What to say next

Okay - maybe I waited too long on this second post. Part of the problem is that I added a couple shifts at work, but that's pretty cliche to blame "being busy" for not blogging. The bigger problem is I couldn't decide on a topic. I'll keep some of the losers to myself for a while longer, but the motorcycle is one of them. I'll skip that for now, because it'll be a good entry once I get to it - hopefully soon. Another is the move here and, well, let's wait on that one too. What I want to talk about is my amazing daughter.

All of us are proud of our kids, and I'm certainly no exception. We moved across two states at a tough time (middle school) and she has come out nearly a year later stronger than ever, with new friends, new hobbies and continues to excel at school. Not just A's, but 100%'s in nearly every class. I'm also amazed at how she's conquered the challenge of starting Tae Kwon Do and getting fit. All while dealing with growing up and losing friends she's known her whole life. Summer was difficult for her (we moved in June just after school let out), as she didn't know anyone and had three months before meeting anyone at her new school. Again, we're all proud of out own kids, but I'm no exception.

I tell her I'm proud - now I'm telling the world.

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog! This isn't my first, or even my second attempt at blogging, but it is my first non topic-specific. Meaning that my previous attempts were all centered on a specific area of interest, such as my last blog, Rebuilding Big Red about restoring my 1949 International KB-6. While I'm sure I'll focus on some topics (motorcycles, trucks, hockey, family) more than others, this is intended to be a general "about me" experience. As to the title, I used to work in radio, specifically as a sports play-by-play announcer, and used Moose as my on air name. I gave that career up nearly a year ago when my family moved to the TC in the title - Traverse City, MI.

So, with that background out of the way, I've been spending today wanting to share my excitement at completing the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course! I've been waiting over six months to take this class, since late last summer when I decided I needed to buy a bike. As most of you know, this has been a long winter in the upper Great Lakes (TC gets a lot more snow than where we used to live, and got ~ 140" this winter), so the wait was that much more difficult. Finally, class weekend got here, and I finished up yesterday. I can't possibly say enough about the MSF class. It's affordable for just about anyone (a whopping $25 - including the use of a motorcycle. Mine was a Yamaha TW200, quite small for my 6'6" frame, but a fun bike. I'd be interested in something similar if it had more power and a larger frame. Plus those large knobby tires look cool!) and very comprehensive. There were others in class like me, who had never ridden a motorcycle before, as well as guys who had ridden but just wanted their endorsement to be legal (passing the class takes the place of having to take the written and road test at the Secretary of State office).

The three day class starts Friday night with a classroom portion, and if there is a weak spot, this is it. There is a book and questions from it, but really, outside it being administered in a classroom setting, there's nothing that can't be learned on your own from either reading a book or watching a video. The real highlight comes over the weekend. After a quick review of the classroom portion and the written test, we quickly moved on to skills exercises. Here is where the program shines. It is set up to build confidence and teach the building blocks for becoming a successful rider. And the teachers, Joy and Jordan - a mother and son team from the Upper Peninsula - were fantastic. Half the skills were learned Saturday and the rest Sunday, with the culmination the on-road test. Everyone in the class learned a lot and everyone also passed!

At this point, I'm ready to become a responsible motorcyclist. I just need to get my bike insured, licensed and add the motorcycle endorsement to my drivers license; all told, about $100. Once that is sorted

My 1985 BMW k100rt

(Friday), I can start learning my bike (it'll surely be different than that Yamaha) and start riding it around town! If you have any interest in learning about my bike and how and why I decided to buy it, please read the final entry in my '49 IHC blog. I've also started thinking of several topics (motorcycle and other) that I want to write about in this space. I have a tendency when I start blogs to write every day, then slow until I tire of doing them. I think I'm going to purposely hold myself back at the onset with this one to try to avoid the burnout. So if you don't see anything tomorrow (or the next day), don't worry. I'll be back. Soon. Now, about that bike... It's been a long wait, is it Friday yet?