LafinTiger's Blog: February 2006

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Use and Value

"Shit!"

"What happened?" Serafin asked.

"The bike tipped over when I was packing at the gas station. The valve head case just got scratched and I just replaced it.

While I was upset at the moment, I thought about it and came to the following realization:

The purpose of the bike is not to go unscratched, but to be the magic carpet that I ride from destination to destination. The scratches that the bike gets are little badges of honor marking the adventures and excursions.

Is the purpose of the bike to keep it as perfect and new as possible. To keep it unscathed and in tact as long as we can? Or is the purpose of the bike to use and use thoroughly. To get every ounce of adventure out of it so that at the end of its life we can look back and say "I did everything I wanted to do and could do with this thing."

That is how it is with life. Is the purpose in life to live as long as possible with the fewest scratches? Or to be in a state when you check out that you look at yourself and say, "Wow, I got a lot of miles out of this baby, and ohh the places we went!"

All things have a value derived from their use. If you have it and dont use it, it is the equivalent of not having it.

Use it or lose it.

Crazy or something else?

"You guys are crazy."
Donna Cassaveccia - Motorcycle Safety Instructor

"You're gonna what?"

"Is there anyway I can convince you to take a plane instead?"
James Hillestad

When we told people that we were going to go to Daytona Beach Bike Week, most reacted with surprise. They thought we were crazy for going down in 25 degree weather and going 1200 miles.

I don't think it is about being crazy. I think it is about inexperience.

We just don't know what we are getting ourselves into.

Dottie

It was close to 3 AM when we stopped for the 3rd time. We holed up in a Waffle House to have some eggs and coffee. The only other people in the restaurant was a young couple, who Dottie later told us met online and were seeing each other in person for the first time. They were now planning to move in with each other.

Dottie shared with us that here hourly wage was $2.00.

"Isn't it illegal to pay that little?"
"No, they count our tips."

Judging from the crowd the graveyard shift sees here, it is a wonder how anyone could survive on that kind of wage.

We tipped her well.

Neon Dinner

Our biggest concern for the ride was the cold. As it turns out the cold is not that bad. Since we were properly dressed and the bikes were properly equipped, we found that you could ride about an hour or so without much of a problem. We certainly were chilled after an hour of riding in 25 degree weather with an 80 mph wind hitting us. Recovering took about an hour at each stop.

We saw a few flurries on the way down so we can now officially say, we left at night, in the cold and it was snowing. It will make us sound more rugged.

Dr. Ta

Oddly enough I was just thinking about my dentist when, I got a phone call from her. Dr. Ta is the best dentist ever. I never feel a thing. And if you are going to get scolded for not flossing, it helps when it is coming from someone as beautiful as her. :D

Apparently friend Trish had gone to her on my recommendation and she was calling to thank me.

Aside from being a great dentist she is also a great humanitarian. She is heading to Vietnam for Operation Smile. Dr. Ta and several other dentists will be going to work on the teeth of children that can not afford proper dental care.

Beauty, brains and a good heart.

You go Dr. Ta!

Quote for the day..

"He who hesitates... Masturbates." -Serafin.

Monday, February 27, 2006

The Ride Begins...

After a number of false starts due to a last minute call to duty, we were finally able to leave. (VPNs that work and then dont and then do and then dont, suck. And who knew that upgrading Outlook would remove Word and Excel?) Of course it was just about as cold as it has gotten this winter - 25 degrees.

Serafin and I are off to Daytona for Bike week. We are planning on producing a short video of the adventure of the event for Good Morning America.

At our first rest stop two attractive young women stopped by our table on their way and said "are you guys crazy? You're heroes riding out there in 20 degree weather" We chatted a bit with them and mentioned we were going to Bike Week. She was from NY and off to fetch her dog from her ex-boyfriend's house in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Serafin muttered, "Another one with her dog." Whatever that meant, who knows?

She left saying, "I am sure we will see you again, we are driving a white Escalade." We said good bye. A few minutes later Serafin and I wondered, "did we miss an opportunity?" and, wondering if fate allow our paths to cross again? Hmmm.

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Everything you have...

Everything you have has you.

Posessions, emotions, thoughts.

Most of us have too much of each.

Let go.

Let go. - Release it.

Let ... go. By releasing it you can... move on.

Let. Go. Allow. Be. Move. Flow.

Let go.

Everything you have...

Everything you have has you.

Let go.

Let go. - Release it.

Let ... go. By releasing it you can... move on.

Let. Go. Allow. Be. Move. Flow.

Let go.