Our Good Friend Mike

We have a good friend Mike. He has a special lady friend, Denise, but she wasn't able to come this trip. Anyway, our good friend Mike is someone I am very grateful for. Mike keeps Working Man sane at work and vice versa. A happy Working Man at work means a happy Working Man at home.

Also, have you ever heard the song, "Sounds Like Life to Me"? If you haven't, the wife calls up the husband's best friend and says that husband has gone off the deep end and wants him to speak to her husband. Mike is that man for Working Man. I feel like if I ever needed his help with Working Man (which I'm sure I won't), Mike would be there for us.

In honor of our good friend Mike, pictures.

He was resolutely ignoring me. He was listening to the Raider's game.




Ah, some signs of fun.


If you were riding on my shoulder and facing backwards, you would have seen this. Then you probably would have fallen off...it was a winding road you see.


Whatchu lookin' at?

Even for his single-minded attention to the raider's game, I like Mike.

FFR

Planning...

When you're going to take a motorcycle ride with a bunch of people, one must talk...and plan. Chatter about anything from who will lead and who will sweep to where you're going, and who needs gas. (Yes, we still carry cash...just in case.)

This morning's planning started at home base...For us, that was here. We had to consider the cold. It was about 60 degrees when we left, but once you get on the bike, it drops about 10 degrees or more and you feel every change in degree when you're riding. Every single thermal.


Two of the bikes had already gassed up, but once we decided where we were going, the other two bikes definitely needed to get some gas. It also gave us the chance to discover, on the three minute ride to the station, if we needed to put on more layers.


Then it was strategizing about how best to ride.


We figured that riding staggered was the best option so that the leader could see everyone through his mirror.


Then we talked some more, about which way were going to go.


We stopped on the ride for a break and planned some more.


Well, this was less planning.


And more shooting the breeze while waiting to feel our extremities again. Did I mention it was cold?


Notice how we all look like overstuffed snowmen.


We're not that fat. Although, notice lack of photograph of my own overstuffed self. I think I was a little blue at this point. I couldn't have put on more layers...but I think I should have tried.

FFR

My Favorite Christmas Carols...

I have a few favorite Christmas songs.

First, Silent Night. Reason? It tests my vocal range...which I don't really have. But I like to push it anyway.

Second, O Holy Night. Reason? One single line tugs at my heart more than any other. "...Fall on your knees, o hear the angel voices..." It's the best line of any song ever. Period. I think it just has such a personal connection for me. At any time during the year I can listen to this song and get goosebumps.

On a side note, did you know that scientists studied the personality types which get goosebumps while listening to music? Apparently, the common thread in all the people they studied had "Openness" as a common personality trait. Interesting yes? I'm a bit of a science nerd at heart. I don't know the details of the study, I just read it in the news.

Thirdly, because I'm a redneck..."The Redneck 12 Days of Christmas." Yes, I'm a redneck. Proud of it. Working Man is my Redneck Romeo and I'm his Tailgate Juliet. (By the way, I stole that from Jason Aldean's "My Kind of Party." Couldn't help it.)

FFR

All The Other Pretty Horses...

It all started with Danny.


She was big and not just a little intimidating. Too many years away from horses made it too hard for me to enjoy her.


Then there is Ellie. We still have her. She's a little evil to the other horses but she's a solid trail mount.


Then there was Rita...


And Scotty.


Both of them were completely awesome horses. I still miss them. Unfortunately, Rita wasn't sound and Scotty had cancer. If they could have been around longer, I think they'd have been my favorites. I know Rita was Working Man's favorite.


Who could forget Rocky? The puppy dog who just needed a little finishing and has turned into an amazing horse. He's a favorite now too.


And he puts up with Mommy so well.


And you should recognize this face although you may not. A good 11 years later, Yuma came back to me to retire. How awesome is that?


And there's Henry of course.


He's just COOL! But he's not a horse, he's a mule. But that's besides the point.

FFR

Christmas Over The Years...

Christmas over the years. Surprisingly, I don't have that many pictures of me at Christmas. I expected a lot more but as I hunted through my many photo files on my computer, I didn't find many. At any rate, here are the pictures I do have. Most of which I do think come from Christmas. Some may not have, my mom will probably end up correcting me on those!

I'm gonna say, first Christmas?


I don't think my mom would have put herself through this torture unless it was Christmas.


I was very into the holidays back then, or at least my mom was. We even had a green bridle for him. I miss these Christmases though. After dressing up in all the bells and everything a bunch of us would head out into the streets of Burbank and Christmas carol and collect canned goods. It was a ton of fun and I really wish I could drive all the way down there again and do it. I wonder if it still occurs every year. It was always fun.


Aussie was even in the spirit of the holidays.


Then there was last year, our beautiful tree.


Our horse statue with lights.


From the front.


And Working Man knows his wife very well. I think he gave me five pairs this Christmas, two Christmases ago. I think he didn't quite know what to get me, but he figured it out.

When I get pictures of our Christmas this year, I'll have to post those. For now, this is all I've got.

Country Christmas,
FFR