Don't count me out just yet!!!

So I heard on TV the other day that they are expecting people to start living to 150 years old. If so that means I have almost another 130 years left on this planet, that's a lot of time. So I just wanted to clear something up. I am only TWENTY THREE years old! I do not plan on quiting any time soon. I swear just this week I had three people ask me when I was going to retire, apparently they think I'm getting too old to race. Heck the way I look at it I haven't even reached my prime yet, guys are racing well into their 30's so why can't I? Sure it's a lot easier for guys to start a family and continue racing, they don't have to sit out for 9 months. I am sure that someday I will like to have a family and everything, I do love kids. But I can assure you its not going to be for a VERY long time. So please stop asking me when I am going to retire because it's not going to be for awhile yet. And please stop making me feel like TWENTY THREE is old because it's NOT! If John Dowd can race til he's 40 so can I. That still gives me 110 years to adopt kids (after all I have put my body through child birth isn't likely).

Men's Journal

Check it out! A couple of months ago I got an email from the people at Men's Journal saying they were doing a feature on women in action sports who still have a feminine side. Needless to say I was flattered and jumped at the opportunity to be in such a well known magazine. It's so cool having your own hair and make up people along with a stylist. I just wanted to mention there was a stylist there so you guys won't think those green pants are my own, nor did I think that wearing my boots with them made me look "hot" like they said. It wasn't my idea so please don't make fun of me. Just go out and buy the May issue and check out why I am one of the seven featured "Action Figures." hahaha

Knott's Berry Farm

You can't ride every single day, every once in awhile you need a little break. So Tuesday while my bike was in the shop getting parts swapped I went with my friends, the Jung family to Knott's Berry Farm. I haven't been on a roller coaster in ages, but contrary to what the picture looks like I really am not that afraid of them. After going sky diving, and well, driving in a car or riding a bike when I am in control roller coasters are a piece of cake. How ever I find them to be a lot more fun if you scream your head off the entire way. Here Ashley (front along side me) and Lauren (back) look like they are doing the wave and having about just as much fun as if they were doing one.

I tried not screaming a couple of times, and actually sang once to show them I could remain calm and collective (they both wished they were Deaf) but I didn't have nearly as much fun as I had in this picture. Its all about making yourself scared to have a better time. That's why you watch scary movies in the dark and not during the day. If you think I look scared here just watch "SAW" with me, then you'll really see me scream.

Road Trip!!!!

Like I said this last week was a long one. My brothers called me a couple of months ago because they are huge into mixed matial arts and there was a Strike Force fight in San Jose California. I asked someone who told me San Jose was only a couple of hours from Temecula where I am staying now. So my brothers got their tickets and we started planning for them to come out and visit me. A week before they left I was running with my roommate Christy when she told me San Jose was in fact not two hours away but more like seven or eight! By this time it would have cost my brothers too much to change their flights so we drove up seven hours Saturday watched the fight and turned around and drove back down so they could catch their Sunday morning flight out of LAX. Did I mention Terry only drove about an hour and a half, and Ben didn't drive at all? I am STILL tired!

Pictured above is the lovely California scenery on our road trip. Terry in his new Shift gear, we at least got to go riding friday morning. The three of us in the stands, we were in the fourth row, really good seats! Ben with "the Punk" one of his favorite fighters. And the main event Frank Shamrock verses Cung Le, which ended after Cung broke Franks arm with multiple kicks.

Happy Easter!

OK I know its a little late, but in my defense I've had a really long week, and its better late than never right? I had a great Easter with my California family, we went to church which was held outside at a football field because so many people came. Back home in Michigan it usually snows on Easter so I was not expecting to get a sun burn! After listening to another great message from Pastor Gary we went back to open our Easter baskets (yes at 23 I still got an Easter basket YAY!) and then spent the entire day relaxing watching movies and playing rock band. I even had an adopted Grandma for the day who cooked an amazing meal and in true Grandma fashion slapped me (just a light slap on the leg don't worry) during church when she found out I have tattoos. Thanks Marc, Kelle, Sidney and Grandma for taking in an orphan and making me feel at home. Its not easy being away from my family (I miss you guys so much!) especially on holidays, but you guys made it that much easier:)

Paint balling

My sponsors and California adopted family "the Hauser's" have picked up a new hobby, paint balling and invited me to come along last week. I have only gone a couple of times, the last time being for my friend Mitch's 21st birthday party four years ago, so I was a little out of practice. I was definitely at a disadvantage with my rented gun (everyone else had $400 + guns) poor night vision, and my lack of camo gear, but I had a blast and even got the hang of it and shot quiet a few people by the end of the night. Kelle (aka Private Benjamin) and I were the only girls there, and laughed about how things are way more fun when there's a chance you will get hurt. The biggest disappointment of the night? My damn tough skin! The last time I had a real good bruise was over a year ago when I had shoulder surgery and before that was probably when I broke my ankle. The next day while everyone was comparing welts and bruises, all I had was one tiny little red circle on my butt cheek so I couldn't even show anyone! And trust me I got shot over ten times and it still hurt, but while every other girl in the world would be excited not to be covered in bruises all of the time I am strange and actually like battle wounds. Though maybe I should change my thinking because someone once told me I should quit racing because "chicks dig scars but guys don't." I might not have any bruises from paint balling but I have plenty of scars so guys will just have to get used to a girl who would rather get shot with paint than paint her nails!

MXGirls ride day

OK if you are a female in the southern California area and you weren't at Milestone on Sunday you were missing out. It was a great opportunity to get out and meet other girls in our sport. And while we didn't discriminate and let the boys come too it was such a change to see the tracks crowded with the majority of the riders having ponytails. I am sure a lot of girls were at a track for the first time and they had lessons for beginners and more advanced riders as well. Even though the weather didn't cooperate with the strong gusty winds it couldn't stop a bunch of girls from having a good time on their dirt bikes. Here I am with a girl I have been giving lessons to for a year now, Lauren Jung (right) and her sister Ashley. Both have come a long way in their riding. Good Job girls!

Changing my oil

So the other day it was getting time to change the oil on my bike, I have done it many times before but it never gets any easier. I have said it before I just hate bike work, but let me explain its not that I think I'm too good for it, or that its a man's job. I have seen my friend Kaili change the tire on a car with five guys all watching in awe, none of them offering to help but simply amazed that she knew what she was doing. My friend Jessi also does most of her own maintenance to her bikes and never complains. The difference with me is even though I have been taught how to work on my bike and I should know what I'm doing, I'm just no good at it. Tools feel more foreign in my hands than eating soup with chop sticks. Not only did I drop the socket wrench in the (half full) drain bucket upon loosening the bolt, but I also over tightened the bolt, causing the hole to crack and now I have a slow leak. Note the oil stain on the garage floor. How in the world its possible for me to over tighten a bolt I do not know? I guess all this working out is paying off. So for all of you guys AND girls who are able to work on your bikes without breaking things my hats off to you. Though the good Lord gave me many talents, mechanic just isn't one of them.

Elsinore

Pulling up to Elsinore today I saw the bulldozer working on the driveway, removing some of the mud trying to make it drivable. Right away I should have known what the track would be like, I mean come on the track is built on a dried up lake bed it obviously holds water pretty good. I was the first person there so I got the privilege of breaking the line for everyone else, all the while with a huge smile on my face. Though I love riding in mud its something I don't do that often anymore. I am never in Michigan when the snow melts anymore, back in the day when we couldn't ride for four months as soon as the dirt road we lived on started to melt my dad would let my brother and I do cirlces in it as long as we racked out the ruts afterwards. Desperate times call for desperate measures. The best part of riding in the mud back then or at any race I go to now is as soon as I pull off the track I could just hand my bike to my dad. I always hang out for a little while looking like I care but really I just want him to spray off my boots. Today as I loaded my bike I knew that the garden hose was not going to do the trick and I headed straight for the car wash before the mud had a chance to dry and cake itself on. I spent all of my quarters and one dollar bills trying to get it clean and it still didn't do the trick. Though I had a lot of fun and it was well worth it I have to say it, Daddy I wish you were here.

Practice makes perfect

Its true practice does make perfect. And not to pick on California anymore than I need to (someone commented me that if I do it too much I will get thrown out) but if you guys out here want to be good in mud then stop cancelling races every time it rains! Yesterday was the second weekend in a row I woke up early excited to go get muddy only to find out the race was cancelled:( Now I'm not a fan of the clean up either (but hey I dont like washing my bike no matter what the conditions) and I have been known to pass up a practice day or two in the rain. But racing is different, and there really is nothing better than racing in mud. I know its still months away but I hear a lot of people out here talking about qualifying for Loretta's this year so all I have to say is if you are planning on going you better start riding in the mud because it ALWAYS rains at the ranch. See you there, I'll be the one smiling when the skies turn grey.