Life is Good, this is America after all...

I picked up my Triumph from the dealer, he talked to me about all my bike's problems and he was really talking about my problems. Two major things needed fixed after that accident last August, I will replace the one part on Thursday to make the repair complete. If you have an accident, and you can get back on the motorcycle and ride it home that is amazing - but really, take it to the shop and have it completely gone over, and maybe you should go to a doctor sooner than I did - or not. BUT do take care of your ride so it can take care of you. My wife wants the scrapes on the head light fixed, she has her pride in my ride and I have been avoiding it - although I do think a little headlight visor would be cool.

I do like my motorcycle, and a brief glimpse of the riders in Europe speeding around the track tell me they are so much better riders than I on motorcycles so much faster than mine - but then I don't have to go as fast as my motorcycle will go - rumor has it that I might be going faster than the police and state troopers would like, sometimes - probably an accident of joy. And as much as I am smiling while riding - I am not going to do a long wheelie in victory after getting the flag - not that I would expect to be first, I do think the bike would like two wheel contact with surface. No, I don't do wheelies, too old or too smart about my abilities.

Now there are people that think only certain products are cool, worthy of note, the best in the world - they normally think one certain race, music, nation or language is the ONE also - but that is so limiting. Having lived in a few other countries, my mother and my wife being born and raised in other ones, I get to know that there are wonderful people that live elsewhere, speak a different language and see God and America so differently than I, but I am comfortable with that knowledge. An example of brand fan foolishness:

Wilson Combat Hunter is a fine, best of its kind weapon, and although someone says it shoots one inch groups at thirty yards - which I am willing to believe - I know that I don't shoot one inch groups at thirty yards. My personal Colt .45 does just fine, it shoots well and I shoot better because of it - but I may miss because of eye quiver, shaky hands, or that beautiful woman is really looking hard at me and my wife is watching my reaction. Now I like to shoot other weapons, I like to compete, gently, and I learn from my mistakes faster than I do from my successes.

I drive a Dodge Caravan, ride a Triumph America, live in a house that has three bedrooms, two baths, and no swimming pool nor home gym. I make just about enough to be comfortable in my life style - but then I don't go out and about much. But look, I own two cars, and the credit union is my partner in all this wealth - it is good to have television, cablevision, DVDs, videos, CDs and stereo FM for Jazz and Blues. Having lived periodically without it, I have flushing toilets, hot showers (lovely invention, hot water - you should try washing the sweat and dirt off after a day training with the ROK Army Rangers - in an almost icy cold stream - but then in Iraq I didn't have enough water to do more than shave daily and the dust descended and infiltrated every inch of body and clothing - sigh). I do think American life style is good, and for me good enough
is really fine. I own three working computers that I will never maximize use of before they come up with software and hardware - gee, whiz would you look at that! - that I don't need nor will take advantage of...

Think I will indulge in some salad and watch the games on Canadian Broadcasting a bit then go ride in the Summer.