The Blog of Blues

[blues2cruise]

mmm, White Spot.

I'm glad to hear you're having more fun. I want you still riding when I make it to vancouver on a bike!! Someone will have to show me around to the good roads.

I would be very happy to show you around when you get here.

You will be glad to know that I was riding again today. Some of my confidence is coming back.

[blues2cruise]

April 5, 2008

I haven’t ridden much lately and I have written even less. Sometimes my ongoing situation brings on a bout of depression (even though I am already on anti-depressant/anti-anxiety med). I’ve been in a slump since last Monday.

I went riding on Sunday with a group of 4 other bikers. I had been going for some short rides to gain some stamina and calm my nerves.
The ride last Sunday was quite long. I left home just before 11 and didn’t get home until almost 7. I had to stop for a break 20 minutes before home because I was sore and tired.

My bike is still having first gear issues and of course I am not happy about it. I have taken it in to the dealer twice to have them look at it to see what the problem is. They finally installed the parts they forgot to install when it was in for repair, but it didn’t fix the problem.
The dealer won’t re-open the claim so I have to try to get the insurance company to re-open the claim so that hidden damage can be determined. I have had opinions from a few people who suggested it could be a shifting linkage problem or a shift fork problem. When the bike crashed it landed on its left side. The rep at the dealer didn’t think that the fall would have done any internal damage. He tried to tell me that it is a rider shifting error. I then asked him that since I had been riding that bike for 30,000 km with no problems, then why is it suddenly a rider error?
He had no answer for that one.
Last summer the dealership changed owners. They have no record of my bike in their system. Apparently in the change over, a lot of files were lost. I can add that to the list of their incompetence.
Now, it is up to me to get out all my records, photocopy them and take them over to them. I want them to see that I had never complained about the shifting issue before. I want them to see that my bike was bought from them and that I had all the factory recommended services done….and done by them….

Anyway….that was mid week when the bike when in for the latest inquiry. Doc rode it for me while I drove behind him in my car. Personally, I don’t think the bike is safe to ride without a backup bike or car behind. After the disappointment of the dealer, we then came back to my place and parked the bike and the car. I got my gear on and went for ride as passenger on Doc’s bike so we could go get breakfast…albeit a bit late. After breakfast, Doc dropped me off and went home to go get some sleep.

If my hand weren’t so darn sore I would have ridden the bike myself with Doc following me. The ride last Sunday has caused my hand to hurt to the point that I have trouble using it.

I drove my car to see the boss man on Monday. I spent some time with him while he was giving a lesson. I can learn a lot just by hanging around. He also showed me the paperwork from ICBC about getting certified to train the trainer. He asked me to help him write a curriculum. I worked on it for awhile and came up with a first draft.
On Tuesday the 1st, I was to go back again, but I had to make a stop off at my sister’s on the way. She and her partner were having another little crisis.
“Can you babysit”?
So, I took the 2 year old nephew with me. He was enthralled by seeing the bikes being ridden around the parking lot. However, he was even more enchanted by the orange cones.
I managed to squeeze in a few minutes with the boss man before leaving.

Thursday was the day that Doc came by to ride my bike to the dealer. It was also the same day I received a letter from my lawyer. I have been in a blue mood ever since.
The lawyer has suggested I reconsider my desire to become a motorcycle instructor.
He suggested that I re-bottoms whether it is an appropriate choice of career move given my still weakened state and my ongoing aches and pains.
Wow….I have wanting to do this since the day I got my license. I have been making plans and setting goals. Now all of a sudden I see no future. I feel like I am going to be stuck here.
I will call him next week to have a chat with him.
Ironically, my former job, which the insurance folks and disability folks keep hoping I will go back to, actually requires more physical effort than riding a bike. Instructing lessons in a parking lot would be less demanding than my old job.

I think I have fallen through the cracks in the system…..My disability provider set up an appointment at my home to interview me. That was several weeks ago. They wanted me to go to a rehab facility for physical and mental/emotional therapy. Well…it was a few weeks before they got back to me with the appointments. It was a few more weeks before the actual first assessments. They said they would be setting up a program of daily exercise and education and once or twice weekly counseling sessions. They told me they would call me in a couple of weeks. That was 6 weeks ago. I’m still waiting.

I hadn’t realized how much time had gone by until I saw the first appointments listed on my calendar. I will call them next week to find out what the heck is going on.
An interesting sidebar….the lawyer had set up some appointments with a psychologist. Then when the disability provider got involved, they asked me to cancel the other psychologist because they were setting up their own program for me. If I had just kept those first appointments, I would have been finished by now. Instead, I am still waiting.

Tomorrow I am going to go to a regional park with a fellow hiker/photographer. We’re going to go walk on the trails. I warned him I could not do the strenuous stuff we used to do prior to the crash….he said an easy hike would make a nice change.

It will be a 3 Motrin day tomorrow.

[Nalian]

Getting jerked around when you're trying to do what you're supposed to do sucks. Why is the lawyer dispensing with this advice anyway? Is he suggesting this because he's a friend?

[blues2cruise]

Getting jerked around when you're trying to do what you're supposed to do sucks. Why is the lawyer dispensing with this advice anyway? Is he suggesting this because he's a friend?

No, the lawyer is not a friend. He works for a big firm and I hired him when it became apparent that the insurance company was going to make life difficult for me.
I will be speaking to him next week....I'm guessing it's because if I can't do my other job, that it may look bad if I move onto somethig else...or because he truly believes that physically I am not fit enough yet.

Yes, you're right about being jerked around when I'm doing everything they tell me. It's frustrating.
In the meantime.....practice retirement agrees with me.

[MZ33]

Any word on your bike lately, Blues?

[blues2cruise]

I had it towed to the shop last week. They told me they would be starting the tear down this week. They said they would phone so I could go over and take a look at it once it's opened up.

I hope they call in the morning because I have things to do in the afternoon.

Thanks for asking.....I'll be sure to post in when I find out anything.

[MZ33]

Well, on your behalf:

DAMN!! DAMN, DAMN, DAMN!!

Oh, wait, let me fix the color:

DAMN, DAMN, DAMN!

Ah, I feel much better!

[old-n-slow]

Hello Girl.

Been a while since I have been on here.

Good to see you are back to riding though still not up to snuff. I have read your posts up to now and I understand your apprehension on the roads. What I tend to do is to avoid the heavy traveled areas when ever I can do so. One still must keep his/her wits about him but there are just fewer cars with fewer idiots to watch out for.

I'm not riding yet this year but expect to be shortly (after the long weekend in May) as I will be out of province for a bit and not back till then.. I have added a couple of comments throughout the quoted text.

Looking forward to seeing you on the island again. Perhaps we can take a run up island a ways (mostly via the back roads where possible) and who knows, if it works out to be a weekend perhaps Ev can even come along. She enjoys a ride from time to time as long as I am planning a decent stop for lunch at some place or other.

Cheerio and good luck

Garry

April 5, 2008

{The lawyer has suggested I reconsider my desire to become a motorcycle instructor.
He suggested that I re-bottoms whether it is an appropriate choice of career move given my still weakened state and my ongoing aches and pains.
Wow….I have wanting to do this since the day I got my license. I have been making plans and setting goals. }


Don't pay any attention to him in this regard. Why is he suggesting this? Has he said? Is is regarding your claim or just his being an interfereing jerk?


{Now all of a sudden I see no future. I feel like I am going to be stuck here.
I will call him next week to have a chat with him.
Ironically, my former job, which the insurance folks and disability folks keep hoping I will go back to, actually requires more physical effort than riding a bike. Instructing lessons in a parking lot would be less demanding than my old job.

I think I have fallen through the cracks in the system…..My disability provider set up an appointment at my home to interview me. That was several weeks ago. They wanted me to go to a rehab facility for physical and mental/emotional therapy. Well…it was a few weeks before they got back to me with the appointments. It was a few more weeks before the actual first assessments. They said they would be setting up a program of daily exercise and education and once or twice weekly counseling sessions. They told me they would call me in a couple of weeks. That was 6 weeks ago. I’m still waiting.

I hadn’t realized how much time had gone by until I saw the first appointments listed on my calendar. I will call them next week to find out what the heck is going on.
An interesting sidebar….the lawyer had set up some appointments with a psychologist. Then when the disability provider got involved, they asked me to cancel the other psychologist because they were setting up their own program for me. If I had just kept those first appointments, I would have been finished by now. Instead, I am still waiting.}


I think you're catching on Blues. This is a normal strategy for these people. The stalling is deliberate and often saves the insurance corp a wack of money. One needs to deal with them somewhat firmly. I don't think your lawyer is up to it judging by what you are telling us.


Tomorrow I am going to go to a regional park with a fellow hiker/photographer. We’re going to go walk on the trails. I warned him I could not do the strenuous stuff we used to do prior to the crash….he said an easy hike would make a nice change.

It will be a 3 Motrin day tomorrow.

[blues2cruise]

Hello Girl.

Been a while since I have been on here.

Good to see you are back to riding though still not up to snuff. I have read your posts up to now and I understand your apprehension on the roads. What I tend to do is to avoid the heavy traveled areas when ever I can do so. One still must keep his/her wits about him but there are just fewer cars with fewer idiots to watch out for.

I'm not riding yet this year but expect to be shortly (after the long weekend in May) as I will be out of province for a bit and not back till then.. I have added a couple of comments throughout the quoted text.

Looking forward to seeing you on the island again. Perhaps we can take a run up island a ways (mostly via the back roads where possible) and who knows, if it works out to be a weekend perhaps Ev can even come along. She enjoys a ride from time to time as long as I am planning a decent stop for lunch at some place or other.

Cheerio and good luck

Garry

April 5, 2008

{The lawyer has suggested I reconsider my desire to become a motorcycle instructor.
He suggested that I re-bottoms whether it is an appropriate choice of career move given my still weakened state and my ongoing aches and pains.
Wow….I have wanting to do this since the day I got my license. I have been making plans and setting goals. }


Don't pay any attention to him in this regard. Why is he suggesting this? Has he said? Is is regarding your claim or just his being an interfereing jerk?


{Now all of a sudden I see no future. I feel like I am going to be stuck here.
I will call him next week to have a chat with him.
Ironically, my former job, which the insurance folks and disability folks keep hoping I will go back to, actually requires more physical effort than riding a bike. Instructing lessons in a parking lot would be less demanding than my old job.

I think I have fallen through the cracks in the system…..My disability provider set up an appointment at my home to interview me. That was several weeks ago. They wanted me to go to a rehab facility for physical and mental/emotional therapy. Well…it was a few weeks before they got back to me with the appointments. It was a few more weeks before the actual first assessments. They said they would be setting up a program of daily exercise and education and once or twice weekly counseling sessions. They told me they would call me in a couple of weeks. That was 6 weeks ago. I’m still waiting.

I hadn’t realized how much time had gone by until I saw the first appointments listed on my calendar. I will call them next week to find out what the heck is going on.
An interesting sidebar….the lawyer had set up some appointments with a psychologist. Then when the disability provider got involved, they asked me to cancel the other psychologist because they were setting up their own program for me. If I had just kept those first appointments, I would have been finished by now. Instead, I am still waiting.}


I think you're catching on Blues. This is a normal strategy for these people. The stalling is deliberate and often saves the insurance corp a wack of money. One needs to deal with them somewhat firmly. I don't think your lawyer is up to it judging by what you are telling us.


Tomorrow I am going to go to a regional park with a fellow hiker/photographer. We’re going to go walk on the trails. I warned him I could not do the strenuous stuff we used to do prior to the crash….he said an easy hike would make a nice change.

It will be a 3 Motrin day tomorrow.

Hi Garry. Thanks for the message. I think you're right....someone else told me the same thing about the insurance company. They delay so long that they wear a person down and eventually give up.

I haven't given up. What I am going to do is see if I can find a job that I would be capable of doing so that I can earn a living again and get the disability people out of my life.

I would love to come over to the island again on the bike....I'll make sure to let you know when I do.

[blues2cruise]

Saturday May 17, 2008

It was brought to my attention that it has been awhile since I made a blog entry. With my bike still in the shop I didn’t really have anything motorcycle related to write about. However, here are a few little tidbits of what’s been going on.

I have been attending the exercise, education and counseling program. So far the whole process has made me cry twice, made me hurt worse than before, and has made me get less sleep. So, I am back to taking lots of Motrin to function. I started with three days the first week and then 4 days last week. Next week will be 4 days and then after that it will 5 days a week. If the program doesn’t kill me first, I will be stronger by then end of it, however, I don’t anticipate being able to resume my former job. In the meantime, I am going to put together a new resume and find myself a new job. I have no ideas yet…..

It has been three weeks since my bike has been in the shop. I called the shop after they had my bike for a week and they hadn’t started it yet. They said they were going to start it the next week…which would be a week ago now…So I said I would wait to hear from them. I will be calling them on Tuesday. Actually, maybe I will go in person instead and talk to the owner. If I don’t get satisfaction I will write to Yamaha Canada. Perhaps they can light a fire under the dealer’s butt. (Figuratively speaking, of course). I know it’s their busy season, but my bike is just as important as anyone else’s and if it had been fixed properly in the first place…..well…you know what I mean.

Last weekend, a member of the riding club organized a pre-season “Ride like a Pro” skills day. He managed to secure the use of a parking lot to mark a course. He and his lady friend were there when Doc and I arrived. Nobody else showed up even though they said they would. While we were standing around talking, I hinted to Doc about how he is always telling me that I could easily ride his bike. I sensed a slight hesitation, but then he waved his hand over his bike and said, “Go ahead.”
I put on my helmet and gloves and got on his bike. A Yamaha Royal Star Venture. Can you say big?
Anyway…I started up his bike and got the feel of the throttle and clutch for a bit, before putting my feet up onto the floorboards. I wound up the throttle a bit and before you knew it, I was doing u-turns and weaving through cones. I was surprised at how comfortable and how maneuverable that big bike felt. Apparently I had a $hit eating grin on my face. Doc was telling the other woman there that he hadn’t seen me smile like that in a very long time.
The other fellow was talking about his new handlebars so I sat astride his bike to find out what they felt like. He told me to take it for a ride. So-o-o-o…..I put my helmet back on again….and the gloves…..fired up his 1100cc V-Star and took his bike riding around the parking lot. I weaved through the cones and changed gears and made a few circles and u-turns, and really wound it up to get some speed. (It was a long parking lot)
Wowee!!!!!!! I couldn’t believe the power. I am so used to my 650cc V-Star that it was a nice surprise to fell the ease at which the bigger motor accelerated.
Then the owner of the bike got on the pillion seat and rode back to the far end of the lot behind me. That was my first time with a passenger behind me. It was quite a different feeling. I had to use a bit more throttle to get it going and then making my turns felt very wobbly. Of course the fact that he weighs possibly 70 pounds more than me and the bike is 100 pounds heavier than my bike may have had something to do with it. 
I also discovered that I don’t like ISO grips. There is too much girth for my hands. Some things are definitely much better with some girth, but motorcycle grips are not one of them. LOL
The extra stretch needed was making my hands hurt and thus affected the handling of the bike.
After I got off the bike, the owner took it for a spin around the lot….and he dumped his bike. Luckily he was going slowly so he landed on his feet….and fortunately for his bike, his new engine guards took the fall so there was no damage to anything except his ego.
We talked about what he did wrong and he realized he was looking down at the markers instead of where he wanted to go. I got a couple of photos of him and they show very clearly that he doesn’t look in the proper direction for a turn.
After a couple of hours Doc and I said our good byes and went for late lunch. I directed him to the Burger Heaven. He was very impressed. He said his burger was the best one he had ever had. I think he’ll want to go there again.
After lunch, Doc dropped me off at my home and he went on his merry way. I had time for a quick clean up and a change of clothes. I drove my car to a friend’s place so we could carpool to a photographic event.

Last Saturday (May 10) was the best day I had in a long time. I’m almost glad my bike wasn’t ready. I had originally planned to go to Star Days, but without my bike, I did not go. Instead I got an opportunity to try out a couple of different bikes and enjoyed the company of a few fun people.