Sandy Weekend.

Kay..so we decided to go camping on the dunes for the weekend. We got there and decided to go into town and get some dinner. Soo the boys grab the lock and run it through the spokes of their d-bikes and gas cans. As we're leaving, we see one more gas can in the back of my truck that we had missed, so they go to unlock the padlock and it just turns- it will not release. So we've got two bikes and three gas cans stuck in a line. We decide to deal with it when we get back. ...We get back to the camp site and try to work the lock some more. It really wouldn't budge. So luckily, we had two extra quads on board that they rode for our night ride until we could find someone who had a lock cutter in the morning. We get ready to head out for the ride and my battery was dead. I spent a good 15mins being lugged around the parking lot trying to get a boost. Anywho, morning came and the boys placed their credit cards as collateral in order to use a Polaris shop's lock cutter.

So we set out for our ride. Not a half an hour in and my boyfriend's exhaust nearly falls off and he loses a front fender, too. THEN, Kyle (one of the amigos) discovers his CRF250 motor has seized. A few of us ride back to the trucks and I aired down the tires in the truck for it's first trip onto the sand to come to the rescue. About 30 minutes later, we find the boys and pull the bike up into the back of the Ford. I pull the front of the bike up, and SOMEONE had the brilliant idea of giving it a good shove, jamming it into my knee cap and further damaging my previous 1,000 injuries to the SAME knee-never fails. So, we get the bike loaded up and are followed out by our other friend Reece, whom along the way busts his clutch cable. Shortly after he busts his clutch cable, his back sand tire pops.

We get back to the site and we all pile in the truck to return the lock cutter and get replacement clutch cable #2. To make a long story short, he broke that second clutch cable that same day, the generator in the RV wouldn't turn over so we didn't get to eat, and our trailer came unhitched from the truck on the way home.

(Okay, so the last one was fake). Aside from all that...we DID get a few cool pics:

Today, I am thankful for: 4 wheel drive, tire pressure gauges, Metal Mulisha, and good riding buddies.

Till tomorrow~

Ohhh, Let Me Tell Ya Bout My Best FriendS!

Here's the story of some of my good friends, in absolutely NO order. My life would SUCK without each and every single one of them. In our lives we have people that make a difference. Well, these are the people that make all the difference in mine:

This is Zach. I met him when I was 12 years old, at literally one of the greatest places in the world: Camp Crestview. I had been working as the children's pastor assistant and she asked me to come and help her with being on staff at church camp. I remember Zach walking through the doors of the manor. And I also remember, we hit it off right off the bat. He has been a dear friend of mine ever since. We spent many vacations together on trips with our other youth group friends, etc. Needless to say, our friendship grew. There are so many things I could tell you about us and our adventures, but I would write a never-ending novel. Finally after about 7 years of friendship, we both realized something...and here we are almost a year and a half into an absolutely flawless relationship (I didn't even know such a thing was possible). But our love story is another blog. He is the BEST friend (and mechanic, haha) I have ever had in my entire life.

Oh..and this is our Russian "love turtle", lol, Tork:

Also, Christmas of '09, Zach gave me the perfect present!:

Then, there's Kirstin. I met her in 8th grade. We immediately hit it off. We spent hours in our math class writing ridiculous songs with a few of our friends for our "band", Pink Ice. Dear goodness. She was JUST like me! She was always so much fun to be around. She moved to Arizona when it was time for high school. It completely broke both of our hearts, and many things led up to her leaving. MANY, many things. Some good, some bad. Mainly just bad. We were there for each other through break-ups and life's little surprises. It's amazing to find someone in your life who will be gone for months at a time (sometimes a year), and they can come back the same person they were when they left. Things are never awkward between us, and she has always been and will continue to be one of the greatest friends I've ever had. There is so much history in our friendship, there would, again, be another novel. Kirstin also had a baby girl named Shalynn. Shalynn is also my goddaughter and one of the sweetest little girls you'll ever meet. And she has such a personality. I do miss you very much K*Boy. I miss swimming at the lake with you and Sammy, eating at Asia Gardens, our "ritual" at the Mall, and screaming at the top of our lungs to any song that came across the radio. Come home soon, kay? I love you.

And then you've got Rachel. Rachel is also Zach's older sister. Rachel and I became friends shortly after Zach and I did. We are all actually part of a large group of friends that unfortunately, is now scattered across Oregon due to college, jobs, and marriage. Rachel and I have stayed close for a very long time. She always makes me laugh, and from what she's said, I make her bust up, too. What are friends for, right? She's my shopping buddy, my stressed-out-after-work buddy, my Michael's coupon clipping buddy, my Hills buddy, my "soft-peaks" buddy (inside joke)...pretty much my buddy throughout everything. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have Rachel in my life. She keeps me calm, and proper..yet WILD AND CRAZY! And I am slowly getting her EXCITED about riding the new quad that her and her husband Jared (I'll get to him) recently bought. We have so many memories together..and they go WAY back! We still laugh about the time that we all went camping (you know, the one where I wrecked) and Tab fell asleep and woke up in a puddle with a soaked pillow in the tent! That camping trip was littered with so many funny and oopsie! memories. Anywho...I just LOVE YOU!
Jared. (Yes, this is Rachel's hunny- the dude in the picture right above this sentence). Apparently, he is my brother...or so people tend to think. I guess we kinda (?) look AND ACT alike, hahaha. I met Jared when I met Rachel, only because they have been together since Dinosaurs walked the earth. He just cracks me up. We laugh about the same stupid stuff, and finish each other's stupid sentences and swap some elbow when something gnarly goes down. Only a true friend would understand some of the ridiculous things that come of out my mouth, and Jared does! We have an odd understanding of each other. He's a stud. Pretty much just a stud..and a pretty chill guy. Him and Rachel (they come as a pair, you see) have made such a huge difference in my life. Without these guys, the experiences and adventures in my life would be so small and uneventful. We have spent lots of time together swimming, camping, having movie nights, routine Sonic trips, Frisbee Golf, finding crazy rap songs to totally distort, bonfires, riding (now that they got that sa-weet quad!), scrappin up in the mountains, and just enjoying the fellowship between good friends. Jared's the goof and Rachel simmers him down. Life just wouldn't be the same without you guys just a mile away!

This is the "Helix"

(You know what they say: "Like brother, like sister"! )

Finally, there's Jordan. I also met Jordan through that same large group of friends from church camp (and just church in general). He brings out the hick in me. Well, actually, he brings out a lot of things in me. If there's anything you need to know mechanical wise: Jordan's your man. He has always been there for me and is always there to cheer me up when things just aren't going right. He always finds the right time to say the things he does and acknowledges even my smallest of achievements. It's good to have people like that in your life and Jordan fills in a good part of that gap. We have also shared many hysterical and unforgettable memories. He, too, was also at that camping trip years ago, which is the trip that really kicked off our friendship (now you can see why this trip was so important). I'll never forget the look on his face when I wrecked the Wheeler's quad and bust my face on the handlebars, putting my teeth through my tongue. "Dude! Are you okay! You don't look so good!" (as the blood is spurting out my tongue). It's always exciting to hear when he's down visiting for the weekend, because, like most of our group, he is off at college and working...so to get to visit (or go scrappin up in the backwoods) with him with all of our friends is a blast and moments to be cherished. Oh..and I'll never ever never forget the Obama muffin, the tarp, and the riding helmet pillow :) You are such a blessing in my life!

This was a trip, Zach, Jordan and I randomly took at 10pm to Diamond Lake. We took J's truck, grabbed the camera and loaded up the 50 for a night of fun! After hours of spinning cookies and riding the bike in a snow blizzard, we got home around 4 in the morning. I will NEVER forget this night!

These are the friends who make a difference in my life, both big and small. Not a lot of people go through their lives with as many close, amazing, uplifting, and inspirational friends as I have in my life. Not a day goes by that not a single one of them cross my mind. When I am sad, I just think of all the great memories we all share together and it's amazing how quickly doing something like that can just turn your frown upside down. Friends are important, and God plucked just the right ones off the branch to place in my lap. I give them a lot of the credit for the joy in my life. I hope and pray we always close and even when we're all old and wrinkly, we always hold dear those silly memories from years ago, and that we can continue to build new. Each and every one of you are an inspiration to me in one way or another. I think about them throughout my day, every day, and thank God for the little blessings he's placed in my life. These people aren't just my friends, they're my BEST friends.
(^ R.I.P Pumpkin Patch! ^) - Don't ask ;]

This is part of the "group". Tab, Zach, Jared, Rach and Abby @ the Jeremy Camp concert.

Another random trip to the coast for a day with the friends.

Oh, you know...just vandalizing Tab's vehicle with wedding paraphernalia.

Josh, Zach, Rach, Tab, Jordan and Trista (L-R)

(And yes...this was THE camping trip :)

Dodge This.

I am ashamed to say I never did inform any of you of my recent LARGE purchase. After almost a year of having people lug my quad around on their truck/trailer, I finally sold my 30+ mile to the gallon Honda Civic and bought a 13.1 mile to the gallon Dodge Dakota, also known as the love of my life. It's a perfect truck..and yes, I am proud to say, I AM one of those people who rant and rave about their "rides" and how my life has changed ever since. Bahahaha.

So the Dodge got a bit of a make-over~

The day after I brought him home:

After a few mini-mods (Infinity sound system, Flowmaster exhaust, and black wheels):

He's about due for some news tires here within the next year or so, at which point we will then UPGRADE to 32's and give him a bit of a boost (aka- "lift").

Here are some of his guts:

V8 (318) Magnum power, baby!

Oh! And I almost forgot! The same night I bought him, he we scrapping in the Callahans. The very next morning, he went scrapping on Seven Devil's beach in Bandon, Oregon with some of the greatest people I know:

Showin' The Boys How It's Done.

Well, finishing off TT season, I ranked #7 out of 16 racers as the only female. It was fun while it lasted. I am also currently #1 in my division for the OMRA supported Washington MX/GP series. In this series, we run Eddieville (in Goldendale, WA), Starvation Ridge (Centerville, WA), Heppner, Prineville, and Washougal. I must complete at least two more races to receive the title. I am 150 points ahead, so wish me luck as this season plays out. It will pick back up in September '09. Also, starting the month of June (through October), my drag racing will pick back up again. Last season I beat most of the 450R's, tied a couple times and lost a couple times and was, once again, the only female on the track. Here are some pics from the last year or so of my racing adventures! Enjoy!

Bike Ride Gone Bad, Gone Great, Gone Gooder.

So my friend Kelsey and I have been riding her and her dad's mountain bikes around town and on the trails trying to gear up for Summer (and strength/edurance training for my racing). We decided again yesterday that we would like to go for another trip...only this time, we would do a loop all the way around town starting at the YMCA, going around Harvard, Stephens, Garden Valley, Stewart Parkway (past Red Robin) and back around again. So we get started and decide to go through the path going past the duck pond and by Fred Meyer.

We get to Fred Meyer and stop for a drink before our trip. Heading back out, Kelsey noticed her wheel acting funny, claiming that it was wobbling and bouncing up and down. Thinking nothing of it, we kept going. So we just about reach the VA center and all of the sudden this fire cracker pop! We immediately got irritated thinking someone driving on the road beside the bike path we were on threw a fire cracker at us (which, as most of you know, people in this town tend to generally do such things). But then I was taken back by the loudness of the pop...it sounded JUST like a fire cracker, only magnified ten times over. Really really loud. Our ears were actually ringing. I told her to pull up next to me so we could check out her rear tire she said she was having trouble with- and sure enough ,the tire blew completely off of the rim. So we had to turn back around and head back for the truck.

Well the bummer thing was, I didn't have a bike anymore, because the one I did have was taken over by my little snot sister (I love you. I do.). So basically, until further notice, our bike riding days were over. I decided it was time I got another bike, so when we get to the truck we just drove back over to Fred Meyer to see if they had any good deals on bikes. We miandered up and down the bike aisle, finding a few cool bikes, but of course, way out of my price range. Bummed out, we start walking out the door to hop in the truck and drive on over to Wal-Mart when I see my grandparents and my little sister standing at the checkout. We go over and visit with them for a few and told them about our adventurous afternoon...hahaha (you would have had to have been there for it to be THAT good- kind of one of those "one thing after another" ordeals). My grandma remembers her old bike that grandpa bought her for her birthday a couple years back. She said she never really rode it and that I could drive out to the house, pick it up, and keep it! I was sooo excited. So we drive back to Kelsey's house, get my truck, empty out the truck bed, broken bike and all, and drive out to Green.

As we round Kelly's Corner, Kelsey sees they have the mini carnival set-up in the Ray's parking lot. I had already been there the day they opened on Wednesday, but Kels didn't get to go, and this was the last day it operated. After a few minutes of convincing, we pull into the parking lot and buy a bundle of tickets (5 rides each to be exact).

(Still getting random)

We spend a good 45 minutes there, just acting like a couple of fools, which believe it or not, we are exceptionally great at. Then drive out to grandma & grandpa's, get the bike, mooch a fudge bar or two, drive back to Kel's house, drop her off, and FINALLY I get to go home. I get home and most all of the lights are off in the house and the car is gone, so I assume they're all playing tennis, so I turn around and go back into town and to the tennis courts back by the YMCA (I'm running in circles). I get there and see Zach's sister Leah and her friend...but no one else. So I call Zach to find he was home all along and even heard me pull up (can't miss that Flowmaster on the V8!), turn around and go back down the driveway. So I turn around and go BACK home again in my 13.1 mile-to-the-gallon truck to find Zach curled up on the couch watching t.v. and Randy on the computer! Good grief.

What a day. Thanks for reading...

Today, I am thankful for: Excedrin Migraine, Halls Vitamin C drops, hot tea and menthal. (Will this dry cough EVER go away?)