One Step At A Time

Hey! How was your week?

We've had a bit of depressing bipolar weather this week but during it all I think I have achieved that clarity that I've been looking for. I decreased the amount of stuff I had on my plate to much more manageable levels and decided to keep it simple to the things that are important to me. I have so many interests and trying to keep up with them all was tiring. I don't like them any less but some of them don't need to be front and center as I was trying to keep everything.

I don't need to do it all nor was I meant to so I'm sticking to the simple things that make me happy in this life.

That being said, on one of the beautiful days I left and took a walk to the shop to see what the guys were doing/building. I showed up and Choo was there poking at his Shovelhead and by the look on his face he was deep in thought. Once he saw me though he smiled and led me straight to a couple of Sportsters that were there. Obviously he had thought about my troubles and now that I have stepped over the customizing line he had an idea. I couldn't tell you the years of the bikes off hand because even if he told me I wasn't listening as I took them in.

He told me to sit on both of them and see what was comfortable for me. I'm 5'11" so comfortable is a must at this point. On mine the way she sits now with me having Forwards makes me hunched over a bit with the stock Risers. At first I wanted to change the bars completely but have decided now that mine are fine they just need to be raised and pulled back a bit more and I'll be adding thicker grips for my apparently long piano fingers to be more comfortable. I sit my butt onto the first bike, looks a bit older, beaten up and although it's a tad lower than mine the solo seat and 6 1/2" raised (dare I say it ) drag bars (could be wrong still learning all of this) she has felt comfortable and this is where I decided that thicker grips felt better.

I moved over to the other Sportster  at Choo's urging the one that looked much sleeker and bigger?taller than the rough around the edges one I had just been on. This one has the same stock bars as mine but for some reason even though they are a 1/2 inch shorter on 6" risers than the other ones it felt wider somehow and I didn't like that so much so I got off and walked back over to the other one and threw a leg over and sat back on it. Everything about it felt comfortable but I'm still not sure about the bars. I'd like to keep mine and that's how I've finally decided I'm going with the risers. So I start the search and the research into what I need and how to install them.

I have guys in my life that like to make it difficult sometimes and particularly a Smartass friend that likes to give me a hard time but if I do ask a question he'll generally give me the straight shot answer leaving room for me to figure stuff out without solving the problem for me.

Choo likes to point out the things I never thought of in a way that... sometimes makes me want to push him down the stairs but that's ok...for the most part. I guess...

Little things like I finally find a pair of Risers to order and then...

Choo: I found you some but they're Aluminum
Me: Really? Cool!
Choo: We can powder-coat them.
Me: Wait...why?
Choo: Because they're aluminum...
Me: *blink*...and?
Choo: Yours are black and they need to match your bike.

Now that conversation could have gone much better if he just said something like this...

Choo: I found you some but they're aluminum, if you want them to match what you have now then we can get them powder-coated black.

Well then...I know that I need help but really?

Oh well whatever it takes, I'm hands on learning just the way I like it and in the end it's my decision right??? Even if I make colossal mistakes, I'll learn and at least I have many avenues I can travel down for help and advice.

Now as much as it pretty much tears my heart out that my baby girl is leaving home at least I'll be able to bring in the 2 bike frames from the shop into the basement for our build bikes giving us room to work in the shop over the Fall and Winter customizing the other 2. Around here there just aren't other girls that build bikes that I have found yet.

So far I'm learning that there is a lot to learn and I'm invested.

Back to the search for parts.

Have a great week
See Ya
S.

Holiday Excitement!

Ok we know it's October and we know how much I LOVE this month!

This weekend is Thanksgiving here in Canada and the holiday might be Monday but the food and comfort we seek happens on Sunday.

The smell of Turkey in the air and pumpkin spiced stuff even though I hate pumpkin still rocks my world! My baby girl is moving out at the end of the month with her boyfriend of 6 years and I'm sure I'll go through empty nesting syndrome even though I'll still have 1 daughter left at home ( she's leaving me too in the new year I hear...possibly ) so this will be the last time we do this as a household unit.

We've lost so much in the past year that I'll be glad to have them with me before it gets to the point where we're cooking a tiny chicken for Thanksgiving in a tiny apartment somewhere. I hope that doesn't happen. As I struggle with the thoughts of the girls leaving I also look forward to less expenses and having the house to myself...who am I kidding I am NOT looking forward to that.

Wait I lost my way here...

Thanksgiving! I'm looking for something new I can make this year. I'm not sure if I want it to be a dessert or a side dish but the search is on!

Our Halloween party is coming up soon too. This is year 5 and they keep getting better so this long weekend will be completing the planning stages for prizes and games. Last year we gave away movie passes and a $25 gift card for the best costumes and everyone stayed safe. The prizes must be bigger and better this year! I know that Lo has already chosen what she wants to be but me??? I have no idea? I wasn't feeling it last year but after the loses I feel like I should take the time to enjoy the holidays and seasons as much as possible.

So what can I do? What should I be? I have a bit of time for that and since Turkey day comes first then that will be my focus. As you may have noticed I think I'll be blogging more frequently and randomly from now on. It always makes me feel better when I do my therapy here and even know I feel more clarity than I've had in a while.

Stick with what works!

I'm trying to post a Pic a day of whatever I can to re-engage with what I've lost touch with so check out my Instagram and I'll try to keep you posted!

See Ya
S

Memories Are Sweet.

Well a lot has happened since I was last here.

The death of a loved one has consumed my brain and actions of late and as senseless and tragic as it was and has been, losing him...the son I had always envisioned and always wanted has showed me how short life is.

How short his was...

With that though, recently I think I have had a sense of clarity when it comes to what I want out of life. The things that I've always wanted but shied away from for fear of rejection or the inability to complete my tasks. To enjoy life more...like he did. Everything was beautiful and even at 25 years old everything was worth something. He wrapped himself around my heart and told me I could do the things I had started and finished. He was one of my biggest supporters in such a short period of time and from the day he took his last breath I swore I would live my life in a way that he would make him smile that mischievous smile he had.

The day of the accident he was helping me with my bike and I'm hard pressed to even wash her because his prints are still all over it. Now though it's off the road.

 My riding season was a bust this year. Ongoing problems with my Carb and others made it frustrating to say the least and then after changing the carb twice and the spark plugs, I am still having issues. Now moving on to the plug wires by process of elimination and besides what a better way to learn how things work. Ok here's the thing, even tough I will take instruction and absorb knowledge from the riders in my life let's face it...they're too busy riding!

Jealous... of course I am!

Thanks to technology and you know...You Tube I started to research the possibilities and trust me I know my limits so when I read about testing the plug wires with a screwdriver it gave me pause because well come on... I'm still new here.

With that being said I have the off season now to begin the customization and learning process. So even though I have balked at changing my Sportster and trying to keep it as stock as possible it's time now to really make her mine and even though it's been tough to think about changing her because of those prints I know that he would want me to make her the best I wanted her to be and if he was here he'd be helping me do just that.

Now the bike projects are mounting as we have 4 bikes now in total to build and one of them was supposed to be his.

It still will be.

So no more fucking around and stop and go shit. Things have to be done so here's to being more outgoing and taking risks. I have 2 things that are important to me that fear has stopped. Riding and Writing where both a part of me, both need to be addressed and move forward while I am determined to enjoy the little things at the same time.

I'm not gone yet and will have to make the most of what I have.

Life is short, Live it.
Love is rare, grab it.
Anger is bad, dump it.
Fear is awful, face it.
Memories are sweet,
cherish it...

With so much that is happening in our world, the little things matter so much more now.

True...

See Ya,
S