Fly the Friendly Skies 

I remember a time when flying to another city or state was an adventure and something that we all dressed up for because it was a big occasion where we impressed our loved ones at the end of the journey or the people we worked for. It was an opportunity where they could see how nice we looked or how much we've changed. There was a time when people would turn towards you in their seats and carried on a decent conversation about where they were traveling to, who they are, what their interests were and what our plans entailed once we got to where we were going. The aisles in the plane were broad and the seats cushy and comfortable with room for our legs and arms to stretch. How much has changed since those simple days where politeness, courtesy and consideration, and even an occasional smile ruled. Welcome to 40+ years ago... Today, I see on the faces of strangers and the rush of impersonal aggravation.

My first observation was how busy the world has become, everyone traveling to and fro. It made me wonder if people didn't work anymore since the lines at the check-in counter and waiting areas were quite full. Every plane appeared to be filled to capacity with single men and women, married couples and families, lots and lots of children. No longer do we arrive at the airport a half an hour before our flight leaves, but we're required to show up one-to-two hours ahead of schedule just so we can get past the security inspections. This makes for a really long day when traveling.

I observed upon boarding our flight how thinly padded the seats were as well as having barely eighteen inches of space between myself and the shoulder I touched next to me. The aisle of the plane was scarcely enough to pass a set of thirty eight inch hips let alone all of the baggage one carries-on with them. It may seem that people got larger and the planes smaller therefore packing folks in like a can of sardines. Not a good situation where someone invades your own personal space. I don't like sleeping too close to my husband let-alone sitting that close to a stranger, especially when they're touching me. It's kinda creepy.

I watched as anxious people boarded their flights in helter-skelter fashion hurrying to get to their next destination even if it meant trampling across someone else to get there without saying excuse me, or sorry to have stepped on your toes; and "Oh? By the way, my carry-on luggage is really too big to fit in the overhead compartment, so I hope you don't mind if I move your stuff. Do you?" Imagine sitting on the aisle row and having people bashing you in the head with their excess crap before they get a chance to place it in the bin above. So basically you're saying, "I'm a selfish idiot for not checking in my bag, but you'll understand, right?"

There wasn't even enough room to share the armrest or turn your face to your traveling companion without smelling their bad breath, cigarette stench, hairspray, body odor, awful cologne or perfume and heaven forbid! Smell the aroma of their farts... Now really, couldn't you have least gone to the toilet in the back of the plane where there's a fan? How awful to place the blame on an innocent unsuspecting passenger in the same row. I'm sure the people behind us we're thinking just as badly about our row as we were about theirs.

In today's world we have computers, laptops, headphones cell phones, blueberries, blackberries and whatever other berry you can think of. Instead of learning about other people, we see how impersonal interaction has become the norm. People sit down and begin calling, or computing, or texting, or numerous other activities that don't require them to pay attention to other people around them. It's too uncomfortable to talk to strangers and it may interfere with their precious time and self importance so let's all put on the headphones and ignore them.

There used to be a time when the airlines extended a breakfast, lunch or dinner. Not anymore! Now we have crackers, cookies, pretzels and/or liquor, soda, juice or water. Just great! Everything to make you even more dehydrated and down your lousy miniscule allotment of fluids so you can try to navigate the tiny aisle back to the bathroom that's only big enough to seat a chimp. Pleease...forget about peeing when you're coming upon approach to the tarmac. The airline stewardess, hostess or should I say attendant (maybe waitress better describes them) who knows, stops you dead in your tracks because she's got her little butt pad attendant seat flipped over guarding the restroom door like a lioness. And to think, that poor little four year old girl had to go so bad and we had to wait yet another twenty minutes before hooking up to the gate. How cruel! I was almost at the point of getting up and telling her (the stewardess) that if I didn't go to pee now, she'd have to watch me drop my drawers in the aisle and pee on the floor right next to her.

Even the flight attendants these days have a glazed look in their eyes, like their bored to death having to repeat their little flying instruction routine and pretend it's a glamorous job being an airline hostess when they know that they're actually flying a big bus in the sky. The only reason they may have chosen this career in the first place was to "see the world"; instead, all they see are the insides of the next airport and a hotel room.

And what about the wait? Not only do you have to arrive early, but then wait and wait and wait. You wait in line to check in, you wait at the gate lounge area, you wait seated in the plane for take-off, you wait after arrival for a slot into the gate and then you wait again at another gate lounge to catch your next flight. Then you wait once again if they lost your luggage or run into any other snags like bumping you from a flight that you had scheduled six months earlier just so you could be there on time. Is it no wonder that people are so angry?

Now I could on and on about getting bumped off a flight and many other perils of flying in the modern age, but as for me, I'd like to remember the pleasantries of the past and vow never to fly again... Besides, it's still hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that there's nothing underneath my feet but air and clouds and a little bit of metal at 12,000 feet in the sky. There truly must be a God...

After almost 16 years of discussion and many reasons why my husband didn't want me to get a motorcycle, he finally said YES! I can't believe it... I was really stunned!

Did I get my bike? Yes I did! Everything happened so fast that I didn't even have time to get buyers remorse, nor did I feel I should have. You see, my husband was always pushing me towards a Trike (a 3-wheeled monstrosity). Not that I didn't like them, there are some beautiful Trikes out there these days and we used to own one many years ago that he and his stepfather had built. We had lots of fun and attention everywhere we went from our two wheeled cousins; however, I had my heart set for more than 20 years on a motorcycle. He felt a Trike was a safer alternative to a two wheeler, but with so many women riding these days, and just recently it seemed like every couple we know had wives or girlfriends showing up on their new machines. A few years back I counted about 1 out of 4 riders in this state being female. These days the count appears to be quickly rising and...why shouldn't he consider it, his Mom had one!

Back in the day before I met my husband I used to run with a pretty rough crowd of bikers. My family of motorcycle enthusiasts ranged from a School Teacher and her Janitor husband, a former Restaurateur turned Car Salesman, a State Lottery Winner, a Motorcycle Mechanic, an Alaska Fisherman, current and Ex-Military folks, lots and lots of Harley Owner Group Members and even for a short time some criminal 1%'ers. Everyone had one thing in common, a love for riding motorcycles, especially Harley Davidsons.

I've been an enthusiast since I was 6 years old and fell off the back of my father's little scooter. Not a motorcycle scooter, but the kind you see in European movies where everyone rides around the town circle like madmen out on a mission. Italy is most famous for that one... My next initiation was when I was 12 or 13 and I hopped on the back of my first Harley with some older teenage boy who came down our street to visit with his girlfriend and show off his new bike. Good thing that was in the day when I actually came home, considering nowadays if a young girl were to do the same thing she might disappear forever.

When I was married to my first husband, we also had a Harley and my son was practically born on it. I rode with him until I was 8 months pregnant (not smart, but I was young and stupid), and then later on my son was tucked in my jacket and rode in-between us until we could no longer ride three on a bike (again not smart), but God must've been with me until I wised up. After my divorce, I was drawn to what felt familiar and that was bike people. I tried to stay out of it a few years and ran with a totally different crowd, but that's another story...

I learned to ride twenty some years ago from two wonderful guys I knew, one I was dating at the time and the other was just a very good friend. He was the Alaskan Fisherman and also a custom bike builder in his spare time. His own personal bike was a 1200cc custom built Super Glide. This was the first bike I learned to ride. I wished I had a video of it because I think it was the highest high I had ever experienced. It was awesome! You should have seen the smile on my face. The second ride was on a 450cc Honda that my date taught me on to get the feel of the road underneath my wheels.

My current love has never seen me ride, so he assumed that I couldn't even though I said I could, so after he agreed we went to the dealership and looked them over. I had gone to the shop the day before to order a part for his bike and tried sitting on a couple just day-dreaming never thinking that the very next day I would actually own one.

Did I buy a Harley? NO, I wanted something that I could handle, looked good, was reliable (not in the shop all the time), and didn't cost my first born or an arm and a leg. Besides, Harleys have gotten so over priced along with the accessories and clothing that it just didn't make financial sense to me. Yes, I still have my entire Harley shirts, patches, pins and leather stuff all packed away for some day when my husband decides to buy his Soft Tail Deluxe, but for now this is MY bike and I absolutely love it! What did I get? She's a beautiful black beauty cruiser 650cc Yamaha 2007 V-Star Silverado Classic.

Because I've gotten such a good deal on it money wise; I was able to add lots of new accessories, something I wouldn't have done if I had bought a Harley; so I'm currently adding lots more chrome goodies on it and really personalizing it to my own tastes. Of course, the first big expense was a Mustang Seat, a must have if you plan on doing some serious riding. I've decided to call her Freyja - Queen of the Valkyries and wife to Odin.

Last weekend we decided to go to the Coliseum parking lot and have my first practice run to get used to this new machine. It's been so long since I drove that I was a little apprehensive, but from the get-go I took off on it like it was meant to be and the look on my husband's face was worth millions. He was beaming and looked so proud that I handled it quite well. Said I looked rather sexy on it and Boy! Did that spark romance later that evening.

One thing I never expected to happen was being just as enthusiastic about looking through my husbands cycle magazines for parts and accessories and working in the garage right along side of him putting them on. It felt great to be able to share another part of our lives and future adventures together.

I'm a lucky girl, a husband who loves me and still thinks I'm sexy; and owning a brand new motorcycle. There's nothing more powerful than that.

And the battle rages on...

I'm writing in reflective thought to my neighbor who called me today to vent and cry a little on my shoulders. The battle between husband and wife and man and woman rages on...

The reality of any relationship is hard once the honeymoon and nesting period is over. We have to get back to the physics of a job, a house, children, friends and family that influence so many lives. The odds of anyone making it past ten years these days are quite extraordinary, but...

I've heard the same complaints that I've heard from other wives, girlfriends or significant others and partners; "he constantly complains about me", they would say. "No matter what I do it just isn't good enough anymore." "What am I doing wrong?" He says, "I haven't had a clean home in twenty years, my job fell apart and money is tight and he still expects me to carry the load." "He's constantly bitching about my weight, etc., etc., etc..."

Well? All I can say is this; maybe it's not what you're doing wrong but what he might be doing wrong, or not feeling about the relationship. His complaints are a symptom that he's not a happy camper more than likely with himself.

Maybe he's just fallen out of love, or the marriage has winded down because one or the other has lost interest in the things you used to do together; boredom can be crippling in any relationship. Or maybe since the only thing that's held you together were the children, drugs or alcohol, and now one of you or both have changed and the children flew the coop. What about the challenges that brought you closer together as a couple and then once accomplished there was nothing left to do? There's no more spark that you had in the very beginning, or it could be that there's just so much water under the bridge that the foundation has crumbled beyond repair and there's nothing left in the love nest that you once shared. And finally God forbid, he might be having an affair...

Husbands who complain do not help the relationship by constantly tearing down the women they once spoke of honoring and cherishing at the wedding alter with critical remarks attacking their beloved. To anyone's self esteem this is devastating. What ever happened to uplifting ones mate? Speaking kindly of them in public even though there were times when you could just rip their head off? We all have them, the negatives. No one is perfect, not even the girl or guy you might be sneaking around with behind your spouses back.

Yeah, it might be exciting, but is it really? Yeah, the sex might be fantastic, but for how long before it too wanes and before reality sets in and one realizes the mistake they've made. Sometimes the grass isn't always greener because now you've created not only chaos within your own home but expectation of the other, expectation of you leaving your family to be with them. Another relationship created out of pressure, lying, deceit and dishonesty for both parties. How can you really begin anew with all of that?

Marriage is work - hard work, and just like any job you get out of it what you put into it. If you put in lies and deceit, cheating and criticism then what are you asking for in return? How can you expect to be the knight in shining armor when there's tarnish on the metal?

Chivalry and honor, some men talk a good game about respect and love, but the proof is in how honorable one is towards their mate, doing right by them, supporting them, loving them, communicating with them.

Ahhh! Communication the lost art of Love...remember when first meeting how you couldn't get enough of speaking to each other? How every minute of the day your thoughts were focused on the significant other and you couldn't wait to get on the phone to talk for hours and hours of the sweet things you'd whisper into each others ears or the raunchy talk of sex. Well now it's the computer, and for a few of those that still knows how to write a card or letter occasionally. Think about how you are communicating with your wife...

Body Language, do you show her your attentions by trying to get her into the sack every minute? Do you wonder why she just isn't that into you physically? Why should she be when all you ever do is remind her of your love through sex? Whatever happened to turning on her mind? Learn how to flirt with her, she just might respond unexpectedly. My Grandfather told me that "a woman's mind is the way to her heart" and when you learn to unlock that key, then maybe - just maybe, you'll open Pandora's box and have the most mind blowing *bleep* you've ever had. Of course this takes time, not the five minutes you're expecting on your time table bed of love. Be kind, be loving, be patient...

Criticisms, now if you're really expecting to be paid some attention by constantly nagging her about everything, then you'll get the reciprocal bitching in return. No one likes to be criticized unless you're an expert at constructive criticism. Don't expect her to do everything, to be everything and to like everything that you do. You fell in love with her because of her differences and unique qualities. Let them shine and encourage them as she would for you. Have you ever thought about helping her with the household chores once in a while instead of watching that football game? Really think about what it takes to run a home. You live there too and she did not marry you to become your personal servant or your mother. Showing her a little courtesy and appreciation for all of the hard work she does I promise you, it will go a long way to making a happier home.

Okay, where is it written in stone that the wife has to have two or three fulltime jobs? Men seem to forget that even though their beloved may have that dream career and is helping to accomplish all that you both have set out to do, she is still doing far more than you think.

Here's the rundown: dishes, laundry, folding, putting away, changing sheets, cleaning toilets, tubs and sinks, sweeping, mopping and vacuuming floors, cleaning windows, feeding animals (if you have pets), cleaning out the fridge, stove and microwave of all the leftovers and the gunk inside, dusting and/or waxing the furniture, yes-even changing a light bulb, running errands, grocery shopping, bringing it home and then putting it up in the cupboards, cooking - sometimes breakfast, lunch and dinner along with the dishes and putting everything into place. Oh my goodness! Let's not forget if there are children!

Whew! I'm sure there is much, much more that I've forgotten to list here, but running a house is one job, having children to raise is another and adding a career on top of this, is the third job. Now add a husband that only has to worry about working 40 hours a week and complain about how hard he works to only come home sit down and watch TV and be served his dinner can be a little overwhelming for your once beautiful bride and then you wonder why she's tired all of the time? Of course, that only qualifies if you don't already have a slob you're married to.

Okay, now the weight! Do not ever torture her about her weight issues! Women are well aware of their faults in this area and the media with their perfection propaganda sure don't help. Forget that after 10-15-20-25 years of marriage that you're going to have a Barbie sized model in your bed and stop trying to look for one to replace her. Women are human beings, not plastic airbrushed dolls of perfection unless you can afford to buy her the best plastic surgeon in the business. As Maxine the cartoon says, "any woman can have the body of a 21 year old as long as she buys him a few drinks first."

If she can have a dozen of your offspring and still look like the day she married you, fine. However, are you still the perfect hard-bodied muscle-head that she married? Of course not...so stop complaining. You might as well shoot yourself in the crotch when you do.

Men who will take the time to tell their wives how much they love their bodies will probably be in the sack a lot more then those who don't. So what if she has a pudgy tummy or her hips are a little wider and her boobs may be a little droopy, close your eyes if you must and use your sense of touch. You'd be surprised how well a woman will respond in your hands with lots of sensual touching. Besides, that's just more to explore and love and someone else might just love it that way. Have you taken a good look in the mirror lately? Do you have a beer gut, are you losing a little hair on top; is your butt not as tight like the football jock that you once were? Get the point?

The best thing a husband can do for his wife is tell her how beautiful she is, even when she's just crawled out of bed. This is a must do several times a week. Tell her she has beautiful eyes, or hair or soft skin. Tell her when she's all dolled up how happy you are to have her as your own and what a lucky man you are. Tell her that even when she isn't all dolled up! Reassure her that you still have that gleam in your eye and you are proud of being her husband...after all, you chose to marry her. Build her up, don't tear her down.

I know this may sound a little funny, but you don't have to buy the whole farm just to get the cow. All it takes is a little attention, caring and nurturing to get someone to love you back in the manner of which you'd like to be loved. So instead spending all of that energy in breaking away to find someone else and begin anew with all of your bad habits, try to create new habits that caused you both to fall in love in the first place. It takes work, but no more then the work it took to fall out of love.

Disclaimer: This personal reflective summary is not intended to solicit or give advice for interpersonal martial relationship problems, so please don't ask. If you have a personal problem that involves the use of alcohol, drugs or violent abuse issues, please see a therapist, counselor or the police department for these specific concerns. They are more apt to be equipped with the proper agencies to help you.

 

 

<-----Doesn't she look like her Mom!!!!

Guess What?

We are now real Texans!

Steve woke me up this early morning and placed a new bundle joy in my arms. A baby girl and she's a red head with blue eyes! Her name is Ruby and she's 7 weeks old. She's absolutely gorgeous!

We had discussed adding to our family, but not until we moved north since the Texas heat is so hard on our family members, but he just couldn't resist after so much talk about it in our future plans. She was born during a severe thunderstorm with lots of lightening and thunder and has only one other sibling.

Bet you guessed! We got another Husky puppy!

Since we are now a two dog family that makes us real Texans since most folks in the south have more than one dog, usually up to five or more if they can or cannot afford it. (That's a whole other can of worms!)

She is like a little rollie-pollie teddy bear and has the most beautiful pair of blue eyes. She's everything that I wanted and the extra surprise is that she is a purebred with papers and her vet is one that we've gone to in the past here in town with our other critters. I can't believe he's gone and done that! Especially after talking about waiting until we moved.

He was like a kid at Christmas time bringing her home to me. When he woke me up all I saw was this big furry blob coming at me and a big smile on his face. It's the best present I've had in a very, very long time.

Even though Thor loves me, he's still a Daddy's boy. I told Steve that someday I wanted a little redheaded girl with blue eyes and a puppy at that. I even preferred that she be the runt of the litter. Although that she is not, there were only two puppies born to her Mom. The other is black and white just like Thor. Steve couldn't believe his luck when he came across her this morning. She fit everything I wanted for my own.

It's really ironic because just the other day we went to the next town over to visit the Paper Bear Shop and I saw a red and white Husky with a couple who were sitting outside at Cafe on the Square Restaurant. We just had to walk down the block and go see her. She was a rescue dog, 2 years old and so mellow and sweet. After we left, we talked some more about it and that's when we looked at some Husky Rescue websites to see what was out there.

I already had a name picked out for her long before she entered our lives. She is Red and White and I've fallen in love all over again. After kissing, hugging and holding her a while, I've begun training her on the leash.

Of course Thor is a bit jealous and went crazy running all round the yard several times and then barging into me with his hard head as he circled around and around barking. I think he likes her, but the big brut was a little rough. Ruby stood her ground barked at him and even nipped him, but his huge paw knocked her down and she yelped. If Thor were a purebred he would average about a medium size dog at 55-60 lbs., but he has a tiny bit of Lab in him and he's now at a large 80 lbs. and still growing, more of a Wolf size. Ruby will probably be a medium size dog weighing in at about 35-45 lbs.

As Thor became more hyper-excited towards her she began growling and turning into me when she was in my arms. I'm hoping the dust will settle and Thor will be happy with his new playmate and Ruby will learn to love her big brother. It's definitely going to be a juggling act around our house for a while. I still can't believe I have her and she's all mine! I'm so happy...

I have to admit that I did not write this, but rather found this information on another website that I thought was interesting enough to share after I had a question about Viking dark ages utensils. The actual historical information has a lot to be desired, but at least it's a start and makes for a good story.

This is a replica of an authentically re-created piece of Viking and Germanic flatware!

Did you think that the eating tool, known as a fork happened just like that? It was first used by Viking and Germanic tribes, and eventually brought to England via Viking trading ships! This fork pictured here is a scaled down version of the 6 to 9 foot forked spears that were used in hunting wild game.

Do you wish to know how the 4 pronged fork that we use today, came into being? The Christians in England saw this eating utensil and freaked out! They actually thought that the 2 pronged fork was a product of some Devil! They believed if they used such a tool at dinner, they would be damned to Hell forever! So, what they did was to add another pair af tines to the twin pronged fork. That is how our "modern" forks came into being!