RSS

Category Archives: Daily Activities

Boring, But Necessary

15 Dec

After a tedious afternoon of e-mails, online chats, phone calls, purchases, cancellations, tests, failures, fixes, retests, and, ultimately, successes, this WordPress blog now falls under my own domain, ryanrsanderson.com.  The website I had for the past couple years, is no longer.  As such, I will continue adding to and developing this new site you see here, with the intention of showcasing all the same content, plus much more!

This has to be the most boring post I’ve ever written.  Fittingly, it comes on the heels of a very boring, yet necessary and long-in-coming, day.  Now that I have these technicalities out of the way, and now that you know it, I can get back to some more stimulating activities.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 15, 2010 in Daily Activities

 

Blog Work

13 Dec

Much work remains, in order to get this blog into top shape.  In fact, this WordPress site is turning out to be not just a blog, but a fully featured website.  Before too long, this online destination will be the new ryanrsanderson.com.

I’ve spent the past couple hours making changes to pages and categories in the above dropdowns.  And again, more remains.  If you haven’t already, check out these changes. 

I’m simply, in this moment, blogging about my blog, as my brain is rather consumed in it tonight.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 13, 2010 in Daily Activities

 

“Time Out”

12 Dec

As wonderful as San Francisco always is, getting out of the city and into the countryside is always a welcome, and in these parts usually beautiful, event.  Such was the case on this gray yet dry day, on a group motorcycle ride heading north.

A touch of Indiana, a glimpse of Wisconsin, a slice of upstate New York, and even a little piece of Maryland.  All of these places flashed through my mind as we rode on two-lane roads through the wide-open regions of Marin and Sonoma Counties.  For the diversity of topography throughout the relatively small area we covered, I did indeed experience moments of feeling as if I were in other parts of the country altogether!

Our ride destination today:  Dillon Beach.  This very tiny coastal town does not even have a gas station.  (Trust me, I know this, as my tank was bone dry by the time we reached the nearest place to fill up.)  Nonetheless, it was truly wonderful on this day to feel so far from, yet so close to, San Francisco.  I highly recommend Dillon Beach as a day trip for anyone who wants some “time out” of the city for a few hours, while enjoying some gorgeous countryside.

Then of course, this was a day back on my motorcycle, at last!  It’s hard to believe that from my bike’s one-year anniversary on November 1 until today, I rode a total of only about 150 miles.  Then today alone, we put on roughly 135.  I’m always happy to be back in my motorized saddle, especially when the roads are dry.  Today was the ideal day for a relaxing and rewarding excursion.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 12, 2010 in Daily Activities, Motorcycle

 

Tags:

What a Find!

08 Dec

What a find!

Jaw dropping, for those few of us who appreciate the significance of this unplanned acquisition!  This rare find came upon me purely by chance, when I “dropped into” a thrift store yesterday to “drop off” some donations.  While waiting to be helped, as I glanced at the rack of clothing next to me, I could have dropped right there myself!

These shorts need no words and no explanation.  If you know where they come from and how long it’s been since they’ve been readily available, then you’re with me.  If you don’t, then they’ll mean nothing to you.  Simple as that.

Suffice to say, it seems the thrift store had no clue what they had.  As I paid the paltry price, I told the clerk these were quite rare and came from a very special place.  She was unfazed and simply took my few dollars.  Not that I’m any aficionado of thrift store shopping, but there are certainly some surprises to be discovered, when least expected I’m sure!

My surprise find will no doubt travel with me to their original home, whenever this may be…

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 8, 2010 in Daily Activities

 

My New View

06 Dec


Typical of San Francisco, the weather seems to be changing by the hour on this Monday, alternating pretty much equally between sunshine and cloud cover. Either way, it is now from the above viewpoint that I will be able to evaluate just about any day… any day, that is, when I’m at home. This is, after all, the view from my newest residence on Roosevelt Way.

Much progress has been made, while more remains to be accomplished. As I settle into my new view, I’m already feeling comfortable and satisfied with this choice I’ve made for myself. I’ll definitely be relieved when all my moving tasks are finally complete, thus freeing up my time for all else that awaits!

The view is looking good, in all respects.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 6, 2010 in Daily Activities, San Francisco

 

8 Always Beats 6

03 Dec

I drove two different 8-cylinder SUVs for a combined period of more than twelve years. For almost the past four years, I’ve driven my 6-cylinder 4Runner.

Today, I towed the above U-Haul trailer with my 4Runner, marking the first time I’ve done so with this vehicle. Naturally, this brings back memories of the numerous occasions on which I towed the same-sized U-Haul trailer with one of my long-departed 8-cylinder engines.

I’ve always missed driving an 8-cylinder vehicle, and today I missed it 100 times over. I still made it to my destination comfortably and in good time; I simply noticed the difference and did not enjoy it. As such, even if I tow a U-Haul only once every four years, it’s worth it to me to have all eight cylinders for the occasion.  This fully loaded 5×8 trailer caused my gas mileage on this trip to drop to about 15 MPG from my 6-cylinder’s usual highway 20 MPG.  I was still doing about the same speed with the trailer as I would without.  No doubt the mileage would be all the worse with 8 cylinders, but so be it.

I purposely downsized once, and once is enough. I look forward to returning to what I once had, because of course, 8 always beats 6!

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 3, 2010 in Cars, Daily Activities

 

On My Way…

01 Dec

The first day of the last month of 2010 has arrived, unbelievably enough.  Still in Los Angeles this week, I’m increasingly anxious to get back to San Francisco and into my new home.  I’ll arrive to my new residence this Saturday and begin moving in, with the hope of being settled in by next week at this time. 

Also by next week, I had better be physically recovered from last week’s cycling injury, so that I can get back to exercising daily.  In the midst of post-Thanksgiving consumption, coupled with no workouts for the past seven days, I’m feeling horribly out of shape. 

In any case, it’s a new month, and my new home is waiting.  Stay tuned for photos in the coming days!

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 1, 2010 in Daily Activities

 

Cycling for Pay

19 Nov

The past couple days have added a unique experience to my cycling credentials.  I just finished up a two-day gig with Team Cycad, for a client-specific event in downtown San Francisco.

Considering my current professional life of freelance media and PR-related jobs, combined with my ongoing desire to be outdoors and physically active, this was a win-win situation for the most part.  Twelve hours of pedaling certainly yielded a few advantages, not the least of which is the decent amount of cash now in my pocket.

I spent these last two days cycling, while getting paid to do so!  All in all, this is a pretty damn good deal, if I say so myself.  Granted, the particular route for this client was rather slow-paced, with a lot of typical city stop-and-go.  While some calories were no doubt burned, the loops became rather dull by the ends of the day.  Still, the overall experience was worth the time, exercise and money.

If you’re interested in such an opportunity for yourself, check out Team Cycad and ask if there’s anything going on in your city.  This happens to have been the company’s very first event in San Francisco, but I’m told there could be more before too long.  As such, cycling for pay could come again!

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 19, 2010 in Cycling, Daily Activities

 

Sushi on Church

18 Nov

For almost ten years now, Warakubune has been my favorite sushi restaurant at which to dine when I’m in San Francisco.  Now that I’m living here, I have all the more opportunity to drop in, funds permitting of course.

Last night seemed like the right night to go.  It’s been more than a few weeks now since I last enjoyed Warakubune’s wide and tempting selections that pass before my eyes on little boats.  My dining companion, however, was not biting; rather, he became intent on our going to another Japanese dining establishment on the same street, this being Church Street just south of Market, a few doors down on the next block.  I had not been to Miyabi before, so in a rare moment of surrender, I allowed him to have his way without any direct fuss.

Miyabi’s sushi bar itself is small, and the bar seating limited.  There are ample tables, however, in both a front and a back room.  Rick and I sat right in the large bay window in the very front, overlooking the sidewalk.  You can guess who chose the table.

Prices at Miyabi are pretty typical; my “dynamite” roll of deep fried spicy tuna topped with albacore cost me $9.95.  I have to say, however, that it was not completely dynamite; I’ll give it a B.  Rick’s soft shell crab roll was attractive and plentiful, though not unusual.  The unagi (eel) sushi was tasty, just the same as most anywhere else.  Already thrown off my track of original sushi plans, I ordered Miyabi’s tempura dinner as well.  I will say:  The quantity of shrimp and vegetables that arrived at the table was impressive.  I ended up eating more than expected, and I definitely got my fill.  Naturally, this is not always an easy accomplishment!

My conclusion is this:  Miyabi was fine, but not phenomenal.  I still would rather have had a pile of little plates in front of me, with passing boats continuing to tempt me with fresh and creative creations.  The next time I’m eating sushi on Church Street, it will be at Warakubune.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 18, 2010 in Daily Activities, Restaurants

 

Video Roadblock

15 Nov

As I continue to play around with and learn the many features of my all-new version of WordPress, it occurred to me today that it’s time for me to try uploading some video here to my blog.  As I went about doing so, I quickly ran into an unexpected video roadblock.  Apparently, in order to upload video files directly from my computer to WordPress, I must initiate a “video upgrade” to my account.  This, however, is not free; rather, it costs $60 a year!  I sit here now wondering if this is worth it, for me at least, in this capacity, at this time.  My immediate answer is:  No.  As such, directly uploaded video files may be long in coming.  I can, however, post this link to a recent video on my Facebook account.  But then, if you’re not my Facebook friend, I wonder if you can see it.  Oh, the perils of today’s online technology!

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 15, 2010 in Daily Activities

 

A Mountain Escape

14 Nov

So close, yet seeming so far away.  Surrounded by towering redwood trees, a lush green open meadow, and even a small pond of some sort, you might momentrily feel as I did today.  That is, you might think you’re in Mammoth, or Yosemite, or perhaps some far-reaching section of Washington State.  But no.

Today took our group less than 40 miles south of San Francisco, to the well-known outdoor biker-dominated eatery known as Alice’s, at  Hwys 84 & 35 in the mountain town of Woodside, nestled in the tree-lined terrain between Hwy 280 and the Pacific Ocean.

Today was a Homoto Motorcycle Club ride.  That’s who I mean when I refer to “our group.”  About a dozen of us took off from the Castro, headed south on Hwy 1 through Half Moon Bay, then West on 84 to our lunching destination.  We passed several people riding the kind of bike I myself was riding yesterday, as in the kind that burns calories!  After throttling past all those hard-working bicyclists, our motorcycles arrived to Alice’s parking lot to join all the others.  Fortunately there were tables for us, roomy picnic tables in fact, out on the back desk overlooking that green open meadow I mentioned.

Alice’s menu is plentiful and thorough.  It took me a few minutes to decide between a breakfast item or one of the numerous listed burgers.  I opted for the former, and fortunately the sizable portion managed to satisfy my demanding appetite.  The passion iced tea is a fine choice to wash it all down, unless you go for a very attractive $5.95 bloody mary, which in this particular instance I did not.  Nevertheless, Alice’s offers a full bar that clearly calls out to any thirsty passer-by on any day of the week!  I’ll be sure to go back and sample the bar before too long, perhaps when I’m not traveling via motorcycle.

Booze or iced tea, breakfast or lunch, Alice’s is full of life and energy all its own.  I highly recommend this quick mountain escape to anyone looking for a short change of scene.

 
1 Comment

Posted by on November 14, 2010 in Daily Activities, Motorcycle, Restaurants, Reviews

 

Recording My Ride: Garmin vs. iPhone

13 Nov

As it turns out, I cycled 44.6 miles this morning.  This is according to my old, outdated Garmin GPS device.  Recording the same ride simultaneously on my iPhone GPS application, the grand total came to 41.2 miles.  My conclusion:  I trust Garmin and I’m going with Garmin’s number.  The iPhone is subject, of course, to AT&T’s spotty signals.  When riding through mountainous, wooded areas, these signals are sure to fail, as is revealed by this morning’s route map.

I certainly did not ride in a perfectly straight line from Alpine Road to Hwy 92.  This indicates that my iPhone was not logging exact GPS data during this time.  The application did, however, “catch up” to my updated location when I pulled the phone out of my pocket to check on it.  My second conclusion:  The iPhone GPS application is smart, but unfortunately at the mercy of AT&T’s poor signals.  Garmin, it seems, is still the way to go.

Technology aside, the morning was beautiful, the weather was clear, the pavement was smooth and dry, and the pace lines of cyclists were steady and strong.  More days like this on a regular basis, and I’ll be back in top cycling form in no time!

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 13, 2010 in Cycling, Daily Activities, Transportation

 

Brain Exercise!

12 Nov

Do you know what I’ve come to enjoy, after working, after job searching, after apartment hunting, after cycling, after running, after motorcycling, and even after cocktailing?  Among all else, I’m liking some good logic, some number strategy, and some mental stretching.  All of this comes down to one word:  Sudoku!

These numerical grids can be attacked quickly, usually yielding some rapid initial advances.  The easiest ones can be completed in no time, but more difficult ones will definitely stump even the most season Sudokuite.  (I may have just invented this term.)  In any case, there’s most clearly a difference between the easier and the harder puzzles.  Nonetheless, I find myself feeling a mild addiction to these mind benders.  In some cases, when I’ve finally completed a more challenging one, I’m ready to attack another.

And why not?  This kind of brain exercise is only to our benefit.  Stimulating our brains and our thought patterns is no doubt good for us, at any age.  So, if you’re bored, turn off that stupid TV program and try a Sudoku yourself.  You might get hooked!

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 12, 2010 in Daily Activities

 

To The Saloon We Go

11 Nov

In case you were looking for the Saloon...

“Established in the year of John Wayne’s birth – that would be 1907 – the Comstock in one of the City’s most venerable watering holes and offers a fine respite from a day’s work of grinding out press releases and talking to cranky reporters.”

As such, I’m happy to have paid my first visit tonight to this particular watering hole.  I might not have found it, were it not for tonight’s scheduled get together of PRSA, the Public Relations Society of America. 

Tonight was the monthly “Second Thursday,” an occasion for professionals and job seekers like myself to gather, kibitz and exchange business cards with one hand, while sipping a well-made cocktail in the other.  PRSA is a visible and social organization, no doubt, whom we can thank for the above description of the apparently longstanding and obviously well-established Comstock Saloon.

Tight standing quarters, a captivating drink menu selection, attractive and attentive bartenders, not-big-enough martini glasses, and passable-but-not-remarkable pour levels, all come together to create the vibe of this memorable San Francisco libation location.  Add to the equation the rich antique woodwork, classically styled ceiling fans, and an attention-getting vintage upright piano, complete with live player!  Finally, pack the relatively narrow space with hungry, thirsty and chatty patrons.  Altogether, the unique, history-rich ambiance is now set.  

It’s a feeling of the Old West with urban flair, or perhaps a turn-of-the-century hideaway for discerning city dwellers not quite ready to go home.  The Comstock Saloon is definitely a destination to keep on your list of watering holes!

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 11, 2010 in Daily Activities, Restaurants, Reviews

 

Better Than Nothing

10 Nov

My cycling within the city limits of San Francisco continues to expand.  As such, I may need to amend my earlier assertion that one must go north or south of the city in order to get a decent ride in.  Mind you, one must indeed leave the city for any long distance, as San Francisco itself is of limited geographical area.  Still, I’m slowly discovering that I can both spin and challenge my legs within city limits, without having to come to a stop at every block.

Golden Gate Park often reminds me of New York’s Central Park, considering the nicely paved roads that more or less follow the perimeter.  A few laps around the length of this sizeable area will certainly help log the mileage, free of heavy traffic or constant stop signs.

Then there’s the mostly straight stretch along the bike path from the base of the Golden Gate Bridge toward Fort Mason.  Here too a cyclist can achieve some good speed and cadence.  Continuing east and south will lead into Fishermen’s Wharf and the Embarcadero, respectively.  This, however, is where the stop and go begins.  And from there, moving into the city from the shoreline, the stop and go will no doubt continue.

All things considered, a cyclist can crank out a decent and satisfying 20-mile loop around San Francisco in a short amount of time.  It’s certainly not the same as 50-60 miles up into Marin or down through Woodside, but in terms of training and overall cycling fitness, it’s better than nothing!

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 10, 2010 in Cycling, Daily Activities

 

Amazing Deja Vu!

09 Nov

This 1989 560 SL has 90 miles on the odometer.

While out on a short bicycle ride around the city this morning, I was stopped in my tracks by a beautiful sight:  A red 560 SL in the showroom window of Mercedes-Benz of San Francisco.  I thought to myself:  “Wow, a 560 SL from the late 1980s has been restored to showroom quality and is now for sale.  I must investigate!”

Mind you, a 560 SL is the car I’ve always wanted and still want, a red one in fact!  (I prefer black interior, however, to this car’s creme beige.)  SLs are always for sale, of course, in various stages of abuse and deterioration.  For one all polished up and on showroom display, I figured the condition of this one must not be all that bad, and the mileage perhaps not too high.

Late this afternoon, I was standing over this timeless classic in both awe and surprise.  The awe, of course, goes without saying, because I adore a red SL, especially in mint condition.  The surprise came with the discovery that Bobby Ewing’s wheels are NOT for sale, and more than this, that they’ve never seen the open road!  This is not a case of only-20K-miles never-been-driven; I mean, literally, this red-on-creme 21-year-old has really never been driven!  The odometer reads 90 miles.  This car has never been registered.  It has belonged to the owner of the dealership, apparently, ever since it arrived in his inventory 21 years ago.  The original invoice is still taped to the window, indicating all of the SL’s features, along with 1989’s grand price total of $65K and some change.

This experience threw me into an odd yet wonderful time warp.  Recalling my many trips to Mercedes-Benz dealers as a teen, I felt now as if I were back in 1989.  Here was this gorgeous German machine, fresh off the assembly line and ready for a home.  I recall the days of looking at this exact same model when it was brand new, and here today the moment returned, most unexpectedly and certainly most uniquely.  Amazing deja vu, to say the least!

This SL is said to be among the owner’s personal collection, with a sign next to it reading:  “For display only.”  I don’t blame him.  After all, 1989 was the final production year of this famous and beloved body style that was born in 1972.  Then of course, as the saying goes, “everything is for sale at the right price.”  I wonder what the right price is in this case.

 
1 Comment

Posted by on November 9, 2010 in Cars, Daily Activities, Mercedes-Benz

 

Two Wheels Sans Motor

08 Nov

Yesterday morning greeted me with not just an additional hour of time, about which I had forgotten, but also a significant amount of rain.  It ended up raining for most of the day in San Francisco, creating one very wet Sunday for all.

I enjoy rain and usually welcome it, as I did yesterday.  The downside, however, was that this surprise downpour steered me away from adding to the challenging bicycle mileage I logged the day before.  Saturday morning was an absolutely beautiful time for the weekly Alto Velo Club ride.  This was my second Saturday with this group of riders, starting and ending in Los Altos.  I’ve been on the search for a local bicycle racing group to replace La Grange in Los Angeles, and so far Alto Velo is filling the void.  As the weeks progress, and as my personal level of cycling fitness hopefully returns to a higher level, I’m looking forward to getting to know this club all the more.

As wonderful as San Francisco is in so many ways, it’s not a city for any good amount of performance cycling.  Riders might meet somewhere in the city, but from there typically comes an immediate dash across the Golden Gate into Marin and beyond, where terrific routes abound.  The Peninsula is another great area for pedal power, as cyclists flock to the back roads and twisty climbs of Woodside, hitting Skyline Boulevard and often continuing on to the coast.  While many exciting cycling options weave themselves around the Bay Area, none of them appears to exist in San Francisco itself.  I’ve done a few short jaunts around the city just to spin my legs, say 12 to 15 miles, and of course this is better than nothing.  However, when it comes to longer and more serious training, it’s going to happen either to the north or to the south.

Here’s a link to a map of my 30-mile ride this past Saturday, created via the GPS application on my iPhone.  I would have gone the full distance with the group, about twice as far, had I not needed to turn back early.  I needed to get to a different kind of bike appointment, this one pertaining to my other game, as in the one with a motor.  This Saturday, weather, work and home permitting, I’m hoping to go the day’s full distance with Alto Velo.  As I realized on this last ride, out of peak cycling shape as I currently am, two wheels sans motor is still my main game!

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 8, 2010 in Cycling, Daily Activities

 

Memorable Reality

05 Nov

I have an idea for a reality TV show, perhaps one that has not yet been thought up.  If so, now’s your chance to steal my big idea and run with it!

The show is:  Searching for a roommate living situation, that is, as the one looking to move into someone’s existing home.  I’ve been in this situation many times off and on throughout the past fifteen years, and I’m currently in it once again.  I simply have to say that my amazement never fails.  The “colorful” characters I meet, to use a neutral term, could not be created any better on paper by a sit-com writer.  And the living conditions in which I encounter these characters, to say the least with the help of another neutral term, are no doubt “memorable.”

Every one of us has a style, a personality and a unique method in which we inhabit our space.  I certainly do!  Finding two “styles” that can successfully co-exist, not to mention three or four or five in some cases, is no small challenge.  I’ll put it to you this way, a little less neutrally:  Nine out of ten people in this world live like absolute pigs, in my organized and orderly opinion.  Trust me on this one.  I have looked at enough shared places for rent in my life, in the past year especially, to come to this conclusion with confidence, and of course with dismay.

Every place, every individual, is a story.  Every space is an episode, or at least a segment of one.  This is where the reality TV show takes off.  You might not believe who and what I’ve come across, or at least you may find it entertaining.  This is a reality that could do very well on air, so perhaps we need to think a bit further about this.

In the meantime, I have more rental spaces to dig up and view.  I’ve looked at two so far now in San Francisco.  I am passing on both, however, “memorable” as they are.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 5, 2010 in Daily Activities

 

My First Martuni

04 Nov

Martinis are on my mind, considering the fact there are numerous fine establishments in San Francisco at which to get a decent one.  A well-established martini bar was recommended to me a few days ago, so I decided to pay it a visit and check out the scene.

Martuni’s is the name.  I entered a dark and windowless front bar room, with limited seating.  Fortunately I found a single stool at the bar with my name on it.  I glanced over the printed martini menu, eyeballed the selections on the shelf, and placed my order.  The snappy female bartender was all business and not having my mild inquisition.  I ordered a “martuni” and not a “vodka martuni,” as both were printed on the rather amateurish, tacky fold over.  Still, Ms. Grouchy asked me if I wanted gin or vodka.  With some apparent exasperation at my pointing out her redundancy, she gave me my “martuni” with the unspoken message to shut up and drink it.  This was obviously going well so far.

The recorded music that was playing in the background did not fit the ambiance of what I consider a martini bar to be.  There definitely needed to be less rock-n-roll and more lounge.  There also needed to be less bickering between the bartender and the server over the ingredients of one of the menu drinks.  I listened to them go at it nonetheless, exchanging eyebrows with another patron over the not-so-subtle scene.  Then I picked up the aforementioned Ramada-Inn-like print out and examined the listed contents of the drink in question.  The server stood correct.  The bartender was most certainly having a bad day.

My negroni to follow my “martuni” was very pleasing, as was the pour level.  Gal Smiley was redeeming herself!  I could see that the pour level of Martuni’s martinis appears to be acceptable across the board, just about reaching the rim in every drink I saw made.  This is key, as nothing irks me more than a low pour in a large martini glass.  Places guilty of this crime are not deserving of a repeat visit.  Martuni’s, all things considered, will see me again.  And I think Martuni’s should see you too!  We just need to go a little later in the evening next time, to check out the back bar and the live entertainment that was warming up as I made my early exit.  Perhaps my new 82-year-old acquaintance will be there again next time as well.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on November 4, 2010 in Daily Activities, Restaurants, Reviews

 

One Year on Two Wheels

01 Nov

Happy Birthday Red!

Another Halloween, complete with all the usual revelry, has come and gone.  This is the first day of November, the one-year anniversary of my motorcycle ownership, and a seemingly appropriate day to get my new blog underway.

I’ve been in San Francisco now for one week.  This is to say, more than one week has now passed since I moved out of my Encino residence, put most of my belongings in storage, and drove up I-5 to the City by the Bay.  In the past week I’ve applied to numerous job openings, gone to the gym, ridden my bicycle and my motorcycle, taken a day trip to Monterey and back to see some family members, and contemplated various elements of tomorrow’s election.  I had an interview rescheduled, I received a paycheck, I did a bit of cooking, I attended my first club bicycle ride in the area, and I took a look at a living space for rent, all while enjoying the company of a friend who’s welcomed me into his home for the time being.  Suffice to say, this is my new life, or at least the latest chapter thereof.  While the immediate future is uncertain, I’m excited to be here.

Exactly one year ago, on November 1, 2009, I purchased the mode of transportation I continue to love more and more everyday.  I took ownership of a red 2006 Suzuki SV650S, which on this day one year ago read 6,801 miles on its odometer.  Today the same odometer reads 18,103 miles.  In the past twelve months, my motorcycle has carried me 11,302 miles, or almost 942 miles per month.  As I recall, I’d had the bike for six months before hitting my 3,000-mile mark.  My second six months obviously saw a lot more ride time than my first six months did, thanks to the fact that I simply got a lot more used to what I was doing.  I’m happy to report, today, that motorcycling feels natural, and of course a lot of fun!  It’s been a long and interesting path for me, along the road of motorcycle education.  I certainly have a lot of this road yet to travel, but I’m pleased to be able to look back on the distance I’ve come thus far.  On the first day of “motorcycle year two,” the machine between my legs does not frighten me to the extent it did one year ago.  I’m confident, but, to make the important distinction, not overconfident.  I’m looking forward to bettering and expanding my skills in year two, while continuing, each and every day, to enjoy the ride.

Halloween, here and gone, again.  Always a day of craziness and merriment it is!  I’m thrilled to have celebrated Halloween 2010 here in San Francisco, on my motorcycle no less!  My two wheels may now rest.  My job interview tomorrow is a short walk away.

 
2 Comments

Posted by on November 1, 2010 in Daily Activities, Motorcycle

 
Newer posts →