| Author | Message | ||
     Wolfridgerider |
I just looked up "Cystoscopy"  | ||
| Hughlysses |
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| Crusty |
Should I Be Negative About The Positive? Screwy day. It’s felt like nothing was going my way for the past couple of weeks. Getting the welding done has seemed like an impossible task. Add getting the gloves altered, and it seemed that I was hitting my head against a brick wall. The constant rain and below average temperatures just added to the feeling of gloom. Things were looking pretty bleak. However; yesterday, I went over to the storage garage and put the front cast wheel and new tire on the bike. I was going to keep a low profile, as I was still kind of sore from the cystoscopy, but I was too restless to sit at home on such a beautiful day. That, along with the sunny weather and warm temperatures helped to improve my attitude a large amount. This morning, I went over to the shop. But I really wasn’t in a socializing mood, so I left early. I was on my way home and worrying about where I was going to get the welding done, and I decided to go back by the welding & fabrication shop that I’d originally gone to. I figured that it would be tougher to give me a run around in person. I figured right. I talked with both the shop owner and the welder that I’d originally talked to and they agreed to do the job. I’ll be getting the brackets modified next week. They’re swamped with work, but they did tell me they would do the job. Both ride motorcycles. The owner has a 2003 Sportster as well as an ’87 Softtail. Both are in mint condition. he was showing them off to me. He also was impressed with my bike and by the fact that I’d put 40,000 miles on it in a year. I stressed that I was heading out on a long ride in a week and a half, and they both promised the job would be done next week. I can live with that. I feel relieved that it’s all going to come together, but the little voice in my head is cautioning me to not get too positive. I shouldn’t hatchet my Counts before they chicken out; or somethin’. Maybe I should be cautiously optimistic. Tomorrow, I’m going to go put the cast rear wheel and new drive belt on. I hope that goes smoothly. Hopefully, everything will all come together without any more Drama, I’ll be on the road shortly and all this will just be a memory of difficulties that were overcome. | ||
| Pwnzor |
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| Crusty |
A Little Bit Further Today, I changed out the drive belt and the rear wheel. The Roadster is getting closer to my idea of a touring Sportster. Hopefully, my gloves will be ready this Saturday. Next week, the bag mounts will be modified so the bags will fit and look better. Then, all I have to do is try to find the source of the oil leak. I hate oil leaks. Oil belongs inside an engine; not outside. I suspect that it’s one of the oil lines coming from the oil tank, but I don’t know for sure. I guess I’ll get some Gunk and clean all the oil from everywhere I see it, then wait for the leak to reveal itself. I just spent a pleasant hour looking at Google Maps, planning routes to take. if this year goes anything like last year, I’ll change my mind and take a different route on a whim. Still, it’s fun. I have to return to Monument Valley (that’s one of the routes I was plotting), and I want to see the south rim of the Grand Canyon. This summer is going to be just as wild and adventurous as last summer was. Ya-Hoo! Here’s how it looks at present: I’m going to ride out to Springfield, Illinois and see the Mile. From there, I’m heading up to East Troy, Wisconsin for the Buell Homecoming. From there, I want to head for Iowa and visit with Matt and Lorraine. From Cedar Rapids, I’ll head for Montrose, Colorado and visit with Susan. From Montrose, I’m going to the San Francisco area to visit my brother Tony. Along the way, I’ll hit Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon. After I leave San Francisco, I’m heading north into Canada where I’ll find my way to Banff and Jasper National Parks. from there, I’ll drop down into Montana and Glacier National Park. I want to ride the Going-To-The-Sun Road in it’s entirety. Last year, the road was only open to the top of Logan Pass. After that, I don’t know, right now, but I’m sure I’ll think of something. I’m pretty sure that I’ll stop in Cincinnati and see my brother David, though. In August, there’s the West Virginia Buell Rally, which should be a great time. Last year’s rally was. A week after that there’s a Half Mile in Central New York (north of Syracuse) that I'm looking forward to. It’s shaping up to be another great summer! I’m getting psyched! | ||
| Tootal |
If you have trouble finding the oil leak but suspect an area then clean the bike and spray Desinex or other talcom powder spray in the area and go ride. The powder will hold the oil near the leak and make it easier to find. | ||
| Zac4mac |
While you're in Colorado, Come by the shop, we're in Berthoud. I can put you up for a day or 3 at my house in Longmont. Weather's on the warm and we are greening up nicely. I'd love to take you on my favorite 60 mile loop into the hills. I'll be on the Uly with knobbies, not the superfast RS.  Zack | ||
| Crusty |
Zack, That sounds like fun. Just remember that I'll be riding a fairly high mileage Sportster with clapped out suspension, and I'll have trouble keeping up. But I also believe that God created Colorado so that bikers would know what's waiting for them in Heaven. I lived in Colorado Springs for a few years back in the '70s. I know a few good rides, but there are so many more that I don't know. When I get closer, I'll give you a shout. | ||
| Crusty |
Is God Laughing? There’s a saying, Man makes plans and God laughs. I’m wondering if He’s laughing. I went to see my Cardiologist this morning. He’s concerned with the state of my health. To be more specific, the health of my heart. He doesn’t like the fact that I gained weight since my last visit (for that matter, neither do I), and he also doesn’t like the idea of me riding a motorcycle across the USA all alone. I didn’t tell him that I’d be living in a tent for two months; it just seemed like a bad idea. Anyway, he has concerns about my heart, so he’s ordered a Nuclear Stress Test for this Thursday morning. The test will take roughly 5 hours to complete. If the test looks good, then I’m free to galavant around until August 1, when I see him again. At that time, he’s going to put me on some more medication. I guess my cholesterol level is now higher than my Comfort Zone. If the test goes south, the only traveling I’ll be doing is in an ambulance to the hospital. My cage has been sufficiently rattled. Yet, I’m torn between doing what I think is right, and just saying the hell with it and just doing an “Eat, Drink and be Merry; for tomorrow, we die”. And, of course, there’s the old Denial issue rearing its head saying that there’s nothing wrong with me and the doctor is full of it. With the scar I have on my chest, and the clicking of the mechanical valve that I can hear when I lay on my side, I know that Denial is wrong; yet it influences my other thoughts. I sit and think that maybe the doctor is swayed a bit in his evaluations, and things aren’t really that bad. Just because he’s an expert and has been a successful Cardiologist for years, it doesn’t mean he’s right and my wishful thinking is wrong; right? Uh…, well, since you put it that way… I guess the capper to it all is that Thursday is when the welder is supposed to work on my saddlebag brackets. So I’ll have to either drop my bike off the night before, or move the appointment to either Wednesday or Friday. If I have to leave my bike on Wednesday evening, then I have to figure out how I’m going to get to the Hospital on Thursday Morning. Anyway, when I left the office, my head was spinning pretty badly and I couldn’t think straight. So I did the most sensible thing I could. I went to the movies and became a zombie for a couple of hours. Watching Captain America and Iron Man beat on each other helped a lot. Now, I’m just going to put one foot in front of the other and do the Next Right Thing. Tomorrow, I’ll go by the welder’s and get that sorted out. Thursday morning, I’ll be at the hospital for my 7:15 appointment. Then we’ll see how things go. I ‘m not going to change my plans until I have to. I’m going to continue to prepare to hit the road next week. If the test says otherwise, I’ll deal with it then. (Message edited by Crusty on May 16, 2016) (Message edited by Crusty on May 16, 2016) | ||
| Buellish |
Fingers crossed,good luck with the test John! | ||
| Ourdee |
Had a heart attack in 2000. Before I turned 40. Doctor blamed it on Berry Berry. I saw him for a couple of years till I went in one day and he was fat. I'd just rode a high wheel bicycle 14 miles, and peddled a lowracer past 41 mph. I never went back to him. | ||
| Pwnzor |
We're praying for you John. Take your cholesterol meds and dial in your diet. Work on it. You'll be fine. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
You are in my thoughts John! | ||
| Crusty |
A Short Follow Up My sister works in a medical facility (the VA) and she sent me an e-mail asking about the concerns the doctor had. I’ve also gotten a few responses from other people to my last Snippet, so here’s what I sent to Grace: The doctor didn't get too specific about his concerns, but he commented on my weight gain, the swelling in my legs and he dwelled on my visit to the ER two summers ago. I told him I was planning to head out next week; he really doesn't like the idea of me traveling across the country alone, so he ordered the Nuclear Stress test for Thursday. If the test shows everything to be good, then I'm OK to go. He set up an appointment for August 1, and he's going to prescribe an anti cholesterol drug. I told him that I'd probably lose at least 15 pounds before then, but I don't really think he bought it. But I know I will. I did it last summer, I can do it again without a lot of effort. One thing I noticed in the Exam room was all the drug company propaganda about Heart Failure. The signs match a lot of the symptoms I've been showing, so I think that's where his train of thought is heading. That's what Bill died from. I really don't want to kick the bucket yet, so I'll do what the doctor orders. Anyhow, I'll see what the test shows, come Thursday. Today, I have to go out and buy a good book. I understand there's a lot of waiting time involved in a Nuclear Stress Test. | ||
| 86129squids |
Hell, just the NAME of the test induces stress!  Good luck John- hopefully you'll find minimal Crustiness in your cardiovascular system, and get to add more Roadcrust to the Sportster ASAP. | ||
| Etennuly |
Wishing you the best Crusty!  Brankin asked my how it was that I have lost 40 or so pounds over the past year and a half. I told him it is simple, doesn't involve any BS, saves a lot of money, and time; STOP PUTTING SO MUCH SHIT IN THE PIE HOLE! I am loosing weight by eating what I love. All about proportions. I have had four Hooters Hot Wings for lunch nearly every day. Or three small spare ribs. Cut out most bread and all cheeses, and sweets have to go because they excite your hungry maker. Also switch from that 11" plate to an 8" one and leave a little on it when you are done. No food after 6:00 PM. Water only. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I'm going to have to give that a try... ...writing this down... less food... this will be tough. | ||
| Froggy |
You mean I shouldn't eat an entire sandwich from Jim's BBQ in one sitting? Sacrilege. John, if it came down to it, I'd be willing to drive you around Thursday, and since I'd have my truck I'd gladly help you get it to the welder. | ||
| Crusty |
Thank you, Frank. I appreciate the offer. However, I'll be taking myself to the hospital for the test. I went by the welder's today and he was happy to reschedule for Friday morning. It turns out that he has a doctor'd appointment on Wednesday that will put him behind, so having Thursday morning freed up is a good thing for him. The welder is a block away from where I'm living, so I can drop the bike off, then walk home. He'll call me when he's done, and I can just walk over and pick up the bike. Besides; I have to be at the hospital at 7:00 AM. You'd have to either stay up all night, or head out at something like 2:00 AM. That's asking a bit much. I read up on the test today and it's a couple of minutes of activity followed by an hours' wait several times in a row. The instructions say the test takes from 5 to 7 hours. I went by Barnes & Noble and bought a nice long book, Lord of Janissaries by Jerry Pournelle and Roland J Green. It's 881 pages long, so it will give me something to do during the waiting spells. I'll see how it all goes, but right now, everything seems to be falling into place. I hope so. | ||
| 86129squids |
John, throw that book into the trash, and I'll reimburse you. Frank Herbert's "Dune" series. IIRC seven books, I've read them all twice. He's done some other really good novels outside that "universe". And, seriously, if you want a really good sci-fi read, LONG, punch me in the face but L. Ron Hubbard's "Battlefield Earth". Just as long as you haven't seen the pathetic attempt at making it a movie. I read "Dianetics", and found it stoopid. Interesting, but stoopid. Not grokkable. Or, "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson. THAT book would make a great movie... | ||
| 86129squids |
"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain." | ||
| Pwnzor |
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| Crusty |
Matt; I like Jerry Pournelle. I read the first three Janissaries novels years ago. It's been so long that I was a little skeptical about whether I'd like it or not, but I figured I'd give it a shot. It's just that when I went to the bookstore, that was the only novel that looked interesting that I hadn't read. I'm an old Science Fiction reader. I first read Dune back in the mid 60s and each of the following novels as they were published.I also read a few of his other (non related) novels; Under Pressure and The Green Brain are two titles that readily come to mind. I read Battlefield Earth back in the early 80s, though, to be honest, I don't recall much of the story. I'll be all right. If the book sucks, then it won't be the first time I bought a book that I didn't enjoy. And while I don't enjoy wasting money on bad novels, I hope it isn't the last time; if you know what I mean. | ||
| Pwnzor |
Sitting in prison for a year as I did, I read every book I could get my hands on. I was blessed with plenty of money in my commissary account, and my ex would send me books and magazines every week. I had a huge library under my rack, and when the deputies would come in to toss the joint, they pretty much left me alone because I had a reputation as the peacemaker in the barracks. Even so, I read them all faster than they could be shipped to me, so I availed myself of the library... I read things that were so horribly written that I think I got dumber by holding them in front of my eyes. BUT... they did pass the time a hell of a lot faster than staring at a concrete wall. I even found some things that I thought I wouldn't like, but they turned out to be enjoyable. So you just never really know until you crack it open and slug through the first few chapters. | ||
| Buellish |
It amazes me how many of my friends don't read,but then I find out that many do.I can't think of a much better way to pass the time. | ||
| Pwnzor |
How about reading in a hammock out in the woods, by a lake, with a nice breeze? | ||
| Buellish |
You described Utopia! | ||
| Pwnzor |
How about a good audio book, while carving up a mountain road on the S3T? | ||
| 86129squids |
Dunno about that Matthew. Audio books to me would be much better for car travel. I used to travel the state as a buyer agent for a used metric MC wholesaler, and Cracker Barrel used to carry a good range of books on tape to rent. Once found a double-tape edition of famous poets reading their own works, great stuff. On that set I found Robert Frost doing several of his poems, and one that was exactly 29 seconds long. I used it for my voicemail greeting! I’m going out to clean the pasture spring; I’ll only stop to rake the leaves away (And wait to watch the water clear, I may): I sha’n’t be gone long.—You come too. I’m going out to fetch the little calf That’s standing by the mother. It’s so young, It totters when she licks it with her tongue. I sha’n’t be gone long.—You come too. | ||
| 86129squids |
"... carving up a mountain road on an S3T" Cue me some "Red Barchetta"! Or the entire CD of Bill Frisell's "Gone, Just Like A Train". |
