Thanksgiving in September

So on Man vs. Debt today Adam challenged everyone to do three things.  One of which was to make a list of the things you are thankful for.  So here is my possibly cliche, probably obscure, certainly honest list:

• Number 1 is no doubt Daniel.  Everything awesome about my life can be traced back to this one amazing human being.  
• My job.  The fact that I have one, that I enjoy it (most days) and that I work with incredible people.
• My family.  This one is unbelievably complicated right now, but I am thankful for all aspects of those complications.  I love being an aunt, am blessed with fantastic in-laws who to me are not extended family anymore.  They are my parents, my sisters, my family and I love them so much.  I am thankful for all that I have learned about myself from my family and how to make myself a better person based on that knowledge.
• This is a sub-thank from family, but my brother Aaron is my second favorite person in the world and he deserves his own bullet.  To say that he has always been there for me is the understatement of the millennium and I love him so very much.  He is such an inspiration, always the voice of reason and everything a girl could ever ask for in a big brother.
• My friends.  Some of which are pretty much family now.  I am so well taken care of by them and holy crap what would I do without some of them?  I don't even want to imagine that world.
• My cats.  Yes, you are free to judge me.  I don't care.  Without those two balls of fur my home would be quite lifeless half the time and they definitely make things interesting.
• My car.  I have a strong emotional attachment to my Scion because it was the first good financial decision Daniel and I ever made.  It created a spiral effect of good financial decisions and I owe a lot of stress free rides back and forth to Missouri and Mississippi to this blue box.  Thanks to Japan for the affordable, reliable, fuel efficient toaster you have so graciously bestowed upon me.  
• Our old house in Hutto (that I no longer own).  We got lucky just even being able to buy the house, got lucky with no troubles while we lived there, then got hella lucky when we went to sell it.  It gave us a good chunk of change when we sold it and we were able to put a good down payment on our current house.  Don't get me wrong, I hated Hutto with passion, but that house was great.
• Skirts.  I love skirts.  That's all.
• This one is convoluted, but I am thankful for all the things I am going through now that are preparing me for things I am going to go through later.  Does that make sense?  I may be learning something today that I will need to know tomorrow, next week or ten years from now.  I love that life does that to you.  Prepares you for things without you even knowing it.  How clever. ;)
• Hard times.  Looking back on life, especially the last few years I realize that the times I grow more personally and grow in my relationships with others were during the most horrible of times.  They suck for sure, but out of those hard times have come some amazing results.  
• Vacation.  I can't imagine I really need to explain this one, but I love getting out of town.  Even if it's just for a couple of days, or to chill out with family. 
• My motorcycle.  That thing is loud and it's so pretty.  
• Titanium.  It holds my leg together nicely.  
• And last but not least:  Thanksgiving.  And 4th of July.  Those are the best holidays.  

Maybe you should think about your own list.  I know this isn't everything, but it's what is on my mind tonight.

10 Things...

A vast majority of my friends ride motorcycles.  But there are quite a few that don't.  I never for one minute expect that those who do not ride to understand why I do it.  Just like I hope they don't expect me to understand their addictions.  I just try my best to respect them.  All I ask is that you (non-rider friend) try to respect my decision to ride.  Maybe you think I am a complete moron.  That's okay.  I probably am.  But since when did addictions make sense?

So I spent several hours riding this weekend because the weather is amazing here in Austin, TX and I didn't want to waste it.

While I was out I found the things that annoy me the most while riding, happen pretty often.  I am going to list them here in the hopes that non-riders will understand a rider's perspective:

10. If you see us carrying a helmet, wearing a leather jacket and funky looking boots...do not ask us, "Did you ride your motorcycle?!"  I try to ignore this one because I know it's just a conversation starter or an acknowledgement of the fact that I clearly, must have ridden.  But no matter what, I always want to respond with, "Nope.  Just thought I'd wear all this crap in 100 degree heat for the heck of it.  I look pretty cool, don't I?"

9.  Do not ever...ever assume that you can sit on my bike.  In fact, don't even ask.  Unless I am familiar with your ability to ride you aren't allowed to touch the bike.  Period.  In fact, stay at least 6 feet away at all times. You're making me nervous.

8.  This is another one that I have trouble with because I know it's just a conversation/acknowledgement piece, but..."How fast does that thing go?"  while talking to a stranger in gas station parking lot is not an appropriate conversation starter.  I have never been able to respond to this question because, first off it doesn't really make sense.  If I was at a land speed race event, I could easily respond.  But on the street?  What am I supposed to say?  "Ah, she'll do 'bout one twenty headin' down thirty-five 'round about north a Georgetown..."  I just don't know how to respond concisely.

7.   This one is a little specific, but worth mentioning.  If you are on a two lane road in the middle of nowhere that has lots of hills and curves and a motorcycle comes up behind you...please for the love of god, let them pass you.  See, you might refer to 1431 as the "motion-sickness road that gets you to Marble Falls" but motorcyclist refer to it as "the fun road".  You are on that road to get to Marble Falls and eat pie.  We are on that road to be on that road.  And getting stuck behind someone who breaks at every little turn is ruining our ride.  Not to mention you're nervousness about being on that road can be dangerous for us behind you.

6.  Some motorcyclists are ass-hats.  Some are douche bags, some don't belong on a bike, some are downright dangerous.  But some are just regular folk who happen to like riding motorcycles.  Do not lump all sport bike riders into one category.  I don't ride wheelies down the interstate.  Don't assume that because I am not poking along on a big fat Harley that I must be a wild and crazy idiot out to kill myself and hurt others in the process.

5.  Don't judge my intentions.  If you have never ridden a motorcycle you don't understand how scary it can be to be around cars on the road.  Sometimes I pass people going over the speed limit because they are driving erratically and I am afraid to be near them.  Don't assume that I must be doing it because I am irresponsible.  No, I just don't trust you.  You with the 3 kids in the back and your radio blasting and your phone sitting on your lap ready to text.  I want to get as far away from you as possible.

4.  DO compliment my bike.  It's pretty.  I know it.  You know it.  Just tell me.  A quick, "that's a good-looking bike"  will get you very far with a motorcyclist.

3.  Most of us are well aware of the dangers of riding a motorcycle.  We know it's not the safest mode of travel or hobby.  We all know someone who has been hurt in a motorcycle accident.  We do not ever care to hear about whatever horror story you have about riding bikes.  If you think it dangerous and stupid that is fine.  But your story about your roommate's cousin's friend losing a leg is not going to change our minds.  It's not.  Sorry.  It's a very rare occasion when I can get through a conversation with a non-rider about motorcycles without getting to hear one of these stories.  Believe me, nothing you can say will shock me.  I have a pretty horrific story to tell myself.  And if you want to swap stories, I can go into graphic detail about what it feels like to have your leg "straightened out" and all the pain that followed.  You will not sway me.  

2.  Pay attention to what you are doing.  Most of the people I know who have been hit by cars were not hit by drunk drivers or road ragers or even people who were speeding.  THE MOST DANGEROUS PEOPLE ON THE ROAD ARE THE ONES WHO ARE JUST NOT PAYING ATTENTION.

1.  Don't hit us.  It hurts.  Trust me.

Transparency

I'm starting a blog. Yes, I am about 10 years late on this bandwagon. I'm okay with it.

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a very open book about most things. There's probably very little about me that most of you don't already know. I do try to keep the majorly negative things off Facebook because I don't want to be a huge Debbie Downer. Plus I am sure there are those who have far bigger problems than me and I don't want to seem like a big baby (but I totally am).

So guess where all the negative and too wordy for Facebook crap is gonna go? Right cheer.

I will tell you right now I am thus far having a fantastic year (knocks on wood). 2009 and 2010 kicked my ass and I am still in recovery from the physical pain 2009 caused and the emotional pain 2010 caused. Of course, according to certain people (one ass hole of a cop in New Braunfels to name one) believe that these instances were my own damn fault. And every day I struggle with the idea that they might be right. Maybe someday we'll get into that, but not today.

Also those who know me well know that I get new ideas for hobbies or interests regularly and I get really excited about it for one hot minute then I get bored and move on. I do have a few interests that I can't shake (motorcycles and paying bills [no really]) and I will more than likely talk about those things a lot.

My biggest interest is myself. I'm not kidding. I am fully aware of the fact that I am completely self-absorbed. I don't really have a terribly interesting life, but I find it absolutely fascinating!

My second biggest interest is my husband. I actually try to force myself to wait at least two sentences after meeting someone new before I start talking about Daniel. I don't typically last that long.

So anyway...all that rambling to say that this is my place to whine about how my leg hurts and how much I love my motorcycle and how much I paid toward my student loans and how awesome my husband is, etc.

First non-introductory post to follow. Probably tonight.