The best motorcycle ride ever

When Andrew and I first met I was pleased to find out he had a motorcycle. My last boyfriend had one as well, and it was a lot of fun to go on rides. The town Andrew used to live in was pretty small, but cute, and right along Route 40 (you know, that highway everyone used to go across country before 70 was built) which could take you to all kinds of awesome places. In the summer when the weather was right we would go for rides and one day while we were out we noticed all these Ohio Scenic Byway signs.

The first Scenic Byway we took wasn't all that exciting but we did a little research and found maps for other ones and found what I think is one of the best of all, the Big Darby Plains Scenic Byway. Unfortunately at the time we went on this ride I didn't have a working camera and have no pictures but let me just tell you how amazing this was!

First off there were all of these beautiful prairies, one of which housed a cemetery where some of the founding families of the area were buried. Then there were six covered bridges along the route as well, all of them were beautiful and there were several that cars could still drive on (most of them were just for walking as they were too old to handle the weight of cars). We drove through a few small towns as well (one of which we've seen many times) but it was neat to learn the history of these places and see how pretty Ohio really can be. I think it was more fun going on the motorcycle because you could see so much more and about 90% of the people on this Byway were on motorcycles as well. For those of you who don't know, Ohio is second in the country in the number of Covered Bridges it still has standing; Pennsylvania is number one.

Sometimes when I think about that awesome ride I miss our motorcycle, but at the same time I know we didn't ride it much anymore and we were both scared of the other cars on the road. Maybe in 10 or 15 years we'll get another one, but for now I have that ride to remember for a long time :)

So that all happened on a motorcycle, what did you write about for Mama Kat's Writers Workshop this week?

Another "weight loss" update/vent session

So I've been getting better about this whole working out thing. They put new equipment in our gym at my college, new ellipticals, treadmills and bikes which all have TV's, fans built in (there is no A/C in the building) and they are all state of the art. I did my first mile the other day on the elliptical and it felt amazing. Several people have said they can tell I've lost some weight, and some of my "fat jeans" are falling off of me. I'm getting rid of each pair and I'm determined to NEVER wear that size again.

The hardest part has been my crazy school schedule. I'm in class three nights a week right now and eat on the go more often then I'd like. Usually I just grab a frozen coke at the gas station and a bag of M&M's, real healthy.....not. I'm trying to take a granola bar and water with me to class instead and make a big healthy lunch at home before I go. I think what has been hard for me is seeing everyone else I know getting so thin and sexy and me being the fat one. I have friends with kids that are thinner than me and it makes me feel I have no excuse for gaining all this weight. I need to make myself stop looking at pictures of myself from recent events and focus instead on how good I can and will look instead of how bad I feel I look right now.

I know its not all about what other people think, I want to feel good about myself again. I want to fit back into my "skinny jeans" that I haven't been able to wear in about two years. I feel like Andrew isn't as attracted to me as he used to be, and he makes little comments about how he wants me to be healthy and blah blah blah but isn't always so supportive of how hard this is for me. Please don't get me wrong, I don't think he's going to leave me or something its just hard for him to know the right thing to say sometimes. I'm trying to find a workout buddy right now so that I have a little more encouragement. I am thankful for the support of all you wonderful ladies who've given me the strength to keep on going with this; it means more to me than you will ever know!

Five years ago I looked like this (I am the last one on the right), I mean I had a little mid-drift showing, I'd never do that now:
And most recently I look like this (I'm in the white button down):
Lets hope that by the end of fall I look like that top picture again!!!!

I've been MIA

Sorry about the lack of posting, but here is what is going on.....

• I have been working on a really hardcore paper for my writing class that has required an insane amount of research.
• We went out of town again this past weekend to Northern Indiana to do some fishing. But it rained the whole time we were there basically and we didn't get to do much. It was nice to get out of the house but not as fun as we would have hoped.
• I started my second summer class last week which means I am in school 3 nights a week and on the nights I'm not there its time to work on homework, clean up the house and spend time with Andrew.
• I was also super busy with my internship last week but things are slowing down a little bit!

I plan on posting some pictures this week and doing writers workshop if I can find something that inspires me. So my apologies for my lack of blogging - I'll try to be better this week!

True Story Tuesday - or - Tuesday Truth

So I see this on a few blogs I read, or some variation of it, so this week I'm trying it out.

Deadliest Catch is one of my favorite shows of the moment. I've been watching it probably on and off for three years but now I never miss an episode. I cried last week when they said Phil died (although we already knew this since it was in the news). I don't know why I'm so addicted but its better than some of the trash TV out there.....true story.

I'm scared to death about this Spanish class I'm taking. The professor is hard (I've had her before) but she is fair at the same time. I'm hopeful that I'll just pass the class and graduate, I really don't think I'll remember stuff....true story.

I ran/glided/whatever on the elliptical for a full mile for the first time in my working out life and I was quite proud....true story.

I can finally taste the end of my "college life" and in about four months I'll have a BA in Public Relations....now THAT'S a true story!

Things I've been doing this summer

This summer has been quite different than most. I guess its because I'm not really working and going to school/being a "housewife." I've been doing homework during the majority of my free time, but I've also done some gardening, baking, things around the house and working out.

• I've tried out a lot of new recipes, dinner items and cookies too. I'd say the best so far was a new chocolate chip cookie recipe I found on a blog I love, Loveletter Typewriter and they have to be the most amazing cookies ever!!!!
  
• My tomato plants (thanks to all my babying and proper soil mixture) are 5ft tall and more blooms and tomatoes come on each day!
• I'm going to do canning for the first time this year - pasta sauce, salsa and probably some jam.
• I went camping for the first time this summer, which for me was a big deal. But please know that my hair dryer and make up bag did come with me!
• The upstairs hallway finally got a fresh coat of paint, now I just need the money for a light fixture and all will be well!
• My internship is turning out to be a fantastic experience (not that I thought it would be bad or anything). We lost one of our survivors this week and although I knew this could happen it was hard to deal with. But these women, these fantastic, strong and beautiful women have become a part of me. I know this internship cannot last forever but I want to be involved with this organization for many years to come.
• School is going fantastic! I've gotten A's on every assignment for my writing class and I start Spanish next week....which I'm horribly nervous about!

Here are some favorite photos from this summer
What fun things have you done this summer?