Happy 2008 to you all.
I hope this year brings you much love, laughter and good health.

Last night the old man and I didn’t go out. Instead we passed the torch to our little one. She went out to a party with her girlfriend at the aquarium from 6 to 11 where they had a kid’s party including an apple juice toast at 9:00. Kenny and I sat at home watching the window for the car to pull up at 11:30 to drop her off. My excuse for watching the window like a hawk was that I was sure she’d be long asleep and I’d have to carry her in, but I think Kenny was practicing for the teenage years. We were 2 old dorks waiting up for their little girl to come home.

The stamina of a 6 year old is amazing. She came home at 11:30 and for the first time stayed up with us to watch the ball drop on Dick Clark’s Rockin Eve at midnight. We shared kisses, hugs and ‘happy new year’s. It was really rather sweet. Prompty at 12:01, with sleepy eyes she sauntered off to bed.

They say the person you kiss at the stroke of 12 is the person you’ll kiss all year long. I’d be more than happy about that.

My long standing fascination with the BMW 1150/12GSs is no secret to anyone who knows me. Outside of the sheer expense of obtaining one of the new big GSs, I also have a well documented fear of not being able to work with the big, tall, behemoth if I were to get it into a position that isn’t ‘perfect’. So I carry on with my someday pipedream and enjoy the fantasy of being able to handle the big GS on one foot, in loose gravel, facing downhill on a slope in the rain.

Then my dear friend whose name i will change to… um, let’s see.. Craig… comes along with this: ‘This might be right up your alley…’, ‘F800GS… Just your size..’

Do I need this shit from you, Craig? Do i need to know that the big lug of my misty eyed fantasy has a little brother that is just my size? And i know, i just KNOW it is dying to go home with me. I thought you were my friend but what do you do? You fill my obsessive mind with possibility. Now for the last few days I have been haunted by ‘maybe’ and ‘I think there is room in the garage.’

I’m in hell. I need to sell a kidney.

the heart is. That’s pretty much what I’ve been up to for the last month or so. I’ve been so wrapped up in the daily goings-on of my family, working on our little house and my new job, I haven’t really even kicked around the idea of going out for a ride, really. That being said, everything has just been really good. Consistantly good-er than i can remember everything being in quite some time. I’m really greatful.

I did pop out this evening to grab a cup of cawfee and meet up with some of the guys. It felt like I haven’t seen anyone in ages and was as always, good to see everyone after a long spell away. I guess you can always come home.

I think I’ve discovered the secret of life – you just hang around until you get used to it.
- Charles M. Schulz

…let God, they say.

‘You know, lotsa people stop to take pictures of that sign.’
‘It really is a lovely, old sign.’
‘Yea, I guess it is. Thank you.’

No, no, ma’am. Thank you for holding on to a piece of fading Americana.