Reading Dangerously Update

April's Reading Dangerously Challenge was "Transformations" by Anne Sexton.

Frankly I don't know what to think about this one. General comments - it can be read in one sitting...I love fairy tales, just not these. That said, I found some of them quite interesting, some distasteful, and some just plain weird. After reading her bio, I can almost see where she came up with this stuff. And that's all I have to say about this book.

Next up is Other Voices, Other Rooms, by Truman Capote. I have already begun this one and it is much more interesting. However, it has ended up at Jen's house (3 hours away) where she has been reading it! That's alright though, I'll get it back in plenty of time to finish for May's reading challenge questions, and will be able to get her input before making my final evaluation of this book.

In between stuff: I have preordered a couple of books (well, one is a CD to listen to while in the car...driving the 1/2 mile to work and home each day really leaves me a lot of time to listen to books!)

First is The Host by Stephanie Meyer which will be released on May 6th. She writes vampire books for teens, but this one is about aliens...right up my alley since I feel alien most of the time!

I also preordered the CD Fearless Fourteen, by Janet Evanovich. It will be released on June 17th. I don't normally order CD books, but thought this might be a fun one to listen to instead of read. May even force it on Roger during one of our very long drives to Jen's house some time. However, with the price of fuel, I may just listen to it while working on the laptop!

Oh! I almost forgot - I won March's Reading Dangerously Challenge with Cat's Eye, by Margarat Atwood! The prizes were fantastic and really want to thank Heather and Andi for sponsoing this.

It was Just a Dream...I Knew That!

I knew it was going to happen - don't really know how I knew...I just did. Mother Earth was coming to a screeching halt, abruptly discontinuing her rotation, at which time life as we know it would hastily end.

Standing out in the street, I felt disconnected. No one looked familiar. Police officers, military...strange people were everywhere, but in spite of that, things were a quiet kind of orderly chaos. Did they know too?

A man put a FedEx envelope into a small blue and white box along with a check to pay for the delivery. He could not believe they would allow him to pay with a check...no delivery would actually be made, and of course the check would never hit the bank. The stranger seemed pleased with himself.

The weather was pleasant, a bit warm but tolerable - a gentle breeze kissed my face causing me to turn slightly. From my left, behind an unusual bank of clouds, an intense light appeared high in the sky.

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The clock reads 4:30 a.m. I am all comfy in my early morning bed. I do not want to move - as my age increases the comfort of lying easily in one spot is rare. Something is always hurting! I lay silently just enjoying the quiet, painless, peacefulness of the morning. Am I still dreaming?


5:00 a.m. - the whirl of the grinder in the automatic coffee maker announces that another morning has begun...and assures me that the Earth is still on her axis...rotating away!

Don't let go!!!

Ferocious, persistent barking (no, it was yapping, definitely yapping) erupted from just a few feet away. I turned to see a small, yet adorable dog hanging out the window of the vehicle stopped next to me...luckily his owner was holding firmly to his little tail!

~ He looked something like this ~

The tiny guy perched his front paws upon the driver’s side mirror. One rear paw rested on the rolled down window sill, while the other hung free outside the vehicle. His little mouth was happily yapping away at the surrounding vehicles.

Oh how I wish I’d had a camera…oh wait, I did have a camera – but it was a camera phone and would not have had time to dig it out of my purse and snap a picture before the light turned green.

Then I pictured Grandpup Chance doing the same thing…of course this is never going to happen. First off, Chance weighed 150.2 pounds at last weigh-in at the Freeman-Fritts Veterinary Clinic & Shelter. Even if it were an 18-wheeler instead of my little Mazda 3 that Chance were hanging out of, I’d never be able to hold him up by his tail!

The light turned green and I made a left turn toward the office. The joyful little dog continued his persistent yap all the way through the intersection before entering into the safety of the vehicle.

I smiled broadly and laughed out loud all the way to the office, all the while trying to put out of my mind what could have happened if he'd lost his footing. Here's hoping the little guy has a firmly attached tail!

Coming Soon ~ AMA Dragbike Spring Nationals

Coming Soon ~ AMA Dragbike Spring Nationals in Memphis, TN, May 3 - 4, 2008

Nine Second Jen made it out of the cave at the top of the Enchanted Rock and will be competing at the AMA Dragbike Spring Nationals in Memphis.

Watch for updates right here!

Enchanted Rock?

What is an enchanted rock anyway? When I think of a rock, I think of a small grayish chunk of stone. Declaring the stone enchanted brings about a different vision. The first time I saw the Enchanted Rock I thought it was just a large...no, a humongous smooth rock that demanded my attention and begged to be climbed. What was so great about it anyway? What on earth could be up there that would make me want to do that? Well, I just dare you to climb to the top of it and ask that question!

From the top of the Enchanted Rock looking down

Resting place on the way to the top of the rock

Flowers grow on rock? These certainly did!

Bugs, bees and nature on the rock

Cave on the Rock

Hmmm...the arrow points down. Jen, you aren't really going down there are you?

Wait! Don't do it! How will you get back up?

Oh my...what now?

Here, let me throw the camera down...maybe you can figure a way out of there if you take some pictures!

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I want to climb it again next weekend, and the week after that, and next month, then next year...just to see if I missed anything. Somehow I feel it will be different each time I climb it; it has a personality that is ever changing (ha! we have that in common!!)

#1 Youngest Grandboy turns 8!

Caden Avery! Where have the last 8 years gone?! Seems like just yesterday it was April 21, 2000. Your papa and I were out in the boat fishing away; it was Good Friday (a very special day)...next thing I know, you had arrived!

On Saturday we celebrated your special day with birthday cake (chocolate, of course), icecream, gifts, a pinata, friends, and as a special treat your big brother AJ played Happy Birthday on his recorder! It was a lot of fun :o)

Your mother let you style your own hair! You looked so handsome - I just loved it!!

A football AND a basketball - what more could an 8 year old want.

...possibly some hugs from his Grammy!

*** UPDATED INFO! *** Elmer Trent Nationals - Atlanta, April 4 - 6

April 4, 2008
Eyes burning from NO sleep, exhausted from driving the very long distance (2,300 miles round trip) from Corpus Christi to Commerce, Georgia, we arrived at the Atlanta Dragway at around noon today. There is a storm on it's way causing this afternoon's activities to be delayed until tomorrow. **Disappointed...however, we make the best of every situation!

Being the wonderfully fantastic, energetic persons that we are, we locked things up at the track, headed for the hotel, found a bite to eat at Cracker Barrel, a warm bath here at the HOJO along with some very comfy beds, and are crashed out in the hotel room!

More soon!
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Okay - here's the MORE!
April 5, 2008...it rained all day again so no racing got done until April 6th, however here is what there is to do when race day is a rain out!


We try on beautiful fancy slippers with our 'toe-socks'! These were my favorite :o)

We read books on the cot in the hauler...with a blanket and gloves (it was cold!) - sometimes I get the cot and she has to sit in a chair.

April 6, 2008
The rainy days finally ended and Sunday became race day! Fog and dampness kept us from getting an early start; track conditions were not ideal and the decision was made by track officials to run only 1/8th mile passes - normally it is a quarter mile run...1/8th mile runs are not something she has had much experience with. Oh well! As usual, she makes the best of it.

She ran in 4 classes - 2 on the GSXR 1000 (Pro ET and Super Sport) and 2 on the Busa (Street ET and Street Fighter). When all was said and done, Jen ended up as the top qualifier in the Street Fighter Series! This is a huge accomplishment - Congratulations Jen! But wait! All is not said and done. We raced late into the night on Sunday until weather conditions once again caused the track to became unsafe - finals will continue in Bristol, TN in June! So, I suppose this is still to be continued....

But before that can happen there is an AMA Dragbike competition in Memphis, TN for the Spring Nationals, May 3 -4. I'd love to go but don't know if that is going to happen...so, if you are in Memphis for the Spring Nationals look her up, say hello and cheer her on!

Video: Top Street Fighter Qualifier makes a run on the 1/8th mile course (turn up the sound) - way to go Jen!

A few more pics from Atlanta ~

Jen at the line as Crew Chief/Dad watches

Jen (on the Busa) prepares to line up against Jeremy Teasley

Time to pick a running partner for the GSXR

Michael waits with Jen before heading under the tower

More waiting!

...and more waiting
Jen plans her strategy

I can tell she has this one figured out!

All in all, a great rain shortened weekend!