Man & Machine

Well GOOD MORNING SEATTLE! Another Monday filled with liquid sunshine and taking some time to look for work. I found that Amazon is starting a "recreational toys" lineup. Sounds intriguing. Of course they're looking for experience in business, merchandising and other, which by technical standards I do not have. What I do have is a passion and genuine love for motorcycles and the industry. So I'm pretty sure that if I applied they'd laugh at my resume as they ran it through the shredder. All of my "work" experience is in things other than motorcycles. Bummer aye.
Now I ask any of you readers, what is it that makes this particular avenue of transportation, recreation, possible occupation so enjoyable to you? I've already gave my 10 cents on the subject. What can I say, I'm trying to employ and improve any journalistic ability here.
Is it the fact that something as youths triggered this longing to be able to get from point A to point B with the exhilaration of wind in our face? Maybe it's the feeling of (don't delve into any innuendo's here)a large power plant between you and the ground propelling you forward. Maybe it's the feeling of freedom that comes from not being encased in the seeming luxury of an automobile. Hey! It could seem luxurious if you live an a state other than California that doesn't have sun and relatively warm weather a majority of the year. Or at least it used to. It could also be the sense of being more of what could be "part of the machine". With a motorcycle your senses have to be heightened. It's a fact that your much more prone on a motorcycle than a car. If it's worst-case scenario, being struck by a car or running into one, the risk of damage and injury is greater. Even hitting a pedestrian to a smaller animal that runs into your path unexpectedly can have volatile effects. Whereas in a car you have a little more protection. The end result is still negative, but the ability to escape injury is in your favour when in a car. So it's clear that if your riding a motorcycle it requires greater attention a good measure of the time as opposed to being behind the wheel. With this in mind having to always be aware of what's going on around you allows you to feel that you and the machine are one. When you swerve to avoid something, a well trained motorcyclists uses his body either in opposition (counter-steering) or in unison with the "roll" of his motorcycle to execute the desired maneuver to avoid being tagged or going down.
Whatever it is... Motorcycles will likely be around for a long time, especially with the constant rise in fuel costs and the pioneering of producing electric motorcycles than seem practical and look good. Time to ride! If you have a running bike.

Whirlwind Riding

Wow! To me it seems like time has flown by before getting the chance to type another column, blog, article, or whatever. As of yet still an unemployed writer, it seems that though not working, I'm currently working harder than previously. How I miss the days of hopping on a motorcycle and riding those blues away.
Now that may be a bit of an "eye-opener" to some who might read this. I don't recall if I had stated that currently I'm without a running motorcycle. I was "given" an old Suzuki GN400 that just needed to have the carb installed and throttle cable replaced. Well picked up an OEM throttle cable and BLIAM (pronounced "blam". The I is inserted in my acronym for my feeling of "Being the Loser that I AM")the throttle body that was in this bike was not the original! This was given to me as well with a box of other parts that had been removed. After installing the original carb along with the original air box, filter & misc. lines and hose that were in this box o' parts, SURPRISE! Well, let's just say I'm still working on getting it up and running.
It's interesting that even though anxiety and even maybe a lil depression due to my current situation being jobless, family member dying of prostate cancer, concern for my alcoholic brothers well-being and add the fact that my sixteen year old daughter just got her drivers license, no pressure here huh? It evokes good feelings to think back on working on that suzook last summer, as frustrating as it was/will be when I resume. Being an 1981 model it has the old compression relief & kickstart. How I so miss my beautiful and trusty ole VFR800! I bought a new battery for the GN and hopefully it'll still crank when I get back to it shortly. Still, going back to the positive emotions it brings to think about motorcycles, even if it's working on them, let alone riding them, brings me back to the reason why they can be so therapeutic. I'm sure that anything that someone loves and has a passion for, be it cars, planes, trains and even pets has the same effect on an individual. If you have those qualities for all of the above, even better!
So if anyone knows of any outfits looking for a motorcycle enthusiast/maintenance worker/driver/machine operator/warehouse man, feel free to contact me. Or if you just want to give some words of wisdom, advice, constructive criticism or rant. You can email me at sNobored99@gmail.com
Well gotta be a off to a job interview in Mukilteo. I'll think only positive, "I will be offered this job"! Now if only I had a sunny day and a running motorcycle to get me there to top of the whole positive thinking deal. Next time! (without the whole having to look for a job thing)