Am meeting some of the peeps from STAR 422 at Wingstuff in Lake Forest at 10 AM, providing they WAIT for me since my class is from 8:15 to 9:15 AM and I'd still have to change and dry my hair somewhat. Wet hair on a motorcycle? OH, PLEASE. I figure if I hit the ground running after class, throw off my wet gym shirt/shorts, throw on the jeans and stuff I came to class in, dry my hair somewhat under those wall-mount dryers while changing (meanwhile, tons of clothes and a bag and shit are at my feet), and hopefully leave the parking lot at 9:29 sharp because it's 31 minutes from the club to Wingstuff. So says Mapquest.com.
We shall see.
Yeah, yeah, class before food, that's SO smart-work it off BEFORE I eat it.
Let's see, the 'Big John All You Can Eat Meat' breakfast is around 2,000 calories, but I'll only be working off about 500 calories in the morning, so that means the rest of the day I have to find SOMETHING that'll work off another 1500 calories...
'Course, there's one kind of secret weapon I have...
ALII.
More stuff to come!!!
http://www.tiptopmeats.com/
Herein lies a tale or two, of family, good friends, and times past. All my wonderful (and not-so-wonderful but still memorable) memories in e-form will now forever last. An e-scrapbook of people and places I love, protected from the ravages of the years, and I can now share these tales with others, eliciting laughter, e-kisses and tears. (although quite frankly, an e-kiss is a DEFINITE waste of energy in MY opinion. No caloric content whatsoever. Sigh. Oh well, I'll take it.)
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
All I Need To Know About Life I Learned from Motorcycling.
I found this article online. Pretty damned good, in my opinion.
As much as many small brained people may claim otherwise, motorcyclists are human - to varying degrees of course. (They’re not ALL knuckle-draggers) And, like all humans, we develop a philosophy of life and basic values, many of these being shaped by our lifestyle of riding motorcycles. I found an article on the variety of basic life philosophies online at www.megarider.com/articles , life philosophies that have been shaped by the pursuit of motorcycling. The more repeatable of these they list, without prejudice, below:
• Variety is the spice of life: one day travel at the speed of a tired turtle, the next day give it heaps!
• Find your place in the sun, even if it's while you wait for your daughter to finally show up for breakfast which has now become lunchtime.
• If you're not receiving enough attention, try giving a cop the finger.
• Always give generously - a large patch of oil left on a friend's driveway tells them that you care. (only if you have a Harley-METRICS don’ DO that)
• Always be willing to accept another's seniority - especially if it's a big rig.
• Only put your foot down when you really need to.
• Success is a frame of mind, so think quickly as that cop approaches you.
• Strive for excellence, not perfection - leave the latter useless pursuit to those who build custom motorcycles.
• Get acquainted with a good lawyer, accountant and mechanic - the order in which you do this depends upon what and how you ride.
• Wear out - don't crash out, or rust out.
• Learn to recognize the inconsequential, then ignore it - unless it's a speed limit in a speed camera area.
• Lie on your back and look up at the stars - unless you are riding your motorcycle at the time.
• Measure people by the size of their hearts, not the size of their motorcycle. Or any body part.
• Know when to speak up - which is not at 75 MPH into a headwind.
• Evaluate yourself by your own standards, not by someone else's - they may be riding on borrowed time.
• Be a self-starter - better still, be an electric starter.
• Smile a lot - but only if you have a visor on your helmet.
• Re-ride your favorite road.
• Never under-estimate your ability to change yourself - after a close call it will come naturally.
• Never acquire just one riding buddy.
• Focus on making things better, not bigger - especially if it's your motorcycle.
• Once in your life own and ride a motorcycle.
• Never encourage anyone to become a politician - unless they ride a motorcycle.
• Learn to do something beautiful with your hands - and you'll never be lonely. ??? I'm afraid to ask what this actually means.
• Show respect for everyone who works for a living, even streetsweepers - a happy streetsweeper keeps the road surface clean.
• Wave to people for the fun of it - it keeps people happy, makes you feel good, and keeps the clutch arm supple.
• Every day look for some small way to improve the way you do things - especially the way you ride.
• Never use the last nine - tenths.
• Even if you cannot give the very best, give your very best.
• When you are hot under the collar, keep your head cool.
• Never under-estimate the power of forgiveness - your bike will forgive all sorts of poor riding actions if they are isolated incidents.
• Don't carry a grudge - a motorcycle has no room for excess baggage.
• Never tell anyone they look tired or depressed - even if you're lifting their bike off them at the time.
• Be enthusiastic about the success of others - even if you're insanely jealous at the time.
• Improve your performance by improving your attitude.
• Go the distance - and on your own bike.
• Every once in a while take the scenic route.
• Move up when you feel you are ready - not when others think you are ready.
• When playing games with children, let them win - when riding with a boy racer, let him win.
• Don't learn the tricks of the trade, learn the trade.
• Teach, Learn, Ask "why" and "what if" a lot?
• Look as if you are in control of your motorcycle - it will probably fool the motorcycle into believing it too.
• Don't lend precious things to friends - you might lose both.
• Don't give advice. Just say what you do or would do in a similar situation - you're not there to teach. You're there to help them learn.
• Leave whining to CX500 drive shafts.
• Your epitaph should read "No regrets and lots of fun". AMEN AMEN AMEN-I'm gonna change my Facebook to reflect that.
• Invest in skill and knowledge. The returns are fantastic.
• If friends ask you to be honest with them, don't.
• Don't smoke - and the same goes for your motorcycle.
• Rekindle old friendships - ride an older model once in a while. Not just motorcycles.
• Never ask a policeman or mechanic for riding advice - they're trained to find problems, not solutions.
• Don't spread yourself too thinly - learn how to ride within your abilities.
• Give thanks before every ride - and greater thanks at the end of every enjoyable ride.
• Compliment even small improvements - especially when made by a learner or a mechanic.
• Don't expect life to be fair - that way you're more likely to see hidden speed cameras.
• Try never to set yourself a strict timetable - otherwise you'll never have time to explore unexpectedly delightful highways and bi-ways.
• Happiness is not dependant on possessions, power, or prestige but on relationships with people you love and respect - and your motorcycle.
• Clothes maketh the man - and protective clothing holds him together.
• 'Tis not victory nor speed that defines a man, but wisdom and courage.
• If you miss the magic of the moment by focusing on what's to come, you need to slow down.
• Donate two pints of blood every year - someday the gift may be repaid.
• Love your fellow human being but install an anti-theft alarm on your motorcycle.
• Leave everything a little better than you found it - especially if the bike was loaned by a friend.
• Write a "thank you" note to the policeman who gave you the speeding ticket - a little confusion goes a long way.
• Don't expect money to bring you happiness - unless it's spent on a good bike.
• Avoid making sarcastic remarks - actions speak louder than words.
• Never take action when you're angry - cool down before you kick that car door in.
• Learn CPR - you'll need it for CPR (Charlies Practicing Racing) victims.
• Take time to smell the roses - and the cow poo and diesel on the road surface, too.
• Occasionally stop and read historical roadside markers - it will give you a future excuse to stop when things get too hot on a Sunday ride.
• Get your priorities right. No dying motorcyclist ever said; "Gee, I've spent too much time riding motorcycles”.
And that's the way it was on Sunday, August 8th, 2010.
L
As much as many small brained people may claim otherwise, motorcyclists are human - to varying degrees of course. (They’re not ALL knuckle-draggers) And, like all humans, we develop a philosophy of life and basic values, many of these being shaped by our lifestyle of riding motorcycles. I found an article on the variety of basic life philosophies online at www.megarider.com/articles , life philosophies that have been shaped by the pursuit of motorcycling. The more repeatable of these they list, without prejudice, below:
• Variety is the spice of life: one day travel at the speed of a tired turtle, the next day give it heaps!
• Find your place in the sun, even if it's while you wait for your daughter to finally show up for breakfast which has now become lunchtime.
• If you're not receiving enough attention, try giving a cop the finger.
• Always give generously - a large patch of oil left on a friend's driveway tells them that you care. (only if you have a Harley-METRICS don’ DO that)
• Always be willing to accept another's seniority - especially if it's a big rig.
• Only put your foot down when you really need to.
• Success is a frame of mind, so think quickly as that cop approaches you.
• Strive for excellence, not perfection - leave the latter useless pursuit to those who build custom motorcycles.
• Get acquainted with a good lawyer, accountant and mechanic - the order in which you do this depends upon what and how you ride.
• Wear out - don't crash out, or rust out.
• Learn to recognize the inconsequential, then ignore it - unless it's a speed limit in a speed camera area.
• Lie on your back and look up at the stars - unless you are riding your motorcycle at the time.
• Measure people by the size of their hearts, not the size of their motorcycle. Or any body part.
• Know when to speak up - which is not at 75 MPH into a headwind.
• Evaluate yourself by your own standards, not by someone else's - they may be riding on borrowed time.
• Be a self-starter - better still, be an electric starter.
• Smile a lot - but only if you have a visor on your helmet.
• Re-ride your favorite road.
• Never under-estimate your ability to change yourself - after a close call it will come naturally.
• Never acquire just one riding buddy.
• Focus on making things better, not bigger - especially if it's your motorcycle.
• Once in your life own and ride a motorcycle.
• Never encourage anyone to become a politician - unless they ride a motorcycle.
• Learn to do something beautiful with your hands - and you'll never be lonely. ??? I'm afraid to ask what this actually means.
• Show respect for everyone who works for a living, even streetsweepers - a happy streetsweeper keeps the road surface clean.
• Wave to people for the fun of it - it keeps people happy, makes you feel good, and keeps the clutch arm supple.
• Every day look for some small way to improve the way you do things - especially the way you ride.
• Never use the last nine - tenths.
• Even if you cannot give the very best, give your very best.
• When you are hot under the collar, keep your head cool.
• Never under-estimate the power of forgiveness - your bike will forgive all sorts of poor riding actions if they are isolated incidents.
• Don't carry a grudge - a motorcycle has no room for excess baggage.
• Never tell anyone they look tired or depressed - even if you're lifting their bike off them at the time.
• Be enthusiastic about the success of others - even if you're insanely jealous at the time.
• Improve your performance by improving your attitude.
• Go the distance - and on your own bike.
• Every once in a while take the scenic route.
• Move up when you feel you are ready - not when others think you are ready.
• When playing games with children, let them win - when riding with a boy racer, let him win.
• Don't learn the tricks of the trade, learn the trade.
• Teach, Learn, Ask "why" and "what if" a lot?
• Look as if you are in control of your motorcycle - it will probably fool the motorcycle into believing it too.
• Don't lend precious things to friends - you might lose both.
• Don't give advice. Just say what you do or would do in a similar situation - you're not there to teach. You're there to help them learn.
• Leave whining to CX500 drive shafts.
• Your epitaph should read "No regrets and lots of fun". AMEN AMEN AMEN-I'm gonna change my Facebook to reflect that.
• Invest in skill and knowledge. The returns are fantastic.
• If friends ask you to be honest with them, don't.
• Don't smoke - and the same goes for your motorcycle.
• Rekindle old friendships - ride an older model once in a while. Not just motorcycles.
• Never ask a policeman or mechanic for riding advice - they're trained to find problems, not solutions.
• Don't spread yourself too thinly - learn how to ride within your abilities.
• Give thanks before every ride - and greater thanks at the end of every enjoyable ride.
• Compliment even small improvements - especially when made by a learner or a mechanic.
• Don't expect life to be fair - that way you're more likely to see hidden speed cameras.
• Try never to set yourself a strict timetable - otherwise you'll never have time to explore unexpectedly delightful highways and bi-ways.
• Happiness is not dependant on possessions, power, or prestige but on relationships with people you love and respect - and your motorcycle.
• Clothes maketh the man - and protective clothing holds him together.
• 'Tis not victory nor speed that defines a man, but wisdom and courage.
• If you miss the magic of the moment by focusing on what's to come, you need to slow down.
• Donate two pints of blood every year - someday the gift may be repaid.
• Love your fellow human being but install an anti-theft alarm on your motorcycle.
• Leave everything a little better than you found it - especially if the bike was loaned by a friend.
• Write a "thank you" note to the policeman who gave you the speeding ticket - a little confusion goes a long way.
• Don't expect money to bring you happiness - unless it's spent on a good bike.
• Avoid making sarcastic remarks - actions speak louder than words.
• Never take action when you're angry - cool down before you kick that car door in.
• Learn CPR - you'll need it for CPR (Charlies Practicing Racing) victims.
• Take time to smell the roses - and the cow poo and diesel on the road surface, too.
• Occasionally stop and read historical roadside markers - it will give you a future excuse to stop when things get too hot on a Sunday ride.
• Get your priorities right. No dying motorcyclist ever said; "Gee, I've spent too much time riding motorcycles”.
And that's the way it was on Sunday, August 8th, 2010.
L
Sunday, August 1, 2010
1. DAMN I'M GOOD 2. Has it been almost a MONTH since my last post?
Holy snikies, Batman! I've just been so damned busy at work with extra hours and training someone.
Ok, I gotta add a bunch of pics from different things in July, but FIRST.
Here's the DAMN I'M GOOD PART...
Jackie informs me that she is going up to Ventura to pick somebody up.
Oooohhh, kaaaayyy...as soon as MOMMY gets home from Sam's club, she gets on the Sigalert.com and checks the freeways.
Oh, what's this? Glendora Ridge Mtn Road closed? Gates closed? Whaaaa???? Ok, brush fire from yesterday, nobody's MC riding up THERE today!
What else we got going on...hmm, something is starting around Agoura off the 101...didn't Jax say she wanted to know how to get to Ventura, and didn't I tell her the 57 N to the 210 W to the 134/101?
Hmmmmm...
Ok, she calls at 12:39, on Whittier Blvd, wants to know how to get there.
I tell her to take the 605 N. to the 210 West and when she gets on the 210, to call me. (meanwhile, I'm checking that pesky red diamond off the 101 in Agoura.)
She calls at 1:00 and is getting on the 210. Fine, I said, but you'll probably have to stay on the 210. Call me when you get to Pasadena because I'm going to have you take the 210 to the 118 and then down to Ventura.
SMART.
SMART, SMART, SMART.
SHE'S lucky she has an anal mama, and I'M lucky she can take direction WELL and can know how to ask for help.
(and she knows that it takes a bit of time to switch between 3-4 screens on the PC: Mapquest, Sigalert, the destination place, and something else I'm doing for Barry)
1:11 PM she's at the 210/134. I tell her stay on the 210.
1:27 PM she gets to the 118. I tell her great, 118. Call me when you get to Simi Valley.
1:51 PM she's around there, I tell her to take the Thousand Oaks Fwy 23 south to the 101 West.
She says mama, should I go Los Angeles Street/23 North? WHATTTT!!!??? She says, "Sorry, just kidding!". (I'm gonng KILL HER).
1:58 PM she's coming up to the 101. Great time, she's making great time. I also had noticed that where she was going, there was no offramp for that street, so I look up where she's going, find it, do a Mapquest (which is why it was up on the PC) and tell her that she'll have to get off at Exit 63. I send her a text about where to go.
2:05 PM she asks me if I can find Del Norte St. Huh? Whaaa??? I tell her that might take some time, but I'm scrolling scanning thru Mapquest and I just happen to see it. I tell her it's exit 59. She's good with that, she's at exit 50.
And that is where it stands now at 2:47 PM.
Ok, I gotta add a bunch of pics from different things in July, but FIRST.
Here's the DAMN I'M GOOD PART...
Jackie informs me that she is going up to Ventura to pick somebody up.
Oooohhh, kaaaayyy...as soon as MOMMY gets home from Sam's club, she gets on the Sigalert.com and checks the freeways.
Oh, what's this? Glendora Ridge Mtn Road closed? Gates closed? Whaaaa???? Ok, brush fire from yesterday, nobody's MC riding up THERE today!
What else we got going on...hmm, something is starting around Agoura off the 101...didn't Jax say she wanted to know how to get to Ventura, and didn't I tell her the 57 N to the 210 W to the 134/101?
Hmmmmm...
Ok, she calls at 12:39, on Whittier Blvd, wants to know how to get there.
I tell her to take the 605 N. to the 210 West and when she gets on the 210, to call me. (meanwhile, I'm checking that pesky red diamond off the 101 in Agoura.)
She calls at 1:00 and is getting on the 210. Fine, I said, but you'll probably have to stay on the 210. Call me when you get to Pasadena because I'm going to have you take the 210 to the 118 and then down to Ventura.
SMART.
SMART, SMART, SMART.
SHE'S lucky she has an anal mama, and I'M lucky she can take direction WELL and can know how to ask for help.
(and she knows that it takes a bit of time to switch between 3-4 screens on the PC: Mapquest, Sigalert, the destination place, and something else I'm doing for Barry)
1:11 PM she's at the 210/134. I tell her stay on the 210.
1:27 PM she gets to the 118. I tell her great, 118. Call me when you get to Simi Valley.
1:51 PM she's around there, I tell her to take the Thousand Oaks Fwy 23 south to the 101 West.
She says mama, should I go Los Angeles Street/23 North? WHATTTT!!!??? She says, "Sorry, just kidding!". (I'm gonng KILL HER).
1:58 PM she's coming up to the 101. Great time, she's making great time. I also had noticed that where she was going, there was no offramp for that street, so I look up where she's going, find it, do a Mapquest (which is why it was up on the PC) and tell her that she'll have to get off at Exit 63. I send her a text about where to go.
And that is where it stands now at 2:47 PM.
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