The Bike

Yes, the Bike! This was bought for Michelles B-day last year and has became the subject for many discussions at gatherings. It seems that everyone notices "the bike". Always the bike but never any mention of my art-like sculpturing of the bushes, or magnificent landscaping lay-outs!Now a little story goes with the purchase of "the bike" so follow along.

Last summer as I sat in the Barbers Chair @ the Point Plaza Barber Shop here in Butler, Daryl (the barber) and I where talking about riding bikes. He expressed the intrest to get something to ride since he recently had hip surgury and the doctor told him riding would be good. As most people, he said he didn't want anything expensive and would really like to find something used. I mentioned Rapps Bike Shop in Butler has lots of used stuff that they fix up for the kids bike rodeo giveaway. Instantly Daryl got excited and asked if I would go with him to check some bike out. Now Daryl didn't have his drivers license due to mistakes he had made so I offered to take him over to the shop if he could leave for lunch. He finished up my "cut" and we drove off.

Pulling into the shop parking lot we could see hundreds of used bikes leaning on each other. Daryl rumaged thru the piles like a bear in a landfill, while I noticed this single bike with fenders, chainguard, and basket. Michelle has always said that she wanted an old bike in the yard with flowers in a basket. Being her b-day in a few days I realized that because of Daryl (the barber) I had just found the golden egg!

I quickly pulled the Owner away from Daryl and explained why I needed this bike. He said it really wasn't for sale but since it was so perfect for my needs he would let it go. I offered him $10 and he said the basket was worth that! Come on, I don't want to spend more than that on a "flower pot"! He agreed and before he could change his mind it was loaded into my car and I was dragging Daryl off.

Now Daryl never did get a bike there although he did buy one at Target a few weeks later and it took Michelle months before she set the bike up in the yard, which ended up being around Christmas. Instead of flowers it got lights, lights and more lights strung all over it. And thats where the conversations started......


Ok you're all wondering "who hangs out with their Barber? Well thats another story, I have known Daryl since I was in High School. The reason for the whole explaination on "the bike" came from Michelle and I going to a friends house last night for an outdoor gathering. These friends, Brian & Jen along with many others there all commented on "the bike" and this caused me to explain the situiation and how the bike came to be. Most of the people there also know Daryl because around the time I was in high school they where all hanging out together in the local car scene which Daryl was also a part of. Its not that I hang out with my barber but in a small town like Butler where you still go to school with almost 1,000 other students (in your class alone) you end up knowing people....... even your barber!

Traveling Companion

This was a common sight at the D & Q Sizzler in New Jersey this past weekend. Most everyone who raced there ended in this position. With unbearable heat and humidity the fast twisting race took everything out of its particapants. Michelle sits here after 3 laps of the 5.5 mile course for a third place finish. I, like her, did the same thing after my 4 lap race but managed to hide from the media and their cameras! Most intellegent folks probably stayed home or went somewhere with central air but a few did show up for this race(D&Q SIZZLER), that I believe was named for the temperatures encountered during it.
Now before and after this event the exciting things happened! If any of you have ever driven around philly you would understand the traffic. I am unable to figure it out. There are 2 ways around (76 &676) Both interstates and both slowww moving. I have never seen an accident, fire, or major mudslide yet traffic never moves steady! Two weeks before this event i traveled thru Lancaster where the Amish horses & buggies are everywhere and yet, the motorist like myself managed to maintain a steady forward motion, free of abrupt stops and lingering moments of stillness. I have asked Michelle (who usually reaches a point of not talking to me during these "traffic situations") how on a roadway littered with one horse power vehicles (buggies) the average speed can be greater than that on an interstate full of cars with horsepower ratings in the mid 100s? Now All who really know Michelle know that she is Public Defender #1 and she will chime in on my moment of asking "what in Gods name would be holding these people up?" to explain that maybe people are looking at the skyline or there is a nervous driver ahead, or even the possibility that a squirrel is crossing the road and someone is avoiding it! At this time we start the discussion of saving the squirrels life in relation to causing the injury to humans who are rear ended because of the screeching stop. Shortly during the debate I usually get the chance to scan the local radio stations as I realize she has chosen to end any conversation with me until I will talk rational with her. This period can last anywhere from 15 mins to 30 mins before she will test me with a subject and possibly continue to talk if we have gotten past the troubled area. Now you're all wondering how much fun could this be for two people? Well, its a blast! All in all I love traveling w/ "Johnson, Johnson & Johnson Law" and have found some of our greatest debates have been over what others do on the road. She is a wonderful girl and always "open" in her judgement and at times I wish I could do the same. But, untill then I'll continue to rant about things in which I have little or no control over at all. In the past two years her and I have spent many hours in a car and I look forward to the driving in our future. Two, Three, four or even 6 hour drives never seem that long with her there. One things for sure... she is my traveling companion.......