PIC OF THE WEEK - UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

I completed my "Walk to Emmaus" this weekend, and I have never felt more humbled and uplifted in my entire life, as I do right now.  Because I'm still coming down off my spiritual high, I'm at a loss for words. Give me time.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

To me... these three crosses remind me of God's unconditional love for me and who's child I really am.

Have a nice week everybody.

Lady R (Di)
Central Alabama Emmaus Walk #144 - Table of Mary

FRIDAY FUNNY - EXCERCISE FOR PEOPLE OVER 50

EXERCISE FOR PEOPLE OVER 50

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.

With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.

After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags.

Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.)

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.

Buwahahahahahaha!!!

"Inside me there's a thin person struggling to get out, but I can usually sedate her with four or five cupcakes." ~ author unknown

PIC OF THE WEEK - PAPA J

Since today marks the second anniversary of my dad's passing, I'm devoting my Pic Of  The Week to him. Papa J was my more than just my dad. He was my guidance counselor, financial adviser, teacher and trusted friend.  He was my hero.

PAPA J - THE MACHO MAN

So irresistible!!

He had the best sense of humor of anybody I know.  I think for my mom... it was love at first laugh.

PAPA J - THE DAD

Papa J - November 3, 1938 - February 20, 2010

I miss my dad something awful, but as more time passes, the easier it is to cope with it.  I've gotten to the point where I can talk about him without crying, and that's a joyful thing! Rest in peace dad!! I love you!

Oh, BTW... I want to thank any of you who voted for me in the Indies Unlimited Writing Competition: REMORSE. I took first place! Yay!  Thanks again!!

Have a great week everybody!

Lady R (Di)

Author's Note:  I'm going to be lout of pocket for a while this week, so please accept my apologies for not commenting or answering comments around in the blogger-hood.  I've set my Friday Funny to post automatically (for those us us who need our funny fix!) and I should be back in the loop after this weekend. Be sweet!

FRIDAY FUNNY - IS IT SCOTCH?

IS IT SCOTCH?

On the last day of school, the children brought gifts for their teacher. The florist's son brought the teacher a bouquet of flowers. The candy store owner's daughter gave the teacher a pretty box of candy.

Then the liquor-store owner's son brought up a big, heavy box. The teacher lifted it up and noticed that it was leaking a little bit. She touched a drop of the liquid with her finger and tasted it.

"Is it Scotch?" she guessed.

"No," the boy replied.

She tasted another drop and asked, "Champagne?"

“No," the little boy said with a big grin, "It's a puppy!"

Hi! You can call me Scotch!

FINDING MY NITCH

I'm the type of person who really doesn't want people to think I'm unhappy.  For the most part, I'm the one making sure everybody is laughing and having a good time. I've been accused of being very goofy at times, but hey... if the shoe fits, I'll wear it.  Being the class clown is a big responsibility and once you've been dubbed... you better deliver. Nothing drives people crazier than a sad clown!

I dream of the day I will swing my leg over the iron saddle again, but in the meantime... I've been giving some serious consideration to my writing. I enjoyed creative writing in high school, so I decided the way I was going to kick the sad clown to the curb was to get busy!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I started following fellow blogger, Donna over at 2 Taking a 5th.  She posted about a fiction writing contest on Indies Unlimited, a blog comprised of independent authors. I entered my first writing competition a couple weeks ago and just posted my second this past Saturday.  I would like to invite you to take a look at the entries, as some of them are quite good.  We all like a good short story, right?  This is a great way to enjoy a good read and show your support to some very talented writers that just want to get their words out there. Like me!

Please follow the link below and vote for who you think has the best story.  Poll closes on Thursday at 5:00 PM MST.. Thanks!

Writing Exercise Competition Week 7 Voting: Remorse

 
Giving up my motorcycle has not been the easiest thing to adjust to, and in spite of remaining committed to my decision not to ride without Harley, it has not been without intermittent episodes of my own remorse.  However, I've been looking back on this blog and discovered that I missed telling stories.  Stories about places and life on two wheels, with words of passion and poetry.

It took a bit of time, but I realized one thing.  The subject material may change, but the joy of writing doesn't have to stop.  I have new dreams and new goals and I'm excited about something again.

I'm excited about writing...
     it makes me happy.

I'm excited about finding my nitch...
     the class clown is back.

Lady R and Dianna
(...see? I don't even know which one I am!)

PIC OF THE WEEK - CAMELIAS FOR MY VALENTINE

Camellias are blooming everywhere.  They're normally a winter bloomer for us in Alabama anyway, but Mother Nature has been on crack lately and we are getting daffodils and azaleas popping out too. (Crazy weather!)

With Valentine's Day being on Tuesday, I thought I would deliver to you, a closeup of this beautiful Crimson Camellia. 

CRIMSON CAMELLIA

 
I hope you all have a great week, and... HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Lady R

BTW: I entered in another Writing Contest.  I'll post the link here on Wednesday when they open the voting, so you can vote for which one you think is the best. ~ Dianna

FRIDAY FUNNY - WHAT DOES OKRA TASTE LIKE?

Being a child of the mid-west, we ate lots of vegetables while growing up, but one of them has never been okra.  Now that I live in the south, and have been for the last 28 years or so, I eat okra often and have become quite good at cooking this southern green staple.

Last night, my brother (who lives in Iowa) sent me a text... well, let me just show you. The conversation went something like this...

Bro:  What the f*#k do you do with okra?

Me:   Boil it, fry it, put it in soups and stews. 

Me:   Hell, you can pickle the damn things n stick 'em in your BM's. Okra is good for you!

Bro:  What's it taste like?

Me:   okra

Bro:   funny

Me:   It's slimy when boiled

Me:   and crunchy when fried

Bro:  What's not crunchy when fried?

Me:   me lol!

Bro:  funny.  We've been eating a lot of greens lately and we were just wondering.

Me:   It has a taste all it's own, nothing to compare it to.

Me:   Come visit, I'll cook you some okra n send you home with a pocket full of recipes.

Bro:   Does your pool turn red if I pee in it?

Me:   Green... like okra

I know this may be funnier to me than anybody else, but I still felt compared to share. Have a great weekend everybody!

Lady R (Di)

PIC OF THE WEEK - REACHING FOR THE SKY

I'm partial to taking pictures of trees.  They make great subjects and they're always reminding me of something else... besides being  tree.

REACHING FOR THE SKY
 

This one seems to be pleading for new life as it reaches for the sky, and there's something about the way the dark decaying limbs contrasts against the bright blue sky that captures my attention and makes me like this picture. 

 
Spanish moss hangs from its branches like overgrown beards and blows softly in the gentle breeze (such a romantic!).

If I had a dime for every tree picture I had... I could quit my day job!  Have a nice week everybody!

Lady R

FRIDAY FUNNY - DINNER WITH GIRLFRIENDS

Dinner with Girl Friends...

A group of 15 year old girlfriends discussed where they should meet for dinner.  Finally, it was agreed upon that they would meet at the Dairy Queen next to the Ocean View restaurant because they only had $6.00 between them… and Jimmy Johnson, that cute boy in Social Studies, lives on that street… and they might see him and they can ride their bikes there.

10 years later, the group of 25 year old girlfriends discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they would meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the beer was cheap, they had free snacks, the band was good, there was no cover charge… and there were lots of cute guys.

10 years later, at 35 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they would meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the Cosmos were good… and it was right near the gym… and if they go late enough, there wouldn't be too many whiney little kids.

10 years later, at 45 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they would meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the martinis were big… and the waiters there had tight pants… and nice buns. 

10 years later, at 55 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they would meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the food there was reasonable, the wine list was good… and they had windows that open in case of a hot flash… and fish is good for your cholesterol.    

10 years later, at 65 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they would meet at the Ocean View restaurant because lighting was good… and they have an early bird special.  

10 years later, at 75 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they would meet at the Ocean View restaurant because food was not too spicy, the restaurant was handicapped accessible… and they even had an elevator! 

10 years later, at 85 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they would meet at the Ocean View restaurant because…

they had never been there before.            

…sigh

THE LADY BEHIND THE WORDS

Four years ago, I started this blog because I wanted a creative outlet for sharing my thoughts and experiences as a woman rider.  It's been a hell of a ride since, and actually, I'm surprised I'm still here.  In the beginning, I was advised by many to keep my privacy in check and write under a pen name or other fictitious alter ego. I realize that keeping ourselves protected from the evildoers of the net, needs to be on the forefront of all our minds, so there I was, trying figure out what I was going to call myself.  After much thoughtful consideration, it dawned on me, that when I moved from the pillion position to riding my own, I couldn't get enough road time, hence the birth of my blog name... Lady Ridesalot. 

I enjoyed being Lady R and it was fun creating nicknames for the all characters in my life while sharing my stories and adventures.  If you're a regular reader to my blog, you also know that I have been going through many changes lately.  While some doors are closing, there are new ones opening up, and for the sake of credibility, it's time for the cloak of secrecy to come off.

In the interest of reality and real life, I would like to introduce myself...  
 
"Hi! My name is Dianna. It's nice to officially meet you." 

I'm sure I'll still post some stuff as Lady R, but I wanted to quit hiding behind her, and join the party as me for a while.  I know... kind of scary, huh?

Now... moving on...
As I posted Sunday, I entered in a fiction Writer's Contest through Indies Unlimited.  It was a fun little exercise and I hope I can learn from it.  My goal is to hone and perfect my writing skills so it can escort me down this new path I have chosen for myself.

There are several really good entries in this contest, and I invite you to go and take a look for yourself.  I'm sure the other authors are like myself, and just want to see their words enjoyed by others. So... if you would be so kind to follow the link below and vote for the one you feel is the best, it would be greatly appreciated.  Sorry for the late posting, but the poll closes today (Thursday) at 5:00 MST. 


Writing Exercise Competition Week 5 Voting: The Rendezvous

Thanks for your support and I look forward to bringing you more!


Dianna aka Lady R