle from the company, so he came home, found the website (http://www.bossbags.com/) and emailed customer service for a catalog or part number so he could order the part.
On Sunday he emailed back and forth with a CS person, who found out what size bags he has, and whether they're a new design or an older one.
Last night, he got an email from customer service saying the new buckle was on the way; it came in today's mail.
Nowadays it's very unusual for this kind of customer service, especially since Randy wasn't the original buyer of the bike or the bags. I don't know who the young man was who worked with my husband, but I'd say he deserves a salute - great job!

Looking for Between-Bike Communication system

Last year, Randy and I bought Midland handheld radios for our bikes - we use a system that puts earphones inside our open-face helmets, wires run to radio and to 'talk' button mounted on handlebars.
I know we've got them wired correctly because they work - sometimes. Mostly it turns out that I can hear him, but can't talk to him. We've swapped radios and it seems to be in the wiring on my system, but there are no breaks in the wiring, and everything's connected completely. Another problem is that even when the system works, I can't always hear clearly what he's saying. The headphones are sitting as close to my ears as possible, without getting in the way when I'm putting on the helmet, and the sound is turned up as loud as possible.
My true preference would be a piece actually in my ear, rather than outside it - but then I'd run into it getting pulled out when I put on my helmet.
I'd also prefer to be using my half helmet, but after a friend of ours hit a deer, I've been thinking more helmet is better...
I like the Midlands - we also use them off-bike as well so I'd like to keep them. Any suggestions on a system that will work?

Escort Ride for the Wall that Heals

Viet Nam Memorial Bike
Originally uploaded by bethmrogers

I took a ride yesterday I will never forget - I saw things on that ride that made me proud to be an American (I know how corny that sounds but it's true). I'm also proud to live in a part of the US where it's a normal thing to show pride in our country and it's heroes.
We met in the parking lot of the Travel America truck stop in Marianna, Florida. Bikes were everywhere- I don't think I've ever seen that many in one place.
The local high school jazz band was there and made a very nice addition to the day. They played a nice mixture of patriotic tunes and songs from the 60s/70s. One young man did an excellent job with his solo in "What a Wonderful World".
There was a short briefing for the riders, then we started out about 10 - the trailer hauling the wall itself was led out by the bike pictured here. I don't know who the bike belonged to but it was amazing to see- it was covered with scenes related to the Viet Nam war. After the trailer rig got on the road, it was followed by several dignitaries.
The local LEOs made sure we all got out in one group, which I'm sure was an undertaking- someone said there were over 300 bikes, but Randy said he felt there were closer to 500. I also heard that the line of bikes was 2 1/2 to 3 miles long and it was a pretty steady line with very few big breaks.
There's no way I can tell you everything I saw, but here are some of the things that stick out in my memory.
We'd been seeing folks stopped on the side of the road, waving at us, all along. But at one curve in the road, a man stood by his bike, standing at full attention- I have no doubt he held that until every last bike went by. I don't know whether he was wearing sand camo or whether it was very worn olive drab, but I do know he held himself like a hero. That's where I first broke down...
The ride took us through several small towns- most every town had people standing beside the road in groups; some were waving flags, some were holding 'thank you' signs to the vets in the crowd. Flags were everywhere- from the very tiny ones stuck in the ground along the road, to the HUGE ones hanging from cranes over the streets we were riding.
Entire schools of children were standing by the roads, wearing patriotic shirts, waving flags, yelling and cheering. Some groups were even standing in the street, holding out their hands, wanting to 'slap' hands with us.
Vehicles pulled over while we drove by- one lady sat with her hand over heart while she smiled.
A whole group of veterans from the nursing home, sitting in their chairs, but sitting up straight, wearing their red, white and blue shirts, waving flags and cheering.
Policemen, state troopers, sheriffs and deputies at every intersection, holding traffic and saluting.
Junior ROTC from the local high school, in their uniforms, standing at attention on every corner of one town.
Drivers and passengers in every vehicles giving us a 'thumbs up' or a peace sign as they watched us drive by.
Whole families standing in groups, holding large signs with their military hero's picture and name on it. Some of those pictures were very old...
Fire department members standing on their rigs, waving flags and saluting.
A very old gentleman, standing in his yard, saluting us while he held onto his walking stick with the other hand.
This went on for ONE HUNDRED MILES. For a hundred miles, people cheered, waved and saluted the Viet Nam veterans who were riding among us, saluting the flag they'd defended, saluted us for being a part of that great ride, but mostly saluting our country and the great place she still is. She's got her faults, she's got her problems, but she's still one of the few places you can still live like you want to. We've still got the freedom to speak out against her when we want to, without worrying about who might hear.
I know how much taking this ride touched me - I'm not a vet and neither is my husband. Our middle son is serving in the Army, and so is one son-in-law. My husband's dad, my grandfather, an uncle, at least one cousin, my brother and several brothers-in-law have served, but Randy and I did not. I cannot imagine what it must be like. I do know what yesterday did to me, and I hope and pray that the vets who were there were able to receive comfort from it.

Home for a Bunny

When my older daughter was a little girl, she had several books that she really loved. One of those books was Home for a Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. We had it in the Big Golden Book version, and we read it until the spine turned loose and the pages fell out.
I loved reading to her as much as she loved hearing it- after a while we had it memorized: "Down the road and down the road he went. He was going to find a home of his own. A home for a bunny, a home of his own..."
Now my own sweet little girl is a grown-up girl and has a sweet little boy of her very own. He loves books as much as his mommy did.
I've been looking for another copy of that book for several months now, but none of the bookstores carried the Golden Books anymore. I finally decided to go online and of course I immediately found it on the Books-a-Million site, along with another book my daughter had loved: The Golden Egg Book which features another bunny and a pretty egg.
I also found a book called Seven Little Postmen - a sweet little story originally written in the 1950s, about a little boy who sends a special letter to his granny.
I ordered copies of each book, including an extra copy of the Postmen book for my house. They came in today's mail and I can hardly wait until I can take Reid and his Mommy their new books.