Time to pick a side...

I hope I am wrong, but it seems to me that events are leading us toward another world war. It seems, when times get tough, and someone wants to push their views and or expand their borders... You get the drift. Time is also a factor. There has to have been enough time, about 50 years, since the last world war so that the old folk who actually fought in the war are dead and can't sound the warnings loud enough to quiet the young folks war chants.

I read the article in the Huffington Post and on the Drudge Report, that the terrorist from Pakistan were told to kill to their last breath, and then he begs for the military not to kill him. I truly don't understand these folks. What has terrorism EVER done to make things better?

So, how do we fight a Religious World War? Does one team take off their shirts. (in case you didn't play sports as a kid that was the old shirts vs skins way of making teams)

The war would be ugly, deep, and take many many years and cost so many lives. Fighting over land is one thing, but fighting over belief is another.

To me it seems so simple, you believe what you believe, I believe what I believe and we go about our day, I am NOT going to murder you to show you I am right. And there is no way that there were no deaths in Mumbai that were not of the religion of the terrorists. Are they simply the cost of doing business? The old saying you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs.... I mean come on, hasn't everyone ever heard of pop tarts?

I don't mean to vent/rant can't we all get along?

Can't we solve our differences over a game of Capture the Flag... or some coop on campain? Or, in the words of my generation...How about a nice game of chess?

Speed

Soap Box

Politics are/is a difficult subject I usually stay clear of. When you are forced to defend what you feel at the core of your being to someone whose beliefs make your stomach turn and your head ache, it makes life difficult. One person wants and feels that a particular person would be best for our country, and you feel that someone else would do a better job. We discuss and argue around the kitchen table, on lounge chairs, on cell phones, and in the work place. It can be troubling.

One thing I feel that we must discuss is energy independence. I know there are a ton of initiatives out there, but the one I wanted to soap box is the Pickens Plan.  I am doing my part and spreading the word. Go and check out the web site and if you like it get involved, and if you don't I hope it gets the topic of getting the United States off foreign oil started in your house.

www.pickensplan.com

Thanks,

I am stepping off the box now,

Speed

Wild Hogs

Ok, I am so lame, my Mom told me to rent it. It was funny. My wife teases me about putting on leather and all black when we ride, but hey when in Rome. If you rent the DVD, there is a section in the bonus tracks on how to get your wife to OK the purchase of a motorcycle. I did mine the hard way... I hope this helps someone who like me did a long look as the rolling thunder was passing you by. I have to take my bike in tomorrow for its 1000 mile tune up, not bad for 6 weeks and not taking it on any trips yet.

If you are like me, and over 40 it helps taking your wife with you. On the highway we were cruising along at 70 when to the left 8 sport bikes drove past us like we were in reverse. I gunned it, and as I did I heard in my left ear "You are NOT 19 anymore!" Ok, for about 1 second it was a buzz kill, but hey... growing up is part of life. But we did accelerate to 90 before she wanted to slow down. You can grow up without growing old.

Speed

FIRST Bike Night

In our little corner of the world (Memphis) on Wed night Joe's Crab Shack hosts "Bike Night". Basically the parking lot is broken into 2 areas. Cars in one, and bikes only in the other.

The Mrs and I got there about 6:30 which turned out to be a little early. As we rode in, the closer we got to the bike lot the rumbling got louder and louder, and even though she gave me crap... yes I started reving my engine.

The cool part was when I pulled past a Harley who had just rev'd up his engine for a girl walking by... just then I hit mine and you could not even hear his. Yes, sad but true that the Speedbyrd Honda VTX was among the loudest bikes there. The loud pipes were a present to me, as being seen is nice, but being seen and heard is the safest. The pipes are made by Hard Krome and the model is called Sideburners. Unless you are into super loud, stay away from these monsters as they will make your neighbors stop smiling when they see you. But as my neighbors are loosers and I don't like them anyway.... well you get the point.

Michele and I sat outside and had some shrimp and ice-t to keep cool. When the sun went down we walked around and checked out some of the bikes and got some ideas on what to get to make our bike more "us".

Lots of fun. We are going to have to get the camera out soon to record this stuff.

Speed

Mid life crisis

I never thought I would get here, (mid-life) but here I am. 10 years ago I was drinking and hanging out, coming and going as I pleased. Dating all the wrong women and loving it. Flash forward and I have a REAL job, mortgage, nice house and a wife how is SO sick of hearing about my old life!

To tell the truth, it was fun.. but being married and sharing life experiences has a lot more benefits. First of all most of my stories now don't start with "Man we were drunk... do you remember the time when we...."

My wife gave me the green light and I bought a motorcycle! She won't admit it, but she likes it as much as I do. The feeling of the open road and more to the point the feeling of being old enough to enjoy something that brought me so much happiness in my youth. And getting to share something I love with my wife is cool too. In the end, it is the times we share that define our relationships.

YES, we are wearing helmets and yes we will be safe!

Tonight is "Bike Night" at Joe's Crab Shack so weather permitting, we will be there.

She is still dragging her heals about low cut tops and getting that snake tattoo... but I am happy so who cares!

Speedbyrd