Eating Right - White Smoothie

     Two things I have discovered when it comes to staying fit: I have to keep moving, and blend at least one smoothie each day. Smoothies have proven to me that I can have things that taste good with out them being high in fat and sugar.

Watch this smoothie being blended!

     According to Harley Pasternak's "Body Reset Diet", a smoothie should have the following components:

- A liquid base (milk (dairy/non-dairy), water or flavored water...no juice)

- A lean protein (non-fat Greek yogurt or protein powder)

- Healthy fat (nuts, seeds, avocado)

- High fiber carbohydrates, which consist of any fruit or vegetable

     In the smoothie routine, Pasternak suggests having a white smoothie at the beginning of the day
because of the high fiber content. Some tips would be to to be sure to leave the skin on the apple for the fiber boost, freeze bananas ahead of time, and to add liquid first.

Ingredients:

5 raw almonds, whole or chopped
1 red apple, unpeeled, cored and chopped
1 small banana, frozen and cut into chunks (don't let this be a caveat; if you have a fresh banana, use that)
3/4 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup fat-free milk (I use almond milk)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, or as you like it

     Blend everything together. Add protein powder for an extra boost, and ice cubes or cold water to increase the volume without adding to your caloric load.

Nutrition Info: Calories 325  Total Fat 4 grams   Carbs  56 grams  Protein  19 grams
                           Fiber   8 grams
For more information, check out  "The Body Reset Diet", by Harley Pasternak, available on Amazon.

 The Body Reset Diet: Power Your Metabolism, Blast Fat, and Shed Pounds in Just 15 Days 
by Harley Pasternak 
Link: http://amzn.com/1623362520
#harleypasternak

Christmas Tea

     This holiday season has been truly magical for me and my loved ones. I thought our vacation to SanFrancisco last year was great, but for the first time in many years, we had a wonderful stay-at-home Christmas with family and friends, enjoying this time to be together and celebrate the season with special dinner, baking, gifts and decorations galore! We even organized a family service project to put together baskets for a local women's shelter, along with an awesome Christmas Cookie Swap and cocoa bar. Everyone had so much fun and had plenty of cookies to take home!

     The best time, for me, had to be serving Afternoon Tea to my family. While it was not the first time, nor the most elaborate I have staged, the idea of fellowshipping over a cup of tea and relaxing by the fire as the wind blew outside made this little gathering quite special. My boys and my husband never object to the fineries; they usually select their favorite bone china tea cup, along with a spoon and a napkin for their tasty treats. My daughter enjoys each occasion as an opportunity to post and share with friends on her social media pages about how her family participates in this unique pastime. Most of all, I enjoy watching them take part in being with one another, sharing love and good conversation as we grow closer as a family.

No scones this time, but plenty of savory treats, fruit, and a variety of teas by the tree!

Chocolate Brownie cookies with Peppermint Glaze

Water is piping hot for waiting cups. A fruit platter is filled with grapes and clementines. 

Tuna Sandwiches..quick and simple, but when cut in triangles, they can be kinda classy!

Smoked Deviled Eggs

Pretty cups make tea time special! 

Trying Out Birchbox Samples!!!

    Take a look at my latest post on my channel to find out what the products were like in my December Birchbox!

It's amazing what's inside! Take a peek at  my channel to try out my
samples with me!

Birchbox December Opening

The samples this month are great! Plus I got a tasty chocolatey snack!
To visit the site, click here: Birchbox

     The Holidays are here! And boy, did Birchbox deliver the goods this month in celebration of the winter months ahead. I am happy to announce that the 9.99 per month subscription service did not disappoint with their five samples for December; they even added a bonus snack sample to enjoy.

   I believe that everything-every single thing- in my box this month is something that I can use and is relevant to my profile. It shows me that the team at Birchbox is paying attention and strives to satisfy each and every customer. From the charming blue dotted box and pink tissue paper, to the lip color that immensely surprised me, this December has been an act of over-delivering, and that makes my 10.00 a month a worthwhile investment.

Remember, if you wish to join Birchbox, it's easy! Simply click on the link below the photo above to visit the site. There are great samples, points and cool rewards that brighten your month, and full-sized versions of the sample selections that become your favorites. To see what's inside this month's box,  watch the opening on my YouTube channel, TheAlvinVision ...click here: December Box Opening!

Natural and Loving It!

     So it has been a few weeks since I have made a conscious effort to go natural. I cannot remember the last time I retouched my hair with relaxer: The general routine of a retouch has been replaced by another which involves more caring techniques and practices that protect my hair rather than cause it to break off; I have noticed this occurring less and less often. My husband can't seem to stop putting his hands in it, but I don't mind at all! My friends and family love all of the different looks I create without a weave or extensions in my hair. I learn how to keep my curls or how to stretch them out by chatting with strangers I meet while shopping or going about town. It's funny how this change has, in many ways, introduced me to a whole new community of women I'd probably never speak to otherwise. 

     There are so many tutorials on going natural that I found on YouTube to help me; I discovered the many outcomes that are yielded from braiding or twisting your hair. Each way dictates the look you will achieve, and various products will also affect the curl pattern of your hair. As I've stood in the mirror and worked on these locks, I have noticed that many of these methods we now use have always been a part of the grooming process, but mostly not a means to a particular end. But now, we have uncovered what a few of us have always known: The diligent care of your raw, natural hair is the only true way to stimulate growth, and that growth is substantial, leading to lengths we once thought weren't possible for black hair.

I'm going to list what I've been doing, along with the products I have used so far along the way:

1. It took a little while to find just the right products that worked on my hair. Some stuff out there is not very good, or at least it's not right for me. Since I like to smell my products, the scent also became an important factor when choosing something to use. I chose the following:

Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie- This stuff is great! I put a dollop in and through my hair each night before I begin my routine. It makes my hair so soft and manageable and it lasts for the entire day.

-Curls Creme Brûlée Whipped Curl Creme and Goddess Curls Botanical Gelle...I use this while I flat twist my hair; the Creme I use for the thicker, coarse parts and the Gelle I use for the more straight parts, toward the front. They both smell great, and I like the way they hold the curls after the twist out. 

-Next, my tried and true that my cousin Rashima (#Beautyrashima) introduced me to, Eco Styler with Olive Oil. It is a gel that does not flake, but holds wherever you apply it. I use it for edge control. 

-No wonder the castaways of Gillian's Island were so happy to stay on the Island...they had coconut oil! This stuff does everything, and when it comes to hair and skin, I am an advocate. I put a quarter sized dollop in the palm of my hand after I take down my hair, and run it through. It gives it shine and keeps it from drying out. I even have a little jar in my purse to use for a touch up, and to rub on my lips and hands in this cold, dry weather. 

-When edges are particularly zealous, ORS Edge Control gets the job done. It lays down my edges and stays all day. When I wear an updo, it is vital to have those edges on point. 

     I flat twist my hair using a spray bottle with conditioner, a wide tooth comb, clamps and bone rollers. I've selected the flat twist, because it is faster for me to complete after a long day, and it keeps the hair close to the scalp. If I want a more voluminous look the next day, I will twist individual locks. 

   Bone rollers finish my ends, since they are still straight. I chose to not cut all of my hair off, so the transition is still taking place toward the front of my hair and on the ends. However, I have noticed my new growth is straight and wavy; genetically, the curl pattern in my family is like this, so it will be interesting to see the final grow-out. 

   Am I happy with my decision? Yes, I am. While I may put braids in at the beginning of the year, I have joined ranks with my sister friends and family, and have even set examples for some younger girls in my circle to embrace who they are. I don't think I've taken as many selfies of myself as I have these past few weeks, confidently sharing my styles on Instagram and Facebook. I become passionate about things that are important to me, and promoting authenticity in such a simple way has made me excited. 

Take a look at my twist-out video. I hope it inspires you, or gives you tips on how to get the look you are aiming for! 

November Birchbox Opening

Not a showstopper, but the box always rocks!

Nothing is perfect. Glitches often occur, but when you are paying a monthly fee, you expect for them not to; your 9.99 or 15.99 fee should be met with what you pay for; a quality product that does not disappoint. Oh well...so much for that!

My Essence Beauty Box did not arrive this month due to a series of unfortunate events that the Essence Beauty Box staff could have avoided. I am not pleased, and will no longer be a customer if there are problems with my December box. 

As for Birchbox, as usual, the box itself was attractive. But the products this month? Meh...
There were very small samples of things that did not WOW me. I am beginning to feel a bit punished for simply being a regular customer. Praises are heavily bestowed upon those who upgrade their boxes every month...by that, I mean that they pay extra. I am not doing that. Give me a quality product for the 10.00 I am paying you. They are samples...I am sure that it can be done. 

At any rate, I have uploaded my November Opening. In it, I also give a little information on my transitioning experience and how my hair is coming along since I have decided to go natural. Since I have learned to maintain my locks, I am becoming more and more pleased with the results. It is a process, but caring for your hair takes time and effort. 

Visit Birchbox today to subscribe for your box. It is still quite a delight to receive something every month, even if the contents seem a little off at one time. For the most part, I still think it is one of the best programs out there. 

You can watch my November Birchbox Opening by clicking here:  Alvin's Birchbox

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow, Then Gone Natural

We call it, "going natural" when it is really just being ourselves. 

When an acquaintance made the choice to stop straightening her hair and went in to work one day, it came as quite a surprise to the people at her job site.

"Rose, are you okay?" Her coworkers at the local department store thought she had suddenly become depressed. She came to work without her usual straight-haired ponytail. Her hair was out. Big and fluffy and nappy. "Did you get up late or something?" Rose told me she just looked at them and said, "What?". She shrugged her shoulders, clocked in and began her day on the floor.

Going natural. It is a weird term to me. I was a child of the sixties, and the Afro was the standard for cultural connection and identification. I wore Afro puffs, and my aunts and uncles donned beautifully coiffed halos of curls of all textures: Kinky, curly, or coiled, everyone looked like the Jackson 5, Earth Wind and Fire or the Brothers Johnson. And if it was not out, it was braided into cornrows that gave to us the pride of our royal ancestry. Black was beautiful.

Then Bo Derek and MTV came along, and somewhere in between that, things got twisted...

It was not that Black people had not been straightening their hair; there was relaxer and the press 'n' curl...but suddenly, it became possible to do something else that was once not accessible to everyone: You were now able to sew or braid hair into your own head. The game changed. If it was possible for sistas to be nappy one day and straight the next already, now they could become someone totally different. You could not only be Angela Davis and Diahann Caroll, but you could also be Cher, Liza Minelli...and a blonde like Marsha Brady. And we bought it... hook, line and sinker for prices that would fill a kitchen pantry. 

But, like Rumplestiltskin says, "All magic comes with a price." 

1. Are we addicted to having our hair extended so much so that many of us look at our natural selves in the mirror and resent who we are? Some people have told me, " I look ugly without my hair straightened." Our short, coarse, curly locks have became a minor inconvenience that can be remedied by a trip to the salon. 

2. With this addiction comes what is known as Traction Alopecia. That is when your hair falls out, because it is being pulled back, braided or woven or glued. It is dyed, fried and laid to the side so much that after a while, you are bald. I have seen women still wearing braids, weaves and ponytails even after this has happened; bald around the front, and all this hair, attached some kind of way, to the back of their heads. What are they thinking?!! I'd like to know...

3. This obsession (because that's what it is) blinds us to questioning where all of this hair comes from: 

     Where does it come from?! 

      a. Temples in India, where people shave their heads in tribute to their Gods. I'll just let that sit for            a minute for us to contemplate on how many levels of wrong that really is. 

      b. From shop floors in Asia ... mainly China. Once again...contemplating. 

      c. And also from China: Goats. The hair comes from goats. Hmm. 

          Ummm...I am going to leave it right. There. 

Check out this post written by Arielle Loren on www.clutchmagonline.com:

http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2011/07/why-weaves-are-unethical/

My daughter finally took out her braids. I was becoming afraid that she had become dependent on having the long, silky, locks in her head. It had been such a long time from when she last had her natural hair out, and my begging her was only met with explanations for her keeping them in longer. As a mother, I braided her hair, but also noticed how much her natural hair needed care. It needed to be on its own. She finally spent the day, pulling each blonde lock out, one by one. And I let my hair out in solidarity. She was happy, unbound and relieved. And absolutely, amazingly beautiful. I looked in the mirror and saw...just me and my baby,  liberated and comfortable. And we were okay with that. 

I still wear a ponytail to work, since I am in a leadership position and my hair is still many different textures due to transitioning. But anywhere else, it's out. Free and unashamed.

I got some looks, though. One man stared me down so hard, that I just stared and smiled back at him. An African American lady looked at me and rolled her eyes ...wow. That is a whole other discussion. A lot of history was behind the oddity in that brief exchange. In contrast, all of my friends on Facebook applauded my step forward. Some even messaged me suggestions on how to care for my new curls. It felt good to be celebrated for me being just me. 

So, for now, I am conflicted with weaving someone or something else's hair into my head. Yet, I am not ashamed of who I am as a Black woman, and still enjoy the variety of changing my look every now and then. I wish there were a more sustainable and ethical way of buying human hair; one that could benefit the people who "cultivate" it as well as the people who buy it. Until then, I will choose my protective styles in an intelligent and discerning way. Because Zlateh, you're a billy goat, and I'm just not into sharing my scalp with you. Sorry, Boo. 

Thinking about going natural? What would it take for you make that change? What is keeping you from taking the step? Would you do a "big chop", or just let things take their course? Share your comments below!

Panera Soup at Home

Since Panera added their soup bowls to the menu, that has been my go to meal when I'm out for lunch or dinner. I love soup with chicken in it, so when I tried the Lentil Quinoa bowl, I quickly added this new comfort food to my list. But alas, I had to give it up: The Panera recipe contains soy (because of the miso). So, what better solution than to make it myself?

I went online to find a recipe, and came across a gluten/soy free recipe. I used it as a guideline, adding my own soulful kick to it. The one thing I would suggest is to boil the lentils ahead of time because canned lentils are hard to find, and use Trader Joes sliced chicken breast instead of slicing it yourself and broiling it. That way, it's already seasoned and all you have to do is warm it up and place it atop the soup when you serve it.

Quinoa Lentil Soup

6 cups of water

2 teaspoons vegetable soup paste

2 teaspoons chicken soup paste

1/2 onion

1 cup lentils, cooked

2 cups quinoa

1/2 onion, sliced into rings

2 cloves garlic, crushed

Lawry's Seasoning Salt, to taste

Ground pepper, to taste

Sprinkling of red pepper flake

1 tsp. Worstershire sauce

2 tbs. Tomato Sofrito

1 sliced tomato

A bunch of spinach and kale, fresh

A splash of fresh lemon juice

Sliced lemon

Trader Joe's cooked chicken breast slices, seasoned

October Birchbox and Essence Beauty Box Opening

     Wow! I thought last month was fun, but what could be better than doubling the treat with the newest addition to the subscription box world? Essence Magazine now has its own monthly service, the Essence Beauty Box. This box honestly thrilled me. First of all, the products-each one of them-were relevant to me...my hair, my skin, my complexion...I could use every single thing in the box! That was worth the 15.99 a month, a bit more than the 9.99 Birchbox price. The sample sizes were also rather generous. 

     

     But I'm not dismissing my pretty Birchbox, which always rocks the packaging with their cool designs, and the pink Breast Cancer Awareness box did not disappoint! What a great addition to my growing collection. What will I do with them all?!!!!!

Check out both of these awesome boxes for yourself by clicking on the links next to the pictures.

       And don't forget to watch my October unboxing on my channel at http://youtu.be/EoL9fkiAQYA !

Essence Beauty Box

Birchbox

Opening my September Birchbox!

Opening a Birchbox is equivalent to having a birthday and Christmas once a month. Here, I'll share my opening with you (also called a Birchbox Brag, or Unboxing), and hopefully, you will decide to join me in subscribing. If you are interested, please let me know by leaving your email, and I will send you an invitation. That way, you will help me get points toward free products, and give yourself an opportunity to gain points, too! This is my first vlog, so be nice! Click on the link here to check out what it's all about: Birchbox. 

Watch the u opening video by clicking on this link: http://youtu.be/98XC86xERyo

Royal

Sometimes, you just have to be bigger. 

You just have to be quiet. 

You just have to stand.

Be gracious. 

Know you are a child of the King.

And royalty means remaining dignified.

Unfrazzled. Unhurried. Unanxious. 

In the calm you must find the love in your heart.

Use kindness as a weapon against the weapons formed against you

And know that they will not prosper.

You have to keep walking.

Head up, back straight, eyes forward

And smile turned on. 

Along that difficult way, in that moment that seems 

Almost impossible, you will remember your inheritance

and who you truly are. 

You will be reminded that you are here for a purpose

that is not your own, and that you are designed for something 

greater than you or anyone can fathom. 

Because sometimes, just knowing

has to be enough.

Breathe Again

I was born at the pinnacle of the Civil Rights Movement. 1965 was a year of heated unrest as the summer brought an historical riot in Watts, a stone's throw from my family's home in Compton, CA. As I grew up, I knew who I was very early: A black child, living in a suburb of Los Angeles, CA, in a country where white people treated black people differently. It was as basic as that, yet my family always made sure that I knew that excellence was expected of me, despite the circumstances. The "Twice as Good" mentality was the paradigm of choice, which fostered a strong competitive spirit within me to always be a winner.

 

Yet, the images of the plight of my people were always around me, and the obstacles black people faced were a part of what I saw and heard. The adults in my house would speak about unfairness and "prejudice" - a word I learned very early, and news broadcasts on our black and white television told of people marching, buildings burning and people hanging from trees. Our air has been cut off for centuries. 

Black men died at the hands of the KuKluxKlan or racist mobs almost every day. I saw pictures of burnt bodies, lynched and mutilated, and wondered how and why? My little brain catalogued this time in history. We all believed it would change, eventually. And, for a while, it almost seemed like it would.

 I gave birth to two sons and married a black man believing in my heart that they would live in a world where they could walk the streets, drive in their cars, stand up for themselves with no concern or fear for their lives or safety, but the space to be and breathe freely comes at a great price, mentally, emotionally and physically. 

Photo credit: NBC News

That belief is nothing but a false hope. Fifty-five years later, it's still happening. It has happened my whole life, my parents' whole life, my grandparents' whole life, my great-grandparents' whole life. This experiential trauma is in the blood of my ancestors. Something a white person will never, ever know, for to simply walk and breathe without question is their privilege. 

And the clock has turned back with alarming speed. Five years ago, we saw time reverse itself during the Ferguson unrest, and now, with the death of George Floyd, time has frozen, yet has opened a floodgate of resistance and rebellion like never before. The stories have not changed, and we are tired. The photos are hauntingly telling of the real truth in our society: The hate in this place we must call home is alive and clearly present. And the men and boys in my life are still in danger just because they are painted a different color, the very breath taken from their lungs at the hands of a police officer. 

We cannot take a run in our neighborhood. 

photo credit: stltoday.com

We cannot drive with a left tail light out.
We cannot drive with a right tail light out.
We cannot drive without our front license plate attached.
We cannot speed.
We cannot walk down the sidewalk.
We cannot wait for the subway.
We cannot buy cigarettes from a liquor store.
We cannot walk with a soft drink and candy, wearing a hooded sweatshirt.

We cannot play in the park.

We cannot watch birds. 

We cannot find refuge and calm in our own homes. 
We cannot be regular fun-seeking teens at a pool party by mistake.
If we break the law, we die. We will breathe our last breath, alone on the street, at the end of a gun or under the knee of excessive force. For us, there is no room for mistakes.

We are still burdened with having to tell our children the Story of the Other Rule Book. And sometimes they are made believers the hard way. Many of them pay with their lives.

Photo credit: Fox 5 Washington DC

These men and boys were not all perfect. Like anyone, some made choices that may not have been the best, but there was no room given for retrospect, for self-reflection or correction. We do not get a second chance. Yet, above all, the ones who love them most are left empty and stripped. Their communities are without one more role model, father, brother, friend. We as a people are reduced. Again.

But this time, we are not silent. Because enough is enough. We are living in a time where holding our tongue and being a watcher will cost us our freedom and will be a petition of complacency and compromise. 

I have read so many posts, so many comments with different perspectives on the rebellions and uprisings that canvas our nation right now. My words have been hard to come because my heart is so full, yet it is my responsibility to speak out to include my voice as a piece of this collective tapestry in history. I need to speak my truth. 

Plain and simple: I am an African American woman who is a descendant of slaves. My ancestors came here against their will, and were stripped of every, single fiber of their being and forced to live a life equivalent to the lowest of animals. From there, we have fought for equality of the very basic rights afforded to every American citizen, yet have struggled greatly in that quest. We are looked upon as less than, yet our contributions to this country are clearly present in every single aspect. We are, without a doubt, the flavor of this nation, but we have never had the inheritance of being wholly, and fully recognized as being among the foundational and integral part of the American portrait. 

We live with bias, racism, prejudice, marginalization and misunderstanding each and every day. We, black people. If you are white, you have no idea what that is like. You do not know what it is like to live in a body that can bring an unpredictable threat to you at any time. I walk through life as a Black woman, and the bias I have experienced as a woman pales in comparison to the myriad of random microaggressions that come my way as I live through my day. As a white human being, that consciousness is non-existent. I can only wonder what it is like to simply be assessed by others based on my skills, my talent and my character, without always wondering if the energy I am feeling in awkward situations is because I am a body enveloped in black skin? 

As a mother of two sons, I have done my best to raise them to be strong, intelligent, loving men who will make great contributions to the good of the world by doing their part to make it a just and peaceful planet. That may not seem different than any other parent, but with that rearing comes the additional instruction of breaking to them the sad news that not everyone will see you as the amazing people they are; some will see them as a threat, or some will see them as not as smart, or some will not appreciate their worth, all because they are black. They will not have the chance to be taken at face value, because their face is all some people are willing to see. 

 A white mother doesn't have to tell her child:

• Don’t go anywhere by yourself
• If you get stopped, have your paperwork out already so the police have no cause to linger
• If you see a cop, roll down your window
• Don't talk too loud in public
• Keep your hands on the steering wheel
• Don't hang out in one spot too long
• Know what you're going to get while you shop before you go into the store
• Keep your hands out of your pockets
• Don't walk too close to them on the sidewalk
• Always have a witness
• If it gets too late or too dark, stay where you are
• Keep your phone juiced up
• Share your location with us
• Wear lighter colors

So, in essence, we pretty much tell our kids to work to be their best, but try to do it without being seen, don't take up too much space.  If we are remiss in our actions to remind them, they may not come home alive. 

                                                                                   

 

These are our sons. They live in our eyes and we see them. Beautiful, bold and smart. They smile, laugh, sleep, get hungry, work hard, have gifts and talents, say funny things, walk like their grandpas, act like their daddies, love their moms, blow candles out, slide into home, and have dreams and ambitions that they hope will carry them into the future. They have good days, and bad days, worse days and better days. Just like anyone. 

Now, they refuse to be invisible. They refuse to be subjected to random acts of violence and police brutality, and we stand with them. Today, we claim the right to breathe without fear.

No More.

Hello Again

I almost forgot I had this...

   Two years ago, I began this blog to post my thoughts and share my favorite things with others...


Then left it alone.

Why? Why did I begin something so important, then abandon it? I think maybe because I felt like I didn't have much to say. Along with the fact that maintaining a blog proved to be a rather daunting task for someone going through grad school at the time, and all I did was sit in front of the computer. I did not want to do that for much else.

So two years have passed...
I am now 50. I celebrated my 50th in a big way by inviting friends and family over for a wine tasting party. It was a delightful and memorable occasion, where Stella Rosa did make an appearance as a good natured ribbing by my sister!  Everyone laughed and then rushed to open the bottle. They love that stuff!

But all in all, it was a great time and a fun learning experience for everyone. We all found new favorites and a few we didn't like, and I acquired a respectable cache of wine that has lasted me through the summer.

My birthday cake!

Looking back on my life, I can honestly say that I have no intention of

My little Babu loves his Gigi!

slowing down. I have learned many valuable lessons that I take into this second half that will only aid in creating more successful adventures along the way. The most important things that carry me is knowing that I am loved and valued, that making your dreams come true is nobody's job but yours, and that your word really and truly is all you have. Using that word to bless others is the sweetness in life, and in turn, God abundantly blesses you.

Me and my sweetie Goinstrong!

I now have my MBA, I have a grandson, Jimmy and I have celebrated 25+ years together, and my skills as a photographer have improved enough to give me confidence to embark on more creative projects. I also have grown rather unconcerned with what people think about me, yet have become more mindful of what I think about others. Wisdom comes with age, and youth is wasted on the young, they say. While that may be true, I intend to stay young at heart, stretching to the horizons and living life with a capital L. Like my husband Jimmy says, "We aren't getting out of here alive!" I am going to ride it all the way, until the wheels fall off!