The ShinnySideUp Story

Someone recently inquired as to how it came to past I started "my' own website. I began to tell the story of how I had found the 'RidinTheWind' website and my family on 'TheWall'. But I thought the best way to explain it all would be by reading the posts put up by the members of that site and how it is we all ended up here. These people and many others are the REAL reason SSU is here.

Using selected postings from S&BdelWall , here follows the story of ShinnySideUp. The Story begins............

A Saturday morning: After reading on the Wall, Janet and Kelly1 discuss how they would get the design Janet had drawn for T-shirts, out where everyone could see it.... HammerLady knows of the MSN Communities sites where people can post their own pictures and sets up "The Sisters and Brothers of the Wall' then after making sure all is in place.... Lets everyone on The Wall know it's there for their use.

June 4

Howdy! Nice job Terry. I gotta tell ya though, hubby and I have had discussions about the cat from hell in a thong, with garden gloves, lime green scarf and bluehair glasses. The mental picture we get is of Bill the Cat sputtering and spewing with one eye wide open and a leg cocked off to the side wearing the gear for a ride. How ridiculously funny. I hope everyone else from the wall gets a chance to post their pics here. As soon as I can finagle a picture to post, I'll put it up. Me and the V-Star looking cool until I kill the engine at a light. Keep the shiny side up! Becky

Good job girl, just stopped in to say hi, and post my pic. I damn sure didn't want to be the only guy to put one on the Wall. Michael

I like it, I like it and it was easy to get to, too!!! Thanks, Terry, for another spot for us to communicate in. Keep the shiny side up!!! Kris

Super job Hammerlady! Love the sight! We gotta get permission from the wall admin to do the 'cat' ridin' the wall T-shirt. Jean

Just wanted to drop a note and say what a great idea this site is. As soon as I find a good picture of myself and my Rebel I will post. Michael what a great scoot and nice trailer too.Hope this post works here goes nothin'. KitKat

Way to go hammerlady!! I sure hope I can figure out how to get some pics on the site. Where is a face to go with your scoot?? I think of you guys as family, great to feel a little closer. Who's the poor little one getting wrote up? Hubby loved that pic!! Starting off early he said!! Probably busted for loud pipes!!! Anyway just wanted to say thanks for whole gang, I know it had to take some time to get together!! Charlotte

Thanks for the good words.... I feel like a parental unit with this site. I'm pleased it's going to work for all to post pictures etc..... and Jean yeah... I thought about the permission thing too... hope I don't catch hell for it... it's the reason why I linked back to the Wall.... and gave RidinTheWind all credits. I hope we will get the go ahead for shirts... You’re most Welcome Charlotte and all… but as I said at the Wall… it was so easy to do I almost hate taking any credit at all. I just knew there was an easier way to get pictures up for everyone to see and post. I had myself a little scare yesterday... I had tried to go to the wall and kept getting "site not found" for about an hour... all I could think of was "if that site goes down, I'll loose my family!!" A moment of panic... then it let me in :) Again All.... Thanks for the good words and support. And Keep Posting those pictures!! HammerLady

Ok got up this morning, checked the wall, tried to post twice and both times failed. I noticed no one else has posted either. It did seem to load quicker. Hope it's fixed soon. Scary thing is no e-mail for me either. Makes me wonder if I'm all alone here in cyberspace!! Charlotte

I'm having the same problem with posting on the Wall. Maybe the server decided that the Wall has taken all of it's allotted space and has stopped accepting posts. Hope everyone thinks to switch over to this site instead! Maybe someone should send out some emails to some of the regulars on the Wall using their personal email addresses and see if we can get everyone switched over! It would solve the slow-loading problem if everyone were using this site to post to instead.... Just an idea, folks Tempest

Tempest, I'm on vacation this week, if the wall doesn't get fixed by tomorrow, I'll tackle e-mailing some of the gang from the wall. I hope they reply. I'm always leery of opening any e-mails from strangers. Maybe I'll post something about the wall in the Subject. Hopefully they'll respond here. This was the next place I checked when the wall failed me. I noticed it did not take nearly as long to load. Maybe the Webmistress is working on the site and cleaning it up. Charlotte

hey, i was getting all kind of server errors when i tried posting to the wall. i am also having a problem in reading yr message, Charlotte. (i did see the comment to Tempest but couldn't read the original message). guess until Denise gets back (or gets things in order), we will have to post to our other wall.... Quickfire

Q-Fire I kept getting errors too when I tried to post, on the wall this morning. I don't know what's going on. I'm going to e-mail some and remind them of this site. I enjoy posting on both. I'd hate to see the wall go! Charlotte

Yes Ladies...... and Gents too..... 'twould appear that The Wall has maxed, server wise... the oldest entry is still 4/20/01... my guess would be close to 1000 pages... the reason it's loading faster is cause the lack of new entries so it knows just to load what's there. Anyway.... yes you can send a "form letter/e-mail" to all members here... should you wish tho, to include all there will be those that have yet sign up here that are on the Wall....one would need to go gather those addresses... another option also... as I've seen a few of you there...... is to email V-TwinMama with our temporary problem and let her know of this place too (besides... that she's be recommending Ridin'TheWind site and should know that it's temp outta service) I don't remember who on the wall... would have to go look... but it was mentioned that Denise (Wall mistress) was going through a "life re-adjustment", I would hate to assume anything but we just watched Pigmy go through a 'life re-adjustment' which lets ME know I need to be patient. The Wall is a great place and I'm sure it'll come right when it's time. Meanwhile... I'm glad I've not lost my friends and we still have a place to find each other and share our experiences and the sage advice of Wildmans SofHKs and Adventures. Ride Safe Terry aka HammerLady

HammerLady has hinted at being a 'puter geek in prior postings.... this statement carves it in stone.

Oh woe is us!!! I hope Denise is able to re-adjust soon and we can get back to the good ol' Wall......I wish her luck!!!……… Well, I hope we all find each other at this site until The Wall gets back to normal!!! Ride Safe All!!! Kris

Then...Oh HAPPY DAY! We're back in business!! But it proves to be the Final Days.

I just logged on to the Wall and was so sad to see it's gone. I hope the best for Denise, but I will really miss it. These last few months since I found the wall have been great. I've learned so much from the folks on there, I really don't think I would have had the courage to face the stuff I've faced without everybody's support. It helps to know someone else has the same fears and problems as yourself. I hope that more will come to this sister site. It's great too, and if not for it I would not have had the faces to go with the names. One last salute to the Wall. Sniff, Sniff
Charlott

I join in with everybody else in feeling so sad 'cuz "our" Wall has disappeared.....What a shock!!! Thank goodness Hammerlady started this new site for us, so we still have a forum to get together in. It's too bad one of us couldn't have taken over for Denise, but that's the way it goes.......mayhaps this will be a step on the way to better things!!!!! I'm gonna go pout for awhile!!! Ride Safe everybody!!! Kris

Charlotte, thank you! for including me on your email directing to this new site, even though I only posted to the Wall once, right after I got my new bike earlier this month. I'm glad I didn't lose such a welcoming group right after I found you all! Judith

Somebody might e mail Denise and ask her to post a link to this site. Somebody might offer to buy the Wall from her. I don't know who this "somebody" is, but just a thought. Michael

Hey Micheal, That's an idea, but I wonder how much a site would cost???? But, if it was a nominal fee - I'm sure we'd be willing to chip in. I think the "someone" that would be able to pull off running the wall would have to know how to get around the puzzles and possess 'geeklike' qualities to run the thing - mmmmmm - I wonder who that would be?! (wink, wink) Jean

Michael and Jean and all…. Believe me…. I’ve given thought to all you are suggesting here. (after my grief was spent it was my first thought, I’ve been content for years to just look what was out there on the net…. But this is important enough for me to finally take the step of becoming a “formal” webmaster because I don’t want to loose you guys) I have begun to look into the possibility of a web site ‘sutto’ RidinTheWind format…complete with a ‘Wall’ type format. There are so many options available but I’ve just started looking…….. if you could please bare with me while I do my research as to where/how/price etc.. until I come up with the answer to this puzzle. Michael you did have a fine suggestion of checking into Denise ‘selling’ or at the very least ‘leasing’ the ownership of ‘RTW’ until she was in the position of taking control again is a good one. I don’t know how to get in touch with her, so that’s a problem also. Anywho… this geek is hot on the trail of seeking a solution. .......I’m tryin’ Ride Safe HammerLady

July 27

It's good to see that people are shifting over to this site. I thought you would all be lost forever. As far as the best way to post here, I am clueless in Seattle. LipstickHiker

I am sooooo sorry to see the passing of the wall. I wish Denise all the best and thank her for the tremendous amount of work she put into the wall. I have great hopes for this sister site and all that come here. Thanks to Hammerlady for her willingness to take on this task, it must be quite daunting. Sandy

Just thought I'd bring ya'll up to date on where I'm at with RTW and the possibility of building a new site. Kris and I had an e-mail exchange that resulted in Denise was e-mailed our proposal of purchasing or leasing the rights to RTW. Kris sent her my e-mail address so she would have the option of contacting me on the subject . It was her choice of getting back involved was hers to make and her privacy was still protected. As of yet (that was three days ago) I have not heard from her. In the meanwhile I think I have found, but have yet to test and implement a quick solution to the posting like we did on the Wall and be able to access it though this site. Where as building a whole new web site would take me weeks to do.( cause there's only so many hours in a day and I do have to work) It's gonna take the time and resources also, of finding, setting up and appling for a web host (which I can swing and happy to do so) but again... it all takes time. Also... I wish to give credit to JKAWrench (my husband) who is actually doin' most of this research, he's done a few sites already and is already way ahead of me on this stuff, he's giving me the "Evlen Wood Speed Reading Course" on Web Hosting. It's become a team effort between us to get this moving. When I do sign up for web hosting I will also have to apply for a domain name, to be registered for 2 years. I kinda think 'The Sisters and Brothers of The Wall' is a bit much for a domain name.... Any ideas? (beside my "SBdelWall"... or 'SistersOfThe Thong"?..... where's Wildman when you need him?) And **Charlotte** you had said you'd had some e-mails come back, I've a few e-mail address of people that I have yet to see make it here. If you wanna send me a list of those you need yet I'll see if I have them. (When I tried to do the copy and paste thing from the wall...... seems I picked up a few e-mail address' with it) Sandy** You said a mouthful when you said "it must be daunting" to take on this task. And it is. But I can't think of a better cause to get me off my e-butt and just do it than keeping us all together and allow others to find the form I found of support when riding motorcycles and the fun that goes with it. Ride Safe! HammerLady

Yayyyy Hammerlady! You go girl! There is absolutely nothing I can do to help because I'm a computer dunce. But I'm givin' ya lots of moral support Kelly1

Hammerlady, Wildman does not feel as if he needs to comment on name for alternate site. He does however feel, that The Wall was conceived for women by women and should so remain. Wildman loves to hang out in the ladies room and if it were to change...don't know as it would be as much fun as it has been. "Thongs in the Wind"

Hammerlady, Just an idea, but a common term used by some old WALLITES when signing off, was "keep your knees in the breeze" and I always liked that phrase. Maybe the new site could just be named "knees in the breeze" or KITB? Or....something to do with our shared addiction to motorcycleslike "Motorcycle Addicted Siblings" or MAS. I'm just thinking out loud here...everyone feel free to join in...don't be shy!! Thanks again for making this huge effort for all of us!! Teresa

Imagine my surprise to come back after a couple of weeks away, sit down ready to catch up on the wall and it's gone! I was in shock and went out and tried it again just to be sure. I felt sad that the first site I really felt comfortable posting on is now gone. I came here to check out what had happened and am glad to find most everyone has found their way here. ….. KitKat

Terry, have to say i kinda like Teresa's 'knees in the breeze' .... or something referencing woman and bikes, i.e., metal and lace - chrome and roses - carbs and thongs.... lol if you need (or want) help financially to set up and or maintain the website, let me know, i will be most happy to provide ongoing donations (i got some change here somewhere...) seriously, let me know. in my opinion, you are taking on a pretty daunting task and shouldn't have to shoulder the burden alone (even if you want too!). yesterday evening my son helped me to look at setting up a free website forum, but it would be set up the same (with threads) as msn communities. it would be consecutive, but would still have threads.... nothing like the Wall. Marianne

Thanks all for your suggestions, ideas and offers of $ help. Like when I needed support with the riding stuff, your input has been most helpful. Not to mention given me the boost to keep at it. The next step has been taken. After checking the web……. Domain names already on the web… etc……(would you believe “kneesinthebreeze” will take you to a parachuting web site??) I needed to come up with something else not taken. Keeping with Teresa's idea of a sign off……. Shinny Side Up .com has been bought and paid for as the future site of The Brothers and Sisters of the Wall. Before we’re done (husband person is workin’ like crazy on this….. dang it’s wonderful to be married to a biker geek!!) I hope it will come close to what we found at RTW. You all were what made the Wall what it was… so I’m sure that’s not a problem, I’m just tryin’ to find the right format. We are hitting blockades on finding a non-threaded message board like that of the Wall. That type of format is near extinct. I'd give ya all the boring details, but I'm still in hiding from the 'GeekPolice') The one I thought I’d found turns out to be threaded but the search continues… Dang I wish for a clue where Denise found hers. Marianne… if your son wishes to join the search, would be cool…… In the end…. I hope to have the site up and running soon (sorry…”soon” like on a calendar, not “soon” like on a watch)…..Thanks again for your support and patience while husband and I work at this. Hammer

Serendipity n., the faculty of making desirable but unsought-for discoveries by accident. It was serendipity that brought me to RTW and the Wall while spending months recovering from my bike accident. A place where I found sisters (and a couple of big brothers) who had either experienced the things I had been through or were about to. Serendipity again that Kelly1 and Janet needed a place to show off Janet's design for us Wallites and I knew about communities where anyone could post a photo easily. Serendipity, The Sisters and Brothers of the Wall was pretty solid in place when we lost our Wall so we did loose each other. What I'm getting to here.... ShinnySideUp .com and Serendipity (our nu Wall) is UP AND RUNNING!! There are a lot of things yet to be done but it can all be done in the background while we fulfill the request for a "wall like area" to post. I need to express my deepest love and gratitude to my husband, James. Without his unwavering search and efforts it would have been months, instead of weeks to put ShinnySideUp together. I hope you continue to come to TheS&BdelWall for easily posted pictures and because the more we use this place the more women (and gents too) will find ShinnySideUp and the family we have. Ride Safe HammerLady

Wow you guys!!! You just gotta go take a look!!! It's wonderful and our pics are even up!!! Great job Terry & James......I think Terry should be rider of the month for August....she definitely deserves to be the first!!! Take a look, take a look, take a look!!! Kris jumping up and down for joy......

Thank you to All, for without your support and encouragement ShinnySideUp may not have ever come to past. My wish is that you continue to support each other on the road, on the web and as always........ Ride Safe! HammerLady