Motorcycles and Art

I am one DMV photo away from being a licensed Mototrcycle operator in the state of VA. I took the 3 day safety course offered by the comm college and passed with flying colors. In fact, if I may toot my own horn a bit (hey, it IS my blog!), one of the instructors
(a motorcycle cop in Roanoke) told me that I was one of the best driver's he had ever seen come through the course and THE best female driver. He said I was better than the chicks he went through the police academy with! WOOHOO!!

The school was a blast. I came home sunburned and exhausted each day, after spending 5 to 6 hours on a bike completing slow speed maneuvers and learning all sorts of safety tips. When the weekend was over, me and 5 of my classmates went out for a celebratory steak dinner. I really enjoyed myself and I think I made a couple of new business contacts, and potentially a new friend.

Today, I started shopping for a bike. I went to the two local dealerships and sat on several machines and talked at length to the sales guys about what I was looking for. Everyone was helpful and informative and no one was pushy---aggressive sales tactics REALLY turn me off.

If all goes well (fingers still crossed!!), I will be purchasing a bike in October. And I cannot WAIT!!!!!!!!!!

After spending the weekend tied up in the bike class, I have plenty of work to catch up on. Reprints and scheduled sessions, a-plenty. And, of course, my big art show is coming up on Sunday and I'm working feverishly to finish the 20 framed pieces that I will need.

Honestly, I'm pretty nervous about the show. I lay awake at night and wonder if my work is going to be good enough to impress the upper crusty folks who have been invited to view it. It's one thing to create custom artistic images for specific clients. It's quite another to have images that I've created, based strictly on my own "eye" and personal sense of creativity, tossed out there for the general public to critique. I suppose I need to just be grateful for the opportunity to display and use it as an opportunity to learn.

And despite my nerves, I really am looking forward to it. Heck, the gourmet food and live music is enough to make it worth my while! :0)

The morning after the show, I'm headed to the beach for our annual family vacation. I am looking SOOO forward to it!!! Lying on the beach, swimming in the ocean, playing with the kids---just relaxing with the fam! Also, I plan to harvest the rest of my basil plants and make the biggest batch of fresh Pesto you've ever seen to take with me. I'm thinking, fresh seafood, maybe a little pasta, toss in the pesto and a few adult beverages...yeh,baby!!!

I've been too busy (read tired and lazy ) to have lost any more weight, but I'm a bit more toned and therefore slightly less terrified by the prospect of swimsuit shopping. I've also been going to the tanning booth and that has DEFINITELY paid off!! What is it about a good tan that makes you look (and feel, somehow) SO much more attractive?? It's like magic, man!
However, whether I will brave the two-piece or not remains to be seen.

On a completely different note: Welcome to the world little Everett!!!!!!!!!!
He is an adorable little critter and a very welcome addition to my list of loved ones!!

Well, it's 12:25 in the AM and I still have a bit of work to do before I can hit the sack.

G'night, all!