July 2008 Entries

Picked up the bike tonight. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome.

I didn't ride it home from the dealer. I went with a friend and he rode it home for me. We went by the local high school so I could test the waters and get used to the bike without any traffic. I drove around the school a couple of times and I was ready to go. I drove the bike back to my house which wasn't too far.

It was unbelievable! We stood around the bike for a while in the driveway and shot the shit a little. My neighbor across the street came over to check things out. He has a bike too, a 2000 Road King. So of course we went over to his house and checked it out. Nice bike with lots of customization.

After that, I could stand around no more! I went over to my mother-in-laws to show her and my sister-in-law the bike. It's less than a mile ride so not too bad. While I was over there, my buddy Scott called and off I went to his house.

Pretty cool stuff. I need a lot of practice but I was a little more comfortable everytime I rode it.

This is gonna be a fun ride!

Is that my name on that sold sign??? Oh yeah it is!

I should get it on Tuesday. Somewhere, my mom and dad are probably very nervous.

I went to Motor City Harley-Davidson on Thursday to check out the bikes. I don't really want to buy a new one because they're so expensive so I mostly looked at their used bikes.

This is a 2002 Heritage Softail Classic. Nice bike and in good shape. I wasn't sure about the colors when I was there but the more I look at these pictures, I've probably looked at them at least 100 time since then, the more I like the colors.

The bike needs a new back tire and we asked the salesperson what his best price would be with a warranty and a new tire. He hasn't gotten back to me yet! Very disappointing. I was ready to sign papers last night! He says he has to talk to his manager about the tire and his manager has been off for the last two days. Give me a break! This happens with cars too. Why don't they give these sales people the authority to make a deal?

Supposedly his manager will be back in the store today. We'll see. I had to call the sales guy yesterday to see what was up! He didn't even call me and tell me his manager wasn't going to be in! WTF?? I'm not calling him today. He better call me and let me know what's going on. If not? Oh well, there are other bikes out there and he won't be getting my money.

WARNING! Rant ahead!

I mentioned how I, um, dislike, going to the Secretary of State. I went back today to get my motorcycle endorsement. It's a very simple process. Go there, take a 20 question idiot test, give them a check, and get your picture taken. Simple right? Twenty minutes tops right? An hour and a half!!!! Ninety minutes of my life that I will never get back! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Un-freakin-believable. I have never seen more lazy and inept workers. The person I ended up with couldn't even find the answer sheet to correct the test I took! Oh my God! The drawer she was looking in looked like a damn hurricane went through it! No wonder she couldn't find it!

Ahhhhhhhhh! I had plans to go somewhere after my stop at the SOS. Nope. Had to cancel because it was so late after I got outta there the store I was going to was closed. NINETY FRIGGIN' MINUTES!!!!!!

Why are there so many clerks behind the counter but only two are ever waiting on a customer?

After sitting there doing nothing but waiting for an hour, I finally got up and asked someone if I could take my test while I was waiting and hopefully speed things up a bit. She reluctantly gave me the test but told me I couldn't leave the testing area until my number was called. Give me a break. What am I going to do? Cheat? Come on, I just want to get outta here!!!!

So thanks Secretary of State. You didn't let me down. Again. Thanks for wasting my time and ruining my evening.

I'm goin' to take a look at this tonight...

http://www.motorcityharley.com/Bikes/Photos/582.jpg

I've been looking like crazy but I keep coming back to that one. Must be fate? We'll see.

Also, while I'm there, I might as well buy my first Harley-Davidson tee shirt.. I've always said, "I can afford the bike. It's all the Harley clothes you have to buy afterward that'll break you!".

Not the person. The office.

Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.

Yesterday I flew out of work and raced over to the Secretary of State to get my motorcycle endorsement. I walked in the door at 4:35 PM. They close at 5:00 PM. They have a little information desk and the woman behind it asked me what I was there for. I told her I was there for the endorsement.

She looked at me like I was crazy. "We're not allowed to give the test out after 4:30." she said.

What?! Are you kidding me??? Give me a break. There are at least 100 people in here right now! God forbid they have to stay two or three minutes past 5:00. Lazy $%@#$%! I mean come on! It's only a 10 question test that takes about 10 minutes to take! And they're always so rude too.

Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.

I thought about bitchin' and making a scene but then I figured I'd better not. I would just look like an ass and still wouldn't have been able to take the test. What a pain. I should write the state a letter and complain but I'm sure it would be a waste of time.

So, off I go again today to try and get it.

Hate it. Hate it. Hate it.

I passed the tests! Sweet! Now it's off to the Secretary of State to take their little test and get my motorcycle endorsement. I'll probably do that either tomorrow or Wednesday since I have golf tonight.

Uh oh. Now comes the hard part. I guess I gotta buy a bike.

I'm up early doin' some dba stuff for work and thought I'd post a little update on the motorcycle safety classes.

All in all, I think yesterday went very well for me especially since I have never driven a motorcycle before. The only thing I had a little problem with was making a figure eight inside a box drawn on the pavement. You're supposed to do the turns without putting your feet down and you have to stay within the lines of the box. Give me a break. Can someone please tell me the "real world" application of this task? Anyone? If, in the real world, I find myself in need to maneuver a motorcycle in a space as tight as this, I will move it with my feet on the ground or get off the damn thing and move it. The bad thing is, this is on the test and could be a problem. Hopefully we will be able to practice it some more today.

I have to say, I've really enjoyed this so far. If I pass, hopefully I will, I don't know what I'm going to do next. The logical thing would be to buy a motorcyle but I'm not sure I'm ready for that. I definitely need more practice but how can I practice if I don't have a motorcycle. Hmmm, the dreaded catch 22.

Good news! I got in to the Motorcycle Safety Class! Last night was the classroom stuff and today and tomorrow are on the range. Riding! Well, kinda riding.

Anyway, I've already had my first session on the bike and if I do say so myself, I was awesome! It didn't take long at all to become pretty comfortable even though I've never driven one before. I think one of the biggest things that you need to be able to do is know how to shift and work the clutch (IMO, working the clutch is huge!) and since I've had a few manual transmission cars, that was a breeze. I didn't stall it once! Hmph.

I have to say, I'm pretty excited right now. I go back in two hours for the next session and I can't wait. Hell, I didn't even want to stop while they were explaining our next drill!

Yep, I think I may already be hooked. Of course, I haven't even gotten past second gear yet so I better tone it down a little! :)

I haven't said much about it here, but I've been hinting about it to my family for some time now. Today, I guess I took the first step of this journey in buying a helmet. Tonight, I am going down to the local community college and try to get in the safety class.

You can call it a mid-life crisis but I'm gonna have to disagree. Oh, don't get me wrong. There is definitely a "mid-life crisis" component. But that is not the whole of it.

Instead, I prefer to think of it as I, along with my wife Gayla, have spent the last 27 of our 48 years devoted to raising our kids. I've spent countless weekends and evenings sitting on the floor in a gym watching volleyball practices and games. Helping with homework. Buying clothes. Shuffling them from one friend's house to another. And of course, supporting them (as best they would let me) emotionally and financially. But now they're on their own and doing very well. I'm very proud of them. So I guess you could say that part of my life is over.

I've also worked very hard the last 12 years to get my butt out of the airline industry and into a good paying career which I have succeeded in doing. That was probably the best decision I've made in my life. Other than, of course, the marriage thing, and kids.

With respect to Gayla, I've tried it all. Boating. She wouldn't touch it. Camping. Oh my God no! I can't go to the bathroom on that! Vacations. Nah, not interested. Golf. I've begged her to go but alas, all in vain. So this is for me and me alone. If she wants to tag along then all the better. But I wouldn't bet on it. She has however been strangely "supportive". Not once has she indicated she would rather I not do this. I asked her about it and she said she knows me and when I've made up my mind there's no changing it. I guess after 29 years together she does know me.

Anyway, that's why I don't want to call this a mid-life crisis. I want to say that I've worked hard and I've earned this. Hmmm. Sounds like I'm trying to convince myself!

The ultimate goal here is the Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic. (Disclaimer: This isn't my bike and I don't know whose it is. I "borrowed" the picture from Google Images.) I have no idea when or even if this part will come to fruition but I can say that this is one awesome looking bike and the one that I have chosen to get when I'm ready to purchase. This is also the "mid-life crisis" component of this story. I need something cool and shiny to polish in my driveway!

So that's it. Let the crisis process hobby new lifestyle begin. I hope to blog on most if not all of my experiences in the "new world" I seem to be entering. I gotta think it's gonna be a wild ride!