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Showing posts with label Motorcycles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motorcycles. Show all posts

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Even the Dish Network guy gets it

We had dish network come to install dish serviceto the apartment last eve. It took forever because satellites and apartments don't play well together. So we are signing te paperwork at the end and he says, is that your bike out front? I say yes. He says what did you do to it? I say ripped all the plastic off and hacked up the tail. He says why? I say because bikes didn't look cool in the 80s. He says that's an 80s bike? I say yeah. He says you have accomplished your goal cause that bike is awesome!


-- Eli

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

A little homegrown congregating

Last nite I had the ocassion to spend time with a buddy of mine at Maude's a local coffee shop Ronda & I used to frequent. I hadn't been there in years, so this was my first time since we moved back. We were gonna meet at Starbucks, but they were closing.

Nick was amazed and enthralled at my streetfighter in the making. Mainly because it either looks like it rolled off the set of Mad Max or outta a junk yard (depending on the light!). Not everyone sees my vision and is able to understand my art. He was able to appreciate, though.

As we often do when we congregate, we spoke of theology, God, church and many things that just aren't right with the world. I must confess, with each congregating, I enjoythe tines more and more. It was cold as we reclined outside. I would have liked a little warmer weather. It would have made the reclining and the motorcycle ride a little warmer. Who am I to complain?

Coffee was good, the congregating better. Nick is a well thought out and versed man. Also rough around the edges, like myself. I appreciate immensely the type of Christianity he bring to the table. The type I imagine is very much like Christ.

It's 40 minutes past when I was supposed to start working. I must go. I bid you adieu.


-- Eli

Monday, December 21, 2009

Life Lessons in Coldness

In July of 2006 I acquired my Harley. Shortly there after, we went down to one car and the bike. I think it was due to money. That sounds right. We didn't have any and we sold my old CB400 and a Cherokee for money leaving us with our Pontiac Vibe and the Harley. At the time I was workig as a case worker for DCF and I had a meeting in Starke, about 30 minutes away. By the time of this meeting it was now winter. By Labor Day I had sold both vehicles so it was sometime in the winter after that.

As I left the house to go to the meeting it was 44 degrees. I bundled up with gloves, jacket and scarf wrapped around my face. I was fine until I made it out of town. Then I realized that 44 degree weather + 70 mph = impossible to breathe. I literally thought I was going to suffocate while driving the motorcycle. I pulled over and readjusted the scarf. It helped. I learned that morning that when riding a motorycle in cold weather, especially with an open face helmet, breathing is no longer automatic. Every breath is a hard-earned victory in the battle to stay alive.

Fast forward 3 years and I was leaving to go to work this morning on my GSXR and it was 37 degrees. I put on my coveralls, gloves, armings (like a legging but for the arm), my balaclava (works tons better than a scarf) and my full face helmet. As I exited the aprtment complex I was reminded that breathing is no longer a privilege under these circumstances, but a hard-earned victory in the battle to stay alive.


-- Eli