BIG ALS COMPOUND

Long over due…

2011-12-03T20:31:00.000-06:00

The hiking trip that almost wasn’t…let me start off by saying have you ever wondered what it would be like to go on vacation drive 250 miles only to find out that the place you were going is closed? Sounds like a great movie to me…maybe the video below will enlighten you on our story. Ha-ha.

Ok I kind of got off my story, a few weeks ago 5 buddies and myself decided to head out on a great hiking adventure at the Sipsey Trail in Alabama. About 10 miles before the trail head the roadway turns from asphalt, to gravel and then to dirt, giant leaves covering the road.

Once at the trail head, everyone unloaded their packs from the cars, then it was discovered we had a new king of the giant pack…yep my buddy Chad the old king,

brought his young son Hayden along on the hike…make way for the new king!!!

Hayden, quickly realizing what his father had done to him, started handing off stuff from his pack to the nearest SUCKER…Meet Matt “the sucker” Roland. Ha-ha.

Then we took our trail head photo from left to right. Tim, Chad, Matt, Donnie with Hayden up front.

Then we took a second photo to make sure we all got in. left to right, Tim, Big Al, Matt, and Donnie. I also posted this photo because if you look real close between the shoulder of Matt and Donnie (the two guys on the right) Well this small piece of paper flapping in the wind has great meaning, more on that later in the story.

Then we were off

Made it to the first creek crossing…Hmmm it was DRY.

Hmmm, first sign we might be in for a workout to get to the first camp site.

Hayden, found sucker number two…His dad Chad! Now carrying two packs…

After many, many trees across the trail, tree crossing we took our first break…my buddy Tim in the running for the giant pack.

Chad starts setting up camp while the two new guys Donnie and Tim fetch some water. (Sucks being the new guys. Ha-ha)

Then Matt calls out to Donnie????

Everyone had sweated down, so a short break was in order before we set up camp.

Hmmm, seems even little Hayden wondered why Matt and Donnie put their tents so near each other.

Then came the point in time were Tim realized…I got to get a bigger tent!!! (As his leg stick out of the tent)

Once camp was set up, the weenie cooking began…eighteen dogs and five and a half guys…only two dogs left after the feast.

Oh Hayden may have only half our size, but I sure he ate more than all of us put together.

Time for a FIRE!!!

LOOK CLOSE… (To the left of the fire) and you will see the starting of the glow stick dance by Hayden.

Ghost stories around the fire…You can’t get much better than that.

Morning can only mean one thing…Matt’s breakfast pancakes!!!!

My hammock

Chad and Hayden tent

Tim’s tent on the point

Then…Well, Matt’s and Donnie’s tents…Might as well just brought one, six inches apart…Really guys?

Well after breakfast, it was decided to call the trip a bust and hike back out due to all the trees down on the trail. Matt and the guys decided to leave their packs and do a quick hike to the water falls and the Big Tree. Me being the old man on the trip, started to make my way back to the car as I had seen both many times before.

Along the way I took a lot of photos along the trail to show everyone how bad the trees were across the trail, here are some…

It’s like a hiking nightmare, climbing over and under trees along the way. Look at the root ball behind me, remember I’m 6’5” and it towers over me.

Well I made it back to the trail head, and took the time to read the sign I was talking about at the begin of this story…Trail Closed!!! The funny part is we all would have bet that someone had just put the sign up that day…only once I looked at the photo; we knew the sign had been there the whole time.

I got to the car changed into some clean pants and shirt, snapped a few photos around the trail head and the headed back to the trail to wait for the others.

To my surprise the first to appear was Chad and his son Hayden

Soon followed by the rest of the guys…soaked to the bone with sweat, I might add.

Then a quick trip to the A & W for our victory meal.

Then the long ride home, laughing at Donnie as leg cramps set in, very funny stuff watching a 6’5” guy trying to straighten out his legs while in a car…I only laughed as I had them the night before in a hammock while hanging over a cliff.

All in all, as bad as the trail was, we all had a great time and better stories to tell…ha-ha.

Till next time
Big Al

Saturday October 22, 2011 (part 2)

2011-10-26T20:06:00.000-05:00

Well as I said before the sky was blue, the temperature was in the mid 60’s and the ride was going great only around 50 miles left to my destination. I was cruising along this long and lonely Hwy. 425 when all of a sudden the Arkansas state line sign was upon me.

Being the blogger that I am, I made the quick decision to pull over in a church parking lot to get a photo. This proved to be a costly mistake; here is why. Well what looked like an asphalt parking lot from the road turned out to be a gravel parking lot with very loose gravel.

As my bike front wheel exited from the highway there was a small lip from the roadway to the parking lot, this caused the front tire to pull quickly to the right, yep you guessed it right into the loose gravel (oh did I mention I was in the middle of hard breaking and still doing around 40 mph) well needless to say that was all she wrote…the bike and I went down with a great THUD!!!

Next thing I know as I’m laying on my back a big dully truck pulls up beside me with a high school kid driving it asking if I needed any help. Turned out to be a great kid, I told him I was alright as I picked my bike up and he went on down the road. I got to admit my first thought was as I hit the ground, am I dead, then I went through a body check,

the thick leather jacket I was wearing saved my upper body, my lower body took on most of the damage. My jeans were still intact but I could feel the blood running down my legs from my knees. All in all I walked away with very little damage, my left knee was scraped and my left elbow was hurting…oh who am I kidding my whole left side felt like someone had worked me over with a bat.

Ha-ha. Then this thought hit me as I watched the dully truck tail light fade out of site. Would my bike crank? The answer you ask…yes it did after many, many tries. Well as my leather jacket saved me, the crash bars on my bike saved it, the bar on the left side of my bike was now covering my shifter,

so with a lot of kicking and screaming I was able to bend the bar far enough from my shifter that my foot could reach it again to shift gears, so down the hwy I went to the small town “Star City”.

I was the first to reach the Star City Inn;

Walter had not made it yet. I was the only car in the parking lot, not a bad place just no one there…it’s in the middle of nowhere.

About the time I walked back to unload my bike, my buddy Walter pulled up on his Honda.

I told him my sad story, he laugh and called me names…what are friends for, RIGHT?

After he checked in we cleaned up a little and decided to go and get some pizza at a local pizza shop "Mike's Pizza Pro". I think this was the only place in town open on a Saturday night and just like the Inn we were the only customers in the place. Truth is known I think we were the only people who had ever been inside; the employees looked at us like we were from outer space. We ended up ordering a large cheeseburger pizza and an order of bread sticks (pretty darn good)

and my buddy Walter picked up the tab, I think he was feeling sorry for me by now. Ha-ha.

We sat around and swapped war stories and the good time we had in the past for at least an hour and a half. We did a lot of catching up and I was telling him how I had had this bike for over a little over three years now and had never dropped it once until today…I feel a little more foreshadowing coming on.

Time to head back to the room, it was starting to get cold and neither one of us brought our jacket with up as the pizza place was only a couple of blocks down the road. Well my friends never say never; as we pulled back into the Inn (two cars there now) I pulled my bike into one of the numerous parking spots under a big light pole started turning it around so I could back it in to the spot…for some reason still unknown to me this day, in mid turn I grabbed the front break…

yep you guessed it, down to the ground I went, with a huge THUD!!!

This time on my right side, I have to admit I just laid there for a few seconds just wondering what the heck just happened, so once again in the same DAY mind you, I picked my bike up again.

After that it was bed time, I checked out my injures mainly just burses and scratches on both knees now. Funny thing is when I fell the second time (IN THE SAME DAY) I ended up hurting my right knee, it was getting hard to walk, go figure, crash at 40 mph and just walk away, crash at a near stop and injure my knee.

As I was sleeping I was awakened around 4:30am to a loud crashing sound…my first thought was it was someone loading my bike into the back of a pickup but my leg was hurting so I did not get out of bed to see…then seconds later I heard another crash, then I thought they got the second one! I could not take it anymore I hobbled to my feet and shuffled to the window only to find out it was thunder and it was now raining….

The next morning after what had to be the worse continental breakfast,

it was decided due to my knee pain, it would be best to cut the ride short and head home with my tail between my legs…we made a quick stop at McDonalds for lunch said our goodbyes and we were on our way home, me to Petal, MS and Walter to Huntsville, Alabama.

Just as I was around 15 miles from home still nursing a sore knee, I see this crazy man in front of me with his arm out the window of his truck telling me to come around him on the hwy. I got to admit this did not make me happy as I just wanted to get home and off my crippled bike. As I passed the truck who do Isee non-other than Matt (the hammer) Roland looking at me. We pulled over I told him the sad story… he laugh and called me names…what are friends for, RIGHT? Got to get better friends. Ha-ha.

Come to find out he was on his way home from a mountain bike race where he took second place; he even posed for a photo, trophy in hand. (Camera hog)

said our goodbyes and I was home my 5:00pm come to find out my buddy Walter did not get home till 9:00pm. OUCH!!!

GOOD NEWS; my knee has healed itself, except for the scrapes, I'm ready for my hiking trip next week…thank GOD its not in Arkansas.

Till next time

Big Al

Saturday, October 22, 2011

2011-10-25T08:05:00.000-05:00

Morning everyone, time to tell the story of the great Arkansas motorcycle road trip,

Let me go back in time a few days a do a little foreshadowing (big word, see I got book smarts)

Our original plan was to leave around 12:00pm Friday and meet up in a small town in Arkansas called Pine Bluffs. Here is a link of the trip…
RIDE MAP

Well as you might have guessed it did not happen…AS PLANNED!!

I guess around Tuesday I came down with a bad cold we had been passing around the office, I ended up getting a fever and missing Wednesday at work.

I sent my ridding buddy Walter an email and told him we might need to move the ride to Saturday due to illness. About this time, Walter had sent me an email saying that the town we had picked for our first night was ranked as one of the highest crime spots in Arkansas,

not good when you are ridding easy to steal motorcycles. So a new location was picked, Star City was the new destination. Woke up Thursday feeling better…RIDE BACK ON AS PLANNED!!! Well so I thought, I was packed and ready to go Friday morning,

and then I get a text message from Walter telling me he had come down with something and asked could we move the ride to Saturday morning. (See lots of foreshadowing)

Woke up Saturday ready to go, I had around a 300 mile ride ahead of me, my buddy Walter around 400 mile ride. I decided at the last second that I would like to get a new full face helmet (due to the cold weather),

so a quick trip to Hattiesburg Cycle would be needed on my way out of town. (I’ll do a review on the helmet in a post soon)

I guess I was on my way around 10:30am.

The ride started out beautiful, I have to admit I spent the first hour or so fiddling with my new helmet, pushing and pulling buttons trying to figure out how to raise and lower the shield while ridding. Once I entered into Louisiana, I really started getting into the ride; I crossed through huge cotton farms in the middle of picking. I did run into one small shower, not even enough to get my jacket wet, lasted less than a minute, then sky’s turned bright blue again. Oh yea this is what ridding is all about…then came the ARKANSAS STATE LINE SIGN………

Check back soon, the best is yet to come.

Big Al

New motorcycle ride...IN THE WORKS!!

2011-10-18T18:55:00.000-05:00

Wow!!! Long time since my last post, truth is I’ve been working on another blog
BIG ALS QUEST
for some time now trying to improve myself and I'm glad to say "it's working."

I got many; many stories to share with everyone here hope to start posting soon but for now let me tell you of and up and coming motorcycle trip.

It’s in the late planning stage now; as a matter of fact I head out this Friday. Where you ask? Arkansas

that’s where, just myself

and a long lost high school best buddy, Walter

reunite for a 1200 mile 3 ½ day trip around the mountains of Arkansas. The plan, around 12:00pm Friday I head out to Pine Bluff, AR from Hattiesburg, (from work) Mississippi.Walter will leave sometime that morning from his home in Huntsville, Alabama. Both of us will have around a 300 mile solo ride from different direction. Once there. we will get a room and head out on our journey early Saturday morning (see map of the ride)
RIDE MAP
looks to be around 650 miles, we will break that up over Saturday and Sunday ending at Helena AR, then making around another 300 solo mile ride home Monday.

I’ll post more about it once I get home, not sure yet if I’m going to carry my computer or not…I will have my camera and will be clicking at every stop.

More to come

Big Al

Labor Day weekend

2011-09-09T18:12:00.006-05:00

Had some vacation time just burning a hole in my pocket, so I decided to take Thursday and Friday off and have a long 5 day weekend. Well since it was Labor Day weekend I decided to do some labor…Hmm what to labor on, that is the question? It did not take long for me to realize it was time to clean my garage it had become a pig sty in the last year.

I got to admit at first it was a little overwhelming, where to start first.

We have been remodeling our house over the last few years and the garage has become a catch all for all the stuff we ripped out of each room. Our garage is a little over 1600 sq feet and I swear you could barely move around in it. I guess my breaking point came a few days back when I went to do a simple one hour job that ended up taking hours because I could not find tools or just got tired of climbing over the piles of stuff to get to them.

To get started I backed my truck and trailer into the shop and just started throwing things away.

Then went around and picked up all my tools and stuff and hung them on the wall. Once everything was off the floor a good sweeping was in order, followed by the wet vac and the leaf blower…I got to say it turned out nice, very nice just like it was before…yea…I got my shop back.

The above looks easy on paper, but it took me most of two days…then I had the problem, what to do with the stuff in my truck and my trailer. To the dump, to the dump

I went all away across town in Hattiesburg. I got to admit its been years since I have been to dump (land fill) things have changed…

First you have to weigh your trash, and then they hit you with a bill, in my case $ 21.05.

Then the next thing I was told is, you will need a hard hat and orange vest on the entire time you will be out of your truck at the dump. Hmmm just did not happen to have one on me, seems I’m not alone as they have a big box of loaner hats and vest you can use. Got to say I looked pretty stylish in my new attire.

Got everything unloaded and made the long drive home…but do you know what? I had a very clean garage to pull my truck in when I got back…I did good!!!

Till next time
Big Al

Cutting Grass

2011-08-31T19:45:00.000-05:00

Some emails are just to good not to pass along...

I can’t think of a better word than "PRICELESS" FOR THIS. . .

I hope the picture below will go through for you - of this Army soldier in Iraq with his tiny 'plot' of grass in front of his tent. It's heartwarming! Here is a soldier in Iraq, stationed in a big sand box.

He asked his wife to send him dirt (U.S. soil), fertilizer,

and some grass seed

so that he can have the sweet aroma, and feel the grass grow beneath his feet. When the men of the squadron have a mission that they are going on, they take turns walking through the grass and the American soil

to bring them good luck.

Of all the things he could have asked his wife to send to him from home...........he asked for American soil. WOW.

If you notice, he is even cutting the grass with a pair of scissors.. Sometimes we are in such a hurry that we don't stop and think about the little things that we take for granted.

Big Al

New Hampshire to Maine to Rhode Island

2011-07-31T09:24:00.000-05:00

June 14, 2011 Tuesday

Woke up early but somehow got a late start, went down stairs from our room and had a breakfast fit for a king, some of the best coffee of the trip and the service was great. After we packed, snapped a few outside photos of the place and we were on our way.

The drive was beautiful great scenery along the way somewhere around 150 miles to Maine.

Got to what the locals call Old Port Maine around 1:00pm still full from breakfast so we decided to walk around the port and check out some souvenir shops. Parking is first come first serve, on our third pass down the road we found one. It had a parking meter,

two hour max; we walled through many stores then ended up at the Porthole Restaurant,

yep you know me well by now it was another Diner, Drive-in an Dive on my list. (I be posting a post soon about the place) anyway we went for lobster but were disappointed it did not serve whole lobster, so we just got an appetizer and when on our way (more to come, trust me) then back to the streets we went. We shopped till around 3:30pm until we found ourselves at Becky’s Diner. (YEP, another dinner on my list)

So you know the drill by now here is a photo, you will have to wait on the post coming soon.

Then we were off, to Rhode Island, but first we had to get through New Hampshire and Massachustts…

More to come
Big Al

New York to New Hampshire (Day four Maine trip)

2011-06-26T10:57:00.000-05:00

June 13, 2011 Monday

New York to New Hampshire

Woke up around 8:00am, had breakfast at the hotel and headed to Vermont

for a night of camping (yea right) anyway we got on the road late, somewhere around 10:00am with many miles ahead of us. We arrived at our camp spot

somewhere around 3:00pm it ended up being on top of a snow skiing mountain that now being summer was like a ghost town.

We checked out the camp sites to find out we had the place all to ourselves…Score!!!

Right? WRONG!!! The little wife gave it a thumbs down…she was not happy being the only ones on the mountain (I think she had a doe deer attack flash back). With that said, I snapped a few photos

…sniff, sniff and down the mountain we went, this time with the GPS locked on to New Hampshire,

we arrived somewhere around 7:00pm. My turn to pick the room, I picked The Centennial,

wow did I do good, I got many, many brownie points

on this one. it turned out to be a beautiful place, it was an old antebellum home that was turned into an inn. Really, really nice, breakfast

and room service for 119 dollars a night,

I’m pretty sure my wife would have moved in there for good.

More to report next post

Big Al

Pennsylvania to New York (Day three Maine trip)

2011-06-21T20:21:00.000-05:00

June 12, 2011 Sunday

Pennsylvania to New York

Woke up early and headed out of the roach motel

heading to New York.

After many hours of driving, we crossed into New York to our next stop Lake Effect Diner.

Yep you guess it another Diner, Drive-in and Dive. We got to the diner somewhere around 1:00pm our GPS brought us to the diner right through what my wife call the bad part of town;

I just call it old.

Anyway we made it safe and sound, the diner was small, but cool looking. As with the last post, here is a photo, I will be doing a complete story in a post soon.

Next stop Niagara Falls,

it took a bit to find the place (only one of the biggest water falls in the world) but once we did, we got a room at the Comfort Inn right next to the falls (easy walk) we unpacked and headed to the falls, it was somewhere around 60 degree with a lots of wind so we stopped off at one of the many souvenir shops along the way and bought my wife a Niagara Falls sweatshirt to keep her warm during the walk.

The park itself is beautiful, lots of walking trails to and around the falls.

Well we made our way to the falls, and I have to say the scene from the movie Vacation came to mind.

The falls are beautiful

but seemed kind of small. I guess I had built them up in my mind. We took some photos and a few videos

then made our way around to the other side.

Then back to the room we went for some much needed rest, we had been doing back to back 500 mile driving days.

Woke up around 10:00pm that night to the sound of what I thought was thunder, then I realized it was not thunder at all, it was the fireworks show over the falls. I could see them from my window, the wife was dead to the world never moved out of bed…I guess I need to start calling her MY OLD LADY!!!

Ha-ha.

Till next time

Big AL

June 11, 2011 Saturday (Day two, Maine trip)

2011-06-19T22:41:00.000-05:00

June 11, 2011 Saturday

Kentucky to Pennsylvania

Woke up early, had a quick breakfast of champions

on the road to Wal-Mart.

Stocked up on some food for our igloo for the rest of the trip. Then off to Cumberland Gap National Forest

For a quick hike up to Pinnacle Rock for a view of the near by cities. We road up the mountain 4 miles on tight twisty roads till we reached the top parking lot.

We had the whole place to ourselves (so we thought, dum, dum, Dum!). A quick look over the place then we were off to a beautiful trail

to the top of the mountain.

We were only a few hundred yards into the trail when we found out that we were not alone on the trail…we heard a rustling sound in the near by bushes...the out it came, I had no time to react, it was upon us….a giant killer female deer…

all I can say I was so glad it was not a bear, as when I looked back I found myself standing alone!!! My wife was almost back at the car running for her life

before I could explain to here it was just a doe…so much for backup. Ha-ha. So needless to say for the rest of the trip I made her walk in front…so I could keep an eye on her. Wink, wink. My thinking is if a bear does jump out on us, as she runs by be I could a least trip her. Bear food,

I’m always thinking. Ha-ha.

Well we made it to the top with a lot of huffing and puffing and were rewarded with an unbelievable view of the cities below.

We hiked a little on the upper trails and came across this cannon,

my question is “how did they get it to the top?” so back to the car we went and down the mountain.

Then we crossed into West Virginia

and stopped at another diner, drive-in and dive “Hillbilly hotdog” oh man did we have fun there, it was everything Guy said it would be and more. I’m only going to give you a couple of photos of this as I will be doing a post about the place.

Then we crossed into Pennsylvania

late that night and got a room at the Red Roof Inn

(our only dive hotel of the trip) Construction workers everywhere parting all night,

no elevator had to lug our bags up several flights of stairs.

Till next post

Big Al

Petal Mississippi to Cumberland Gap Kentucky (Day 1)

2011-06-17T20:50:00.000-05:00

June 10, 2011

Petal, Mississippi to Cumberland Gap, Kentucky

Woke up early but got a late start, somewhere around 7:00am Friday morning. Today is the start of a 4000 mile round trip to Maine

for the wife and myself…I know the trip started out as a motorcycle trip but has now turned into a 10 day car trip with the wife

and myself.

Not a lot to report on the first day just a few photos from the road along the way.

I think we put in some where around 600 miles most being interstate…snore, snore.

passed through Alabama

Tennessee

Then we entered into Kentucky

A new state for both of us, we entered a cool tunnel

that went through a mountain, it put out Mobile Tunnel to shame.

Then we entered the Cumberland Gap National Park, beautiful place. Our plan was to camp out but it as somewhere around 95 degrees outside…

just too hot to camp. So to town we went, about 5 minutes away.

Well come to find out the genealogy convention was in town (old people everywhere)

so we got the last room available. The room was at the Holiday Inn Express,

it ended up being the executive suite, Welcome to our room!

My motorcycle riding buddy David would have approved. (Inside joke)

Well we were tired from the days drive so we headed across the street to eat at the King Buffet,

I give it a 2 out of 5. Then off to bed we went. Early start in the morning…lots more coming soon.

Big AL

Thunder on the Beach motorcycle Rally 2011

2011-05-20T12:12:00.003-05:00

Sorry this post is a little late...ENJOY!!!

April 28, 2011 packed and ready to go (around 6:30am) to Thunder on the Beach motorcycle Rally

and do a short visit with my mom and dad in Port Saint Joe, Florida. Started out as a beautiful day for a ride but ended up turning cold and had the look of rain.

Made it to mom’s house around 2:00pm, lunch was ready and I ate like a pig.

More or less, just hung around the house the rest of the day just shooting the bull with mom waiting on dad to get off work around 7:00pm.

Friday morning after a big breakfast, I decided to ride to Panama City beach to check out the rally. Road down the beach checking out the bikes as I putted along,

I was surprised how few bikes there were on the streets. The rally seemed down compared to 2008, the last time for me to attend the rally. Don’t get me wrong there were tens of thousands of bikes but just not the same as 2008 rally and it was Friday.

I pulled into one of the bikini bike wash,

as this was my hangout in 2008. (Old habits die hard) and snapped a few photos of passing bikers.

After that I headed back down the beach towards the Port, and made a wrong turn that ended up being a right turn. This ended up being a little road under heavy construction but near the end there were vendors set up in several locations…

more just t-shirt places, good place to get off your bike and walk around a little. Ended getting me a rally patch, but held off on the t-shirt…at 6’5” even the biggest shirt only fits once, one wash and they shrink to half its size.

Ended up getting home with a BAD headache, not sure what happened. I guess going all day without eating or drinking in the hot sun may have had something to do with it. Ha-ha. The next morning my dad did not have to go into work until 1:30pm so I spent the first part of the day with them…score…more free food. Dad took mom and me out to lunch at Papa Joes oyster bar & grill…food was most excellent!

I had the shrimp po-boy dad had crab paddies and mom had the fresh oysters…we also had some of the biggest fried crab claws I had ever seen as an appetizer. Mmm, Mmmm good to everything…nice call pops.

After dad went to work, I headed back to the rally around 3:00pm, got to say kind of the same old same old, just not that much going on. I snapped quite a few photos of riders,

I’ll post all of them on my faceBook account, here they are enjoy….

Thunder 1
Thunder 2
Thunder 3
Thunder 4

Woke up early Sunday morning around 5:00am (you guessed it to another huge breakfast) then after saying my goodbyes I was off…Petal, Mississippi here I come…got home around 12:00pm…nice ride.

Thanks mom and dad for the great weekend and all the free food!!!

I gained (I’m not kidding) 8 pounds in four days….good eating…back on the tuna fish now…

Till next time

Big Al

I LOVE MY JOB !!!

2011-05-16T12:25:00.000-05:00

I LOVE MY JOB !!!

If you don't laugh out loud after you read this you are in a coma!

This is even funnier when you realize it's real!

Next time you have a bad day at work think of this guy.

Bob is a commercial saturation diver for Global Divers in Louisiana.

He performs underwater repairs on offshore drilling rigs.

Below is an email he sent to his sister.

She then sent it to radio station 103.5 on FM dial in

Indiana, who was sponsoring a worst job experience contest.

Needless to say, she won.

Read his letter below...

Hi Sue,

Just another note from your bottom-dwelling brother.

Last week I had a bad day at the office.

I know you've been feeling down lately at work, so I

thought I would share my dilemma with you to make you realize it's not so bad

after all.

Before I can tell you what happened to me, I first must bore you with a few technicalities of my job.

As you know, my office lies at the bottom of the sea. I wear a suit to the office. It's a wet suit.

This time of year the water is quite cool. So what we do to keep warm is this:

We have a diesel powered industrial water heater.

This $20,000 piece of equipment sucks the water out of the sea. It heats it to a delightful temperature.

It then pumps it down to the diver through a garden hose, which is taped to the air hose.

Now this sounds like a darn good plan, and I've used it several times with no complaints.

What I do, when I get to the bottom and start working, is take the hose and stuff it down the back of my wet suit.

This floods my whole suit with warm water. It's like working in a Jacuzzi.

Everything was going well until all of a sudden, my butt started to itch.

So, of course, I scratched it. This only made things worse. Within a few seconds my ass started to burn.

I pulled the hose out from my back, but the damage was done. In agony I realized what had happened.

The hot water machine had sucked up a jellyfish and pumped it into my suit.

Now, since I don't have any hair on my back, the jellyfish couldn't stick to it, however, the crack of

my ass was not as fortunate.

When I scratched what I thought was an itch, I was actually grinding the jellyfish into the crack of my ass.

I informed the dive supervisor of my dilemma over the communicator.

His instructions were unclear due to the fact that he, along with five other divers, were all laughing hysterically.

Needless to say, I aborted the dive.

I was instructed to make three agonizing in-water decompression stops totalling

thirty-five minutes before I could reach the surface to begin my chamber dry decompression.

When I arrived at the surface, I was wearing nothing but my brass helmet.

As I climbed out of the water, the medic, with tears of laughter running down his face,

handed me a tube of cream and told me to rub it on my butt as soon as I got in the chamber.

The cream put the fire out, but I couldn't shit for two days because my ass was swollen shut.

So, next time you're having a bad day at work, think about how much worse it

would be if you had a jellyfish shoved up your ass.

Now repeat to yourself, 'I love my job, I love my job, I love my job.'

Whenever you have a bad day, ask yourself, is this a jellyfish bad day?

May you NEVER have a jellyfish bad day! !!!!

Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. 

Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives…Oh MY!!! ...Singleton’s Seafood Shack…Jacksonville FL

2011-03-30T04:28:00.002-05:00

Well as you read in my last post, we were in Daytona for bike week and decided to try out another Dive, so off to Jacksonville we went. We took hwy 1A instead of the interstate due to hwy 1A runs right along side the beach (must ride for bikers…beautiful). Now I know we were in beautiful, Sunny Florida BUT it was cold this morning and the ride was somewhere around 80 miles, so needless to say we had quite the chill by the time we pulled into...
Singleton's Seafood Shack

We were a little early somewhere around 11:00am so there were only a few cars in the parking lot, we had the only motorcycles.

The Shack was just like I had imagined, right on the water,

with the smell of salt in the air, my kind of place. As you walked up on the small front deck it had an old wooden cable reel turned on it side for a table with old boats in the background.

Once in the door we were greeted as we walked by a table covered in ice with the fresh catch of the day laid out for all to see…fresh seafood, you can’t get much fresher than that.

We were seated by a large windows right on the water, the outside deck was being remodeled but I have to admit I was happy to be inside where it was warm, we had a bad case of the chills. Soon we were greeted by our waitress, what a sweetheart…we order our food with a side order of coffee;

she even went to the trouble to make my buddy Dave a pot of decaff. Service, service…we were expecting a couple of small cups, but to our surprise out came to extra large cups,

a welcome site to cold bikers.

Now that the coffee had done its job and warmed us up I had a chance to look around a little while waiting on lunch. The place was decorated in a nautical theme, fitting since the shack is sitting only feet from the water.

Then out came the food, it was lunch so we had both decided on po-boys…the waitress suggested that we split an order of fries the po-boys came dressed with shoe-string onion rings that were so deep on top of the po-boy that honestly you could not even see the sandwich.

Once I ate my way through the rings there it was in all it glory, lightly batter fresh, fresh shrimp on top of most excellent bread. Once I was able to squeeze the sandwich together, I had my first bite…heaven, true heaven. Man, that po-boy was good bite after bite, it’s the kind of food that truly makes you shed a tear once it gone…sniff, sniff.

Well the meal was over, we left a generous tip (well dissevered tip I might add) and headed to the counter to pay our bill, they sold many different kinds of hot sauce; I snapped a photo of my favorite.

Disturbing...Ha-ha.

Normally this would be the end of my story but once in the parking lot we noticed our two motorcycles had multiplied into four and a new story begins.

We as I was saying it was a little cold that day so we were unpacking our bags to get our warm gear on and this guy came out of the shack and walked over to us. He started tell us a story of how he and his buddy had just ridden from Daytona to eat at the shack, here comes the cool part, he reaches into his saddle bag and pulls out the book “Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives”

and starts telling me how he plans on going around to all the TV shows Dives and writing about them. I could tell he almost fell out when I told him I had been doing the same thing. Ha-ha. Small world.

Well we said our farewell to our new friends and off we went on our 500 mile ride back home, we did catch a ferry

(no not that kind of ferry. Ha-ha) an automotive ferry

about a block from the shack, a perfect ended to a perfect meal. Three cheers for Singleton’s Seafood Shack!!!

I got to say this place gave my # 1 Diner pick "Darwell’s of LongBeach Ms"
DARWELL'S
A run for the money, I give The Shack five stars all the way around, so if you are looking for a place to eat on the water, with great seafood, service, and just a great laid back atmosphere, then Singleton’s Seafood Shack is the place for you!!! Tell them Big Al sent you…they want have a clue who I am…but tell them anyway. Ha-ha.

Till next time

Big Al

Daytona Run (part 4)

2011-03-27T08:43:00.001-05:00

Woke up early Sunday morning, ready to start our adventure, first stop Destination Daytona We road in somewhere around 9:00am found a parking spot right up front…just in time, this place soon filled up. Vendors, vendors everywhere, everything was here, tattoos, tire stores, audio, biker patches, leather, food, food and food. Everything was set up under large tents, in between the major building like J&P Cycle, Bruce Rossmeyer Harley Davison, WyoTech. The best way to describe this place is a huge outdoor mall for everything motorcycle.

Around 3:00pm we headed to Daytona International Speedway….I was shocked when we got there it was huge!!! Truth be known we had the place almost to ourselves…we road all over the place. Then we went and looked at the vendor’s that were set up under tents.

This is where I found this t-shirt…the design looked a lot like my buddy Matt's R2W Cycling design…looks like a little plagiarism going on to me…Hmmm, I’m sure my buddy Matt will say the T-Shirt company copied him not the other way around. Ha-ha.

We left at dark, stopped and got a bite to eat, then went back to the room for some much needed sleep, long day.

Next morning we headed back to Jacksonville…

to another Diner, Drive-in’s and Dives…

Stay tuned.
Big Al

Daytona Run (part 3)

2011-03-19T14:52:00.001-05:00

Hmmm where was I…oh yea my bike started to sput and sputter then it died, I reached down and turn my gas tank to the reserved tank and it fired back up, yea I was out of gas at 112 miles.

Something was wrong, I normally go around 140 miles till empty not counting the reserve. Anyway stopped at the next exit and got gas, luckily I had been keeping up with my mileage on an App on my Iphone; I was only getting a little over 30 mpg? What the heck? Oh well, so off we went. (more on this later)

We made it to the next two or three gas stops ok but each time I was running out of gas around 112 miles. The stalker

that had joined our group also started to complain about the speed and

the 100 plus miles we were going between stops.

I have to admit David and I found this funny, I don’t remember asking him to come alone in the first place, and it’s a free county, he could have pull off anytime he wanted to. Truth is we normally keep our speeds down; we were just trying to out run the rain.

Then we found out over lunch

that the stalker did not have a room to stay at in Daytona…hmmm where would he sleep once we get there? With a tag like this,

he sure was not going to sleep with me. Ha-ha. These are thoughts that started going through my head. Anyway we made it to Daytona just before dark,

we said goodbye to the stalker (I call him the stalker mainly because I can’t remember his name. ha-ha)

so if you see this tag someday, tell the stalker the boys from Hattiesburg said hello. Oh yea, the stalker also road a Yamaha

So we checked into the room

got a bite to eat and then went to sleep, so we would be ready for our big day in Daytona tomorrow.

Sorry for the delay on this post, the next one will be faster.

Till next time

Big Al

Daytona run (part 2)

2011-03-13T07:52:00.001-05:00

Ok on with it trip, woke up around 4:30am threw some clothes in my bike luggage, quick shower and off I went to meet Dave. We were planning on meeting around 5:30am at a store about 30 miles from both of our houses but due to the morning rain we decided to meet up around 6:00am, so we would have some day light to see by. Both of us showed up on time gassed up and our adventure was on.

Slight mist of rain was in the air, not bad. Everything was going well until we hit Mobile, Alabama

about an hour and half from the house. Instead of taking our normal route through mobile, we decided to go through the old part of town and the old tunnel (short cut)

this would have been a great idea except it started to rain hard. We stopped at one of the downtown lights, I was fiddling with my goggles

as they had now fogged over and all I could see was the taillight on the back of his bike. Then I heard it, the roar

of what sounded like another motorcycle behind me, I guess my first thought was who in the heck would be out riding a motorcycle in the rain?

I looked in my rear view mirror through my fogged goggles and due to all the light on the vehicle behind me I thought it was a trike. Then it happened, I looked up and saw Dave heading to a busy intersection with a red light,

to my surprise Dave rolls right through it…well being blind from the fogged goggles I just closed my eyes and went through the light too…wow I just made it! Then I heard that roar again and the bike-trike behind me zigzaging

through the intersection too, it was at that time I realized we had picked up a stalker…it was at the next stop the bike-trike behind me reveiled itself, the guy pulled up beside David and asked “where we were going?” Dave said “Daytona” then the biker asked “Can I ride with you?” Dave’s answer you ask? “SURE” seemed like a good idea at the time. Well the next thing I knew we were back on the interstate cruising between 80 and 85 mph with our new friend following in the rear.

Then something strange happened, my bike started to sput and sputter and the engine cut off at 80 mph…

Well sorry for the cliff hanger,

but the wife just walked in with donuts, got to go for the day.

Tune in next time, Ill be back.

Big Al

PS: I’m really not sorry; I just like messing with my readers sometime…Ha-ha.

Daytona Run!!

2011-03-10T21:12:00.001-06:00

Was trying to think of how I wanted to start my big adventure story

about last weekend's Daytona run. After much thinking,

I decided to start at the beginning. Well as you may recall from a couple of posts back, the Daytona trip was more just to see how David and I could handle long hauls in one day on our bikes, first I must say we passed with flying colors.

A 600 miles in a day ride turned out to be no big deal at all, even in the rain for the first 4 hours of the trip.

Ok I’m getting ahead of myself, I said I was going to start at the beginning, the Thursday before the trip Dave and I noticed my rear tire was getting a little bald

so I put it in the shop Hattiesburg Cycles

to get a new one put on, with the understanding I could get it out Friday (the day before the trip) when I went to pick up my bike Friday I decided to get a cruise control for my bike, after hearing the shop wanted 65 dollars to install it I decided to install it myself after work Friday night. (Cheap, cheap)

Anyway the funny part was I had not packed, washed the bike, adjusted my batwing fairing and now I had to install a cruise control and be ready to go Saturday by 5:00am. (Pressure, pressure)

As luck would have it, I could not get off work Friday till around 7:00pm. I went home, had a quick bite, then had to get the wife to drive me to the cycle shop to pick up my bike…and yep you guessed it, it was raining. On with the rain suit and a quick ride home into my shop I went.

First line of business, adjust my batwing fairing down a little so it would fit closer to my headlight (check) then came the cruise control, VISTA CRUISE THROTTLE LOCK

it’s a very simple set up, only took me around 20 minutes to install. (Check) I got to say it was one of the best things I ever put on my bike and for around 30 dollars it’s a steal (more on it later). I bought a cup holder

while in Daytona for 20 dollars so I figured I might as well show it to you now while we were on the subject of bike add-ons. The good news about the cup holder is it has a quick release so I can remove it with ease, I swore I would never have one of them on my bike, but after guzzling water

and Mountain Dews

all the way home from Daytona, I’m sold on this add on too. Then I went inside and did what every good man does, went to bed and put off packing until the morning of the trip. Ha-ha.

Lots more to come

Big Al

Daytona...Stories from Main street

2011-03-09T20:09:00.002-06:00

Well we made it back from Daytona yesterday, just before the hard rain.

Lots of things to talk about, everything from a trip stalker, new add-on’s to the bike, a new dinner drive-in and dives plus Daytona bike week itself.

Wish I had the time to get into the stories tonight but I got to catch up on my sleep. Stay tuned, the stories are about to come.

Big Al

Daytona 2011 bike week, March 4-13

2011-02-20T07:34:00.000-06:00

Well if you have been reading my blog you already know that I have a ten day motorcycle trip to Maine

planned in June. But what most of you don’t know, I will be teaming up with my buddy Dave in a couple of weeks heading to Daytona

Beach Florida for BIKE WEEK . Why bike week, you ask? Truth is, this is going to be a long ride test trip for Maine. Let me explain…

The round trip to Maine is somewhere around 3000 miles; that’s a lot of riding in ten days

if you want to have time to look around a little (as I plan to). Well we have thought of a couple of options, one- ship our bikes to Maine and have ten days to look around and work our way back home around 1500 miles. Option Two would be to ride the round trip putting in a few longgggggg day rides to cut down on the total mileage. (More time to look around) well that is where the trip to Daytona comes in; it’s about 600 miles one way from my house. The plan is to get up early Saturday morning around 4 or 5am and try to knock out the entire 600 miles in one day,

spend two days there and then a one day ride back. I guess my thinking is if we can ride 600 miles in one day, the 3000 mile trip to Maine should be no problem. I also have to admit, I want to check out the bike rally. It’s been around twenty years since my last trip to Daytona…Damn I’m getting old. Ha-ha.

Just as a side note you may remember David’s bike

from some of our other rides, it's a 2008 Harley cop bike with the air ride seat. He just ordered a backrest for the seat and cruise control for it, both should be here in the next couple of days. Hope to do a report on both of them soon.

Till next time,

Big Al

A day in the life…Big Al’s Bodybuilding FOOD!!!

2011-02-19T14:36:00.000-06:00

Ok, I keep getting e-mail request on what I’m eating on an average day now that I’m back in the gym.

So I decided it would be easier just to post the answer to my blog…here goes.

I wake up around 4:30am, get out of bed at 4:45am and drink a couple of scoops of JACK3D with around 16 oz of water to get me going. Then I make a beeline straight to the kitchen to fill up my favorite two cup, coffee cup,

I sip on this on the way to the gym (about a 15 minute drive). My workout buddy, Donny (the animal) Bridges, is always sitting in the parking lot waiting on me as I pull up (NOTE: I DID BEAT HIM THERE THIS MORNING, BY ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS, it still counts, I win. Ha-ha)

we start our workout at 5:30am sharp, we finish somewhere around 6:45am.

Then it is time for my first meal of the day. I usually have some form of a protein shake either homemade or store bought. Today it was store bought, my bride brought home the other day an eight pack of Muscle Milk

so I grabbed one out of the fridge and drank it on my drive home around 7:00am.

After getting to work, I drank another shake, made with 25 grams of protein, half banana, quarter cup of oatmeal, one scoop of peanut butter and about eight ounces of 2 percent milk all blended together then poured into an empty water bottle for easy traveling. (About 9:30am)

Third meal comes around 10:00 to 10:30am which is about 4 ounces of baked chicken with a serving of butter beans. (I normally have brown rice mixed with the beans, but my son Myles found out the night before he liked brown rice too…as they say, the rest was history. Ha-ha.)

Fourth meal (this is where I tend to get off track sometimes) 12:00pm (lunch) a co-worker, David and I usually go somewhere to eat, today it was the Roly Poly,

I had a 6” smokehouse turkey wrap.

Fifth meal (around 3:00pm), the other half (meal three) of my baked chicken and beans.

Sixth meal, (around 5:00pm) another protein shake like meal two.

Meal seven (around 7:00pm) came a little later than usual, as we have been putting in crazy hours at work lately. Truth be told it was my night to cook for the next few days so I was cooking and eating at the same time, I just ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, on 9 grain whole wheat bread.

I find staying on track with your eating is a lot easier if you take a couple nights a week and cook up the basics food you need for the week…next few days menu, you ask? Baked chicken, butter beans and brown rice.

Till next time

BIG AL

I’m all Jacked up!!!

2011-02-15T20:01:00.000-06:00

I’m not kidding I really am Jacked up, just started a new bodybuilding supplement. Its name you ask? JACK3D

A buddy of mine you might remember him from one of my hiking blogs “Mitch (is that a buger on that rock) Hembree”

mentions he was on his third jar of Jack3d and thought I might like it.

After sending me the link from my favorite mail order supplement company Bodybuilding.com

I did not hesitate to order it…three days later it was sitting at my front door.

What is jack3d you ask? Well as I found out this morning in the gym, it a pretty damn good product.

Here is the break down per its own website:

“USPLabs Jack3d may promote the desire to lift more weight, pump out more reps and have crazy lasting energy, along with sick muscle-engorging pumps.The amount of energy and focus is perfect, pumps and vascularity will be out of control, but most importantly you may feel great throughout your entire workout”

Well all I can say about that is yes, yes and yes!!! I’ve onlyl used this product one time and have to say it lived up to all the hype, my energy level went through the roof, my workout was strong and my cardio after was unbelievable. Going to be working arms in the morning and I have to say I can’t wait to give it a try on arm day should be a blast.

So simple to use, just mix a scoop or two with a little water and drink about 40 minutes before your workout…that’s it your done! Don’t get me wrong it does not give you the same kind of rush like the old Ephedrine products (now banned in the U.S.) This product comes on a little slower but you end up with the same results…here is the breakdown on what’s in the product:

Jack3d Formula Breakdown

Schizandrol A

Schizadra has been suggested to promote physical force.* In essence, it may be able to provide a stimulating effect to the body and mind.*

Methylxanthines (Caffeine)

Both of these compounds belong to the family of methylxanthine compounds. They are both able to stimulate the CNS, while also stimulating contractility of skeletal muscle directly and this may partially be due to the release of catecholamines such as norepinephrine.* Caffeine also has the benefit of fighting fatigue and drowsiness; increasing alertness and improving intellectual efforts along with producing euphoria or a sense of well-being in some cases.*

Beta-Alanine

Carnosine is an extremely important dipeptide that is generally present in rather high concentrations in skeletal muscle, though it is also found in nervous tissue and other excitable tissues as well. It is so important because it acts as a buffer of sorts, preventing the increase of acidity or Hydrogen ion accumulation in skeletal muscle; something which is thought to contribute to the fatiguing of muscles.

Furthermore, by increasing carnosine levels, power output may be increased as well.* In short, it may improve power output, while also delaying fatigue; supporting the ability to lift more explosively and for longer periods.*

Creatine Monohydrate

While we may negate the increase in Hydrogen ion levels in skeletal muscle by increasing carnosine levels, we still must overcome one more obstacle in order to allow us to prevent fatigue while working out. In this case, we must use a compound which can ultimately increase the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in muscle. ATP, as we all know, is a high energy nucleotide which acts as the major energy carrying molecule in our bodies.

Consequently, muscle fatigue is also related to energy loss in skeletal muscle, specifically, ATP being converted to adenosine diphosphate (ADP). In effect, one phosphate group is lost and must be replenished in order for the muscle cell to continue on working.

By supplementing with creatine, we are able to increase the levels of phosphocreatine in muscle.* Phosphocreatine is a high energy buffering compound which is able to donate a phosphate group to ADP, allowing the formation of ATP once again.

In short, we can reduce fatigue from occurring by increasing phosphocreatine levels, which in turn will allow for the regeneration of ATP from ADP leading to greatly reduced physical and muscular exhaustion.*

Container Size: 250 Grams

Serving Size: 1 Scoop

Servings Per Container: 45

The price…$ 26.99 per container, not bad for 45 serving. I went with Lemon Lime

But it also comes in Grape Bubblegum and Tropical Fruit Punch

I’ll give a better report after arm day training in the morning.

Till next time

Big Al

Boiled eggs

2011-02-11T18:41:00.000-06:00

Well you may have read my last post,
Bodybuilding
my return to the world of bodybuilding (ha-HA) and what goes with bodybuilding…Eggs!!! A great source of protein, I guess since I have been walking around with bags of boiled eggs lately people have been asking how do you boil a perfect egg.

I found an article years ago on how to boil a perfect egg and what do you know, it works great and is very easy to do.

First; this works on any amount of eggs at a time as long as you have a big enough pot and water.

Second; just put your raw eggs into a pot and fill with water just covering the eggs.

Third; put the pot on the stove turn the stove on high and bring the water to a rapid boil, uncovered.

Fourth; soon as the water boils cover the pot with a lid and cut off the stove.

Fifth; let the eggs sit covered for 12 minutes.

Sixth; carefully pour the hot water out replacing it with cold water from the tap.

Seventh; give the eggs a few minutes to cool down. That’s it your done, peal and eat.

Hope this helps you “BOIL THE PERFECT EGG”!

Big Al

Back at the gym again…that’s a good thing RIGHT?

2011-02-09T21:30:00.000-06:00

Got to be honest, was trying to go to the gym after work everyday but that just did not work out very well for me. First the gym is so over crowded at night, my buddy that I was lifting with, well we just could not get our schedules together…so I did the only thing I could do, and I started going back to the gym in the morning. Now I feel at home again while at the gym, I’ve always lifted in the morning, not sure what I was thinking trying to lift in the afternoon.

Now I got a new problem, I tend to get carried away with my lifestyle while lifting…I guess I start becoming one tracked, I don’t see this trend in most of my lifting buddies. Their goals are usually just to tone up or tighten up a little and maybe drop a few pounds. I start with the same thought in mind, but it quickly turns into something else…the quest to get big, really BIG!!! I read a few articles about a bodybuilding disorder “Muscle Dysmorphia”.

Muscle Dysmorphiaa

Check it out when you get the time, it was described as a reverse anorexia…I got to say that sounds about right. Its crazy I know, but after only a few good gym days and a body weight of 294 lbs all I can think about is getting bigger. I find myself searching the bodybuilding magazines for new products;

I even started hitting up my friends that do lift for samples of products they are taking.

I’m getting hooked back on the high protein shakes sold at the gym,

due to I don’t want to wait the 15 minutes it takes me to drive home to eat after a workout.

I join one80 fitness

for two reasons; one the price 10 bucks a month and two it’s more of a fitness center, a gym for the average guy or girl just wanting to tone and tighten. It’s a huge place, mainly cardio treadmills, steppers, bikes weight machines and a few free weights. The dumbbells only go up to the 80 ponders,

grunting and screaming

is out of the question here. Don’t get me wrong this is one fine place…well if you want to be fit and average. That is exactly what I thought I wanted…Wrong!!! The quest for BIG lives strong in this old man of 47

just can’t get it out of my mind. Hmmm, maybe one more time.

Till next time

Big Al

Paraprosdokian?????

2011-02-04T06:02:00.000-06:00

A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect, sometimes producing an anticlimax. For this reason, it is extremely popular among comedians and satirists.

The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it's still on the list.

If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong. (I have to remember this one)

We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; To steal from many is research.

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish.

I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted pay checks.

A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don't need it.

Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says "In an emergency, notify:" I put "DOCTOR".

I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America ?

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!

Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

I discovered I scream the same way whether I'm about to be devoured by a great white shark or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot.

I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.

I always take life with a grain of salt, plus a slice of lemon, and a shot of tequila.

You're never too old to learn something stupid.

To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

A bus is a vehicle that runs twice as fast when you are after it as when you are in it.

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine,

HOPE YOU ENJOYED
Big Al

Jandy Imports Motorcycle Leather

2011-02-02T06:13:00.000-06:00

Ok everyone if you read my last post
http://bigalscompound.blogspot.com/2011/01/diners-drive-ins-and-divesoh-my-la.html
You know there is something good coming in this one...

Let me give you a little back ground first, I’ve been looking for a leather jacket since the day I bought my bike almost 3 years ago…well its not like I have not tried to get one but at 6’5” its harder than you think to find one that fits right. I live in a small town

that only had one motorcycle leather shop that I know of anyway, Dixie leather. I stopped in one day to look around; there were a couple of Harleys, a Honda, and then my Yamaha in the parking lot. As I was walking to the door this old bearded man (owner) walked to the front door and pointed at the bikes and said “I like that bike” (Harley) skipping the Honda then pointing at the other Harley and then saying “I like that bike” then walked inside. Hmmm, we all have our favorite bikes but I find it a poor business move to insult your customer before they even get into the door…well with that said, I found the jacket of my dreams inside, but had to pass due to the owner had…well, pissed me off. (Note: his leather shop is now closed) Karma is a Bitch.

Ha-ha.

My next try at a jacket came when my wife and J & P cycles online catalog, http://www.jpcycles.com/
she was going to surprise me with it for Christmas, well the jacket came in and I loved it but it was to small, so she sent it back and got the next size, still did not fit in the arms. Once again she sent it back, this time it fit like a glove but it happened to be a factory defect and half of the inner jacket liner had not been sewn in at all. You guess it, she sent it back again, to get a new one the same size. You want believe this, instead of a jacket in the mail my account was refunded, J & P cycle thought we were now just wanting our money back, I guess three strikes you out.

Ha-ha. We started to re-order but my now the weather was starting to get warm,

so we decided to wait till next winter.

Then came my trip to Slidell, LA last weekend…after a disappointing meal at LA Pines Café, we rode our bikes the 4 miles to Jandy Imports, JANDY IMPORTS , to look for a jacket, we loaded the address into our iphone, the iphone lead us to the wrong place for some reason it took us to 3199 E Terrace Ave NOT 3199 TERRACE ave, once there we realized we were at the wrong place, no biggie we were only one road over. We made the block and there it was, it was hard to miss due to all the motorcycles out front.

At first site I was a little surprise at the size of the place, kind of small. Well small until you walk in…

There were three ladies running the place and let me tell you…it was run like a business should be run, I was amazed. The second, and I mean the second you walked in the door you were greeted and offered a drink

(no, no not that kind of drink) the ladies keep a bucket iced down, full of soft drinks and water,

free for the taking just for shopping with them. (Nice touch ladies) we did not even take one but I appreciate the thought.

It was standing room only; the place is loaded with...

leather jackets,

boots,

pins,

helmets,

biker jewelry

and biker patches with a sewing station to put them on…

I have got to say they have one thing that stood out from everything else…SERVICE!!!

I don’t know how the ladies did it; they were everywhere offering help, answering questions and let’s not forget screaming out every few minutes that there were free drinks at the door.

If they are not the owners, the owners are not paying the ladies enough, they are workers.

Ok now on to my jacket, after looking around a bit, I found a jacket that fit but it had a belt attached around the waist, I considered it but then I saw it…the clouds parted and a beam of light shined down on it.

I put it on and it fit great in the arms,

a little big in the waist, it has side belts that adjust the waist, I moved the belts on the sides to their tightest hole, still a little big…here is where that service thing comes in again…one of the ladies told me to give her the jacket and she would add some more snaps in it,

while I wait and get this…FREE OF CHARGE!!! That is what I call service.

David ended up buying a set of…Hmm not sure what they are called,

they are straps that hold your pants leg down while ridding,

they worked great on the ride home.

Once we paid for our stuff, I used the restroom before the ride home, and just like the rest of the place it was spotless, why bring up the restroom you ask? I got tickled while reading the sign over the commode.

The whole time thinking, these ladies would…service, service!!!

In closing,, I would like to say thank you ladies, it is very rare these days to walk in to a new place and feel right at home…as my buddy Arnold would say…I’LL BE BACK!!!

Great job!!!

Till next time

Big Al

Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives…Oh MY!!! ...LA Pines Cafe

2011-01-30T10:59:00.000-06:00

For some reason I could not sleep Friday night so I woke up early Saturday morning, I got up around 4:30 am. David and I had a trip planned to take the bikes to Slidell, Louisiana to go eat at La Pines Café

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Flapinescafe.com%2F&ei=xJZFTcr8LcOqlAeX46E5&usg=AFQjCNEQuV5XBaEZlI6WFjg_fbfNZ38caA

Got a cup of coffee and did a little web surfing

before I had to meet up with David at 10:00am, glad I did…first I got directions to L A Pines café and loaded them into my iphone.

Then I thought I would Google “motorcycle leather in Louisiana” (my thought was maybe I could find a leather shop in, near by new Orleans) then I notice a leather shop only 4 miles from were we are going to eat in Slidell…Wow score!!!

SORRY NO MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE LEATHER SHOP…ON THIS POST, CRUEL I KNOW…HA-HA. Tune into my next post for full details about it (cliffhanger)

Ok let’s talk La Pines Café now; I met David in Purvis at a Chevron at the intersection of hwy 589 and I 59, we gassed up and down I 59 we went, Slidell is around 70 miles from Purvis. The air was a little chilly but the ride was great, pulled into the café around 11:30am. At first look the place looks like a dive but after a second look it still looked like a dive. My guess, during the normal work week it would be a hot spot meeting place for the entire construction workers in town (home town dinner). Its easy to find just look for the water tower,

the café is located under it. We parked our bikes up front

right next to their small smoker that had seen its better days.

There is a large sign of Guy attached to the front of the building,

proving the crew had been there. Once in, you can’t help but notice the large mural on the wall (still not sure what that was about, but I’m sure there was meaning to it to someone)

I guess my first thought, after we were told to find our on seats, we took a seat next to the mural, was not an overly friendly place, not mean or anything like that, just a place to eat. The waitress took our order; David order a Grilled Reuben sandwich with chips and a sweet tea,

I order a childhood memory hamburger steak with gravy, mashed potatoes,

a salad came with it,

oh yea and a diet coke (got to watch my figure) my fist bite was a disappointment the gravy that covered everything tasted burnt

or like it had been around for awhile, the meat underneath was very bland…not bad just no taste, the mashed potatoes were good but the were covered with gravy, burnt gravy. David said his sandwich was good (but really, how do you screw up a sandwich)

we had an uneventful meal, checking or iphone for directions to our next stop (cliffhanger, cliffhanger ha-ha) over all I would rate the café a two stars out of five,

I gave it a two mainly because the food was not overly pricey, I think our meal came to 18 dollars for the both of us. After looking on the web again it appears they are more famous for their breakfast. Hmmm not sure I’ll even give that a try…ok till next time. Remember good things did happen on this trip, just not at the La Pines Café. Be sure to check out my next post…

Big Al

Subject: Difference Between Grandpas And Grandmas

2011-01-28T06:25:00.000-06:00

This will bring a tear to your eyes and warm the cockles of your hearts.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Grandmothers and Grandfathers? Well, here it is:

There was this loving grandfather

who always made a special effort to spend time with his son's family on weekends. Every Saturday morning he would take his 7-year-old granddaughter out for a drive in the car for some quality time --

just him and his granddaughter.

One particular Saturday, however, he had a bad cold and really didn't feel like being up at all. He knew his granddaughter always looked forward to their drives and would be disappointed. Luckily, his wife

came to the rescue and said that she would take their granddaughter for the drive.

When they returned, the little girl anxiously ran upstairs to see her grandfather who was still in bed. "Well, did you enjoy your ride with grandma?"

he asked. "Oh, yes, Granddad, it was really wonderful. We didn't see a single asshole, blind bastard, dipshit or son of a bitch anywhere we went!"

Almost brings a tear to your eye, doesn't it?

Funny stuff
Big Al

More WalMart FUN!!!

2011-01-26T06:06:00.000-06:00

He looks like the loneliest person to ever wear that shirt.

It’s never a good thing when your wedgie has a wedgie. Somebody go get the jaws of life .

Hahahaha! Hahahahaa! Hahahaha! It’s funny cause it’s gross

He's available for "Bachelorette Parties".

Answer me this: How does a short jean jacket NOT go with pink Capri pants?

Who wears them better?

Fashion Diva.

Well, it’s a good thing you put that hoodie on, because without it you might have been a tad under dressed.

Apparently some people have decided they need a little extra help to get through their Walmart shopping experience.

I think this guy REALLY likes wedgies

Do these pumps make my legs look gorgeous?

Yeah sure, let’s go ahead and show off the fact that you stole Mrs. Clause’s negligee.

Receiving one picture of skunk hair color is enough to make you go “Really?!?!” But getting two of them is enough to make you stick your head through a wall.

Self explanatory

Great Mother role model! Help us Lord!

I don’t even know why you are bothering looking at bikinis

This is going to revolutionize breast feeding on the go.

Ummm, I think you might need something more than the pine tree air freshener.

Someone kindly call the Board of Health.

How does one manage this look?

Any ideas on what is going on here?

Oh Wow! That’s neat, Nike Sport Gear came out with a new flesh colored fanny-pack.

Do you REALLY think you are going to be needing those condoms there playboy?

Our vote for Mother of the Year! Congratulations!

An escapee from the Insane Asylum.

OH COME ON! How hard could it possibly be to cover up? The purpose of suspenders is to keep your pants up above your waist, yet somehow you have managed to fail at that simple task. Thanks buddy!

He was recently diagnosed with "Must sneak out of the hospital when no one is looking and go shopping at Wal Mart" disease.

They don’t make “tube-bottoms” for a reason.

Pretty in Red!

Other unsafe transportation options.

Hope you enjoyed

Big Al

UPS is coming! UPS is coming!!!

2011-01-24T05:37:00.000-06:00

That’s right, Friday January 21, 2011, UPS stopped by the compound and dropped off three boxes.

Oh yea, my Memphis shade fairing is here...

The plan, wait till Saturday afternoon and put it on with a co-worker buddy Dave’s help…one problem, I could not wait, so I got started on it Friday night around 7:00pm. The fairing comes in three boxes, one has the fairing, one has the windshield and one has the quick release brackets that hold it on.

I started by taking my stock windshield off,

this proved to be the hardest part of the job. I had to first remove the windshield, then to get the bottom bracket off I had to remove the headlight,

then to get the upper bracket off I had to remove the nuts that hold the handle bars on.

Done, time to hang the stock windshield on the wall.

Now all that is required to mount the batwing is…

One: Mount the bracket on the batwing

Two: place the clamp on the fork near the lower triple tree

Three: place the clamp on the fork near the top of the triple tree

Four: the bracket that holds the throttle, brake and clutch cable was too close to the fork and would not let the clamp fit around the fork near the upper triple tree.

Five: time for modification of the cable bracket by drilling out the bolt hole to move it over a little.

Six: still could not move the bracket over enough, time for the saw, I cut it into to two pieces and it worked fine.

Seven: Installed the fairing and did the final adjustment.

Eight: installed the windshield, with three bolts.

Nine: done!!!

I think it looks great, took it for a test drive this afternoon and it blocked the wind great, it came with a black gel-coat that matches the paint on my bike great; no painting required. I'll post more later, after I have had a chance to try it on the interstate.

Big Al

Eerie morning motorcycle ride.

2011-01-21T06:33:00.000-06:00

January 19, 2011

Woke up this morning just like every other one, got dressed for work, checked the weather, mid 40’s, ten percent chance of rain. Perfect day for a motorcycle ride to work…Well, so I thought?

It had been around 4 days since my last ride due to rain and carrying my kids to school in the morning, but my bike fired right up and purred like a kitten as I put my gloves, helmet and sunglasses on.

Ok this is where things get a little strange…as I was pulling out of my driveway; this since of fear came over me for some reason.

I guess it left me wondering, "does this happen to other bikers from time to time, as it has happen to me two or three times over the years I’ve been riding. "

It’s hard to explain, but here goes… it’s really more of a strange feeling, more than fear, here are some examples; I normally roar

Yea, Right!!!

out of my driveway and fly down the streets in my neighborhood on my way to work. This morning I found myself looking at a small puddle

on the road at the end of the driveway and inching my way to it ever so slowly. Then once passed thinking to myself, wow I survived that,

then at each curve

found myself slowing to a crawl. To make matters worse it felt like the bike was fighting me the entire time and it was winning.

Things like dogs even the ones 100 yards from the road give me the feeling of uneasiness.

Then as I entered the hwy (this is a very straight road that takes me almost to work)

safe right…NOOO!!! First it seemed that the car behind me was tailgating

(it really was not) not to mention the cars waiting to pull out on the hwy just seemed like they were going to pull right out in front of me,

Sorry I could not help myself, been holding this photo to long.

It would cause me to lower my speed big time. As I went to turn off the hwy on to a city street, I found myself looking at the small pile of gravel in the middle of the road,

thinking I hope my front tire does not slide out in the turn. Then I crossed a railroad track, again I kept thinking I hope I don’t fall over while crossing the track. Finally I make it to the office and start backing my bike into its parking spot, again having the feeling of dropping my bike.

Whew, off the bike and safe inside my office. Hmmm strange right? I guess what puzzles me is this has never happen while doing anything else in life, like driving a car, a boat or just life in general. I guess the really strange thing is when I got back on my bike to go home, it was like it never happen, I was roaring down the roads like it had never happen before.

I talked to a biker co-worker once inside to see if he had ever experienced anything like this before, he told me he sometime had a fear of deer late in the evening sometimes…

my guess is we are talking about two different kind of fears… but not sure, maybe it’s the same.

Oh well

Till next time

Big AL

When we get older we think different don't we?

2011-01-19T20:08:00.001-06:00

This is a touching story.

Just when you have lost faith in human kindness, someone who teaches at Kean Elementary in Wooster , Ohio forwarded the following letter.

The letter was sent to the Principal’s office after the school had sponsored a luncheon for the elderly. An old lady received a new

radio

at the lunch as a door prize and was writing to say thank you. This story is a credit to all human kind.

Dear Kean Elementary:

God bless you for the beautiful radio I won at your recent senior
citizens luncheon. I am 84 years old

and live at the Sprenger Home for the Aged. All of my family has passed away. I am all alone now and it's nice to know that someone is thinking of me. God bless you for your kindness to an old forgotten lady. My roommate is 95 and has always had her own radio,

but before I received one, she would never let me listen to hers, even when she was napping.

The other day her radio fell off the night stand and broke into a lot of pieces.

It was awful and she was in tears. Her distress over the broken radio touched me and I knew this was God's way of answering my prayers.

She asked if she could listen to mine,

and I told her to...

Kiss My Ass!!!

Thank you for that opportunity.
Sincerely,
Agnes Baker

Did not see that one coming...Did you?

Big Al

Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives…Oh MY!!! ... Blow Fly Inn

2011-01-16T20:41:00.001-06:00

Saturday, January 15, 2011, my wife, son

and I took a trip to the gulf coast; to look for a leather motorcycle jacket…still did not find one. Anyway while we were there, we decided to go eat lunch at the Blow Fly Inn for lunch.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blowflyinn.com%2F&ei=gZ4zTePHAo3rgQe3yaXKCw&usg=AFQjCNFAXGRxrYpXWSQZbaA8bxkAGipcog

Yea you guessed it was another dive featured on the TV show Diners, Drive-in’s and Dives. Second one I have featured on Big Al's Compound…coincidence, I think not!!!

Here is what’s going on, first I’m a big fan of the show, second I have started a scrap book on all of the dives I visit that were featured on the show…yea I said scrap book…and yea I like to scrap book…what of it…

WELL ARE YOU LAUGHING PUNK!!! GO A HEAD, MAKE MY SCRAP BOOK!!!

Ha-ha. I will also post my dinning stops here on my blog.

Ok back to the story, I use to eat here as a kid, it was famous for its steaks and the plastic fly they would put on your food. The old building before Katrina was just about to fall apart and slide into the bayou…but the food was great. The new building is built on stilts about 15 feet up in the air, nice looking building but is missing the charm of the old pre-Katrina building.

The views are great

They have a bar under the building

Also a bar inside

Outside dinning with views to die for

Ok let’s get to the food…hmmm

Well in its defense it was lunch time and we did eat off the lunch menu

For an appetizer we had fried dill pickles (lightly batter, very good the family and I thought)

The boy and I had steak and a baked potato (steak had a good taste but look at the green bean beside it, it’s almost as big as the steak) not a great deal for $ 10.50, it came with a small salad

(more dressing than lettuce) the veggies were straight out of the can and the baked potato was a little cold.

The wife had seafood pasta; it was given thumbs up by my wife and son who took a few bites

The surprise came in the form of banana pudding…it was great

Ok lets get to ranking this sucker…I’d have to give it three stars out of five…due to the portion size for the money. To be fair I need to go back one night and give it a try. That's all I'm going to say about that...

Till next time,

Big Al

Trips, trips and more trips.

2011-01-12T06:46:00.000-06:00

Sounds like 2011 is going to be a good year for trips,

you may have noticed I added two countdown clocks to the upper right hand side of my blog…

Here is the scoop of the up and coming trips…

The first is a hiking trip to Eagle Rock Loop Trail in Arkansas.

This is one killer hike if you are not in shape (I plan to be this time)

its around 27 miles long, crossing nine mountains, nine rivers,

and more stream crossing than I care to count. The plan take off work Wednesday-Sunday, May 4-8, 2011 this will give us two days travel time (8 HOUR DRIVE FROM MY HOUSE) and three days for the hike. So far, we have signed up…

Chad “my packs to heavy” Smith,

Mitch “I need a nap” Hembree,

Matt “wrong way” Roland,

and myself; Big “I almost died the last time on this hike” Al,

Oh yea and a possible mystery guest, that will get named later if he attends.

Looking forward to the trip…more to come in future post.

Trip two; Big motorcycle trip of the year.

Getting ready to get hot and heavy on this one, many, many more post to come about it. Planning on leaving work around noon Friday June 10th, and returning Sunday June 19th. Ten days of motorcycle fun, the “Quest for Lobster” That’s right Big Al is heading to Maine,

why you ask? I’m going to eat a lobster, that’s why. Well it makes since to me, its only 1500 miles there and 1500 miles back. Ok here is the funny part…I HATE LOBSTER!!!

Trust me, more on this trip later.

Got another weekend trip planned too, no countdown clock for this one…Natchez trace ride, (Jackson to Natchez)

but in a little different way. My buddy Matt “The Hammer” Roland is a member of the bicycle club R2W Cycling,

as much as it pains me to say it these guys can RIDE.

The plan wake up around 5:00am in a week or two on Saturday load my truck with “GET THIS” two bicycles, one 49cc Yamaha Zuma scooter,

camping gear and head to Jackson. Once in Jackson MS, unload the gear and head to Natchez. On the Natchez trace about 100 miles one way, two guys will be riding bicycles and I will be carrying the gear on the Zuma (pack mule).

Once in Natchez, camp for the night, then turn around and ride the 100 miles back to the truck Sunday. This should be a trip to remember! Don’t worry I’ll post all about it, should have video too.

I’ll do another post soon of the Bike Rallies I will be attending this year.

Until then,

Big Al

AMEN TO WHAT THIS GUY HAS TO SAY AND HOW HE SAYS IT.

2011-01-03T05:54:00.000-06:00

AMEN TO WHAT THIS GUY HAS TO SAY AND HOW HE SAYS IT.

I Am the Democratic Liberal-Progressive's Worst Nightmare.

I am a White, Conservative,
Tax-Paying, American Veteran, Gun Owning Biker.
I am a Master leather worker.
I work hard and long hours with my hands to earn a living.

I believe in God and the freedom of religion, but I don't push it on others. I ride Harley Davidson Motorcycles, and drive American-made cars, and I believe in American products and buy them whenever I can.

I believe the money I make belongs to me and not some liberal governmental functionary, Democratic or Republican, that wants to share it with others who don't work!

I'm in touch with my feelings and I like it that way!

I think owning a gun doesn't make you a killer; it makes you a smart American.

I believe that if you are selling me a Big Mac or any other item, you should do it in English. I believe there should be no other language option.

I believe everyone has a right to pray to his or her God when and where they want to.

My heroes are Malcolm Forbes, Bill Gates, John Wayne, Babe Ruth, Roy Rogers, and Willie G. Davidson, who makes the awesome Harley Davidson Motorcycles.

I don't hate the rich. I don't pity the poor.

I know wrestling is fake and I don't waste my time watching or arguing about it.

I believe if you don't like the way things are here, go back to where you came from and change your own country!

This is AMERICA ...We like it the way it is and more so the way it was ...so stop trying to change it to look like Russia or China , or other socialist countries!

If you were born here and don't like it, you are free to move to any Socialist country that will have you.

I believe it is time to really clean house, starting with the White House, the seat of our biggest problems.

I want to know which church is it, exactly, where the Reverend Jesse Jackson preaches, where he gets his money, and why he is always part of the problem and not the solution.

Can I get an AMEN on that one?

I also think the cops have the right to pull you over if you're breaking the law, regardless of what color you are, but not just because you happen to ride a bike.

And, no, I don't mind having my face shown on my driver's license.

I think it's good.... And I'm proud that 'God' is written on my money..

I think if you are too stupid to know how a ballot works, I don't want you deciding who should be running the most powerful nation in the world for the next four years.

I dislike those people standing in the intersections trying to sell me stuff or trying to guilt me into making 'donations' to their cause....
Get a job and do your part to support yourself and your family!

I believe that it doesn't take a village to raise a child, it takes two parents....

I believe 'illegal' is illegal no matter what the lawyers think.

I believe the American flag should be the only one allowed in AMERICA !

If this makes me a BAD American,
Then yes, I'm a BAD American.

If you are a BAD American too, please forward this to everyone you know....

The long way home

2010-12-21T06:25:00.001-06:00

Rather you ride a

Suzuki,

Harley or

YAMAHA

anything on two wheels; three if you count tikes (I do) rather you are a

writer,

doctor,

school teacher

or even a hardcore outlaw biker,

we all have one thing in common.

I’m sure at one time or another we all take “the long way home” from time to time. Think about it (I did today) you get off work, and all of a sudden you find yourself taking a side road that takes you home but not in the straightest route. As I was cruising down a side country road

to my house adding at least another 15 or 20 miles to my trip home…this is something almost never do while riding in a car…It got me thinking…Surely I’m not the only one doing this…am I?

Just something to think about…As I said before…I DID.
Big Al

20 Percent Off ???

2010-12-19T10:47:00.000-06:00

Ok here is the story…my wife and I went to the mall Saturday to do some Christmas shopping, well let me clarify…Man type shopping:

I only agreed, due to we were only going in for one thing and one thing only. My wife, Signe, was so proud of a twenty percent off coupon

she had in hand and wanted to get this special present for one of the members of our family (I will call the family member Cool-B-X, and the present, Mystery-Box-One,

just so I want be giving away any Christmas surprise)

First, parking was a nightmare.

What made it worse was I was trying to find a mall entrance, NOT an entrance through one of the many department store. Guys you understand this, if you walk through one of these stores to get to the mall with your lady, you know you will have to almost drag them out by force…

they always have to look and touch everything…

shoes…

makeup…

clothes…

They never want to look a cool stuff like...

Guns…

Camping gear…

Fishing stuff…

I bet guys would want to go shopping more if they did, yea like that is going to happen.

Once we made it to the store, I put blinders on my wife

and we went straight to the store. We were greeted by a sales man that quickly showed us three different Mystery-Box-Ones, ranging from 20 dollars to 41 dollars…Guys, guess which one my wife picked? You guessed it, the 40 dollar one, mainly because we had our 20 percent coupon.

Once in line at the checkout we were informed that Mystery-Box-One was on sale,

plus we can also use our 20 percent off. So we ended up getting it for around 25 dollars…WOW!!! What a deal…RIGHT?

Hold on, after we left the mall (yes I had to drag her out)

we had to go to Wal-Mart to get some groceries (guys you know where this story is going). The ladies are still proud of my wife

for getting the Mystery-Box-One on sale and 20 percent off.

Once inside, I walked to the man side of Wal-Mart to get some carburetor cleaner (up and coming story on the blog), while the wife started grocery shopping. While on my walk-a-bout in the store

I happen upon the EXACT same Mystery-Box-One on the shelf…

The price you ask? With NO discount and NO twenty percent off?…Nineteen dollars and forty-nine cents…

Merry Christmas everyone.

Big Al

WHY QUARTERBACKS NEED SHORT NAMES

2010-12-13T19:26:00.000-06:00

I got this email today and just had to share it with everyone…it explains a lot. Now I know why quarterbacks have short names…enjoy!!!

ROMO # 9....

Brady # 12 & Favre # 4...

Then came Roethlisberger # 7....

Big AL

Dude…Where’s my motorcycle?

2010-12-11T09:25:00.000-06:00

Friday December 10, 2010

Woke up this morning the birds were singing,

the sun was rising

and best of all the little wife was not yelling at me for any reason.

Ha-ha. She even got up early and cooked me a big breakfast before work.

Wow, what more could a guy want (ok there is that, but I keep this site PG-13, sorry no details on that)

Anyway back to my story. After breakfast, we had brief discussion on world events and up and coming Christmas, and then she went to get ready for work while I updated my blog. I then got dressed and went back into the den to get my boots on, as my wife went outside to the garage…THAT’S WHEN I GOT THE CALL!!!

I saw my wife pulling out of the driveway in her car… I felt my cell phone vibrate then ring, it was her. I found this to be a little strange…then those words that will make even the most hardcore biker shake in their boots…

DUDE, WHERE IS YOUR MOTORCYCLE???

I have to admit my heart sank, my hands shook and my breathing deepen.

My first thought was some Nar-do-Wellers had stopped by during the night and took it.

Second thought…repo man (I watch to much TV) I’d never let my baby get behind in payments.

Third thought…the little wife had gone blind and just did not see it.

Then it hit me like a TON OF BRICKS!!!

I had moved it to the motorcycle shop the night before on the other side of her car to install a new seat. Crisis avoided, the bike was safe and sound just in a lot of pieces…let me explain, one of my bosses,Rick, has a 2008 Yamaha just like mine except with a larger motor, I think it is a 1700, mines a 1100 v-star. Anyway he had bought a new seat for his (mustang seat) and he gave me his driver backrest (old man seat as I like to call it)

to see if it would fit mine. I was planning on doing a most excellent post about the installation of the backrest on my bike, but to my dismay the backrest would not fit,

of course I found this out after I had taken everything off my bike…well no harm done, I’ll put it back together to night.

Till next time, ride safe and put some clothing on…IT’S COLD OUT THERE!!!
Big Al

A CUP OF TEA

2010-12-10T06:42:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine sent me this email a few days ago and I just had to share it with everyone…It made me think back to when my girl Allison was just a baby and it was just Allison an myself spending quality time together…great times…READ ON, and yes I added a few photos just so you would be sure to get a good visual of the story…ha-ha.

ONLY A MOTHER WOULD KNOW...
~A Cup of Tea ~

One day my mother was out, and my dad was in charge of me.

I was maybe 2 1/2 years old. Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a gift, and it was one of my favorite toys.

Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when I brought him a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my mom came home.

My dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!' Mom waited, and sure enough, here I came down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy; and she watched him drink it up.

Then she said, (as only a mother would know), "'Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water, is the toilet?"

Big Al