flashing lights in the rear view

I want to begin this by saying I have never been pulled over for speeding. Rob would say thats because I drive like a grandma (no offense to the grandmas out there) but I say its because I don't see the need to hurry everywhere. Thankfully I don't suffer form chronic lateness, and I am paranoid of getting pulled over. But I have been pulled over for other things - expired inspection, headlight out, etc. My favorite is when I was driving my Jeep for the first time and I got pulled over because a Jeep just like mine had just been stolen. Mine was brand new and didn't even have real license plates yet but the cop said I didn't look like I would steal a car and let me go. So anyway, today I was driving back to Rochester and I got pulled over. I couldn't figure out what the heck for, but he didn't keep me guessing. He walks up to my window and says "You are being pulled over for illegally tinted windows." um... ok. He even pulled out his tint-o-meter. Since he didn't give me a ticket I can find it humorous. It must have been a slow day for him.

my current musical obsession

Johnny and June by Heidi Newfield

other more obvious obsessions:
I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
Hard Sun - Eddie Vedder

get a little mud on the tires

Hmmm, the trails were a little muddy today...



Later we played my ideal form of whiffle ball
Rob pitches, I hit (or vise versa) and the dog catches and retrieves

But where are the rat tails?

You know you're getting old when a band you were obsessed with in the third grade is doing a reunion tour. Come on, how many of you had New Kids on the Block posters on every wall, NKOTB sleeping bag , over sized NKOTB buttons covering your jean jacket, even a giant NKOTB puzzle.... I did!!! Oh, and I almost forgot, I had the Jordan doll. Ha ha ha! I may have to dig out the old cassette tapes. Simply for the sake of nostalgia of course. Here's a then and now shot. Ah the 80's!

We seem to have become official house sitters for friends of ours who have a pretty sweet house. Our apartment is probably about the size of their kitchen so I sometimes find myself wandering around aimlessly, not quite sure what to do with all the space! And there's a dishwasher, and clothes washer, and a yard.... and best of all, a dog! I feel like I'm on vacation. Almost.

1981

The year I was born.... among other things

Ronald Reagan becomes the 40th US president

IBM introduces the PC

Raiders of the Lost Ark is the highest grossing film worldwide

the average cost of a gallon of gas: $1.25

of a first class stamp: $0.15

the space shuttle Columbia takes its first flight

Charles and Diana are married

A minor league game between the Rochester Red Wings and the Pawtucket Red Sox becomes the longest professional baseball game in history: 8 hours and 23 minutes - 33 innings

Scientists identify the AIDS virus

Walter Cronkite retires

MTV is launched. The first song played? Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles

U2 has bad hair, but good music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHzy9dkyWGI

the best things in life are free

In honor of the squelching hot temperatures today, I thought I would remind myself of all the things I love about summer.

• long days
• the scent of hawaiian tropic
• swimming holes
• summer twighlight
• the distant sound of someone mowing the lawn late in the day
• Bob Marley music (its just not quite the same in winter)
• bird songs
• wide open windows
• gardens (not that I have one anymore)
• fresh and local fruit and veggies
• homemade smoothies and limonadas
• the drone of a fan
• flip flops
• or even better: barefoot
• camping trips
• I almost forgot - thunderstorms!

Pedal!

I went mountain biking at Dryer today. Driving there involves attaching the bike rack to the spare tire with lots of knots and lashing and various pieces of webbing... So I decided to ride to the park and then ride the trails once I got there. It was HOT out and I was dripping but it was a satisfying ride. Being exhausted can be a great feeling. I'm trying to ride a lot to get in shape for the Cascades in August. Then I should be able to make it through at least the first day of hiking without crawling back to the tent and begging for mercy.

You can dress me up...

I wore my crazy jewelry today. I love crazy jewelry. I should wear it every day...

It seems that every time Rob is out of town I manage to do something exceedingly stupid. My personal favorite was locking myself out of my car at the gas station while I was paying for the gas I just pumped. I had to wait 45 minutes for Triple A. And then there was the time when we were living in Mayville... I locked myself out of my apartment, but fortunately I was able to climb a ladder onto the roof and through the window to get back in. Well, in keeping with tradition, I locked myself out of my apartment tonight. No ladders this time. I swear I only do these things when Rob is gone. Still a week and a half until he gets back, what else will I accomplish?

This calls for a chick flick. And a strawberry smoothie. On the menu: "Beacause I Said So"

Current read: "A Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Capetown" by Paul Theroux

rating: 3 out of 5 (but to be fair, I just started it)

Latest watch: "Resurrecting the Champ" with Denzel Washington and the kid from Peal Harbor

4 out of 5

Biker

We took our oh-so-stylin' motorcyle down to the lake yesterday. It was my first time out on the bike this year. I forgot that my legs fall asleep. The motocycle is one of the few things that Rob does that worries me a little. It never used to, but I keep hearing all theses stories of people dying horrible deaths or getting there legs ripped off riding motorcycles. But then I guess we could fall down the stairs and become paralyzed too, so i try not to worry.

But anyway, I still have fun riding it. We stopped at at "Sticky Fingers" for some ribs, and of course food makes a good trip even better! Mmmmm!