My Place in CyberSpace

A quicky for you

2012-01-27T08:30:00.002-05:00

Just a quick update so as not to get too far behind (hey, only a month between posts this time -- much better, no?).

Got my new liner and was cast for a new socket on the 12th. The socket was delivered this past Monday and I'm glad it's just a check socket because it's not very comfortable right now. I do have an appointment to see the prosthetist on Monday to see what we can do.

Have some plans to do some traveling this year -- fly to AZ for a couple of days in April and ride to FL in June for a few days. Lots of local events, too, but hoping to get some additional, longer trips in this year as well (on the Road King).

Resolutions for the year: besides the usual "eat better, exercise, lose weight, etc," I also want to make this the year I finally get back on my bicycle. Of course, I've been saying that since the accident... hopefully this will be the year, though.

Improvise, adapt, and overcome, right?!

Merry Christmas to all!

2011-12-26T19:00:00.005-05:00

Looks like it's been a few days since I posted :-). I actually did have a post up here for a short while in September but took it down -- having to do with my settlement with the county, or rather the lack of one. Maryland has a sovereign immunity law which apparently also covers firetrucks heading to picnics. Check out Maryland Annotated Code, section 5-522... that's a law that needs to be changed. After the insurance lien and the lawyer's fees, I got screwed, without even a kiss. Water under the bridge now. Oh, by the way, if you ever need a lawyer in the Baltimore area, don't go to Jay Irwin Block in Owings Mills.

As for what's been going on with me, I'm in the process of being fitted for a new socket, starting with a new custom liner. The liner should be in sometime next week, at which time I'll get cast for a new test socket. My current carbon fiber socket fits fine (currently socket number 24 if any one's keeping track) but I've developed an allergic reaction to the liner material. New liner means new socket(s).

Went to NC about 10 days ago to visit my brother. While I was down there, I figured I'd head over to Asheville and check out the Biltmore Estate:

Big house but I'm not sure it was worth the price of admission, except that I can now say I've been there, done that.

Christmas spent in NY with the rest of the extended family. Will celebrate Christmas with Rene' and Jack as soon as I return to MD (tomorrow) and New Year's will be spent with my other family -- my brothers of the USMV MC and their extensions.

Maybe I'll post more now that we're getting ready to roll into a new year (perhaps our last if the Mayan calendar has been properly interpreted :-D).

One month and still comfy

2011-02-16T12:15:00.000-05:00

Well, I've had the new socket for better than a month now and it's still fitting quite well; I can't say I'm not surprised because I am. However, my stump continues to shrink, which means more socks, which means more wiggle room, which means... less comfy. But not yet. It's still feeling pretty doggone good.

Other news... hmmmmm. Oh, I'm getting my kitchen done. That should start in a few weeks -- still have to actually buy the cabinets and such as well as speak with the general contractor about flooring and lights. I'll take some before and after photos, and probably some in the middle as we eat off the carpet, breathe in dust, smell rotting food, toss out things we can no longer identify, etc. And, Rene's working on making room in the dining area for the buffet that's lived in the kitchen long enough. It'll be a challenge keeping Jack occupied with something other than whatever mess we've got laid out.

And I'm a great uncle again -- welcome to the world Dyan A. Doll, Geoff's first grandchild. Being a grandpa is great, by the way... if I'd have known how great, I would've done the grandpa thing before the dad thing :::hehehehehehehe:::

Okay, that's it. Big party this weekend and I'll be riding (and staying at a hotel so no worries about the enjoying both). L8r!

snow, snow, go away!

2011-02-05T20:00:00.001-05:00

Okay, so we really don't have, and haven't had, that much snow (maybe 9" or so) but it's been a really cold winter and the snow that is here isn't melting very fast. BUT, after some cold rain today, we're supposed to have sunshine and mid-40s tomorrow, and maybe even up to 50 on Monday before the arctic chill of February returns.

So today, I shoveled the snow from behind my bike (which I started up on Friday, by the way, to see if I needed to put the battery on the tender). Tomorrow, I hope to get a few miles on the road and perhaps even ride in to the office on Monday (may have to wait until later than usual to go in if there's ice out there from the melting snow).

Anyhow, that's the plan. Dress warm and ride...

Saw my prosthetist on Thursday; apparently, their company just doubled in size when they purchased another O&P business. Well, one of their offices (in Asheville, NC, actually) has a lot of bicyclists as prosthetists and techs... guess where I'm going to get my bicycling leg made?! We're going to wait until my leg stabalizes some more (yes, I'm still shrinking like crazy... or rather, shrinking like crazy again now that I'm able to pull vacuum once again). When I got the new socket a couple weeks ago, I was wearing 3 or 4 socks; I've been up to 13 in the last couple of days. Amazing.

I'm also going to get a swim leg, which will allow me to shower with two legs, as well as go to the beach, maybe hit the surf, and of course swim at the local pool (though I will mostly swim without leg if I'm just exercising). Which reminds me that I have to get back to the gym... soon. I'm sagging a lot where I shouldn't be... doesn't become me :::giggle:::

Also bought a new camera recently -- really like it but have to practice a lot because it's got more bells and whistles than Carter has pills. But once I get the hang of it.... I was out last weekend, trudging through the snow, to get some shots. Got a few nice ones... maybe I'll even reinstate my photo pages.

That's it for now; hoping this sleeping pill kicks in soon. Niters!

Undefeated

2011-02-01T18:55:00.000-05:00

Firstly, I've got to admit that I found this on a fellow amputee's blog. Secondly, a little background from wikipedia:

"At the age of 12, Henley fell victim to tuberculosis of the bone. A few years later, the disease progressed to his foot, and physicians announced that the only way to save his life was to amputate directly below the knee. It was amputated when he was 25. In 1875, he wrote the "Invictus" poem from a hospital bed. Despite his disability, he survived with one foot intact and led an active life until his death at the age of 53."

Invictus (latin for "undefeated")
by William Ernest Henley (1849-1903)

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Drinking age...

2011-01-14T07:00:00.024-05:00

Socket #21. Please click on the image(s) for a larger view. This time, I made sure to take pictures before it got all taped up and the sleeve covered the design -- that way I didn't have to redo everything. It is quite nice, if I do say so myself. Now, as long as the fit is as good as the looks, we'll all be happy :-D. And, at least for the 4 hours I've worn it, so far, so good.

In other news (since it has been 4 months since I posted), let's see... my mom should be able to see these photos easily now since she got a new computer and a broadband connection for Christmas/birthday (it must be tough on those folks whose birthdays are so close to Christmas :-)). Speaking of Christmas birthdays (okay, not quite but close), my grandson Jack is more awesome every day; please see Rene's blog for pictures and lots of information (she's a pretty awesome mom, too, by the way).

I did make it up north for the holidays and thanks to some camera trickery... here's a picture of me with my mom and two brothers:

Okay, so there really wasn't any trickery but I do want to thank my uncle Mike for taking the picture for us.

Still seeing too many doctors and such but at least the case is moving forward; the lawyer is preparing the documents for district and circuit courts (my case is going to circuit, the others to district -- it's got to do with the dollar amount of the claim). The documents will initially go to the county's insurance company to let them know we're serious and give them an opportunity to make a settlement offer. Oh, and here's a picture of the vehicle that hit me:

He was not headed to a fire or any other emergency (actually, I guess he was but he didn't know it until he hit me :-D) -- lights and sirens were off. He *was* headed for a wounded warriors picnic, one that we had just left. The driver crossed the center line coming around a curve in the road and the rest, as they say, is history. One of these days I'll post the picture of the front left tire with bits of my leg on it.

Okay, I'll close now with a Happy New Year wish to you all... and one final picture:

Number 17...

2010-09-12T18:15:00.002-04:00

Yep, socket 17. Got it a week ago Thursday (2 Sep). Would love to say "this is the one!" but I can't cuz it ain't. But I'm tired of complaining... I know, I know, if I don't say anything, how can they know there's a problem. I see both my doctor and my prosthetist this week (that whole team approach thing) and I'll bring it up then. I think the problem is with the lab John uses... I really wish he made his own sockets but he uses a lab in Florida. It's communication, or lack of it, that's the problem... in my humble opinion.

Anyhow, on to accident related news: the insurance company for the bike wasn't getting paid by the other party's insurance company so the case went to arbitration in June. Got the results this week: the panel found the other party 100% at fault for the damage to the bike. No, it doesn't mean the case is settled, far from it. But now we've got one objective panel ruling that the accident was entirely their fault... we knew it was but just getting it in black and white is a huge relief.

My yellow pepper plant has produced two fruits, neither ready to pick yet (one is getting a little burnt from the sun) but am looking forward to seeing what the peppers taste like, especially since it's taken them so long to grow. The red pepper plant continues to grow and is nearly as tall as I am; and, yes, this afternoon I saw that it has a couple baby peppers on it.

Finally got some much needed rain last night and this morning, though I've been loving the sunny weather and have ridden the bike to work every day for the last two weeks; looks like this week will be another fine one (well, Friday might be looking a little if-fy...). Unlike Barry, I do have the option of not riding...

Oh, almost forgot - I performed a wedding last weekend! The couple was already legally married, this was only the ceremony, but still...

Until next time, may happiness be with you.

Sturgis, SD

2010-08-15T11:50:00.002-04:00

Yes, I managed to make it out to Sturgis for the 70th annual bike week. I drove the chase vehicle out, with my motorcycle in the trailer. We took 5 days to get there, making stops in Dodge City and Denver. Once we got to the house we were staying in, my bike was unloaded; for the next 10 days, I rode the bike everywhere I went, putting almost 700 miles under my belt. I decided to ride the beginning of the first leg back home so I could ride through the badlands; stayed on the bike and ended up riding all the way home! It was a tiring 3 days but it put another 1700+ miles under my belt. So, yes, I'm back on the bike, confidence restored, shifting learned, etc. I still have some work to do but at least now I know I can do it.

A few pictures from the trip:

Main St, Sturgis, SD, shortly after a pouring rain.

Mt. Rushmore at night.

Ummm... Badlands National Park :-)

The Black Hills area of South Dakota is absolutely gorgeous. And, except for the rain one day in Sturgis (and it was late afternoon; we rode home rain free, albeit on wet roads), the weather was perfect. Did a lot of sightseeing, including Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, Keystone and Deadwood, SD, and I even road Needles Highway.

The house we rented was about 40 miles or so south of Sturgis, in Hill City, and in or very near the Black Hills National Forest. Again, gorgeous country, great weather, and just a most wonderful time was had by all. Lots of comraderie (their were 20 of us, including brother Barry)... good times.

Got home on Friday evening with a touch of the flu (or some nasty bug) which is still around but at least I feel somewhat better. Mowed the lawn first thing Saturday morning (the weeds look better after they've been cut) and drove over to Popi's house to get my luggage, which was trailered home. A couple of loads of laundry and lots of catching up with email, and I guess I'm ready to return to work tomorrow.

Socket #14... I think

2010-07-25T20:12:00.001-04:00

Oops! It's socket #15 :-)) And it's [still] carbon fiber:

For the picture, I had to remove the sleeve and the gaiter (which goes under the sleeve at the top of the socket to protect the sleeve from the abrasive carbon fiber)... and it's a real pain in the butt to put that sleeve back on. By the way, I have mentioned that the sleeve is preflexed? It's supposed to increase the ability to flex my knee... I think it helps but it's hard to tell. Anyhow, the club colors are hidden by the sleeve - not a waste of effort (the folks that make the socket do this all the time with carbon fiber) but it is unfortunate that I can't just lift my pant leg and show folks. (The prosthetist and I have discussed other suspension systems, some of which would allow for such a thing to happen.)

So, the veggies. The heat has done it's number on the tomato plant but I have been harvesting tomatoes, so all is not yet lost... but the plant is looking pretty sad. The red peppers are still green but continue to grow. As for the yellow peppers, the plant seems to be recovering. Since it never died, I kept tending to it and it looks like my efforts may may be paying off... but it's a wait and see.

I'm continuing to go to the gym at least 3 times a week and I've lost some weight... I'd say 10 - 12 pounds so far. I'm also trying to eat more healthy, which is certainly helping.

Finally, I hope everyone is keeping up with Rene's blog to see how much that grandson of mine is growing and changing... seems almost every day it's something. And Rene' is doing a most wonderful job as a mother (plus, she does all the dishes, which makes me happy!).

Four weeks later...

2010-06-26T14:00:00.003-04:00

Sorry for not keeping this up to date; I'd like to say I've been busy but that wouldn't be true... just an addiction to Law and Order on TNT :-).

Okay, let's start with the veggies:

This is from 6 Jun.

And this is from 12 Jun.

And from 19 June.

Two out of three plants have started bearing fruit; however, it looks like the yellow pepper plant has called it quits. This morning, I counted 19 tomatoes at various stages of growth -- I may have missed one or two -- and two red peppers which were still very small. I'm hoping for the best for the red peppers -- others are having problems with their pepper plants this year, too. Perhaps it's the heat? Who knows... I'll continue to water and tend to them (as well as the tomatoes) and just see what happens. After all, it is what it is ;-).

As for riding, I was out last weekend (the 19th) for 45 minutes or so -- a bit around the neighborhood and then off to a parking lot to practice stopping, slow turns, etc. After that, it was to the gas station to fill 'er up where I realized (again) that I have difficulty backing the bike up using my feet -- the left foot, because it has a small area of contact (just the heal, with the rest of the foot pointing forward and up at about a thirty degree angle), tends to slip easily. I *will* have to pay attention to where I park.

Then today, I was out for about two hours -- some practice in a parking lot then it was out into the Saturday morning Germantown traffic and a trip to Lewis Orchards Farm Market where I bought a quart of white peaches (yummy yummy yummy !!!). From there I continued on to the Point of Rocks rail station, taking a break to take a few pictures and relax a bit. Here's one of the pics:

Notice that I'm parked in a handicap spot... well, maybe two of 'em :-). By the way, the sticker on the back of the helmet says "Crashing Sucks." Amen to that.

From the rail station, I headed back home.

This past Thursday, I saw my prosthetist and was delivered a new custom liner, a new socket, and a new, pre-flexed sleeve. They all work together to give me a wonderful new leg to walk on. I see the doc next Thursday (just a routine visit) and then back to see John on Friday the 9th, where we'll likely fit me for a definitive socket (carbon fiber).

I'm also getting to be a bit more regular going to the gym, seeing the trainer every Wednesday and going in on my own at least two more days a week.

Okay, not much else going on right now... see ya!

Finally some good news

2010-06-01T08:34:00.001-04:00

Yes, good news! First, a picture of the toe peg that Barry (my brother) designed and found a machine shop to fabricate. Barry did the finishing touches, ie, adding the rubber and mounting it. It's 6" long, which is more than 3" longer than what one can find off the shelf. So:

And, thanks to the new toe peg and an upgrade to the seat and handlebars (which allow me to sit a little further back on the bike), I was able to ride on 28 May for 15-20 minutes in a parking lot, two days before the one year anniversary of the accident. Can I get a w00t?! (You may notice that the front fender is a little mangled; I asked the shop if I could get the bike back early and bring it back to them once the new fender arrived. Obviously they did.):

Oh, and I rode again on neighborhood streets yesterday for about 15 minutes. Shifting is getting smoother but stopping needs lots of practice; I think the issue is primarily mental as I think I'm not trusting the leg to hold me up, even though another part of the brain knows that it can. Practice, practice, practice.

And my veggie plants. The first picture was taken on 23 May and the second on the 30th. That tomato plant, especially, is getting big. And as of the 30th, it even had some blossoms!

Oh, and John (the prosthetist) got a new valve in and installed it on Thursday afternoon. I'm now pulling 10 mm Hg in the socket and it's holding! I can now wear the leg all day long, taking it off occasionally to add a sock or two. Can I get another w00t!?

I guess that's it for now. Hope everyone had a fantastic Memorial Day weekend and that you remembered the true meaning of the holiday.

Briefly catching up

2010-05-18T19:07:00.002-04:00

First, I forgot to mention in any previous post that I planted a few veggie plants the first weekend of May: a red pepper plant, a yellow pepper plant, and a tomato plant. A couple pictures of same:

The top picture was taken a few days after planting (6 May) and the bottom one was taken this past weekend (15 May). Not a big time difference but you can definitely see the difference in the plants.

Other news -- I got (and am now wearing regularly) socket number 13. We were going to add vacuum to this one but the valve was bad so I'll go back in to see John on Friday to add vacuum then. The socket itself is a bit uncomfortable behind the knee -- am hoping John can also do something about that when I see him.

And I've been going back to the gym; still can't tell by looking at me but I *have* been back... honest. I am seeing a trainer which helps motivate me to keep going back between visits.

Finally, I'm getting my bike back this week. It won't have a fender but it will give me an opportunity to get back on and begin to get my bearings and balance again, as well as learn to shift without an ankle. The bike will go back into the shop when the fender arrives (or maybe I can just pick it up and bolt it on myself... heck, it's just a fender right?). Since Barry will be arriving in town, he's offered to ride the bike from the shop to the house. Yet to be determined is which parking lot nearby I'm going to start my riding on but I do want to do it in the next 12 days because 30 May is the one-year anniversary.

I think that catches me up -- please keep an eye on Rene's blog for continuing updates on Jack (he's doing great, by the way).

New eyes, new leg?

2010-05-06T08:00:00.005-04:00

Unfortunately not. But I may have created my new profile picture:

Or not. I laughed until I cried :-)

Okay, I went to the optometrist after work on Monday and discovered that they ordered the wrong lens for me... maybe the correct one will be in today? They said they'd call but they didn't call before so I'll have to follow up myself, as usual with some businesses these days. You'd think customer service would be better, especially considering the economy. I dunno, maybe I'm too naive and expect too much from the folks I'm paying.

As for the prosthetist, I went in yesterday morning only to discover that the folks that make the sockets made mine wrong -- they used the cast John sent but then added a liner. So in reality, they made it big enough for two liners since it was cast with a liner on. John called the folks (that's how he knew what their mistake was) and they were going to "carve" a new one and overnight. It *might* be ready for my appointment with the physiatrist today but John was doubtful... and the next appointment he has available is next Friday (yes, I scheduled it).

Speaking of rush jobs, I went to Easterns Tuesday during lunch, primarily to give them the check I received from the insurance company. I also asked about how long the repairs would take. The bottleneck is getting the painted fender from Harley -- I was told that a) fenders usually come in pretty quickly and b) that since pewter pearl is a current model year color, it should come in even quicker. However, they still said "a couple, maybe three, weeks." That's not too bad... am really hoping to have it by Memorial Day weekend -- would be a hoot to be able to ride to our charter party and even better to ride at Rolling Thunder (but that's probably pushing it because of the formation riding and my having to get used to just riding with the prosthetic).

So, I mentioned the physiatrist. I have an appointment with him early this afternoon. The prosthetist (John) will be there as well, and perhaps with a new leg (but probably not). This is just a standard appointment to see how things are going. I think I've mentioned the whole team approach he does -- prosthetist, physical therapist, doctor, peer visitor, all available for guidance, questions, etc. I think it works, at least for me. Don't know how long I'll need to be a "clinic" patient but for now, I think it's called for (given the issues I've had with my leg). Once I've stabilized and am in a definitive socket, I think the visits will stop.

Regarding the accident (not the hit and run but THE accident), the motorcycle insurance company (Nationwide) is going to arbitration in June to try to get their money from the other insurance company. Apparently, they aren't paying due to "contributory negligence." I'm not sure what we contributed to the accident except that we happened to be on the road, at the same place and time as the other vehicle. Lawyer says the outcome has no effect on our case and that we should get gobs of information. I'm thinking, if my insurance company wins (which also means I'll get my deductible back), it's more fodder for our case. Again, though, I don't know why there is even a case pending -- the whole thing seems so very obvious. By the way, yes, I *am* being purposely vague -- most of you know what happened and with whom but I don't want to "advertise" it, at least not right now.

Enough for now. An early happy Mother's day to all you mothers out there -- you know who you are.

Hit and run

2010-04-27T13:00:00.000-04:00

A week ago today, while I was at work, some sorry soul decided it was okay to run in to my motorcycle while it sat parked in front of my house and not leave a note... Times (and people), they are a changin'. And they hit it hard enough to knock it back three feet and up on to the curb, so I doubt they "didn't know they hit it."

Anyhow, it's now in the shop -- Eastern Performance came out and picked it up. This is the same shop that repaired the bike following my accident last year. They're writing up the insurance estimate and the adjuster will be at the shop tomorrow to assess the damages himself and, hopefully, approve the estimate. In addition to repairing the bike, I've asked them to make a few other changes as well: replace the handlebars and seat with ones that allow me to sit back a little further, making it easier to shift with my left foot; modify the bike to a stage 1 system (high flow exhaust and air filter and a Power Commander 5, which is a module to adjust the fuel injector feed). When it comes out this time, it will not only look good and feel good, but it will sound good and go even gooder! :-)

In other news, I got socket number 12, which included a new custom liner, and all is working well so far, though my leg has definitely got to get used to wearing a prosthetic again -- 3 1/2 weeks is a long time. But I *am* wearing it and am most happy to be back on two feet.

Additionally, I saw both an opthamalogist and an optometrist last week -- the opthamalogist diagnosed my "irregular astigmatism" about a month ago; when I went in for a follow-up, he simply referred me to an optometrist without writing me a script or anything. So, I went back to my own optometrist and she hooked me up good -- I'm back to 20/20 in each eye, save for a letter or two off the eye chart :-). The correction has been made with toric contacts, which, like a new prosthetic, take some getting used to since they are a little thicker and can only go in one way (if they're turned, they will correct themselves).

Flying Free...

2010-04-20T07:05:00.005-04:00

Burt Edwards, killed in a parachute landing accident on 16 April in Eloy, AZ; he was participating in a 100-way event. Blue skies, Burt...

The numbers are in...

2010-04-13T08:12:00.009-04:00

... but they aren't pretty. My cardiologist sent me for routine blood tests after my last appointment and the timing pretty much coincided with a follow-up blood test I had to take for my gastroenterologist (yeah, too many doctors). Anyhow, my cpk numbers were really high (cpk is a protein released when muscle damage occurs) so his office called me, told me to stop taking zocor and to have a follow-up. I did, the numbers were still high but coming down, so another follow-up blood test. The third one showed normal cpk levels but he decided to keep me off the zocor for good and gave me a prescription for Niaspan extended release (it's just a B vitamin, Niacin, but in prescription strength and with an extended release). Hopefully, this will keep my cholesterol in check and I actually prefer taking vitamins to taking an actual medication. He also wants me to have yet another follow-up blood test next month.

As for the gastro doc, his office also called and my iron levels are still low. He recommended I continue taking the iron supplement (Bifera, over the counter, available in the vitamin section of your local pharmacy) and have a follow-up in three months. I have an appointment that was already scheduled before the three month time-frame is up so will have a chance to chat with him about it.

Anyhow, the last time the cardiologist's office called, I asked about my cholesterol numbers. From the second blood test (the third was a non-fasting one, checking only liver and cpk stuff), which meant I'd been off the zocor for two weeks or so, my numbers were very much higher than I'm used to, though still in the "okay" range for the most part: total cholesterol = 165 (my norm has been in the 110-120 range); HDL or "good" cholesterol = 46 (about my norm); LDL or bad cholesterol = 100 (way high for me, with a norm in the upper 50s to low 60s, and I believe out of the "normal" range as well); and triglycerides = 95 (I think my last number was in the mid-70s but I'd have to go back and check to be sure). There are the numbers and they are what they are. Let's see if the Niaspan is as good as advertised...

In other news, I saw my new prosthetist (John Jacobs at Ability Prosthetics and Orthotics in Frederick) yesterday and got cast for both a new liner and a new socket (using my current liner). I think he's got to get used to my sense of humor but otherwise the appointment went well. The new socket, however, won't be ready until the 22d - at least Hanger did turn-around the test sockets quick (of course, they rarely fit very well so perhaps speed isn't always a good thing). There may be an insurance issue with the liner since Hanger cast me for one only a month ago but we'll deal with that if/when the issue arises - and custom liners aren't cheap apparently.

I see my physiatrist (the leg doctor) on Thursday; hopefully he'll "release me" to wear a prosthetic (I'm confident he will as my leg is nearly healed), though I will NOT be putting the one on that Hanger last gave me... will be waiting until my new one is ready.

Nearly 2 months?!

2010-04-05T12:30:00.001-04:00

How time flies, even when one is not having all that much fun. However, some fun things have happened in the last couple of months, including time spent with the grandbaby and my mom visited for Easter (leaving - or perhaps already left - today to return home). Many thanks to Tina (Geoff's significant other) for playing driver and riding companion and helping out in the kitchen.

Barry visited for a few days at the end of March and significantly helped around the house - he replaced my disposal (the one I installed several years ago died and I really didn't want to do the work as I remember that installation to be a royal pain) and hung two ceiling fans, one in each of the bedrooms. But most importantly, in my mind anyhow, he put a new shifter peg on the bike, one that I can actually reach and use to shift. I should have taken a picture but, alas, I didn't; however, I will and will post it once I've done so. It is a design of his own that he got a machinist to build, at least the aluminum part. He finished it with a familiar looking piece that you'll see when I post a picture.

So, it's time for a couple of pictures that did get taken. Those on Facebook will recognize this as my new profile picture:

And one with me and the Jax wearing our Harley shirts:

And, finally, one with Jack and his great-grandmother on Easter Sunday:

Maybe a quick update on the not so fun stuff going on - I wore socket number 11 (yes, that's correct) for all of about an hour and half and am back in the wheelchair, for a week so far, while the blister heals and the swelling and the pain subside. My doctor finally gave the okay for me to switch prosthetists... I find it hard to believe he made me wait this long but I really only started complaining to him in early January when he thought it best to give the current company a fighting chance; well, three months later and still no leg that fits properly means time to head to a new prosthetist. My appointment is next Monday.

Mostly pictures

2010-02-07T08:30:00.002-05:00

Hopefully, folks that want to see pictures of my grandbaby are keeping up with Rene's blog - she's posting lots of cute pictures and keeping everyone updated with stats, thoughts on motherhood, etc. If you're on Facebook and you haven't already "friended" her, you should - even more pictures posted out there. That said, here are a couple of snapshots from yesterday:

And I can't make a post today without at least mentioning our snow event of the last two days. The last official number I heard was 25.8" in Germantown; am guessing that reached at least 26" since I heard it in the early afternoon when we still had a couple of hours of snowfall left. Two of my neighbors' pines didn't survive the weight of the snow; Keith came over to knock snow off the third tree and that one has so far survived, albeit still bent over. Here are a couple of shots from yesterday: the first shot is Jose's backyard; the second shows a cardinal on one of Beth and Keith's downed trees; and the third shows the bent over pine that Keith came over for.

In other news, I'm wearing my prosthetic again after being ordered by the doc not to wear it for three weeks while a wound healed. Hanger (my prosthetists) cast me for a new socket (#8) and it seems to be fitting and working out well. The previous socket was the cause of the aforementioned wound. The new socket should get a good test today as I attempt to dig the truck out of the snow.

Really nothing else exciting is happening for me right now: it's mostly work, eat, play with grandson, sleep, and start over. Throw the occasional doctor appointment in there and you've pretty much got the new year summed up. Am really hoping for the end of winter so I can at least start playing with the bikes (the Road King and the road bicycle); not sure yet when I'll be able to hop on either one but I'm definitely jonesing to go for a ride!

Merry Christmas !

2009-12-24T16:20:00.005-05:00

Welcome my grandson, Jack Edward
born 23 Dec at 9:21 p.m.
7 lbs, 14 oz; 20 inches

You can bet on more pictures in the future!!

Merry Christmas to all!

First snow and new pics...

2009-12-05T11:03:00.007-05:00

We've got our first snow of the season happening now. Figured I'd take a picture and post it as well as some pictures from the last couple of months. Oh, and I didn't get up to NY for Deb's wedding (my apologies) because the new prosthetic I picked up yesterday (number 6, remember?) broke and going up on crutches or in a wheel chair didn't seem like an option.

Anyhow, here are the pics; I may post another of today's snow once we get more accumulation (there's already more than in these photos):

Today's snow:

Buddy in the box:

Thanksgiving at BuLL's:

Halloween at Rebel's:

A half dozen and counting...

2009-12-03T06:30:00.001-05:00

I know I've not been very good about blogging lately (or ever? :-)) but I don't always have something to say... well, I've always got *something* to say, just not anything of interest ;-).

But I do now - on Tuesday (two days ago), I picked up a new socket - #5 if anyone's counting (I certainly am but I guess it would be hard for anyone else since I don't update you all). So Monday (which was the day before Tuesday... honest) was the 6 month anniversary of the accident and Tuesday I got socket #5 (I've been wearing the prosthetic now for 3 months). Well, when I was trying the socket on, the CPO decided it was already too big (and I'd just been measured for it a week earlier). So, she cast me again for another socket (#6 if you're counting, which should be easy now since I just mentioned that the one I'm wearing and picked up two days ago was number 5.... :-)). I have an appointment to pick the new one up tomorrow.

Granted, the sockets that I'm getting are not the light weight, carbon-fiber, high tech ones that I'd like to wear (I've had 2 of those); these are acrylic, heavy, 'temporary' sockets, not meant to be permanent (hence the term 'temporary'... :-)) but they are doing their job - helping the stump shrink. Once I've stabilized a bit, the CPO will build a 'good' one for me... I'm thinking #7 or 8 will be a carbon fiber socket. We'll see.

In other news, I'm not a grandpa yet but the time is approaching - see Rene's blog for more information. And this weekend is Deb's wedding - guess I need to figure out if I can get a dress shoe on the fake foot or if I'll be wearing sneakers with my suit... assuming the suit even fits. I know I wore it once last year...

That's it. As always, I'll try to keep this blog a little more up-to-date - I know that the 4 of you that read it are hanging on the edge of your seats daily to see if I've blogged anything new... ;-)

Breaking news!

2009-12-02T19:41:00.000-05:00

Buddy's in the box!!

(Okay, happy? I updated my blog... :-))

Latest Pictures

2009-10-04T19:39:00.004-04:00

As promised, a few pictures (all taken today, by the way):

The bike, all shiny and new. Notice the new style engine guards:

Me on the bike. I will need to extend the toe shifter at least another inch since, as it is, I can not down shift (and even have some trouble upshifting using the heel):

Finally, why I might wish I wasn't able to walk yet :-):

Have a great one, everybody!!!

4 months and counting

2009-10-02T13:03:00.002-04:00

Four months since the accident and I'm doing quite well, thank you very much. This past Wednesday (the actual 4-month anniversary), the new left foot and I walked unaided for an hour, I graduated from outpatient therapy, and I got my motorcycle back from the shop. Today, I got a new socket for the prosthesis and it is way comfortable - in fact, I may be able to start wearing long pants as the norm (I've been authorized to wear shorts to work since returning full time).

During outpatient therapy, I did get up on my bicycle (Mertle is on the trainer so no fear of falling over) and managed to spin the wheels a few times. In the gym, I rode the stationary bike for nearly 11 minutes. Armed (or should that be legged?) with the new socket, I should be able to start working out somewhat regularly with the bike on the trainer. Hopefully in the not too distant future, I will have her on the road again.

Speaking of working out, tomorrow morning I'm going to visit a Tai Chi class. I'll talk with the instructor and gauge my ability and decide if it's something I'd like to do. I have spoken with my physical therapist and she approves and agrees that it would be very good exercise.

Finally, the motorcycle. It is in its parking spot in front of the house and it looks almost brand new. This weekend, I'll actually sit on it and practice shifting (yes, I can practice shifting without actually rolling anywhere). I know at least two left leg amputees (one BKA and one AKA, meaning below knee amputation and above knee amputation, respectively) that ride and use the heel-toe shifter, which means I should be able to adapt as well. The shop replaced the shifter pegs with a Kuryakyn part that adds some length; if they aren't long enough, I can buy even longer ones (I'm told that size isn't everything, though ;-)). When I get a chance, I will post a picture.

Rehab, Part 2

2009-09-06T10:30:00.008-04:00

Well, I'm home from rehab, again. As mentioned in an earlier post, I was going in for prosthetic training. I was in a few days longer than originally planned (8 days vice 5) but it was well worth it - and, yes, I've learned to use my new leg. I was walking without any assistance but they suggest I use a cane, at least for now. Notice that I said "was walking" -- the day I was discharged, the doc said "good job now quit wearing the leg for a week." So, except for two outpatient physical therapy appointments, I've not been wearing the leg while the wound from the fall continues to heal. I will be wearing it again by Wednesday (maybe sooner cuz I'm probably going to cheat :-)) and I head back to work, full time, on Tuesday.

And now, some pictures:

My primary therapists for this visit: Heidi, the Occupational Therapist (left) and Rian, the Physical Therapist. Heidi is going to have a baby girl on Thursday, Sept 10. Rian is also quite pregnant and due any time but doesn't know the sex of her baby.

This is Christine, my Occupational Therapist for my initial rehab visit back in June.

And Kelly, my Physical Therapist last June.

My recreational therapists, Mary Kate (left) and Lisa.

Finally, Erica, one of the Physical Therapists who treated me during my most recent stay.

Oh, and I have a new leg as well. I don't think you can tell from the pictures, but the photo with Erica was taken with the new prosthetic, delivered Monday evening before I left the hosptital. It fits much better - the old one was getting mighty big as my stump continues to shrink.

Look ma - two legs!

2009-08-15T07:00:00.002-04:00

And, yes, right now I still need the crutches to maintain my balance. I see the doctor at the end of the week and should get the go ahead to start prosthetic training so I can actually learn how to use this thing. In the mean time, I'm supposed to wear it up to two hours per day.

P.S. Yes, I did get a haircut (added 8/16/2009)

New leg, no rehab...

2009-08-05T07:00:00.003-04:00

Well, I got the leg on Monday, 27 July. Unfortunately, I also fell on my "residual limb" (the stump) that evening, causing swelling, bleeding, PAIN... needless to say, my prosthetic training has been delayed. I've had two doctor visits since then... At this point, we're looking at 24 August for me to be admitted to rehab for the training. As I said, though, I *did* get the leg - so, here's a picture:

I'm hoping to start wearing the shrink sock again in a few days; after that, the lining for the prosthetic, which also acts as a shrinker. Once my injury is healed enough, I'll start wearing the leg for short periods of time, even if I'm not able to actually use it - call it "pre-training" (and, yes, authorized by the doc and his team).

No foot yet...

2009-07-25T05:42:00.002-04:00

Quickly - the delivery of the leg/foot has been delayed; I now have an appointment on Monday afternoon to try it on. Also, I am not going to be admitted to rehab this week - doc wants to give the healing one more week. Follow up with the doc again on Thursday.

As for work, it looks like I start full time days this week... but I'm not absolutely positive since the disability folks never did return my call on Friday. I guess they're not too worried about my paycheck as long as they're getting theirs, right?!

The shin bone's connected to...

2009-07-20T19:00:00.004-04:00

...the prosthetic. Well, not quite yet, but soon. Last Thursday, I tried on the test socket (leg) and this Thursday I should have a new leg and, below that, a new foot. Tomorrow, my doctor will make the call as to whether healing has progressed enough to allow me to be readmitted to rehab so I can learn to walk again. Yes, this is taking a bit longer than I was initially led to believe but that's because there have been a couple of issues with the healing process.

In other news, I returned to work last week on a part time schedule - 4 hours/day on the clock, 4 hours/day on the disability rolls. Still not a full paycheck but any real hours beats collecting 60% of my salary. After all, I still have real bills to pay and now, on top those, the co-insurance for all these medical bills. Yes, I expect to be reimbursed someday but until then, they're my responsibility. I can now understand from a first hand perspective how people get into financial trouble following medical problems - day to day bills don't go away just because your paycheck does. And then medical bills come in to make things even worse. Luckily, I *do* have some savings... hopefully I have enough.

Anyhow, enough of that. Expect updates ... but don't hold your breath :-). I do *hope* to be timely but, as you all know by now, you'll get updated when you get updated ;-).

P.S. Happy 40th anniversary of the moon landing!

Accident Update

2009-06-21T06:00:00.001-04:00

A very quick update - most of you reading this already know that I was involved in a motorcycle accident on May 30. Those that weren't aware, are now :-). Injuries included a mangled left foot which resulted in a below the knee amputation, a cracked rib, numerous bumps and bruises, and a rather severe case of poison ivy. The accident was NOT my fault - if anybody wants details, give me a call or drop me a note and I'll be happy to share; however, since there are lawyers and county vehicles involved, I prefer to keep any statements offline.

I spent 2 days in Baltimore Shock Trauma and another 9 days in a rehabilitation hospital in Rockville. I should be getting fitted for my initial (temporary) prosthetic later this week. Once it is built, I will be readmitted to the rehab hospital to learn how to actually use it without falling on my face. I'm currently scheduled to return to work on 13 July but that's subject to change based on my doctor and how well my recovery is going.

Speaking of recovery, so far, so good - there's still a lot pain in the stump and my ribs are still sore but the poison ivy is mostly cleared up. Meds do help keep the pain at bay most of the time but not always. I do expect to be back on a motorcycle but I'm not going to rush it; I also expect to be back on my bicycle but I don't think I'll be doing the Seagull Century this year.

I also want to send a shout of "thank you" out to all who have kept me in their thoughts and prayers and for all the assistance I've received in the last 3 weeks - you know who you are and I truly appreciate your time.

Quickee

2009-05-10T11:27:00.003-04:00

Been busy but have some time today to at least post a picture:

Some updates to the bikes

2009-03-31T18:58:00.006-04:00

Okay, some pictures since they always make the experience a bit more memorable :-).

First, I added a decal to my front fender:

And here's a whole bike look, with the new decal AND the new sissy bar/passenger backrest:

If you look closely, you can also see the bell I got for Christmas (it keeps away the road gremlins - so far, it's been working). The bike just came home from an evening in the shop where it received its 1,000 mile scheduled maintenance (and, yes, I do have a picture of the odometer at 1,000 miles but have decided to spare the precious few readers I have left).

You may have noticed "bikes" in the title of this post. Yes, it's true. There is more than one bike with something to share - my Novarra Randonee (aka Mertle) is also in the shop getting a tune up, to include a new chain and rear cassette. I am definitely hoping for the weather to break once and for all so I can spend more time on all my bikes!

I'm also trying to name the new beast - any suggestions out there?

As long as I'm here, I'll also mention that I have (obviously) returned from my trip to California - the second in as many months. The new job is not supposed to include much travel but, alas, we're being trained to fill in if/when the union strikes (major contracts expire beginning Apr 4). I also made a trip to Daytona in March - just a quick weekend but a change of scenery nonetheless.

Guess that's it for now. Until next time, keep the shiny side up!!

The sun is setting...

2009-03-18T18:27:00.003-04:00

... on my trip to California. In honor of same, here's a pic of the sun setting from Venice Beach.

And since I'm here, how about another picture of the bike?!

I've had the bike just over a month but have been out of town for 2 weeks of that month. I did have the opportunity to ride last Saturday in the cold and rain before heading out to sunny, warm, southern California. I *do* need to wash it when I return home later this week and it looks like the weekend will have plenty of nice riding weather (okay, nice is relative; compared to what I'm experiencing in L.A., it's going to be a bit chilly back east... but sunny!). I *should* hit the one thousand mile mark if the weather turns out as predicted.

Take care, y'all!

Stimulating the Economy

2009-02-15T14:30:00.001-05:00

I've recently made a couple of purchases... First, the 2009 Road King Classic, which I picked up on Friday:

And the 2009 Ford Ranger, which I bought in January:

Because HD is having a great trade-in program for Sportsters, I was able to get original MSRP as the trade-in value (even with 23,000 miles on her!) and my payments end up being the same as I was making on the Sporty. The Road King is the same model as Barry's and is a touring bike, so my next 23,000 miles plus should be much more comfortable. Comes standard with cruise control and I also got the ABS brakes and a security system (both factory installed).

As for the Ranger, I was bored with the Jeep (as much as I liked her, it was time for a change). It's got most options plus I had a construction duty liner sprayed in the bed (and, yes, my bike *should* fit if I ever want to 'trailer' it).

A couple more pictures

2008-12-19T21:00:00.000-05:00

Wreaths across America - me laying the Marine wreath at the Crownsville Veterans Cemetery.

Rene and I at the chapter Christmas Party.

Bypass and Lady Rose (as Santa's helper) at the chapter Christmas party.

Okay, that's it for now. I know, I know, I have LOTS of catching up to do. But until I do, have a great holiday!!!! Merry Christmas everybody!

Some more pictures and catching up a bit

2008-11-01T23:00:00.007-04:00

Okay... it seems that lately, it's been "a while" since my last post; why upset the cart now?

My last day with HMSHost was Oct 7 and I started the new job with AT&T on Oct 20; that means 2 weeks so far and, so far, so good. During the break between jobs, I rode to Florida with a couple of my brothers. Good times. While there, I got to play with an alligator... here's proof:

So it's only a baby but, hey, it's still an alligator. And yes, it's real and it's alive. Thank you, Bull, for taking the picture.

And today, Rene' and I were out taking some pictures of the fall colors around the neighborhood. She grabbed this shot:

And just for grits and shins, here's a picture taken while it was still summertime, on a run over to St. Michaels (with a big thanks to Sapphire for the photo):

And a big shout out to Mike and Doug - here's tossing one back for you guys and wishing you both a full and complete recovery from your recent medical issues.

Couple of pictures...

2008-10-06T21:00:00.004-04:00

...from the Seagull Century. First, the three of us prior to our ride and then me after 66 miles (and before riding back to the camping area). Enjoy... I know we did!! And thanks to Jane for bringing a camera that was bicycle portable :-).

Wow... 5 weeks?

2008-09-30T19:00:00.000-04:00

6 weeks maybe? Sorry for the delay in updating.

So, what's been happening? Let's see, I've been doing lots of riding (NC, PA, Western MD, NY, to name a few places I've been). I got a new job (start a programming position with AT&T on Oct 20th; my last day at Host is next Tuesday the 7th). Haven't been riding my bicycle very much (bad Brian). Rene' has moved back home and Patrick has moved to Seattle (Rene's going to move out there, too; more information on her blogs).

Ummmm... that's really about it. No wonder I haven't updated this space.

That's really kind of it for now. Maybe some of you will drop me an email so I know what *you've* been up to!!

Quickly catching up...

2008-08-13T20:15:00.000-04:00

Rode with the club up to the NY annual on Saturday, held in Marathon (south of Cortland, north of Binghamton). Rode up to Palmyra that evening, visiting with mom, and then rode around to see aunts and uncles on Sunday. Dinner with mom Sunday night (thank you for the chicken and dumplings, homemade of course!) and Geoff stopped by after he got out of work.

Back on the road Monday morning to head back to MD (stopping at the National Cemetery in Bath to say "hey" to dad). Unpacked and then rode to Annapolis Monday evening. After getting home, I pretty much "crashed" for 11 hours and Tuesday was a lazy day, getting some laundry done, listening to some tunes, doing some shopping.

Back to work today. Only good news from that is that I have a phone interview with another company tomorrow afternoon. Not going to get too excited - it's just a phone interview - but I'll still hope for the best (like a face-to-face interview). And it's a programming position, which is what I really want to get back to doing.

That's it. Hang loose, y'all!!

(A little motivation for the day, found in someone's email sig: too many people are praying to have mountains of difficulty moved when they should be praying for the strength to conquer those mountains... or something like that.)

Week in review...

2008-08-08T19:45:00.002-04:00

Let's see, I ended up NOT spending $55 and going to the fundraiser crab feast in Annapolis last Saturday but I did ride with the club for an afternoon on the eastern shore of MD - St. Michaels for an early dinner and plans to go to the winery. We ate but the winery closed before we got there (and, no, I don't think it was because they saw us coming :-)). We did stop at a place on Kent Island before heading back over the bay.

Work was work... managed to ride the bicycle in on Monday and Wednesday, Ethyl the rest of the week. Had plans to ride the bicycle 3 days this week but work interfered - hate when that happens. I had to be at Micros headquarters this afternoon so bicycling would not have been practical... or probably even possible :-).

Good luck to the kid - she's moving this weekend. And I'll be traveling, by motorcycle of course, up to NY, hoping to say hi to lots of family.

The rest of the story

2008-08-01T20:45:00.002-04:00

I've got the bike back!!

Turns out the ECM and the injector went belly up; they were covered under warranty but the shop suspects that the TFI Box I had installed was the culprit. If they were to hook that back up and it caused more damage, it's unlikely that it would be covered by warranty the next time.

So.... I had them put a Power Commander in rather than reconnecting the TFI Box. And the bike got Dyno'd as well. Good torque, good horsepower - though I was getting that with the TFI, too. I can't say that it feels any different than it did before it broke but it's certainly running fine now.

By the way, I really like the service at HD of Frederick... May start taking my bike up there rather than over to Battley. A little less convenient, but much more customer friendly.

And a big shout out to Rene' for hauling my butt up to Frederick this evening, too. Love ya, kiddo!!

I will be updating the other blog as well - rode the bicycle to and from work again today and gotta post the numbers, right?

Quick update...

2008-07-30T10:30:00.004-04:00

I know you all have been waiting with baited breath for updates to my riding journal on the other blog... well, I didn't ride at all last week, hence the break. However, I did ride in to work today and will try to get the 'diary' entry posted tonight when I get home (and actually finish the ride).

My bike (as in Ethyl, the motorized one) decided to give up the ghost while I was riding up 270 on Saturday. Managed to limp it in to the shop in Frederick and per the phone update I got this morning, the ECM died. The part is in and the bike should be ready today (the problem will be getting up to Frederick to actually get the bike; Rene' has offered but she works on Wednesday nights).

The big news of the week - at Monday night's meeting, I received my patch and am now an official member of the U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club; my road name is Bypass. Once I get the chance, I'll post a picture.

That's it for now; look for an update on the other blog tonight.

Okay, already...

2008-07-13T12:30:00.001-04:00

... some more pictures from the trip; enjoy :-)

Grand Ol' Opry House, Nashville, TN

Relaxing outside the Grand Ol' Opry Museum

Inside the Grand Ol' Opry Hotel

Bull and Ernest Tubb's tour bus

Headed into the casino, Tunica, MS

Graceland (Elvis's Mansion), Memphis, TN

Elvis's gravestone, Graceland

Some neon on Beale St., Memphis, TN

Another shot from Beale St.

Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, oh my!

2008-07-07T19:30:00.002-04:00

Bike Night on Beale St, Memphis, TN

Really quick - Morgantown, WV; Cambridge, OH; Nashville, TN; Memphis, TN; Indianapolis, IN... 10 days, 2,300 miles. Good times...

News from the other bike (Mertle): rode it to work the day before heading out on vacation and then again last Thursday. Planning on doing it twice this week (Tuesday and Thursday). More good times... May even push the new bike into service. I'll let you all know eventually :-)

Yes... Another milestone!

2008-06-16T20:30:00.003-04:00

I washed the bike!! And this is what it looks like when it's all clean :-)

Okay, that's NOT the milestone. But this is: on Sunday, June 15 (Father's Day), the bike hit 13,000 miles - and it's still 2 weeks until I've had it for a year (by then, I should be up to 15K).

And last week, I rode a bike to work every day... note that I said "a" bike: 4 days on Ethyl and one day on Mertle. Hopefully riding Mertle in twice this week.

Friday, I head out on a 2,000 mile, 10-day run with the USMVMC - with overnights in Morgantown, WV; Cambridge, OH; Nashville, TN; Memphis, TN; and Indianapolis, IN. Looking forward to the ride and the comraderie.

Mentioned Father's Day - a big thank you shout out to the kid (you know who you are!) for breakfast and good company yesterday. And thanks, too, for feeding and watering the kitties when I'm on the road next week.

Speaking of watering, we're currently experiencing a boil water advisory here in Montgomery County after a 48 inch watermain break in Gaithersburg last night.

I think that's all the news that's fit to publish (for now).

And remember, "if you get up one more time than you fall, you will make it through."

Wow...

2008-05-26T19:30:00.000-04:00

If you're a veteran and need a rush, ride in Rolling Thunder. It was one hell of a moving experience and both an honor and a pleasure to participate. (This picture is only a small portion of the bikes staged in one of the Pentagon parking lots; a few members of the club I rode with can be seen to the right.)

Let's all remember those who've fallen...

Charlotte and Myrtle Beach

2008-05-18T09:00:00.001-04:00

Me and Pedro

Barry on one of his few trips out of the room

Just throwing up... some pictures, that is :-). Ran to Charlotte on the 8th and then Barry and I went to Myrtle Beach on the 9th, returning to Charlotte on the 11th and me to Germantown on the 12th. Mix of weather - some on and off showers on the way to Charlotte; sunny and warm going to Myrtle Beach and for our day there; rode in pouring rain for the first half of the ride back to Charlotte, then just clouds and occasionally sun; cloudy for first half of ride back to Germantown, then cold, cold, rain for a couple of hours. Despite Barry being sick all weekend and my bike getting hit in a parking lot (quite luckily, no damage!), it was a great trip.

More catching up later...

More catching up...

2008-04-24T11:15:00.002-04:00

It looks like spring is finally taking hold here in the DC area, which means more riding and more bikes out on the roads - please watch for us. And for you fellow riders, ride like you're invisible, because to the cagers, we are. As for riding, last week I put several hundred miles on the bike merely taking the long way home... I'd like to think I'm saving gas by riding the bike rather than driving the car but when I'm out and about just to be riding... ummm, yeah, not so much.

And just as I was getting used to the new power curve created with the new pipes, I put a high flow air filter and a TFi box on Ethyl (the box is to allow me to modify the fuel and air mixture - no carburetor on my EFI bike). The curve is much smoother and wider but it's going to take me another couple hundred miles to get fully used to it. And, yes, the new pipes are MUCH louder than the stock pipes, especially noticeable as I'm pulling out of the neighborhood at 6:30'ish in the morning.

Last night, after getting Ethyl parked, I pulled out Mertle; she and I hit the roads for a quick 15 mile run ("quick" being a relative term as it took about an hour). I stayed in the neighborhood for this first run of the season and all in all I felt pretty good. Which is good since bike to work day is approaching (May 16) and I've already committed to participating (not only by registering but to two folks at the office that live in Germantown as well). It's about 18 miles each way from my house and I had some doubt about making it... It's that whole first ride of the season, how much good has the gym done, etc.

Also coming up - Mike and Joanie will be visiting next Friday (May 2), followed by a visit to Barry and Lory on Saturday, on their way to the panhandle of Florida. And I'm headed to Barry and Lory's the following week - riding down on Thursday the 8th, returning to MD on Monday the 12th with a quick run to Myrtle Beach in betweenst.

And a good luck shout out to Rene' - the Pike's Peak 10K is this weekend. Have fun, kiddo, and enjoy those lettuce wraps!

Guess that's about it for now. Be good, be safe, and keep the shiny side up!!

Catching up a bit

2008-04-12T21:30:00.003-04:00

Been a couple of weeks since I posted but not much has really been going on. Some tidbits:

Here's an interesting Awareness Test that came across my Sportster email list. I think everyone should take a look. It's specifically aimed at bicycle safety but has much broader implications. With the weather predicted to get nicer one of these days, there will be more bikes (and bikers!) out there. Please watch for them - one of them might be me!

Ethyl went over 8,000 miles a couple of weeks ago; we celebrated today with some new pipes. I managed to do the entire installation myself - it took about 4 hours from start to finish but that included having to run to the store for some tools I didn't have and a visit from Rene'. The finished product:

Speaking of Rene', she passed the Basic Rider Course and is now licensed to ride a motorcycle. Congrats, kiddo!!

Had my first review last week. I did fine, especially considering how little I actually enjoy the job (guess I have them fooled :-)).

That's about it... oh, and I did manage to get back to the gym. Now if I could just do that again... :-)

I'm seeing a pattern here...

2008-03-16T18:30:00.000-04:00

... the more I ride Ethyl, the less I go to the gym; take last week as an example - 400 miles on the bike, 0 minutes at the gym. See? Not so good. Guess what I really need to do is get my butt out of the rack early enough to get to the gym before going to work; then I can take my time coming home, enjoying the ride and any other evening plans I might make. Let's see if that works out for me...

Anyhow, have a happy St. Patrick's Day!! Stay safe everybody!

Well, now I know...

2008-03-12T19:00:00.000-04:00

... that if my 550+ pound Sportster is laying on it's side, that I am capable of getting it upright all by my self...

... but don't ask me how I know. ;-)

How I spent my summer vacation...

2008-03-09T20:30:00.001-04:00

... or at least the Saturday morning the day before the night the clocks changed.

Let it ride!

2008-03-02T20:45:00.000-05:00

And by "it," I mean me! Yep, we rode... it was kinda chilly heading to Glen Burnie at 9:45 in the a.m. but it only took about an hour. Hung out at Huckleberry's for a little while and then left about noon for a great ride to Pikesville (another 40-45 minutes). Spent the afternoon at the "Bull and Oyster Roast" (I hope they weren't rocky mountain oysters :-)), eating too much, meeting lots of new people, and doing my share of people watching. Left about 5:30, quarter to six; took me just over an hour to get home. Any later and it would've gotten noticeably too cold but as it was, the timing was almost perfect (it *was* dark when I got home but not TOO cold).

So yay! to putting about a hundred and fifty miles on the bike today!! (Still got lots of catching up to do, though - it's been way warmer in NC than in MD this winter.)

Two weeks already?

2008-03-01T22:30:00.003-05:00

Wow, how the time flies when you're having fun - sitting in a dentist's chair, having tubes pushed into your gullet, wired for heart functions. Luckily, it wasn't all at the same time (you can look at my 'nother blog for more information :-)).

I think I've been busy, but I'm not sure. Went to yet another meeting of the USMVMC, saw a show, am learning Photoshop, working some extra hours at the office.

Speaking of Photoshop, I've also disabled my photo site; just temporarily while I modify the resolutions of the pictures. How temporary? Who knows... but temporary, okay? :-) I'll probably do some pruning as well so there will be far fewer pictures to browse through. Hope that works for all of you.

Tomorrow, I'm headed to a boiled oyster dinner thing at an E-Club in the Baltimore area. Would much rather have been headed to Daytona for bike week which has just begun but this okay... for now. Supposed to be sunny with a high around 50 so fingers crossed that we decide to ride in rather than drive.

A poem...

2008-02-17T21:30:00.000-05:00

... not by me. I hope you enjoy it.

The Dash
by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke of the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard;
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So when your eulogy is being read
With your life's actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

Theatre pics

2008-02-16T14:30:00.002-05:00

I guess I wasn't too clear in my previous post - the show was only extended for one weekend (and actually only Friday and Saturday). So, yes, it's over now. And as promised, here's the link to the photos (which I'll also add to my list). Most, if not all, of the photos were taken using flash... and I'm still learning how to use flash effectively. So there are some exposure issues - forgive me? The "essay" begins with early rehearsals (scripts still in hand on a nearly empty stage) and goes through closing night. There are lots of pictures of actors but there are also some "artistic" shots, taken somewhat randomly (okay, I was bored and had a camera in my hand).

Here you go: The Boys Next Door. I do hope you enjoy them. And maybe I'll even add the photos from Dracula one of these days (though they aren't pictures that I took).

My name is Hedges.

2008-02-12T19:15:00.000-05:00

It's a look... and you know you want it.

Well, the show (The Boys Next Door) got extended and one of the actors couldn't do the extension; so yours truly reluctantly agreed to step in. The above is the result... well, of one of the characters. The two others were pretty boring, run of the mill kind of guys.

Other than the show and some strange weather (and not just here), not much else going on. I will be making the pictures I took during the run of the show public in a bit (have one more set to post for the cast and crew). Probably too many pictures but what the hell; it's what I do.

Riding and flying and lifting, oh my!

2008-01-27T15:15:00.000-05:00

Good afternoon! It's been a busy week - too much to do at work, hitting the gym every night afterwards, off to Cleveland for two days (flew out Thursday morning and returned Friday night), a couple more trips to the gym yesterday and today, and topped it all off with a spin on Ethyl this afternoon. Yes, it was cold, especially since I didn't put the windshield on, but it was worth it (40 degrees when I headed out at 1 o'clock; made it up to 41 by the time I came back around an hour later).

I was a little concerned that the bike might not start... thank goodness for new batteries, eh? (No, I didn't buy a new battery for the bike but the bike is still new, ergo the battery is still new. Get it? Good.)

The Cleveland trip was for work (why else would anyone want to visit Cleveland in January?). Tiring but I think we got accomplished what we needed to get accomplished. And the contractor took us out to a great dinner on Thursday night - McCormick and Schmick. Great seafood! I didn't take my camera, so no pictures. Not that we had any time for sight-seeing any how.

Tomorrow evening, I'm headed over to the Annapolis area to attend a meeting of the U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club. That's probably the closest chapter - it was either there or Hagerstown, at least if I want to stay in the state. I was thinking about riding the bike into the office tomorrow but that would also mean riding to Annapolis - not a bad thing except that it'll be late when I'm headed back, therefore probably pretty cold. Wednesday looks like another decent day for riding into work so I'll just wait until then.

Here's hoping everyone has a safe and enjoyable week - happy travels!

Snow and such...

2008-01-17T21:30:00.000-05:00

We had some snow today; started falling about 9 in Bethesda and things were pretty much covered by lunch time. So, with camera in hand, I walked to the mall for lunch. The pictures are posted. (By the way, we ended up with 3 inches in Germantown; given the night time temperatures we're expecting, the morning rush should be anything but.)

I also posted the pictures I took Sunday morning - woke up about 3:15 and couldn't go back to sleep. Ended up cleaning my bathroom, getting some computer cleanup done and heading out and taking some pictures before going to the theatre for the start of Black Sunday. I did manage to get a nap in between shifts at the theatre.

Finally, when Rene' was visiting on Saturday, we saw this bird hanging around the neighbor's back yard. Wish it had been facing me when it spread it's wings like this but, hey, I'll take what I'm given.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2008-01-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

And about a bazillion happy returns... (yes, a day late on the blog, but I did get a call in last night).

I've been busy with work and the show but have still managed to find some time to get out on the motorcycle - on New Years Day, with MCHOG, and to work and rehearsals a couple of days last week when the temps were well into the 60s. May get out for a bit today before the weather once again notices that the calendar says January.

Got downtown for lunch last weekend and managed to spend an hour or two taking some pictures; they're up on the photo pages. In the process, I noticed that the dates on the photos are all whacked... I'm blaming it on the software. I'll see what I can do to fix it but the date on the folder is the date the photos were taken (or within a day or so in the case of typos :-)). Oh, in the new set, one of the locations is "Navy-Marine Memorial;" just so has no one gets confused, it's actually the Navy and Merchant Marine Memorial.

That's it for now!

Happy New Year!

2007-12-31T22:00:00.000-05:00

Another milestone...

2007-12-31T16:30:00.000-05:00

... and another blog.

The milestone: 7000 miles on the bike, thanks to two rides this past week - Thursday, just tooling around, and Saturday heading up into Pennsylvania (not really on purpose but that's where I was) and then ending up at Point of Rocks, MD, where I took bunches of pictures of the train station and such.

The other blog I actually started 21 months ago and created one post. Originally created to vent about my health (specifically my heart health), I have decided to resurrect it. Hopefully not so much to vent but to keep my exercise log, as well as keep the heart information updated (i.e., visits to the cardiologist, blood test results, etc). You can visit this "new" blog at Hearts and Minds.

Christmas

2007-12-27T22:30:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again and I made the trip to Palmyra and Canandaigua; up on Saturday, back on Wednesday, with the traditional Whipple clan get-together on Christmas Eve.

And, it's been a month or so since I posted anything, so a bit of an update is probably called for. I recently updated my photos, including pictures from Christmas Eve at Deb's, and will be updating it again shortly with pictures I took on the drive back to Maryland. I figured out how to "comment" the photos but have only done so for one set so far. I don't think I'll be updating any previous posts and will probably not comment every picture I post from here on out, either, but at least I know the capability is there.

Went out for a bit of a ride on the motorcycle today - at this time of year, any time in the saddle is a gift. Speaking of being in the saddle, I gave myself a new bike for Christmas. It looks like this:

It's a pure road bike and is super light. It's also geared higher than my current bike so the weight savings will be nice on those climbs. Now, if I can just get the discipline to start riding *this* bike (or the Novara touring bike, which is the one I plan on using for my cross country trip in a year and a half or so) with some sort of regularity, I'll be a happy camper, as will my cardiologist.

I think that's it for now; I do have some commentary on Harleys but I think I'll save that for a post of it's own. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and wish you all the best for the new year!!

Thanksgiving Weekend

2007-11-25T18:00:00.000-05:00

Hello to all 4 people that read this blog - you know who you are... and if you don't, then who does? Anyhow... The weekend started for me on Wednesday - I rode the bike into work (it was in the upper 60s by afternoon) and, getting out early, took the long way home. What's normally a 15 mile ride became a 50 miler and I was lovin' every minute of it.

I hope everyone had a spectacular Thanksgiving Day. I know I did - Rene' and Patrick came over for dinner and, according to Rene', I made the best sweet potatoes I've ever made. Since I make them differently every year and my brain being what it is, I'll probably forget how I made them when next Thanksgiving rolls around... But, I'll attempt to remember. Despite the temperatures (a high of 77 at National Airport), I didn't take the bike out. Kind of busy cooking and such.

Friday, I drove out to Glen Burnie and the Maryland MVA to pick up some veteran plates for Ethyl (yes, I think, at least for now, that's what her name will be). Then it was on to the Eastern shore of MD to take some photos, an example of which I've got here for your viewing pleasure. The others are already posted on my picture site (you know, that link over there on the right...).

On Saturday, I headed over to Rene' and Patrick's place to take their Christmas card picture (no, I'm not going to ruin it for them or you by posting a copy of it here; I may put a couple pictures of their cat out on the photo site but they're not there yet). Finally, today (Sunday), I went for a ride. Just out and about; once again, a bit nippy but what can be bad about riding in November!? Also today, I managed to post the BUTTERS side of my genealogy. Rather than advertise the site here (at least until I'm fairly certain that no private information is hanging around out there), just drop me a line if you want to know the address.

Have a great week y'all!

Riding in November...

2007-11-17T17:00:00.000-05:00

First, I've updated the picture page with photos from last weekend (Veterans Day activities at Arlington Cemetery and some random shots taken at Rileys Lock later in the day). You'll also notice that the first page is a bit different - the thumbnails are a little larger and easier to see. Hope it works for you.

Second, what a fantasmorgasmic day for riding... yes, a bit of a chill in the air but it is November. Did a group ride, wandering through 4 counties, then did some shopping (20% off at the dealership for HOG members... and I've been called a lot worse). Then, instead of taking the 10 mile route home, I took a bit of a detour and took the 80 mile route - much more fun if'n you ask me :-)

Hope all are having a great weekend, walking for homeless or riding bikes or whatever tickles your fancy!!

Veterans Day, 2007

2007-11-11T18:30:00.000-05:00

I rode down with a group of probably 60 to Arlington Cemetery for the events this morning; someone mentioned how cold it was on the way to the dealership (the starting point for the ride; and it was cold - below freezing)... and then reminded us of the sacrifices our military service men and women make every day. My thanks to them all.

And, I hit the next mile marker:

Updating a link

2007-11-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Really quickly - there's no longer a link to 'My XL1200 Hugger' (if you see one on the right, please refresh your page). I've modified the name and the link to point to a rebuilt picture site that I created using some software called JAlbum. It looks good using Safari but I haven't tested it with IE yet - will do that when I get to work this morning.

Let me know if you have any problems or suggestions!!

A quickie

2007-10-07T18:21:00.000-04:00

Hit 5,000 miles last weekend; been too busy to do much of anything EXCEPT I got some pictures posted. If you click the link to my Sportster page (over there, on the right ->), and go to the picture index, you'll see that I've finally got stuff posted through Labor Day weekend (which includes the zoo and my trip to NC).

The quality of the web pages is not at a standard that I usually like to achieve but at least the pics are posted, right? Right.

Back to rehearsal after a quick bite (it's Black Sunday; "Dracula: The Musical?" opens next Friday for a 3 weekend run at the Arts Barn in Kentlands/Gaithersburg).

Niters!

Another milestone...

2007-09-04T21:30:00.000-04:00

2 months and 3 days after putting my butt in the seat.

I put 1,380 of those miles on it over the long Labor Day weekend (longer because I took Friday off as well). Nowhere near iron butt material (see link) but my butt was sure feeling it by the time I got home yesterday.

Went down to Charlotte, NC, to hang out with my brother; luckily, his bike was ready Friday night (Saturday morning before we could get it) so I got to do more than watch TV :-). Saturday, we tooled around to several dealerships in his area so I could get my collector pins, putting on 125, maybe 130 miles. Sunday, on the other hand, was a good 400+ miles - met up with Jimmy, Lisa, and Jamie and headed first to Shatley Springs for some breakfast (thanks, Jimmy, for treating!!) and then ran about 150 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Ended up in SC just enough to get a picture of the bike at the Welcome Center and then back to Barry's place - out and about for 14 hours. I know was tired and achey; Barry must have been feeling it even more since he hadn't been riding in over 3 months. Even so, we had a great time (have I mentioned that I like riding?).

Speaking of the bike, I've decided that I haven't really decided on a name for her; Black Beauty just isn't doing it for me. I'm giving "Ethyl" a try... or "Alice" maybe? I dunno... we'll see.

Will probably write more about the weekend when I get the pictures posted (yes, I know I'm several weekends behind - give me a break, already, will ya? :-)). I've got so much catching up to do (websites, pictures, dishes, cleaning, riding); I'll get around to it all eventually (and did I mention that I'm taking a class at Montgomery College that starts this weekend? and I'm working crew for a show at Montgomery Playhouse that opens in October... like I didn't have enough to keep me busy).

Another load of laundry to get in the washer and then maybe some reading before it's lights out time.

Thank you for your support.

Bing, bang, boom!

2007-08-26T20:30:00.000-04:00

Well, it happened... I crashed the bike. Okay, crash might be a little strong, but ... well, sit back and let me tell you what happened. Okay, Saturday (yesterday) was very warm and I was working at the monthly dealership cookout (sponsored by the dealership but the MCHOGs volunteer their time). This has absolutely nothing to do with what happened later but I figured I'd throw it in anyhow ;-).

So, at 3 o'clock, there was a ride scheduled to leave the dealership, to take a tour of ice cream places in Montgomery and Frederick Counties. I went on that ride (the cookout ended at 3 so I missed some of the cleanup... darn). The first stop was in Damascus, which is physically only about 7 miles from the dealership but, of course, we took the long way and got there about 3:45. As we're pulling into the parking lot, the guy in front of me stopped short (because the guy in front of him stopped short) and, bam! After picking ourselves and our bikes up off the pavement... wait, that's not what we did. After my mirror hit the sissy bar of the bike in front of me, I stopped. That was it. I bumped the bike in front of me; absolutely no damage to either vehicle, not even a scratch. My pride was hurt but I declined medical attention. Crash? Not so much...

About 4:45, we were at our 3rd stop... and some dark clouds had started to obscure the sun. One of the baggers had a radio so on it came, tuned to the traffic and weather channel - severe thunderstorms headed our way with reports of winds up to 60 mph and penny sized hail. We decided to forego any further ice creams stops (and I was waiting until the last stop to get my treat :-(, healthwise, probably better, but, still, that Cold Stone ice cream at the end was sounding pretty darn good after a long, hot day). Well, we were in Mt. Airy and hightailed it home - I-70 to Rt 27, through Damascus, and into Germantown, riders peeling off as they were taking the shortest routes home. There were some sprinkles as we approached Germantown (1 rider was bailing out at 355 S. and the third in our splinter group was headed to 270 S.) At a light, I commented that I'd probably make it home before it hit since I only had a couple of miles to go, despite the fact that we could now see lightening and the skies were darkening quickly. Well, you guessed it, I spoke too soon. With about a mile and half to go, the skies opened up (reminding me of a quote from Pulp Fiction: "...I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger..." which is a quote from Ezekial 25:17 which is a quote from... oh, nevermind).

I made it home, not soaked through but pretty wet. The bike stayed uncovered (it would have been counter-productive at that point to cover it up), cleaning off any road grime it might have picked up. Power stayed on here but it was touch and go for a while. Riding today, I saw plenty of downed branches and debris (but none of the trees I saw highlighted on the news). I'm really glad we weren't further out and I hope everyone else made it home no worse for the wear.

Bing, bang, boom - and awaaaayy we go!!

Not a motorcycle post!!

2007-08-18T11:30:00.000-04:00

The numbers are in; for those that don't know, I recently saw my cardiologist who scheduled me for my annual stress test and a blood test. And everything looks good! The stress test is normal, total cholesterol is 118 (up a point), HDL 46 (could be better but still in the 'normal' range), LDL 60 (should be lower, though 'normal' is anything under 100), triglycerides are 58. Those are the important numbers.

That's it and now I'm off to the zoo for a few hours!

2 weeks later...

2007-08-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

... and now the odometer's at:

And, no, the pictures from Carlisle aren't up yet. But, my laundry's done and the (front) yard work got done before the neighbors thought no one lived there anymore. Oh, and I've been riding my butt off :-). I will get the pictures up... eventually.

Speaking of riding, yesterday I rode better than 300 miles, up to northeastern Maryland and another Poker Run. There were 10 of us from the club that went and a good time was had by all (at least by me).

That's it for now.

A splash of color

2007-08-08T19:00:00.000-04:00

A new bauble for Beauty:

Yes, I broke down and bought a timer cover. It's not much, but it is a little splash of color (not that chrome and black aren't enough, this just adds that little touch).

In other news, the weekend was busy - Saturday was our club's Scrabble Scramble (think Poker Run with Scrabble pieces); I worked the registration table and then ran the cleanup run. Sunday, 6 of us ventured down to Ft. Washington to participated in their Poker Run. Both events were for charity so I got to have a blast AND help someone out.

This weekend, there's an overnight run to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Not quite sure yet if I want to go; if I do, I'll probably camp rather than do the hotel thing. I do have a lot of things to get done around the house but I hear the call of the wind...

Oh, and I still have to finish getting the pictures together - I've got one group ready to put up but am still working on the Carlisle Bike Fest.... Hmmmmm. Maybe that's what I'll do now?!

Ride like the wind!

A bad evening of riding....

2007-08-01T18:00:00.001-04:00

... beats a good day at work every time!!

Another first last night - gravel road. Whoever thought these things were a good idea never rode a motorcycle, at least not on a gravel road! I made it without any spills and lots of concentration. And now I know why that road is less travelled :-).

Later!!

4 weeks...

2007-07-27T20:00:00.000-04:00

... and 1,000 miles!

And another first for me today - riding in the rain. Got caught in a downpour on the way home from work. Was in it for probably 20 minutes and spent the next 20 minutes, still on the road, drying out. Got soaked and wasn't completely dried out when I got home, but got here just fine.

Tomorrow, the first scheduled maintenance; Sunday, the MC H.O.G. picnic (and, yes, there will be a roast pig) and about 170 miles of riding. Looking forward to ridin' with my bro' in a few weeks, too!

Black Beauty

2007-07-22T23:00:00.000-04:00

How's that for a name for the bike? She's black, I think she's a beauty, and they do call them iron "horses" don't they? Got to give it some more thought but right now, that's the name I'm leaning toward.

Okay, the rest of the initial post of pictures is up; the website is at http://xl1200l.bbutters.com/. For those of you that have already been to the site, you may have to do a "refresh" when you get to each page of thumbnail indexes (then again, you may not). The full size images generally run between 200 and 300 KB so those of you with dial-up connections will need to be somewhat patient. Obviously, you may not have any interest in looking at each picture, so you won't need to download the ones you don't care to look at.

Now, even though it's a site dedicated to the bike, it's not all pictures of the bike (there are, however, a lot of pictures of my bike). Rather, the site is pictures of places that I've been on the bike. And not all the titles are complete - for example, I didn't mention that "Montgomery and Frederick Counties" is specifically Boyd's, Point of Rocks, and Sugarloaf Mountain. And the day at Harpers Ferry includes some pictures of a blimp that flew over the house (the Tiger Woods golf tournament was going on) and some pics that Rene' took when she visited (most of which were already posted here).

Today, I did get to ride with the local HOGs (didn't take any pictures myself but there were pictures taken so I may be able to "borrow" a few and post them here). Later on, I rode over to Black Hills Park and watched the sun prepare to set... and took many pictures of the bike (and a few of the setting sun, though that was not nearly as spectacular as the bike :-)).

Speaking of Black Hills Park, next Sunday is the club's annual picnic; reservations and monies were due last weekend but I spoke with the president of the chapter and the person running the picnic and I'm able to attend (I still have to pay but I was given the okay to sign up late). Oh, and the picnic is at the park, which is practically right around the corner from my house. However, there is a pre-picnic ride from the dealership to the park so I may ride over there and join in the "parade."

Okay, a quick picture before I head to bed (dental appointment in the morning - yippee kai yay, cowboy!! Okay, I have no idea why that has anything to do with seeing the dentist...). Is this a pretty bike or what?

Good night!

Motorcycling Update

2007-07-21T21:00:00.000-04:00

I've already made my 1,000 mile service appointment - as of this evening, the bike has 806 miles on it (of which I've put 797). Today was a 190+ day all on it's on - I went up to Carlisle, PA for their Summer Bike Fest (I'll post pictures, hopefully this week). But for you Survivor fans, I'll post one here: America's favorite survivor, Rupert (he is/was the official host of the event):

There didn't seem to be as many people as there were for Gettysburg Bike Week; then again, it did cover the county's entire fairgrounds so perhaps it was just a matter of perspective. There was certainly more going on - AMA trials, stunt shows, autograph signings, and, of course, the usual assortment of vendors and bikes... lots of bikes.

And a couple of 'firsts' for me today - I rode in a 15-20 mph wind on the way up, rode on my first milled road, and a bird hit my windshield (glad I had a windshield!). Tomorrow, I'm going to join a "new members" ride with the Montgomery County chapter of H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group for those that don't already know). I don't actually have my chapter membership materials yet so they may not let me ride with them, but I don't know why not since I am a member (it's part of the bike purchase - the dealership is the chapter sponsor).

For those of you suffering from depression (and you know who you are), I suggest you get your motorcycle license and get on the road - this is the uber-cure for what ails you. I'm having a BLAST!!!

Avatars

2007-07-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

Self portrait in South Park style. A friend of mine shared the website with me and you too can have fun with construction paper at: http://www.sp-studio.de/. If you decide to make a portrait of yourself (or a loved one or no one in particular), I'd love for you to share it with me.

Bike update - currently about 370 miles on her (still trying to come up with a good name) so it's almost broken in and will be by the end of today (I'm headed to Gettysburg for their bike week - look for pictures in the near future!).

Speaking of pictures, I know I still owe a few of you an update on my genealogy site. If I could stay focused for more than 20 minutes, I'd get that done (at least enough for people to play around with). But, alas, I'm now having too much fun with the bike; I don't know what my excuse was before that or what it will be next but that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Oh, and happy birthday to me!! (No, it's not today; apparently YOU missed it ;-))

Bells and whistles

2007-07-08T18:30:00.000-04:00

Sissy bar, luggage rack, and forward controls installed:

Me on the bike (Rene' took the pics):

Me and Rene' on the bike (Patrick took the pic):

8 days and over 270 miles on the bike - I've been up to Riley's Lock, Harpers Ferry, Sugarloaf Mtn. Still in break-in mode but today I got out on the highway (US 340 and I-70) to get some 'sperience there. I'm lovin' it!!

The Wait is Over

2007-06-30T10:00:00.000-04:00

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...
w00t!!!

New Bike

2007-06-25T20:00:00.000-04:00

As many of you who read this already know, I've been in the market for a new bike. Well, this past Saturday, I made it official and got my new license. So, I just HAD to buy a new bike and here's a picture of it that I took yesterday:

Okay, so it's not the real thing, but it does look pretty close to the one I'm getting (differences? the "real" one is black, has swept back handlebars, and is a 2007L model - this model [ummm... get it?] is a 2002C - plus I replaced the seat with a more comfortable one and added a removable windshield). I should be able to pick the real one up by Saturday - hope I don't miss another beautiful weekend of riding. Mine is waiting for the forward controls kit to come in, which I was told would be in today or tomorrow ... or Wednesday ... or whenever H-D gets around to delivering it. Have faith, buddy...

Not much else going on; company picnic tomorrow... maybe I'll take some pictures. I will miss the first couple of hours since I have to work but I'll still be there in plenty of time for lunch and prizes so not to worry.

TTFN!

Just like riding a bike

2007-04-30T19:30:00.000-04:00

w00t! Back on my bike, finally!! Really just a shakedown cruise, for both me and the bike - rode about 10 miles and everything seems to be working.

Why today? Several factors motivated me, number one being Bike-to-Work day, which occurs on Friday, May 18. I registered this morning. Factor number two: the person that sits in the cube over-the-wall from me was talking about biking to some other folks this morning (not that I was eaves dropping or anything ;-)). He also mentioned Germantown. So, I went over a bit later and introduced myself - he and several others live in Germantown and are looking for riding partners! Looks like there will be at least three of us riding in together on the 18th. And factor number three? I am waaaayyy out of shape and have to get back down to a tolerable weight and up to a decent level of fitness; afterall, we don't want to end up in the hospital again, do we.

Oh, and my brother's gotten into biking, too! I'm adding a picture of his new ride below. Sure, he'll get to point A faster than me, but we'll both have a blast. Remember, it's the journey, not the destination.

and lest we forget...

2007-04-26T19:30:00.000-04:00

3300+ dead and an average of 3 more every day

In memory...

2007-04-22T13:00:00.000-04:00

Goodbye Shuttle-UM

2007-03-22T16:00:00.000-04:00

... and hello HMSHost!! So, if you didn't know why I shaved and got a haircut, the cat is out of the bag - I was job hunting and earlier this week was offered the position of I/S Consultant IV at HMSHost in Bethesda. I accepted and begin work on April 2.

I am a bit surprised at how quickly I was able to land a job back in the technology world; after 2.5 years out of it, it only took me 3 weeks to find a great opportunity. I'm excited about what lies ahead...

But you're probably wondering about my teaching aspirations... well, they're on hold for now. I didn't take any classes last semester (well, I did but then I withdrew) and didn't even register for classes this semester. I'm not sure if I hit a wall or what but decided that if I wasn't going to be actively enrolled at the university then it wasn't worth working there, especially where I was. So I made a decision to get back into technology, at least for now, and see what happens.

I do want to continue with my education (and the new company does have a tuition reimbursement benefit), but not sure in what direction. I'll probably continue to take some education classes; otherwise, I mostly just want to continue to learn - maybe a philosophy class, an art class, a biology class. Who knows. Montgomery College (our local community college) has a lot to offer so I'll likely start there again.

Okay, enough jibber-jabber from me for one day. Wish me luck in my new position as I look forward to my last day at Shuttle-UM.

Before and After

2007-02-28T15:00:00.000-05:00

Before: the frizzy frazzy look....

Before: the brushed back look...

After: the new look!

Have a great week!!

Are we all mad?

2007-02-24T14:14:00.000-05:00

ALICE: But I don't want to go among mad people.
CAT: Oh, you can't help that. We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.
ALICE: How do you know I'm mad?
CAT: You must be or you wouldn't have come here.

Found on the 'net

2007-01-27T08:57:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday!

2007-01-11T23:00:00.000-05:00

... to my mom!!! Hope you got my card and I'll give you a call soon.

to everyone else - hello!

Merry Christmas!!

2006-12-25T08:17:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

I've been very busy the last few months, working way too many hours for way too little pay and not progressing academically at all. I'm using this holiday break to rethink my priorities and try to figure out just what direction I really want to go in. I'm also going to be cleaning my house as it's been a while since I took the time to do that.

Rene' and Patrick are visiting California (and his family) for the week and I'm taking care of their cat and fish. As a thank you, Rene' made a lasagna for me (a *healthy* one at that!) to help me get through the week. I do miss having family around for the holiday but since we all hung out at Thanksgiving, it's not so bad... plus, I need the rest that traveling wouldn't provide.

So, the best of the season to all of you and hope to see everyone soon!

R.I.P.

2006-12-16T11:13:00.000-05:00

Mary Weigle
Oct 28, 1926 - Dec 14, 2006

You will be missed.

A New Post!

2006-11-25T11:15:00.000-05:00

Woot!!

And I'll even do a quick update: working too many hours, getting paid too little, traveled to Palmyra for Thanksgiving, took down my www.bkvisions.com website, and I'm now on Facebook.

Some belated birthday wishes: Rene, Barry, Ed, Bill, Laura, Zeeba; did I miss your birthday? Just let me know and I'll try to get a shout out to you next year!

Historic Backroads Century

2006-09-18T10:30:00.000-04:00

Sunday (the 17th) was the Potomac Pedalers annual century ride, beginning and ending in Berryville, VA. I only did the half century (51 miles and some change) but I still biked through many historical sites in both Virginia and West Virginia, including the Grace Episcopal Church, pictured here. It's located in Middleway, WV and was founded in 1851.

The ride was very nice... we had perfect riding weather (especially nice after a week of rain and drizzle). And, given that we were in the foot hills of the Appalachians, it was not as hilly as it could have been (not to say there weren't any hills, just that it could have been much worse). The ride was sponsored in part by the FDA and they supplied us with a "Passport to History" so that we could read about the historical sites that we passed. The rest stop (at mile 27) was at the White House Farm, founded in 1740. The house is not open to the public but the barn is. The "passport" is also filled with a bunch of FDA history, which is not as interesting as the landmarks (at least not to me)... but, since they sponsored it...

Besides the historical information, I picked up a frisbee (okay, not made by Hasbro so should probably call it a flying disk), a water bottle, and, of course, the century (long-sleeved) t-shirt. These were all gratis, by the way (though the ride did cost $25, which also included healthy munchies and drink at the rest stop and at the start/finish).

Summer Shuttle work

2006-09-08T09:15:00.000-04:00

As promised, a picture of some of my decorative work on the Shuttle-UM buses... I had nothing to do with the design or layout but I did put on all the decals that can be seen in this picture. We also have stuff on each side but those pictures didn't come out with much to show. Altogether, I had to decorate 8 buses. It was kind of a nice diversion but not something I'd want to do for a living - got pretty boring/tedious after a while - measuring, taping, spraying, peeling, sticking, etc.

And, just for the heck of it, a picture of most of the driver's compartment in one of the new buses. Really no different than the buses we got last year so nothing new to get used to. The big thing about them is that we have 5 different makes/models of buses, as well as cutaway vans and I'm never quite sure what they'll be having me drive (since 5.5 hours of my daily shift is in a standby mode). Really it's just a matter of reqacquanting myself with each interior every time I sit down in a different bus.

Did ya hear the one about... ?

2006-09-07T01:05:00.000-04:00

... ah, nevermind... I got nothing.

This space for rent...

2006-08-13T18:30:00.000-04:00

Well, not really (because you can get blogger space for free just by asking). However, since I don't have much of a life (and therefore not much to talk about), I figure I need some sort of "theme" for "my place in cyberspace." Hopefully, a theme would inspire me to post more often. For example, I could write about my bike rides - though pure numbers would be even more boring than what I already put up here, I could make it more journal like, making note of things I enjoyed, what I disliked, how I was feeling, wildlife I saw, etc.

But, I will let you, my readers, make some suggestions as well. Any ideas or thoughts? You can leave comments here or email me directly, whatever your preference may be. Please note that I'm fairly apolitical and do not want to discuss politics in this space.

With that out of the way, my summer is almost over. I would like to say that I accomplished everything I set out to but... well, that would be a lie. I'm not sure what I had planned but I don't think I completed any real projects. I've been rather unmotivated this year... maybe even since my surgery (which, by the way, was two years ago last Thursday - happy re-birthday to me, yes!?). My hours (for work and class) are already set for the fall semester. And only two more weeks until those kick in; in the meantime, I continue to work as a gopher (which, for the last week or two, has been mainly putting decals on the eight new buses that we've received from the factory; if I remember, I'll take my camera in and snap a few photos of my handiwork).

Until next time...

Longest ride since surgery!

2006-07-30T19:00:00.000-04:00

Yep... yesterday, I did a 54+ mile ride (in and around Germantown and Poolesville), the longest bike ride I've done since my surgery almost 2 years ago. And, I followed that up today with a 31+ mile "recovery" ride up in Thurmont, MD (a ride that took me across/through 3 covered bridges). Last weekend, I did 2 hilly 40 mile rides... now, if I can just make some time to ride during the week. Yesterday's ride was with Potomac Pedalers, the area's largest bicycle club and today's was with Atlantic Cycling (I rode with a group of Team in Training alumni). I initially started riding with these groups to find some new routes to ride but am finding that it's a bit more fun riding with others than by myself (even if I do end up riding alone, I'm still not by myself... if that makes any sense).

Really nothing else exciting to talk about. I did take some pictures while out riding yesterday and a few today... this part of Maryland does look a lot like western NY, with the hills, the farms, etc (though there are a few more horse farms around here). This is a view of Sugarloaf Mountain from Old Hundred Rd...

... and a picture of one of the many cyclists earlier in the ride on Old Bucklodge Ln. The farm roads in Montgomery County are protected from being improved by law; they can be maintained, however. For one thing, this keeps the roads from becoming high volume thorough fares and much safer for cyclists (am not sure this was anyone's intent but it sure is nice). It also keeps the area rural and will hopefully prevent excessive development. Much of the county is protected as an "agricultural preserve."

Guess that's it for now... until next time (and hopefully not another, what, 4 weeks or so....).

Happy 4th of July!!

2006-07-08T10:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know I'm a few days late but... whatever.

I *did* get out for a bike ride on the holiday - a 42 mile jaunt around Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties, with a rest stop on the Chesapeake Bay at Galesville. Hence, the picture at Galesville Park. Even though there was no rain for this ride, I think I got almost as wet because it was mighty warm and mighty humid. (In fact, the area was hit quite hard with afternoon thunderstorms, but that was well after I was home and off the bike.)

Not much else to write about... but Mr. Baggins wanted me to post his picture. So, here it is. He is a bit full of himself but, since he's a cat and so damned cute, I humor him... :-)

Have a pleasant day!

Wet -N- Wild in MD

2006-06-26T21:30:00.000-04:00

Rain? We're not ascared of no rain! Besides, it was an hour drive to get there - might as well ride. So, ride we did, about 42 miles. (We had planned on riding a 61 mile route but deferred to the weather - we're not completely insane.) And who are we? We are Team in Training alumni and were riding to honor a fallen team mate, Pat Keegan, who passed away earlier this month. The ride was a regular tour on Atlantic Cycling's schedule but canceled because of the weather (there were flash flood warnings out for the area). AC did provide cue sheets for those that wanted to ride anyhow, so off we went. And it rained. Hard. At the halfway point in North Beach (on the Cheasapeake Bay), roads were closed because of flooding. But, all in all, it was a really nice ride, even with the rain. Afterwards, we went to Mike's for crabcake sandwiches and iced tea.

AC is going to try to reschedule the ride later in the season; we hope to do it again, in nicer weather and more TnT'ers (according to Kelly, the TnT alumni lead on this, there were at least 20 more folks that had planned on coming out to honor Pat). And anyone else that wants to ride is welcome to join us - AC tours are open to anyone (well, anyone with $10 :-)).

Really not much new going on except that I do want to note that I start work full time at ShuttleUM next week -- Woot! Since they have enough drivers for the summer, I'm not sure of exactly what my duties will be... but I'll be sure to let you all know. Come the fall semester, I'll be behind the wheel full time... until then, who knows.

Summer school

2006-06-13T15:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, it's still summer time and the livin's still easy... but the classes? Not so much... Advanced Calculus I is my only class this summer and it's not easy. BUT, I'll keep studying and keep cranking through the homework and hopefully I'll pass (this is the bellweather course for math majors). And I have to keep in mind that "C stands for commencement" (and/or "Cs get degrees!"). Friday is our first exam... yippee. (I *did* do well on the first quiz, last Thursday, but today's quiz was not quite as easy.)

Besides school, I'm also working, getting as many driving hours in as I can before switching over to full time. Which means catching up on my training. Currently, I'm training on the 38 and 40 ft buses (most of our buses are 30 and 35 ft). Well, yesterday I got to do some highway driving - all the way home! Here's a picture of the bus, taken from my front steps:
I've found that there isn't much difference - besides the obvious extra couple of feet that need to be maneuvered around corners, it's mainly a matter of different interiors (the bus in the photo is a Thomas [38 ft]; our 35 ft buses are made by Gillig, and we have a dozen or so 30ft buses made by Flxible, as well as two 40ft Flxibles, which I'll be highway driving on Friday).

Since school has started again, I've not been getting as many miles in on my bike, but I am getting out when I can. And on Sunday, I even managed to replace my chain - hopefully it will stay together when I'm out tooling around tomorrow.

And next Sunday, Rene' and Patrick will be coming over for a day of relaxing and BBQ (I think I'm going to put salmon on the grill). Looking forward to lighting up the grill - first time this year.

That's it for now...