Been a bit since I've written.... We have had so much going on lately!

Where to start?

So I did my Class 6 (motorcycle) road test on Tuesday... I stressed beyond belief through Monday night, barely slept... I picked up the school's bike at 2:15pm and road to the DMV.. My first official ride alone! It was bizarre! You feel so much less confident without the guidance of an instructor and the support of your classmates that you have been riding with for the past 2 weeks. I felt so unstable on the bike on the way, but reminded myself that we hd been told numerous times to not judge yourself the first half hour on the bike when you are a new rider... So I made it down there by about 2:45. My test was for 3:15, so I took an extra spin around the neighborhood and through some school zones etc.. Just to feel more confident. It didn't help. I went to DMV as my classmate did her test at 2:15 and was due back at 3:00. When she arrived back, I watched her get quite a long talk from the examiner and I worried she hadn't made it, but she came inside and said she had! I was so happy for her! I went outside with her for her to talk about what she did wrong and she explained that she had actually made a dangerous maneuver and was almost failed, but the examiner cut her a break... While we were talking the examiner came out for a coffee break and we were all chatting. By the end, I felt much more relaxed with her! I went through my test feeling relatively relaxed suprisingly. I had accepted the fact that I would either pass or fail and that would be it, so why worry?

The final intersection I took, was a 4 way stop. I waited for my right of way, and then went to go and I STALLED! I haven't stalled since day two of riding, obviously nerves were in play. I recovered quickly and went to complete my turn, but the guy to my right decided he was going to go, with me in the middle of the intersection already. I went to go, saw him going and waved him on... Irritated, I was sure I failed. We pulled in and she asked how I felt. I told her that I thought I messed up at the intersection. She asked if I had meant the intersection at the neginning of the test. I didn't even realize I had made any other intersection mistakes. She began to explain how I went to take a left turn on an intersection and saw it was unsafe to go. She said that was the right choice, but that right after, I went, and there was even less space. She said I took a moment to recover my turn and that it could have been fatal. I totally did not remember that point in the test... I felt the pressure in my chest, but was feeling emotionally strong and prepared for the fail. She proceeded to tell me how my roadskills were very strong and that I was a very good diver, that without that one poor decision, there wouldn't have been any issues at all.. That felt even worse, but again, I was still prepared for the fail, but then she turned it around and said that because I was so strong in every other way, she was going to overlook that poor decision as she felt it was a result of nerves... I lost it and cried my eyes out... She continued to lecture me on the importance of safe spacing etc... I was totally prepared for a yes or no, but the twists and turns threw me and I was so relieved to pass that I completely broke down.

So I am officially a Biker Chick! WOO HOO!! All I need now is a bike!

After spending weeks trying to figure out how to finance a bike, and learning that no one will finance on a bike, you have to get a personal loan, and Chris can't get a personal loan as he does not have enough rebuilt credit since his bankrupcy, we are left with no options other than waiting for some funds to come in that we are expecting. Chris has been frustrated beyond belief with trying to get his credit stable so we have options. Our car has been in pretty rough shape for awhile now. We were looking at having to get two more new tires after having just replaced two, and having to do the front brakes again for the third time this year. Our whole suspension system was shot and we just recently replaced the battery. There was still an oil leak in the engine too...we were looking at about $3000 in repairs. That is basically all the car was worth as a private sale, but we were going to try and get by with it until our settlement in a year or two. Since we desperately need to rebuild our credit so that if we need loans, we can get them, or so we can actually purchase a house at some point, we decided it was time to get a car. It is easy to get vehicle financing... and the rate we got actually wasn't that bad! In 10 months, we will refinance it at a lower rate, and Chris's credit should be pretty strong!

So we now have a beautiful, brand new 2008, Pontiac G5 4 door with luxury kit, parked in our driveway!! WE LOVE IT! Chris has driven everywhere we go since we got it on Monday... Chris NEVER drives and it has been a wonderful break for me! ha ha. The car is under full warantee for 5 years, and we can relax some. The payments will make life tight, but really, we were putting out that in repairs and the difference in gas mileage, and we are rebuilding too.

So after 2 weeks of A crazy schedule of dance, cheer, school, bike lessons, jolica parties and running around trying to get things in order/chores/errands.... The cold I have been fighting for 2 weeks had peaked and now left me no option but to rest as I can barely breathe and I am coughing up a lung. My nose is like a tap today, my cough had gone to my bronchi as usual, due to my bronchial asthma... I tried to keep going through it, but it has told me it is time to relax. So I am trying to give it a bit of rest now, I am taking T3's for the coedine as a suppresant and the pain relief, when I cough this much, it throws my side into fits of pain. The kids have no school tomorrow so that gives me a bit of down time.

So, ups and downs... Still working on getting a bike, Have a beautiful new car, and gotta kick the crap out of this cold!

So that's the dirt for the moment.

Of course, I never fully stop and am in the process of setting up the details for Steel Horse Ammendment... The Motorcycle run for Young Cancer that we will put on in May sometime. If you know of any riders who would like to participate, please have them search Steel Horse Ammendment on Facebook and joing the group to stay updated as we work through the details!

I am hoping to have over 100 riders. We will start and end at Boone County in Coquitlam. There will be a huge parking lot Rally BBQ at the end, followed by some dancing when the club opens. I will give more details as they come!