Wednesday, May 24, 2006

The Biker

Got this off another Forum:
"THE BIKER"

When you see us moving past you quickly:

Don't take offense or think we're trying to "show off". Ninety five percent of the time, we're trying to get out of your blind spot or taking ourselves out of a potential dangerous situation that has evolved around us. Distancing ourselves from you does not mean we want to race, but that we're giving ourselves the edge we need at the moment.

When you hear our horn:

Don't take offense or think we're trying to aggravate you. All we're doing is letting you know where we are in relation to you on the road, and we're more than likely aware of your inattentiveness to us while you're talking on a cell phone, eating, reading or involved in some other distracting aspect to your driving. It's important to us, and you, that you know we're there.

When you hear our loud pipes:

Don't become angry and hostile toward us. Yes, some are quite loud, but for some, there's a purpose behind being loud. It's about letting you know we're close by and we're constantly hoping that our investment in this accessory will help save our lives. Our pipes are really not about our ego...it's a pride and personalization to our form of transportation.

When you see us in our clothes:

Don't become fearful of us or think us weird. Our leather jackets, chaps, gloves and boots are the barriers between loosing massive amounts of flesh should something cause us to go down...nothing more, nothing less. Safety gear is paramount to our riding. We wear patches on our jackets, and pins on our vests. These are symbols of pride and honor within our group(s), individuals giving back to those who gave. These things bond us as a brotherhood and sisterhood among bikers. Not that we're better than anyone else, but that we have the same kind of nobility and pride in our accomplishments as you may have in the various aspects of your life. I guess one could say; our patches and pins are the decals and the bumper stickers of our involvement with society and the general public, of which we are very pleased to be a part of in our own little way.

When you see us in a restaurant:

You don't have to shield your child or feel intimidated. We have family, wives, husbands, children and loved ones too, just like you. We smile; we laugh and enjoy the moments we have. We are approachable, and would befriend you, if given the opportunity.

When you see us in a parking lot:

Don't convince yourself that we're there to "get you". More than likely, we just finished a long ride and are taking a break. Or, we may be meeting up with other riders for a charity run for young children, or another very worthy cause. We may just be admiring one another's bikes, sharing our pride with other brothers and sisters, just like you do with your personal vehicle. It's what we do...it's a part of our lives, and we'd be more than welcome to share with you what riding a bike is all about...if you'd only ask.

When you see aggressive riding bikers:

Don't put us all in the same stereotypical category as those whose behavior and actions would cause you to react in disgust and intolerance. Many of us do not agree with this style of riding either, and we know and understand that human nature tends to blend us all together as the "same group". Most of us don't want that title...and don't deserve it.

When you see a group of bikers on the roadways:

Give us the courtesy of sharing the road with you. Please don't "move in" between several bikers in formation. This gets us very excited and nervous, especially when it's done with no due regard for our safety. Provide us with your awareness of the fact that we are much more vulnerable than you. We don't want to challenge you, for all of us are wise enough to know...we'd lose that battle.

When you are turning left or entering a roadway/highway:

Look, then look again...and then one more time. For we can be easily hidden,and appear to be invisible by such things as a telephone pole, another vehicle, bright lights or the glare of the sun...or possibly, the beads hanging from your rearview mirror, among numerous other items that are displayed there. If you see us flashing our lights at you or blowing our horn, we're only trying to ensure that you will see us before tragedy changes both our lives.


When you are behind us:

Please give us the room we need and don't tailgate us. If you hit us, we're going down...HARD! We don't want to play games with you, we just want to enjoy the ride and the fresh air, and experience that which many of you have never lived for. If we accelerate away from you, don't interpret this action as though we want to drag race you. We're only trying to take ourselves out of a bad situation if you insist on being too close.

When, and if, you experience road rage:

Don't take it out on us just because we're smaller than you and more vulnerable. Think about what you're doing and the end result that may become a reality. The consequences of your actions and choices could be very detrimental to our well being, our families, our children and our loved ones. Yes, there are those that can tend to piss you off, however, rage towards them will not solve the issues, but accentuate them. Nine out of ten bikers will do everything they can to take themselves out of that situation without causing you or them harm.

When you have an opportunity to talk to us:

You'll discover, outside any influenced or stereotypical mindset you may have, that we are just as human as you are, just with different interests and toys. Many of us would give you the shirt off our back if it would tend to brighten your day or console you in some way. We're really no different...and we drive cars, trucks and vans too. So, meet us and greet us...I think you'll be pleasantly surprised that you'll be met with open arms.

Thank You for attempting to understand...

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

tradesmen

I was thinkin today
that if I could do it
I go be a tradesman

I have a cousine that is a framer
and he's got work up the wazoooo
and nobody to help
cos people think
bangin a hammer is beneath them

me
I think that if you got to go to work in the morn
and home at night
without once feeling the need
to burst into tears

it's gotta be all good...
and it sure as hell would beat my job

A Toast to Absent Friends

"to absent friends
to those we have met
to those we have yet to meet
to those who have left us for a while
and to those who have left us forever

let us lift our glasses
and drink a toast
that they may abide in our hearts
forever

to absent friends"

Sunday, May 21, 2006

There's no fool....

Like an old fool...

what the hell is it about me
that keeps me so reticent to take a chance
on a new job?
or writing for a living?

why is it that so many people
tell me that I can write
and I don't beleive them?

why is it that
I continue to beat myself up
about not being the kind of person
that I want to be
as opposed to this half life of
being who I think "they"
need me to be?

I've been offered so much
and I seem to be able to accept so little
why can't I just say thanks
and be done with it?

there's just no fool like an old fool
and that's the damn truth

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Thanks

so...here I am all snuggly in my jammies...

I've had my first "ride" of the season, laughs, more riding, more laughs...

and then I came home and at the last set of lights from home, which is about 3 car lengths from my driveway, I'm sitting at the red behind this woman in a VW Jetta singing away to my tunage...

and doesn't she take it upon herself to wash her windsheild?

and doesn't about 2/3 of what she sprays come completely over her car?

and doesn't it skip my front end and my windshield and get me right in the yap?

cos honestly - when is my yap ever closed??

but I digress....

I came home and had a meal and my meds to stave off the boggie man and then I had a hot soak in the tub to relax all them muscles that I haven't used since September (who knew I had muscles there???) and a little icy hot for the stiff shoulder...

I climb into bed and think "this has got to be just a little bit of heaven"....

I close my eyes and just before I drift off - I picture the sight my eyes beheld upon arriving at Timmies this evening and my eyes snap open as I remember...my brother's and sister's of the road clapping and cheering..."The Pickle Lives"

Damn I love this club!

cos I know that you all know how much it means to me to be back on the road - and I know that you all know how much you all mean to me....

and here I sit...me, the story teller...without the words to say it in a manner that will touch each and everyone of you the way your friendship has touched me

so Thanks

and....say g'night Dick!

OMG! OMG! OMG!

OMG!!!
OMG!!!
OMG!!!

I am so not going to be able to stand erect tomorrow - but boy oh boy oh boy did I need that!!

My old trike is finally back on the road and hell bent for leather...good news is that I'm not much bothered by the lack of speedo

my riding chapter went on a club ride tonight (about 20 of us) my first real ride since I blew the motor last Sept and had all the work done over the winter...tough winter as we pretty much ride all year long here

anyway part of the ride tonight was to ride thru the inner core of the city - there's a big historical hotel in the Inner Harbour right down town call "the Empress" it's caddywumpus from the Parliament Buildings and the Royal BC Museum - and it is tourist central all year long....throngs of tourists in walking shoes and Tilley walking hats with expensive camera -and horse drawn tour carriages and pedo cabs etc etc (ask Grumpy :( he sat on the lawn at the Parliament buildings taking obligatory Sunday butt pix when he was here!)

....so anway we are slowly cruising past and doesn't my new stero start blaring "Born to be Wild" from the Hog Tunes CD I was playing

I was hysterical!

**note to self - don't put yer wallet in yer ass pant's pocket and then lay on it all evening on yer trike - cos it gives ya a hitch in yer giddy up!**

***nuther note to self - who knew there were muscles in yer breasts??? ~ahem~***

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Gak!

I'm not sure
but I think my job is trying to kill me

I think that operating under that kind of stress
for 8 hrs a day 5 days a week

will eventually make you implode

today I found myself in the unlikely position
to have to talk "good" about the job
to a young up and comer

I had to tell him about how much he could learn
and how the skills learned here would serve him well
in his future
it made me feel guilty

I'm home now
and I just feel dirty

and it's not the kind of dirty that
comes off in the bath
it's the kind of dirty
that eats your soul

so....enough of this
I'm off to the job boards!

see ya!

Friday, May 12, 2006

Quote of the Day!

"I was born in a state of confusion....
and I ain't moved yet!"

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Pink!

ok
so here's a story for ya

my riding club chapter has 130-ish members
we ride together Thursdays and Sundays
First Sunday of every month we have a MITM (meet in the middle) where we have all 5 chapters of this club that exist here on Vancouver Island get together for lunch

last Sunday was a MITM
alsoooo

a couple of Sunday's ago I was acosted by a male rider
and given a whole bunch of lip about how "unladylike" I am
how I talk like a trucker and don't dress or act very femininely
*harumph*
He of course made this statement
in front of about 40 of my friends

I listened very patiently
and then told him
"F*ck You!"
all nice and lady like...

some of you may remember the story of the little old lady that beat me up in the ladies room last year cos she thought I was a man....

So the rest of the club has this "pink" thing goin on for me...
and at last Sunday's MITM there was a presentation where I rec'd some pink suede boots, a pink suede purse, a pink suede hat, pink flip flops, pink feather boa, pink sneakers, pink nailpolish, pink lipstick, a pink tutu, pink dance slippers, pink fluffy slippers, pink fairy wings, pink feather wings, pink carry all, pink t-shrits X 7 a pink and rhinestone watch!

Finally my buddy Bryan stands up and announces that he has the present that he can't guaran-damn-tee I will use and presents me with a pink neoprene face mask for riding in the rain....it covers the bottom half of my face and has a pig's nose and a boar's teeth!

ya know what?
He's right!

Friday, May 05, 2006

the wall

I think I might have hit the wall

I'm tired
I want to cry
I have never felt
so completely disrespected
in my life

nor have I felt so old
I'm so tired
I can't think of what will get me out of this funk

I'm just done

Thursday, May 04, 2006

My Story....

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

a brief synopsis of my day...

So I'm managing an special project while the manager (Jenn) is in training

she and I email each other all day long so we can keep ourselves abreast of all issues

Jenn: How are you doing?? Head still on...

Me: small implosion...
outsmarted by a freakin photo copier
good lesson to learn at the beginin of the month
won't mix em all up like that again
took half an hour and the whole meeting room table to fix it

Jenn: what did you do to the meeting room table??

Me: well ya see
it's like this
I got this idea in my head that if I just took all the paperclips off
and photocopied the whole bunch at once
it would save me time
NOT SO MUCH
printer fubar'd
and I didnt' realize it
so I stapled a bunch o forms together that weren't mated
and it was messy
so I took em all apart
and laid them all out on the freakin table
and danced around the table lookin for crap for about a half a freakin hour

but I'm ok now
~seriously~

*sigh*

I'm juggling as fast as I can

jug·gle ( P ) Pronunciation Key (jgl)v. jug·gled, jug·gling, jug·gles v. tr.
To keep (two or more objects) in the air at one time by alternately tossing and catching them.
To have difficulty holding; balance insecurely: juggled the ball but finally caught it; shook hands while juggling a cookie and a teacup.
To keep (more than two activities, for example) in motion or progress at one time: managed to juggle a full-time job and homemaking.
To manipulate in order to deceive: juggle figures in a ledger. v. intr.
To juggle objects or perform other tricks of manual dexterity.
To make rapid motions or manipulations: juggled with the controls on the television to improve the picture.
To use trickery; practice deception. n.
The act of juggling.
Trickery for a dishonest end.
[Middle English jogelen, to entertain by performing tricks, from Old French jogler, from Latin ioculr, to jest, from ioculus, diminutive of iocus, joke. See yek- in Indo-European Roots.][
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Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth EditionCopyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
juggle
n 1: the act of rearranging things to give a misleading impression [syn:
juggling] 2: throwing and catching several objects simultaneously [syn: juggling] v 1: influence by slyness [syn: beguile, hoodwink] 2: manipulate by or as if by moving around components; "juggle an account so as to hide a deficit" 3: deal with simultaneously; "She had to juggle her job and her children" 4: throw, catch, and keep in the air several things simultaneously