NOBODY'S ANNUAL MEETING COSTLY

The Nobody meeting became rather costly when Slick refused to pay the entire bill. " I have never paid for my food at a Nobody Annual Meeting", explain President Kickstand. " I don't understand how the newest member of our club could refuse to treat his biker brothers and sisters to their meal!"


Other than a lengthy skirmish after calling Slick cheap and self-serving, the meeting was congenial and productive.

The Nobodies decided:

• No 1,000 mile clause will be added to the membership agreement
• No increased benefit package for the President and Vice - President
• Pinky -T clause added to Charter Document
• Nobody Biking Season officially starts March 1, 2010
• Ride to Work Campaign Committee formed (chair Pretzel, members: Slick and Smelty)
• A new patch will be designed and made available to members. It will be NOBODY RIDERS with the outline of Lake Superior and Longitude and Latitude of Duluth MN.
• Ride Calendar was reviewed and revised
• There will be an overnight camp out trip to Copper Harbor
• There will be a Madeline Island Annual Ride
• Muffin Rides will be given a priority this season
• The Nobody Bike Tour 2010 was announced: Bamff Alberta Canada
• Pretzel was given a Presidential Executive Directive to finish the Side Car Project by August 30, 2010
• A list of non compliant members was made identifying lack of participation in rides, unauthorized sales of bikes and behaviors that do not be fit the club. All non compliant members will be visited in the next month.
• The meeting was adorned when our waitress told us to "get out or I will call the police"
  
  

NOBODY ANNUAL MEETING

Calling all Nobodies! It is time for our annual meeting. Let's meet at the Duluth Grill Saturday February 27 at 10 am. If you are not presently a Nobody......come to the meeting and meet us.....you may find that we are your kind of bikers.

GUS AND CAROLINE LANGWOOD

One of the highlights of the meeting will be a power point titled " THE BIRTH OF THE NOBODIES". Very few people know the the Nobodies were founded by Gus and Caroline Langwood in 1942.

We will also be voting on several crucial issues including:

• The 1,000 mile minimum seasonal riding clause
• Increased benefit package for President and Vice President
• Non-scooter owner membership clause (also know as the Pinky-T clause)
• Coordinated Biking Season Start (March 1)
• Ride To Work Campaign Committee
• The Saga of the Patch or Thunder Struck
• New patch discussion
• Ride Calendar Review
• Weekend Camp Out
• Nobody Bike Tour 2010

See you there. Ride your bike and get one extra vote.

DIVINE INTERVENTION

Do you believe in divine intervention? I would speculate that a majority of us humans would say yes, but there would probably be a wide spectrum of opinions on what divine intervention means and how such interventions effect our life.



Last summer while on a motorcycle trip, I was involved in two separate near misses on my motorcycle . Either of them, if they had played out in a different way, could have claimed my life.



After the second incident, I started thinking about whether or not God had spared my life. Since I am neither a deep thinker or much of a philosopher my thoughts usually lack depth, sound logic and philosophical value. But since this is my blog, I can pretend that my beloved readers value my insight and wisdom.



The question of divine intervention is a complex issue, because I believe it opens up a number of other questions that relate to how we view human life and more specifically our life. Is life random and consequently our decisions have a limited impact on what happens to us.? Or is life ordered and have meaning, because there is a Creator who brings purpose and value to every ones life?

Well, I don't believe life is random with our life experiences dependant on chance with personal decisions having a minimal impact. I believe that God exists and that the Creator is personal and consequently not only interested in us but seeks to be involved with us. Now don't worry, I am not going to give you my Christian spiel, I just wanted to let you know my basic stance.

So this past summer, when I was spared from a couple of nasty accidents, was God there perhaps using an angel to intervene? I have asked myself that question several times in the past months. In one way does it really matter that I know the dynamics of my near miss?

I don't think it matters in a practical sense, but it does matter in regards to my understanding of how God relates to me. I am not the type of person that needs to have an answer for every thing. I don't need or really desire to have life neatly packaged, in other words I am comfortable with mystery.

So where does that leave me in my quest for truth. I suppose I could do some reading and asked some people who are sharper than me, or I could just keep wondering.

You know one's imagination is a terrible thing to waste! Maybe my guardian angel is tattooed and enjoys motorcycles. Actually, I think I was assigned a different guardian angel, when I started riding motorcycles.

Things do change when one starts riding motorcycles. There are temptations related to speed and cornering. Paying attention is more critical and remembering all the sequencing of task prior to riding off (like raising the kickstand) can make a big difference.

I don't think that Clarence would be a good angel for me. He would have been fine when I was just a regular driver, but he just doesn't seem to be the type that could help me with my motorcycle issues.

There is a Bible verse ( Hebrews 13:2) that cautions folks to be willing to entertain strangers as you never know when that stranger is an angel. Now I am not talking about a Hells Angel, but a real guardian angel. For that matter, who's to say an angel can't be wearing leathers and a skull cap.

Like I say, I like the mystery and wonder of life.

Thanks God for sparing my life and letting me continue to ride motorcycles.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Hey, I'm not bashing Harley folks. Well maybe a little as Harleys are soooo expensive (do you really get your money's worth) and accessories are infinite!

Seriously, it is more about what a person likes in a bike. Truth be told, I like old stuff that many would consider junk. Older, unique bikes have an appeal to me even when they are junky! I also like cheap.

MOTORCYCLE HATS

Do you have a motorcycle hat? It really is a necessity. When I started riding, I would notice the hats that helmet less bikers were wearing. I was envious, but since I am a fear monger, safety consciouses rider, I would not allow myself to ride with just a piece of cloth protecting my brain.

I received a happy face bandanna from one of my sons as a present and started wearing that with my "Kickstand Outfit". That was fun, but I never considered it as my motorcycle hat. I believed that to have a motorcycle hat one would need to stop wearing a helmet.

I LIKE THIS CLASSIC STYLE

THIS SEEMS MORE FOR THE YOUNG RIDER

I WOULD NEED TO OWN A CHOPPER OR HARLEY FOR THIS OUTFIT

THIS BLACK CLASSIC HAT IS REALLY MY FAVORITE

THE LEATHER CLASSIC IS TOO FANCY FOR ME

I REALLY NEED TO BUY THIS HAT FOR MY FRIEND CHAD

IF I WERE GENEROUS I WOULD BUY THIS HAT FOR PRETZEL

Well two years ago I attended my first bike rally and wore a hat for the weekend. I ended up putting a couple of motorcycle pins on it and realized that I could have a motorcycle hat.

Then while on my trip to New York, I realized that a motorcycle hat was a necessity. It was a way to cover up my bad hair.

I like my motorcycle hat, but now I am considering getting one or two more, so I can have the appropriate hat for different occasions.

ARE YOU EXPERIENCING MOTORCYCLE WITHDRAWAL

Since I have not ridden a motorcycle any significant distance since December 4, I am experiencing motorcycle withdrawal.

Kickstand was diagnosed with MUTTS on December 16

ARE YOU EXPERIENCING MOTORCYCLE WITHDRAWAL?

Simply answer the following questions. This is the Motorcycle Alluvial Diagnostic Attachment Tool Linking Intuitive Formations Equally. It is also know affectionately as M.A.D. A.T. L.I.F.E. If you answer yes to three or more of the questions you need to seek immediate psychological help. If you answer yes to six or more quickly lie down and call 911.

1. I get dizzy when I am riding in a car

2. I push on my steering wheel to turn

23. I have tried to find the kickstand on the side of my car.

4. I had a kickstand welded on the side of my car.

5. I find myself putting stuff on my head

6. I sit on my motorcycle several times a week

7. I asked my spouse if they loved me.

8. I have a set of match box motorcycles in my night stand drawer.

9. I have ridden my bike recently in cold or snowy weather.

10. I have night fear related to forgetting how to ride a motorcycle.

The actual disorder as identified in the DSM-IV http://allpsych.com/disorders/dsm.html

is MUTTS (Motorcycle Underuse Transition Trauma Syndrome). It is not life threatening, but can create behaviors that are socially unacceptable and in severe cases may result in loss of ones job or divorce.

COMMUTING: THE JOY OF MOTORCYCLING

I am excited to announce that my most recent book TWO WHEELS TO WORK is now available at your local bookstore. Commuting has been my passion, since I began riding motorcycles. The book addresses practical issues from ride wear, routes, routines, rational, risk assessment and railing riders just to name a few of the R's.



If you have done some commuting or are considering the option, this book will help you prepare yourself mentally and aide you in avoiding some of the common pitfall (or as I call them cycle snares) that await potential committed commuters. It is 281 pages long, has 32 photos and 28 diagrams and charts.