It is with a heavy heart….

I opened my email, yesterday, and saw the heading, “Its with a heavy heart,”..  It was from the Road Captain of my motorcycle club, Rose City Motorcycle Club. With this being a big weekend for riding, you rather suspect that this isn’t going to end well. I reluctantly opened the email and read the sad news that made this big teddy bear of a guy use such a term.
“It is with a heavy heart, that I must tell you of the passing of a very good friend. Fellow RCMC club member Willaim “Mick” Michael Kleiman died in a single vehicle traffic accident 5 miles South of Summer Lake, Oregon, near milepost 77 on OR Hwy 31.”
With a sigh, I read the details of the accident…

According to Oregon State Police (OSP) Sergeant Steve Yates, on May 29, 2010 at approximately 12:45 p.m. WILLIAM MICHAEL KLEIMAN, age 64, from Dallas, was operating a 1992 Yamaha motorcycle southbound on Highway 31 near milepost 77 with a group of at least 3 other motorcyclists. As KLEIMAN was negotiated a left downhill curve, the motorcycle traveled onto the right gravel shoulder. KLEIMAN lost control and the motorcycle flipped, ejecting KLEIMAN onto the southbound lane.
KLEIMAN was pronounced deceased at the scene. HE was wearing a protective helmet.              

Sometimes it’s not about ability, this man was a seasoned rider. Sometimes it’s not about doing everything right or doing something wrong. Sometimes its the way God has it planned.
I know there are many heavy hearts now that this man is gone. I pray that they all find peace.
Good-bye Mick. May you enjoy the gravel free roads that heaven has to offer.

Lady Godiva on wheels… with a heavy heart.

A special thanks to “the many thoughts of Harley Girl”…or, whomever I got the idea from!

I have a routine of surfing the web for great motorcycle news about every other day. When I find something note-worthy, I put it on a page for future use. I am a stickler for putting the website, persons name, or magazine I got the information from. I also make sure I ALWAYS give credit to that person when I do the post. That is exactly what I intended to have happen with a song by Toby Keith called “American Soldier”.

 I found it somewhere! I did the “copy and paste”… and I transported it to a page to keep safely until I was ready for a Memorial Day or Veterans Day post. The problem was that I forgot to add where I found it.  Yes, I forgot!!
Along came Memorial Day and out came the ideas I had so lovingly saved. It was perfect.. except for the fact that I didn’t know who to thank. Should I use the idea anyway?? I decided to go ahead. I did a brief but to the point post, added the song,headed off to bed, and all was well with the world, or so I thought.  But, where I got the song idea was bugging me. I tossed and turned, all night long. No matter how much it bothered me, I still couldn’t figure it out.
A night later, I was sleeping peacefully. I finally went to sleep without thinking about that song. But,somewhere in the night, I remembered where I saw it. I sat straight up in bed and said, out loud, “Stephanie”! 
I didn’t even care that it was the middle of the night. I tossed off the blankets and ran for the laptop. I went all through “The many thoughts of Harley Girl” blog posts. In fact, I went all the way back to 2005, when Stephanie first started her blog. Not there?? But, I was so sure…. Maybe it was the sleepy eyes??
Now I don’t know who gave me the idea but, whoever you are, I am very thankful. If you read this and realize it was from you, would you mind letting me know. Seriously, its messin with my sleep!!

To all the men and women that have kept us safe, have died for our right to be free, will fight our enemies in the future, THANK YOU. You are appreciated!!

Lady Godiva on wheels… thankful.

saying good-bye to dennis hopper..may 17,1939-may 29,2010

Dennis Hopper has died today at his home in Venice, California. He was 74 years old.
What can be said about Dennis Hopper? His first movie role was “Rebel Without a Cause” with James Dean in 1955. He played in “Cool Hand Luke” (67) and won acclaim for his directing in “Easy Rider” (69). He had over 170 roles in his lifetime.  A little known fact is that he was also a painter and a poet.  Whatever he did, there was never a dull moment!

You will be missed, Mr. Hopper! I hope heaven is ready for this….

Lady Godiva on wheels….sayin, “goodbye, Billy!”

memorial day… May 31, 2010

 

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Read more about the history of this day at  http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html
I have always made it a point to shake the hands of the service men I run into and tell them, “God bless you” as well. It always seems to bring a smile to their faces and gets me a “thank you” that feels heart-felt. On this day of honor, I hope they all know that they are appreciated!
One song always comes to mind….. Toby Keith’s ode to the American Soldier;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWrMeBR8W-c
Sing along, sing it proud and sing it strong!!

Im just tryin to be a father
Raise a daughter and a son,
Be a lover to their mother,

Everything to everyone.

Up and at ’em bright and early,

I’m all business in my suit,

Yeah, I’m dressed for success from my head down to my boots,

I don’t do it for money, there’s still bills that I can’t pay,

I don’t do it for the glory, I just do it anyway,

Providing for our future’s my responsibility,

Yeah I’m real good under pressure, being all that I can be,

And I can’t call in sick on Mondays when the weekends been to strong,

I just work straight through the holidays,

And sometimes all night long.

You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,

Hey, I’m solid, hey I’m steady, hey I’m true down to the core,

And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,

I’ve counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice,

Oh, and I don’t want to die for you,

But if dyin’s asked of me,

I’ll bear that cross with an honor,

‘Cause freedom don’t come free.

I’m an american soldier, an american,

Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,

When liberty’s in jeopardy I will always do what’s right,

I’m out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.

American soldier, I’m an American,

An American,

An American Soldier

A very thankful Lady Godive on wheels…proud to be an American!

saying goodbye to gary coleman…. 2/8/1968-5/28/2010

Gary Coleman, known best for his role as Arnold Jackson in Different Strokes (’78-’86), died today at a hospital in Provo, Utah.
Coleman, an adoptee, was diagnosed with FSGS (Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a cause of nephrotic syndrome in children and adolescents, as well as an important cause of kidney failure in adults) which was responsible for his stunted growth (4’8″). He recieved two kidney transplants, one in ’73 and one in ’84. As an adult, his health was poor. He suffered seizures, reported twice this year, in January and February 26th on the set of “The Insider”.
Coleman was hospitalized after suffering from a head injury due to a fall.  Doctors assessed that Coleman had an intercranial hemorrhage and was put on life support. The news has announced that Gary Coleman died at 12:05pm, after being removed from the machinery keeping him alive. 
It never seemed as if Mr. Coleman really enjoyed his life here on earth. May Gods loving arms show you a much more enjoyable journey. May you finally get the answer to, “What’choo talkin’ ’bout?”

A sad Lady Godiva on wheels….

allstate’s new tv commercial… ghost bikes. be prepared to cringe!!

For Motorcycle Safety Month this May, Allstate presents its newest push for safe motorcycle riding with a new television commercial that will make you think about how bad a crash can actually look. This is your opportunity to see it at no risk to you, anyone you know, or any bike that belongs to the afore-mentioned.
FYI… Be prepared to cringe. You have been warned.   If the video has expired, please refer to YouTube to view.

Another interesting campaign is: 

The Allstate ONE motorcycle safety campaign developed to increase awareness of motorcycle collisions with motorists at intersections. This campaign is Allstate’s contribution to making the roads a safer place to ride. To remind traffic that looking once at intersections is never enough, Allstate is installing “LOOK” signs (yellow diamond-shaped cautionary traffic signs emblazoned with a motorcycle graphic icon) at some of the most dangerous intersections for motorcyclists across the country.

Last year at the Laughlin River Run, I had the awesome opportunity to interview Dave Perewitz of Perewitz Cycle Fabrication, Allstate’s high-profile spokesperson. Dave explained that he, along with Allstate and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), developed safety tips for a tri-fold card with tips for motorcyclist on one side and automobile drivers on the other. These tip cards are distributed at events and Dave talks to riders to help them understand the stats. According to those statistics, 80% of all motorcycle accidents happen in intersections and 80% of all those involve an auto. “Look, look, then look again and see what you didn’t see the first time” is the advice Dave gives all riders and drivers.  This dynamic spokesman will be travelling to major events across the country. 
Here are the tips for motorcycle riders that they hand out on their “Share the Road” tips card; 
1. Be cautious when going through intersections. Most motorcycle accidents happen here.
2. Wear proper gear such as a helmet. When you’re on the road, there isn’t much between you and the pavement.
3. Be visible when you ride. Avoid blind spots and always use your headlights.
4. Flash your brake lights when slowing down. This helps others on the road know your intentions.
5. Avoid side-by-side formations. This will give you room to swerve to avoid a potential hazard.
6. Remember to give yourself space between you and the car in front of you. You’ll have more time to react to other motorists’ actions.
7. Ride within your limits. If you’re a new rider, consider taking a training course. Rush hour is not the time to learn how to maneuver your motorcycle.
For additional safety tips, visit www.AllstateGarage.com.

 Lady Godiva on wheels…..Sayin, “With these guys helpin us out… We really are in good hands!!”

A Real Old School Chopper!

This was sent to me on FACEBOOK by my buddy, Earle “early bird” Welch.  We old farts…speaking from experience…. think we came up with ALL the great “old school” ideas. Apparently not!

A Real Old School Chopper! 

Added by Len Sanders to “BikerOrNot.com” A very nice Facebook page!! Please check it out…

Lady Godiva on wheels…. respecting the REAL “old school”.

The adventures of Dorothy, the first 100 miles..part one.

This story starts out with “once upon a time”….
Once upon a time there was a lady. She loved motorcycles. Her whole family rode them, street and dirt! So, she decided to start a “family” business and develope a motorcycle website. She wanted to provide information that her own family could use; maps, events, and lots of motorcycle information. She wanted to provide information about ALL types of motorcycles and so she decided to “surf the web” for all the latest news. She surfed day and night and, along with everything else, she found an article on a company called Brammo Motosport in Ashland, Oregon (http://www.brammo.com/home/). The lady was intrigued!!  As she read away she discovered that they produced an electric motorcycle called the Enertia. It was even made from recycled material.  Ewww…Ahhh. Her VERY green grand-daughter would think she was a hero. She had to see one, to hear one, or ‘NOT’ hear one, as is the case of an electric bike!
After much investigation, the decision was made to take a test ride on the bike. By that time, they were being sold at the local Best Buy store in Portland, Oregon, her hometown http://www.bestbuy.com/. What luck for the lady!! She made the trip to the store, located near the Portland airport. Just through the front door sat the beautiful Enertia electric motorcycle in all its glory. It was fabulous! The purchase was made on the spot, February 4,2010. The man in charge of the purchase, Chris Hertz, made the experience perfect.

As luck would have it, the weather turned bad. It toyed with the lady! She waited for days to go get her new motorcycle and bring her home to live. On the days when the heavens didn’t pour down on her, she would have to work and toil. On the days when she could go pick up the bike and ride her home, the rain came. After many…..and I do mean, MANY calls to Chris Hertz of Best Buy, there was a ray of sunshine on the horizon. Chris was so understanding and yet so tired of listening to the constant whining from the lady…she wanted her bike to come home so badly… that Chris needed to find a way to help the her and maintain his sanity.
One call to the Brammo company and a request for help brought the answer. David Murray, a Brammo tech for the same area where the lady lived, drove to the Best Buy store by the Portland airport, picked up the sweet little electic ride, tied it into the back of his pick-up, and drove it out to the ladies house! There, on March 2, 2010, the Enertia electric motorcycle and the lady were united. David Murray arrived at the house of the lady, lovingly unloaded the Enertia, went over all the aspects of the bikes elements, and even took the bike for a spin… just to make sure all was right. The lady was so happy!!
The end….. or is it? Not even…
I want to take this opportunity to thank all the participants in this little story… my story! Thank-you, Chris and Thank-you, David. My Enertia, Dorothy, and I are very happy together. We are commuter buddies and have been all over town together. And, that’s where the story goes next. Please hold for the sequel, “The Adventure of Dorothy, The First 100 Miles, Part 2..”.

Lady Godiva on wheels… all over town with Dorothy

happy 30th anniversary to Pac-Man.

The little blob turns 30 today! After all that time, you would think I would have mastered the game… just once. Nope. Not even once. That fact aside, It has always been one of my favorites.

Lady Godiva on wheels…..wishing Pac-Man many more years of making us smile.

This one is for you, Smooth,….BOOBS!!

SINCE THIS IS MAY, MOTORCYCLE SAFETY MONTH……

My buddy, Smooth, has a boob thing! I know men, in general, do…. but, he makes his interest an art. Check out my previous blog @https://mtajudy.wordpress.com/2010/05/06/once-a-guy-always-a-guy-a-lesson-from-kickstands-up/
When I saw this sticker, I thought of him. So, to the men in my reading audience, this is for all of you……..

Found on BikerOrNot.com

Read all of Smooth Bikers great cartoons and other things @http://easyriderramblings.blogspot.com/?zx=45e621e79824f039 

Lady Godiva on wheels…. givin the (male) readers what they want!! BOOBS