WELCOME TO OUR HOLE IN THE WALL!

We're a crazy mix in this family, keeping busy and having fun! I made this blog as a way for our family and friends to keep up with us. But good luck with that cuz I'm not the best at keepin' y'all updated!

There's 5 in the family. There's Dad - he's a motorcycle buff, building his own business, making parts for bikes. Plus he works hard at a full time job too. AND being a full time dad and our chef! There's Mom (that's ME - since I do most of the blogging). I'm a nurse, I like to go on motorcycle rides to though I'm having to sell my bike (boo!) and can't ride like I used to. I LOVE to spend time with my kids and wish I could do more of it! I'm the family chauffeur most of the time and the organizer. I'm also the photographer. (not the best but I try)

The kids are: D - the oldest boy. He's a self proclaimed nerd, obsessed w/ D&D (dungeons and dragons for those "not in the know", one of the original role playing games - NOT a video game! Imagine that! lol!). He also loves video games and computer games. He hopes to design/make video games one day. Or write plays. He's a theater buff too. He's in 9th grade and does outstanding! He's got a great sense of humor too - which usually drives his nana nuts! haha! T is the middle child and other boy. He's in 7th grade. He currently plays football and is in the honor band playing trombone. He's in a magnet program at school and is doing very well in school. He's got a GREAT laugh and has this way of doing or saying things that just touch my soul or make me laugh so hard. He's terrific! The youngest is G - the only girl. She's in 3 grade (or nerd grade as D puts it). She's learning spanish and like T, does very well with it. She did swim team over the summer, and dances during the school year. She's also in choir this year and like to join in UIL and other school activities. She's very active and is always in and out of the house. She's a spiritual soul too and has been the driving force with getting me to church most of the time, or getting us to read scriptures or having FHE. She's my angel.


Monday, June 23, 2008

Ground control to Major Tom

T minus 3 days and counting for my trip to Virginia. We ran into some snags this weekend (what's new) and it looked as if my Father-in-law was not going to be able to make the trip because we could not get all three bikes on the trailer. After several phone calls and a couple forum posts we were able to find 2 usable trailers. We decided to use the one that was closest and easiest to get ahold of. Today we will load the bikes, strap them down for the trip, and hopefully the stress will subside.

I've packed my clothes, camping equipment, parts I will be giving away as door prizes at the event we are going to, and I am now just ready to get on the road. I've been looking forward to this ride for quite some time now. Not so much the ride to Virginia, because nobody wants to show up at a motorcycle event with their bike on a trailer. But because of time restraints, we will be "trailer trash" for the ride up. LOL. But I'm really looking forward to the return trip which the FIL and I will do on the bikes while my friend tows his own bike and all our camping equipment home for us. We will take four days to make the 1500+ mile trip home through some of the most beautiful roads our country has to offer. We will leave Virginia Monday June 30th and head north to DC to get a few photos (Arlington Cemetary, White House, The Wall, Etc. Along the way we will ride Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. We'll take in US 129. (aka: Deal's Gap, or the Tail of the Dragon) The Gap boasts 318 turns over an 11 mile stretch of road. For the motorcyclist, (not biker) this is Mecca. This is the single stretch of road said to separate the men from the boys. Often times it merely separates the overzelous rider from his/her bike. We will ride this stretch of pavement a few times, claiming to be "Dragon Slayers", and move on. The excitement of not knowing what we will see, who we will meet, or what kind of weather we will encounter along the way is part of the fun. Part of the fun is just to say I did it. And still part of it will be getting to know the FIL a bit better as we spend a week on the road together. It's kind of ironic really. Originally the plan was for my youngest son to ride along with the FIL for a week in his 18 wheeler, but due to the fact that the FIL has lost his job, the son's cross country ride with "Papa" has become "Papa's" cross country ride with me. LOL.

I'm also looking forward to spending a couple days with probably 200 people I only know through an internet motorcycle forum. People who have helped to build my part time motorcycle parts business over the past 2+ years. People of varied age, race, religion, and geographic background. People whom I respect. And all of us converging on Fredericksburg, VA for a couple days of food, riding, and getting to know each other beyond a screen name.

But even with all the anticipation, I can't help but feel anxiety as well. I know that this trip will be physically taxing on both myself and my FIL. Tmps for the return trip are expected to climb into triple digits, and I know that both of us will need to stay very aware of our core temp and keeping ourselves hydrated in order to make it home. Also, the process of preparing for this trip has taken quite a bit of time, and I have not been able to spend near as much time with the family over the past two weeks as I would have liked to. And I know that although I may crave the testosterone filled wonder of a guys trip halfway across the US, I also wish my wife were able to be riding at my side, enjoying the roads and the food along the way. I will miss her so much. There is no doubt of that. But arriving home after 8 days away, I'll really be happy to get back home.
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