Leave it to the British...

I have a new favorite TV show. Just out of curiosity, I turned on "Top Gear" on BBC America today.

The Lamborghini and Porsche they test drove at the beginning were enough to keep me interested, but it wasn't until they started test driving big rigs that I completely lost it and almost spit out my supper.

If you have not watched this show yet, and you have a television, it is well worth the time. The twisted British sense of humor makes it all the more enjoyable. It's reminiscent of Myth Busters, but I found it to be more entertaining.

For those of you with Netflix, Series 10 is available for online viewing.

My day is looking up!

Well, I'm pleased to note that my home state has finally done something intelligent as far as politics are concerned.

For the first time in, what is it...almost 80 years, a Republican will be sent to the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts. That is amazing to me. Perhaps it signals change. Perhaps not. But just the same, I'm feeling a lot better.

As a bit of context, I am not a Republican and really don't have any love for the Republican party. I am a Libertarian at heart and unfortunately, both of the main line parties currently seem to stand for big government, just varying degrees of the same.

Rough ride...

...Not so much in the literal sense.

My wife is back in the hospital again, and my heart feels as if it will break. It's beautiful outside and all I feel like doing is sleeping.

I've been searching my soul, praying, and trying to find an answer, and I have to say, I'm starting to feel like I can identify with Job.

And then I think of the people of Haiti, and I realize that there are always partners in misery and there are always others who have it worse.

I pause for a moment and say a prayer of repentance for my selfishness, but then, a few minutes later, I'm feeling awful again.

I know; however, that I can rest in the words of the well-loved psalm:

The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

Psalm 23 (NLT)

Some days my faith is all that keeps me afloat.

January Thaw

I just checked my Weatherbug and it's 45 degrees out (that's Fahrenheit for you folks outside the U.S.). Yesterday, it was 42 when I headed to work.

I took the Sabre to work in the evening so I could stretch it's legs (so to speak), and it was good. Very good. The big old Honda roared to life and after she had warmed up a bit, we headed off down the road. The day was beautiful and today looks to be even nicer.

It was, of course, a bit colder when I left work, but still bearable. There was no ice on the road (much to my relief), and the air, though a touch below freezing, was still refreshingly warm compared to my recent experiences.

My wife and I are going out on a little "date," but afterward, I think I will take the Sabre out again for a nice long ride.

Chilly Commutin'

It's been a cold month so far. Today is the first day that the temp has gotten above freezing this year. Sure, I've been riding to work in the evenings. I'll admit, when my wife doesn't need her car in the mornings, I've been taking it myself, then riding to work in the afternoons.

It's been so cold lately that even while wearing gloves, the cold dry air has been doing a number on my hands, so taking the scoot or the sabre has not been as comfortable as I would like it. Sure, I'm warm enough, but the dryness of the air just seems to suck the moisture out of my skin.

One of my friends has expressed interest in getting a scooter. He and I went looking at Kymcos this morning and he seemed to gravitate to the 125 and 150cc scooters. It was nice to be able to give advice to someone else, especially when I remember my own first scooter purchase.



When I look back on the purchase of my Vino I truly wish I had had another rider whose brain I could have picked so that I would have known what to avoid and what to look for. I loved that little scooter, and I miss it, but I know now that I was ripped off by the dealer in the form of almost $300 in excessive dealer fees, on a scooter that had been sitting in their showroom for three years.

I also know now, that starting on a 50cc isn't necessarily a bad thing, but for the rural roads in this area, they aren't terribly appropriate. I've been passed illegally three times in the last three weeks while driving my wife's car, when I was proceeding at, or slightly above, the posted speed limit, this morning being the most recent occasion.

My friend seemed impressed by the sticker prices and will talk to his wife about the options he saw today. I might take him to the Honda dealer, but he seems to like the Kymco's, particularly the Agility 125's.

Come spring, it looks like I'll have another riding buddy.

Cold snap...new year...rider down

It's cold. Dang cold. I was out hunting with my best friend today and got a few shots in at some low flying ducks and geese, though, with the wind, I didn't hit any. Thankfully duck and geese are still in season for a few weeks, so I'll have more opportunities to knock a few down.

The new year came and went. I slept through the ball drop. It's not really something that gets me excited. One year is much the same as the next to me. When I was younger, I found the celebration of the new year to be something of note, but now, it seems a pointless exercise and an excuse for revelers to party. I've never been much of a party goer.

I found an article on Lancaster Online about a man who was in a hit and run on his motorbike. It's one of the things that scares the liver out of me. One of the downsides of winter riding is the tendency for cagers to become even more lax than usual in their observance of those of us on two wheels. Some of us just don't have the luxury of riding in a cage, and others of us just don't prefer it (I'm a bit of both).