Down Time

The early snow here in Colorado has put a bit of a damper on my riding this month. Not that I can't ride in the snow, well, actually, I can't. So what do I do with my extra time, what do I do?

There is the new motor home I will want to start bonding with, there is the weekly writer group meeting, and a new Men's Bible study group I just joined. I have a few pick-up jobs with a merchandiser that gets be out of the house here and there.  On Thursday's I hang out with a few guys and tear down houses to see what re-usable furnishing could be ripped out to re-sell at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore shop.  But I'm talking about all that extra time I have as a retiree.

I know, I'll write a novel in November...

 

I signed on with about a zillion others around the world to take on the challenge of writing a novel in 30 days.  Why, I don't know. Maybe because so many have made comments about the short stuff I blog and suggested that I should "write a book" someday.  Time to put up, or shut up I guess. Or maybe I don't want to procrastinate so long I miss the boat.

 Will this be a book you're going to find at the local Barnes and Noble, probably not. I may not even share it with anyone. (ok, an excert or two along the way if I think a particular piece it brilliant) But realistically, cranking out this many words in a month is not about quality, but quantity. Very much like my first 500 mile day on the motorcycle, I didn't think I could do it, but now that I have, I can do it on a regular basis.

I start tomorrow, and I barely have an idea to write about, although this character named, Snakebite, seems to be creeping more and more into my head. And I think he rides a bike a lot, and maybe, just maybe, when I can't ride over the Colorado snow, he can ride for me.

Safety First

On site in Hungary this past summer, our Habitat for Humanity project leader pounded this mantra into our heads. "Safety First!"  He hounded us the entire time. Where's your hard hat, put on the googles, use the gloves. I was using a ladder for some wall sanding when he came up and took it away because it was missing a bolt.  Of course this was a good thing, I really didn't want  a broken leg, or or even have a need for stitches when I was visiting a far-flung country.

Besides having a heart for helping others, Pisti, (Pea-sh Tee) and I also have another common bond. We both love motorcycles. Whether we will ever get to ride together someday remains to be seen, but we did leave with hopes that if I ever ride a motorcycle in Eastern Europe we'd work on it. And the same if he could ever get to the states.

One other strong belief we share, is that if you ride, you ride with all the safety gear. This means you wear the helmet, the riding jacket, and the sturdy pants. Because, let's face it, it's a dangerous out there.

Pisti's personal mantra "Safety First" literally saved his life this past week.

 

It is a universal constant, drivers do crazy unpredictable things at times.  This driver made an illegal turn and cut him off. You just can't predict these things. You will never know this ahead of time so that you will be sure to don the gear.

That is why I am so bothered by the large number of Colorado riders that ride without their helmet, and even ride in cut-offs on hot days.  I preach ride your own ride, but don't ride stupid. ATGATT!!  All The Gear A The Time.

Pisti will miss some time from work, but he will work again.  That would make me a believer if I were not already.

Keep It Real

Have you ever been to a Bike Night?  What you will generally find is a crowd showing up and every one parking their machine.  The riders will walk up and down the row of bikes looking over the new models, the new modification, and the new pieces of chrome.  Some come solo, others in small packs of 2 or 3. Young and old, fresh and weathered, they will all be there. Small talk starts most conversation, how you doing, what cha been up to, or even the occasional, so when did you make parole?  Some riders have actually ridden to places beyond the parking lot, they will talk tall tales of great rides, the rest just sit back and listen.  If you think about it, it is very much like going to church, except I haven’t seen a church meet at Hooters.

Biker bars and churches both have the type of person called the poseur.  Be it, the rider and bike that rolls up with all the chrome, the flashy paint job and odometer on the light side of the triple digits. The biker poseur loves the Race Replica paint job.  In church the poseur is the new guy in church with the three-piece business suit, the trophy wife, and the “Hello, Can I make you deal” smile, you see him leaving each new hand he shakes a business card.

On any given bike night there is the new kid that shows up on a small bike, not much, but already he has a tank cover matching his bright new rider suit. He looks up to the old timers and asks questions. He wants to know about any good riding roads. He’s fresh from his rider safety class and anxious to learn better riding techniques. The church will have the new Christian, you know the one, he’ll actually bring his brand new Bible. He will be proud of that study Bible, and yes, he’s personalized it with a new leather cover.

My favorite biker rides a late model touring machine. If the odometer shows a triple digit figure you can bet it has rolled over. The paint is faded from long rides in the desert sun, not from sitting in the front yard. His leathers are worn, tattered, and comfortable. If you ride with him he knows about back roads the county road department has forgotten.  He’ll wait for you at the fork in the road to insure you don’t get lost. He is not a squid, but there is no doubt he handles his bike with the best. His life passion is bikes. In fact, this bike he rides now is not the only one in his stable. It’s just the one that fits him best.  At the drop of a glove he’ll be in your garage helping you install that new upgrade. In the dead of the night you can call him. You know that he’ll show up with his beat up truck to come get you when you break down.

 Christ calls us to a life of passion .God is not interested in flash and chrome with no substance.  We’re not to live a life with our faith tucked away in the barn, only to be taken out for a week-end ride. Our faith should be our daily ride. Life’s roads have been ridden and we should share the dangers and warn our fellow riders.

The expert rider will always work on improving riding skills and keeping instincts sharp.  The mature Christian also stays in the Word to keep his mind sharp.

Whether you ride your ride, or ride for Jesus, keep it real man.

Don't judge a book's age by it's cover

Call it curb appeal, white washing, updating, remodel, or cosmetic, the basic underlying foundation remains the same.  You can't beat old age.

There is actually a motorcycle story behind this, but I'll get to that later.

A few years ago I was spending some time on the coast of the Sea of Cortez. San Felipe is not Puerto Vallarta. The beaches and pools of San Felipe are not full of twenty-somethings and young honeymooners, rather you'll find mid-lifers in their expensive motor homes, and retirees enjoying their beach front condo. What is the same, is the pool side swim wear. Yes, you have permission to freak at that mental image. A well dressed lady sitting at a table near me made this observation. "Some people don't know they are old."

I've noticed a lot of baby-boomers are spending big bucks on cosmetic work these days. A little nip here, a sizable tuck there, and maybe they will look younger and better than before, but face it, they are still old.  You might look like you can dance the night away, but you try just one of those standard dance moves in that body and you'll be digging out the pain meds the doc gave you when you first came out from under the knife.

I was actually making this connection between old bodies and new skin this week, not at the pool side, but while working on my motorcycle. I was trying to track down some strange sound, and not having much luck. It could be many things, my bike has a lot of miles on it.  But to look at my bike now it looks great. The paint is bright.  The sun hits it, and it really is better looking than than the day it sat on the showroom. But underneath that, the cam chain is reaching the end of it's life. The O-rings are hardening and I find little coolant leaks here and there. Nothing major, (I hope) but I do have to remember that how it looks, and even how I look, (or think I look) underneath we still have our limitations.

Have Bag, Will Travel

 Without a doubt, the most useless piece of furniture for me would be a rocking chair. I'd never have time to sit in it. Nor am I actually looking for rocking chair time, quite the opposite.

This week I am crawling around in some attic tracking down electrical problems. (I know, attics and I haven't gotten along well this year. see story). And it's not even my problem.

Blame it on Craigslist. This website has not only given me some great deals on stuff to buy, and short jobs to work, but it also caught my eye with a volunteer need here in Colorado Springs. A group home for foster teens was in need of someone to help sort out some household electrical problems,  and I dropped them a line to see if I could help.

I admit I am not an expert electrician, but how complicated could a house system be?

 "Holy George Jetson, Batman!"  Who knew 1950 technology could be so much fun. You got it right. This house was built in the 50's with a Touch Plate relay system for all the lighting. Not a bad way to wire a house actually.  Low voltage wires are run though the walls instead of heavy to bend and manipulate 12 gauge wires. Each room has a touch plate that switches the hall light on or off.  There is a master control panel that allows you to control all the lights in the house. Neat stuff for the times.

Of course, now, 50 years later the switching relays are failing and it's a bugger to figure out which wire controls which switch. I was even worried about whether the replacement parts could be found. Turned out that the company still exists, and, yes, there is a compatible part to replace the old switch. But get this, the company now produces an upgrade system that will let you manipulate your house electrical systems with your I-phone, or Blackberry. Jetson lives!

The part will get ordered, and I'll finish up with this project, then maybe I'll find time to kick back. Or not, there is a fun demolition project on the air base that has Habitat for Humanity scrounging for re-usable building materials I could help out with.....