This is a letter of warning to my Massachusetts brothers and sisters. Get informed and join the fight.
I've been informed that many cities in the state are quietly passing motorcycle ordinances in secret backroom meetings. Most are having to do with noise ordinances as well as the EPA stamp requirement for your pipes. There is also word coming out of the state that some towns are setting up motorcycle only "safety" road blocks and writing tickets for non DOT "approved" helmets and for any motorcycle that does not have stock exhaust.
Check out what the MMA is fighting against in your area. There is also a new organization called the Justice Riders Committee of Massachusetts that has filed suit against the City of Boston. Both are fighting hard for your rights. Show your support to these organizations before Massachusetts becomes a bike free zone.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Alive & Kickin'
Just wanted to pop in and let you folks know that I'm still out here.
I haven't found a job yet. I can tell you that it's not for lack of trying though. It's a tough market out there and so many other folks are looking too. I keep applying for jobs every day though and know that when the right opportunity presents itself, God will let me know.
And after 14 years together and 11 years of marriage, I filed for divorce last week. I've had enough of the lunacy and it's time to save myself. Life is short and I've had way too many years of feeling miserable. It's time to bust down the prison walls and walk in the sunlight. My time lately has been consumed with this major life change and I know that the road ahead will be rocky but I can see promise at the end of the journey.
I hope that my words find you all well and that you're all getting some great rides in. I miss you all, my brothers and sisters. God bless.
I haven't found a job yet. I can tell you that it's not for lack of trying though. It's a tough market out there and so many other folks are looking too. I keep applying for jobs every day though and know that when the right opportunity presents itself, God will let me know.
And after 14 years together and 11 years of marriage, I filed for divorce last week. I've had enough of the lunacy and it's time to save myself. Life is short and I've had way too many years of feeling miserable. It's time to bust down the prison walls and walk in the sunlight. My time lately has been consumed with this major life change and I know that the road ahead will be rocky but I can see promise at the end of the journey.
I hope that my words find you all well and that you're all getting some great rides in. I miss you all, my brothers and sisters. God bless.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Hiatus
To: My Blogger Brothers & Sisters,
Yep, I'm taking a little blogger break.
My life is a shambles and I need to take care of it. My marriage is on its way down the toilet. My daughter and grand-daughter are on their way back to Wisconsin or they'll be homeless by August. And yesterday, I found out that I'll be losing my job of 10 years in about 2 weeks.
Why do I expose all of this to you? I tell you this because I consider a lot of you like family. We've shared so much together over the past few years. I feel like I know so many of you even though we may have never met face-to-face yet.
Even though things are pretty crappy right now, I have to trust that there are better days ahead in all of these areas of my life. It's always darkest before the dawn.
Dean "D-Day"
P.S. Prayers will be gratefully accepted.
Yep, I'm taking a little blogger break.
My life is a shambles and I need to take care of it. My marriage is on its way down the toilet. My daughter and grand-daughter are on their way back to Wisconsin or they'll be homeless by August. And yesterday, I found out that I'll be losing my job of 10 years in about 2 weeks.
Why do I expose all of this to you? I tell you this because I consider a lot of you like family. We've shared so much together over the past few years. I feel like I know so many of you even though we may have never met face-to-face yet.
Even though things are pretty crappy right now, I have to trust that there are better days ahead in all of these areas of my life. It's always darkest before the dawn.
Dean "D-Day"
P.S. Prayers will be gratefully accepted.
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Prison Inside Me
There were storms all around me.
Battering me from all sides.
So I ran.
I ran to where I thought it was safe
And I locked myself inside.
But now the beast is in here with me
And I lost the keys somewhere along the way.
I spend my days staring through my prison bars
And realize that the storms have long passed.
A lone ray of sunshine peers into my dungeon
And gives me hope that maybe…someday.
Oh, how I long to envelop myself in its warmth.
But I’m in a prison of my own making
Unsure of how long my sentence may be.
The beast now gnaws at my bones
And my screams for help go unheard,
Except for that little ray of sunshine
That continues to give me hope.
The door finally opens a crack
And I take a peek outside.
It looks so beautiful on the other side.
Why am I so afraid to step out into the light?
So afraid of what I’ve longed for.
This prison shackles me tight
Taunting that I will never leave.
But to give up hope that I may someday be paroled…
Never.
The beast is almost dead now
And my time is almost served.
I’m getting ready to step out into the light
And take my little ray of sunshine by the hand.
Never to run from the storms again.
Never to imprison myself again.
Battering me from all sides.
So I ran.
I ran to where I thought it was safe
And I locked myself inside.
But now the beast is in here with me
And I lost the keys somewhere along the way.
I spend my days staring through my prison bars
And realize that the storms have long passed.
A lone ray of sunshine peers into my dungeon
And gives me hope that maybe…someday.
Oh, how I long to envelop myself in its warmth.
But I’m in a prison of my own making
Unsure of how long my sentence may be.
The beast now gnaws at my bones
And my screams for help go unheard,
Except for that little ray of sunshine
That continues to give me hope.
The door finally opens a crack
And I take a peek outside.
It looks so beautiful on the other side.
Why am I so afraid to step out into the light?
So afraid of what I’ve longed for.
This prison shackles me tight
Taunting that I will never leave.
But to give up hope that I may someday be paroled…
Never.
The beast is almost dead now
And my time is almost served.
I’m getting ready to step out into the light
And take my little ray of sunshine by the hand.
Never to run from the storms again.
Never to imprison myself again.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sturgis: I Don't Think So
I've had several of you ask me if I'm going to Sturgis this year. I've been saying for months now that I'm going. I think I even told one person, "Come Hell or high water, I'll be there!" Well folks, the water has just overflowed the levee and drowned me. In other words, I'll not be going after all.
Some of you know that my wife was permanently laid off a few months ago after faithfully serving the same company for 13 years. It cuts our household income in half but I was still determined to get to Sturgis.
Until...
The owner of the company I work for called me in his office yesterday. He let me in on some confidential information that was not public yet. He told me that I might want to hang on to my pennies a little tighter because everyone in the company was probably going to get a 2-week "unpaid vacation" in July. So, the money will definitely not be available for me to go.
As sad as I am about this turn of events, I know that everything happens for a reason and I'm glad that some of you will be there. Be sure to take a lot of pictures for me!!
Some of you know that my wife was permanently laid off a few months ago after faithfully serving the same company for 13 years. It cuts our household income in half but I was still determined to get to Sturgis.
Until...
The owner of the company I work for called me in his office yesterday. He let me in on some confidential information that was not public yet. He told me that I might want to hang on to my pennies a little tighter because everyone in the company was probably going to get a 2-week "unpaid vacation" in July. So, the money will definitely not be available for me to go.
As sad as I am about this turn of events, I know that everything happens for a reason and I'm glad that some of you will be there. Be sure to take a lot of pictures for me!!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Riders To The Rescue
"I felt so helpless sitting there protecting her spine while we waited for the ambulance to arrive," said Casey Jackman. In a letter to Dean Akey from the Rescue Riders, Casey related the story of how his wife was still in the hospital after a terrible motorcycle accident on Mother's Day weekend. He wrote of how he had nothing better than a Band-Aid and sun block to help and how he will never again be without supplies or training to take care of someone in need.
Casey's letter emphasizes how we collectively need to support each other and the importance of being prepared. The Rescue Riders is a perfect example of living these values. Dean Akey established 
the Rescue Rider program about 5 years ago after he was in a motorcycle accident and no fellow riders had the training to help him. The program was developed to recruit, educate and organize bikers in support of each other and the communities in which they live. Rescue Riders receive training such as Accident Scene Management and CPR certification and use these new skills wherever and whenever the need arises. Being regular participants at motorcycle events volunteering as medics, they are able to be first on the scene administering care during the vital "Golden Hour". The "Golden Hour" is the time period of about one hour in which the lives of a majority of critically injured patients can be saved if emergency care is provided.
the Rescue Rider program about 5 years ago after he was in a motorcycle accident and no fellow riders had the training to help him. The program was developed to recruit, educate and organize bikers in support of each other and the communities in which they live. Rescue Riders receive training such as Accident Scene Management and CPR certification and use these new skills wherever and whenever the need arises. Being regular participants at motorcycle events volunteering as medics, they are able to be first on the scene administering care during the vital "Golden Hour". The "Golden Hour" is the time period of about one hour in which the lives of a majority of critically injured patients can be saved if emergency care is provided.Dean Akey has been tirelessly promoting the Rescue Riders program by traveling around giving presentations to motorcycle groups. I was lucky enough to have Dean invite me to one of his recent presentations where he teamed up with Tony and Vicki Sanfelipo from Accident Scene Management Inc. in giving the law firm of Hupy & Abraham an award for years of supporting the motorcycle community and worthy programs such as this. 
Do you want to ride for a reason? Check out the Rescue Riders program by visiting their web site at www.rescueriders.org.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Sons of Anarchy - Season 2
Those of you who are jones'n for a little Sons of Anarchy, here's some candid shots from the set while shooting Season 2.
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