Too Broke For Sturgis 2010

Too Broke for Sturgis was epic this year! Good friends, good times, great ride and laughs! 

The ride up to Mormon Lake, AZ on Friday morning was great. It was nice and cool after leaving the heat of the valley and it was clear nearly the whole way. It rained the last 40 miles, but it wasn't that bad. What was bad was freezing our asses off Friday night because us flatlanders aren't quite accustomed to the damn cooler mountain air! Some of us were drunk by 2:00 Friday afternoon and some of us were not. :) I was actually part of the latter group for once! I actually got to meet the Fryed Brothers on Friday night! I knew there was a chance to meet them so I wanted to stay sober so I'd remember it, and I also didn't want to make a complete ass of myself. :)

Friday night, there were some karaoke nutjobs in the campground. They had their karaoke BLASTING until 5:00 a.m. on Saturday! And I do mean BLASTING! It was horrible. But you don't piss off 3,000 bikers without getting some payback! At 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, about 40 or 50 bikes lined up outside the karaoke jackass's trailer and started revving the engines with their exhaust pointed at the trailer. There was a huge crowd around and everyone was cheering them on. Finally, they told said jackass that he had 30 minutes to get his shit packed up and leave or his trailer would be trashed. He got out pretty quick! I love revenge!

Saturday brought us beautiful sunny weather. It was about 80 all day...perfect. After a lovely breakfast courtesy of the Christian Motorcycle Association (BIG shout out to Brad and Patty from the CMA...they take care of us every year), Raven and I went to hit the showers. The showers are coin-operated and kind of nasty, but we needed showers. As we were waiting in the women's shower line, we kept watching the damn men's showers....it was like a revolving door! WTF? So I finally said, "Fuck this, I'm switching teams!" Raven jumped in the men's showers with me, too! We walked in and announced that we were going to shower together with the curtain closed and that there would be NO show. Sorry guys. The guy who was in the handicapped shower stall actually gave us his stall and went into the other open one so we would have some room. The two guys in there were VERY cool. They made a good point...they didn't know who our old men were, if they were M/C, wrestlers, gunslingers, etc. so they better not fuck with us. LOL! Good point! 

The other highlight of Saturday was the weenie bite. It was the big event! There were the slow races and road kill, too, but the weenie bite was the big one. I was on the back with Caveman, Raven was on the back with Hagrid, and Missy was on the back with Lucky. Missy and Lucky were first up. The rules were explained to them and they  said they understood. Off they go. Missy realizes she's not going to get the weenie so she grabs it with her hands. Then Lucky takes off. Missy does a back flip off the back of the bike! She lands on her face in front of 3000 bikers in the arena. But credit is due here because Missy jumped right up and ran to catch up with Lucky, jumped on the bike cowboy-style and off they went out of the arena! Missy's new road name: Flipper! LMFAO!

There were many good laughs Saturday night. Most will stay at Too Broke. :)  The ride home Sunday was nasty. It always feels like we're descending into the bowels of hell when coming back into the valley. It was no different this time. We all had a bit of heat stroke when we got home, but it was worth it. 

Hopefully the pics will help tell the story....

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Oh yeah, and when we got home, Caveman said he can't ride a sporty anymore (because I rode the Dyna all weekend) so I bought myself a '96 Washington State Police Bike. :)

We Are (Almost) Famous!

I promise to finish the Parker story soon. I've run into a few difficulties recently. But I did want to post this for y'all. I'm behind the scary looking caveman dude on the right. Kickstand and Ice are on the left. :)

This is the Cali edition....the NW edition is coming this week. :) Guess they wanted to show all the helmet-wearing states what choice looks like. :)

The 100 Mile Ride and So Much More

What do you get when you mix Willy D, Viking Dave, Arizona Harley Dude and his lovely lady Linda, Me, Big D and the whole Arizona BACA crew at a campground on the Colorado River with a floating dock bar??? You get one hell of a great weekend!!!!!

There is really a lot to tell, and I don't want to steal anyone's thunder, so I'll break it down by each day (as I remember them).

Friday

We left Phoenix at 3:00 pm on Friday afternoon. It was sunny but windy as hell. The bikes were ready to go, Annabelle even got a new front tire for the trip. Me, Big D and Vicki saddled up and headed out. We took the 60 through Wickenburg, rather than taking I-10. The freeway is just so boring.

Things were going great. Annabelle is a good pack mule. After fueling up in Wickenburg, we headed west toward Aguila. We had to make a brief stop in Aguila. I looked over to check on Vicki and she had her helmet on, but no glasses! WTF?! I made Big D pull over. We pulled into Woody's Hardware Store. Vicki had lost her glasses while we were in Wickenburg. I'm sure they were in the restroom at Circle K. Anyway, I gave her my clears and told her not to lose them, and off we went again.

There were many bugs out, and it was kind of gross, but they weren't a problem. Just had to keep wiping my glasses off. (Ewwww.) About 15 miles outside of Aguila, I heard a very strange, very loud noise under Annabelle. I thought, "I know I'm new at this, but I don't think she's supposed to make that sound." Then I realized I had no power. The throttle was useless. I gave Big D the high sign and pulled over. He asked what was wrong and I told him. I had no clue what had happened. I told him I thought I blew the transmission because when I put the bike in first after stopping, it wouldn't go, like it was stuck in neutral or something. Big D came and looked at Annabelle and said, "I'll be back." (Yes, I was reminded or Arnold at that point.) Me and Vicki watched him go back the way we came and he was gone for about 10 minutes. When he came back he asked if I had figured out what was wrong yet. I hadn't. Then he pulls my chain out. Yes, I lost my chain. The master link had snapped.

Now, under normal circumstances, people who run a bike with a chain carry an extra master link with them on the bike. Unfortunately, these were not normal circumstances. When Big D gave Annabelle to me, I didn't like the tool bag on the handlebars and made him take it off. He put the tools in the little pockets on my saddlebags instead. But apparently he forgot the master link. Now we're in the middle of f'ing nowhere with no master link. And there damn sure ain't a Harley dealer anywhere nearby.

Big D remembers Woody's Hardware Store in Aguila. At first, he wanted me to go buy a master link at the hardware store. Now normally any chance I get to ride Marie, and I'm all over it. But I have no friggin' idea what the hell I'm looking for. And by the way, the name Woody's is a bit misleading: nobody in the store spoke English! So off Big D went, leaving me and Vicki on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Vicki was a great sport, and kept me entertained by singing songs about her belly. :)  I decided to call Willy D and Viking Dave to let them know that we would be late getting into Parker. Willy D asked where we were and what had happened. I told him, and he said, "OK." About 20 minutes later, the two road whores pull up. You could have knocked me over with a feather! I am always happy to see our brothers from Cali, but I was especially happy to see them at that moment! While waiting for Big D, we chatted, took pics, and Dave set up  some bottles for 'target practice' for he and Vicki. (Good job, Vicki!)

When Big D finally got back, he was surprised to see Willy and Dave. Then he told us that they didn't exactly have the right size master link, but he made one out of two. This was Big D's first MacGuyver move of the weekend. He and Willy D put the chain back on Annabelle, and we were back on the road and headed to Parker.

Once we got into Parker and found the campground, we headed to the floating dock bar for some dinner and libations. It's only once or twice a year that we get to see all our BACA brothers and sisters together in the same place, so when we do get together, rest assured we are not going to be quiet about it! After 20 minutes of hugs and hellos and introductions to everyone, we ordered dinner and a drinky for me. :) Big D, Vicki and the boys went to set up the tent after we ate and I stayed at the bar. I wasn't going to be useful setting up the tent, anyway.

The floating dock bar has a stripper pole, and I actually made a few dollars on it Friday night. Fully clothed. Maybe they were paying me to keep my clothes on? Or to just stop? Who knows? Anyway, there was a great jukebox full of rockin' music and we kept it loud. I danced all night with my girls and we had a great time! After putting up the tent, Big D and the boys came back and Big D actually started drinking. This is highly unusual. So the Jack Daniel's was flowing freely. Life was good.

We stumbled back to camp after closing down the bar. It had been a very long day, and we were feeling it. We got ready for bed and laid down on the air mattress where we had the following conversation:

Me: There's not enough air in the mattress.
Big D: Shit.
Me: (In a sing-song voice) I'm rolling into the middle! So are you! Not good!
Big D: Shit.
Me: I'm going to the bathroom while you figure it out.

When I get back from the bathroom I find Big D with the air mattress outside the tent. He has the small air compressor plugged in and he's filling it up. We get the air mattress back in the tent and all set up. Big D lays down and I hear "Whooooooooosh".

Me: There's a hole in it.
Big D: What?
Me: There's a hole.
Big D: Where's the hole?
Me: (laughing) I can't find it. Oh, here it is!
Big D: I need some duct tape.
Me: Seriously??!! Do I look like I have fucking duct tape on me? Let me just pull it out of my ass!
Big D: Shit.

At that point, I was done. I went over to Vicki's mattress and said, "Vicki, move over, make room for Mommy. Daddy's mattress has a hole in it." Vicki said ok, but there was no room for Daddy. (LOL) We then heard Big D rooting around in the bags for quite some time. We were laughing at him. Then we were laughing at farts. :)  We finally fell asleep. In the morning Big D told me what he did to fix the mattress and why he woke up sleeping on an empty mattress:

"I found some bubble gum and a maxi-pad with wings and fixed the hole." (This was his shining moment as MacGuyver!) "It held for about two hours and then I heard a loud POP! but I didn't really wake up." (I'm picturing the mattress blowing a bubble with the gum, are you with me here?)

The mattress deflated and Big D slept on. The problem is, his half of the tent was on the gravel. Ours was on the grass. He was hurting bad when he woke up.

Also, poor Dave was sleeping just outside our tent, and remembers hearing, "Where's the hole?" "I can't find it. Oh, here it is!" Glad we gave him a good laugh, anyway!

That was the start to our kick-ass weekend. I think I'll give you all a break and tomorrow I will continue with all the fun.

Ride safe!

Constitutional Carry Law Is Signed By AZ Governor

In case you didn't hear about it, Arizona has just passed the Constitutional Carry law. What is that, you ask? That is essentially the right to keep and bear arms as the 2nd amendment intended.

Here are a few blurbs from the announcement on the acmc list I'm on:

"Arizona now becomes the third state to not require written permission from the government for law-abiding citizens to exercise their right to bear arms discretely. Because Arizona is the first state in the U.S. with a large urban population to take this significant step, this is a watershed moment for the entire country."

"If you don't have a permit, don't start carrying concealed just yet. The law won't become effective until 90 days after "Sine Die" when the Legislature officially adjourns. Since they are still working through a slew of bills, we don't expect Sine Die anytime soon. In past years, the effective date of bills has been around September."

"CCW permits still have a purpose. You'll need one to streamline gun purchases, to carry in states that honor Arizona permits and for carrying concealed in establishments that serve alcohol. And, the training you receive to obtain a permit is an added bonus. Along with restoring your right to bear arms, SB 1108 added additional training opportunities for obtaining a permit. NRA classes and training from places like Front Sight
and Gunsite will be able to qualify as permit training."

"If you decide not to obtain a CCW permit, that doesn't mean you shouldn't train. The heaviest thing about wearing a firearm is the responsibility that comes with it. Take that money that you save on permit and renewal fees and spend it on quality training as often as you can. Lead by example - the world is watching."

Now, surprising as it may seem, this has been a hot issue here in the Valley of the Sun. Some people think it's a bad idea. I've heard people say this will make it easier for criminals to get weapons. Really? Criminals are not going to the local arms shop or gun show to buy their weapons. This law has no effect on how criminals obtain guns. You still must pass a federal background check in order to purchase a gun - that did not change. You just don't need special permission from the state to carry the gun concealed.

I have also heard some folks talk about what a danger this will be for LEOs. Um, not so much. Again, I know lots of people who carry concealed weapons, and people who open carry; none of them are a danger to LEOs now. They still won't be. One more time: this law has no effect on how criminals obtain guns.

I am personally tickled pink that this law has passed. Some may think this is taking a step backward to "The Wild West", but perhaps it's a step forward.

Talking In My Sleep - Updated

I felt Big D get into bed and the following conversation ensued:

Me: Did you turn off the hose?

Big D: Huh? Yes.

Me: I'm cold.

Me: Can you get me a blanket?

Big D: Do you think I just came to bed?

Me: Yeah

Big D: I just rolled over and you started asking questions

Me: Oh. Can I get that blanket?

(And yes, he did get up and put a heavy blanket on me.)

Has It Been That Long, Really?

Over the last month I have had very good intentions of posting. But what is it they say about the road to hell? Anyway, I do have lots to tell you, but this could turn into a VERY long post, so I'm going to do this list-style, otherwise I'll be here all damn day!

1. My baby girl turned 12 on March 24. We went to Kartchner Caverns in southern AZ. Stayed at a neat little hotel in Benson, AZ for the weekend. Had a great time. I totally recommend the Caverns to anyone who is NOT claustrophobic. :)
2. I took Annabelle on my first overnight trip last month. We rode to Tucson for BACA's Pima County Chapter's 1st Annual Poker Run. I ran out of gas on the freeway because Big D changed my fuel tank, and I had never run reserve before. It was real fun running out of gas at 80 mph on I-10 in front of 3 big rigs the day after that fatal crash involving a meth-head truck driver and 9 bikes. The good news is, I found out I have a 72-mile range on this tank before I hit reserve. :)  After that, my throttle got stuck wide open as we were pulling into Tucson. Yeah, 85 mph and I can't slow down without hitting the breaks. I pull in the clutch and Annabelle is screaming. But of course Big D was able to fix her. We think I picked up some bad gas when I ran out. It was a great weekend, and I'm not afraid of the freeway anymore. :)
3. My grandson Jayden turned 2 on Sunday. :)
4. As of today, I have been 11 days without a cigarette. Chantix really works. (aka: no dead bodies to hide)
5. I am maintaining my 3.91 GPA in school, and am now beginning my core classes.
6. Really good things are happening at work, for the company and for me.
7. We just found out that Dave and Willy D are going to join us for the BACA 100-mile ride camping trip! We're sad that BB and Mrs. Willy D can't go, but so happy that some of our crazy Cali friends can go! If anyone wants more info, email me. (Paul!)
8. My mother's condo has finally sold! Closing is at the end of June. We will be in our new home by my birthday...I hope. :)
9. Big D let me ride the Dyna. Now I know why he didn't want me to ride it. I love Annabelle. But seriously??? For those of you that don't know....a '99 Dyna is to an '88 Sportster what a Cadillac Escalade is to a Ford Pinto! WTF?! I keep threatening to take the Dyna to work some Friday. I will eventually. :) 

I know there's lots more, but I have to get ready for work, and the Chantix makes me a little crazy. :) I will try to post more often so I don't have to do these crazy list-type posts.

Ride safe!

Yes, I'm Still Here

I haven't posted lately and there are a few reasons for that.

First, I have been really busy at work, which is great. But school work has kicked up a few notches, too. And BACA has been keeping me very active, as well. If that weren't enough, I am planning some trips this year, too.

We are taking Vicki to Kartchner Caverns for her birthday in a few weeks. I think we're going to hit Tombstone, too. She's really excited, and so are we. It will be nice to get away for a night or two.

Then we are committed to going to the BACA Tucson Charter's 1st Annual Poker Run on 3/27. Some folks here in Phoenix are making it a day trip. Really? A day trip? Riding to Tucson at o-dark-30, doing a poker run and then riding home? I'll pass. So we're leaving Friday night, staying with some Tucson members and coming home Sunday. Much better.

We also have Abbey's Angel Ride this month. It seems we have something planned for every weekend this month!

April is a little better, but we're ramping up for BACA's 100-Mile-Ride on the 24th. April will be an extremely busy month for us. BTW...if you'd like to donate to BACA, now's the time to do it. The 100-Mile-Ride is our biggest ride of the year, and it is to raise awareness and $$. Email me if you would like to donate...it is tax deductible and would be greatly appreciated. Our kids need help. OK...I'll get off the soap box now.

So, you can see that we have tons of stuff going on over the next couple of months, and I have a feeling the summer will be no better. Too Broke for Sturgis is in July and the Fryed Brothers Band will be playing there this year. You can bet we will be there too.

We'll also be buying a house somewhere in there, too. And moving. For the last time in my life. :)

I hope everyone is doing well. Congrats to Dave and BB on their big news! And congrats to Kim, David, Sydney and Baby Brooke! :)

Ride safe and be well.

Soul Brother

Just a quick post to let everyone know that I'm alive. I also wanted to highlight a brother's blog. Mr. Zip66 is the real deal. He's a true biker, and I think you'll all like his posts. Give it a shot. Tell him Boston sent you. :)

SOA FAQs Answered by Kurt Sutter

For all you SOA fans, Kurt Sutter posted this on Facebook, and I thought I would share it with you non-FBers.

1. I have a great idea for the show, can I send it you?

No. I cannot accept any ideas, pitches, stories, scripts, notions or dreams from anyone. It's a legal issue. It protects me and you. If you send it, post it or email it -- it will be shredded, removed and deleted. Sorry.

2. I want to be an actor on your show, how do I audition?

If you are a SAG/AFTRA actor who has a permanent address in Los Angeles you can have your agent submit a picture and resume to our casting director, Wendy O'Brien. If the picture is not sent through a signatory agency chances are the envelope will never be opened.

3. How can I be an extra on your show?

If you a union or non-union actor who has a permanent address in Los Angeles you can contact Jim's B-List -- jimsblist.com .

4. I'm a singer/songwriter, I have a band, I have a perfect song for the show, how do I submit music?

As with the actors, a musical artist is best served by an agent or manager submitting their music through the proper channels. Bob Thiele, my composer and musical supervisor is trying to come up with a realistic system where submissions can actually get heard. Right now, we get hundreds and simply don't have the manpower or time to listen to them all.

5. When is the Season 2 DVD coming out?

Summer, 2010.

6. When is Season 3 beginning?

We never have an exact premier date until a few weeks before. We did very well with the timing of season 2, so my guess is that we will air some time in early September, 2010. But right now, that is just speculation.

7. Is Half-Sack really dead?

Fuck, yes.

8. Is that Katey singing "Ruby Tuesday"?

Yes, Katey sang "Son of a Preacher Man" in Season 1 and "Ruby Tuesday" in Season 2. I hope to have her sing a song every season.

9. Who is Edward Winterhalder and why is he saying that the character of Jax is based on one of his books?

I do not know Mr. Winterhalder, never read any of his fiction. From what I am told he is a former outlaw biker who turned rat and now makes his living as an author and outlaw biker "expert". I can only speculate that my choice of using real outlaws as technical advisers instead of a celebrity one somehow upset Mr. Winterhalder. I guess his claims are sour grapes and his parasitic attempt at getting a piece of SOA's success.

10. Are you really afraid of dolls?

Fuck, yes.

11. Why do you swear so much?

Fuck, yes.

12. I have something very special I want to give you, can I send it to you?

Fuck, no.

13. How come you only do 13 episodes? Why not 22 or 26 like network shows?

The model for FX and many other cable networks is 13. Yes, it's about money and scheduling, but it's also about quality. First of all, we cram more story into 13 episodes of SOA than most network dramas fit into 26. Second, this model allows us to make what I hope are 13 thoughtful, provocative 44 minute independent films, instead of 26 formulaic, predictable big-budget movies. Thirdly, my writers, cast and crew spend 7-9 back-breaking months making this show. It's guerrilla film-making and a labor of love. Any more than 13 would fucking kill us.

14. I live in a remote village in the Ukraine, when will "Sons of Anarchy" air there?

International sales and scheduling is not my job. I have no idea if, when, where the show will be airing outside of the United States. I know it's selling very well internationally, I just don't know any details. I suggest you contact your local cable company and ask them.

15. My friend watches the show over the internet for free, how does he do that?

Your friend steals. If you want to watch "Sons of Anarchy" over the net, I'd ask that you do it legally through the FX website, Hulu or iTunes. Pirating hurts the artist more than the conglomerate. I know it may not seem like a big deal, and you probably justify it by saying, "Oh, Fox can afford it", but it's a huge problem. The truth is every time you illegally download an episode of "Sons", you put actors, writers, and crew out of work. Think about that next time you watch a lime-wire episode.

16. I see "Sons of Anarchy" merchandise all over e-Bay and other internet sites. Is this real SOA stuff? Where can I buy official "Sons of Anarchy" stuff?

No. The stuff on e-Bay is all pirated merchandise. Some of them even blatently say "official SOA" shirts, hats, etc. -- they are not. It's someone selling illegal gear. It's criminal and there is very little we can do to stop it. Again, people justify it by saying, "Oh, Fox can afford it", but once again buying that shit doesn't help the show. The Fox/FX Store is the ONLY place to buy real SOA merchandise. We will be expanding the line extensively very soon.

17. Who is Sam Crow? What does Samcro stand for? Is there a difference between the two?

SAMCRO is an acronym for Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Originals. Sam Crow is the personification of that acronym. It's how the club refers to themselves. Kinda the way Bob Dole called himself Bob Dole. Over time, the locals began calling them Sam Crow as well. In fact most of the members live in a part of Charming called "Sam Crow's Corner".

18. What is Redwood Originals about? Why isn't the charter called Charming?

Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club was created by John Teller and Piney Winston in November of 1967 and the first charter was called "Redwood". Simply because they weren't settled in any one city. They cruised the Northern California coast from Eureka to Big Sur -- Redwood country. It wasn't until after Gemma became pregnant with her first son that they decided to settle in Charming -- the town where Gemma grew up. At that point, John Teller thought Charming was a little too cute for a charter name, so he called the charter the Redwood Originals. That's when the SAMCRO handle was born.

Two Great Websites

I have loved http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/ for some time now. Whenever I need a good laugh I just hop on the website and it puts a smile on my face.

Now, from the people who bring us peopleofwalmart.com comes http://www.youdrivewhat.com/ . It is a collection of crazy cars sent in by random people. There are already several pictures posted, but this was, by far, my favorite:

"Everybody in town knew when P.V. Paulie crossed your path, you were in for some bad luck."

Pics of the New/Old Shovel

Big D says it looks mechanically sound, but he'll be tearing her apart over the next few months just to be sure.

Can't wait til she's done!!!

Willy D: You want spare parts? You know where we live, Brother! And do you really expect to outrun an AZhole Performance bike?? ;)

I'm Ready For A Big-Girl Bike

First of all, please don't misundertand me. I love Annabelle. I love riding Annabelle. But I really want something bigger. I've felt this way for a while. Even before I got my license I had dreams of shovelheads screaming in my head. :)

Big D and I have been talking about a big-girl bike for some time now. We went to a swap meet at a local parts/repair shop yesterday, and I sat on a 1982 FXR that was absolutely gorgeous. And it had 34K original miles on it. Ape hangers, lots of pretty chrome, everything I like. However, it was about $2K more than we really had to spend. I was sad, but I moved on knowing that Big D was on the lookout for a new/old scoot for me.

When I got home from work today, Big D said he was thinking of buying our whack-job neighbor's 80-80. He's tried to buy it before, but the neighbor never wanted to sell, or the price wasn't right, or he was too drunk, etc, etc. So I told Big D to take a walk over and make an offer, knowing full well that whack-job wouldn't sell.

When he came back to the house I said, "Better luck next time." Big D said, "I just bought myself a shovelhead." WTF?! Apparently whack-job took Big D's offer with no questions asked. My new/old shovel will be here tomorrow.

Mind you, it needs to be put back together (of course), but who better to do that than Big D? I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be graduating to the bike of my dreams. :) Of course, this means I will have to be extra nice to my favorite mechanic for a while. But I guess I can deal with it for a new bike. ;)

I will post pics as soon as she arrives!!

Am I Cold-Hearted?

I just saw this article in the AZ Republic. You'll have to do a quick read through to understand this post.

John Cherry, spokesman for the Florida Division of Emergency Management said, "We've made it clear that (the cost) is an issue we'll deal with down the road." Seriously John???

This statement bothered me. This is the kind of backwards thinking that gets our country into DEEP shit. We're already in DEEP shit, aren't we? WTF is he thinking?!

I feel for the people in Haiti, I really do. But for the love of God, STOP THE MADNESS!!!!! The problem here, John, is that the good ol' US of A will end up picking up the tab "down the road"!!!! We cannot afford this! Should we just print up some more money, John? Maybe you'd like to take a stab at the cost issue NOW.

This just really burned my ass. Am I cold-hearted?

You've Got A Friend...

I just found out today that a very dear friend is beginning the fight of her life, literally. She just got the news she has liver cancer. The liver cancer is the secondary cancer, and they are trying to find the primary cancer now. She has several tumors on her liver, and that's really all we know right now.

I talked to her today (cell phones are great). What struck me was her amazing attitude. She's going to fight it, but realizes it will be a tough one. She does not live in a fantasy land. She knows the odds. But she is forever positive...the glass is always half full for her. This is part of the reason I love her so much. I'm withholding her name because that's the way she wants it, and I respect that. Just please send your prayers to my dear friend in AZ to help her fight this tough fight.

Thanks. The video is for her, to remind her that she always has a friend in me. :)

The Power of a Badge

A DEA officer stops at a ranch in Texas, and talks with an old rancher. He tells the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs." The rancher says, "Okay, but do not go in that field over there," as he points out the location.

The DEA officer verbally explodes saying, "Mister, I have the authority of the federal government with me." Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removes his badge and proudly displays it to the rancher. "See this badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish...on any land. No questions asked or answers given. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand? "

The rancher nods politely, apologizes, and goes about his chores.

A short time later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the DEA officer running for his life chased by the rancher's big Santa Gertrudis bull.......

With every step the bull is gaining ground on the officer, and it seems likely that he'll get gored before he reaches safety. The officer is clearly terrified. The rancher throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at the top of his lungs.....

"Your badge! Show him your BADGE ! "



Thanks to Cowboy for sending this to me...I really needed the laugh!

BACA International Conference 2010 Edited

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Quick Update

I had my surgery on Tuesday morning, as scheduled. Everything seemed to go fine, according to the surgeon. They gave me inadequate painkillers, so Big D had to make a trip for me. But now they work. Still feeling some pain, but went to the store with Big D today. Was out for less than 1 hour and needed a nap to recover from it. Not sure exactly how I'm supposed to return to work on Monday, but I'll give it a go!

I'll update you all later. Ride safe!

Just a Quickie

Big D and I went to St. Louis, MO last Thursday for the Annual BACA International Conference. We returned home safe and sound last night, and we are exhausted. We learned a lot, met a lot of kick-ass peeps, drank a lot of moonshine, and had a great time! I will post pictures soon.

I can't promise the pics will be up today, though. I have two homework assignments that need to be posted tonight. I am going to miss the first day of my new class tomorrow night because I'm having some minor gallbladder surgery tomorrow. They're telling me that I'll be down for about a week, so as soon as I'm feeling better, I will have the pics up.

I hope everyone has a great week.

Ride safe.

Did Someone Say Beer? I'm In!!!!!!

I think my next trip will be here.

The 2009 Recap

I got this from Jane. I thought it would be an interesting way to recap 2009.

1.What did you do in 2009 that you’ve never done before? March 2009 - 3:10 to Yuma with Joker, Rumble on Rt 66 in Williams, Too Broke for Sturgis in Mormon Lake, got my motorcycle endorsement and started riding my own

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No, no.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, Molly.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Mom

5. What countries did you visit? Stayed in the USA last year. Almost went to Mexico for cigarettes while in Yuma, but ran out of time.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Peace of mind, my sanity.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? March 2009 - 3:10 to Yuma with Joker; Joker came out to visit us for a spell and we had a GREAT time! June 2009 - the Rumble on Rt 66. Got to meet Dave, BB and Willy D; got to ride wild animal statues. October 2009 - my rider's course. November 2009 - my first ride on my own. :)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Definitely getting my motorcycle license.

9. What was your biggest failure? Too few road trips

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes, my gallbladder illness.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Big D's '99 Dyna

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Certainly not mine! LOL

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Kanye West....what a jackass.

14. Where did most of your money go? Food, and the bikes

15. What did you get really excited about? All our motorcycle trips, getting my license

16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Life is a Highway (Tom Cochrane)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
- happier or sadder? Happier.- thinner or fatter? Definitely NOT thinner!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Down time with Vicki

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Homework and crying.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Lots of friends over on Christmas Eve, had a wonderful time! Made a perfect prime rib dinner on Christmas day and enjoyed it with some close friends.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009? I fall in love with Big D every day.

22. What was your favorite TV program? Sons of Anarchy

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is such a strong word. I don't waste my energy on hate...do I dislike people? Of course.

24. What was the best book you read? The Twilight series. Yes, really.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
 No musical discoveries, but Vicki got me a Kid Rock CD for my car, and I LOVE it!!!

26. What did you want and get? Got everything I wanted, except for a house. That will be this year.

27. What did you want and not get? See #26

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Here's the funny thing: I watch movies, but don't really remember watching them.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 37 - Had a pool party

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Not losing my mother

32. What kept you sane? My husband

33. Who did you miss? Dad and Mom

34. Who was the best new person you met?

Joker, Dave, BB, Willy D. and Paul

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
 Born to be wild!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Photo Blog

If you're interested, I have started a photo blog here. I hope you enjoy it. :)

New Year, New Outlook

I was going to make this post a nice recap of 2009, however, if you read my blog you already know the recap. 2009 was the year of the good, the bad and the ugly for me. On a personal level, it kind of sucked. On a professional level, it was less than eventful. And on a biker level, it was mostly good. I got to meet some great people from the blogs in 2009, which was a lot of fun. Yuma, Williams, Too-Broke; all fun times. April was a shitty month, but I'm not going to dwell on it.

After my mother passed, my sisters and I had her 3-diamond ring split up and each of us took a diamond. Yesterday, I brought my diamond to a jeweler and picked out a beautiful setting. In about two weeks, I will have the ring. To me, this ring is a symbol of my mother's life. She was a bit like a diamond in my mind. She was beautiful, yet very tough when she had to be. She supported my goals, even if she didn't always agree with them.

So, instead of dwelling on the pain of losing her, in this fine new year, I will strive to reach those goals. I will set new goals for myself, and meet or exceed them. 2010 will be a year of successes for me. I will have personal and professional success. I can feel it.

Last night, we went to the store, and as we came out, the moon was on the horizon. It was HUGE. I couldn't get a picture of it, but luckily, the folks at the Arizona Republic got a picture of the previous full moon, and it looks the same.

The full moon got me to thinking about all the possibilities in 2010. I will have my gallbladder removed in the first quarter, Big D will have neck surgery in the first quarter, we think. These are two positives, not negatives. Once these take place, we'll be on the road to recovery and feeling better. Sometime this year, our son Rex, who is stationed in Japan will be coming back stateside with his wife, my grandson and our as yet unborn granddaughter. We don't know where they will be yet, but it doesn't matter, as almost anywhere is closer than Japan! We will finally get to meet our grandson Chris, at age 2. I can't wait! Our other son, Eric, who is stationed in England was originally scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan this March. He called us last week and said his orders were just changed, and instead of Afghanistan, he is going to the Canary Islands! This is wonderful news!! Our daughter Samantha, who is stationed in Virginia is doing just fine. Her son Jayden is growing up to be a big boy. He'll be two in April, and I couldn't be prouder. We will see them sometime this year. Vicki will be 12 this year; yes, it's a downside. 12-year-old girls somehow turn into rabid badger-type creatures, and I'm not looking forward to it. But I'm confident we will get her through the year and into the 7th grade in the fall with little issue.

We have some trips coming up this year, two that we're sure of, and one that is pending. The pending trip is our vacation to a tropical locale. It will happen, but a house must be purchased first. That will also happen this year. Hopefully by June. I'm thinking Thanksgiving in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Yeah, sounds like a plan. Sturgis won't happen this year, but Too-Broke is definitely on. It is tentatively scheduled for 7/23-25, and I can't wait. The other trip is a trip to St. Louis in a few weeks for the Annual BACA National meeting. Definitely looking forward to that!

As you can see, 2010 will be a busy year for us, and I haven't even mentioned BACA (except for the trip) or school, yet. I won't get into it now, but our chapter will have an extremely busy and great 2010. I will continue with school, because it is one of my goals. I will continue to blog, and I'm toying with the idea of starting a photo blog, too. As soon as it's created, I will put a link up for you. Not exactly sure how I'm going to go about it yet, but I'd like to get it running soon.

So, to the bloggers I have met, and to those I have yet to meet, Happy New Year. I hope 2010 finds you all healthy, happy and not as busy as I seem to be. :)

Ride safe!