You never forget how to ride a bike. . .

My dear husband asked me what I'd like as a gift for my 60th (shudder!)birthday last week. I gave it some thought and replied I'd love to have a bicycle. I used to ride a bike constantly when I was younger (try at least 38 years ago) and always loved the feeling of freedom I had when zipping around on one. So, he took me to Goodales' Bike Shop in Nashua and sprang for a gorgeous mountain-type bike for me. They "fit" you for the bicycle and adjust the seat height, etc. I felt quite special! I even got to take a couple out for test rides. That was just a bit scary, considering I didn't want to make a complete idiot of myself by falling off in front of strangers. However, I managed to stay upright.

The next morning I took the bike out for a spin around the neighborhood. Within moments I knew exactly where my quadriceps were located. Feel the burn, baby! And it's true...you never forget how to ride a bicycle. I just forgot how to get off one. I came to a stop in front of my granddaughter Anna, and the bike began to list to port. I got my left leg out there, but couldn't move it fast enough and wham!--right over I went. I thought Anna was going to have a heart attack. I, for one, was quite relieved I didn't break my left hip. I got my very embarrassed self up off the driveway (praying all the while the neighbors across the street were still in bed) and limped upstairs. After an hour or so my left wrist was screaming with pain and Jack took me down to our local ER. After x-rays and exams it was determined I did NOT break my wrist, just sprained it badly. I did get a "stay-out-of-work for two days note from the doc and some pain meds to take away the considerable discomfort. I have since recovered almost completely and take the bike out every morning for a ride. I have dropped the seat a couple of inches so that I can catch myself when I stop, and I am terrifically safety-conscious. Can you imagine the ribbing I would take if I fall again?? Perish the thought!

The Mac is still in the shop. Photos of the fool on the bike to follow.

My darling Mac is deathly sick!!

No, Mac is not my sweetie--well, maybe. My darling Mac is my MacIntosh G5 dual processor computer. I love it to death because it's so easy to use and understand and it gives me access to the entire world out there. It began having screen freezes a few weeks ago that became a daily problem. Now it's in the shop (MacEdge in Nashua) having a brain scan at $90. an hour. Repeat after me: I will never, ever again buy expensive computer equipment without purchasing the repair/replacement insurance. Thank God everything is backed up. I did have enough sense to do that.

May has been a tres expensive month. Both my nursing licenses were up for renewal, my driver's license, my car registration and plates, car inspection, two grandchildren's birthdays. In addition, our VHS player/recorder bit the dust. Since you really can't find these machines for a reasonable price anymore, I ordered a DVD/VHS combo recorder/player. Hopefully it will arrive sometime this week so I can record my favorite 10 pm shows once again. Now the computer. . .

We had a wonderful, wonderful time with my Irish cousins who stayed with us for four days in early May. Joe and Mary Maloney and two of their daughters, Marion and Caroline, blessed us with their great company. We had a party for them on Friday, May 5, with lots of relatives and good friends in attendance. I haven't had a noise level that high in my house for many a long month. It was music to my ears. When I get the Mac back from the shop I'll do a separate entry on the fun we had and post a bunch of photos. I'm currently using my husband's God-only-knows-what-it-is computer with a Linux operating system. Shudder. . . I shouldn't complain. I could be dead in the water without my Mac.

Keep your fingers crossed that I don't have to pay for the Mac repair with one of my grandchildren! :-)