On Sunday, I learned that my friend Jackie is in the hospital. So yesterday, I went to visit her. She has Pneumonia, but the doctors also discovered that she has shingles and they’re concerned about her liver and kidneys. I put on a cheerful face, and joked around with her, but she really doesn’t look well and I’m really concerned.
Then last night, I was surfing the net, looking at houses in Cincinnati and I saw that the house I was hot for is now Pending. Since I haven’t heard anything from our realtor, I can only assume that once again, someone put in an offer ahead of us. Just to add insult to injury, the ranch house I was interested in as an alternate is also listed as Pending.
I’m going down to Glitch Badness, but my heart just ain’t in it. I’ll still go to Cincinnati after the rally, and maybe a house will pop up, but I’m not expecting it. Right now, I’m having a real problem keeping a positive attitude.
Well, I’m just going to do the Next Right Thing. In this case, I’ll go over to the shop in a few hours and put on a new tire. Then, I’ll come home and pack my saddlebags. On Wednesday morning, I’ll head towards Tennessee and Vern’s place.
Maybe being on the road will lift my spirits. God, I sure hope so.
Well here I sit in the Awful Waffle having steak and eggs. My clothes are still drying back at the hotel. The sun is peeking out and the radar is clear! Looking forward to a beautiful ride to Georgia. It was raining when I left yesterday but I'm still glad I rode. See you in Suches Crusty!
I could be on the road right now, but I’m stalling. I’m stalling partly because of the weather (it’s 38º, damp and cloudy) and partly because I’m just depressed. I think my friend Jackie is going to die. Yesterday, she told Dondi that she was ready to go if it’s God’s will. The doctors at the hospital keep finding new things that are wrong. There’s nothing, other that praying, that I can to to improve the situation. I want to just hole up and do nothing.
To add to the mood, the realtor e-mailed me that somebody else’s offer was accepted on the house. When I saw Pending on the listing, I had a pretty strong suspicion that that was the case, but the e-mail confirmed it. That makes 4? 5? more? (I’m not real sure of the number) that have gotten away.
I know that I’ll be with friends in Georgia. I’m trying to focus on that. Vern, Frank, Matthew, Mike, Greg, and everybody else are all top notch people, in my book. Being surrounded by them will hopefully raise my spirits. I’m pretty sure it will. it’s hard to be bummed out around a group like that.
OK; on that note, I’m going to get off my fat ass and head out. I have something to ride to.
Brankin, I was wearing a$$less chaps and a thong! Live with that visual!!
The ride to Georgia was perfect. Stopped in Chattanooga at the Terminal brewery for lunch. The Pot Roast nachos were awesome! Once my keester was pain free I headed to Ellijay. Fort Mountain was a hoot! Highly recommend that ride!
Yeah, John- as the miles pass, so shall your cares. Just this morning, I got to read the published obituary of my dear friend, Michael Thomas Maupin, we call him Mikey. It still doesn't seem real... my honey said it's like we're just waiting for him to jump out from somewhere and punk us on the whole thing... that's the kind of lovely clown that he was. Thing is, that's not gonna happen. Wish it were so.
Death and taxes. We won't know for sure about anything else, so let's worry about only the things we HAVE to worry about. In the meantime, as avid motorcyclists, we all have the cure for the blues, my friend.
I'm in Hawley, Pa taking a break to warm up and drink a hot coffee. It's cold and windy, and I have to focus harder than usual on my riding. I'm planning to make it to Hagerstown for tonight. I'll probably write a Snippet after I stop. I have a good idea for one; I hope I can remember it when I sit down to write, later.
AMEN, Matthew. Well said. What's that old biker's adage about not going to the grave in a well-preserved body, but sliding in sideways, used up and worn out, living out every iota of the good? Well, that would sum up my brother's life, he still left us too soon. We shall celebrate his life, ours, and everyone we hold dear.
Crusticle, travel well and safe... I'm gonna try to find you a sticker in my collection. There's one in particular that I hope to have a copy of... standby.
I’taking a heat break in a Macca’s, slugging on a senior coffee and hoping that the chill leaves me fairly quickly. it’s nowhere near as warm as I thought it was going to be. Gee; Intellicast was wrong again! What a surprise.
I’m still about 300 miles from Vern’s place in Tennessee. I hope I hit some warmer weather soon. If what I saw this morning is right, I should be riding into 70+ º temps before too much longer.
I got pulled over for speeding this morning. it was an unmarked car and he wasn’t very happy with me. I didn’t dispute that I was speeding, and he let me go without writing me up. Still, I was running 80 - 85 before I got stopped, now I’m staying really close to the posted limit. Well, maybe 5 over; or if I’m in a group that’s running at a good clip, I might go whatever the group is running. A ticket is not what I need right now.
Gas prices are interesting. The price of Regular fluctuates between $1.95 and $2.53 per gallon, depending on which state I’m in, but Super is almost always around $2.70 no matter what the price of Regular is. The price may go up or down about $.20, but sometimes it’s $.20 cents/gallon more than Regular, and sometimes it’s $.70 more. The Truck stop in Connecticut wanted $3.18/ gallon, but they’re one of the highest priced stations I’ve run across.
It feels like the AC is on in this Mickey Ds. I’m not warming up very fast. I think I’ll have a second cup of coffee before I head out. On second thought, I think I’ll just get back out there and put on a few more miles.
If I'm cold and stop at mickyDs, I go straight to the restroom and use the hand warmers to get warm. Then hot water hand wash. Do my business and wash and hand dryer heat again. I started this after stopping on the south side of Bloomington, Illinois on a 17 degree day, shivering through breakfast only to discover it was 85 degrees in the restroom.
I’m sitting in the Main/Dining room at the lodge drinking my first cup of morning coffee. They don’t start serving breakfast for another half hour; which is fine by me. The weather is really mild. It’s supposed to be in the 60s today and even warner tomorrow. There are all kinds of bikes here and I’m surrounded by Enthusiasts of all kinds. I’m loving’ it!
I’m starting to rise out of my depression. I’m feeling quite a bit more positive than I’ve felt in a while. All these motorcycles and the various types of people who ride them are really good for giving me a more positive attitude toward everything. I’m surrounded by friends….
I wrote that this morning, just before the power went out. It’s now a little after 6:00, and it’s been a magnificent day. It something like 72º (F) here without a cloud in the sky. I’ve done a number of interesting and fun things today. I saw a carbon fiber guitar, I rode Froggy’s 1190 SX, I overate at Jim’s Smoking’ Que (1/2 rack of ribs, BBQ Baked Beans & Peanut Butter Pie) and I kept up with some fast Buells on my Roadster.
TWoS was overflowing with motorcycles this afternoon. Buells, EBRs, Harleys, BMWs, Hondas, Kawasakis, Suzukis, Yamahas, Moto Guzzis, Triumps, and even an MV Augusta. I love this place. I’ve done nothing but talked motorcycles all afternoon (when I wasn’t riding). It’s as close to Heaven as I’ll ever get while I’m still alive. If you’re into motorcycles, you owe it to yourself to come down here and ride the roads around the area. The mountains are beautiful and the roads gnarly. And my favorite campground in the world is here. If you’re not into camping, you can get either a cabin, or a room here in the lodge. Once you’ve been here, you’ll want to come back. Coming here was the best thing I could have done for myself to get out of that depression I was stuck in and didn’t even realize I was suffering from.
Tonight’s the 1/2 Mile race in Charlotte, NC. I’ll go over to Fans Choice TV after I finish this Snippet and watch the races. There’s nothing better for my soul than being so completely immersed in all forms of motorcycling. (Well, watching those two very attractive blondes on sport bikes who came by earlier just added to the ambience)
Tomorrow, I’ll head for Cincinnati. I hope this good luck continues there.
And I was behind Crusty, on my XB, having to work to keep up with him on his Roadster, and this was after he had a belly full of BBQ and Peanut Butter pie.
John I think you missed Charlie talking about his therapist an therapy, his motorcycle. Just what the doctor ordered, a weekend riding in the mountains. I wish someone would have gotten a picture of you after your ride on Frogy's 1190.
Good seeing everyone. Next time I'll need more than a day.
John, I was so glad to have you and Froggy spend some time here. I hate that circumstances had me not being able to make the trip. I need that Uly ride therapy too!
You guys made my week. I am glad to see that your trip was more than successful!
Well I took a wonderful 53 mile ride through the back woods with 7 miles of packed gravel in the middle! I love that road! My friends are at church and I was able to get a hot shower. Ahhh, back to normal! Now I'm remembering all the roads, rides, people and bikes that I saw! What a fantastic weekend! Crusty it was really great to see you again and Fran is right, I've never seen you smile like you didn't after riding the EBR! You were definitely a happy camper! Safe travels my friend!