8.28.2006

weekend drive

i purchased a new truck over the weekend and
thought it would be nice to make a trip, test the
road and visit my parents and sister, rhonda
and her family. it ended up to be a wash of rain
but i still enjoyed it very much. i quickly remembered
how nice it is to go back home to the quiet of the country
and experience the wonders of nature.

my mom is just an amazing soul who does wonders
with anything outside. i am always amazed over how
she can take dirt, plant something, nurture it and it
turns out amazing. (i tend to kill anything green or
blooming.) my dad is always outside day or night
taking care of something, also. they take such wonderful
care of their "homestead". i am proud to say it is where
i grew up.

the last photo in this group is of the
stockdale mill which is located right
outside of roann and just seconds from
my parents home. you can't miss
this great site as you leave wabash
county and cross over into miami county.

8.25.2006

thursday night ride

river greenway-the sights...kinsington blvd. to headwaters
Desperate Housewives Season 3 Promo

9.24.06 do you have any dirty laundry?

8.24.2006

Laguna Beach 3x01 part 1

do i need to say anymore?

old friends take a long time to make

in july, ang and i went to the PERU CIRCUS for the
final circus performance. it's a must...especially
if you have roots there.

i joined the circus when i was 6. my first act was
kiddie clowns. (i opted not to post a photo of this
because the only one i have on hand is during the
side show part of the act when i was
half man/half woman. i knew my buddy mikey
albertson would never, EVER let me live that one down.)

anyway...through the years i progressed...tumbling,
side-by-side. melanie slonaker was my partner for
3 years. we rocked.

she taught me a lot as did my
trainer, the world famous HUMAN CANNONBALL
Willie Wilno.


i moved onto bigger and better with adagio, low casting,
advanced tumbling, trampoline, bounding rope, loop walk,
teeterboard, trapeze. you name it...i conquered it. i'm sure
i have left out a few as i finally packed up my pumps at age 20.

i learned countless skills, got rid of LOTS OF EXTRA ENERGY
and spent a lot of years of summer days and nights honing my skills.

it taught me respect, determination, self esteem,
leadership, strength & confidence.

but most of all...i gained OLD FRIENDS that stay true to this day.
certain people make an impact. they stick with you.

during my trapeze times,
Linda (Gebhart) Jackson & Kristy (Gebhart) Eddy taught me tons.
their patience and skills and awesome personalities helped
teach me to "throw doubles" and "fly-away" and "full twist"
my way to applause. the greatest gift a kid between
the ages of 9-13 could receive.

i had the pleasure of catching up to them at that final performance
a few weeks back and it was like i had never left the center ring.
we laughed. talked "old school" and although "life happens" and
we don't get to talk or see each other as much as we would like,
we made the vow to call. email. keep in touch.

linda might look familiar to some...she is a nationally recognized
television anchor for the local affiliate of ABC and NBC.
http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/

kristy kept broadening lives while teaching in Peru, but now has
taken on an even more important job of being there in a time of
need as she joined with her husband at Eikenberry Eddy in Peru.

it's funny how things stick in your head. i can still remember the
first time i was up on the fly pedastal with Linda and she looked
at me and grinned...making sure i new things were going to be ok.

i have shared countless laughs and good times with SHELLSTER.

i know, i know...look at her. beautiful inside and out.


hey, michelle...

"buuuuuut......OHHHHHH.....
those suuuuuuummmmmmmmer niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiights."

this girl is super girl. double trap, teeterboard, motorcycle,
you name it, that girl was on fire...she even went on afterwards
to perform professionally and wow people across the world.
now she is a kick ass ad director in her hometown, Peru.
http://www.perutribune.com/


WE
LOVE
HER.

thru thick and thin we talk. we joke. we call each other up
at work and make sure we start it off with a line from
a JANET song.

we have withstood.
why?
some say we are crazy one in the same.
i tend to think that it's 'cause she knew i was cool
WAY before i ever did.

judas priest, woman.
"look at that cop's butt, boo!!!!"

cinderelly, cinderelly.

shellster-it was great seeing you. and had i
remembered to take a photo with my camera,
i wouldn't have had to post an older one, but i
loved this one...one of many great times we
spent outside of circus.

"you can't blame nobody but YOU"


if you get a chance...check out the Peru Circus.
it's one of the greatest amateur shows on earth...
and one of the best youth programs in the nation.
http://www.perucircus.com/

since the WOMB

so i get this comment thru my blog today:



and it made me smile.
meet one of my best friends...TOMA.


she is the "wind beneath my wings".
she's one reason i'm doing this blog.
we have known each other since the WOMB...
this girl knows %@!? no one knows.
our parents are old friends, scunna funna.
we have shared many a good times.
PERU-circus, the backlot, taco johns, nana's.
ORLANDO- firestone, our days of disney, purple plum court,
pleasure island, DANCE AUDITIONS.
MIAMI- the university of miami (GO CANES!), south beach,
warsaw ballroom, twist, coconut grove and on and on....

i mean, come on...we thought CAPTAIN E.O. rocked.


And at one time ALMOST had matching hair.


we were always ready for a photo op...

even if sometimes you would rather
forget certain photos.
yes, toma....honey...we see you.



yep...through the years she has always been there
to keep me "in-check"...through the good times,
bad times and poor choices in music.
whatever. the song rocks. deal.


even through her "tanning jealousy" she remains
one of the closest to me in heart, mind and soul.


she is now in monterey, california doing her thing.
http://www.pomlodging.com/

i plan to visit REALLY soon.
we need to catch up on our repertoire...
hit the TANTE TOMA link to the right
if you want to get a glimpse into her life.

let's relive some of her best:

"Hey, hey!! OH...MY...GOD...Boo...look...over there...it's RuPaul!!!!!"

"Um...don't look now but Barbara Bush is laying on the beach at 3 o'clock."

and Sebby...you brought years of memories with:
"You guys...this is so cool. I think when I grow up I want to be gay."

and forever in OUR laughter:

"Have I told you lately....$#%! OFF!

guilty pleasure-Mtv

i admit it. there should be a 12 step program for this addiction.
there's something about it. reliving "those" years.
it all began when i caught a few episodes of season 1.
then i totally became part of TEAM KRISTIN on season 2.
third time is a charm, or more like a dagger. straight in your back.
kyndra...she can't be THAT mean. cami...are you kidding me?
tune in...you'll find yourself immersed.
or ready to kick some MEAN GIRL's ass.



can you handle a drill sgt.?
"THIS TIME, DON'T TACKLE LIKE A BABY.
I DON'T BABY MY KIDS, I'M SURE AS HELL
NOT GOING TO BABY YOU. GO HOME &
WHINE TO MOMMY & DADDY."

welcome to hoover high.
#2 in the nation and chasing their
4th state title in 5 years.
losing is not an option.

if you go any way...go the greenway


last night i ventured from mile marker 1 on the river greenway
and took it to moser park in new haven. nice ride.
http://www.fortwayneparks.org/images/stories/RGWmap.06.pdf

8.23.2006

hear no evil

inexpensive and a cool way to help the fight

every 10 seconds someone dies of aids.
be a visonary. wear the tag.

www.youthaids-aldo.org

you're how old? get out. no way.

my buddy brian (first on left) is the reason i believe the saying:
"everything happens for a reason." probably because
he is constantly reminding me of that when i bitch
to him about something.

we met because our friends ditched us at a LAME
party and we ended up sitting on the same couch.
he saved me from complete boredom that night
and he has saved me from plenty of other things
in the last 13 years. our trips to the southern
tip of florida, late night escapades, home improvement,
calf cancer...there was a reason we ended up friends.

he turned 40 a few weeks back if you can believe it.


go bananas

it aint a cruel summer anymore. these girls are all grown up.
can you say....HOT?



watch their latest drop
"look on the floor"
(hypnotic tango solasso remix) here:
www.importsv.com/videos_ac.html#

sunday...in the park

who could pass up 78 and sunny? i loaded up and headed north

the line forms here

equipped

...check of the weather

...and of the route

passin' the 'boggan runs

keep right

awesome terrain

a break for H2O

ahhh...beach

ski

meet charlie from ohio...he was at a campsite and wandered off.
he laid beside me for a half hour until his owners found him.

retail therapy to end an awesome day