OK Divas, who's going this year?

I'm trailering up (solo) from southeast Georgia. Supposed to be 1100 miles or so. I've never been to Wisconsin, so I'm really looking forward to it. Wanted to ride up, but would take too long.

My yellow Vespa is covered with flower decals! You can't miss me, so please say hello!

Elaina

Hi Elaina,
I'll be there! My husband and I are riding from Brooklyn. I'll be on my Blackjack and he'll be on his red Vespa GTS 300. We're staying at the Harbor Shores motel Thurs-Sun. You?
Here's the pic I just posted on Modernbuddy's "Amerivespa Roll Call" thread.
Kate

_________________
Like a bird on the wire,
like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
-Leonard Cohen

Hey Kate,

I think I'm at the Super 8, Thursday - Sunday. I'll find you guys! You can't miss my yellow GTS 250 with the flower stickers! I am completely unable to load pics, but Happy Camper has some on facebook and she's got a link somewhere on here!

I'm so ready to get on the road!!! Can't wait for the fun rides.
Elaina

Don't forget to look up Liz, aka Scoots McGillicuddy (did I spell that right?) at the Gen-U-Bin booth! And Belkwinith with her Blue Dragon Piaggio BV500.

And please also look out for a NH friend...an Expresso (brown) color Vespa LXV 150 with NH plates...her name is Jacque.

Groovymom's yellow Vespa below...

Belkie's scoot:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26441510@N ... otostream/

Hi Hi!!

Yea!! We are excited! We will be starting out from NWFL on Tuesday! We are trailering and will be going part way on the Great River Road! We are hoping to hit some good food spots and see some great views!

We are only going to set up as vendors on one day (or maybe not depending on how much fun we are having on scoots!) We are looking forward to doing the 10 Lake Ride! We are bringing our two Buddys. His is orange and mine a light blue St. Tropez.

Ok....now for the truth. I don't really want to go at all. I just found out last week, and had it confirmed by a Vet Cardiologist specialist that one of my precious kitty kids is in Congestive Heart Failure. He has been officially diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. He is only four years old but this is a genetic condition that apprently is presenting itself at the "usual" age. He is on all sorts of drugs and is doing better. When we took him to the vet for the first time last Monday they pulled 333 cc's of fluid from his lungs. (!!!) The cardiologist said she has had really great success with drug therapy and he could possibly live anothe 3-5 years. Of course, this is with the understanding that cats with this diagnosis frequently just fall over dead with no warning if the heart does weird things. Then she used the word devastating to a find in the scan. He also has a big clot in the left side of his heart. THIS is a huge problem as if/when it breaks off it will be ugly. We have to watch his breathing constantly for any signs that he might be retaining fluid again. Although he is on two different drugs for that. In reality, could any of this happen at any time? Yes. Could it happen while we are gone? Yes. Could it not happen while we are gone?? Yes. But my Crazy Cat Lady Momma mind will not relax. I've talked to my pet sitter and she is going to stay here nights. I know...I know...but I think that is the only way I might be able to relax and enjoy our time at Amerivespa. Ohhh...how I wish the timing were different. But life is like that I suppose. Arggh...thanks for letting me vent a little here.

Liz, I am a cat owner. I have never been without a cat except when I went away for military training where I could not have a cat. At the moment, I have one cat. At one time, I had 4 cats. My ex is a veterinarian. I am a cat person. Our dog's name is Shadow, but it's my cat follows me everywhere and is my shadow.

My mom, a human being, had CHF. I went from meeting it as a casual (that's not the right word, but I didn't realize how serious it was at first) one time thing to what it was; something the doctors could not overcome. They drew he fluid off many, many times, and finally reached a point where they said uncle. Your vet probably has a good heart. They also have a bank account. They will likely do as much as you want to spend to put off the inevitable. The drugs will hopefully ward off the discomfort of your pet. They are also giving you time to say goodbye.

We had to make a decision when our Corgi reached a critical stage. I know it's hard. We let animals into out heart and think of them as family...we even talk to ours like they are human. But the reality is that they aren't. When the time comes that you have to give your kitty up, please consider that there are so many, many cats out there that would love to have a place in someones heart. And it takes people like us to take care of them; not everyone likes pets or has a place in their life already for one. My husband swore he did not want another dog (because of the pain of losing ours), and was not happy when 3 days later my son and I came home with a Husky mix. It took about an hour before the dog managed to burn those innocent eyes through my husband's grief, and very shortly after that there were hugs and laughter and the next day a excited trip to the pet store for new toys. Some people think the logical thing to do is give themselves time. I say when it happens, there is no better therapy than to give another animal a home. You will never be able to replace certain habits your pet has. You don't have to forget your pet when it happens. But in the back of your mind, maybe consider that it is the cycle of life, and that it's something to look ahead and think about.

We stayed awake one night years ago agonizing over good friends who were in an emergency clinic with their dog, who had been bit by a rattle snake. Rattle snake antivenom is not cheap. The first vial, a couple of hundred dollars, is an easy choice. But with each vial, you have to reevaluate. And at some point, they were going to have to put a price on their pet. We did not envy them that night. That can sure be an emotionally charged decision at a time like that. You go into a shelter, and you see a cute cat or dog in a cage, and you are happy to pay the $50 adoption fee. But you'd probably look elsewhere if the shelter wanted $4000 for the cat, right? But once we start to think of them as our "kids," and emotion enters into it...we can make ourselves nuts.

It's never easy to lose a beloved pet. I am so sorry to hear you've found yourself at this juncture with yours.

I'm here! I hope to meet all of you! I'm on a Genuine Blackjack (NY plates with Modern Buddy, NYC, Brooklyn, and Donkei Skok stickers - and a Scooter Dork sticker when I decide where to put it) and my husband is on a red Vespa GTS 300. Staying at Harbor Shores.
Scoots, I'm so sorry about your cat. That's really tough.

_________________
Like a bird on the wire,
like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
-Leonard Cohen

Last Elaina posted, several hours ago, she was still south of Chicago. She should have arrived late this evening. Jacque and her husband from NH are there; they brought a brown Vespa and a yellow Honda Big Ruckus on a red pickup. Jacque posted, the Big Ruck had broken down and had been hauled off for repair early Thursday morning. But they're there. Some friends from Maine rode a BMW motorcycle out, and are using scoots already there to ride. I'm not sure if it's their red Vespa with Maine plates, or a borrowed local scoot.