Trip to PA

Back a few weeks ago I traveled to PA for my Grandfather's 80th birthday.  This was the first time the entire family was together since 2000.  Our first stop was D.C to visit older younger brother and his girlfriend J.  They both have very important jobs with the government.   Youngest brother has been living with them during his internship.

Me and the brothers outside his house.

My dogs on their own vacation.

At the Washington Monument.

 

View from the edge of the reflecting pool.

A beautiful couple in a beautiful location.

Riding one of the bike share bikes.  Fun.

WWII Memorial with Lincoln in background.

Korean Monument.

At the docks at Mt. Vernon on the Potomac River.

Youngest bro in same location.

Hanging with G at Mt Vernon.

The tomb of Martha and George Washington.

Outside of the Smithsonian Air and Space Annex.

My favorite aircraft, the SR-71 Blackbird.

The Enola Gay.  I got chills.

So many great aircraft.

Neat view of the Blackbird and the orbiter Discovery.

Mom and the Discovery.  So cool that it has been in space!

Hi.

K and J on the river cruise on the Potomac.

The Watergate Hotel and Conference Center.

Hello again.

Older younger bro made a delicious dinner for us.  So good!

Next we headed to PA for the birthday celebrations!

This is me at my Grandparent's house by the largest tamarac tree in PA.

My fav niece and Godchild.

Aunt A took me to see Cats at the Civic Light Oprah.

Grandpap and cousin Mark have the same birthday.

Siblings plus L.

Deer and turkeys in my Grandparent's neighborhood.

Family plus J.

Out of order... but this is me in Maryland, the state of my birth.

This is the crew who went to Go Ape, a tree top and zip lining adventure.  Fun, but I hurt my ankle.

A good trip, just long enough I'd say.

Leathers

ffluffy bought Fancy a Harley Davidson vest and hat.  Sadly, it was a bit too small, and a bit too large for Muffin.

After seeing the pictures, an agility friend passed along some of her old dog's leathers. He was a Champion Utility Bull Terrier. He looked really good in them. Fancy looks kind of silly. Dottie looks nice. She is a hot biker chick!

ffluffy and the Beach

While I was out of town, ffluffy took care of my dogs.  As usual, she made their day by taking them to the beach!  Actually, she only took Fancy because Fancy is the only good beach dog.

Fancy was so happy!

Ho, Peep, Fancy and Chewy...

Bone Time

The local butcher had some cow femur bones this past week.  And some rib bones.  But those are more available, usual.  The funny thing about the femurs is the saw was broken so they gave them to me whole.  The dogs loved them, of course.  

While the dogs chewed, I polished my bike.  A pretty bike like that with lots of chrome needs time spent polishing.  It's all part of the lifestyle. :)

Fancy goes to town.

Pie says a big dog deserves a big bone.

Muffin is happy with his little bone.

Not to worry, Kerby had a chance with the big bone too.

Dottie did a good job on the bone and I did a good job on the bike.

Base Motorcycle Trip

There is an on-base motorcycle "club."  It isn't really a club since there are no meetings or dues or regular goings ons.  It is only a club in that it is only open to motorcycle riders on base.  We took a trip to Carpinteria.  We rode up the 150 to a car show called Rods and Roses.  Not sure what the Roses had to do with it, but there were young people wandering around selling roses.  Overall a nice day and a good outing.

The bike gang.

General MacArthur was hanging about.

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Playtime

The girls and I hung out by an oil pump in Santa Paula. 






















Private property but we were allowed to be there.  Too bad I don't know the owner well enough to go there more often.  The dogs had a great time running a muck.  I climbed the ladder to the top of the pump.  It was covered in oil.  Not slippy, just very dirty.

New Friends

When I sold the Honda, the man who bought it hooked me up with his girlfriend.  Perhaps I should re-phrase that.  He wanted us to go for rides together.  He didn't have his license yet but she had been riding for quite some time.  We went on our first ride together on the Fourth of July.  As it turns out he was able to come to.  Julia and Gary are great riding buddies.  It was funny to be riding with my old bike.  Gary fixed up the cosmetic damage and also added a new muffler.  Julia rides a Triumph.  We rode up to Santa Barbara and had lunch at a place I wouldn't normally eat at.  It was all organic and fancy and expanded my horizons.

L to R- My Sporty, the Triumph and my old Honda.

Looking good up in SB.

The ladies.

After the lunch we headed back to my place.  The parents were having their annual 4th of July BBQ/ Party so I invited Julia and Gary.  They accepted!  They hung out for awhile, met the family, then were on their way.  

It is great to have new friends!

Promoted!

I finally made E-6 (TSgt)!  I took the long way around but I got there in the end. I was hoping to get a copy of the official pictures taken during my promotion but the photographer never got back to me. I guess this picture that just happens to show the stripes will have to do.  I passed by the cubicle of the on base biologist and saw this fox pelt hanging up so I posed with him.

Motorcycle Marla

One night I had a though that a motorcycle might be fun.  I expected to wake up the next morning thinking, "What was I thinking?"  But instead I woke up thinking it was still a good idea!

I never expected to own a motorcycle because it just wasn't something I was interested in.  But now that I have one I wish I hadn't waited so long!  It is like a cross between a sportscar and a horse!  The best of both worlds.  Plus, legal to drive on the freeway.

After getting this idea I started researching motorcycles. I knew I didn't want a sport bike (crotch rocket) and I thought a standard would be a better choice than a cruiser.  I settled on a Honda CB 500F.  Because it has less fairing (the plastic pieces that make the bike look fast) the reviews said it is actually more agile than the sport bike of the same model.  I wanted to get ABS so I was forced to buy a brand new one.  I signed up for the motorcycle safety class that also teaches you how to ride, but it took a while to get in it.  So I had the motorcycle before I knew how to ride it.

Sadly not a great picture of a nice looking bike.

This was unfortunate because I had some incedents where I dropped the bike.  It damged the mirrors and other replacable parts, but luckily not the body or paint.  I got into the class and learned a lot.  It was a great class.  I rode a Suzuki GZ 250 in the class.  I knew if I could practice on one of those I could get confident and become a better rider.  I found one for a great price on Craigslist. It was a year 2000 but only had 1500 miles.  It ran great so I bought it.

Up in Solvang.

Suzuki 250 on left and Honda 500 on right.

I rode it for two weeks and put 200 miles on it.  I rode it on the freeway and up to Solvang. On the way back from Solvang it really struggled on the hills.  I decided I needed an upgrade and also that I probably would never be comfortable on the Honda.  It was a really nice bike but was too tall for me.  Good riders can ride any size bike but I am not a good rider.  I am a new rider.

I listed the Honda on Craigslist and got a buyer.  I discounted it due to the damage and because of the depreciation once it leaves the lot.  I started looking at bikes on Craigslist (I love Craigslist).  I found a great Harley Davidson Sportster for as much as I sold the Honda for.  Perfect!  It is a 2003 with 3000 miles.  It also has lots of custom upgrades including Screaming Eagle pipes (sound great) a K&N Airfilter.  I ride it to and from work everyday, which is a 60 mile round trip.  I put about 1000 miles on it every month!  I love it!

The title is inspired by the new nickname a co-worker and my neighbor have cristened me with.  Also, 5 separate people have now referred to me as "badass."  I guess if enough people say it, it must be true. :)

It is the 100th Anniversary Edition.  Called an 883 Hugger.  Made for short people like me.

All geared up and ready to go.

My cool Harley Davidson motorcycle boots.

Friends

I don't always go out with friends, but when I do I take a picture to prove it happened.  B (from SchH training) and I had a nice evening in Downtown Ventura.

900th Post!

Wow, 900 posts!

I have to actually post something, or else calling this the 900th post would be cheating.  Here is a picture of the lunar eclipse from a few weeks ago.  I set my alarm to wake up and see the rest of it, but the news article I read led me astray, and by the time I got up it was over. I was lucky to catch the very begining as I took my dogs out for the pre-bedtime potty break.

Taken with my Canon Powershot SX50 HS, which is basically a point and shoot.  The 50x opitical zoom sure helps!

Small Malinois

Fit on the front seat better.  Not to worry, we were parked when I took this.  Pie has only ridden in the front a few times, and she does not fit on the seat very well.  She cannot lay down, and can barely sit.  It does not work.  Dottie sits very nicely and as seen here, can get very comfy in a down.  Shhh..... she's sleeping.

Annual PT Test

Once again I took, and once again I passed, the PT test.  I was able to stay in the "excellent" category.  I ran faster on the run than I've run in a long time.  I didn't "leave anything out there" as "they" say.  Good job, me.  Until next year...

Frolicking in the Weeds

There is a near by field that we have been using for tracking.  It was seeded with rye grass, which grew after the rains.  Then the weeds started growing.  In some parts of the field they were up past my waist.  Once I noticed that of course I knew it was time for pictures.

I  think K's dog looks like a carousal horse.

Leaping Fancy.

On the way down all you could see was tail.

Up periscope!

It looks like she is smiling.

Now I think she is having a salad.

Loch Ness Monster.

One up and one down.