I believe in service to others.
I believe in caring for my neighbor.
I believe in doing. Not just sitting and watching, but doing.
I believe in being patient until things happen, and nudge 'em along when needed.
I believe that a smile is the best gift to give to others.
I believe that life is full of surprises and without them, life would be awfully dull.
I believe in holding friends close, and family closer.
I believe that joy comes to those who share joy.
I believe in Santa: his magic, his spirit, and his love.
And yeah, I believe in love. Love is the only thing you get back more of the more you give it away.
I believe that God loves all of us, and we should demonstrate our faith by showing our love through actions we take.
Life is short: show those you love that you love them.
Do you remember the "cone of silence" that never worked in the TV comedy Get Smart? Well in Washington, DC, we have the "Cone of Dumbness." It sits right over the beltway that surrounds the city. Every time the weather forecasters predict a "snow event," the cone comes down and without a doubt, everyone inside it goes brain dead.
Today "they" predicted one inch of snow to fall during the day. By the reaction to the prediction, however, one would think the end of the world is here.
This morning, I forgot about the snow prediction, and dropped by the grocery store to get some things for my aunt. Ooops... shouldn't have done that. It looked like the store had been decimated. I kid you not, one guy was standing in line juggling milk, butter, eggs, diapers, and a bunch of other stuff, while cradling a cell phone in his ear, whining to his wife about the store not having whatever he wanted.
The TV news isn't any help at all -- they hype it up so much that it's no wonder everyone goes nuts. They envision "Snowzilla" on its way! AAAAK!
And you'd think: a large number of residents of the DC area come from "snow country." That is, they came here from places that would get lots of snow every winter. They handled it just fine. They dressed properly for it, too. But not those who now live or work within the "cone of dumbness."
This morning, the SUVs were on the road, in 4-wheel drive mode -- and it was not snowing (yet). This little snippet from a local news source just had me rolling on the floor laughing:
Bill is making plans for getting out and getting to work today. "If it shuts a few things down, it probably won't shut down that much. And I have four-wheel drive, so it's about time I got to use it."
I just betcha he's the type of guy who gets in his 4WD and tries to drive on ice like it's a dry road on a sunny day. I'll see him (or his kind) in a ditch on the side of the road, standing next to his vehicle, out in the snow, yapping on a cell phone. It happens all the time.
Salt trucks are idling in the parking lot, waiting for the "go" signal. When I dropped Chuck off at the Metro subway stop this morning, I observed the yuppies in their tassled loafers or dress wingtips, thin socks, suit jacket, no hat, no gloves. I betcha the minute they see a flake of snow in the air, each and every one of them will be trying to rush home before they get snowed in for the rest of the century.
I'm so glad that my employment situation is different now, in that I am not on a list of "essential personnel." I can just sit back, watch, and have a good laugh at the "cone of dumbness" doing its thing: causing the yuppies to "lose it" and get hysterical over a dusting of snow. When I have to go out later, I'll do it carefully, but dressed appropriately with tall, warm boots, cord pants and longjohns, several layers on top, a coat with a hood, and mittens (which are warmer than gloves).
And for those of you from snow belt areas, don't laugh too hard at this. It's just a part of the local DC culture -- forget everything you learned and rush into mass hysteria all for a few flakes of snow.
Life is short: enjoy the blizzard!
I was reviewing the bills and our household budget for the past year, preparing a new budget for next year in comparison with our income and expenses. I used an on-line calculator that compared "normal" household expenses with ours. I realize that what some people consider to be "normal" is not normal for us. Our "unnormal" spending habits resulted in an estimated annual savings of $8,450.
Here is how we have not spent $8,450 this year:
1. We prepare our own meals and eat at home. Breakfast, lunch, dinner -- all prepared from groceries that I cook and serve daily. We just don't eat out. A reliable source indicates that the average US middle class couple spends $279 each month on eating dinner out. Since we don't do that, our savings is $3,378.
2. Preparing our own meals includes making lunch to take to work. We do not eat lunch out. Another reliable source indicates that we save $2,080 a year based on the assumption of eating lunch out at the average cost of $8.50 each lunch x 2 of us x 5 days/week LESS $8.50/week for the cost of what we buy to make our lunches for the whole week. (Yeah, it costs about the same to make and bring lunch for a whole week as it does to buy lunch out on one day.)
3. We don't go nuts with media. That is, while we subscribe to services that provide television and internet, we have no-frills, basic services. We get the full range digital & HD channel line-up, but do not pay for subscription services like HBO, etc. We do not pay for "on demand" movies and sports packages. We have high-speed internet, but locked in a three-year agreement that saves about $25/month from what it could have cost us. Therefore, I estimate the savings on television media is $576/year (not paying avg. $48/mo. for extras) and $300 for internet = a total of $876/year. (But don't get me started on the vagaries of dealing with Verizon and their absolutely horrible so-called customer service.)
4. We don't go nuts with cell phones. I have one plain old regular cell phone. That's it -- no other cellular devices in the household. I do not have a data package on my cell, by choice. Therefore I do not text nor receive text messages, or have web-access on a mobile device. I once had that (when my former employer required it). My monthly savings for going "cell only without data" is $68/month, or $816/year.
5. We mow our own lawn and maintain it ourselves. Neighbors spend $900/year on lawn mowing services while we enjoy the exercise and the cost-savings. We also use compost as fertilizer, and spread it ourselves. We rake, aerate, and weed-whack. Yes, it takes time from other things (such as riding my Harley) but it's good exercise, much better for the environment than spreading chemicals, and is cheaper than what some of my neighbors pay $400/year for a lawn service company. So what if our lawn isn't perfect -- it's a lawn, not a golf course.
All-in-all, the savings by eating at home, choosing to reduce media and cell phone costs, and mowing our own lawn totaled $8,450 this year alone.
There are many other intangibles that affect our annual budget. For example, we have zoned heating and cooling, so we only heat or cool parts of our house as needed in certain rooms. We have active solar, which produces electricity and hot water. We estimate our annual savings for solar alone to be about $3,000 in reduced electric and natural gas bills. But that is hard to estimate directly since I cannot measure what we do not consume and some of the savings are offset by increased costs of maintenance on this complex household system. Nonetheless, "going green" does save us a lot of money in the long-run, and saves the planet a little bit, as well.
Life is short: be financially sound.
A close friend, Mark, with whom I went skydiving a lot back in the '80s and '90s died on Thursday of last week after a prolonged illness. I was saddened of his passing, but appreciated that he was finally relieved of his suffering.
I have very fond memories of Mark. He was always the daring and courageous one. "Can't this plane go higher?" ... "Whaddya mean, we need oxygen above 15,000 feet?" ... "Only six jumps today? Let's go for another!" ... "Hey, buddy, did you catch that thermal and go for a ride? Woo-wee!" (as I observed him gliding around in mid-air for an hour.)
My log books show that Mark and I jumped together over 6,000 times during the past 15 years. He was by my side as I entered my competitions and won my national title in 1991. What an amazing man -- fun, spirited, and always happy. His bright smile and attitude endeared him to everyone he met. His lovely wife, who I met in college and sorta introduced them, and their three kids remained a huge part of my life. I live a life of spirit, fun, and adventure pretty much as a result of Mark's influence. I remain forever grateful.
When Mark finally hung up his silks for the last time, his wife called. She told me that he had specifically requested for his four "skydiving buddies" to be pallbearers at his funeral. So yesterday, we suited up in our skydiving gear and I got out my parachute (which took me hours to open, clean, and repack correctly since I haven't gone skydiving in a while), and arrived at his funeral by air. Well, actually, we arrived via parachute! [Photo by the pilot using a cell-phone camera; I'm upper left]. We landed right on a ballfield next to the church where the funeral was held.
After landing, we quickly stashed our 'chutes in a van and met the hearse at the church, and escorted our friend's casket into the church for the service. This was the first time I have served as a pall bearer in skydiving gear and jump boots, but that's how my friend knew me and my friends, and that's how we wanted to appear -- as he remembered us best.
One of my fellow skydiving companions gave a very fitting and mostly humorous eulogy, and closed with the words that Mark always said, "you can't seem to get rid of the butterflies when you skydive, but you can teach them how to fly in formation!"
Rest in peace, my friend...
Life is short: show those you love, even in death, that you love them.
Today, October 1, my home state of Maryland finally begins moving in the right direction by having a law take effect that prohibits talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving. You'd think this is a no-brainer, and the law would have passed long ago.The new law is weak and requires much work. For example, unlike in California, a cop can't stop someone just for yakking on a cell phone. He/she has to see the driver commit another infraction and stop them for that before a citation for a meager $40 is given for the yakking infraction. Further, the penalty is way too low. Texting while driving has been against the law in my home state for over a year, yet I haven't seen it enforced nor make any difference. I see people texting while driving all the time. Scary! Us motorcyclists have enough to worry about ignorant drivers who don't see us anyway than to worry about their distractions causing them not to see us.
What is it that talking on a phone all the time is so critical? I promise you, the world will NOT end if you let a call go to voice mail, or if you have to take a few minutes to pull over to a parking lot to place a call that is important to you at the time.I am remembering my friend who died while out riding his motorcycle and was killed right before my eyes by a cell-phone-yakking yuppie. His children and all of his friends and family still miss him very much. And any Maryland legislators reading this: just because my local champion of this issue didn't win his primary election doesn't mean that I've given up on this matter. I look to YOU to do the right thing. Submit and co-sponsor a bill to make this law have the teeth it deserves. Make yakking-and-driving a PRIMARY offense, and make the penalty much more severe. Life is short: hang up and drive!
I found this on the Internet somewhere, but these sayings are so very applicable to me and many others I know:
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:- A rainy day, elderly people, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
- Rainy day: "oh boy! great time to catch up on reading!" or "let's cook!"
- elderly people: show those you love that you love them.
- lost luggage: I hope I get frequent flyer miles for its travel!
- tangled Christmas tree lights: that's why we now have a pre-lit tree (smile).
- I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life.'
- Caring for Uncle Charlie during his last year of life in 2005 was the best 'living' I have ever done. Equally the same in summer 2010 whilst caring for Uncle Charlie's wife, sweet Aunt Lee.
- I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
- ...and third, and fourth... for all my foul-ups, those who care about me continue to extend more opportunities to learn from failure and to succeed eventually.
- I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back sometimes.
- I never learned how to use a catcher's mitt anyway (smile).
- I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.
- oh so true; happiness has found me, and I am blessed.
- I've learned that a smile is a choice.
- I decide to smile often. A smile may be the only sunlight a stranger sees all day!
- I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
- This is where my heart leading the mind works wonders.
- I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
- It is easy to let aches and pains cloud what otherwise is a sunny personality. I take Excedrin and always remember to smile.
- I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.
- Senior pals on my calling list hear from me regularly.
- Don't be surprised by an out-of-the-blue email, either.
- People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
- I have long believed in the importance of touch. (That's one thing that I truly enjoyed about the Red Cross -- hugs all 'round all the time!)
- I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
Life is short: show those you love that you love them!
I have a lovely aunt for whom I care, helping her continue to live independently. She is 95 years young. At that age, she has every "thing" she could possibly want. The last thing she needs for Christmas is more "stuff."
Same is true for several more senior pals who I have befriended and share joy.
While it's nice to give a gift of some sort to my aunt and my senior pals for Christmas... the plates, bobbles, coffee mugs, and figurines already overflow. The clothes they have are nice, and they can only use so many new pairs of socks, house slippers, or sweaters. The pantries are full, the cupboards aren't bare. There isn't a thing in the world that any of them want or need.
Having mid-stage Alzheimer's, my aunt is quite forgetful. She is frail and unable to get out on her own. She has gotten perturbed with herself when she discovers that she forgot to buy and mail a card to her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren for their birthdays.
So my gift to her and a few special senior pals, which I have been doing since I began the practice for my mother 17 years ago, is to go buy the cards for each person important to my aunt (and to my friends). I prepare mailing labels with the person's name and address, place it on the envelope, and put a stamp on it. Then I file the card in a card organizer by date. (Card organizers are available inexpensively from Amazon.)
All my aunt has to do (and sometimes with my prompting) is to check the monthly slot in the organizer at the start of each month and pull out the cards for that month, sign them, seal the envelopes, and put them out for the mail carrier to pick up. Simple! Perhaps someone receives a card a week or two early, but that's far better than not getting a card at all. And they are amazed at how she remembers their birthdays! We won't reveal our little secret. (LOL!)
As they say, it's the thought that counts. This is a way I show my love for someone who loves me very, very much, and for my senior pals for whom I care. I share this not for recognition, but to plant a seed for friends who are in similar situations with elderly parents and seniors in their lives.
Life is short: show those you love that you love them!
From time to time, friends have asked me for advice about buying a motorcycle. They're interested, but are bewildered with so much information on the internet and not knowing whom to trust or what is accurate or potentially misleading.
I am glad they asked. Having "been there, done that," perhaps I can assist. I am not an expert, but having owned and ridden motorcycles for over 30 years, I am experienced.
First of all, I strongly recommend taking the Basic RiderCourse offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (provided you are in the U.S. If you are in another country, find a beginner or basic motorcycle rider's course equivalent). Such a course is available usually through a state's motor vehicle administration, many community colleges, and some private groups. Riders are provided a small bike on which to take the range practice and tests. Upon completion of the course with a passing grade, riders usually qualify to receive a motorcycle endorsement on their driver's permit.
Then consider buying a previously owned motorcycle. Sure, you can buy a brand new bike, but it is likely that you will ride this bike for two or three years, then want to get a bigger bike. A used bike in the 500cc - 750cc range, like a Honda Shadow or a Kawasaki Vulcan fits the bill for a good starter bike. A new bike is worth less than half of what you pay for it the minute you drive it off the dealer's lot. A used bike saves money, and is a better value for starting out.
I do not recommend buying a "crotch rocket" or sport bike for your first bike. These styles of motorcycles require more skill and experience to ride than a simple cruiser. Also, sport bikes can be very uncomfortable by requiring the rider to be seated on it in a forward-leaning position. For similar reasons, I do not recommend a touring class motorcycle for a first bike, either. A Harley Road King or a Honda Gold Wing require a lot of experience to handle them while moving slowly or stopped, and can be intimidating to a new rider due to their size and physical requirements to move them.
To find listings of used bikes, I recommend using CraigsList.org, if it is available for your area. It's free, and there are usually a lot of listings of mid-range bikes for sale. While you will see lots of Harleys for sale, I really recommend a bike with an engine displacement no higher than 750cc for a starter bike. There aren't any Harleys made with an engine of that size. Remember: the bigger the engine, the heavier the machine, making it harder to handle. If you are unaccustomed to handling a motorcycle, you want to get one that you can ride and that you can handle maneuvering into parking spaces and while it is stationary. Big V-twins, like a Harley, tend to want to fall over and go places you don't want them to go, so start small(er) first. You will be happy that you did.
eBay Motors also lists used motorcycles, but often those bikes are far away and there's no way you could physically inspect it or test ride it. I never recommend buying a bike sight unseen, even from your favorite Uncle Biker Mike. Look at it, ride it, test it: that's the only way to buy a used bike.
When you find a bike that fits your price range and size, get a biker buddy to go with you and check it out. Here is a little known but very important reminder: wear the gear that you plan to wear on the bike when you go to check it out and test ride it. That is, wear your leathers and boots, as well as bring your own helmet. You want to feel how your gear that you intend to use while riding fits with you and that bike. Also, simply, you will be ready for the test ride since you will be properly geared.
Don't even think about showing up to check out a motorcycle while wearing shorts and sneakers. Also, even if your state does not require a helmet, bring one anyway and wear it while test riding the bike for your safety. Also, a seller shouldn't accept the responsibility for allowing someone to ride his bike without a helmet, because if the rider crashed and got injured, the bike's owner would have a measure of responsibility.
Ask the owner about how the bike has been maintained: how frequently has the oil been changed? Brake fluid? Transmission fluid? Belts? Has the bike ever gone down or been involved in a crash? Check it over for tell-tale signs of damage or repairs from a crash. If you see such evidence, be careful because obvious damage may be indicative of more serious problems.
Get on the ground and look under the bike for leaks. Look under the engine and especially under the place where the oil filter is, as well as the transmission. Both oil and transmission fluids are prone to leaking, so check under the bike as well as on the engine itself for signs of leaks, drips, or even dried fluids that leaked at one time or another.
Ask how the bike's electrical system has worked. Does it always start on the first push of the starter switch? Do all the lights and turn signals work? If your state requires an inspection, has the bike recently been inspected and may you see the inspection certificate? If the owner can produce such documentation, then it is evident that s/he is above-board and honest.
Bring a tire pressure gauge with you. Check the tire pressure. Ask the owner to show you the label on the bike, or the bike's owners manual, or the label on the tires so you know what the proper tire pressure should be. It is quite common that the pressure in motorcycle tires is a little low, as tire pressure is the most frequently overlooked regular maintenance requirement. Before test riding, try to get the tire pressure to where it needs to be if it isn't.
Also, while looking at the tires, check for signs of unusual wear. Is there wear on one side of the tire more than the other? That could be a sign of riding on improperly inflated tires for a long time. See if there are any large rocks embedded in the treads. Ask if either tire has gotten a leak or hole in it, and how it was repaired (or if it were replaced.) Also, ask when the tires were last replaced. Look to see if quality tires made by a reputable company are on the both the front and rear.
While looking at the tires, examine the rims. See if there are unusual dents in the rim as it meets the tire. If the wheel uses spokes, look to see if the spokes are all straight, undamaged, and none are missing. Damage to rims or spokes could be an indication of the bike having been involved in a crash, or the tire having been damaged such as by striking a curb.
Sit on the bike and feel how it fits you. Can you reach the controls on both of the handlebars without stretching (or cramping?) Can you reach the rear brake peddle and the gear shifter without stretching or cramping? (Ask yourself: is your gear getting in your way? Too tight? Boots too tall? You really don't know how leather gear works with a motorcycle until you actually try to ride one with your gear on.)
The fit of the bike to you -- your body and your height -- is incredibly important. If it doesn't fit well, then you're not going to ride it. Don't let the owner tell you about after-market products that can adjust the fit of the bike for you, such as a new seat or shocks. Listen, if the bike is already two to five years old, you're not going to keep it for more than another few years anyway, so investing a lot more money to adjust the fit isn't a good investment.
While sitting on the bike, look down the fork. Is it straight? A bike that has been down may have a twisted or damaged fork, which can be costly to repair. A fork that isn't straight will cause the bike to be off center and not ride correctly, particularly at highway speeds.
Check the mileage. Ask how the bike has been ridden. A bike ridden for many short trips has incurred a lot more engine wear than a bike ridden for fewer longer trips. Bikes are made to be ridden, but frequent stops and starts are hard on an engine, and cause it to wear much quicker than a bike that has been ridden for longer trips. The total number of miles is not quite as important as the total number of trips -- especially short trips. So ask about that. If the owner is factual about how the bike has been ridden, then you're building confidence in him as a seller. If he isn't giving you detailed information, than he may have something to hide.
Ask to see mechanical maintenance records, and if the state requires it, annual inspection certificates. If the bike has been serviced regularly and usually at the same location, that's another good sign. Sure, an owner may change his own fluids (oil, brake, transmission), but repairs beyond that, such as belts, cables, electrical, etc., should be done by a professional, and there should be records to validate that.
Ask about the brakes and how recently they were serviced. Usually brakes require servicing a bit more frequently than other parts nowadays. (During a test ride, listen for squeaks or squeals. Try both the front and rear brakes separately and listen for rubbing or unusual noises.)
Ask about the battery. Most motorcycle batteries last just two or three years. Ask how old the battery is and when it was last replaced.
Ask how the bike has been stored for the winter. If it were stored in a garage or heated storage facility, that's good. Even better if a trickle charger were kept on the bike's battery during prolonged periods of non-use. If the bike were kept under a cover out in a parking lot, then that's not so good. Bikes kept out-of-doors while not being ridden for months can develop some serious problems that you can't see, such as condensation inside the gas tank causing it to rust from the inside out. Or gumming of the fuel lines, or a host of other maladies. I would shy away from a bike that was stored out-of-doors for long periods.
Prepare for a test ride. If the owner wants a deposit, offer to let him hold your car keys instead (but you keep the registration in your possession). Look, if you want your car back, you're going to return the bike. If he wants money just for a test ride, then back off. Something's wrong.
You may choose to meet for a test ride at a parking lot. That's a good idea, because you can have room to practice turns, stops, starts, and the braking. Do a couple emergency stops, and make sure the bike remains true and straight, and doesn't skid. (If, as a new rider, you are uncomfortable doing that, have your buddy do that for you while you watch.)
If you liked the answers to the questions that you asked and if the test ride went well, then you're about ready to make a purchase. Ask to see the bike's title. Only consider buying a bike that has a "clean" title. Never, ever, accept a bike's title that has anyone else's name on it than the person you are dealing with. And never do a title transfer without indicating the real name of the owner and the buyer, their addresses, and the actual mileage. Don't allow the mileage to be under what's true. There are various reasons why a seller or buyer would want to leave the mileage off of a title during transfer, but that is never a good idea. Doing so can catch up with you when you want to sell the bike when you're done with it, and put you in a position of claiming more mileage on it than you put on it, thus lowering its value and any return you may get on it in a future sale. (In many states, stating inaccurate actual mileage on a title during transfer is illegal.)
It is a very good idea to use a bill of sale or contract to conduct the sale. If the owner can't produce one, be prepared and have one ready. You can find a sample motorcycle bill of sale on the Internet just by searching "motorcycle bill of sale." Download it and adapt it for your needs.
Hope this helps. Get out and ride!
P.S.: Only after writing the information above did I find a more thorough Used Motorcycle Buying Guide by Adam Glass. None of the content in what I wrote above was taken from Adam's copyrighted work, though there are a lot of similar ideas and concepts (but Adam's is more comprehensive as he has been working on it for a number of years.)
