Here and gone...puppy for a week...

Almost two weeks back Daughter #1 and I picked up a cute beagle puppy, it was to be her first puppy. We had a cat earlier this summer, but it managed to get itself killed/mangled/ran over, it was never quite clear how he died, but he did.

Anyway, we didn't even have Apples for two weeks before she died, but we did manage to visit the Vet Clinic for her first short and to start the de-worming process.

Ruth Anne's first latte (not really, but it was a cute picture)

Yes, you can get a Latte at SB with breast milk, you just have to bring in your own milk. Ruth Anne had a pumpkin spice latte, Grande', skinny, no whip. She said it was almost as good as mama's milk. Of course, now she'll be up all night after the double shot of espresso, sigh.

ps. Just kidding about the breast milk, and about Ruth Anne having a latte.

Ruth Anne at 10 weeks

She's getting bigger and better! She seems content at the moment, being held by Grandpa Jones (his 16th grandchild). I'm not sure what's she's thinking, but I think she's sticking her tongue out at Grandpa.

Baby Ruth at 6 weeks...

She is always so happy in her car seat...she even sleeps in a car seat that makes car noises (just kidding about the noises, but that's not a bad idea...)

Ruth Anne, the baby Ruth has landed...

5/18/09 - roughly two weeks earlier than estimated. Her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck, so there was a bit of a nail biter until her color came back. Prayers were sent and were answered (thank you!)

Motorcycle content...sold the FZ1 and went and got another dual sport, KTM LC4E 400...not quite the same as a 120 hp standard on the road, but it's a blast on the dirt!

Daughter #2...

We are expecting oue second child, a girl (verified by ultrasound).  She is due the first week of June, we are pretty excited about a new daughter.  

Does this news make me want to sell the motorcycle? 

It will probably be gone this spring, I've stripped off the cracked fairing and will repair and reinstall and then sell the extra pars with the bike (some sort of a package).  It looks like a larger mower will take the place of the motorcycle, not near as an exciting vehicle as a bike, but much more practical. 

Hey, there's always time for another motorcycle and/or mid-life crisis when I turn...dare I say it...50!!!

New bike, now it's the old bike

Well, I went and sold the XR650L back to the previous owner and then purchased a 2002 FZ1 from a gentleman in Oklahoma City (hi Pat!).

I owned the FZ1 for a whole week before crashing on the interstate on the way home. Bike is mostly unharmed.

My injuries were not severe, but are still a bit painful. Dislocated my right shoulder, broken right wrist, and a sprained left wrist with a bit of road rash where my glove wore through. I was probably doing 55 mph when I hit the asphalt, in traffic, during "rush hour". Luckily nobody ran over me as I was tumbling along I-540 just north of Lowell.

I was wearing armored textile jacket and pants, Sidi Vertebrae boots, and Teknic Violator gloves. The helmet was a Shark RSX. I recall my head bouncing off the pavement at least once.

Several people stopped and helped me lift the bike back onto it's stand. I then rode the bike to the next exit and stopped at a McCafe for a iced caramel coffee and to see how all my body parts felt.

They felt bad...I finally decided that I should visit the ER before heading home (75 miles away) so I called for help. My Dad (bless his heart) dropped everything to assist me by picking up the bike and taking me to the ER in Rogers, AR.

The people in the ER were great! The nurse (Kate) was wonderful and very patient in explaining what all was going to happen. They corrected the dislocated shoulder and took a bunch of x-rays. I think we finally left around 12:30 that next morning and arrived back home around 2:00 am. All in all, not something I really want to repeat.

How did I crash, or what happened to cause me to fall off the bike while it was ambulating down the highway. Basically, I squeezed the front brake a bit too hard. The front tire was probably still cold (I had just merged onto the interstate) also I was wearing an extra pair of gloves due to the low temperatures (it was 27 degrees F when I arrived at work early in the day) and my fingers were a bit stiff due to the double thickness.

Just your typical low side. I should know, as my last crash was also a low side. (2000 Kawasaki ZRX-1100) . IF I ever get another bike, it WILL have ABS!

To sum it all up, I was stupid, just your typical moron who thought he could really ride, when in reality he has no clue.

Am I going to ride again? My heart says yes, but my brain and family say NO!

How did the bike fare, you might ask. Very well, I must say. The slider and the Givi top case protected the expensive parts of the bike. The only body damage was the fairing (I've got an extra!) and the left hand inner fairing trim. The bike is currently resting in the garage, on a trickle charger and will more than likely be put up for sale come spring.

Stay tuned for the exciting adventures of a rider without a bike.