The one with details...

I don't quite know what we had in mind for this weekend. I know I really wanted to sleep in on my day off and probably do little else. I have the unfortunate disposition of being like a turtle. I can really only do one type of thing at a time. I am excellent and multi-tasking within types of things, but I don't focus well one two types of things. Confused yet? I am. But really, when I'm working, I can multi-task all day long at work but I simply have no desire to do anything else once I get home. Thus, on my days off, I do not want to do anything. I don't want to ride the horses when I'm focusing on work, I do not want to take pictures when I'm focusing on work. I still think that makes zero sense but go with it.

Anyway, yesterday was my day off and I looked forward to doing nothing. Only, we never did nothing. We decided to go out and look at motorcycles. A guy in our HOG (Harley Owner's Group) club needed to sell one of his motorcycles. We went down to the dealer to let me sit on a few of the same type so I could feel if how it felt (MIL J had already done this) and later that afternoon we went down to Booya's to check his out. Working Man rode it. Said it felt good. Jade rode it. Said it felt good. They offered it to me. Up until this point, I had only ever duck-walked with a very heavy bike. So I figured I could duck-walk with this much lighter bike as long as Working Man was next to me. (And no, I was not in flip flops, it's not safe)

So I duck-walked down the road a bit, getting my feet off the ground more and more often. When I turned around, Working Man told me to go for it so I rode back, feet hovering over the ground, but off the ground nonetheless. I don't have pictures of this first ride but I took some pictures of the bike, and Working Man took some photos of my rides yesterday when I got home.

Oh yeah, we decided to buy the bike. It's almost paid off, is low-mileage and super easy to handle. Compared the trike, this thing turns on a dime!

The whole bike. It's a nice bright red color so we'll be seen. Additionally, we're going to get the engine guard so if either of us end up dropping it, our legs don't get caught.



Mmm...I like it. Look at that chrome!



It's so pretty. And comfortable. The seat Booya put on is really comfy. We'll see how it feels after 80miles but for now, it feels nice.



I put two miles on it yesterday. I couldn't believe how riding up and down our road could put on two miles!



I love the bar and shield detail. It's on the back of the bike, where a passenger would sit if we were to have one.



Booya put on top of the line pipes. Loud pipes save lives. These babies are really loud. You can hear me well down the road.

Know what I really like? It's really forgiving in first gear. The only time I stalled it is when I forgot to use the clutch when putting it in first. Otherwise, it just motors along. Oh, for the motorcycle people out there, it's a 2006 Sportster 1200 Low. And it's FUN.

Maybe I'll trade in my flip flops for riding boots more often,
Flip Flop Rider

The one where Sister K Drives Again

Sister K is like any other 16 year old. She wants to drive. Actually, that's a lie. She wanted to go shopping more than driving. Personally, I think this makes her sick. Something's just wrong with that. Anyway, we told her she needed to drive anyway. Homegirl needs to practice her driving, even if she's reluctant to do so.

So here are some pictures from Sister K's second drive around in the truck.

By the way, did you notice Sister K's new short hair? I like it, it reminds me I need to get mine cut. It's getting long enough to be annoying. Working Man likes it long, I like it short...and so the battle continues. In the end, Sister K did just fine in the big giant truck. She managed to park it in a parking space. Figure, if she can learn to drive the truck, she can learn to drive a car in no time.

Our kids are going to end up driving when they're four. Starting with dirt bikes. Working Man will insist upon it. I'll just be at home worrying about them. And chewing my fingernails off. One by one.

FFR

The one where we lost power and I lost my mind...

The last I left you, dear readers, I was blissfully updating you on Sister K's visit. I was unaware that later that day, our power would disappear...and not return for six full days. So we enter, Wednesday:

Plumber comes to fix water heater, shoddy plumber, whom we have complained about but our home insurance people continue to send...Arrives, turns off power to the whole house because he can't seem to find the switch controlling the water heater. Finds the problem, tried to turn on the power. Can't do so...because it's old. And so we have no power.

Enter electrician. Gives an estimate of $2200 to replace the panel. Leaves. Call our home insurance. Claim denied. Yell, scream, kick...why? Because we have no inside cover. Yeah, the part that you write on...doesn't have any purpose, is not water or weather proof. Claim denied. Yell, kick, scream. Claim to get a second look...on Tuesday. Goodbye.

Enter Thursday, we decide to get a relative's brother to look at it (licensed contractor/electrician). He says $1500 and that the reason for denying the claim is not right.

Enter Friday, relative's brother comes to start fixing it. He gets the old one off but cannot connect the main power to it in the rain. Enter second opinion. Takes a look, leaves. Says it won't be covered because we got someone else working on it.

Enter Saturday. We all start losing our minds as we face days without running water. We have the fireplace going to heat the living room and we huddle in our separate beds to stay warm. Working Man gets the water heater in the RV working so we can shower in warmth. He also gets the generators running so we can have a television or two and a space heater here and there.

Enter Sunday. I lose my mind and my will to live. I beg to be anywhere but home. Go out to eat, run errands, even do laundry at a laundromat. We make a stop at home then go for a drive. We discovered hell...driving in the country then track housing. It made me feel dead inside. Maybe it was from the crazy week.

Enter today. Same as always. Except relative's brother fixes the power. The water heater is still busted...but at least we have water. Enter my mind. Not really. I think it's taken leave forever.

Here's some pictures, before I lost my mind. I'm so glad we're no longer "camping" at home.

This never stopped. It couldn't, if it did, we'd get dangerously close to the forties.


Running that thing all the time made us use probably close to a cord of wood.


And Friday, I spent my whole day here, in front of the fire.


Candles...we used a lot of those. With lanterns.


To keep the warmth in one place and not losing it over our big house, curtains.

Excuse me, I'm going to go flush the toilet. What? No, I don't need to...but I finally can!

FFR

The one where Sister K is still riding...

Nothing to see here folks, just some more pictures of the bestest horse in the world...oh, and Sister K.

I loved fiddling with the new Lightroom. Have I mentioned recently how much I love it?


I really like this picture of Sister K. It really makes her look so sweet.


I really like this one too.


Sister K did have to untack her own horse...and tack him too

As a result of me having to tack my own horse and untack him and ride his bucking bronco antics, I am very sore...still.

FFR

The one where Sister K rides again

The main reason Sister K wanted to come all the way up here had nothing to do with her cool, totally awesome, way-better-than-any-other sister. It had nothing to do with our cool, totally awesome, way-better-than-any-other house. It had everything to do with our cool, totally awesome, way-better-than-any-other horse, Yuma. Yep, Sister K somehow managed to convince my dad and ESM (Evil Step-Mom...not really evil, she just put that on pretty much anything she sent/wrote to me, thus ESM) to drive alllllll the way out here (6.5 hours...8 if you go the speed limit...5 if you hit no traffic) for a horse. Psh. I should not even post these pictures and encourage her despicable behavior. Except that I love Sister K and I want her to drag my dad and ESM up here again...even if it is just for the horses.

Alas, as always, there are pictures.

Hard to believe that she used to ride only once every five or six years and only in front of me.


Now she's a pro...okay, maybe not. And if she pulls that off, she'd only have her cool, totally awesome, way-better-than-any-other sister to thank for it. (Can you believe I have typed that out every time? I really should have copy and pasted. Would have saved me so much time.)


I like this picture so much, I added it to my portfolio...which nobody but me sees...but still. It's there.


It's so hard to get her to smile sometimes, but when she's on a horse, it just comes natural.


But she does have hair issues when she's on a horse...ever heard of a hair tie?


Guess it doesn't make any difference when the wind is in your face.


This is the giveaway that she's not a pro...stretching the legs. Tsk tsk. PS...I've also added this photo to my portfolio...which no one sees. But it's there too. I love the focus and color.

I have more pictures than I have space for. So I'll continue them on Wednesday.

FFR

The one where I get my dad to smile...

My dad, self-admittedly, is the man behind the camera, not the one in front of it. Both of us spent this last weekend discussing the merits and downfalls of various camera equipment. We were talking about remotes when he said he would always be behind the camera. This weekend, not so much. Oh, did I forget to mention that my sister came to visit? Here are some pictures...

Oh wait...he...he smiled! Oh my gosh, pigs, they are flying again!


This is so cute. He really doesn't like the dog at all, but it's still adorable.


And Sister K is totally bored.


And we went out for breakfast which only strengthened our resolve not to eat out for breakfast. So much better at home unless it's a specialty place...specializing in breakfast.

But it was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, I have to go back to work today after three days off. Everything is going to be so different, things at the hospital change so fast!

FFR

The one where we finally finish with the chores...

Actually, we weren't finishing with the chores. We finished chores that should have been done a long time ago. First of all, I'm ashamed to say that as of Friday, we still had Christmas lights up. I know, I know. We didn't have them plugged in, and in our defense, it was too muddy to get the tractor in to take down the lights on the horse. Who uses a ladder when you have a tractor? Not Working Man, he's got a terrible fear of heights. Not that I'm any better. I wouldn't get up there in the tractor even.

Additionally, the last week was insanely windy. Our sign for the ranch got completely blown to one side so we needed to fix that too.

As a bonus, before I edited these pictures, I got the new Lightroom 3. Wow, what a difference. I love it! I'm a huge fan of presets (why do the work if someone else has done it for you?) and use them to get the big changes I want, then I tweak them a little. You'll also notice I managed to get a watermark for myself.

Working Man was frustrated that I was taking pictures instead of doing what he wanted.


And the heavens parted.


And there, with no fanfare whatsoever, Working Man takes down the last of our Christmas lights. Hallelujah!

So...I think other than the second one from the bottom, all of these presets are new in Lightroom 3. Oh I love it. A lot bit. I encourage you, if Photoshop is still outside of your capabilities (as it is in mine), please invest in Lightroom 3. Your photos deserve it.

FFR

The one with the cleaning...

So last night, I find myself getting home at just after 9pm. I then find myself relaxing (read: cooking dinner for Working Man then watching TV). At 11 I remember that I have a lot to do tomorrow and decide to clean off my desk. You know, to get a jump start. This is the problem with me cleaning...I clean for a long time. I don't stop for a long time. So I do a lot of cleaning. And here I am, 12:15 in the morning, and I've finally sat down and decided I can stop (read: I have to stop or I'll wake up the household). Here's how it started:

I cleaned my desk. The cleanliness of the desk reminded me how messy Working Man's was. I reached over his sleeping form (poor guy is exhausted) and cleaned his desk (read: threw out stuff from three years ago). The cleanliness of his desk made me realize how dirty the dresser in the living room is. So I cleaned this too. After cleaning off these surfaces, I had to use the restroom. Big mistake. I noticed that the trash was full. I emptied the trash (read: took the small bag out, tied it, and put it in the big trash can in the bedroom for Working Man to take care of) and put in a new bag. Doing that, I realized that the bathroom was gross. So I cleaned the toilet, the counters, the mirrors.

Done that, I noticed the dresser and nightstands in our bedroom were cluttered. So I cleaned those off. This is when I realized that I have so many tools in the house, it's amazing we have any outside. Nothing...nothing, gets put back after a project is done. I take some dishes to the kitchen, then notice that every surface in our bedroom and living room is dusty. So I dust them and the picture frames.

Then I got on my hands and knees and cleaned the floors. No, not really. I don't do that for anyone. I knew today was going to be that once a month cleaning that gets done once a month (read: when guests are coming). Somehow, it turned into a last night spree. Of course, I still have more than 2/3 of the house left. But like I said before...I can't do it now without waking up FILD and MILJ.

Did your mother tell you that cleaning was sooooo glamorous? Somehow, I missed the memo. It's 12:23am and I now look like I never showered today. Blech.

Ah well, it's worth it. The dust will not reappear for a long time (read: until two hours from now).

FFR

The one with Annie rolling through my head...

Tomorrow is only a day away!

Tomorrow. Yep. Tomorrow. Today is my last day of work before I have three days off...in a row. I know...whoa. What was that? I think it was a pig flying. Never thought it would happen. But here I am, and I'll have three days off. The way things change so quickly at the hospital, I'm pretty sure that everything is going to be completely different by Monday but I'm sure I can catch up.

Tomorrow is going to be excessively busy. I have a LOT to do to get ready plus a doctor's appointment. But that is okay.

So...tomorrow. This weirdo is going to be here:

I don't know if I can handle the excitement. Wish her a happy 16th birthday. (It was a couple weeks ago now...) That's what I'll be doing!

FFR

The one with three days...

Three days.

The one where I'm excited

Remember this goofy girl? She's coming to visit. She's not just coming to visit...she wanted to come HERE for her 16th birthday. I'm pretty excited.

I anticipate riding in the cold...and potentially the rain. She won't leave without riding. Maybe I won't let her ride, then she can stay forever. That would be great. I think our dad would haul her away whether or not she rode though.

I don't know I've ever given you the back story on us. We're nine years apart and she lived with our dad and her mom and I lived with my mom. As a result we did not see each other very much and we've never been very close. This summer when she stayed with Working Man and I for a couple of weeks, we got a lot closer. She wasn't at all the person I thought she was, and that's a good thing.

So now the countdown begins...eleven days. :)

FFR