MSF Beginner Class

Tonight was the first part of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation beginning rider class. We learned SEE, and TCLOCS and EKG and a whole bunch of other stuff. Pretty fun...but now I have to go to bed because I have to get up at 5:30 in the morning. Yuck. Night all!

Happy 5 Month Birthday

Happy Birthday to Broc, Willow, Pongo, Nicky and Duncan. 5 months ago today they were all being born at the vets office. Technically I suppose it wasn't until about 2pm but who is being exact. It is amazing that it has gone by this quickly. I just seems like they were little squishy blobs that didn't really even move much. Now Broc is whining at my feet because he is bored.

To all the puppy owners. Congratulations, and thanks for taking such care of the the little guys!

Finally no rain...

Yeah. We finally got to ride the bikes without it raining cats and dogs down upon us. We rode from my house to Mt Vernon, then to Palasades park and then back to my house. Palasades is a beautiful park on the Cedar river with wonderful cliffs and trees everywhere. It is absolutely breath taking. I think once the leaves start to change I will go out there to get some photos.

There's over 100 miles on my bike now which is great since I have only really had it out since last Friday. I think I might make my 600 mile goal before the end of the season after all. Larry is wonderfully sweet and keeps complimenting me on my motorcycle skills. Honestly he is probably just trying to make me feel good, but I don't mind. It is always nice to receive compliments. It is probably something we should all do more often. He is honestly much better than I am. I still struggle with the slow turns, but I am getting better.

Rain is great for the garden...not at 70 MPH

Today Larry and I were looking forward to a relaxing and somewhat enjoyable ride on our bikes. We planned on going over to Mt Vernon and then to Palasades state park to enjoy the scenery. The temperature was a perfect 68 degrees that made my riding jacket just comfortable. We checked the local radar and all looked clear until at least noonish. So off we went. First, we stopped at the gas station so I could give my bike a little needed fuel. Then it was off to Mt Vernon, IA. The drive there is beautiful with lots of rolling meadows and curvey roads. When we got to Mt Vernon we decided to stop by and see Larry's friend Jill. After a little chat and all of us admiring each others bikes Larry and I were off to Palasades. Just before Palasades it started to sprinkle. Hummm...It wasn't anywhere close to noon. Maybe close to 9am but not noon. So we kept going and then it started raining a little harder. At this point we got to the entrance to Palasades park and decided it would be best to try and hurry home. So off we went down the interstate at 70 MPH with the rain pounding us. Rain is wonderful for the garden but let me tell you that when it is hitting your hands at 70 MPH it hurts. We finally made it to my house and luckily it still wasn't raining very much. So I suggested to Larry that he should probably drive his bike home quickly and that I would meet him there to bring him back to get his truck. I'm sure that you have started to gather how the plot will thicken. Larry starts to drive home and then boom...It started raining cats and dogs. To the point where you could hardly see in front of you. I'll leave his drive home for him to tell, but he did make it home safely although drenched. Maybe it is time to invest in rain gear.

Just another day at the dog show

I'm falling asleep while I type this. So it will be a short message. Shawn showed Beebe today and got Best Of Breed. They both did very well in Groups but didn't get a placement. I showed Broc in the match after the show. Broc got Best Of Breed and a Group 1 in the match. So that was also very exciting. He got many compliments which was very nice. Overall it was a tiring day but definitely worth it.

I also thought I might attached a picture of Broc so you all can see him. It is amazing that this was taken just a week ago and he already looks so different from the picture.

Broc is growing up

It is really amazing how quickly time goes by. It seems like just a couple of months ago I was in Kansas City breeding Beebe to Rory. I remember taking Beebe and Baci for walks by the hotel. Going down and dreaming about buying all the wonderful furniture in Restoration Hardware at the Plaza. Admiring all the beautiful fountains and architecture that are in Kansas City. Then it seems like just last week that I was quickly driving to the vet's office after Beebe went into labor. Then watching the five little lives being born and Beebe being so protective over them and caring for them like she would never let them leave her side. Now Broc is almost 5 months old and is growing like a weed. He's almost as big as Beebe now and has such a wonderful personality. Almost all of his adult teeth are in and he is really enjoying learning how to use them and achieving the best affect with them in the most strategic places. It is really amazing how quickly they grow up.

To all my friends and family in Texas. Please be careful and safe.

15% Off

Today was the day to get riding boots and a riding jacket. Not only are they stylish accessories to any wardrobe but they also protect your skin in the instance of an unfortunately meeting with the asphalt. Knowing that I needed these two things Larry and I set off for the Harley Davidson store in Cedar Rapids. Let's just say...EXPENSIVE! So shortly after walking in the door we walked back out the door and went to Theisens. Much more appropriately priced let me tell you. Plus everything was 15% off. So I got myself a pair of Harley riding boots which are very stylish and about 1/3 the price that the Harley dealer wanted. Then I also got myself a nice riding jacket made with kevlar in order to stop the people that will be shooting at me as I drive by. Honestly, I have no idea why it has kevlar but it looks nice and will be warm in the winter and nice in the summer because it has a zip out liner. Now I just need a pair of riding gloves and I'll be set.

I can't wait for that Motorcycle Safety Foundation riding course. I wanna ride before it gets to cold.

Yoga is great...Except for my illegitimate hip

Tuesday...What fun days they are. Work, then Yoga and then dance class. Work was work. Then I was off to Yoga with Sayde. Yoga is an interesting experience. Most people take yoga to become more flexible. I take yoga to try to reduce my flexibility...or at least gain strength to go with my flexibility. I can just about turn into a pretzel...the problem is that once I get there I don't have the strength to get back out. So today I was telling Sayde that my ankles hurt...no shock there because they always hurt. Then at the end of class she said..."I don't think it is your ankle. It's your hip. You have an illegitimate hip. One is legit and the other isn't." So I guess now my hips must have different parents. One hip was born to my legitimate parents and the other is a rebel...hell bent on making my ankles hurt. As long as she can fix me that is all that matters.

Dance class was fun. We finally learned a new step for the Rumba...which all I can say is thank god because if I had to do another quick, quick, slow box I thought I was going to cut off my leg and beat the instructor with it. So we learned the fifth step or fifth movement or something like that. I don't remember the name of it...I just know that finally the Rumba isn't boring.

Everyone have a good night and remember...quick, quick, slow....quick, quick, slow.

Where's the Carb's?

I’m finally off my two weeks of Atkins and let me tell you…I don’t want to see any meat, eggs or cheese for a VERY long time.  I can’t complain to loudly though because I did lose 12 pounds.  Today was my day to carb out…and I definitely feel full…kind of like after thanksgiving dinner.  Although don’t despair because tomorrow it is back to Weight Watchers.  After many types of life style food changes I must say that Weight Watchers is by far my favorite.  I can still eat yummy food as long as I make good choices at other times of the day.  Weight Watchers is definitely the way to go.

Played a little Frisbee Golf today at Jones park with my brother J.  We both had great games for the first 9 holes.  I was at 2 over par and J was at 3 over par.  Then we kind of went down hill the second half.  I ended up with 10 over and J ended up with 8 over.  Now considering that we usually get somewhere around 18 to 20 over par that is a pretty darn good game.

I look the motorcycle out of the garage for a bit today to admire it.  Of course I didn’t drive it anywhere yet because I don’t have my license yet.  However, it looks really nice in the drive way.  J came over to see it today and was surprised how nice it looked.  It really looks like it would cost about 4 to 6 thousand more than it did.  Thanks Yamaha.  

Yamaha V Star Classic

I picked up my new motorcycle today. Well, I guess I can't say that I picked it up today because technically Larry drove it home since I don't have my license yet. The point is that it is now at my house. It really looks awesome...especially with the new saddle bags I got for it. You can look at the Yamaha V Star Classic website to see a picture of what it looks like. Doesn't it look sweet?

The main reason I got it was to save on gas. Right now with the MDX I'm getting 16 MPG. Can you say ouch? That's $45 a week. The new bike gets about 50 MPG. Can you say Cha Ching?

For all you motherly types out there...Yes I did get a helmet and yes I will wear it. I like my head and brain way to much to risk that.

Larry took me out to the Washington High School parking lot and I got to drive it around. Wow. It is much harder than it appears. I caught on quickly though and was doing pretty good by the end. I was starting, stopping, changing gears and turning corners. I never made it above 15 MPH but hey....It's a start. I actually get to take the motorcycle safety course at Kirkwood on the 30th. J is taking it with me so that will be fun.

Is that a Greyhound?

I suppose you are all curious as to why I named my blog “Is That A Greyhound?”.  As many of you know I own Whippets and I think about .00002% of the world population knows what a Whippet is.  So I’ll be walking down the road and just about every person I pass will say…”Is that a Greyhound?”  Of course my answer is always “No.  It’s a Whippet.”   To which they respond…”What’s a Whippet?”  At this point I’m thinking…”HELLO!!!  It is the type of dog that you’re looking at”, but I’m simply to nice to actually say something like that.  So instead I say “It’s like a medium sized Greyhound.”  Then they shake their heads like they’ve all the sudden had some sort of grand epiphany and continue on their merry way.

Maybe I should just make a t-shirt that says.  “No…It’s a Whippet” on the front and then on the back put “They’re like a medium sized Greyhound”.  Think of all the precious voice energy I could save by just that simple t-shirt.

It’s a beginning…

Blogging. What a concept. It’s almost like when you were a kid and your mom took an innocent peek at your diary while cleaning your room. Well, except take out your mom and replace it with everyone in the world.

Freud would have a field day with this. I mean come on. It’s a psychoanalyst’s dream. Instead of having to listen to you babble on about nothing on his couch, he gets to sit back in his nice comfortable chair and read all of our thoughts and dreams.

You just wait. Eventually there will be a service where someone will read your blog and then give you advice. Of course it will probably cost you $60 and hour. But who cares when it is all about self acceptance and sanity.

You all have a good night now.