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Showing posts from 2008

Biltmore @ Christmas

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Around Thanksgiving I proposed that I take my wife to visit the Biltmore Estate while it was decorated for Christmas. We'd talked about visiting the Biltmore for a couple of years and sometimes you just have to say "now is the time" or things turn into "one of these days". So, I chuckled when I read my buddy, Michael (conchscooter) had visited a few days before us. But then again, we both have pretty good taste and ideas, so why am I suprised we both had a good idea? As we were touring the Biltmore Estate, my wife commented that it would make a good blog post. I replied, "It's been done. Michael did it two days ago." But she insisted that I should post my pictures, so I yield to her prodding. What can you say about a 175,000 square feet 255 room house sitting on an 8,000 acre estate that was originally 125,000 acres? Breath taking. The craftsmanship and the pure grandeur is overwhelming. Tapestries cover the walls of a 90-foot room. A two-story li

White Christmas

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" As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do. " - Andrew Carnegie

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

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About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel. There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David

Guys, at Christmas, Beware the Doghouse

Beware of the doghouse video All I can guess is that her favorite color isn't red? Anyone?

Only in Michigan

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So you drive a Corolla, and you're really feeling your oats. But, isn't this a little much??

Happy Thanksgiving

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Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours! Join with us in considering our blessings. A roof over our heads, water to drink, food on the table, all of the things we so quickly take for granted.

The Old Man Rides Again

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I knew it wouldn't be long. For the last three years, everytime I have talked to my Dad he has told me about looking at motorcycles. And the few times he has been thru the Atlanta Metro area, he has walked circles around my motorcycle. His eyes seemed to glisten when I let him ride the Sportster a few years ago. And, I've heard countless stories of the rides and adventures he had on his Harley 250 back in the day. I received an excited call last night that he had been to a local dealer and had discussed a deal on a 2007 Suzuki Boulevard S40. You know, Suzuki's I-wanna-build-a-bike-that-looks-like-a-Harley-Sportster single cylinder. I ponder a bit why but then it came back to me. His original motorcycle in the 1950s was a single cylinder, and I have to admit the S40 is 650cc versus the under powered 250cc he had way back when that struggled to do 50 mph. So, it seems like it would be a good choice fo a fella 70 years old who wants to ride to the post office and grocery store

This Commute will be Powered by Tourmaster

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23 degrees F is just enough to make your fingers red and stinging even inside of thick lined leather gloves riding 50 mph. But I did not experience that unpleasentness this morning as I was protected with my Tourmaster electric gloves which kept my hands comfortable for the 40 minute commute to work. Yes, you guess it. Mine is the only bike sitting in the parking lot at the office despite the fact there is now chance of rain, ice, snow, and they skies are clear.

Your Moment of Zin

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If you don't get the humor in this, here's a little backgroundon the Amish .

Veteran's Day

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A simple thank you to the men and women who have chosen to server in harm's way to protect the lives, freedom, and interest of the United States. To the soldiers who have never heard it, Welcome Home. The two medals included in this post are the Purple Heart and the Silver Star. The Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States of America to those wounded or killed while serving in the United States Military. The Silver Star is awarded for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States not justifying a higher award. It may be awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S Armed Forces, distinguishes himself or herself by extraordinary heroism involving one of the following actions: In action against an enemy of the United States, While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force

Ride for Will 2008

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The Second Annual Ride for Will was Saturday. Steven Vore rode with me this year which means, you got it, photographer in tow! :) We elected to start the ride properly, with breakfast at Waffle House. Waffle House is personally endorsed by Steven and myself as the official proper way to start a great day of motorcycle riding. A large number of bikes arrived, and we saw all kinds. A Harley Sportster 883 trike with the back looking somewhat reminiscent of the original Harley three wheelers of the 1950's that the Police and Ice Cream vendors used. The big long three wheelers powered by VW engines, Harleys, BMWs (none had to be towed at this event to my knowledge), crotch rockets, and even a high dollar chopper. Of course my Buffalo helmet was a huge hit, so I granted the numerous photo requests. Who knows where my smiling mug will show up in the next few days. Forsyth County Harley mounted Deputies gave us awesome escort and traffic control, and we made our way to Helen. "> S

Chilly

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Thirty-six degrees F my wife's fancy digital weather station reported as I laced my boots and pulled on my riding leathers. This is the weather that causes me to pull on the thicker gloves, wear a fleece scarf around my neck, and don the fullface helmet. It's not unenjoyable to ride in this weather. It just makes you feel a bit more alive. Until this week, I have daily arrived at work around 8am to find the parking lot jammed with cages and one motorcycle sitting to one side of a parking spot very close to the front door. Thanks to this rider's courteous actions, I slide ride into a front row parking spot. That all changed this week. I guess it's too cold for the rider that has been arriving earlier than me for the last several months. I ponder this as I noted that at one point this fall our office building had 7 motorcycles and a couple scooters sitting in the parking lot. Now there is one BMW sitting out about 5 rows back and my Harley Road King, Rosie. As I left the

Stock Cars

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That's my charming wife on the left and on the right is a fellow blogger, Glider Rider I beat her to the punch. Some time before the weekend, Glider should get around to posting her report of the weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. I thought since Glider didn't have access to the NASCAR garage area or pit road, I should at least post a few pictures of what she didn't get to see during her weekend at the race track :) I do what I can. -Peace

Apple Run!

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Fall is in the air in the biggest city in the South. Temp this morning was 54 degrees F and quite enjoyable. Leaves have begun to turn and display their autumn colors of red and gold. Pumpkins are appearing on neighbors front porches and that spells one thing - Apple Run. I loaded up the family in the cage and we meandered thru Dawsonville and over to Ellijay (home of the AppleFest). Long before the R&A Orchard sign appeared in our view, I could almost taste one of their fried pies. Once we arrived, we made a beeline to the snack counter after manuvering through the crowd of folks looking at apple butter, jellies, jams, peanut brittle, boiled peanuts, apple cider, apple juice, and bins and bins of apples. And there they were in all of their glory, delicious fried pies. R&A Orchard provides you with a multitude of choices (12 total I'm told): apple, sugar-free apple, coconut, peach, chocolate, blueberry, blackberry, and on and on, the choices make me dizzy. But everyone in o

definitions

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Hondapotimus (Hon-duh-pot-eh-mus) a large conglomeration of fiberglass and plastic that vaguely resembles a motorcycle.

Bikers for Babies

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We had an great time Sunday and a good bit of money was raised for the March of Dimes. Thanks to those who contributed by sponsoring us. It was great just to get to hang out with Steven, Paul and Donna, but getting to ride Atlanta Motor Speedway up on the banking was the high point of the day. Donna told Paul "Allen was kidding about riding close enough to touch the Safer Barrier". Paul smiled and replied, "No, he wasn't!" So, Paul and Donna checked out the "Dale Jr lane" (right up against the wall and hauling). I got to enjoy the #3 lane and the Dale Jr. lane. It brought back memories to my days of stock car racing to come off turn 4 and roll in the gas down the front tri-oval. Good times. (pictures courtesy of Steven Vore) -Peace

How to be Rich

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Here is a really good series by Andy Stanley, Click the link and you can watch all four parts of the message Be Rich Get involved: HowToBeRich.org

Harley 125

After posting the picture of my Pop’s 1951 Harley-Davidson 125, I have engaged the old man in a few conversations and did a bit of research. First, I was quite caught with the fact I could not locate the top edge of the windshield in the picture although I could make out the lower chrome strips on the windshield. He explained this quite easily. Several weeks prior to the picture he was riding down a gravel street in his hometown to visit his grandmother. After three near misses in the gravel, the bike went down and he stuck his face thru the bike’s windshield, which broke the windshield. Once he got home, he took a hacksaw and cut off the broken jagged windshield flush with the top of the chrome strip. He rode this way while he was saving up the $25 to replace the windshield. Someone mentioned the saddlebags, and he commented that he could not afford the motorcycle saddlebags. So, he purchased bicycle saddlebags, and those are what you see in the picture. Now a little history of the Ha

Bikers for Babers

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March of Dimes Bikers for Babies...more than 45,000 riders all across America riding to raise money to prevent premature birth and birth defects, educating expecting mothers and supporting families dealing with sick or premature babies. I'm registered and riding at Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday, October 12th. If you'd like to sponsor me (by contributing to the March of Dimes), you can do so by going to my fundraiser site

Generations of Harleys

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That is my Pop and his dog Jiggs. Jiggs used to ride Pop's motorcycle lying on the tank with his front feet over the handlebars. The year is 1954. He is showing off his trophy that he had just won on an easter egg hunt (yes motorcycle games). The bike is a Harley-Davidson 125. So, yes, we've had Harleys in our families for years. It's no wonder I think that is what a motorcycle is supposed to look like. -Peace

Scooter Sales on the Upswing

This explains all the extra bikes in the parking lot at work and in my neighborhood :) Scooter sales skyrocket 66% - CNN

Parking

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I've been attending a class this week near Perimeter Mall. At lunch break I went over to eat at the Mall's food court. On my way out of the mall, I am walking across the parking lot (wearing chaps and a leather jacket mind you) to where Rosie was parked on the yellow hash marks in front of a light pole when a Hummer stops next to me and rolls the window down. A young lady inquired, "Where are you parked?" I smiled and said, "Just at the end of this row." She slammed the gas gusseling dinosaur killing mega-HUV in reverse and backed to the end of the row and waited for me. I walked to where Rosie was waiting, put my coke in the cup holder and smiled. I heard the overgrown metal cage slam into drive and chirp a tire as she headed off to find a parking spot she could fit the wildebeest. I rode off laughing and thinking.... "I sure love riding motorcycles!"

The Shack

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If you don't read anything else in the next five years, go out, purchase a copy of The Shack , and read it. You'll be glad you did :)

Daytona Octoberfest

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Ok. I've been let down. Last year a group of my buds took off to Daytona for Octoberfest, and I couldn't go. So they told me to put it on the calendar for this year. I did. I even got the time off approved by my supervisor and the kitchen pass approved by my wife. Now they've decided they're not going this year. They're thinking they'll go to Myrtle Beach next year instead. So. Who's headed to Daytona? Anyone passing thru Atlanta that would welcome an extra bike riding in the formation? Bueller?... Bueller?... Bueller?

Bikes on Broadway - Columbus, GA

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Columbus, Georgia hosted Bikes on Broadway Sep 19 and 20th. The annual event serves as a fund raiser for " Our House " Children's home. Poker runs, dice runs, 50/50 raffles, vendors, food, and live Rock N Roll Bands were all apart. I snapped a view photos, but the batteries died in the digital cam so there is only a few and a couple are a bit dark due to the flash quitting on low power. Note that not all of the bikes are Harleys. I realize there are other bike manufacturers. A couple of us spent considerable time looking at a Victory Vision. (photo courtesy of Victory Motorcycles and Ironhorse of San Antonio) I think it is a gorgeous bike. I just can't get my mind wrapped around the handlebars turning and the fairing and headlight not turning with the handlebars. So, if I'm turning on a curve at night, is it shining in the woods??

Second Annual Ride for Will

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The ride begins at South Forsyth High School, 585 Peachtree Parkway, Cumming, GA (exit 13 off GA 400). Registration begins at 9:00 am and the ride leaves at 11:00 am. The escorted ride will go to Helen and end at Paul's Margarita Deck with raffles, door prizes, and 50/50 drawing. The ride fee is $25.00 for the rider and $10.00 for a passenger. Pre-registration is available. Fees include a "Will" patch or T-shirt for the first 125 paid entries. Proceeds got to the Will Davison Memorial Scholarship (for more info, click here .) For more information call Cathy Bentley (770) 889-7829 or email cathybentley at bellsouth.net

The Suzuki Superbike Showdown presented by Rockstar

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(Photo by Steven Vore ) Steven and I sat out for the 20 mile ride over to Road Atlanta and had an enjoyable ride. I still get a kick out of people at stoplights reactions to seeing a Harley and a BMW riding together. Once at Road Atlanta, we made a stroll through vendor row and chatted with the folks at Nomar who produces and sells motorcycle tire changing equipment. Steven's beemer was needing a front tire and they made him a good deal on a Pirelli and offered to mount, balance, and change it out for free. So, we put them to work. We were quite impressed with their equipment and speed. I've never seen a dealership change a tire out that effortlessly. Their equipment and tire mounting lube made all the difference. Steven was tickled to kill two birds with one stone. Now he doesn't have to schedule time at a bike shop. After a couple of weeks of enjoyable fall weather in the biggest city in the South, Summer returned Saturday for the Suzuki Spuerbike Showdown. It was hot a