Happy Birthday, JP

Happy birthday to my son!  He's 28 today!

My son is a very private person so I won't embarrass him with too much information here but can I just tell you that he is the most wonderful, loving, and kind human being I've ever known. I'm not just saying that because I'm his mother.  Really, he is.

I love this photo I shot when he and Amanda came to visit us at Thanksgiving 2 years ago. They had a short break from school and we were so thrilled they chose to spend it with us.

They arrived on Thanksgiving day and I had dinner ready shortly after they arrived. The next morning, my son got up and made us his famous french toast. Later, he fried turkey in the leftover bacon grease to make some awesome sandwiches. You gotta love a man who can cook! He got his love of cooking from his Grandma Smith.  She would be so proud of him.

Although we have been miles apart for a while now, we manage to see each other at least once a year. I'm a lucky mom!

love, susan

Sue, Don't Forget to Check the Oil

<-----------  That's my dad!  

One of my weekly prompts suggested sharing a lesson learned from my dad that still sticks with me to this day. Wow, it's hard to think of just one. I decided to try to write a little today and see what bubbles up.

Check the oil!

My dad was a heavy duty mechanic. He worked on cars and diesel engines most of his life; that is, when he wasn't logging trees. He did other things but what I remember about him the most from those days is that he usually had a wrench in his hand, grease under his fingernails and always torn-up hands.

When I was younger, dad often had me come out to the garage and help hold something in place while he tightened a bolt, or sometimes he'd have me step on the brake when he was replacing a tail-light. He taught me how to drive a stick shift, 4x4 pickup truck. This came in very handy when I caught the eye of my first husband. I'll always remember that husband's eyes lighting up when I told him I drove my dad's Ford F150.  "And, I know how to check my own oil." A real selling point for a future ex-wife, I'm sure.  I digress .... sorry.

Oh yeah.  My dad taught me how to cuss properly, too. That's important when one is really super mad and needs to get their point across.  I never took to throwing tools across the garage floor but I can see now how useful that is for pent up frustration. Nobody ever got hurt but we knew how to scatter when things weren't going exactly as planned in the garage. Sometimes dad would let out a word when he thought my sister and I were not around.  We tried not to let him know we heard. He would actually be embarrassed when he realized we could hear him.  Oh, fudge. I do have a potty mouth but I can't really blame him for that.

We had a Honda 125 motorcycle when I was in high school and my dad taught me how to ride it. It's the one and only reason I had the courage to get on a motorcycle again in my mid 40's. When I got on that motorcycle in the endorsement class, it was as if it was yesterday that my dad had taught me how to shift gears.  Motorcycling this late in life has been a treasured gift that I've never thanked him for.  I should do that.

Dad loved to dance.  He was a great dancer and of all the things I think I've learned from him, to just let go and have fun on the dance floor is among my favorites. I still have a lot to learn about that but I'm working on it.  I'm not a great dancer but I do think of him every time I hit the dance floor and truly wish I could dance with him just one more time. He hasn't really been in the mood to dance for a while now. Vertigo has taken up residence in him and it's not fun.  I never thanked him for giving me that gift.  I should do that.

My dad taught me gazillions of things but I never really thought about much until the last year or two. Seems time is catching up to both of us and it's past time for me to tell him how much all those lessons have meant to me.  I'd better get a card made and slip it in the mail tomorrow.

What's the favorite lesson you learned from your dad or some father-figure in your life?  Tell me!

love, susan

June 2012 To-Do List

Dang, already 5 days into June! It always feels like I'm hanging onto the very tail-end of a runaway train in the summer.  I am inspired to write about ten things that are on my calendar for June:

Camping: We had camping on our May calendar but circumstances and weather made us postpone it twice. Hoping to squeeze it in somewhere in June.

Concert in the Park: Our little town does an 8-week series called Live @ 5 on Thursdays after work. I have been trying to catch up with a friend for a visit and we promised we'd sit together at the next concert. That's a two-for-one to-do!

Farmer's Market: I have Fridays off so I want to visit the Friday Farmer's Market in my little town. It's a little market with big heart, music and wonderful vendors.

Volleyball in the Park: A few dozen friends get together at 1:00pm on Sundays in Columbia Park to play volleyball for 3 hours. I don't play but love to sit and visit with everyone. The outdoors is my church!

Photography class: The photo club is offering another free class next weekend. I'm going and two good friends are joining me!

Friend's brunch: We're having friends over next Sunday to meet our new dog. They don't know it yet, but I'm gonna make a little brunch.  Fun times!

Day-trip motorcycle ride: I don't know where we're going yet but weather permitting we'll do a long day ride somewhere this month.

Dance in Wapato: There is an event in Wapato, which is near Yakima, that includes a dance. It's on my calendar! Should be big fun!

Sit a little in my lounge chair: I do love to sit in my back yard lounge chair and watch the grass grow sometimes and catch a few rays.

Plant another rose bush: I planted two rose bushes last year. One made it and is blooming now. Must replace the one that died.

What are you doing in June?

love, susan

I'm Expecting!

Gene picked up Ms. Abbie on Thursday for a trial run at our house. She is a 5 year old, Border Collie with a sharp drive to chase frisbees and balls. 

Her first day with us was awkward and painful as we watched our other dog, Missy, melt in disappointment that we'd brought another bitch into the house. It wasn't at all the reaction I was expecting.

I'm always expecting.  Expecting that things will go my way. Expecting other people to read my mind. Expecting our new adoptee will come in and be playful with Missy.

When Abbie didn't rise to my expectation, I was ready to take her back to the shelter the next day. It was hard to see Missy get all mopey and bowled over by this hard-driven canine.  I was ready to give up until an unexpected visit from our kind neighbors. They have 2 rescue dogs and each of them has different personalities. They were encouraging and said we should really give everybody a chance to adjust.  That made sense to me.  So we slept on it.

This morning I woke up with a different attitude. I completely, 100% abandoned my expectations of this dog.

What I realized throughout today is that Abbie is just who she is. She has a great need to have people who will take time from their day to throw the frisbee and ball as least a couple hundred times.  What a joy!

I see her now through a different pair of glasses. And, Missy is adjusting. It's all going to be just fine.

What were you expecting when you saw the title of this post?
 

love, susan

Suddenly Susan

Today is my 53rd birthday.  It's just a number.  I don't really know what it means to be 53 yet.  I'll get back to you on that.

I'm not sure when I became Suddenly Susan. It was one of those gradual things.  You know ... like "The Velveteen Rabbit". Actually, that's exactly how it happened ...........

“What is REAL?" asked the Velveteen Rabbit one day... "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When [someone] loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.

"Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand... once you are Real you can't become unreal again. It lasts for always.”
― Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit or How Toys Become Real  

Oh, What a Pile of Crap!

Composting. I'm trying it for the first time this year. The price of dirt forced me into this crazy decision. And, the fact that I love, love, love the idea of recycling my veggie peelings, fruit skins, egg shells, moldy bread, lawn clippings and lint.

LINT? That's what put the hook in me.  A friend of mine recently told me that lint is something that can be put in the compost pile. I just think that's sooooo fascinating!

CONTAINERS: I have had two big plastic bins laying around just taking up space. I'm not sure what they had in them before, but they had an odor that made it impossible to use them for anything else. So, I had run out of excuses as to why I shouldn't try composting. Gene gladly drilled some holes in it for the air to circulate and to allow ants and other insects to go in and do their work.

Now, I've written in previous posts that I am not a gardener. I don't like gardening in the least bit. However, I do have a couple of topsy-turvy containers for tomatoes and I do plant  5 pots of flowers for my back yard. 

So you might ask what I'm gonna do with "home-made" dirt.  Not sure.  It might end up being a colossal, crappy mess.  As a matter of fact, there are already dozens of fruit flies buzzing around in the first bin I've started, forcing me to question whether I should be in the dirt-making business. I figure fruit flies are part of the process, right? The weather hasn't gotten hot enough to bake those nasty little flies but it will. And I'm going to laugh like a mad-woman when they all die and become part of the crap heap. (insert evil laugh here!) 

Do you compost?  

love, susan

Wanna Ride?

Safety first.  That's our motto.  Even if we melt to death .....

The last trip was a long one, which provided  me endless miles and miles to think while driving. You think driving while drinking is bad?  Driving while thinking comes in a close 2nd.

Among the gazillion things that went through my mind was a list of important things I need to remember when I suit up and roll. Perhaps something here will help you think about the things you do for fun and tips you've learned along the way that you can share.

NEVER RIDE WEARING A BUTTON-UP SHIRT: I've only done this once, in Arizona. I narrowly escaped a wardrobe malfunction of the Janet Jackson kind. That was very early in my motorcycling riding days.  I discovered why one needs a leather vest on hot days. It keeps all the flapping material (and fat!) tucked close to the body. Along with this tip, I cut off all the ties on my hoodies. It's so annoying when they come flying up in my face.

IF A BEE FLIES UP INTO YOUR FULL FACE HELMET, DON'T PANIC: I had this happen twice last year. Buddy, you just gotta man-up and take the sting cuz you can't do squat about it. And hope your mama doesn't hear the string of 4 and 6-letter words coming out of your mouth. While riding last week I decided to open up my face shield and I took a bug hard on my face. What doesn't make you squeal like a girl, makes you tougher. I hope that bug died fast. 

SAY A PRAYER TO THE UNIVERSE:  This is personal to me. When I start my bike, I get myself mentally prepared to ride. I always say "Please let me ride safely today. Let me leave all my worries right here in the drive-way so I can focus on my surroundings, enjoy another day of riding and return home in one piece to ride again." I have to do this. Motorcycling requires focus and attention. I can't go out there with a bunch of heavy stuff on my mind. I'm serious as a heart attack about this.

TAKE HYDRATION AND SNACKS: I usually fill a thermos full of coffee and a container of water or Gatorade. When we ride with a group, our destination is usually some cool place that welcomes bikers for lunch. I still like to have something that will give me quick energy if I have a hypoglycemic moment. A granola bar, an apple, peanut butter, anything with some sugar in it.

GO BIKING WITH FRIENDS: We have many friends who enjoy biking. I can't think of a much better way to spend time with them than rolling over the hills and around curves and then sitting down over a hamburger and Diet Coke to catch up with them. Big smiles!

KEEP A MAP ON YOUR BIKE: For obvious reasons. Around here, there are miles of country roads. Not all of them show up properly on the maps but you can get darn close if you have a guide.

ABOVE ALL THINGS ..... GO WITH A LIGHT HEART:  There is nothing worse than starting out a ride with stress. I've taken to asking Gene to fill my tank and wash my bike on Monday while I'm at work. It makes Sunday morning rides so pleasant to start with a clean bike and gas. Who wants to take care of those chores at the last minute? Not me. Makes me cranky.

Okay, now it's your turn.  What recreational activity do you enjoy and what tips can you tell me from your experience?

love, susan

 

What Makes SuddenlySusan Happy

I have a new pen pal at Letter Writing Project.  I found her blog introduced on another blog I follow. She had a great idea that I wish I had thought of. She posts up simple questions and invites the reader to send her a card/letter with the answers to the questions. Yesterday's question was "What makes you happy?"  I had such a good time writing her a list that I decided to share on my blog. 

These are in no particular order.

Sunshine, Thai iced tea, writing, photography, snow days, going to the movies, a good, blue medium point pen, flowers, talking with my son on the phone, motorcycling, music, hiking, visiting our grandkids, ice cream, mowing the lawn, blogging, working, reading, making greeting cards, helping others, baking, dining out, going for coffee tea with friends, having people over for dinner, playing with my dog, listening to my husband laugh, going for long drives, picnics, the beach, receiving hand-written letters from friends and family,shopping at thrift stores, yard sales, making my husband laugh, a text from anybody, parades, hot chocolate, potlucks at work, hot sunny days, road trips, new recipes, curry pumpkin at my favorite Thai restaurant, a fresh haircut and highlight.

To be continued ...

What makes you happy?

love, susan

690 Miles ~ A Record Run for This Mama

At Rowena Crest

Three days of motorcycling made me so happy to show up for work today. 

690 miles. I felt like someone stabbed a hot knife in my back for the last 200 of it but I kept riding. What are ya gonna do? Call your mama?

Richland-->Vancouver-->Astoria--> Hillsboro -->Richland

A fun 3 days but I'm not gonna sign up for that again anytime soon. I'm thinking 200 miles will be like nothing the next time we go. It's about perspective.

Me

This is the longest motorcycle trip I've been on. I'm not sure I'm ready to do it again but we likely will. The best part was riding down roads we've not travel together before. The worst part was we did too much stopping on the ride home and ended up in the heat of the day. Luckily, I had plenty of ice water on board. It is unseasonably warm here right now and it can cause havoc if you're not hydrated.

I was glad to get to see my dad before he left for Alaska today. He'll be up there all summer and into early fall.

Me and my Dad

On the way home yesterday, we stopped in The Dalles and shared a plate of pad Thai and fresh spring rolls at our most favorite Thai restaurant, Montira's Thai Cuisine. It was mother's day and I'm a mother. I will forever regret not having a Thai iced tea.

Me and my honey-bunny

It seems like it took forever to get home after eating lunch. The only thing holding my attention to the road was that horrible stabbing pain between my shoulder blades. I'm pretty sure it's the reason more bikers stay on the road than ones who fall asleep at the handle bars. 

It was an epic weekend in my life. One of many. I can hardly wait to see where we go next!

love, susan

A Year Ago

A whole year has gone by?  Here's what I was doing this time last year: Sock It To Me Will Ya. 

Short post today.  Must go to work now.

love, susan

Sunday Ride to Walla Walla - 132 Miles

Walla Walla, WA.  A city they loved so much, they named it twice.

We took a short motorcycle trip today, logging 132 miles to Walla Walla, taking a route I've never been on before. I love those lonely country roads nobody else takes.  We only had to slow down once for a pair of deer to cross the road.  Mercy, they are such fearful animals but so cute when they hop like bunnies through the fields. 

We stopped to share a sandwich in Walla Walla and then headed home with a nice, long rest at the bird refuge. If my card reader was working properly, I'd have some fun pics to post. We saw 11 turtles resting on a log today catching some rays. A sight I have never seen before. They managed to all fit on the log by pigging-backing each other which made it look like they were playing leap frog. I think nature is amazing when I see things like this. We also saw a gazillion yellow finches and another beautiful orangy-yellow songbird I have yet to identify. I don't fancy myself as a true bird watcher but maybe with a few more years under my belt and nothing else to do, I could get into it. I shot some pics and maybe I'll get them posted soon.

It was a nice, short ride considering we are running at $8.20 a gallon every time we both roll.  Yikes. The weather could have not been more perfect.

Hope you did whatever it is you love to do on a Sunday afternoon.  It's back to work for me today!

love, susan