It’s been kind of a rough day.

I woke up really early this morning.  I planned on cleaning up the ATV and participating in the Memorial Day Parade with the 150th Anniversary Committee.  I took my pills and such after getting ready.  I went out and got the ATV ready.  I had to run and get gas for the ATV so I was running a bit behind.  This is where things started to go sideways for my day.

I went to the lineup area and met with the rest of the group.  I asked the police officers if they needed help with traffic control since the ATV is decked out with a yellow light bar and flashers.  They asked me to help up the street at the main intersection.  I proceeded with the parade without ever giving a thought to the fact that I forgot to eat breakfast.  My sugar has been slightly high so forgetting isn’t the most terrible thing, as long as I remember to grab a snack or something.  I take both my diabetic medicines before breakfast.  I totally didn’t think about it once I got involved with the parade.  Today… was not a good day to forget.

The parade follows Main Street up to Chestnut Street and then up into Haywood Cemetery.  A short ceremony is held to honor “The Fallen”.  I ended up being the final vehicle in the parade.  I followed straight up to the ceremony.  Two problems started to become noticeable as I stood the whole time.  The first was one I expected.  My back and right leg began to grump because of the uneven slope of the hillside where I was standing.  The second problem came more slowly and much less noticeable at first.  My sugar began to drop.  I get warning signs that its dropping.  I realized that it was dropping about halfway through the ceremony.  It wasn’t a rapid thing but I knew I was going to need to eat as soon as I left the cemetery.

Mistake number two … I didn’t eat when I got back to the house.  I pulled the motorcycle out of the barn and put the ATV away.  I decided I would come in and change, then go get something to eat.  I monkeyed with my malfunctioning computer a bit… Oops!  I got the computer working but quickly realized that I was no longer in the warning stages of dropping sugar levels.  My sugar was down to the point where I start to get the shakes and feel sick.  At this point, I normally am smart and grab some candy, sugar lozenges that I keep around or drink something sweet.

Mistake number three… I hopped on the bike and headed up town.  I ate and decided I would ride north…  Maybe end up at Presque Isle.  I still didn’t feel well, so I sat at the table for a bit.  It usually takes a bit for my sugar to catch up to the rest of me.   I still didn’t feel well.  When I don’t feel well, I usually stay off the bike.  I figured that I would feel better as my body got the sugar back in allignment. Off I went.

When I don’t feel well, my back pain becomes overbearing.  I changed my destination to Goddard State Park.  I got to the park.  There was a lot of people about. I wanted to see if I could see the eagles that nest across from the one launch.  I was hurting so bad that I actually thought about getting off the bike and just lay down on the grass and take a nap.  I knew that was  a bad idea.  I needed to get home.  If spasms started out here, I’d be calling someone to get me and the bike.  I bolted for home.

I stopped in Greenville at Big Lots.  I knew they have a bench in the lobby where I could sit for a bit.  From there, I bolted home.  I parked the bike by my truck and went staight in and laid down on the bed.  It took a while to get comfortable.  I feel a bit better tonight.  It was really dumb to try and ride when I felt that way.

I don’t plan on doing that again.

~Cappy

… right where he needed to be this time.

Took Maggie out for a spin today.  Decided I would head for Cooks Forest.  First, I would grab lunch and gas at Sheetz.  I left Sheetz and headed up 62 toward Mercer with the thought of going out through Franklin and across Route 322.  About halfway to Mercer, I was stuck behind an old lady.  She refused to go any faster than 10 miles per hour below the speed limit.  That actually was OK with me because I wasn’t in a hurry.  I noticed a vehicle behind me.  It was an SUV with a light bar on it.  I never saw the side but it was either a State Trooper or Mercer County Sheriff.  No biggy… I couldn’t do anything wrong anyway, as long as I didn’t pass the old girl.

As we entered Mercer, I gave her plenty of space.  I keep my head moving when I’m on the bike.  There are plenty of crazies out there without counting the people who just don’t pay attention to their driving…  All trying to kill us motorcyclists.  I saw a couple in a BMW Convertible come to the stop sign at the intersection of 158 and 62.  He practically blew through the intersection.  I cringed because I thought he was going to come out in front of the poor old gal ahead of me.

I let out a small sigh of relief as he stopped.  She passed him.  I kept my attention glued to him.  He wasn’t looking my way.  “CRAP!!! He’s pulling out!!!” the voice inside my head shouted.  My fingers had already been on the clutch and front break levers in preparation for the old lady’s reaction.  I downshifted quickly and applied the brakes hard enough for the back tire to lock up.  I had slowed enough so that he pulled ahead of me.  His wife was staring at me the whole time but not saying or doing a thing.

Maggie was under full control.  I released the clutch and brakes and continued to move forward, following this guy.  I hoped he would get a red light at 62 and 19, so I could give him a piece of my mind.  He got a red light.  He was turning right.  “Good!” The little voice said.  “Keep  your cool though, remember the cop.”  I pulled up along side the convertible and shouted “Hey Buddy! Wake up!! You just pulled out in front of me.”  He looked at me with a half stoned look and said “Oh.. Sorry.”  I shook my head and let the clutch out to make my left turn.  The light had turned green.

I glanced in the mirror and smilled as I turned the corner.  The reds and blues on top of the cruiser were now on and he was pulling the convertible over.  I continued to glance at the mirror as I eased toward the next light.  Yep.  He had the convertible in the gas station parking  lot.  “YESSSS!” The little voice shouted.  I hate to see anyone get a ticket, but so many people get away with near misses because they don’t watch for motorcycles.  A little justice was served for all of us who dodge the bullet every time we ride.

The rest of the ride went pretty well.  There were people out everywhere.  The weather was beautiful.  I had decided that I wouldn’t hang out long in Cooks Forest but I would at least ride back in to the Fire Tower.  I wanted to be at least most of the way back to home roads before the deer started running.

There were alot of folks back at the Tower.  I didn’t try to climb the steps to the top.  My back wouldn’t tolerate it.  I watched many  kids and families make the ascent.  I took a few pictures and headed back to Maggie.  The light would grow dim in the woods alot sooner and I didn’t want to come across any wild animals on the road home.  Maggie and I headed back toward home.

I had thought about where to stop and eat on the way home.  Many folks were grilling and having bon fires.  You can smell it all when you are on a  bike.  I had seen a sign for the Wayside Inn, a restaurant in an old house that was run by an older couple… German descent I believe. The food was served family style.  I hadn’t been there in ages.  Were they still open?  I didn’t know.  I decided I would go a different route home.  This would take me down to Foxburg and the Allegheny Grille.

One of these day, I will buy property EAST of where I am going.  It seems like I am always driving into the Western Sun, no matter where I go.  The backroads to Foxburg are twisty two lane (but barely) roads.  With the Sun in my eyes, I dared not go too fast.  I’m not that familiar with those roads and who knows what Winter had done to them.  It was still a nice quiet ride with little traffic.

I had a good dinner at Foxburg.  The waitresses forgot about me.  I ended up being served by the manager.  He said it had been a crazy day.  Business had been great but they were caught somewhat unprepared.  They had even run out of alot of their chicken based items.  I got free dessert for my wait.

I came home through Grove City… A route that I am more than familiar with.  I took advantage of the twisties that I knew.  I pulled into the driveway with about 173 miles on the odometer.  I parked the bike and sat on the swing to enjoy the beautiful evening before putting her back in the barn.

I guess I”m getting up early in the morning to participate in some way in the Memorial Day Parade with the 150th Celebration Committee. After the parade… Maybe another spin with Maggie.   Right now… I need to go put laundry in the drier so I have pants to wear.

~Cappy

… It just couldn’t get here fast enough.

Coming out of a loop

What a week, month, year so far.  Just when I think things are going great, they go sideways.  It’s been a constant roller coaster… Lots of hills and valleys with even a loop thrown in there just to make sure I’m paying attention.  This week has been no exception, starting with last Saturday.

I haven’t been to an airshow in a while.  Youngstown Air Reserve Station was hosting “Thunder Over the Valley” with the Airforce Thunderbirds.  As soon as I saw the ad, I knew I wanted to take on this event.  I’ll explain that concept in a minute.  Saturday came.  Radar showed intermittent rain showers moving across Ohio.  I scrapped the idea to go Saturday, opting for the 0% chance of rain they were calling for on Sunday.  Airshows with low cloud ceilings or rain mean limited or no flying.

I say I would have to “take on” the event because I know the walking was going to be a challenge.  Our trip to Busch Gardens, Virginia after Christmas had proven my back could not tolerate a full day of walking.  Just like there, my plan though for the airshow was to enjoy myself, regardless of the pain I was in.  The difference here would be I couldn’t break down and rent an electric cart vehicle if my back played out.

I got up Sunday and headed for the show.  I had to make the decision at the parking area whether to take my cane or not.  The Air Station doesn’t have any amount of parking so Eastwood Mall was their primary pickup point.  It would have been a long bus ride back to get my cane if I wanted.  I decided not to bother with it.  I would find somewhere to sit down and rest if I had to.  I got on the bus ready to enjoy the day… pain or no pain.

The show was great.  I got VIP seating when I got there.  I had a place I could sit down and rest if needed.  I had a very enjoyable day.  My back complained but I fought it.  In the end, I was there from around 9:45 am to about 5:45 pm… or so I thought.  Typical of my life… A great day… followed by some kind of issue to deal with.  Poor planning choices on the company hired for the busing led to an excruciating 3 hour wait just to get on the  bus.  I sat for about 15 minutes when I got back to my truck to allow my back to catch up with the rest of me.

The week hasn’t been much different.  Project ups and downs that are out of my control keep cropping up.  It took through Wednesday for my back and right leg to stop hurting.  Tink must have some issue with Spring and Summer.  She started acting weird again.  She went from a lap cat, to running from me every time I enter the room… unless of course I have food.  So far, she hasn’t been quite as bad as last Summer.  She hid under the beds and would move where I couldn’t reach her.  I can still pet her and she will come around, even when I’m awake, but something changed again.

Needless to say… All this back and forth emotional changes have stirred my depression into a frenzy.  I came home tonight and took a long nap.  Normally, I change into a pair of shorts and old shirt when I get home.  I just crawled in bed tonight, clothes and all.  I slept ’til around 8:30 pm ish.   Here I am again… Trying to gather my wits back up.  I want to get the video assembled that I took at the airshow.  When my depression is wound up like this, I get critical of everything I do… including this video.  The edits look good at one point, then I go back and fiddle with them.  In the end, I’m not satisfied and fight to get it back to the way I originally had it.  Thus is how my brain works.

I guess I should close this post and continue working on that … or it may never get done.

Catch ya in a few… days, months… hopefully not years.

~Cappy