“It’s a quarter to three…”

Okay, okay, yes it’s been awhile since I’ve updated things around here. I admit it, I’ve been a total SLUG the entire month of September. In fact, I was going to post a picture of a slug, but boy are they ugly! So I found these sweet crocheted ones instead. Because even though I have been MIA for awhile, I am still adorable. (Photo and original crocheted slugs are by Alison at Pepperberry Crochet.)

I think I seriously need my butt kicked, need some motivation, some direction. I can read the writing on the wall, and right now it says “If you don’t change direction, you’re going to end up where you’re headed.” Which is no-where, man.

SO, in the interest of establishing the fact that yes, I still exist, I still ride, I still blog… here are some quick updates, and then I am officially “back in the game” when it comes to all of those things!

It has been a difficult summer on the job front, but I am determined to fix it SOON, one way or another. I’m currently unemployed, diligently searching in my longtime field of endeavor but not having much luck, so thinking about starting my grocery career. And I don’t mean that in a derisive way at all – I mean I am seriously considering switching gears career-wise. In fact, I am feeling another line of work “sort of” beckoning to me, but I’m not sure if it’s really a new calling or just another distraction that will lose its lustre in six months. Anyway, I’m working on that issue.

I have only taken a few rides, but one in particular was a LOT of fun – rode with Steve, Garry, Shirley, Janet & Gerry down to Prairie City (southeast of Des Moines) back at the end of August and we stopped at the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge. This place is seriously awesome – an interactive educational museum and many, many acres of beautiful restored prairie land. (It deserves its own post, and I’m going to write one to go up this weekend.) I also took a couple of solo rides. They were awesome attitude adjusters, as always!

I had two more articles appear in regional motorcycle magazines – a profile of Fat Baggers, Inc. in the August issue of Throttler, and an op-ed in the August issue of Thunder Roads Iowa. My thanks to both of these pubs for the opportunity to write and connect with their readers!!

This blog topped the 30,000 visitors mark in August – wow!! There’s always a surge of interest in the days leading up to and immediately following the Sturgis Rally, so I wasn’t surprised by the jump in traffic. But I WAS pleased and surprised to finally surpass all previous traffic records! THANKS for lurking, reading, and commenting here!!

My birthday was back on September 17 and my dear hubby Steve gave me a gift certificate for a vanity plate for the bike. I’ve sent in my application and am awaiting arrival of the plate itself. I’ll certainly post a picture as soon as it arrives!

Two friends who were in accidents and hospitalized this summer are now both home and recovering well. I am SO thankful!!

I do not like “Sons of Anarchy.” There, I said it. I’m sorry, I know it’s the Sopranos of the biker world, and I really loved The Sopranos. So it should’ve been a shoe-in. But, as interesting as it was to see Peg Bundy in a totally dramatic role, it wasn’t enough to carry the show. And for whatever reason, the rest of it just didn’t grab me. (There’s still hope – “Seinfeld” didn’t grab me til it had been off the air for five years and was only available in re-runs.)

I also do not like that Taco Bell commercial where the bikers ride up to the restaurant in the middle of nowhere. I mean seriously, do you SEE that dude dragging his foot as he skitters to a stop? (Maybe I’ve been watching a smidge too much TV…)

Okay, can you tell it’s 2:30 a.m. and I’m FINALLY getting tired? :) More soon – really!