Oil
Monday, July 18, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Life Is Like...A Bicycle
There are many variations on the saying “When you fall off a horse, dust yourself off and get back in the saddle”. No, I didn’t title it wrong, this is about a bike. Mine, to be exact.
Someone’s Facebook post actually says “When you fall off your bike, it hurts”. Does not hurt all the time, of course, but road rash hurts like a bitch. But, as usual, I’m getting ahead of myself.
Several years ago we purchased an eighteen speed bike for me. Little did my brother John, a.k.a. JB, (from Minnesota) know that when he came to visit us that I would trick him into tuning up the bike.
Before I get discuss my first bike ride, which I haven’t done in more years that I want to admit to, let me fill you in on a few things. My knees are wonky, and I occasionally wear a brace for my left knee. The brace is about 12” long and it’s only opening is for the kneecap itself. Do ya get where I’m going with this? Yep, you are right. I took the bike for a quick spin and I made the foolish mistake of turning the bike around on the loose gravel that was on top of blacktop.
Just my luck
When I wiped out I literally landed, in the gravel, on my left knee and the rest of the black brace had two tiny amounts of dust on it. Oh, that felt good. Not!
Since then, it’s been in storage, until a few weeks ago.
After looking at it for far too long, I decided that this is the summer it actually gets out of the house. Oh, and I’ll actually ride it too.
Back on the proverbial “horse”
Joe tuned it up as best he could, and he did an awesome job but is not exceptionally handy with mechanical thingies. But he was able to get it into working order, although the back breaks were a little wonky; hey I don’t need no stinking breaks. Time to write that one on the calendar!
I actually did take it out, for what seemed like a trip across the country. I only went up our driveway to the Poor Farm Road (not that far away) and rode almost to the neighbors house. Then I got off my bike and walked it around. I may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but hey, I learned my lesson the first time.
It was a terribly windy day and the wind was in my face, of course. After turning around I looked at the distance (which again was not far away) and didn’t honestly know if I could make it back to the Herman Road. After I made it to the road it was all downhill from there. Thank God!! I think that was the only saving grace in that moment. That and the fact I knew that I couldn’t call Joe to pick me up.
When I arrived home and got off the bike my legs were like jelly. Muscles ached! To put it mildly muscles that I didn’t even know I had.
And I haven’t been back on it since
I’m using the whole ‘it’s too hot’ thing! After all, heat and I are not BFF’s. That’s my excuse for now. But don’t get me wrong, I am getting back on the horse, and soon, so my leg’s won’t feel like jelly when I’m done.
Just a few days ago my brother JB, and his significant other, Julie, came up to visit and spend quality time with our Mom. Usually he tells me when he’s coming up but he kept it quiet this time. My Ma didn’t even know that he was coming until she opened her door. Although Ma has a bunch of heart problems she’s a tough old bird. I told JB he’s lucky she didn’t have a heart attack when she opened the door!
So when they came to visit I put him to work, once again, and I don’t have to tell you what he worked on.
He spent a lot more time on the bike than I thought he would need to, but it’s working great. Damn, can’t use that as an excuse anymore. Guess I’ll have to stick with the heat excuse.
If you’re familiar with my LIL blogage you maybe wondering how Jesus is working into me falling off my bike, but He does.
You, may be like me and haven’t seen the inside of a church for a very long time. I do pray daily, even if it’s just so there aren’t any surprises in the mail, or better yet nothing in the mail.
If you’ve fallen off your bike, horse, or the whole religion thingy, it’s never too late.
Get back on!
And there’s a bonus – it doesn’t hurt like falling off your bike!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
LIFE IS LIKE...PSALMS 40:2
Follow up to my earlier post of my watercolor of said verse. Please see painting below.
My second stay as an inpatient Marquette General Hospital’s Stress and Depression Unit was from Friday October 10th to Sunday October 12th, 2008.
On Sunday they allow patients to go to the chapel to pray. Most of the patients actually wanted to go but because they don’t allow crazy (hey, I can say that because I am one of them!) folks to leave the floor, I’m sure that there were a few that just wanted to get the hell out of there! I actually wanted and needed to go, after all if that isn’t the time you need to pray I don’t know what is!
Please don’t get me wrong, both times I was there they helped me immensely! Each time it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done but when I left I was a million times better than when I was admitted, just ask Joe.
There is NO shame to getting help how ever you need it! Just don’t expect 5 star accommodations.
In the chapel we are allowed to read out loud a quote from the bible. God guided me to Psalms, and after looking at Psalms 69 (I just had to do it) first, I was then guided to Psalms 40.
If you are a little rusty let me refresh you:
40:2 is as follows:
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
Wow, that was exactly what I needed to read! Not only did it give me hope but everyone in the chapel also, at least so it seemed.
November 1983 my Father received a gift of a pocket size New International Version Bible of the New Testament and Psalms. I’m glad I wear bifocals otherwise I wouldn’t be able to read it! Both times I took the bible with me, never cracked it open but felt that my Father was still with me (he had passed away January of 1997).
Finally almost three years later I became inspired to paint my abstract version of Psalm 40:2.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
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