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After stomping around San Francisco without a jacket in February, returning to the Midwest's dastardly temperatures forced me back indoors for several more weeks - minus March 15th when it was dry and warm enough (52 degrees) to venture out on the bikes for several hours, snow and all.
April passed by busily, still actively seeking permanent employment, which had become both promising & more bleak than ever, depending on the day. Finally in May, the paycheck Gods smiled down upon me in a very generous way. Not only did I hook up with a job I love & which pays well, but it is mere steps from my front door AND I was able to sneak in a visit with FRP in St. Louis (where the weather allowed for motorcycling only mine was in Wisconsin where temps hadn't caught up quite yet)...how cool is that?!?!
Days off I'm up at the crack of dawn, licking a finger, deciding which way the wind, and therefore my hair, shall blow. I've had to adjust to once again being a weekend only warrior, but relieved to have plenty of time, $$ and destinations to keep my wheels spinning, even if it is just around the state for now. Managed to log over 2,000 miles since the beginning of June and haven't complained once about the weather in weeks ~
It can feel like forever between winter and spring in Wisconsin, especially when you're eager to get back on the open road.
It was chap weather this morning when Rog & I started out on our clean & shiny Harleys, but soon warmed up to the balmy mid 50's, which gave us the opportunity to shed a layer for a couple of hours and enjoy the crisp, exhilarating breeze.
We stopped at one of our favorite spots for a much overdue, near perfect Bloody Mary; meandered through the Kettle Moraine Forest and were surprised to find the Hamburger Hut open for business so early in the season and took advantage of the small crowd waiting in line for a good old fashioned, greasy burger and a spot at the only seating available...outdoors, of course.
The sky is blue, the road is long and the snow is nearly melted...all is good ~
Finally settling back in to the routine of my 'normal' life after spending an extended period of time with 3 of my darlings in St. Louis. FRP is growing, thriving, healthy, happy and such a joy to be around, which makes the 7 hour car ride to view her in action a piece of cake!! The weather there was warmer than back home, even with their unusual 8-inch snowfall and the frozen ice plates barely floating down the Mississippi River, so we were fortunate to be able to spend a good amount of time outdoors. Baby got her first taste of snow, literally, and we enjoyed hours of nursery rhyme singing through parks, windy roads & city streets, as well as celebrating her 1st birthday again!!Can't wait for our next encounter and those warm & rosy smoochable cheeks, but first I'm off to San Francisco where the cheeks of my very first darling await...oh, and some Dim Sum dumplings!!
A funky, homemade trike; checking out I-55; Milwaukee skyline; Jefferson Memorial Arch; 100K mile mark on the old 4-wheeled vehicle just shy of the St. Louis city limits; a much deserved nap after serenading us for miles to the bumps in the road!!
I wished it for others and meant it, and mean it, but found myself too drained to consider a happy New Year celebration. Not drained in an over-worked or exhausted way; drained in the sense of spirit and emotion.
My world, my life, with all of its flaws and imperfections, is a solid, comfortable and colorful work in progress - I am blessed, truly, and grateful always. The lives of those nearest and dearest to me are also, for all intents & purposes, healthy, wholesome and riddled only with 'normal' issues we all face.
The lives of so many, too many, of our worldwide fellow men, women & children, however, are continually being destroyed, ruined and literally taken, despite political promises, global awareness and previous lessons still unlearned.
My heart breaks and my soul aches as my brain tries to reason & understand. My eyes shed tears for those whose new year will be clouded with much the same tragedies and travesties as the previous years, despite their deserved hopes, dreams and desires.
For us all - PEACE ~
This is the latest look of our neighborhood!! It is so pretty for the eyes and makes Santa & the snowmobilers happy, but it is such a pain in the a$$ to drive in & shovel. What can a poor Midwestern gal, who should be living in the tropics anyway, do? Bundle up for a walk and take snowy pictures. I've posted so many this past week on Flickr, that people think I'm making this stuff up in Photoshop!! Count your blessings if your worst winter weather concern is a drop in temperature and count your blessings anyway. Happy Harley Days to All ~
Roger is always on the hunt, usually for wild game, but for some time it's been a hunt for a Harley upgrade. He recently encountered a dark gray 2009 that suited him, took a shot, and drove home a bargain...with snow on the ground and 34F degrees in the wind!! Out with the old, in with the new...and except for the 'new' smell & shininess, you would hardly notice the difference...but they're there, all four hundred or so of them!
Happy riding, honey, she's a beauty!! Maybe you can keep up with me now *-*
Be careful of what you say, say what you mean, don't cut yourself short, embrace the unknown, believe that anything is possible, consider the consequences of your wishes, and encourage others to do the same...because pigs really can fly...and now you have seen it with my own eyes!!
