I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike!

In case you haven't heard - I GOT A BIKE!!!!!

I've been yelling and cheering about it all day long. I realized a few months ago that I really wanted a bike. Unfortunately, I didn't really do anything about it and refused to ask for one for Christmas. I never thought that anyone would be able to get one in their budget. Bikes are big business and can get really expensive.

When I was a kid I was a pretty skilled bike rider. I learned to ride a two-wheeler and never looked back. When it came time for the annual Hespeler Optimist Bike Rodeo, I was right there in my element. The rodeo gave me a chance to show my skills, my hand eye coordination, my safety knowledge and my super awesome ability to rock my bike. I actually won the entire rodeo twice and came out with two new bikes.

Unfortunately those bikes were all gone over the next few years, including my awesome purple bmx that I used to win the rodeo. The first bike was a mountain bike and my dad ended up giving it to my cousin who's parents couldn't really afford a new bike. The second was a 10 speed that my dad gave to my niece when she outgrew her own bike. I wasn't really riding it all the time anymore as I had my drivers license so it wasn't that big a deal.

And here I am, 32 years old and would love to go for a ride, but no bike to do it. I started looking off and on with www.kijiji.ca. What's nice about kijiji is that you are able to search in specific areas and price ranges. Sure I saw some wonderful bikes that were a little too expensive, and then some crappy bikes at wonderful prices. I emailed someone on a bike at the end of the summer that they said they were selling for their grandmother. The bike was all awesome and retro and looked perfect for my needs. Sadly - they never responded and the ad even stayed up for a month longer. Every time I saw it I got this bad taste in my mouth.

Two days before Christmas I suddenly realized that I should've asked for a bike from Santa. I started looking pretty seriously again at bikes and noticed an advertisement from a bike shop in Kitchener that was having a big sale this week. My dream bike was on sale half price - but that was still over $300. Knowing that I needed a good solid adult bike, I was almost ready to go buy one.

Turn on boxing day. I knew that people would be selling things after Christmas, I thought I'd give it a shot. Kijiji allows you to sell things second hand so would this be my chance to find a bike??? I log on and not only did I find a bike, but it was in Cambridge - located within a bikes ride of our house! The price was just over $100, it was cruiser, has white wall tires and a basket. I've always loved my mom's retro bike - of course hers was actually from when she was a teenager so it truly is an original. Her bike has a book rack, where the one I was interested in has a basket.

I sent off a message "I would be interested in seeing the bike." I was going to include more, but my loving husband thought that was enough. If I was first to respond, they should be able to answer and I might get a bike. Hours and hours went by and I kept checking my email for a response. Sadly - there was nothing. I gave up by the evening but was shocked when my husband turned on the computer to see that I had gotten an email. We arranged to meet the following day (today).

We drove over this morning and as soon as I saw the bike I couldn't help but smile. The bike wasn't overly used, and the gentleman who was selling it on behalf of his wife told us they were updating to a mountain bike because they wanted to get more off the beaten path. The gentleman we dealt with was so nice. He even adjusted the seat lower so that I could ride on it with my short legs. I was so excited to hear the little ding of the bell, and how easy it was to get the basket on and off so that I can take it shopping with me.

The hubby took a ride and compared it to a shopping cart. I knew that would be what I was getting. Being that I'm not the same kind of skilled rider I once was, I knew that this bike would not be winning the bike rodeo any time soon.

I honestly, couldn't stop smiling the whole time. The bike had to be mine and I was so happy to give him the money and put it in the car. as soon as we got home, I hopped on the bike took a spin for myself. I'm still smiling at it now - even though it was bloodly cold!!!

I'm the proud owner of a Schwinn 3-speed Cruiser with a basket, bell and white wall tires. And I'm happy. Oh so happy. :)

Do you really know someone?

In my life I have had the pleasure of meeting some really wonderful people. There are those that have made me laugh, those that have taught me and those that have been there through the rough times. I would like to say I've had some wonderful friends in my life.

My parents always taught me to see the good in everyone and to trust my instincts. In light of recent developments, I wish I had trusted mine.

No More Mrs. Nice Gal

Most of the time, I am Mrs. Nice Gal. I treat everyone with respect, I hide when I feel that I've been slighted and I don't try to rock the boat.

Not today.

My negative, swearing, take no shit from anyone attitude has come out just in time for the holidays.

All started when my tire blew on the way home from work yesterday. Shitty enough, but was able to call CAA and get them to come. Sadly, due to the freezing temperatures and the sheer number of car accidents, it was going to be up to a two hour wait. They came, they tried to take the tire off. Oh wait, what's that? They can't because the dealership stripped the locking mechanism LAST FUCKING WEEK when we had the tires rotated? How can they do that and not say anything?

it was bad enough that as we drive off the lot my husband noticed my headlight was out, but for them to have stripped the lock too - I was not impressed. I had to wait for a tow truck. I at least could turn the heat on every once in awhile. I tried to do it discreetly since they have instituted the no idling law. I figured the cop would understand if he came by. It was winter and I truly was a damsel in distress.

The whole time sitting there waiting for nearly the full 2 hours to get on the road, I was able to stew in my anger and disbelieve. The colder I got, the more angry I got. And the angrier I got, the more it spilled over into other areas of my life.

I've sat and watched people walk all over me and say snarky comments and let them slide. Maybe I was reading into it, I kept telling myself.

Well last night and today - I decided I wasn't going to let that happen anymore. I'm not going to be walked on.

If I don't like what you are doing, I'm going to tell you. I might swear at you and I may call you names, but I need to tell you. Would you rather I bottle it up and blow, which I am gearing for as soon as I walk into the dealership to get my car. The time for calm rationalization is over. You are not going to walk all over me.

Basically, I'm writing this post to give you fair warning. I'm through with being nice. I want justice and I want whats right.

Year of the baby has turned into The Year of Divorce?

What started out as a huge year for babies being born has turned into a year for a lot of people breaking up in my life.

I've been on this world for almost 32 years and I've never had so many people I know breaking up and getting divorces. People that I really care about are suddenly finding themselves single after years of being in a relationship.

Some might say that I've had my share of relationships before I met my husband, my longest being just over 3 years. Because of this experience, I know how hard it can be to suddenly find yourself out in the world. It's a scary place to be and experiences can be really strange.

Lucky for me, I was never married and never lived with anyone that I ended up splitting from. I can't even imagine having to figure out how to manage a household and children after so many years of having everything shared. It just seems like a huge change and I really feel for everyone I know that is/has split from their spouse.

Added to the stress of having their relationship end, they are now faced with having to answer the questions. How do you respond when someone asks where your spouse is? I really commend them for getting up and out and taking on the world. I know it's hard, but every day will get easier. Every day they will get up and experience new things.

I think this is a rough time of year, no matter what. But I also think it's a great time of year to have family and friends around that support and love you. You can reach out and ask for help if needed. I'm so glad that those I know who are finding themselve suddenly single are able to reach out. And I'm very glad, that they chose to reach out to me.

I have some wonderful friends and family around me that are fantastic and are completely able to offer love and support. I can honestly say that they have guided me when I needed it, and I'm glad that I've pulled from their strength to help others.

With that said and done, I can't tell you how much this has made me love my husband more and made me so happy that I have him in my life. He came to me years after I had been broken down by an ending. I knew what I wanted, and he checked all of those things off my list and then some. I can honestly say we keep growing together. We have had endings by moving, and beginnings with new locations. There has been so much to build on and it's been a really great experience that I wouldn't trade for the world.

As they say - everything has a beginning and an ending. Every ending, means a new beginning. I really look forward to seeing how they move on from here. They can do anything they want with their lives. I am so happy to be able to be part of their next phase.