Last week, Sturgis again hosted the annual motorcycle rally.  I was there to partake in most of the activities and enjoyed the KISS concert (the show, not so much the music really), went to a Pat Green concert (who was fantastic by the way), and got to experience being backstage during a Kenny Chesney concert.  Being backstage was cool.  I was able to get a different perspective of a concert and of course the view was pretty intense as I looked over the endless sea of people (and at KC's backside).  Of all the big name acts (and I DO love Kenny Chesney) my biggest anticipation for Rally was to go to The Loud American Roadhouse to listen/watch a sensational band called Judd  Hoos.  (To Listen) They are a regional, midwestern band with a huge following and I am one of their fans.  SO, when the Rally is in full swing, one can usually find me a few nights out of the week getting a good workout by jumping around as if I were 21 again.  The band has a great energy, playing cover music and their own stuff - which is excellent!

Well, Thursday night was a different experience... 

There was the usual pushing and shoving from people dancing at the front of the stage, some rude, young people and hot and sweaty bikers.   As we were loving the scene, a scuffle happened to break out at the bar, left of stage.  I didn't take much notice - I was there to listen to the band and thought it was just another bar fight. (Hey, they happen, right?)   However, the scuffle turned into a brawl and a big bang rang out .  My mind didn't really comprehend what was actually happening, so I looked at the band for confirmation of my own reaction and turned again towards the sound of the bang and saw a flash from a gun and heard from what I now know to be a second gunshot.  I was concerned as my friend Jill was in that vicinity but I was staying positive she was out of danger. 

Everyone around us shouted, "Get down!" and the people who were pushing and shoving at the front of the stage were now pulling everyone to the ground.  Immediately, the bar's atmosphere changed and silence replaced the music.  It was amazing how 400-500 loud partiers could instantly shut down.  

Looking over to the bar, it seemed like a massive dogpile and you could hear the grunts and scuffling of feet.  The police seemed to arrive within minutes and the bar was under lockdown.  Within 10 minutes or so, we were instructed to calmly move towards the exits.  During this time the events were still cloudy and the occurence didn't seem real until we reached the outdoors where people were ordered under drawn guns to get to the ground and stay there.  About 20 minutes later, I spotted Jill squirming her way over to us on her belly.  She was a little shaken because she was pretty close to the action but unharmed, thank goodness.

Each of us were released after being interrogated and videotaped.  

The news reports state that  a member of the Iron Pigs, a Seattle Motorcycle "Club" of  retired and active policeman,. shot a member of the Hell's Angels.  So, it was an off duty police officer who had a gun in the bar.  I can only offer my opinion on firearms carried into a bar.  "They have no place in a bar, whether you are an off-duty policeman or a Hell's Angel!"  In time I'm sure everything will come to light. 

With all that happened and having reflected on the turn of events, I was surprised by a few things that occured. 

#1 If it had to happen, I am glad I was there to experience it.  

#2 Prior to the occurence of the brawl and shootings, the band was playing and people were pushing and shoving eachother to get closer and closer to the stage.   But....after the shootings, I noticed people did a 180 and became peaceful, caring individuals who were concerned about others' well beings.  I was genuinely moved by the sense of caring and kindness of the crowd.  It amazed me.  Of course, there were people who ran out of the bar screaming as well. 

#3 I did learn that out of my group of friends, who will keep their head about them under pressure and who will need to be taken care of.   

However, all in all, the police were prepared and quick in their response.  Everyone was concerned about the person who was shot and most of us were calm and patient. 

The Sturgis Rally is fairly non-violent.  Of course there are times when violence occurs but it is not a place one would feel threatened or unsafe.  99.9% of the people are there to have a good time. 


      
G, Mande, Me, Doreen & Mary                The Judd Hoos Band

   
A Somber & Beautiful Jill Maguire       Gina and Doreen yucking it up for the camera               after the shooting

    
A frequent sight at the rally                     Kenny Chesney

  
Everyone needs a little peace B4 a before a KISS concert, and everyone needs
a little piece DURING one too!  Ha ha ha

   
Freaky Gene Simmons                                KISS

Pain

Why must I be hurt?
Suffering and despair,
Cowardice and cruelty,
Envy and injustice,
All of these hurt.
Grief and terror,
Loneliness and betrayal
And the agony of loss or death-

All these things hurt.
Why? Why must life hurt?
Why must those who love generously,
Live honorably, feel deeply
All that is good-and beautiful
Be so hurt,
While selfish creatures
Go unscathed?
That is why-
Because they can feel.
Hurt is the price to pay for feeling.
Pain is not an accident,
Nor punishment, nor mockery
By some savage God.
Pain is part of growth.
The more we grow
The more we feel-
The more we feel-the more we suffer,
For if we are able to feel beauty,
We must also feel the lack of it-
Those who glimpse heaven
Are bound to sight hell.
To have felt deeply is worth
Anything it cost.
To have felt Love and Honor,
Courage and Ecstasy
Is worth-any price.
And so-since hurt is the price
Of Larger living, I will not
Hate pain, nor try to escape it.
Instead I will try to meet it
Bravely, bear it proudly:
Not as a cross, or a misfortune,
but an Opportunity,
a privilege,
a challenge - to the God that gropes within me.

-Elsie Robinson

There is a group of some very giving individuals (and company) who want the best for us women out there.  They are The Luna Chix , sponsored by LUNAbar, a division of CLIFbar. 

I have had the pleasure to go on a few mountain bike rides with this group and I want to pass the word along to other women in the U.S. looking for a group to ride with.  Unfortunately, they do not have Luna Chix in every big city, but you may be lucky to find one in your area.  

Their backgrounds are diverse but their goal unified.  It is "to get groups of women together so they can support each other through learning a new sport, developing skills, training and most importantly - have fun!"  

Any money raised through bike clinics (most rides are free) go directly to The Breast Cancer Fund.  LUNAbar has also joined forces to raise the awareness for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics .  If you go to the website, they have a rating system of most cosmetics and their harmful ingredients.  Some companies have a product line containing the least AND the most harmful! 
Back to the Luna Chix...  Some of the mountain bikers are among the best in the country.  They offer tips and support during the rides, and the trails range from novice to advanced, sending different groups out with similar riding experience.  I encourage anyone who is interested in learning how to mountain bike (or road bike!), to seek out a Luna Chix group near you.  The group in Arizona is at  http://www.lunachixaz.com.  They are very patient and willing to assist you in learning and improving your skills - and never intimidating, although their skills are quite amazing! 

I have always loved this song, it is beautiful... but listening to Kenny Chesney sing Please Come to Boston gets me all choked up.  Can you feel it?  I can...  

(Update: don't click on the play button: click on this.)  I couldn't delete video below...





This is a BEAUTIFUL rendition of the song Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered by none other than Sinead O'Connor.  I couldn't believe it was her, WOW!

As for the video - I have NO idea who these people are, and the video is nothing less than awful, but just do something else while you listen to the song - seriously.  :) 

Ok, I have to share this video because it makes me laugh so hard.  With that said, I have to apologize because my laugh is really awful... and loud... 

My nephew Cristoffer.  He's 7 - and really cute!

My friend Pam and I went for an awesome mountain bike ride today with the Lunachix in the McDowell Mountain Range in the Fountain Hills area of Phoenix.   Yeah, I bit it a couple of times but the scenery was absolutely gorgeous so I thought I would share these pix with you.  Learned a lot and met some experienced and wonderful gals to ride with.

Tonight a hockey game.  I am grateful I get to enjoy such a fantastic day... 




"Go Ducks!" 

My grace lies at the Courthouse

Towering over the Bell

God's rock of solace and burden

My path to Heaven and Hell


My heart lives down in the valley

Re-creating life down there

Kissing the fires of desire

And there, beating unaware

My thoughts drift to that valley

Considering not day or night

Never aging, just exploring

Relentless wings take flight

Reaching the top of the mountain

Below I feel you breathe

Beyond the touch of my hand

The invisible bond is weaved

Canyons bring echoes and whispers

The sky again changes hue

Lost in every distal thought

Bleeding inside, you


The moon and your secret

Mine betwixt the stars

Celebrating and elevating you

Among love's beauty and scars

Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your finest thoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all heavenly environment; of these, if you remain true to them, your world will at last be built.  The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart, this you will build your life by and this you will become. 
-James Allen

I love this quote.

Happiness abounds! 

            I am bursting at the seams, and I want to share some good news.  My brother qualified for the PGA Championship a couple of weeks ago!   He has been playing golf since my dad placed a club in his hands when he was 3.  It has been his lifelong dream, and I am so proud of his perserverence and dedication.  

     When he qualified, my dad (also a pro) was caddying for him and he was just beaming - so proud of the son he helped become the player he is today.  One of Micah's sons ran up to him after his final round in Oregon and excitedly asked, "Daddy, does this mean we get to go see Tiger Woods?!"   Micah replied, "It sure does buddy." and little Cristoffer ran off yelling to his brother and mom, "Mom! Jakob!  We get to go see Tiger Woods!!"  Too cute. 

     Last weekend I caddied for my brother in the Colorado Open.  I don't care for Denver much, not because of the city itself, but it brings back memories I would just as well forget.  However, on the bright side of things, I didn't pass out from carrying a bag full of clubs 7 miles each day for 4 days in the wretched heat, nor did I cause him any penalty strokes.  Sure, I grabbed a club out of the wrong bag once but luckily he noticed.  (Needless to say, I am not in high demand for caddying jobs)  

     Golf is a sport in which good sportsmanship and respect abound.  Everyone plays their own game, assists in finding a ball if needed, they give eachother encouragement, and each respects the time it takes to play your shot.  It shows in the lack of movement and stillness within the group and gallery.   

     I found I had to be a servant, totally giving of myself and put him first.  (Hard to do when the person happens to be someone who used to pull your hair and try to pass gas on you when you were kids)  It isn't just about carrying a person's clubs.  You have to be careful where to stand, pull the pin, tend the pin, hand the pin off, where to leave the clubs, being careful where you stand and walk, when you can talk, when you can and can't rake the trap, estimate yardage, find distance markers, making sure his needs are met regarding food and hydration, sunscreen, being prepared for the next shot, keeping score for the other player, keeping up with fast walkers, cleaning clubs, reading greens, familiarizing yourself with the course, etc...  I had no idea it was so stressful. 

     He had just played in the National Championship the weekend before, so many of his peers came up to congratulate him on qualifying and telling him they watched him on tv.  It felt like being with a mini celebrity.  :)  It was just he and I in Denver so it gave us a great opportunity to bond and we had a lot of fun.  He was leading up until the last hole and ended up taking second, which still afforded him a good paycheck but the money isn't the main reason he plays.  My dad always taught him to play from the heart, because it is what he loves to do.  There were times over the years when Micah would struggle and I would look over at my dad and he would be pointing at his heart and nodding his head.  Micah knew what he meant. 

     Our entire family and long time family friends will be in Tulsa in August to support him and to watch his dream unfold.  It will be so sweet seeing MIcah take his first swing on the first tee of Southern Hills and looking over at my 68 year old dad - proudly standing there next to Micah's golf bag, readily waiting to haul that thing around in the biggest tournament of their lives.  It will be a fulfilling day.  We will feel his jitters and love the excitement.  I just can't tell you how happy we all are for him.  

     Hard work really does pay off and he certainly deserves it, regardless of how he plays.  Just getting there is the biggest accomplishment of all. 

- A Very Proud Sister

Check out the link...  I guarantee you'll be glad you did.  It's sooooo funny! 

I couldn't figure out how to embed the video.

The Landlord


I used to be this tough!  Ha ha