50 Before 50 #4 Jeep Tattoo Check

It's been almost two years since I got my first tattoo. And it's true what they say. It is addicting, just like the Jeep. So far I have 5 tattoos, actually it's 6.

Last week I went in to get my Zodiac sign tattoo "fixed". I just didn't like the "stamped" look. In my opinion tattoos on women need to be feminine, curvy. 

When I was in San Francisco on a girls weekend get-a-way we decided to get tattoo's. I knew eventually I wanted my zodiac sign tattoo. But it just needed something more. Thomas at Classic Electric tattoo helped me "girl" it up. I love it now. 

While I was there I also had him give me my Jeep tattoo. I knew eventually I would get one, but my Jeep tattoo had to be just right. I came up with the idea while on my vacation. I absolutely love it! 


Am I done getting tattoos? I think so, but you just never know when the inspiration will strike.


      My First Tattoo 


       My Second Tattoo

    My Third Tattoo

My Fourth Tattoo

Bucket List: Wells, Maine CHECK

For years I have been researching my family tree. I love to find out interesting facts from the past. One tree branch I stumbled onto was my 8th great grandfather who was born in England. 

Edmond Littleton came to the America in the 1600's. He ended up bringing his family to the coast of Maine. They were one of the first families to settle in the town of Wells, Maine. 

Littleton built the first dwelling in Wells in 1641. He also built the first saw and grist mill along the Webhannet Falls. This visit has been on my bucket list for at least ten years. I was so excited to be able to actually see the site of the dwelling and mill. 

Whittling Down my 50 Before 50 List

During my mini-get-away with my sister and niece up on the Northeast coast, I was able to check off many items on my 50 Before 50 list.

We made a stop in Salem, Massachusetts to check out all the Salem Witch historic sites. This stop along the way on our trip was very interesting. One of the tours was a ghost tour which is #37 on my list. 

I also added an impromptu item to my list after this ghost tour. I have never had a martini before. I always see folks drinking them in the movies. So I decided to try a Salem special, the Salem witch martini. It was so yummy. I now have started trying other specialty martini's. 

I checked off #11 by tasting a Bloody Mary. YUK! My niece did say there are some that are really good. So now I am on a search of places that serve top rated Bloody Mary's.









My niece ordered seared Sashimi and told me I should try it.  It would be a great intro to get me ready to try #2 Sushi. It was quite tasty! 


While on this trip I was also able to check off a bucket item & 50 Before 50 item. Hear more about this one on Friday when I post about #7 visit Wells, Maine.  

My Amazing Meet Up

Girls Weekend Getaway

During my vacation along the coast of Maine, my sister, niece and I decided to hike the trails at Acadia National Park. 






This National Park has the most spectacular views. Acadia is right next door to Bar Harbor, Maine. It is a mountain that sits along the coast with a shoreline etched with rocky cliffs. 

My niece likes to push the envelope and heads out to the edges of the rocky shoreline. There were times I would have to yell at her to get back because my heart couldn't handle it. 





Once we hit Thunderhole, a little inlet where the waves crash into the rocks, the three of us got separated. My sister was at the bottom of the stairs, as I was still at the top. My sister let out a yell. I looked around for my niece fearing she fell in. I couldn't find her. I then looked to my sister who was standing next to this man. She yelled out -- "Uncle Wally".  

OMG!!! It was my mom's brother and his wife who live in California. They just happened to be hiking in the park as well. What are the odds? It was the most amazing random meet up I have ever had. I hadn't seen them in over 20 years.

Finally The Wait is Over!

As I was sitting on a bench in a beach town on the coast of Maine during my girls weekend away, my cellphone rang. It was Chuck from Adam's Xtreme MotorSports.
He called to tell me my Jeep was done. I was so excited! I wanted to see it right then, but I was still two days away from the end of my vacation. I asked Chuck to send me a picture. He said no way, he wanted to see my reaction in person.

When my plane landed we drove straight to Adams to pick up my Jeep. I was very excited. As you can see in this video I was looking for my Jeep... 

"Where's My Jeep Video"






They hid my Jeep out back, just so they could pull it around to surprise me. I was so excited I forgot to record the video.

It was awesome! I was finally in a "big" Jeep, no longer a "baby" Jeep. Or so that's how I felt around all those lifted Jeeps at Rausch Creek. 

Driving home was amazing. 
"Driving Home My Lifted Jeep" Video

I was sitting right up there with the truckers. The wheels didn’t make that "whoomp", "Whoomp" sound like I hear… but my top was up. I was a little tense on the ride, 75 miles on the interstate. It was a worry of tipping over on the curves. The ride sure wasn’t any bumpier than normal. 



Now my favorite thing is to park next to stock Wranglers so I can admire my Jeep. 

You can listen to my story on the Jeep Talk Show Episode 229.
Click here

Oh yeah... It fits in the garage with just less than three quarters of an inch to spare, but only with the top fully on, or all the way down. 

50 Before 50 /Bucket List

I started a great tradition last year with my sister and niece. A tradition, I hope to continue each year. We pick a place we have never been before, and get away for a girls weekend. Last year we hit Northern California. What a great time! 

A Vacation Without My Jeep 

A Jeep Momma Blog Post May 19, 2015

This year we are flying into Boston then heading up the coast for stops at the Boston Tea Party, Salem, Massachusetts, Wells, Maine, and Acadia National Park.






I am excited to be able to check off many of my 50 Before 50 items on my list. Stay tuned to see which ones I check off. Then... the exciting part about getting back from this vacation is not only sharing what I checked off my list BUT....  if all goes as planned, my Rubicon will be all grow-ed up.

PHASE 2: Waiting for Jeep Parts

This past Thursday I received a very exciting phone call while I was at work. When I went to answer the phone I saw the caller ID.  I yelled "YEAH" out loud. My co-workers looked at me like I was a freak. But I guess you could say I am a Jeep Freek. 

Well... the caller ID read Adams Jeep. I knew exactly what that meant. My lift kit finally shipped from MetalCloak! 


   JK True Dual-Rate Lift Kit 3.5", RockSport Edition





But... It will take 4 to 5 business days. By my calculations my lift kit will arrive just as I am heading out for my trip with my sister. Good news! I can drop off my Jeep at Adams and it will be all ready for my by the time I get back from my mini-vacation. 



The bad news I will have to endure waiting Phase 3. But it will so be worth it.

Drain Plugs

Looking Forward to More Sun!

Our weather has been nothing but cold, rainy days. It really puts a damper on your mood. I don't know how folks in the Northeast deal. But finally... this weekend the sun appeared! Something we all really needed. Especially my Jeep. 

I was being a little stubborn with Mother Nature, and refusing to put my windows on the rear of my Jeep for the past two months. Unfortunately, Mother Nature won. Kind of...  Once the sun came out I decided to dry out the back of my Jeep.

Little did I realize the rain water pooled in my Jeep's trunk, the storage area for my jack, and under the rear seats. I remember other Jeepers talk about drain plugs, so I went in search of mine. In the trunk and the jack storage space, they were easy to find.



However, the ones under the seat were a little more work. 

'15 Jeep Wrangler Drain Plug: A JeepMomma YouTube Video

All in all, so far, I have found 8 drain plugs.

One in the Jeep Trunk

One in the Jack Storage space

Two under the rear seats

Two in the rear foot wells

Two in the front foot wells

Thankfully the sun came out, so I was able to dry out my carpet. However, I am considering taking all the carpet out of my Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and bed-lining my Jeep. We will see. First, I need to get that lift, tires and wheels done.

Molle Panel Install

I am running out of things to do to keep me busy while I wait

for my Jeep Wrangler parts to arrive. I called the Extreme Shop on Monday, and was told hopefully my lift will ship on Friday! Fingers crossed. 


In the meantime, I am trying to find little things to satisfy my Jeep Parts fix. So today... with the help of a co-worker, I installed my Molle Panel. 

The cool thing about where I work is all the tools we have. The directions called for a step drill bit or a 13/32" drill bit, and a center punch. All of which I don't have. Luckily these tools were at my disposal at work. 

 

The Justice Off Road folks do provide a Rivnut Installation Tool, but I didn't need it because at my shop we have our own Rivnut tool (I am not sure what it's called). However, I did not have the hand strength to use it. So I had to call in extra muscle.





Installing this Molle panel was fun for me because I drilled my first hole into my Jeep, well eight holes. It was a pretty easy project. Now I can't wait to hook up all my Molle bags.