So true...

If today was your last day....

My best friend gave me the best advice
She said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned,
leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had,
if today was your last day?
What if, what if, if today was your last day?

Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the price is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?
And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the star
sRegardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothing stand in your way
'Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past?
Donate every dime you had?
And would you call those friends you never see?
Reminisce old memories?
Would you forgive your enemies?
And would you find that one you're dreaming of
Swear up and down to God above
That you'd finally fall in love if today was your last day?

Thought of the day...

Your future holds something far greater than your past. It's time to leave the past behind!

"Freedom Wings"

I posted on my other blog about my new tattoos. I just realized I haven't posted them here...here is the story that goes with it...along with the original design...below is the finished ink. Two full weeks later, and they are itching like crazy!! But still look killer when I ride!!!

Reflections...

As I lay here reflecting, my mind wanders, but in a circular pattern around some things I have concentrated HARD on for too long...the following is my final reflection on the subject...:

We have all found ourselves in situations at various times in our lives where we've wanted to help someone. They open up some and let us help, but only for a while...then they shut down completely. They cut you out of their lives and act like you never existed. At first, we don't understand why. In fact, we may never know why, but we have to just accept it.
Everything happens for a reason! Everything !!

What a great feeling it is when you know you have done absolutely everything within your power, and then more, to help that person. Even though you were ultimately rejected, you still realize you couldn't do any different.

Its pretty amazing when you realize it's time to move on and make yourself happy for a change. Food tastes better, sleep is more restful, stress is gone, the sun is brighter, the rain smells sweeter, the breeze feels cooler...

Just think about it...make YOU happy and everything else will fall into place!

://end trans

Live every moment like it's your last...

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let us down, probably will. You'll have your heart broken and you'll break others' hearts. You'll fight with your best friend or maybe even fall in love with them. And, you'll cry because time is flying by. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, forgive freely, and love like you've never been hurt. Life comes with no guarantees, no time outs, no second chances. You just have to live life to the fullest, tell someone what they mean to you and tell someone off, speak out, dance in the pouring rain, hold someone's hand, comfort a friend, fall asleep watching the sun come up, stay up late, be a flirt, and smile until your face hurts. Don't be afraid to take chances or fall in love and most of all, live in the moment because every second you spend angry or upset is a second of happiness you can never get back.

Are you having problems with the A/C in your car?

I've had problems with the air in my car for months. It wasn't putting out cold air, and the fan would often just stop working. Sometimes I could slam the car door and it would blow again.
It was suggested that a fuse may have blown. I looked in the fuse box and couldn't see a problem.
So I stopped by Advance Auto this week and asked if they could help me find the problem fuse. The guy came out to the car and couldn't find it either.
But then he opened the glove compartment, which I thought was odd. He proceeded to disconnect the rubber stops that kept if from falling all the way out and reached behind it. He grabbed a piece of plastic and slid out an air filter!!! He said its called a Cabin Air Filter.
Who woulda thunk!!??
They didn't have a replacement in stock, but it's now on order.
Crazy thing is...now my A/C blows arctic cold air with a hurricane force!!!
Gotta love it!!

so true...

More ramblings...

As some of you know, I've had a pretty difficult time with some things since March. I'm sure a couple of you got tired of me complaining about it.
I'm sorry to burden you with my non-life-threatening problems..LOL
But thank you for listening and offering support and encouragement!! Talking thru things and writing things out really did help, too.
I can honestly say the words of encouragement and the 'alternate perspectives' have been more than I expected and thoroughly enlightening.
My outlook on the future came to a complete 180 when I realized that even though events didn't turn out like I planned, my heart is still pumping blood and my lungs are still working just fine. It's been said that everything happens for a reason, even if we can't see that reason. Believe it or not, it actually does.
I've determined part of the reason for recent events in my life is finding my own happiness!!
It seems that most of my life I have has someone that I tried to please...in one way or another...whether or not I was happy, I felt the need to make others happy.
Well, no more! I've come to a point where it's time to make ME happy!! Most of you know I've moved to Wilmington, NC with a new, great, job. I found an apartment that is huge, in a great complex, 5 minutes to work and 12 minutes to the beach!! I'm only an hour and a half from Myrtle Beach, so Bike Week is gonna be a blast (especially since I'm making friends who also ride!!!) I'm getting out some, seeing sights, meeting people, generally just having a blast!
I've put some things behind me, and refuse to lose another minute of sleep worrying about them!!
I can say with a clear conscience that I know I am doing the right thing. I am making room in my life for new friends, new experiences, new places to go, new things to do...and I have never been happier!!
I can't help but wonder "What if..." but I know I can't change anything that's not totally within my control. But I also realize that MY life IS in my control.
All this being said...I think it's time for some new ink!!! Maybe I'll start on the sleeve...I still like the idea of flames up my forearm :)))

New friend...

Last night I made a new friend. We went to a couple places at Wrightsville Beach. She is a really sweet lady with a great smile, penetrating eyes, and an intoxicating smile. We shared some great seafood and walked on the beach. I know I had a good time, and I'm pretty sure she did too...
We decided before-hand that it wasn't going to be an actual "date" so there was no stress and no pressure. We were just hanging out.
I have a feeling we will hang out again...just sayin...

I'm done...

It's been brought to my attention that many of my recent posts have been depressing and sad. That wasn't my intention. I was simply communicating with someone. But, as it turns out, this someone hasn't even been looking at what I post. So, I'm done...no more.

I won't be posting songs or sayings or photos of sayings that are less than happy any more. Those of you who are my real friends, and who actually love me, actually do communicate with me in various ways. For this I am grateful.

From now on, I will be posting positive, happy thoughts, saying, pics and movies! I'm done being not happy!! I'm to the point where I am meeting some great people, and enjoying my new town and my new life!

It's time to be my normal happy self that you all love and enjoy!!

Kitty Hawk, part 1

Today I get to drive 4 or 5 hours to Kitty Hawk...never been there. Not sure what time I'm leaving. Have to be at a jobsite at 10 am tomorrow, so my company is putting me up in a hotel for the night.
Hopefully I'll get there early enough to check out a couple sights...will try to take a few pics to post...definitely gonna walk on the beach, even if I get there after dark!!

I'll be alright...

What would you do...

What would you do, today, if you KNEW you would not fail...?

Then go out there and DO IT!

You know who you are...

"If you notice one day that we haven't talked in a while, it's not because I don't care anymore, it's because you pushed me away."

Finally realizing...

One of the best feelings in the world is when you realize you're perfectly happy even without the thing you thought you needed most...

Do YOU care...?

I know we have all had at least one person in our lives, at one point or another, who isn't a family member, that we've been worried about. Sometimes you can actually do something to help this person you care about. But many times there is nothing you can actually do. Even when you make it known that you are there for them, and would do anything in the world for them, you really can't DO anything. Well, at least not until they are able to accept whatever help you can offer.

Perhaps they are in a position where any help they accept could cause other issues including making their life less tolerable. Perhaps they have other influences in their life that can't be easily changed, even if they WANT to change them. Perhaps they know what steps they should take to make their life happier overall, but they feel like they have to sacrifice their own happiness to please someone else. Maybe they just feel like they don't have the emotional strength to make the changes they know they need to make. There are so many variables, there is no way they can all be considered.

Often we don't really know exactly what influences they are experiencing. Other times, we know exactly, but again can't actually do anything.

There is no recourse other than letting this person we care about know that no matter what happens in their life or yours that you will be there to help in any way possible. All we can do is care about them, love them, be there when they need us. Never give up on them even if it's too difficult for them to send just a quick text or email to say "Thank you for caring about me. I'm ok."

Until such time as any help you can give can be accepted, all we can do is be there when they need us. This, in my opinion, is what REAL friendship is.

Getting settled...

Well, I moved into my apartment this weekend. It's considerably larger than the condo I lived in when I was in Bluffton. It has a larger kitchen and living room, and a dining room which the condo didn't have. There is also a nice sun room off the living room. That's where I set up my office. I was able to unpack the kitchen, but I still have a good many boxes of other things to unpack. I'm sure that I will be making a couple trips to Goodwill as I go thru all the things I have collected over the years!
One really good thing about this complex, it's much newer construction than the condo. Luckily this will keep noise down from upstairs neighbors. As of now, it appears there is no upstairs neighbor, but that could change at any time, I'm sure.
I passed on the garage for now because my bike fits in the end storage unit just fine. I confirmed that I can add the garage later if it becomes necessary.
I didn't get cable tv, yet, because it's not in my budget nor do I need it. I did get Internet, so listening to streaming radio and watching Netflix and Hulu will be much more reliable than the borrowed wifi I had access to before. Once I get caught up financially, I will get a wireless router.
I'm looking forward to getting settled in and making my new life work. Of course, there are some things that will be difficult for me, especially emotionally, but I will just have to work thru them. I used to think I was patient, but lately I'm beginning to doubt...
I'm sure that once I get completely unpacked, and get my finances in order, I will start going places and doing things where I can meet new people and make new friends. I know it appears to most that I don't have any problems making friends, but that is so wrong. Believe it or not, making new friends is one of the most challenging things in my life. It always has been. Again, just something I have to work thru.
My new job couldn't be much better. It's a trade I have been in since 1997, and I'm finally in a company large enough to have good benefits. They have been in business since 1978 and have about 150 employees. They have a good structure, written policies, and a generous workload. The corporate office is in High Point and I work in the Wilmington district office. So far I get along with everyone, which is always good!

Starting over...again

New town (and state)
New job (same trade)
New apartment (much nicer)
New life (once I get settled)
New friends, eventually...
New life...

Life changing events...

Thru the acts of others, and decisions I have made based on those acts, I have made some major changes lately.
The job I had in Bluffton ended, both by my choice and the decisions of an owner who knows very little about the trade...at the same time, the lease in my condo was coming due. Luckily, my landlord allowed me to find a new tenant a month early and I was able to get my deposit back!
I've been able to find a bit of freelance work to hold me over, so it's not all bad. I have, however, had to make a residence change which ended up being somewhat of an ok thing overall.
One unfortunate thing about this move is that the only people I know here are not able, for various reasons, to go out and socialize. So I'm virtually alone. Not the best of things for me, because I go crazy when I sit around the house. I've had a few good thing happen, including freedom to just hop on my bike and ride. But again, even that would be more fun with a riding buddy.
I do have some friends I can talk to, but usually only by text and email because of various reasons. Which puts me back to being alone. Saddening at times, well, most of the time, but with job leads in two major cities both about 4 hours from here, I have to concentrate on making one of them work out. Then, once I get moved and settled, I can find a club or group that I can ride with and build new friendships. Maybe then the excruciating loneliness will subside.
It's been said that everything happens for a reason, but it's difficult to see that reason when you're in the middle of uncertainties.
All that being said, I have to thank those of you who have been there to listen when I need to vent, whine, or just talk. I love you, my friends!