Because I'm really not awsome at anything...

[Rickster71]

His kung fu is strong.

But his Pimp Hand....not so much

[itschris]

I just left EJ1 a PM regarding those. Any chance of getting you to relay your one ... well, two ... most memorable experiences on the open road to him? I'm the only guy I know that never wrecked. Go figure.

Nothing too dramatic. I had been riding all morning then went to go get my sister who just got a bike. I took her riding with me. We stopped to get gas and check tires and all that. I think what happened was that my sister check my pressure in my front tire and saw that is was at 31psi. The sidewall of course reads a much higher pressure, so she pumped it up to 45psi while I was inside. I thought I noticed a lot of vibration while we were riding, but didn't think much of it. We got to some twisties in an unbusy area and I took off a bit. Nothing crazy, just kinda wanted to have a little fun. Well... the first curve was a right hand sweeper. I've taken it considerably faster at other times than the 45-50 I was doing at the time, but the second I lean the bike in, the front just gave way. It sorda whipped a bit like a highside but much milder, but enough to toss me down pretty hard. I ended up cracking my shoulder, wore a hole in my elbow down to the bone, lost some skin all along my forearm, and ended up with what they called a "shaken baby" style concussion. My helmet never touched the ground, but my head got whipped pretty hard which caused a delayed onset concussion. I had taken my jacket off when I met my sister because I knew we just be tooking around. Stupid. I probably wouldn't been scratched if I had my jacket on.

The second wreck, was during lunch at my office. I had a lady pull out of a parking lot right in front of me on the main road. I tried to avoid her, just clipped her enough to lose control and ended up in full fledge high side. I got tossed about 15-20 feet and landed right on my previously broken shoulder which the docs said would heal just fine since it wasn't severe. Well, that ended that theory. I tore all my cuffs and broke my shoulder in a couple of spots. My arm was just dangling. it was actuallya bout an inch or two longer than the other because it wasn't connected right anymore. A surgery, a some bolts, and all it good.

I don't ride that much anymore. In fact, I'm probably selling the bike. I hate to, but my daughter hates it and around here in Florida, it's just too dangerous. You have to ride an hour or so from where I'm at just to get out in the boonies where there's some nice open roads. Also too, they've increased fines in FL where if your front wheel leaves the ground it's a $1k fine. I'm not one of the idiots who rides wheelies down the highway, but with my bike, if you get on it just a bit, the front wheel is gonna come up a bit. I'm a safe rider who doesn't get all crazy on busy public roads, but I feel between the police and the cars... there's a target on my back. With the family in mind... it's just not worth it. I have to say though, it's been fun and a dream come true owning it.

audioholics.com/forums/attachment.php?s=3f90c16f8ef1474845eb9a1b4ffaf563&attachmentid=6454&d=1223993948" border="0" alt="Name: bike 009a.jpg Views: 21 Size: 87.3 KB" />

[Davemcc]

Chris, I think you may have been a little hard on yourself earlier in this thread. Let's face it, making money is a talent. Sure, the yo-yo kid might end up being the star attraction of his trailer park, but you've got your family set up in a nice home with a comfortable lifestyle and to be completely honest, my daydreams generally revolve around having half the net worth you mentioned in the other thread. If being smart, having a succesful career and enjoying life is talent, you're a superstar. Seriously, I showed my wife some of your political and economics posts and I think she's got a little crush going on you.

[itschris]

Chris, I think you may have been a little hard on yourself earlier in this thread. Let's face it, making money is a talent. Sure, the yo-yo kid might end up being the star attraction of his trailer park, but you've got your family set up in a nice home with a comfortable lifestyle and to be completely honest, my daydreams generally revolve around having half the net worth you mentioned in the other thread. If being smart, having a succesful career and enjoying life is talent, you're a superstar. Seriously, I showed my wife some of your political and economics posts and I think she's got a little crush going on you.

Jesus! I'm blushing! Honestly Dave, my wife and I both work very hard and we have both had our share of suffering. I've made a lot of money, I've been broke and living with my mother, and i've been comfortable. We're at a good comfortable place now, not rich, but upper middle class I'd say, but we know it could all go away tomorrow. I'm being a little fecitious about "not being awsome at anything" but at the same time, if I've learned anything it's "don't believe the hype." I still drive my 2002 Explorer, my wife, her 2000 A6. Both have 100K+ miles on them and we're like everyone else who worries about having another car payment... probably 2... and maybe 3 in another couple years when our daughter starts driving. We have debt like eveyone else, but at the same time, we try to live and enjoy what we can have. I mow my own yard, wash my own car, clean my own house, pack a lunch most days, and carpool with my wife just about everyday. I'm a real cheapskate with some things and splurge on others... usually only when I can benefit the family... like with the HT stuff. That was the best investment we made because se now spend a lot of time centralized together in the family room as opposed to each of us being off in our own room doing our own thing. It's funny to say, but my tv and stereo hobby has made us closer as a family. That's what I like to spend money on. We spend... or I should say my wife spends more than we should and I get worried and stressed all the time, but she often counters that we should enjoy life a little since it can all go away.

I look at my mom and dad for instance. He saved and sacrificed all his life and he ended up dying way too early and never got to enjoy what he worked so hard for. We try to balance things as best we can, though we should do a better, more responsible job at it. The one things I learned is that the more money you make, the more you spend, so you never really get that monkey off your back.

I feel very lucky and fortunate to have what I do. At the same time, I know it can all go away... it has before. I had a great job running a financial marketing company. I was making fantastic money. I bought things with the idea that "okay... I make x amount of money.. I can afford this, that, or the other." Welll, just about 3 years later, the President of our parent company felt pushed out of his job by the owner's son wanting more responsibility and decided spend more time poking his head around my company and within a year of mettlling, ran my company into the ground and the owners said the hell with it and stopped funding us. So just like that, I went from making more money than I wanted to having nothing. With the way things are now, it could happen again and both my wife and I work in the same company. We're always a target for takeover and at some point it may happen though our current CEO is the committed to keeping it independent. When he retires, all bets are off.

Anyway... I really appreciate the kind words.

[Davemcc]

It seems I failed to mention common sense and humility. Rare talents themselves these days.

[billy p]

Wow that kid is a yo-yo wizard! Heh.. my little guy got his first yo-yo awhile back and I thought I show him a few tricks(ie:walk the dog, around the world and rock the clock to name a few), however after watching that I can't bear to let Jordin see that video.

[Alex2507]

Sure, the yo-yo kid might end up being the star attraction of his trailer park,

Not to take anything away from Chris of smoked meat fame but that little kid is a marketing ICBM if he plays his cards right. Yo-yo companies will pay him! They gotta pay somebody, right? That yo-yo is that kids ticket out of the trailer park.

What ever you got going on with Chris might be better siuited for the PM arm of AH.
A really personal messege. BTW, my monkey wants in on this. Look at him.

[jyiu]

May I ask your opinion on the imperfect part of the performance ? thanks

[Davemcc]

BTW, my monkey wants in on this. Look at him.

You know Alex, I like you and all that, but I'm not touching your monkey.

[Adam]

You know Alex, I like you and all that, but I'm not touching your monkey.

Based on the picture, I'd say that somebody else already took care of that.