I'm here!

[Attack Pug]

I work for the Acoma Tribe they have been very good to me.

[ridin gaijin]

Do the Acerbis hand guards mount right up or do they take some minor adjustments to make them fit the Tiger?  I've been planning on getting some 1150GS hand guards but this would be a nice looking option.

Allegedly they fit easily and well. Lots of people go the 1150 route too, though...might be cheaper that way, I dunno?

I work for the Acoma Tribe they have been very good to me.

PMing you. I'd love to meet you--a fellow Tigerist. And, welcome to the board!

[Attack Pug]

Hey gaijin   I was sick all last week with the crud going around & still not 100%  but I will swing by when I don't think I will pass it on .

[ridin gaijin]

Well, this week's not winding up quite so well as previous ones have. My temp job out at the casino is over, but the planned replacement job (more money, in ABQ) won't happen. Hmm. That's a little tense-ifying...what to do?

• 1. Pay next month's rent now, while there's money in the account.
• 2. Buy tickets for the kids and myself to ALT's production of The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) now.
• 3. Worry about future...and join a gym.

But which gym? There are plenty of attractively priced choices, but I don't want to drive to a gym to work out. Yet Albuquerque is so sprawled that there are only two choices within reasonable jogging distance. I can't fix the city's sprawl–not without a large and enthusiastic demolitions crew and access to a merrily obscene quantity of explosives–so I'll have to use my feet. New Mexico Sport and Fitness (or something like that) has a downtown location geared towards corporate accounts and rich people. $229 to join monthly and then $78 per month. Otherwise $78 per month with a 12 month contract. Ugh.

So it's off to UNM, where a friendly Anonymous person from Duke City Fix suggested I look into registering for a weightlifting class. Apparently the deed can be done for $10 admissions + $190 for an eight week weightlifting course. OR $190 for a 16-week course in something else; but I need to look into whether that something else has to be one of those awful things where you have to show up on time at a prearranged time. {shiver}

Anyway. Pay now, while there's cash, and work out the stress. Something better will come.

[oldrider]

It's March 2 now ridin gaijin, hows it going? John.

[ridin gaijin]

Right, OK, sorry I missed this. There is progress! The good kind of progress!

So this week and last has been a series of interviews with the local offices of a very big company, Thomson (they're buying Reuters). There are two positions I'm suited for, one in project management and one in business consulting, though the latter involves a lot of travel. I'm not working at the moment but am OK for cash...and more importantly, have saved enough to make my cross-country Tiger Reclamation Ride comfortable.

I'm flying back to CT on Thursday 3/20. Affixing Ma's engine guards & some handlebar risers with a friend there, spending time with family, and departing for NM the following Monday. Route will be down the Carolina coast, thru Florida, and across the Gulf coast, always staying away from Interstates and tending on to scenic routes. I think the trip'll take about 10 days, maybe less.

With some luck I'll have a job, a permanent, good job, waiting in April. Thomson is a good company to work for, I have a friend there and he's told me a lot about it. 3 weeks paid vacation 1st year, every day casual dress, and lots of mobility within the company and all its worldwide locations. It looks professionally challenging, personally fun, and financially a good fit. So fingers are crossed, I'm still in the throes of multiple interviews. We'll see!

Meanwhile, my apartment has still not been robbed, my car hasn't been broken into yet, and I did (finally) get sick. I'm playing Doctor with a 28 year old med student and my daughters think I'm wonderful. So...all in all, things are good. Very good, and getting better!

[oldrider]

All that excitement in your world sounds great.

Meanwhile, I seem to be attending endless funerals and catching up with lots of old friends and relatives etc.

What that actually means is, I am constantly being reminded of just how old I am really getting and if I look like they do, then the end is closer than I thought!!!!

I have been toying with the notion of what sort of bike my next one might be but it is now becoming obvious that my Tiger will be thinking about it's next owner when this one has gone! (lol)

I enjoy reading that your life is on a positive track, keep it up. Cheers John.

[HappyMan]

OldRider, I am constantly reminded that there are more bikes I want to ride than I have time left on this earth....kind of depressing but it gives me a goal.

[ridin gaijin]

Got the bike!!!!!

Sorry for cross-posting, but the report was a long one to write up, with almost 90 pics. See it at advrider, here.

[pit0rz]

Glad to hear you're reunited with your bike!  And what a great trip you got to enjoy too!   :D

[harre]

Have been watching this story for some time. Things are looking brighter now. Luckily, Gaijin, you seem to be in good health.  It strikes me that even though life can be a bitch, some of you roll up their sleeves and start climbing up from the ditch. Gaijin, you have what the Finns call "Sisu" (look it up in wikipedia). Thanks for sharing your Journey, both in life and on your bike. I'm a little concerned about your kids. I hope you get to see a lot of them. They need you.

[Attack Pug]

That looked like a great trip ,  if I only had the time

[Attack Pug]

That looked like a great trip ,  if I only had the time

[JetdocX]

Ride down to T or C next week and have some fun with the f650 folks!

Wed I need to be at work phone-wise, so come on down and hang with me! :lol:

[ridin gaijin]

Ride down to T or C next week and have some fun with the f650 folks!

Wed I need to be at work phone-wise, so come on down and hang with me! :lol:

...Details plse...?