I've had my Z1000 for about 1 1/2 years and about the farthest I've ridden is Aiken county...until today. Laura, Peaches and Laura's mom went to a baby shower at L's work today, and I didn't have anything to do around the house. My brother in Summerville had told me a couple of weeks ago that they were having a birthday party for his 3 y/o this weekend, and I thought to myself, "Self, this would be a good time to get out and ride, as long as the weather is good." Turns out, I can talk myself into pretty much anything!
I left about 10:30. The weather was awesome, nice and comfortable even with an 80 mph wind in my face. Most of the time it's still a bit chilly when the temp's below 75 and I'm riding at speed. I plugged in my iPod with noise cancelling earbuds and cruised....I know some will bemoan the fact that I wear plugs while riding, but any distance over 10 miles or so, and I almost have to have some ear protection...I've been wearing plain earplugs for years when I ride, so the transition to music-bearing plugs was easy. They come out a bit when I put on the helmet, so I can still hear somethings (like the engine), but I don't have the constant wind blowing in my ears. Anyway, I rode pretty easy...staying around 77-80 mph. Traffic was flowing well, and I was even getting passed...but I let it go. I stopped at the rest area right before the I-20/I-95 interchange and let my butt wake up...it had somehow managed to fall asleep even with the hard rock music I was listening to. This trip also gave me a chance to test out my new saddlebags...which need some adjusting.
I made it to my bro's house around noon...still on the same tank of gas. He had a bounce castle/obstacle course, face painting, pizza, soda, juice boxes, cake, ice cream and a ton of people and kids! It was a pretty awesome birthday party. Him and his wife have set the bar pretty high for any future birthdays. We had a good time bouncing around and creating general havoc inside the bounce castle. By we, I mean me and my brother.
I hung around until about 4:30. The ride home was as uneventful as the ride down. I did have to stop and get gas, though. I made it 144 miles on one tank, and I still had a bit left. I guess I can go about 150 before I HAVE to fill up. That's useful info to have when you're doing some distance traveling. I did go a bit faster on the way back...80-85...and I still got passed. Either my speedo is off, or lots of people were in a much bigger hurry than I was. I didn't see but one trooper, and he was headed the other way. I was home by 6:15. Now all I have to do is drag my bones out of bed tomorrow for church...that'll be interesting. I even get to ride to church tomorrow.
Conclusions: I need to adjust the saddlebags. They don't stay even thru the ride, and they're not as secure as I'd like them. I also need to do some more distance stuff to toughen up my butt. My legs started to hurt about an hour into the ride, but I think that's just being in the same position for a long time. My hands and wrists did good, but I don't lean on them much anyway. My iPod and buds are great! Music makes the ride time go much faster. An excellent day!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
El.Rakeman responds to a poll...
Since I'm waiting for the weather to warm up a bit before I take the bike out, I thought I'd respond to a poll I found on one of our friend's blogs (thanks, MB!)
1. What time did you get up this morning? 7am. But I was awake at 6:30
2. Diamonds or pearls? I don't tend to like jewelry...but diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Zombieland...I was going to see one today, but nothing I want to see is out.
4. What is your favorite TV show? 24, but Justified is going to surpass that.
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Cereal or oatmeal.
6. What is your middle name? I have two, Grey and Dodd...see question 30.
7. What food do you dislike? Hmmmm, I really like almost all food. I won't eat pickled anything (except pickles).
8. What is your favorite CD at moment? No CDs...I've got an iPod...full of heavy metal, rock and blues.
9. What kind of car do you drive? Mon-Fri a Crown Vic, Sat-Sun Kawasaki Z1000.
10. Favorite sandwich? Chicago grider from Bellacino's.
11. Characteristics you despise? In myself: apathy; in others: dishonesty.
12. Favorite item of clothing? My green work pants. Pockets with internal dividers, adjustable waistband, and tough as they can be!
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you
go? Ireland...with Australia a close second.
14. Favorite brand of clothing? I don't have a favorite brand...how about "most worn": 5.11
15. Where would you retire to? Texas
16. What was your most memorable birthday? 35th...Laura got all my friends from work together and we had bar b que at Hudson's.
17. Favorite sport to watch? College football on TV, baseball in person
18. Furthest place you are sending this? It's the internet, I expect infinity.
19. Person you expect to post it? I'm apathetic. See question 11 :-)
20. When is your birthday? October 26...I'll be uhhhhh....37.
21. Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning
22. What is your shoe size? 9
23. Pets: old dog and a unkillable zombie cat.
24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? It's not news to those who know me, but I RULE!
25. What did you want to be when you were little? Pediatrician
26. How are you today? Once it warms up and I get on the road, AWESOME
27. What is your favorite candy? Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
28. What is your favorite flower? Bluebonnets...but not just one....fields and fields of them.
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? This coming Tuesday...inservice at work which means shotgun qualifying and low light pistol shooting.
30. What's your full name? John Grey Dodd Roberts
31. What are you listening to right now? Peaches reading a Junie B. Jones book.
32. What was the last thing you ate? Cinnamon Toast Crunch mixed with Frosted Mini-Wheats.
33. Do you wish on stars? I wish some stars would go away (Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, etc)
34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? "Epic Win". I'm inventing the color now. It's an awesome combo of black, dark blue and forest green.
35. How is the weather right now? around 50, but warming up to 80 today.
36. What is your natural hair color? brownish...but I shave it so the gray doesn't show.
37. Favorite soft drink? Wild Cherry Pepsi
38. Favorite restaurant? Waffle House
39. Favorite color of nail polish? Red
40. What was your favorite toy as a child? I had a full size replica of a Beretta 92...it was plastic, though.
41. Summer or winter? SUMMER!!!
42. Hugs or kisses? Yes
43. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate milk shakes, vanilla ice cream.
44. Coffee or tea? Red Roibos herb tea
45. Do you want your friends to post this? I'm apathetic...see question 11
46. When was the last time you cried? I did pretty good at a funeral a couple of weeks ago, but before that at the temple.
47. What is under your bed? the monsters I use to threaten Peaches, and the shotgun to keep them in line!
48. What did you do last night? Primed and painted the nursery with EDP, read some "Monster Hunter International", watched Sportscenter.
49. What are you afraid of? Clowns...if I sleep, they will eat me.
50. Salty or sweet? Vocabulary = salty, and I wouldn't say I'm the sweetest guy in the world.
51. How many keys on your key ring? 5...and one's a handcuff key!
52. How many years at your current job? work: 5, husband: working on 15, dad: working on 7; Mr. Awesome: 36.
53. Favorite day of the week? Saturday...with Sundays during racing season a close second.
54. How many towns have you lived in? Too many...but in 6 states.
55. Do you make friends easily? I don't know...ask my friends. I live by this rule: You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose. But you can't pick your friend's nose.
1. What time did you get up this morning? 7am. But I was awake at 6:30
2. Diamonds or pearls? I don't tend to like jewelry...but diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Zombieland...I was going to see one today, but nothing I want to see is out.
4. What is your favorite TV show? 24, but Justified is going to surpass that.
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Cereal or oatmeal.
6. What is your middle name? I have two, Grey and Dodd...see question 30.
7. What food do you dislike? Hmmmm, I really like almost all food. I won't eat pickled anything (except pickles).
8. What is your favorite CD at moment? No CDs...I've got an iPod...full of heavy metal, rock and blues.
9. What kind of car do you drive? Mon-Fri a Crown Vic, Sat-Sun Kawasaki Z1000.
10. Favorite sandwich? Chicago grider from Bellacino's.
11. Characteristics you despise? In myself: apathy; in others: dishonesty.
12. Favorite item of clothing? My green work pants. Pockets with internal dividers, adjustable waistband, and tough as they can be!
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you
go? Ireland...with Australia a close second.
14. Favorite brand of clothing? I don't have a favorite brand...how about "most worn": 5.11
15. Where would you retire to? Texas
16. What was your most memorable birthday? 35th...Laura got all my friends from work together and we had bar b que at Hudson's.
17. Favorite sport to watch? College football on TV, baseball in person
18. Furthest place you are sending this? It's the internet, I expect infinity.
19. Person you expect to post it? I'm apathetic. See question 11 :-)
20. When is your birthday? October 26...I'll be uhhhhh....37.
21. Are you a morning person or a night person? Morning
22. What is your shoe size? 9
23. Pets: old dog and a unkillable zombie cat.
24. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? It's not news to those who know me, but I RULE!
25. What did you want to be when you were little? Pediatrician
26. How are you today? Once it warms up and I get on the road, AWESOME
27. What is your favorite candy? Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
28. What is your favorite flower? Bluebonnets...but not just one....fields and fields of them.
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? This coming Tuesday...inservice at work which means shotgun qualifying and low light pistol shooting.
30. What's your full name? John Grey Dodd Roberts
31. What are you listening to right now? Peaches reading a Junie B. Jones book.
32. What was the last thing you ate? Cinnamon Toast Crunch mixed with Frosted Mini-Wheats.
33. Do you wish on stars? I wish some stars would go away (Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, etc)
34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? "Epic Win". I'm inventing the color now. It's an awesome combo of black, dark blue and forest green.
35. How is the weather right now? around 50, but warming up to 80 today.
36. What is your natural hair color? brownish...but I shave it so the gray doesn't show.
37. Favorite soft drink? Wild Cherry Pepsi
38. Favorite restaurant? Waffle House
39. Favorite color of nail polish? Red
40. What was your favorite toy as a child? I had a full size replica of a Beretta 92...it was plastic, though.
41. Summer or winter? SUMMER!!!
42. Hugs or kisses? Yes
43. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate milk shakes, vanilla ice cream.
44. Coffee or tea? Red Roibos herb tea
45. Do you want your friends to post this? I'm apathetic...see question 11
46. When was the last time you cried? I did pretty good at a funeral a couple of weeks ago, but before that at the temple.
47. What is under your bed? the monsters I use to threaten Peaches, and the shotgun to keep them in line!
48. What did you do last night? Primed and painted the nursery with EDP, read some "Monster Hunter International", watched Sportscenter.
49. What are you afraid of? Clowns...if I sleep, they will eat me.
50. Salty or sweet? Vocabulary = salty, and I wouldn't say I'm the sweetest guy in the world.
51. How many keys on your key ring? 5...and one's a handcuff key!
52. How many years at your current job? work: 5, husband: working on 15, dad: working on 7; Mr. Awesome: 36.
53. Favorite day of the week? Saturday...with Sundays during racing season a close second.
54. How many towns have you lived in? Too many...but in 6 states.
55. Do you make friends easily? I don't know...ask my friends. I live by this rule: You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose. But you can't pick your friend's nose.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Nephew Ethan
After the baby shower I went home and visited with my niece, nephew, John's brother Andrew and his wife Carlene. I got to hold my nephew Ethan for the first time since he was born in October.
Andrew and Ethan
Uncle John and Ethan........I guess I should say Uncle Awesome and Ethan. I am sad that I didn't get any pictures of my niece Naomi (she was asleep). We had a nice visit and I am so glad that Carlene was able to attend the baby shower.
Baby Shower!
I'm only going to post my favorite pictures. I decided I wouldn't embarrass anyone (not today anyway). One of the games was the baby bottle drinking game. The girls had 1 minute to chug the juice. Leslie seemed like she had done this once or twice before (obviously she won). Poor Amber could barely get the juice down since she hates the taste of Apple Juice. BUT she was a good sport about it and played anyway. Christ came in a close 2nd-she gave her jaw a good workout. 
The girls then played the diaper smelling game. Mary Beth was closely deciphering this odor. Is it melted mounds, Reese's or Hershey's?? I bet they will never look at another candy bar the same way again (which could be a good thing).
Group photo of my wonderful friends that helped me celebrate this very special day.
My Bloomers Diaper Cake! I love it!When I got home Peaches organized the one closet I have in the nursery (with the one shelf in the closet).....by lining up and categorizing all of the lotions, shampoos, powders, wipes, etc.-you get the idea. She had a blast and did a really good job.
Thank you everyone for a wonderful day and I hope you all had fun!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Baby Fiesta
SLED hosted a Baby Fiesta for John and I on Friday. They had all the decorations, food, pinata and even sombrero's for us to wear. The pinata was filled with candy, Enfamil packets, pacifiers, washclothes, spoons and more. Very creative and Festive!! We all had a good time. Peaches had a blast because she got to bust open the pinata. She opened all the gifts for the baby and liked everything we got. She couldn't wait until we got home to sort it all out. 
The guy seen in this picture is named Jasper. I just LOVED his name!
John's co-worker Kathy was up until 3AM making this sombrero Brown Sugar cake. It was absolutely delicious.
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