For those of you who don't know I figured I would share what is going on. Back on March 13th I had a mental breakdown and started crying. It was the worst bout of depression that I have ever been through. I cried off and on for several hours.
It was like I had been wearing masks and they shattered all at once. It left me exposed, I felt so vulnerable. I started to examine everything that was going on in my life. A flood of thoughts came through my head and I was overwhelmed. Karma was out with the kids and when she got back home I told her that I needed to see a professional and get some help. Since then the depression has lessened but it is still there.
Why this came on suddenly? I don't know. I am lucky enough to work for a company that has some pretty good mental health benefits so several sessions will be covered.
Keep in mind it is not a debilitating kind of depression but I am down a lot of the time now. I AM NOT SUICIDAL. Luckily, I will have my first session with a therapist tomorrow.
I am a little nervous going into all of this. I am not completely sure what to expect. I hope that things will all go well. Being depressed sucks and now more than ever I don't know what the future holds for me but I am staying positive and know that eventually the future will be brighter than it seems to me right now.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The 23rd Snow Shovel
(The re-writing of the 23rd Psalm, sometimes you get bored being snowed in. Re-write by Roy Helton)
The snow shovel is my helper; I shall not want.
It helpth me to dig down to brown pastures:
It breaketh the ice down to still waters.
It helps restoreth my calm:
It helps createth the paths of escape for my sanity's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of snow up to my eyeballs,
I will fear no snowdrift: For thou art with me;
Thy shovel head and thy shaft, they comfort me.
Thou bringth me to tables, hopefully with food in the pantry;
I shall annointest my body with sport creme; My snow cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of the snow,
and I will dwell in the House of Warmth until you melt (off the roads, at least)
The snow shovel is my helper; I shall not want.
It helpth me to dig down to brown pastures:
It breaketh the ice down to still waters.
It helps restoreth my calm:
It helps createth the paths of escape for my sanity's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of snow up to my eyeballs,
I will fear no snowdrift: For thou art with me;
Thy shovel head and thy shaft, they comfort me.
Thou bringth me to tables, hopefully with food in the pantry;
I shall annointest my body with sport creme; My snow cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of the snow,
and I will dwell in the House of Warmth until you melt (off the roads, at least)
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
February 1 - My experience through the blizzard (aka - Don't be an idiot like me and stay in)
The day started really early. I got up at 4:40 to make sure that I had plenty of time to get ready and be at the call center. From the looks of the road I told Karma that she would be staying home. I took her car as the fan in mine is not working (making defrost impossible).
First sign that I should have stayed home was the fact that it took me 7 minutes just to get out of the driveway but my stubbornness took over.
I was driving down the back road I normally take it didn't look too bad then I saw there was a plow going down that road. It turned off on an access road and I went to go down the road as normal. As soon as I did the car slowed down and a voice in the back of my head told me, "You will never make it this way." I decided to follow the plow back to Pine St.
It took me 2 runs to get up onto 193rd from Pine (sign #3 that I should have headed back home). I continued down 193rd and saw several cars stalled and abandoned but I was too focused on getting around them and getting to work. I finally made it up on the highway and there was a space to drive only wider than Karma's car. When I got off at the 161st exit I didn't stop for fear that I wouldn't get started again.
As I got into the parking lot at the call center there were people trying to plow it but it was a futile attempt as the snow would blow back in with 10-20 minutes.
See all these signs telling me it was not safe and yet I still decided to stay.
There were only like 8 people in the center that I could see. Why they didn't close it before it really opened is beyond me. Not sure who makes the decision on that but they apparently don't care if someone dies or gets hurt.
They finally decided at 10:30 to close the center. The plows were working in the parking lot to clear a path out for us. I helped some people get unstuck.
I decided the best path home was to get up on the highway. So I get by the Oklahoma Welcome Center and got stuck there. A couple of guys came by and helped to scoop me out and I was on my way again.
Just on the other side of the 161st St bridge I got stuck again. Keep in mind I didn't have a shovel with me, I only had the ice scraper and I had forgotten my deerskin gloves at home so moving the snow and ice from under the car was quite a chore.
After cleaning out from under the car and rocking it back and forth I was able to get away from the intersection but I couldn't get up on the highway as there was a jack-knifed semi and 3 SUVs blocking the way. There was a semi completely blocking Admiral so my exits south and east were completely gone, I would either have to go north or west. North had not been plowed so West on 44 seemed the only viable option.
As I was coming up to the turn off onto westbound 44 at 161st I noticed there was a snow plow behind me. I waved him past and was trying to get into the path behind him. I got stuck again. Luckily a couple of people from the call center were there and one had a snow shovel. They helped me to get pushed out and up on the highway I went.
The blizzard conditions kept the snow blowing across the road, I was having trouble seeing where I could go. When I got to the 44/244 split it was decision time again. 44 looked at least partially plowed, 244 looked like it hadn't been touched. I decide 44 was the best path but none of the exits seemed to be plowed, no way to get off the road. I stopped on the highway a couple of times to get some bearings.
Finally I saw that the ramp at 41st seemed fairly clear. I made it up it only to see that to turn left across the bridge was going to be impossible. I just kept seeming to make decisions that were taking me farther and farther away from home. There were people walking in the road. When I got down to Yale I decided it was the best place to turn around. So I was now heading back in the right direction but I still had to get back on 44 to head back home and the ramp looked to be blocked. When driving down it I saw a way through and was able to get back onto 44.
At one point I started to follow a pickup driving down the highway but they got off at 11th St. I was doing really well on 44 but after I crested the top of the hill past 161st St the snow was blowing in a whiteout condition. I lost track of the road and ended up in a snowdrift to the left of the path. There wasn't much traffic on the road then and a pickup driver asked if I had anywhere to hook onto to tow me out. He got me a tow rope and was able to get me out. I was able to make it to the bottom of the hill right by the 193rd St exit. There were semis backed up as far as the eye could see. There were reports that the old Hard Rock Casino roof had collapsed.
So close yet so far away...
I walked down to the QT and grabbed some gloves a couple of hot dogs and a purple NOS (loves me the purple) for lunch.
By the time that I got back to the car there was a OHP car stuck not more than 100 yards behind where I was. He indicated he didn't know when any help would be there.
I took a trip back down to the QT and stayed there to stay warm. The more I thought about being stuck there on the highway, the more and more pissed I became. If only I could get the car off the road then I could walk home or at least to the casino and get a room.
I made several calls and messaged a lot of friends to let them know how I was doing. One of them is Jeff who doesn't live too far away. He told me he could bring down a shovel and help me to get out. I decided to take him up on the offer.
Him and his son walked down with a shovel and a gas can. We got to work. Between me, Jeff and his son and an older truck driver we were able to finally get me into the snow plow trail that happened after I had gotten stuck.
I decided to risk making it home as I live right behind a firehouse and they would have paved those roads for the emergency vehicles. I was able to make it home but the driveway was one huge snowdrift. I tried to pull the car under the tree but didn't get very far under the tree but at least I could come inside if I needed to. It took another half an hour to get the car pulled up enough to make sure it was not in the road. I know there are some ruts in the yard now but I can fill them in in the spring.
So a trip that usually only takes me 10 minutes only took 8 and a half (not including the last half hour to move the car up more).
My lower pant's legs were completely snow covered and were stiff, they could have stood on there own. As I finally got each leg over the foot they fell to the floor with a thud.
Then after finally making it home I had to fix a shower that wouldn't stop running. All and all I would like to start over February and do some things different but we don't have a time machine. :(
First sign that I should have stayed home was the fact that it took me 7 minutes just to get out of the driveway but my stubbornness took over.
I was driving down the back road I normally take it didn't look too bad then I saw there was a plow going down that road. It turned off on an access road and I went to go down the road as normal. As soon as I did the car slowed down and a voice in the back of my head told me, "You will never make it this way." I decided to follow the plow back to Pine St.
It took me 2 runs to get up onto 193rd from Pine (sign #3 that I should have headed back home). I continued down 193rd and saw several cars stalled and abandoned but I was too focused on getting around them and getting to work. I finally made it up on the highway and there was a space to drive only wider than Karma's car. When I got off at the 161st exit I didn't stop for fear that I wouldn't get started again.
As I got into the parking lot at the call center there were people trying to plow it but it was a futile attempt as the snow would blow back in with 10-20 minutes.
See all these signs telling me it was not safe and yet I still decided to stay.
There were only like 8 people in the center that I could see. Why they didn't close it before it really opened is beyond me. Not sure who makes the decision on that but they apparently don't care if someone dies or gets hurt.
They finally decided at 10:30 to close the center. The plows were working in the parking lot to clear a path out for us. I helped some people get unstuck.
I decided the best path home was to get up on the highway. So I get by the Oklahoma Welcome Center and got stuck there. A couple of guys came by and helped to scoop me out and I was on my way again.
Just on the other side of the 161st St bridge I got stuck again. Keep in mind I didn't have a shovel with me, I only had the ice scraper and I had forgotten my deerskin gloves at home so moving the snow and ice from under the car was quite a chore.
After cleaning out from under the car and rocking it back and forth I was able to get away from the intersection but I couldn't get up on the highway as there was a jack-knifed semi and 3 SUVs blocking the way. There was a semi completely blocking Admiral so my exits south and east were completely gone, I would either have to go north or west. North had not been plowed so West on 44 seemed the only viable option.
As I was coming up to the turn off onto westbound 44 at 161st I noticed there was a snow plow behind me. I waved him past and was trying to get into the path behind him. I got stuck again. Luckily a couple of people from the call center were there and one had a snow shovel. They helped me to get pushed out and up on the highway I went.
The blizzard conditions kept the snow blowing across the road, I was having trouble seeing where I could go. When I got to the 44/244 split it was decision time again. 44 looked at least partially plowed, 244 looked like it hadn't been touched. I decide 44 was the best path but none of the exits seemed to be plowed, no way to get off the road. I stopped on the highway a couple of times to get some bearings.
Finally I saw that the ramp at 41st seemed fairly clear. I made it up it only to see that to turn left across the bridge was going to be impossible. I just kept seeming to make decisions that were taking me farther and farther away from home. There were people walking in the road. When I got down to Yale I decided it was the best place to turn around. So I was now heading back in the right direction but I still had to get back on 44 to head back home and the ramp looked to be blocked. When driving down it I saw a way through and was able to get back onto 44.
At one point I started to follow a pickup driving down the highway but they got off at 11th St. I was doing really well on 44 but after I crested the top of the hill past 161st St the snow was blowing in a whiteout condition. I lost track of the road and ended up in a snowdrift to the left of the path. There wasn't much traffic on the road then and a pickup driver asked if I had anywhere to hook onto to tow me out. He got me a tow rope and was able to get me out. I was able to make it to the bottom of the hill right by the 193rd St exit. There were semis backed up as far as the eye could see. There were reports that the old Hard Rock Casino roof had collapsed.
So close yet so far away...
I walked down to the QT and grabbed some gloves a couple of hot dogs and a purple NOS (loves me the purple) for lunch.
By the time that I got back to the car there was a OHP car stuck not more than 100 yards behind where I was. He indicated he didn't know when any help would be there.
I took a trip back down to the QT and stayed there to stay warm. The more I thought about being stuck there on the highway, the more and more pissed I became. If only I could get the car off the road then I could walk home or at least to the casino and get a room.
I made several calls and messaged a lot of friends to let them know how I was doing. One of them is Jeff who doesn't live too far away. He told me he could bring down a shovel and help me to get out. I decided to take him up on the offer.
Him and his son walked down with a shovel and a gas can. We got to work. Between me, Jeff and his son and an older truck driver we were able to finally get me into the snow plow trail that happened after I had gotten stuck.
I decided to risk making it home as I live right behind a firehouse and they would have paved those roads for the emergency vehicles. I was able to make it home but the driveway was one huge snowdrift. I tried to pull the car under the tree but didn't get very far under the tree but at least I could come inside if I needed to. It took another half an hour to get the car pulled up enough to make sure it was not in the road. I know there are some ruts in the yard now but I can fill them in in the spring.
So a trip that usually only takes me 10 minutes only took 8 and a half (not including the last half hour to move the car up more).
My lower pant's legs were completely snow covered and were stiff, they could have stood on there own. As I finally got each leg over the foot they fell to the floor with a thud.
Then after finally making it home I had to fix a shower that wouldn't stop running. All and all I would like to start over February and do some things different but we don't have a time machine. :(
Inspiration strikes
For those on Facebook, you might have already seen this but I am posting this to my other blogs now. If you would like to know what the inspiration for this was, send me an email and I will share it with you but I won't post it.
Cattle
Cows, together awake but yet they march in slumber
Unaware of their lives, they squander and blunder
Hold onto things they cannot shake
Addiction keeps them in their rut, their place
How can they go? They trudge in worn tracks
Time chips them away with it's wieldy ax
They moo and they stomp, graze and they chew
Step out of those tracks and they will beller at you
How dare you think different? Have you gone mad?!?!?
What could you be thinking? Why aren't you glad?
Just stay with the herd, don't roam by yourself
Things with the herd are always the same, we've only ourselves to blame
Lone cow or herd cow, you be the judge
Lone cow I am choosing to be, am & was
When herd cows look at you, they'll stare and they'll glare
Don't worry about them.... they aren't going nowhere
Cattle
Cows, together awake but yet they march in slumber
Unaware of their lives, they squander and blunder
Hold onto things they cannot shake
Addiction keeps them in their rut, their place
How can they go? They trudge in worn tracks
Time chips them away with it's wieldy ax
They moo and they stomp, graze and they chew
Step out of those tracks and they will beller at you
How dare you think different? Have you gone mad?!?!?
What could you be thinking? Why aren't you glad?
Just stay with the herd, don't roam by yourself
Things with the herd are always the same, we've only ourselves to blame
Lone cow or herd cow, you be the judge
Lone cow I am choosing to be, am & was
When herd cows look at you, they'll stare and they'll glare
Don't worry about them.... they aren't going nowhere
Sunday, September 19, 2010
General update - it has been awhile
As like usual, it has been forever and a day since my last postings. I guess it is time to post so I have something to look back on.
Band - Our guitarist in the band quit a few months ago. He said it was becoming too much of a job. We continue to look for either a guitar player or a drummer (as our current drummer can also play some guitar). Friday we were supposed to have someone come out and try out on drums. He called to let us know his son was in an auto accident but asked if we could move it to Saturday. We all agreed but he was a no call-no show last night. What a bummer.
Scooter - I had an accident on it about 2 months ago. I posted some pics on Facebook not long after it happened. It only got some scraps on the right side of it. I stayed off it for awhile so I could heal up but about a week later I was back to riding it. I have only a few miles and then I will have put on 2000 miles on it since I have gotten it. I really do love riding.
Work - Work has been.... well, work. They had mandatory overtime on the schedule for a long time now. They finally took it off this past week. I am glad as it felt like my soul was being ground up in a meat grinder.
Health - A few months ago I came to the realization that I needed to do something to get into shape. I just wasn't feeling well. I had a huge gut and needed to do something. I started working out to P90X and did ok with it but everytime that I am starting to make progress I seemed to have something happen that caused me to stop for a couple of weeks (bashing my head in a speaker, messing up my leg in the scooter accident). I decided to switch up to Beachbody's Insanity program. This program is intense and meant for those that are already in shape (which I am not). I do what I can in the program and then rest a little and jump right back in. I have been doing this program for 2 weeks now and feel a lot better. I plan on looping back through the first 2 weeks a couple of times so I can get more in shape before trying to continue in the program. I am also trying to change up my diet so I can eat better. Just need to make this change.
Band - Our guitarist in the band quit a few months ago. He said it was becoming too much of a job. We continue to look for either a guitar player or a drummer (as our current drummer can also play some guitar). Friday we were supposed to have someone come out and try out on drums. He called to let us know his son was in an auto accident but asked if we could move it to Saturday. We all agreed but he was a no call-no show last night. What a bummer.
Scooter - I had an accident on it about 2 months ago. I posted some pics on Facebook not long after it happened. It only got some scraps on the right side of it. I stayed off it for awhile so I could heal up but about a week later I was back to riding it. I have only a few miles and then I will have put on 2000 miles on it since I have gotten it. I really do love riding.
Work - Work has been.... well, work. They had mandatory overtime on the schedule for a long time now. They finally took it off this past week. I am glad as it felt like my soul was being ground up in a meat grinder.
Health - A few months ago I came to the realization that I needed to do something to get into shape. I just wasn't feeling well. I had a huge gut and needed to do something. I started working out to P90X and did ok with it but everytime that I am starting to make progress I seemed to have something happen that caused me to stop for a couple of weeks (bashing my head in a speaker, messing up my leg in the scooter accident). I decided to switch up to Beachbody's Insanity program. This program is intense and meant for those that are already in shape (which I am not). I do what I can in the program and then rest a little and jump right back in. I have been doing this program for 2 weeks now and feel a lot better. I plan on looping back through the first 2 weeks a couple of times so I can get more in shape before trying to continue in the program. I am also trying to change up my diet so I can eat better. Just need to make this change.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
900 miles, Papa Rouch and frustration
(To Proclaimer's "I Would Walk 500 Miles")
But I would drive 900 miles
And I would drive 900 more
Just to be that man to drive two thousand miles and so many more
(Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Undela Undela Undela la la)
(Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Undela Undela Undela la la)
Thursday morning I drove my scooter into work. When I was getting ready to leave that evening and I turned the key on I noticed that on the trip odometer that it was sitting at 900.0. My Yamaha has 3 odometers: the overall odometer and 2 trip odometers. One of the trip odometers I reset at every fill up (this is how I know I am getting 60 MPG) and the other I left to roll since the time that I got the scooter.
I have driven the scooter 900 miles now. Of course, the first 250 miles were the trip home. Kind of hard to believe that I have put 750 miles on it around the Tulsa area in less than a month. I have just enjoyed riding it so much. It has given me an excuse to get out of the house. I find that I am more curious about roads that I haven't been down before and when I have the time I have started to explore them. It is just so fun to ride.
Frustration: I went to try and get my license this last Wednesday. They wouldn't allow me to call ahead a drive test since I didn't have a permit already but I could try to get a drive test after taken the written test. I took the written test at 8:30 and once I passed it I asked to take a drive test and they told me they were all full up. They said I could come back and take the test next or so. Apparently in their office they can get time off easy, I only had that day off and getting another day off is maddening as they fill up quickly and weeks in advance. They told me I could take a permit but I couldn't come back to test again for 30 days. I told them to give me the permit as it would probably 30 days before I could get another day off to test.
I took Chris to go see Papa Roach at the Cain's on Tuesday night (which is why I had Wednesday). I had told him that if he got his driver's permit that I would take him. He passed his test on Monday. There were 2 groups that opened for Papa Roach. The first group was entitled Siva Addiction and they are from OKC. They had a pretty good sound. The second group was Mercy Street and they are from Tulsa. I thought they sucked. They are a speed metal band and I am not into that. I am objective enough to know they are good at that style of music. When they were on the stage they seemed to be presenting a theme and the sing kept trying to intro everything. I just wanted him to shut up and get off the stage. Siva played for about 35 minutes and these jokers played for 45 minutes to an hour.
Finally Papa Roach hit the stage and suddenly a mosh pit broke out in front of where Chris and I were standing. I have never completely understood the desire to push others around and be spun in all different directions and trying to knock people down while having spent money to come see this artist. Never been a fan of them. If you wanna beat the crap out of each other to music let me set up my sound system and a ring in a field and you can beat each other to death and pay me $20 a head.
Papa Roach did a really good job but they were only up there for about an hour and 15 minutes. For $28 a ticket I would have hoped for longer show but it was really high energy and I was dripping sweat from all the jumping I had done.
I am sure there are other things that I wanted to share but they escape me at the moment and I gotta run.
Later peeps...
But I would drive 900 miles
And I would drive 900 more
Just to be that man to drive two thousand miles and so many more
(Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Undela Undela Undela la la)
(Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Da Undela Undela Undela la la)
Thursday morning I drove my scooter into work. When I was getting ready to leave that evening and I turned the key on I noticed that on the trip odometer that it was sitting at 900.0. My Yamaha has 3 odometers: the overall odometer and 2 trip odometers. One of the trip odometers I reset at every fill up (this is how I know I am getting 60 MPG) and the other I left to roll since the time that I got the scooter.
I have driven the scooter 900 miles now. Of course, the first 250 miles were the trip home. Kind of hard to believe that I have put 750 miles on it around the Tulsa area in less than a month. I have just enjoyed riding it so much. It has given me an excuse to get out of the house. I find that I am more curious about roads that I haven't been down before and when I have the time I have started to explore them. It is just so fun to ride.
Frustration: I went to try and get my license this last Wednesday. They wouldn't allow me to call ahead a drive test since I didn't have a permit already but I could try to get a drive test after taken the written test. I took the written test at 8:30 and once I passed it I asked to take a drive test and they told me they were all full up. They said I could come back and take the test next or so. Apparently in their office they can get time off easy, I only had that day off and getting another day off is maddening as they fill up quickly and weeks in advance. They told me I could take a permit but I couldn't come back to test again for 30 days. I told them to give me the permit as it would probably 30 days before I could get another day off to test.
I took Chris to go see Papa Roach at the Cain's on Tuesday night (which is why I had Wednesday). I had told him that if he got his driver's permit that I would take him. He passed his test on Monday. There were 2 groups that opened for Papa Roach. The first group was entitled Siva Addiction and they are from OKC. They had a pretty good sound. The second group was Mercy Street and they are from Tulsa. I thought they sucked. They are a speed metal band and I am not into that. I am objective enough to know they are good at that style of music. When they were on the stage they seemed to be presenting a theme and the sing kept trying to intro everything. I just wanted him to shut up and get off the stage. Siva played for about 35 minutes and these jokers played for 45 minutes to an hour.
Finally Papa Roach hit the stage and suddenly a mosh pit broke out in front of where Chris and I were standing. I have never completely understood the desire to push others around and be spun in all different directions and trying to knock people down while having spent money to come see this artist. Never been a fan of them. If you wanna beat the crap out of each other to music let me set up my sound system and a ring in a field and you can beat each other to death and pay me $20 a head.
Papa Roach did a really good job but they were only up there for about an hour and 15 minutes. For $28 a ticket I would have hoped for longer show but it was really high energy and I was dripping sweat from all the jumping I had done.
I am sure there are other things that I wanted to share but they escape me at the moment and I gotta run.
Later peeps...
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Scooters and authors and books. OH MY!!!!!
Well, yesterday the family got up at 4 in the morning (after I only got 1 1/2 hours of sleep) to make a trip to Conway, Arkansas. There was a 2005 Yamaha Majesty there that I wanted to take a look at.
One of the things that we noticed in driving to Conway was that were a lot of trees lining the highways there in Arkansas. Also the roads in Arkansas were head and shoulders above what we have in Oklahoma, lots of smooth pavement in opposition to the pothole filled monstrosities that we call roads.
We got to Conway about 9:30 and went to find the area where the bike was at. There were some really nice homes in the area. Since I wasn't able to get in contact with the owner we decided to drive around in Conway to kill some time.
While driving around Karma saw a Hasting's store and I figured it would be a good place to kill some time. For those of you who don't know what a Hasting's is, it would be similar to a Border's or Barnes and Noble but it has books and movies.
We got in there and the staff seemed to be busy working on something. I ignored it and went to look at the books. Karma was noticing there were a lot of books by Charlaine Harris on the end caps and she heard the talk about preparing for an author's appearance. She asked the staff and found out that Charlaine was going to be in the store for autographs at 2PM.
Charlaine is one of Karma's favorite authors. She wrote the Sookie Stackhouse books which is the series that HBO's True Blood is based on. Talk about fate, Karma didn't even know that she was making an appearance anywhere that day. We obviously had to go back.
The owner called me with his address and advised that how would be home around noon he had gone camping the night before and wouldn't be back until then.
Around 11 we decided we needed to go to lunch as noon would be about the time to test the bike. We found a place called Pickles Gap and ate there. They was an antiques store there and a fudge shop. An old home type of feel. We really only had time to eat but I was able to get some catfish (it was good). If you are ever in the Conway/Little Rock area I would recommend it if you have some extra time.
By the time that lunch was finish we headed back toward the bike's location and rode around some more to kill some more time. The guy finally called me and we stopped back by to give the scooter a test ride. It was a blast. I decided to buy it.
Now we had to stop back by Hasting's so Karma could get her book signed. I filled up both the car and bike while Karma and Tempus stood in line. Once Karma was done, we stopped by a convenience store for some drinks.
From there we hopped up onto the highway. The Majesty's ride was really smooth and it got up to highway speed quickly. The posted speed for the highway is 70 and I was trying to keep it between 70 and 75 on the speedometer but there were a couple of times that I had it at 80 while not paying close attention. It wanted to run fast.
We had to stop a couple of times on the way back home. I had a couple of times that were a little scary on the way back. I almost pulled into a red sport's car on the way home as I didn't see him coming up on my right until the very last second. Another time there was a car that was merging onto the highway that I had to slow down to make sure to she didn't hit me.
Also, on the way home I had to stop and pay the tolls since I don't have a pikepass for the scooter. When I stopped at the Creek Turnpike northbound at about 31st street I tossed the 85 cents in it and it never registered anything. Even throwing an additional dollar in it never took it. I put over 2 dollars in the machine and it acknowledged nothing. Finally the guys behind me told me to just pull through. He was going to leave a note to let them know the machine was broken.
I was getting closer to home and when I went to take the turn off to get on 44 westbound I noticed that the bike was jostling around a little bit in the slow down. It became more prevalent as I pulled up my street. I pull it into the garage to find that the thread on the back tire had blown out. It looks like the tire might have had some dry rot in it, if nothing else it is another causality of Oklahoma roads.
There is a motorcycle shop right up the road that I will call tomorrow to see if they can get it in to replace the tire on it. Next thing is to get the insurance on it and transfer the title over.
*SIGH* I was hoping to show it off today to some friends and then tomorrow at work. Guess it will have to wait a couple of days.
Later peeps.
One of the things that we noticed in driving to Conway was that were a lot of trees lining the highways there in Arkansas. Also the roads in Arkansas were head and shoulders above what we have in Oklahoma, lots of smooth pavement in opposition to the pothole filled monstrosities that we call roads.
We got to Conway about 9:30 and went to find the area where the bike was at. There were some really nice homes in the area. Since I wasn't able to get in contact with the owner we decided to drive around in Conway to kill some time.
While driving around Karma saw a Hasting's store and I figured it would be a good place to kill some time. For those of you who don't know what a Hasting's is, it would be similar to a Border's or Barnes and Noble but it has books and movies.
We got in there and the staff seemed to be busy working on something. I ignored it and went to look at the books. Karma was noticing there were a lot of books by Charlaine Harris on the end caps and she heard the talk about preparing for an author's appearance. She asked the staff and found out that Charlaine was going to be in the store for autographs at 2PM.
Charlaine is one of Karma's favorite authors. She wrote the Sookie Stackhouse books which is the series that HBO's True Blood is based on. Talk about fate, Karma didn't even know that she was making an appearance anywhere that day. We obviously had to go back.
The owner called me with his address and advised that how would be home around noon he had gone camping the night before and wouldn't be back until then.
Around 11 we decided we needed to go to lunch as noon would be about the time to test the bike. We found a place called Pickles Gap and ate there. They was an antiques store there and a fudge shop. An old home type of feel. We really only had time to eat but I was able to get some catfish (it was good). If you are ever in the Conway/Little Rock area I would recommend it if you have some extra time.
By the time that lunch was finish we headed back toward the bike's location and rode around some more to kill some more time. The guy finally called me and we stopped back by to give the scooter a test ride. It was a blast. I decided to buy it.
Now we had to stop back by Hasting's so Karma could get her book signed. I filled up both the car and bike while Karma and Tempus stood in line. Once Karma was done, we stopped by a convenience store for some drinks.
From there we hopped up onto the highway. The Majesty's ride was really smooth and it got up to highway speed quickly. The posted speed for the highway is 70 and I was trying to keep it between 70 and 75 on the speedometer but there were a couple of times that I had it at 80 while not paying close attention. It wanted to run fast.
We had to stop a couple of times on the way back home. I had a couple of times that were a little scary on the way back. I almost pulled into a red sport's car on the way home as I didn't see him coming up on my right until the very last second. Another time there was a car that was merging onto the highway that I had to slow down to make sure to she didn't hit me.
Also, on the way home I had to stop and pay the tolls since I don't have a pikepass for the scooter. When I stopped at the Creek Turnpike northbound at about 31st street I tossed the 85 cents in it and it never registered anything. Even throwing an additional dollar in it never took it. I put over 2 dollars in the machine and it acknowledged nothing. Finally the guys behind me told me to just pull through. He was going to leave a note to let them know the machine was broken.
I was getting closer to home and when I went to take the turn off to get on 44 westbound I noticed that the bike was jostling around a little bit in the slow down. It became more prevalent as I pulled up my street. I pull it into the garage to find that the thread on the back tire had blown out. It looks like the tire might have had some dry rot in it, if nothing else it is another causality of Oklahoma roads.
There is a motorcycle shop right up the road that I will call tomorrow to see if they can get it in to replace the tire on it. Next thing is to get the insurance on it and transfer the title over.
*SIGH* I was hoping to show it off today to some friends and then tomorrow at work. Guess it will have to wait a couple of days.
Later peeps.
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