Man Stash

The last time I was on a motorcycle was 10 years ago when we wrecked our touring bike. We weren't hurt more than road rash, bumps and bruises but it was enough to scare the s**t out of me. A couple of years ago Rick got a little (and I mean little) motorcycle to drive to work and save gas. Then he needed a bigger bike because he was hooked again. That time, he bought a Suzuki RF 900 R. I never so much as sat on that scary looking creature! Plus, I thought it was an ugly bike~eeew!

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Motorcycles are apparently as addictive as biscornu making. Rick drove to Arkansas yesterday and bought a brand-spanking-new Honda VTX 1800 S. When he got her home I thought she didn't look too bad and not scary at all. I even sat on her. Will wonders never cease. This morning, Rick went out-and-about on her and I started reading my blogs and chatting on IM with Lisa.

When Rick came home he wanted me to go with him to Edmond to visit my parents. Umm, okay! It was a beautiful day. This motorcycle is massive and solid-feeling under you. I didn't mind a bit even though the last time I was on one it was sliding across the ground. Today was fun. My left arm is sunburned. I need a new butt as I think mine is broken. We had a blast. I thought I'd share a few pictures from today's little outing; you can just see a peek of me in the third one...

Visitors!

No, silly! Not for real (unless you count the kid pushing a newspaper subscription)...I'm talking visitors on my blog.

I have been using MapStats by Blogflux to track my visitors. The basic conclusion is MapStats SUCKS! At least a couple of weeks a month the tracker will go haywire and not count any visitors for sometimes days on end. I have even sent them emails...with no reply. Today, I am fed up! According to MapStats (which sucks) there has been no visitor to my blog since Saturday last. I know that can't be true as I've had comments since then! Goodbye MapStats, you suck!

Hello Site Meter! See it on my sidebar? It's kinda cute and it's green! Woo! It even let me add the visitors I had counted before I put it on, although the actual number must be a lot higher since half the time MapStats wasn't working. I am looking forward to a nice long relationship with my new cutie.

Okay, I'm officially nutz! It must be stitching blogger's posting withdrawal. I've been exchange stitching and I can't post what I'm doing...right? Careful, it may be contagious!

Catching up

The new blog header is a design by Margaret Sherry; a favorite designer of mine. The chart is from the June 2003 issue of Cross Stitcher (UK) called Crafty Cat. I have seen this issue for sale on eBay if you really need it. This is a fun and easy stitch and it helped me get through a few tough weeks of nicotine withdrawal. Actually, I stitched this kitty once before and that one is framed inside a plastic trivet. I keep it on my stitchy desk.

Waaay back in May I planted Lantana for the butterflies. Some of you weren't familiar with it and I promised to post an update photo after it filled in. So pretty! It has butterflies galore and I feel bad disturbing them when I have to water! Hey, I remembered to post a picture of it~go me!

I want to thank everyone for the sweet and supportive comments you've left on my last few posts. You all mean so much to me and I'm really and truly thankful for your friendship.

I Love Your Blog

A big thank you to Eva of Stitching The Night Away for this award. I've decided to nominate some blogs this time! This wasn't done last time I was nominated for awards as I was feeling shy.

The rules of the award are:
1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you’ve nominated.


My nominees in no particular order...

Be-Stitched Erynne has a soothing style and shares the neatest freebies.

Tea and Stitches CJ's blog is fun...she has such pretty stitching!

Does the noise in my head bother you? Rachael's blog is very thoughtful and reflective.

Chiloe's Corner When I need a pick-me-up I visit Chiloe; she always cracks me up laughing.

Lonestar Needleworks I've been avidly following the adventures in house remodeling.

Plush Nicki does the most incredible projects and tells the funniest stories.

Julie's Stitching Studio You've never met anyone more upbeat or as fun to be around.

Tasty

A frosty cold beer with salt & lime. Sure is nice on a warm summer day. Join me?

Warning: Completely Random Stuff

The new laptop is incredibly awesome. The more I play with it~the more I like it. Windows Vista, I like too. It is really nice being able to add something or change stuff without worrying what everyone else will think. There is a silly ladybug that walks all over my computers' desktop. She is good company.

Pandora radio is really cool. I am addicted. It is a little enabling though...I keep finding music I MUST buy.

There were extremely creepy caterpillars on my Crabapple tree last week. They had feasted on every leaf on two branches over night. I went out to see why the tree looked funny and it was crawling alive with spiny worms that had red caps on. Eeek! Rick sprayed them and they dropped like~snap!

This is the tree the hummingbirds like to guard the feeders from. The current guard is so picky he has taken to chasing off the Chickadees!

Rick and I quit smoking on July 6th. It has been surprisingly easy to quit but really difficult learning to deal with the everyday stresses of life with no crutch! I am so glad we never smoked in the house...it's a lot easier to quit and my home doesn't reek of smoke. The truck (however) needs to be detailed. Badly.

I love Mr. Clean Magic Erasers.

A bit of advice to those seeking employment...I know every other manager working here. Don't think I won't clue them in on what a rude, demanding ass you are.

Jessie's boyfriend has moved into a new apartment. He is just down the road a couple of miles now. Hello Matt! The kids are back in school and Jess is already loaded down with homework and theatre projects.

My friend Linda has a new kitty. She looks the very sister of Taco. Rzeznik looks like Taco, I mean. Not Linda.

Prostate cancer. My dad has it. That really sucks.

I find I have committed myself to three exchanges. OMG. Total Freak Out! Just kidding...they are all simple exchanges and I will have no problem stitching for them. I do keep seeing other neat ones going on and I think, "Oh cool, I should join..."

Ebay is dangerous. Stitchers with no willpower should not be allowed to visit the site.

The new issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine looks amazing~such cute Halloween ornaments! However, every place I check for it still has the August issue. Yes, I know it is still August but, damn...I want the new issue!

My hair is blond...this is how I think & write IRL with no editing.

Friends are the best

It's been a perfectly horrible, awful, terrible, incredibly sucky week (six weeks?) for me.

But~look what I found in my mailbox last night! This tiny Mouseloft kit comes to me from Lindsay, for reaching an important milestone in my life. Thank you, sweetheart; sending me this little gift really cheered me up! You are such a blessing in my life.

Those of you visiting my blog via readers...please visit in person and see my new header. I'd like to know what you think! I've been working on this little Margaret Sherry kitty since the beginning of July. Who knew it'd take this long? I've been stitching~just get unsettled at times.

Who are you people?

Saw this on Chiloe's blog and couldn't resist.

It is really funny to watch your blog stats. Some days you have a lot of visitors; some days not so many. Some days your tracker goes haywire and doesn't record any! I sometimes post freebies (free cross stitch charts) and the link to my blog gets posted about the web...last June I had 2,318 visitors! In one month! How crazy is that?


So who reads my blog?


1. Comment on this post, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn’t matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! And if we’ve never met in real life, leave me a comment of your favorite post I wrote and why it was your favorite.


2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It’s actually really funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I’ll assume you’re playing the game and I’ll come to your blog and leave one about you.


3. Do you read my posts from a reader, blogroll or is this your first visit?


Thanks for playing!

SBQ 08/07/08

This week's SBQ was suggested by Outi and is: What do you do with your thread clippings? Do you just scrap them or do you use them in something else?

I keep my ort in a glass jar. I used to just toss them every so often or put them on the lawn in case of bare bird nests but nowadays I find myself saving them. Who know what for? I've heard they make great bear stuffing. It would have to be a pretty small teddy bear! They are kind of pretty, just as they are. I'll just continue to save them in my jar and one day perhaps I'll find a use for them.

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Confession time: I find myself collecting ort from the floor and carrying them back to my jar. Why not throw it out? Come on, girl...It's one little ort! Are you really going to miss it? Yes. I might.

Woohoo mail!

Yesterday, I found a package on my front porch...inside was this lovely gift from Cathey via the giveaway on her blog. It's a chart and charm pack from my wish list...Pansy Sampler: Hope by Sisters and Best Friends. The shop she had it sent from included a huge bundle of freebie patterns with it. Ooo, I love stash! I am going to have such a great time stitching this.

Thank you, Cathey! This is wonderful!

Readers, please note, you simply must visit Cathey's blog this week; she has finished the most beauuuutiful project...