Thoughts to end 2006 with...

I'm sitting here on a cold and snowy New Year's Eve sipping a glass of champagne and thinking about a few things that I need to blog about before the end of the old year and the start of a wonderful 2007.(which will be a year of change and a year of personal growth for me. At least those are my goals!!)

I'm again saddened by the number of soldiers lost in Iraq. The death count is now at 3,000. God Bless our Troops! Let's win this thing so that they can come home!

Drew Tate...go back to Texas! It's not fair to bash Iowa just because you didn't have an awesome season. You should feel proud that you got to come to our great state and play for the Hawkeyes!!

I think it's time for Dick Clark to pass the torch officially to Ryan Seacrest. I want to remember you from the American Bandstand Days.

To Brett Favre...you are one of the greats. No matter what you decide I love ya and I'm not even a Cheese Head.

To Billy Lane...although I'm disappointed in your judgement I still think you are one of the most talented Chopper Builders.

To Harley Davidson...I'm still waiting for my free 2007 Dyna Low Rider. Ok you didn't promise me one but a girl can dream that one will magically appear in her garage can't she?

To my Family and Friends....I love all of you and can't wait to make memories with you in 2007.(Mitzi and Karla...Vegas is only a little over a month away!!!) (Dan...Sturgis 2007???)

To Sasha Mullins...your book Bikerlady Living and Riding Free is awesome. Thank you!!

Let's start celebrating people's lives other than Stars. I'm so over Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie that I could scream!! And why are the stars going over seas to adopt children when there are so many here in the USA that need homes? I'm all for helping children in 3rd world countries but we need to help the children who are homeless in the United States first.

We need to boycott any awards show that celebrates stars. Why do we have them put so high on a pedestal? Their job is to entertain us. That's it...bottom line! We need to have awards shows for our Troops, our Police Officers and Firemen and women...for people who make a difference helping people, such as Teachers and Social Workers.

To Jessica Simpson...I even know the words to 9 to 5.

Ok...I think I'm getting tipsy. I better close. Thank you to everyone who touched my life in 2006. Here is to a great 2007!! Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!

Whatever you decide...

We Love You, Brett Favre!!

Harley's Angel

My Friend Kathy made me this ornament last year for Christmas. I totally love it. Love the Harley's Angel banner. That would make a good TV show...Chicks on bikes fighting crime and Willie G could be the voice inside the little box. And Bosley...who could play Bosley?? Dave Perewitz or maybe Paul Sr.

Happy Holidays

I'm a little late sending out Holiday Wishes. I hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday Season and that Santa was very good to you.

Sam Elliott

Don't ask me why but I had to put a couple pictures in my blog of Sam Elliott! My friend Kristen and I compare bikers to Sam Elliott all the time. They are either Sam Elliott in Mask bikers or Sam Elliott in Roadhouse bikers. I know...wacky but fun! One thing is true, he is one HOT older man and a pretty decent actor too!

Harley Girl's Sunday Morning Reflections

Well it's Sunday morning and I'm sitting here with my cup of joe, trying to decide what I'm going to do with my day. I need to finish Christmas shopping for my nephews and neice. This is a wild fact about me, I hate to shop! The only places that I ever enjoy just spending long amounts of time at are the Harley Dealerships.

This time of year is so busy. I had 2 parties and 1 studio tour event to attend last week. Made me tired. My friend LaRassa is an amazing artist. The building that her studio is in had an open studio night. I went and hung out, drank a little, and watched people with our friend Katherine. Then the 3 of us went down to Centro for pizza and cocktails. What a great restaurant. Our waitress was awesome. I love it when I go somewhere and enjoy the entire experience. It just makes it all worthwhile. Katherine and her husband Larry are leaving us the end of the week to move to NC. I'm really going to miss them. What a great couple of people!!

Last night we went to see our friends Mitzi and Todd. Mitzi asked me if I want to go with her and a friend to Vegas in February. I'm in!! I love Vegas. I'm a night owl so it's the perfect place for me. Always open...always something going on. I hope we can go down to Freemont Street to Hogs and Heifers. It's this biker bar in old Vegas that I've heard about. Can you tell my idea of fun usually revolves around something motorcycle related. Harley Shop, biker bars...ha ha!

Ok...well...better get going. It's already after 9. Need to get as much out of the day as possible. I feel like lately I live for the weekend just so I can chill out a little bit. I don't know why, when you are a kid, that you want to grow up so damn fast. If anyone wants to give me a billion dollars so that I can just chill and have fun, that would be an amazing Christmas present!! I keep thinking that I'm going to make a cardboard sign and stand down on Merle Hay and I -80 with the homeless guys, that says, "I work over 40 hours a week. I want a new Harley but I still can't afford it. Help a sister out!" LMAO....I haven't done it yet...pride gets in the way with that. And I think those homeless guys might try to beat me up. They have a pretty good gig going on at that corner.

If anyone actually reads this...LMAO...Have a great Sunday and a great rest of the month. Happy Holidays and God Bless America and our Troops!

Freedom Isn't Free

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"
When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.

Enjoy Your Freedom & God Bless Our Troops

Skull Bike

Is this the coolest bike you've ever seen or what? 

Treat everyone with kindness

The holidays can really be a hectic time and a little stressful. People get all freaked out and forget how to be courteous to one another. Try to make a conscious effort this holiday season to treat each other with kindness and respect. Take a little time to do something nice for other people instead of treating others with disrespect. We all have so much to be thankful for and we just sort of take it all for granted. We need to put a little respect and kindness back into this world because it's become so fast paced and all about me me me!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and were able to spend it with the ones that you love.

8th of November

Today marks the 41st Anniversary of the battle in War Zone D. To all of the Soldiers who served in Vietnam, thank you! To all that did not make it home alive or are still missing...you are forever in our hearts!


I love Big & Rich's song "8th of November". The last line gets to me everytime....He was 19 and green with a new M-16 just doing what he had to do.


Support your Local Vietnam Vets MC!!

Friday Fantasies

I found this great blog called the Bored Housewife. She's a great writer. I totally enjoy her Friday Fantasy entries. My favorite is called Blue Collar Caller.

www.boredhousewife.blogspot.com

Happy 1st Birthday!

It's my blogs first birthday! Thanks to everyone who stops by and reads my many thoughts. It's been fun writing them. I'm excited for another great year! I'm sure there will be lots of interesting things to blog about.

Another WTF Rant!

Ok...what the hell is up with these wackos from that so called church group? Protesting military funerals and holding up signs saying that...I can't even say what their signs say, it sickens me that much. How can this be Christian? One of their signs says...God hates America...and I'm saying back to them...If you believe in this God hating God that hates America than I think maybe you should leave!! My hat's off to the Patriot Guard/Freedom Riders for attending the funerals that these wack jobs protest. The Patriot Guard/Freedom Riders shield the family from as much of their nonsense as they can. Those are some strong willed men because I don't think I could hold my composure if I was around those people for 30 seconds. My heart hurts just thinking about the fact that the Soldiers who die for this country are dying so that wack jobs can protest their funerals and say such hateful untruths. It's seriously all so f'd up! Ok...I need to end this because my blood pressure is through the roof just thinking about those IDIOTS!

God Bless our Fallen Soldiers and their families!

HarleyGirl

This is me, the chick behind the many thoughts! 

Great Biker Site

Check this biker site out the next time you are surfing the web.

www.abelsweb.com

Are you living by it?

You have to watch this amazing video from Harley Davidson!

www.livingbyit.com

Call me sappy but I actually got tears in my eyes! Trust me...I believe!! Amen!

You had it all Billy!!

I sit here broken hearted. My Chopper God has fallen from grace. Billy had a blood alcohol level of 0.192, which was more than twice the legal limit and was driving on a suspended license. Billy was charged with drunken driving manslaughter. If Billy is convicted he could spend 15 yrs in prison for manslaughter and 15 yrs for driving on a suspended license. This amazing artist has suddenly met a roadblock and I hope that someday he will rise above this all and create more amazing bikes. Billy's friend Indian Larry changed his life after spending time in prison and hopefully this will bring Billy back down to earth so he can once again focus on the real gift he was given, being an amazing Chopper Artist.

Sasha Mullins and her bike Tigerlily

Sasha Mullins is one cool biker chick! Check out her website at www.bikerlady.com . She has written an amazing book about Biker Women called Bikerlady: Living & Riding Free. Every biker chick should read this book! It's inspirational and has so much history about women who forged the road for female riders today.

So disappointed!!

Well Dilana didn't win the other night on Rockstar Supernova. Tommy, Gilby, and Jason selected Lukas instead. Guess the boys were too afraid they'd be shown up by a girl. Rock on Dilana...you are one awesome chick and I'm sure you will make it further than Lukas will after Supernova ends their tour.

Farewell Marine

Grab some tissues before you watch this. It's very moving.

http://www.pcsuccess.us/yrg/farewell.html

Great Quote

People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.

Billy Billy Billy???

My Chopper God did a bad bad thing! Hit and killed a moped rider while trying to pass 2 cars in a no passing zone. I just hope he wasn't drunk, that will make it all the worse.

Let's Say Thanks

I received an e-mail today from a friend of mine with a link to a website that I think you all should go to. Please go to www.letssaythanks.com and send some postcards to the Men and Women serving our country. They all deserve a huge thank you for what they do each day. What a sacrifice they make so we can be free.

God Bless our Troops and keep them safe. They are all heroes in my eyes.

Anything Boys Can Do Girls Can Do Better

Is this the cutest picture or what? Go Little Biker Girl!!!

Who needs a snowmobile? Obviously not this guy.

I thought Harley Riders were hardcore! That's one hardcore Kawasaki rider!! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I'm proud to be an American

Let's face it, since September 11th things have changed in the United States. We view things much differently now, or at least I do. We all need to wake up and realize that one of these days something could happen in our own back yard. The US Government allowed people into our country assuming they would be going to school in Montana. What happened? They split up and were found all around the United States. 3 of these so called students ended up right here in Des Moines, IA. Wake up people!! Do you really think that just because we live in the United States, that suicide bombers couldn't show up on our streets? Why did these men scatter all over the country? And how come the US Government never gives us the straight story? I really doubt these guys were like..."Oh, my life long dream has always been to visit Des Moines, IA." Come on, get real!! Seriously my fellow Americans....WAKE UP and stop being so damn liberal about everything. Stop worrying about who we might offend because when they are walking into the local Starbucks with an explosive device strapped to themselves, it will be far to late.

Dilana what the heck girl??

Ok...I try to not get all caught up in reality TV but I'm sooooooooo into RockStar Supernova. Gilby Clarke and Dave Navarro...need I say more? NO! Well anyway, I totally dig Dilana. She's a total performer and could front the band but she had to go and get bitchy and cocky. Sad but true, when you are a strong female you really have to watch how you come across to people. Your strong will can be construed as being an out and out BITCH! So anyway...I hope Dilana didn't hurt her chance to front Supernova. I totally think she could do it! She has my vote...GO DILANA!!

Save a Hog RIDE a Biker!

I thought this cartoon was great. There are always all these sexy pictures of chicks on bikes out there and so I thought I'd objectify men a little bit. HA HA!!!

Thirty Two Flavors Lyrics -- Ani DiFranco

thirty two flavors

squint your eyes and look closer
i'm not between you and your ambition
i am a poster girl with no poster
i am thirty-two flavors and then some
and i'm beyond your peripheral vision
so you might want to turn your head
cause someday you're going to get hungry
and eat most of the words you just said

both my parents taught me about good will
and i have done well by their names
just the kindness i've lavished on strangers
is more than i can explain
still there's many who've turned out their porch lights
just so i would think they were not home
and hid in the dark of their windows
till i'd passed and left them alone

and god help you if you are an ugly girl
course too pretty is also your doom
cause everyone harbors a secret hatred
for the prettiest girl in the room
and god help you if you are a phoenix
and you dare to rise up from the ash
a thousand eyes will smolder with jealousy
while you are just flying past

i'm not trying to give my life meaning
by demeaning you
and i would like to state for the record
i did everything that i could do
i'm not saying that i'm a saint
i just don't want to live that way
no, i will never be a saint
but i will always say

squint your eyes and look closer
i'm not between you and your ambition
i am a poster girl with no poster
i am thirty-two flavors and then some
and i'm beyond your peripheral vision
so you might want to turn your head
cause someday you might find you're starving
and eating all of the words you said

Why am I torturing myself?

If you are a biker you know that August is the month for the annual pilgrimage to Sturgis, SD. So as you can tell by the date of this blog post I'm here in Des Moines, IA and not in Sturgis, SD. I keep continually torturing myself by going to Sturgisrally.net to watch the crowds on the webcam. Oh how I wish I were there right now. Ok...enough blogging, I need to keep hitting refresh so I can see the next group of people walk by the cam. Next year it will be me walking by that cam and waving "hi" to another poor soul that's not able to make it. But for now I'm that poor soul, dreaming of Sturgis and all its fun and scenic roads for riding.

I want a prize dammit!

Ok...so I'm driving down NW 62nd, which is 25 mph. Along the side of the road is one of those machines that tells you how fast you are going. Everytime I drive by it I think to myself...I was right on 25 mph. I should get a prize dammit!!! Or hey, if you are driving faster than the speed limit the lights start flashing on it...shouldn't you get a prize then? I mean you made the lights flash. I'm not really going anywhere with this, I just find those machines kind of funny. I guess they must stop people from speeding because they keep using them. I just think if you hit 25 or make the lights flash you should get a prize of some sort...and I don't mean a ticket either. :)

Dilana from Rockstar Supernova - One Cool Chick!

Dilana from Rockstar Supernova! Ok...I knew I liked this chick from the first time I heard her sing but now that I see she's a biker chick I like her even more. If you haven't checked out Rockstar Supernova and heard this woman sing you are truly missing out. She gives me chills with each performance. Even if she doesn't become the lead singer for Supernova, I think she's got a career ahead of her in the music biz. I'll buy her albums.

Look around you....Share the road with us!

Wake up cage drivers and look for us. We are sharing the road with you and you need to look around before pulling into an intersection or changing lanes. And you wonder why we have loud pipes on our motorcycles even though sometimes that doesn't even work. I'm saddened once again because of the report that another fellow rider lost his life because a driver of a cage failed to yield. Thomas Maske, 36 died of injuries from a motorcycle accident that occurred July 10th. An 18 yr old driver will be charged with failure to yield.

RIP Thomas...may you ride even freer in heaven.

Me and My Gang??? HUH?

Ok...Rascal Flatts, go back to making good music. The new me and my gang song is awful! Have you read the lyrics....

Way on down to southern Alabama With the guitars jammin' that's where we're headed Straight up to Butte, Montana singin' Lord I was born a ramblin' man California to Oregon Even New York City got one or two hillbillies ready to hit the road It's a brother and a sister kinda thang Raise up your hands if you all wanna hang with Me and my gang We live to ride, we ride to live Me and my gang Jump on that train Grab a hold of them reins We gonna rock this thang, cock this thang Me and my gang We got hippies, gypsies, freaks and geeks High class women in Daisy Duke denim Bangin' on gongs and singin' our songs dude named elrod jammin' on an ipod Beer and bonfires Wide open throttle, Coors in a bottle It's all for one and ONE FOR ALL YA'LL It's a brother and a sister kinda thang Raise up your hands if you all wanna hang with Me and my gang We live to ride, we ride to live Me and my gang Jump on that train Grab a hold of them reins We gonna rock this thang, cock this thang Me and my gang

And what's up with this We live to ride and we ride to live lyric? I didn't know that Rascal Flatts ranked up there as an Outlaw Country group.

Funny stuff

Today on my way to work I saw the funniest thing....A trucker girl sticker on a mini van. It cracked me up.

The New Zippy Pickle!

The new ride! Sweeeeeet! Happy 4th!

The Best Harley Dealership in the USA!

My All Time Favorite Harley Davidson Dealership!!!!

My 2 Cents Worth

There is a column in the Des Moines Register called 2 Cents Worth. There have been a lot of people calling in and complaining about loud pipes. Well my 2 Cents Worth on that is loud pipes save lives. Thank god for the sound of the pipes because most people don't even think about looking in their mirrors or checking to see if a motorcycle is possibly riding in their blind spot.

She's a Beauty!

What an awesome looking ride! 2001 Heritage Softail - If you are interested in buying this motorcycle go to Zook's HD in Des Moines, IA. Just traded it in on a 2006 Street Glide.

I totally love this bike! Sweet Ass Bobber built by Radical Cycles Des Moines, IA 

Tragedy on Saylorville Dam

The other night at 1 am, two young adults lost their lives in a motorcycle accident by the Saylorville Dam. Witnesses say that the couple was traveling along at around 100 mph when they lost control and hit the guard rail. So very sad because I'm sure the gentleman's female passenger was in heaven riding with a good-looking motorcycle guy before tragedy showed it's evil head.

The thing that bothers me most is all the talk that helmets would have saved their lives. Get real people, they were traveling at approx 100 mph. That means when they hit the guard rail their bodies were still traveling at 100 mph. They were thrown onto the rocks above the dam. I seriously doubt a helmet would have saved them. Their internal injuries would have most likely killed them even if a helmet would have been worn.

I don't feel because of the wrong judgment of this motorcycle rider that a helmet law should be passed, it should always be the rider's choice. And the rider's actions were to blame in this tragedy, not the fact that a helmet was not worn. I do feel that every motorcycle rider getting their license in Iowa should be required to take a Motorcycle Safety Course. Automobile drivers have to, so why should motorcycles be any different? I took the Rider's Edge course and there are other courses given throughout the state that are just as good, including the classes at DMACC and the ones given by ABATE of Iowa. I learned so many things from this class. I thought, heck motorcycle riding will be a snap...how wrong I was. By taking the class it made me so much more aware of how serious you need to take controlling your motorcycle while still having an amazing time.

I am saddened by the loss of these two young adults and by all of the other motorcycle related deaths in Iowa this year. It makes my heart sink when I hear another fellow motorcycle rider has lost his or her life.

Enjoy the freedom of the ride...just remember your not in a cage and the only thing protecting you from harm is yourself.

Ashton & Demi in Des Moines???

Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore were in Des Moines at Aura. It doesn't sound like Demi was very nice to the friendly Des Moinesians who requested pictures of the couple. And then Ashton couldn't get a helicopter to fly in and pick them up. Come on Ashton...you grew up in freaking Homestead, IA...come back down to earth would ya? Hopefully Demi doesn't eventually dump her boy toy or Ashton might end up back in Homestead reminiscing about the days when he was famous. Don't forget where you came from Kutcher.

She has the best Job ever!!

Natalie Jackson of Motorcycle Freedom probably has the best gig on the planet. She gets to ride amazing motorcycles and gets to meet amazing biker people. I just watched a free MagRack show that she hosted about the Ventura Chopper show in honor of David Mann. She got to see Mann's incredible biker art and she interviewed up and coming chopper builders. She even got to interview bad boy Russell Mitchell of Exile Cycles. Lucky her!! Hats off to Natalie Jackson, one happening biker chick!

Burt Reynolds

You know...Life was so much simpler way back when Burt Reynolds was a hunk. :)~

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was an excellent flick. A total must see chick flick! It was refreshing to watch and made me cry in all the right places. Guys beware...I'm sure it will make you yawn but it would also be the perfect opportunity to snuggle close with your female loved one and comfort her when she cries during the touching scenes. :)

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants gets 5 stars!

Pink - No More Stupid Girls!

I would like to give a big round of applause to Pink! Her song "Stupid Girls" rocks and I think it let's the world know how a lot of girls and women in America feel. Women are so much more than just looks. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy looking good but I also want to be recognized for my brain.

Melinda & Candace

I had the most enjoyable night last Wednesday. My friend Melinda and I went out for dinner at the Court Ave Brewing Co. and then went to the Civic Center to hear Candace Bushnell speak. Melinda is a great woman and someone I really look up to and Candace Bushnell wrote my favorite HBO Series of all time, Sex and the City. It was a wonderful night. What cracked me up the most though was the amount of people that must have been offended about what Ms. Bushnell was talking about, because they got up and left the speech. I think it's a great idea to either go to something like that with an open mind or to do a little studying up on the speaker you are going to listen to. She wasn't even that raunchy but I keep forgetting we are in conservative middle America. Plus if you have never seen the Series Sex and the City you really wouldn't know what she was talking about 1/2 the time so why waste your time. ha! She said one thing that the character Carrie Bradshaw said in the Series....You really need to take good care of your relationships with your girlfriends because they are people you can almost always count on but men in your life will come and go. It's too bad that you don't learn that when you are a teenage girl and boy crazy. I don't know how many times I brushed my friends aside for some stupid boy who dumped me a few weeks later. I would go crawling back to my friends who I'd abandoned, they'd take me back but after a few more times of doing this they kind of wrote me off. I don't blame them one bit though. I think I have the best friends that I've ever had at this point in my life. My friend Michelle from work is a great friend and I cherish my friendships with the gals in Art Group. Anyway...back to Candace Bushnell, I really enjoyed her talk. It was great to see her and hear what she was really like. She's definitely a New Yorker. The best part of the night though was the fact that Melinda shared her extra ticket with me and that we had a really nice conversation at dinner.

Rob Zombie

Saw Rob Zombie at the Val Air Ballroom on April 13th. I'd have to say it was probably the best concert I've seen. I would have loved to have gotten closer to the stage to see Rob but I would probably be deaf. I haven't rocked like I did that night since my hair band loving days of the 80's. I was headbanging with the best of them. I had a great time. Thanks for a great show Rob Zombie. Now you just need to come back to Des Moines and play a much larger venue like Wells Fargo Arena!! It sure did rock though.

Crotch Rockets

I just don't get young guys on crotch rockets. Tonight I was driving to art group and there were two young guys on crotch rockets behind me. The one kid kept popping wheelies right down the city street. For one thing where the hell is a cop when they do these stupid stunts. I've seen them going down I 80 popping them. Insane!! I guess it's their life that they are putting at risk but it just pisses me off. Riding a motorcycle is not something to take lightly. It can be a deadly machine, even more deadly than a car. One wrong move and splat...you can be eating the pavement. I seriously think that young guys on crotch rockets think that nothing can happen to them. Well big mouth me, as I drove by them, rolled down my window...slowed up and said...For god sake Ride Safe! I'm sure they called me a bitch and probably some other fun words but seriously I don't care. Optimistic me hopes that they thought about it and it may have saved their lives tonight as they cruised Des Moines on their bikes. I try not to be a hater of this sub culture of motorcyclists but they are seriously so much different than Harley Riders. I'd be lying if I said that Riding your bike like you stole it isn't fun but I think riders of motorcycles other than crotch rockets use their heads more often than the crotch rocket riders out there. Ok...I'm done venting. Enjoy the Freedom of the ride and Ride Safe!

From Crash to Romantic

I watched the movie Crash the other night. Amazing film about racism in the United States. If it wasn't for the brief nudity I think it should actually be shown to junior high or high school students. And so what about the brief nudity...have you seen the music videos lately. Just show it. There is such a strong message in the film and it was incredible how so many of the characters lives crossed paths. You never know when your enemy may be the one that saves you, so you should treat everyone you meet with respect. If you haven't watched this movie, even if you are the most racist person on the planet, it's a must see! RENT IT and open your mind!

On a much lighter more romantic note. I wasn't trying to be a voyeur the other night but I was standing out on my deck and saw the most romantic sight. There is a woman who lives in the townhome across from mine and she must have had a date because I think she's a single woman. Anyway, her and her date were dancing in her living room and you could see it through her window. It was so cute and so romantic that it brought tears to my eyes. It brought hope to me that romance hasn't died. :)

Winged Migration

If you haven't seen the film Winged Migration it's definitely a must see.

Hell's Angel The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the HAMC

Well I finished Sonny's version of the story. A much better read than Hunter Thompson's book. While the guy did have a rap sheet a mile long I felt like I learned a lot about his life and the story of the Hell's Angels. The last paragraph of the book brought tears to my eyes...My thoughts overpowered the roar of two hundred Harleys gunning through the Alps. I know I've paid a terrible price for my freedom. I've learned the hard way that to understand my heart is to understand the evil that lurks inside. I can't hide behind religious traditions and superficial heroes. It's impossible to be delivered away from man's constant inhumanity to man. As a warrior, you've got to know pain and sadness alongside joy and solitude. It is to those who long to ride - forever free - that I write these words...and the Angels shall be Kings! Wow...that's some deep writing. I think these men where a misunderstood group. People were too afraid to let them have their freedom and had to mess with them every chance that they could. The Hell's Angels are a brotherhood of some badass mfers but the true Hell's Angels stuck by their brothers at any cost. If you are a lover of the freedom you feel riding a motorcycle you should definitely read this book. I've just started Freedom Credos from the Road by Sonny Barger.

Hell's Angels: Hunter Thompson vs Sonny Barger

I finally finished Hell's Angels by Hunter Thompson. It was really a very boring account of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. I felt that Hunter Thompson used the Angels to get a story to write his book. He really didn't tell any of the real stories about the club. He didn't really even go into great depth on any of the things that really happened while he was with them. It was like he was afraid of them and in the end turned on them. I've started reading Hell's Angel The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. So far I'm enjoying this book so much more and I look forward to getting a different prospective on the Angels than I did with the Hunter Thompson book. I'm fascinated with motorcycle clubs as a whole. I really feel that in the 60's if the police and the government would have just left the Angels alone there would have been far less problems. By the police and government making such a big deal out of the Angels I feel that it fueled how they acted. I'm not saying that the Hell's Angels were a group of stand up guys but I do feel like they were given a bum rap just because of how they decided to live their lives. I watched Easy Rider the other day, there is a scene in the movie where it is implied that regular people are afraid of the freedom that they see motorcycle riders having. I think that is true. General people just don't get the freedom and never will. I look forward to Sonny Barger's side of the Hell's Angels story. I better get to reading!

Check out these websites

WomenRidersNow.com
IronCowgirls.com
devildollsmc.org
oneshottattoo.com
choppersinc.com
godfatherschopshop.com

Madden at Outback

John Madden was spotted at Outback Steakhouse in West Des Moines on Monday, February 6th.

Rob Zombie

Ok...I can't believe it's true but I'm going to see Rob Zombie on April 13th at the Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines. I've loved this guys music forever but I'm not sure how well I'm going to do with a mosh pit and goth kids. I'm sure it will be a very interesting experience and one that I will not soon forget. I'm just interested in hearing the opening act Bullets for my Valentine or something odd like that. Might have to check them out on rhapsody before the show. Stay tuned to hear about this experience. Seriously though...I can't wait. Rob Zombie! WOW!!

Innocent Little Angel

I've been following the story of 10 year old Jetseta Gage since she went missing on March 24th of 2005 and one day later her body was found in an abandoned mobile home near Cedar Rapids. Roger Bentley was arrested for her abduction, rape and murder. He has been standing trial in Davenport this week. I read the testimony of what he did to this innocent little angel and it just breaks my heart. That poor little girl. I can't even imagine the terror and pain she went through the last hours of her life. Roger Bentley deserves more than a life sentence in prison. He deserves to be tortured for the rest of his life. What a sick bastard!!! He and his brother, who also molested this little girl, ripped her innocents away forever. And then because of some sick twisted perversion Roger Bentley took her away from her home, raped and murdered her. The thing that makes me even more sick is the fact that Jetseta's mother dated James Bentley, Roger's brother, after knowing the man was a sex offender. She let these two men into her home around her daughter after knowing these two men preyed upon little girls. And when they show Jetseta's mother crying it enrages me. I realize she is sad that her daughter was taken away from her so brutally but she should have considered the consequences of letting known sex offenders into her life. What I don't understand is why women let such scum into their lives just so they can have some love. Don't the needs of your child come first?? That is why you have children. To love them, provide for them and make their lives rich and help them grow. Not bring some sick fucking perverts into your home with the chance that they might molest your daughter. Ok...I'm done ranting. It just sickons me to no end and my heart breaks for this little girl. Next week Jetseta will finally be able to rest in peace when her rapist and murderer goes to prison for the rest of his life. May this little angel be in heaven with the other little angels where no one can hurt them ever again.

Camaro

My junior year of high school my dad bought me a 1980 Chevy Camaro. I was so proud of that car. I would make up things that I had to go and do just so I could drive it. On Friday and Saturday nights I'd be on University Avenue in Cedar Falls, IA driving back and forth. There was a route that everyone would drive. Down Uni into Waterloo...drive through the Hardee's parking lot and back up Uni to Black Hawk Village. Back and forth all night long, checking out boys with my girlfriends, parking and talking to boys with my girlfriends, racing boys in their cars with my girlfriends. It was a blast!! The reason I started thinking about my Camaro wasn't because I'm going through a crisis and missing my youth...ha ha...but because the other day, on my way to work, there was a girl driving next to me going to Johnston High School. She was driving a 90's Camaro and I thought that was so cool. Made me wonder if she takes it downtown to Grand Ave with her girlfriends and made me wonder if they have the same kind of fun that my girlfriends and I used to have "Cruising the Strip"! I hope that she does because that is one tradition that I hope never dies. "Cruising Uni" was so much fun. Oh and that missing my youth comment...sometimes I do miss the things that were fun back then. But really the things that I'm doing now are just as great!

Listening to Old Records

Tonight we pulled out the old records and turntable. They sounded so good. Made me miss the old days a little. Boston, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zepplin, G & R and even Moon Unit Zappa singing Valley Girl. It was great. It made me appreciate music again. Lately I've been listening to Country because there just hasn't been any really good new Rock and Roll bands. It will be a sad day when Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Kiss and the Stones pass on. There just isn't any music like that being made today. We have Kanye West, Eminem, Diddy, and the Strokes now. That music may sound good to the youth but it's just not what I call good. Yes, I'll admit I'm getting older and I'm probably a little stuck in the good old days. When I do listen to music other than Country I'm drawn to Tracey Bonham, Cowboy Junkies, Melissa Ferrick and Ani DiFranco. They actually know how to write a song and the lyrics actually say something. It's funny because I still find myself calling a groups new CD their new record. I bet most of the kids growing up now have never even listened to a record especially since you can download anything you want into your IPod. It's incredible how things progress. Soon record stores will be a distant memory and I'm sure eventually CDs will no longer exist.

No Problem

I've decided to accept the fact that Generation Y says "No Problem" instead of "You're welcome". It used to bug me and I felt it was rude but I've come to realize they actually are saying "You're welcome" in their own way.

Two more what the F*%k moments

First what the F moment was New Years Day. We went to Daytona's with a couple we are friends with. On the way there I spotted the usual panhandlers on the corner of Merle Hay and I 80. So we are having lunch and talking at Daytona's. I start watching this guy playing the lottery slot machine games...I'm like...that is one of the panhandlers that was standing on the corner of Merle Hay and I 80 begging for money. WHAT THE F???? Yet another reason why you shouldn't give those fools money!!

Second what the F moment. I was driving home the other day and I pulled up next to this car. In the passenger seat was a woman holding a 2 or 3 yr old child in her lap. Where is a police officer when you need one? Isn't that illegal...um...YES!!! Get a car seat.

People seriously blow my mind daily. WOW!

Sex and the City Junkie

I'm officially a Sex and the City Junkie. I received the 6 season box set for Christmas and I can't stop watching it even though I've already seen every episode. Pathetic yes...but you know what?? I don't care! :)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year! It's a beautiful day here in Des Moines, IA. Wish that we didn't need to have new brakes put on the Harley because we'd be out on it today! Our party last night was so much fun. Lots of food and plenty of libation! I'm so thankful that I have such a great group of friends and that my sister and her husband could join us to.

I'm not big into resolutions but I'm going to make a few. I need to get in shape and drop some pounds and this is the year that I'm going to do that and stick to it. This is also the year that I'm going to do the things that I keep saying that I'm going to do. I've been wanting to take pictures of roadside memorials and do research on who the people were. I'm going to do that this year. I'm going to try and do a documentary on bikers in Des Moines. Hopefully I can find bikers that want to tell their stories on why they love to ride and any interesting rides they have been on, rally experiences, etc. I'm also going to do more art work. I love being creative and I just need to let it flow.

Wishing everyone a very Happy, Healthy and Successful New Year! Happy 2006!!