I was browsing some videos on one of those video websites when I came across this and it just made me smile. I guess it is ventriloquist Terry Fator on the show America's Got Talent.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Valkyrie
While I am admitting to owning Honda motorcycles I need to fess up about the 1997 Honda Valkyrie Tour that I owned from April of 2000 to February of 2006. Six years the entire time which I was employed at a Harley-Davidson Dealership.
The Valkyrie at Molas Pass in Colorado
The last few weeks I was employed at Foreman's Menswear (The finest purveyors of tailored men's clothing in the Midwest.) I was dreaming of spending my severance package on a new Honda CB750. After the last store was closed and I was out of a job but fairly flush with cash I went to the local Honda shop. I wanted to ride the newest version of the CB750 because I had the 1979 at home that I really liked but that wasn't running so reliably anymore. The 750 that the Honda shop had in stock was not ready for a test ride so while I was standing around and waiting I asked if I could ride this used 1997 Valkyrie Tour that was sitting there. I was fascinated with the Valkyrie, I had read every article ever written about it but it was just way too big, way too fast.
I came back from that test ride with a grin on my face that you couldn't have wiped off with a shovel. I test rode the 750 next but it felt way too small and not nearly half the motorcycle that the Valkyrie was. I had to have the Valkyrie.
Within days of purchasing the Honda I was hired at Zook's Harley-Davidson to manage the Apparel Department. I pretended like I had owned the Valkyrie for awhile, I didn't want them to know that I had purchased a Honda while being interviewed for a position at Harley-Davidson.
I did receive a lot of grief for riding a Honda but I told everyone that I had to wait a year before I was eligible for the employee discount on motorcycles (which was true) and there was a two year waiting list to get a Harley back then. Plus my used Honda was about half price compared to the Touring Harley's at the time.
I rode that Valkyrie over 40,000 miles in the six years that I owned it, traveling in 14 states. It has unrivaled power and handling, twist the throttle and it just accelerates, push on the handlebar, lean it as far as you want, and it will turn harder than anything weighting half as much has any right to. I have to admit that I can't ride either of my Harley-Davidson motorcycles as hard or as fast.
Ole and the Valkyrie in Monument Valley, Utah
But in the end it wasn't a Harley and I do work at a Harley-Davidson dealership. One of the deciding factors in selling it was when I was touring Utah with a friend in 2005. We stopped at a scenic overlook and a family from France had to take a dozen pictures of my friend's Harley-Davidson Wide Glide but wouldn't even give my Honda a second look. There was no getting around it, the Valkyrie didn't have the Harley soul. It had the soul of a Camry.
The Valkyrie was traded for the Ole Glide in the spring of 2000. I do miss it sometimes and if space and money were unlimited I would have kept it.
The Valkyrie at Molas Pass in Colorado
The last few weeks I was employed at Foreman's Menswear (The finest purveyors of tailored men's clothing in the Midwest.) I was dreaming of spending my severance package on a new Honda CB750. After the last store was closed and I was out of a job but fairly flush with cash I went to the local Honda shop. I wanted to ride the newest version of the CB750 because I had the 1979 at home that I really liked but that wasn't running so reliably anymore. The 750 that the Honda shop had in stock was not ready for a test ride so while I was standing around and waiting I asked if I could ride this used 1997 Valkyrie Tour that was sitting there. I was fascinated with the Valkyrie, I had read every article ever written about it but it was just way too big, way too fast.
I came back from that test ride with a grin on my face that you couldn't have wiped off with a shovel. I test rode the 750 next but it felt way too small and not nearly half the motorcycle that the Valkyrie was. I had to have the Valkyrie.
Within days of purchasing the Honda I was hired at Zook's Harley-Davidson to manage the Apparel Department. I pretended like I had owned the Valkyrie for awhile, I didn't want them to know that I had purchased a Honda while being interviewed for a position at Harley-Davidson.
I did receive a lot of grief for riding a Honda but I told everyone that I had to wait a year before I was eligible for the employee discount on motorcycles (which was true) and there was a two year waiting list to get a Harley back then. Plus my used Honda was about half price compared to the Touring Harley's at the time.
I rode that Valkyrie over 40,000 miles in the six years that I owned it, traveling in 14 states. It has unrivaled power and handling, twist the throttle and it just accelerates, push on the handlebar, lean it as far as you want, and it will turn harder than anything weighting half as much has any right to. I have to admit that I can't ride either of my Harley-Davidson motorcycles as hard or as fast.
Ole and the Valkyrie in Monument Valley, Utah
But in the end it wasn't a Harley and I do work at a Harley-Davidson dealership. One of the deciding factors in selling it was when I was touring Utah with a friend in 2005. We stopped at a scenic overlook and a family from France had to take a dozen pictures of my friend's Harley-Davidson Wide Glide but wouldn't even give my Honda a second look. There was no getting around it, the Valkyrie didn't have the Harley soul. It had the soul of a Camry.
The Valkyrie was traded for the Ole Glide in the spring of 2000. I do miss it sometimes and if space and money were unlimited I would have kept it.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
1979 Honda CB750L
Even though I work at a Harley-Davidson Dealership I do still own a Honda. **GASP**
But there is a story connected with it that I would like to share. My first motorcycle was a Honda 250 but one of my best friends had a 1979 Honda CB750F that was just faster than anything I could imagine. He would let me ride it often enough to make me very envious. During college I ran into a bit of financial difficulty and couldn't afford to fix the clutch in my 250 or purchase books for the next term so I solved both problems by selling the motorcycle.
Shortly after getting married I stopped into the local Honda shop and saw a motorcycle I really liked. A 1979 Honda 750 just like my friend's but styled to commemorate the original Honda 750 from 1969. A Limited Edition 10th Anniversary CB7950L. Wow.
A few days later I was driving past with Jill in the car and I decided that I wanted to show her this motorcycle so we stopped to take a look at it. She told me that with all of our student loans and bills and just getting married that then wasn't the right time to purchase a motorcycle. I wasn't even set on buying the bike I just thought it was very nice and in great shape for such an old bike that I wanted her to see it so I didn't give it another thought.
Well, it bothered Jill that she told me that I couldn't buy the motorcycle so when I came home from work a few days later there the bike was sitting on our back porch. Jill had gone back to the dealership to purchase the motorcycle and had the salesman deliver it to our apartment as a surprise.
Unfortunately the motorcycle has just been sitting in our garage the last eight years while we ride our other motorcycles. But I can't seem to get rid of it because of the way that Jill bought it for me. Maybe I'll work on getting it running again over this winter. Or make me an offer I can't refuse if you want a good looking but non running antique Honda with a romantic history.
But there is a story connected with it that I would like to share. My first motorcycle was a Honda 250 but one of my best friends had a 1979 Honda CB750F that was just faster than anything I could imagine. He would let me ride it often enough to make me very envious. During college I ran into a bit of financial difficulty and couldn't afford to fix the clutch in my 250 or purchase books for the next term so I solved both problems by selling the motorcycle.
Shortly after getting married I stopped into the local Honda shop and saw a motorcycle I really liked. A 1979 Honda 750 just like my friend's but styled to commemorate the original Honda 750 from 1969. A Limited Edition 10th Anniversary CB7950L. Wow.
A few days later I was driving past with Jill in the car and I decided that I wanted to show her this motorcycle so we stopped to take a look at it. She told me that with all of our student loans and bills and just getting married that then wasn't the right time to purchase a motorcycle. I wasn't even set on buying the bike I just thought it was very nice and in great shape for such an old bike that I wanted her to see it so I didn't give it another thought.
Well, it bothered Jill that she told me that I couldn't buy the motorcycle so when I came home from work a few days later there the bike was sitting on our back porch. Jill had gone back to the dealership to purchase the motorcycle and had the salesman deliver it to our apartment as a surprise.
Unfortunately the motorcycle has just been sitting in our garage the last eight years while we ride our other motorcycles. But I can't seem to get rid of it because of the way that Jill bought it for me. Maybe I'll work on getting it running again over this winter. Or make me an offer I can't refuse if you want a good looking but non running antique Honda with a romantic history.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Remembering Sept 11
On Sept. 11th my cousin's son who is in the ROTC in North Carolina participated in a memorial ceremony. The photo and story were sent to me by his grandmother.
A Black Hawk Helicopter lands behind the Honor Guard.
(Chase Heien is on the right)
SALUTE TO SACRIFICE
‘We will never forget the horror’ of Sept 11, 2001.”
On Tuesday, Sept 11, 2007, the Greater Hickory Classic at the Rock Barn Golf and Spa of Conover, hosted a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony in honor of the firefighters, police officers, EMS workers and other citizens who gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. ROTC from different local schools were represented as multiple color guards paraded onto the first tee of the Jones Course as the Greater Hickory Classic Official Pro-Am Tournament took time to honor the victims who died in New York, Washington D. C. and Pennsylvania on Sept 11, 2001, and those who died trying to rescue them .
“We will never forget the horror that transformed on our soil that day. We must honor the firefighters, police officers, EMS workers and other ordinary citizens that did extraordinary things that day,” said Rick George, president of the PGA Champions Tour at the ceremony. “But we all must sacrifice, as well. We must be worthy of the tragedy that was wrought.”
George said to be worthy of their sacrifice, we all must make a commitment to be fair and honest to each other. He said we should also draw strength and courage from those who gave their lives helping others on Sept. 11. And most importantly, we must never forget these people.
The first fairway on the Jones Course was lined with 3,000 American flags, one to honor each of those who lost their lives on Sept 11, 2001. Eight color guards were on hand representing all branches of the military, as well as firefighters and law enforcement.
The ceremony culminated with five U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters flying over the golf course, with one landing nearby. The flag detail, firing detail and bugler got out of the helicopter. The flag was raised and lowered to half-staff, a 21-gun salute was performed and taps was played.
A Black Hawk Helicopter lands behind the Honor Guard.
(Chase Heien is on the right)
SALUTE TO SACRIFICE
‘We will never forget the horror’ of Sept 11, 2001.”
On Tuesday, Sept 11, 2007, the Greater Hickory Classic at the Rock Barn Golf and Spa of Conover, hosted a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony in honor of the firefighters, police officers, EMS workers and other citizens who gave their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. ROTC from different local schools were represented as multiple color guards paraded onto the first tee of the Jones Course as the Greater Hickory Classic Official Pro-Am Tournament took time to honor the victims who died in New York, Washington D. C. and Pennsylvania on Sept 11, 2001, and those who died trying to rescue them .
“We will never forget the horror that transformed on our soil that day. We must honor the firefighters, police officers, EMS workers and other ordinary citizens that did extraordinary things that day,” said Rick George, president of the PGA Champions Tour at the ceremony. “But we all must sacrifice, as well. We must be worthy of the tragedy that was wrought.”
George said to be worthy of their sacrifice, we all must make a commitment to be fair and honest to each other. He said we should also draw strength and courage from those who gave their lives helping others on Sept. 11. And most importantly, we must never forget these people.
The first fairway on the Jones Course was lined with 3,000 American flags, one to honor each of those who lost their lives on Sept 11, 2001. Eight color guards were on hand representing all branches of the military, as well as firefighters and law enforcement.
The ceremony culminated with five U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters flying over the golf course, with one landing nearby. The flag detail, firing detail and bugler got out of the helicopter. The flag was raised and lowered to half-staff, a 21-gun salute was performed and taps was played.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Clay County Fair
This weekend Jill I went to Spencer for the famous Clay County Fair. It is often billed as the worlds largest county fair and claims to be larger than some state fairs.
Jill at the Clay County Fair
We didn't actually go to see the Fair but it was a great excuse to go and visit my grandfather. Grandpa Veitch loves the fair, in fact he goes every single day. I think mainly he enjoys something different to do and something to get him out of the house. In one short afternoon we saw most of what the Fair had to offer. Highlights included ketchup covered pancakes and a great Kiwanis breakfast, a nice couple selling Russian imported goods, the Budweiser Clydesdale team, a 350 pound pumpkin and my grandfather's antique car club's display tent. I wish I had more pictures but the camera was not cooperating.
Jill at the Clay County Fair
We didn't actually go to see the Fair but it was a great excuse to go and visit my grandfather. Grandpa Veitch loves the fair, in fact he goes every single day. I think mainly he enjoys something different to do and something to get him out of the house. In one short afternoon we saw most of what the Fair had to offer. Highlights included ketchup covered pancakes and a great Kiwanis breakfast, a nice couple selling Russian imported goods, the Budweiser Clydesdale team, a 350 pound pumpkin and my grandfather's antique car club's display tent. I wish I had more pictures but the camera was not cooperating.
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