Live a Legacy

On March 24, 2010 my mom passed away. She was a remarkable woman! A fact I probably learned too late in life. The anniversary of her passing was painful. Mostly because I miss talking with her and sharing what is going on in life hoping she would give me her sage advice and encouragement. Sunday nights were our night to have an extended conversation. Even now, Sunday night is hard for me. I still find myself rushing around trying to get things done so I can sit and talk with her. And then, I realize she’s no longer there to call.

For her memorial my niece put together Grandma Tully’s Ten Commandments. These commandments really sum up my mom in a beautiful way. Here they are:

1. To always love fully
2. To always open your heart and never judge
3. To always share what you have
4. To always help and volunteer
5. To always give hugs and kisses
6. To always laugh at yourself
7. To always have family dinners
8. To always have lipstick on
9. To never wear cargo pants
10. And don’t forget if you are going somewhere, call me first, I know how to get there

I know she would be so excited to hear I’m going to be a grandma! It would be her ninth great-grandchild. I find comfort in the fact my daughter’s due date is the day before my mom’s birthday. If she were here I’m positive she would have something funny to say about that!

Friends, my mom’s commandments are what made her life so special because she lived them not just talked about them. I share them with you in hopes that you too will begin to live a legacy that is worth following when you are gone.

Mom, I love you forever. xoxo

Addendum to post: A coworker had magnets created with Grandma Tully’s Ten Commandments on them for my family! How touching and thoughtful!

P.S. Tulips were one of her favorite flowers!

Delay of Game

Just when you thought it was safe to put away the snow shovel … it snows and snows and snows.

We’ve received 3 – 5 inches with more on the way! Guessing hubby was right about not de-winterizing the motorcycle yet.

This winter-spring is giving us a great lesson in perseverance because we KNOW that this too shall pass! Spring will win and give way to summer.

Keeping my head up and dreaming of riding again!

Picture Source

Does becoming a grandma make me a senior?

I think it all has to do with attitude and boy to I have one! A good one that is. I received this via email today. Not sure if it had to do with the announcement I was becoming a grandma, but it makes me wonder!

I do like to text and Twitter, so you may need this list to decipher my messages now that I’m going to be a grandma!

Texting Codes for Seniors

ATD – At the Doctor ‘ s

BFF – Best Friends Funeral

BTW – Bring the Wheelchair

BYOT – Bring Your Own Teeth

CBM – Covered by Medicare

CUATSC – See You at the Senior Center

DWI – Driving While Incontinent

FWBB – Friend with Beta Blockers

FWIW – Forgot Where I Was

FYI – Found Your Insulin

GGPBL – Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low

GHA – Got Heartburn Again

HGBM – Had Good Bowel Movement

IMHO – Is My Hearing-Aid On?

LMDO – Laughing My Dentures Out

LOL – Living on Lipitor

LWO – Lawrence Welk ‘ s On

OMMR – On My Massage Recliner

OMSG – Oh My! Sorry, Gas

ROFL…CGU – Rolling on the Floor Laughing…Can ‘ t get Up!

TTYL – Talk to You Louder

WAITT – Who Am I Talking To?

WTFA – Wet the Furniture Again

WTP – Where ‘ s the Prunes

WWNO – Walker Wheels Need Oil

Hope these help!

GGLKI – Gotta Go, Laxative Kicking in!

Guess who’s going to be a grandma?!

This week it is official after a visit to the doctor. My daughter and son-in-law are expecting their first child! Hubby and I are all so excited! We’re going to be grandparents!

Back when I was pregnant with my daughter, who is also my first born, you didn’t get ultrasounds unless there were worries. Nowadays you can get one on the first visit – at nine weeks!

Without further ado here is my grand-baby!

We’re still trying to figure out who’s side of the family baby looks like!

P.S. Thanks for indulging me!

Time to start on that biker body?

Here in Minnesota I can tell spring is coming because the sun sets a little later every day. I leave work at 5 p.m. and last week it was pitch black walking out to the car. This week has brought a surprising change, it is not quite that dark! I know, it’s the little things in life …

This got me thinking about riding my motorcycle. Which lead to getting back into exercising and eating right. And then, I found a copy of this diet. A friend received this from a doctor several years ago. The first time I looked it over I thought she was kidding. Believe it or not neither she nor her doctor meant this as a joke.

Dr. McGillicutty’s Diet

No sweets

No snacks

No seconds

Smaller helpings

Smaller bites

Chew more

Eat slowly

Drink a glass of water 1/2 hour prior to a meal to stretch the stomach, which lowers the appetite when you are ready to sit down to eat.

NO EXCUSES!

Watch out for the word, BUT, it usually means an excuse is coming.

Weigh yourself daily and record it.

Continue to weigh yourself even when you get to your “ideal” weight to keep from regaining the weight you worked so hard to lose.

You should be able to lose at least one pound per week on this diet.

Personally, I have not tried this diet! My friend lost over 60 pounds quite a while ago. She has kept the weight off by continuing to follow this diet!

Bon Appetit!

Disclaimer: Try at your own risk. Wisdom would dictate that if you need to lose weight seek doctor’s advice before starting any diet and/or exercise program.

I am Women Hear me Roar!

I won two tickets to the Minnesota State Fair on Twitter from @TCHotelDeals {thank-you}. How’d I do it? I re-tweeted a friend’s tweet hoping to give her another chance to win.  What a surprise when I received a direct message letting me know I won and asking for my mailing address. {Sorry Heidi!}

Hubby and I went to the Fair on Friday. My goal was to see all four motorcycle vendors, eat cheese curds, and visit the Miracle of Birth barn. The first place we hit was Harley Davidson. There were a few new, but mostly used motorcycles and lots of clothing. You could look but no sitting on the cycles. A couple of 1200 Sportsters caught my eye, but I couldn’t get the attention of a sales guy.  I’ll be the first to admit I don’t look like the “traditional” Harley rider, but is that any way to treat a potential customer?

So on to the Honda dealer I went. Again, there was a mix of new and used motorcycles. Do not sit signs were on these bikes too. I asked a couple of the sales guys some questions and received short answers. Not too interested in talking with me, they both walked away. Really? Was it my pink Under Armour jacket? I hope not. Hey guys I own a ’00 Honda cb750 Nighthawk!

Never found the dealer that was to have some Indian cycles. But we found the Kawaskis. You could sit on these bikes, but the only person there was a girl selling the Monster t-shirts. She didn’t know much about the bikes and not sure where the sales person was. Wow. Oh, and no brochures either. Talk about poor planning.

HELLO motorcycle industry I’m a woman and I ride a motorcycle! Talk intelligently to me. Advertise to me – not just with pictures of women riding as passengers – but as a motorcyclist. Create products and accessories for me. For about a hundred years the motorcycle industry has focused on men. If you want to survive the next hundred you’d better include women.

We are women hear us rev our motorcycles!

What to do when you can’t do what you want!

Okay. I finally get a motorcycle and license and what happens? Weather and road construction!! The weather overall has not been biker friendly with high humidity and heat or heavy rains. Then there is the road construction between me and anywhere!! I came home from work today to find another road  torn up! Yipes! I’m not too confident about riding on gravel.  So the bike sits in the garage.

So what does a newbie do when she can’t ride? Ah, that would be read!! I’m reading Sonny Barger’s book Let’s Ride. I’ve found Rider magazine and they sent me their catalog!

I’ve had a lot of fun looking through the catalog. They sell a T-shirt that says, “Does this bike make my butt look fast?” (hint-hint) The catalog is divided into different sections from on and off road riding to communication, and  much more.

I’m determined to ride! If I can’t ride I’ll learn about motorcycles and riding from books, magazines or blogs. I recently read, “Your determination can be measured by what it takes to stop you. So, how determined are you?” Me … Never give up! Never surrender!

Bars up. Rubber down! Ride safe my friends.

Rob did it 2000 times in 45 minutes! What can you do?

Ever notice how easy it is to make someone’s day? It doesn’t take much maybe smile, a biker’s nod, a sincere compliment. Ever been on the receiving end? Makes your day doesn’t it?! With a little effort we can put a spark into another life. I love this video.

Rob, with the help of some friends, gave 2,000 people high-fives in 45 minutes. Imagine how many of those people left the NYC subway smiling. How many recounted the story throughout their day and the smiles spread to others. And here we are, smiling too!

I still remember the first time I received a nod from another motorcyclist. It thrilled me! It lifted my spirit! I couldn’t stop talking about it over and over to anyone who would listen. I’m sure the guy on the bike didn’t intend all of that, but it happened anyway. One small gesture led to a lot of smiles.

Go spread some joy today!

Just ran across this too!! 8/15

F.Y.I. The world does not revolve around you.

Does the world revolve around you?

Gosh, wanting to learn to ride and making that decision as winter descended on Minnesota was not the best timing. I don’t know about you, but most of my life has been in the “hurry up and wait” mode — a.k.a. patience! {bunny trail: a.k.a. means “also known as.” I just found that out!} There are too many incidents in my life that point to patience. What’s up with that?

What is it about patience that is so important? Maybe that’s the wrong question to ask. How about, have you ever been around an impatient person? Yuck. They are usually self-centered, acting rude with short answers wearing a nasty scowl on their face! How attractive is that? Okay, now for the honesty part … does that describe you? Even occasionally? It does me. Woof. I’m starting to get why patience is important.

Have you ever watched a movie and have a defining moment of truth? I remember a time when my daughter was young she experienced an “aha” moment. We were watching the old black and white movie Helen Keller with Patty Duke playing Helen. In the movie Helen’s parents had allowed her to do whatever she wanted because they felt sorry for her being blind and deaf. The result, Helen was a self-centered out of control little girl who had tantrums when she didn’t get her own way. In comes Anne Sullivan {an amazing woman who overcame several difficulties in her own life} who begins to give Helen boundaries in an effort to bring discipline {discipline seems to go hand-in-hand with patience} into Helen’s life. Although it was a struggle for Helen, her parents, and Anne the results are recorded in history. The “aha” moment my daughter experienced sounded something like this, “Mom! I get it! I get why you discipline me. It is so I would be a better person and get along with others, not just think about myself!” Wow. Thank you Hollywood for the parenting help.

Back to patience. It is February 20, 2010 and I’m waiting to take my motorcycle basic skills class in April. And I’m waiting to purchase a bike until I see what kind of skills and abilities I will have. I’m working on doing both patiently [read smiling, kind, and acting mature] since the world does not revolve around me! Who knew this journey towards a motorcycle would be filled with life lessons too?!

Times have changed, have you?

circa 1978

My husband started teaching me how to ride about 30 years ago. The timing wasn’t right for me to get a license, we ended up moving and sold the bike. Not to mention back in the 70s only “those” women rode motorcycles! Thankfully times have changed.

Now that I have my motorcycle permit I need to learn to ride so I can get my license. What are my options? I could either have my hubby teach me or take a class at the local Tech College. I choose the Tech College. Why? My husband has years of experience, but would he be able to prioritize what he knows for me as a new rider? I felt the college would teach information that is important for a new rider. Now I’ll have the information I need and an experienced rider to help me along the way!

Last week I signed up for the class at the college, but have to wait until late April for the first session! I’m so excited about the class that I downloaded a countdown wedding widget, cause I couldn’t find any other, to keep track of the time until the class! (Got the widget from MagnetStreet.com)

As of today – February 16, 2010 – I have 63days: 19h : 25m : 07s until my class! Love the widget! And very happy that times have changed!