My Hardest task to date...

Well, the day has come at last. I've made up my mind to shed the blubber that is on my body. I actually started yesterday evening. After what I went through, I had to do something and NOW!

I'll say up front, I LOVE FOOD! And especially anything sweet. That is my real downfall. I crave sweets! I almost believe that if you put chocolate on something, anything that I'd eat it! Well, maybe not EVERYTHING, but almost!

My goal is to shed by the end of December 2008 97.5 pounds. Even at the goal weight by most people standards I would still be considered fat. But for my old bones much more gone than that and I'd look unhealthy. I've cleaned off my NordicTrack to where I can actually get to it to use it, and did a 20 minute workout this morning before 8:30! Got the old heart rate up. I need to do more walking but with all this weight that I'm packing around my back hurts me so bad that I have to stop within a few minutes and sit down. Needless to say that it is very painful in my knees and hips to.

What brought all this on? Well it's like this..... the weather is cold/cool and there are some days without rain on the weekend that would be perfect to get out and ride in. I've got a great coat to wear that keeps me toasty warm. BUT from my upper thighs to the top of my boots I still get cold even with my thermal undies on!

So I sat out yesterday to find me a pair of Thermal Bibs. WHOA! Well, lets just say that I did find them..... but I also left them at the store! Talk about sending an old lady into shock! WHOA! Anybody remember the cartoon character "Porky Pig"?? Well imagine PP in a pair of bibs!

So for now, I'll either go and tough it out.... or I'll just stay at the house till it gets warmer. BUT there will be a change in my body image. I will loose the weight! I've got to or I'm going to die an early death from a heartattack or stroke from all this fat I've got on my body! I've got to much riding to do...... to chance that happening.

So with a lot of prayers and kind words of support I will get the weight off. AND keep it off this time!

Video recap of 2007

Well seeing as how it does work putting up video to watch I'm going to add another. This one is titled "Friends & Family". It is a collection of photos that was taken over the summer/fall/early winter of everyone that was on some of the rides I took.

Hope you enjoy this little video. I know I really enjoyed making the "Memories".

Second week in a row... no riding!

Well this makes the second weekend in a row that I've done nothing but sit at the house. I've never been a big fan of cold... but now it's down right nasty outside. I heard that the low in the morning is supposed to be somewhere around 9 degrees! I'm sorry, as much as I love riding I'm staying IN THE HOUSE tomorrow!

The only good thing about not getting out is that I've had plenty of time to work on the videos for the Holler Crawler ATV club ride that we did on Jan. 6. Had a bit of a problem with one of the files.... but we got things worked out at last! I'll admit, I like the way it turned out. I am not happy with having to chop it up into segments under 5 minutes though.

I've never added video to any of my blog post... this will be the first. I hope it works!

I think it is there! Enjoy!! Leave me a comment if you like it!!!

Starting off 2008 the right way!

Never in my life would I have thought that I'd be out on the first Sunday in January riding over 45 miles on an ATV! I'm doing things that surprise myself every day. BUT I'm loving every minute of it. I know that I'm going to come to the point that I can't get out and ride the way I do now. I know that. I honestly think that is why I ride at every chance that I can. I'm making up for all those lost years, and the years to come that I'm forced to sit at home and just wish that I could get out and ride.

Met up Sunday morning at the barn of BCO in Middlesboro Kentucky. Nineteen people were there to ride! There was a total of fifteen ATVs and Side-by-sides. The only ones that I knew already were Terry, Pam & Doug. All the rest were new FRIENDS. The weather man lied.... again. I knew that it wasn't going to be a sunny, pretty day but it was supposed to get warmer than what I thought it was! At times there was a little drizzle of rain. But not enough to even make the poncho's come out for cover.

We rode to two different overlooks. I think the name of the first over look is "The Towers". It overlooks the valley below that runs from Harrogate to Lafollette Tennessee. The wind was HORRIBLE...... and COLD! And needless to say the cloud cover didn't give that much of a view. I want to go back to really see how far you can see someday. After we took a break there for a bite of lunch we headed back down off of that ridge to head over to a place they call "Top of the World" that overlooks the city of Middlesboro Kentucky. Before and in between both overlooks there was some fantastic creeks to play in. I think I'll add the photo of myself that Pam took of me out playing in Tackett Creek. Great place to wash off the ATV and have some fun doing it!

We started out at about 9: 30 that morning and got back to the barn right at 5:00 that evening. I was tired and sore and COLD. But it was worth all that and more to have such a great day out riding, seeing new places and meeting new friends!

Thanks to BCO and everyone else for letting me join in on the fun. Can't wait to do it again!!!

Last ride of 2007

Talk about a happy woman, I sure am! Got lucky and rode Saturday and today (Sunday)!

Today I went with part of the group that I've rode with all summer/fall, Dale, Crash, Hooker, Little Jimmy, Possum and Terry (Crash's father-in-law). We took off at 10 A.M. this morning from Rose Hill and went to Martins Fork Lake again. They guys knew that it would be an absolute muddy mess so they had to go.

Made a HUGE mistake to take a break just before we got down to the lake. By the time I caught up with the guys Dale was attempting to do some of his world famous "donuts" and had a little mishap. He flipped it over on it's left side. Dale wasn't hurt to bad (or so he said) but it did hit his ankle and jammed his back a little. Nothing broken thank goodness!

AND wouldn't you know that all this had happened before I got there with the video camera! BUT I did catch the boys out in the mud a little to deep and ...... well 5 ATVs went over on the ride today and 3 were stuck at the same time! LOL!!!!! They got one unstuck and brought it over and the 3 then had to hook together to get the other two out!

I rode Jim's new 400 today. I'll admit that I do like that thing.... the ground clearance is out of this world..... and lots of power. BUT being as new as it is..... it isn't riding that great and the steering is still a little hard. My shoulders and back are feeling it tonight. But would I do it again tomorrow? You betcha!

Can't wait to see how many weekends in a row I get to ride in 2008! Stay safe everyone! Ride long, ride hard, but above all ride safe!!

Rode on Stone again today!

Hi everyone! Well I got lucky and did some riding today up on the mountain. After making a run to get oil and filter for Jim's ATV we came home, loaded up and took off to Rose Hill. When we stopped at Dellis' shop Terry was there. He and his wife Pam joined us. No pictures to show of todays ride..... it was all video.
The mountain is full of mud/water holes. If it wasn't so cold a person could have a ball up there splashing around in them. But it is just a little bit to cold to get soaking wet.
On the way home we went by Pringles house and found that they were having a cook out. Ok, so I wasn't invited, guess they don't want me around much any more. Oh well. I did sorta bite my own nose off to spite my face. Long story and I will NOT go into it. Maybe with time things will get back to the way they used to be. But Pringle was nice enough to go ahead and change the oil in both of the ATVs for us. Thank You Pringle!
Not sure if I can go riding tomorrow or not. Right now it seems like nobody can or is willing to go. Guess I'll just have to wait and see. If not then I'll have to wait till it is a warm day and maybe find someone else to go with.
See ya'll later!

Christmas 2007

Well, Christmas has came and gone for 2007. In a way I'm glad that it is over, yet on the other hand I'm sad to see it go. I don't like the pressure to spend, spend - spend to find the perfect present for friends and family. But I do love being with my family, seeing the smiles, hearing the laughter and seeing the family together at Mom & Dad's house.

This year we had several people at the dinner table, Mom, Dad, myself, my husband Jim, Sister Janet and her husband Frank and daughter Ivy, my daughter Shannon and husband Bob, my son Danny and wife Michelle. Missing were my sister Phyllis and husband Jimmy and daughter Morgan, and niece Lindsey and husband Josh with sons Dillon and Rylie.

Daddy's health is not the greatest that it's ever been. Dad had a bad stroke back in May and he still suffers from it to a certain degree. Mom is not the strong woman that she has been either. But I'm so lucky to have them with me still.

We had some family members that have gone on to Heaven this year, My grandmother, Georgia Williams age 94 passed away in January 2007 and Jim's mother Gladys passed away in June 2007. Jim also lost his only brother Calvin in March.. it's been a very bad year on him. But he is working through it and seems to be coming back to life.

After dinner we had some of Dad's family stop by for a visit. His sister Barbara, her son John H. III, and his children Micah and Addison. It was so wonderful to see them again. It seems like family does not get together now as much as they did when I was a young girl.

I do hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and I send my wishes for a Happy New Year!