The Deam That Many Will Not Understand

Been black the last few weeks, the wife and I were on a 10th Anniversary cruise to Alaska. Sailed out of Seattle and returned a little over a week ago, If you have not done so, take a trip to America's Last Frontier. It is beautiful.

As I've been trying to catch up, I found this great piece on what a motorcycle means to a rider. Says it better than I have ever been able to say. I can relate, a four day trip to New York, stopping to visit friends and family all over the country. Hoping to make so many miles in a day, but stepped by weather, traffic, or the desire to just stop and watch. 

I have 60 staring me down the face, so I know some day I will have to transition to a three wheeler, or give it up. But I will continue to ride until my body says "Enough fat old dude." Everyone has one of these things you don't do to live, but live to do. Whatever it is, enjoy it till you can't. 

Reprinted with permission,  enjoy.

THE DREAM THAT MANY WILL NOT UNDERSTAND:

 

I bought a BIKE for a personal dream.

One day when I am very old and when I can not walk anymore, it will be in my garage as a trophy of my memories.

I met people who taught me something and have the same spirit and I met others that I'm glad I forgot.

I got wet,

I felt cold,

And I felt warm,

I was affraid,

I fell,

And I stand up,

I even hurt myself,

 

But also, I laughed out loud inside the helmet.

 

I spoke a thousand times with myself.

 

I sang and shouted with joy like a madman,

 

And yes ... sometimes I cried.

 

I have seen wonderful places and lived unforgettable experiences.

 

I often made curves that even Marc Marquez would be proud of;  other times I made curves full of terror.

 

I stopped a thousand times to see a landscape.

 

I spoke with perfect strangers, and I forgot people I see every day.

 

I went out with my demons inside and returned home with an absolute peace in my heart.

 

I always thought how dangerous it is, knowing that the meaning of courage is to advance even feeling fear.

 

Every time I go up to my machine I think about how wonderful it is.

 

I stopped talking to those who do not understand, (they just do not understand) and I learned through gestures to communicate with other riders.

 

I spent money that I did not have, giving up many things, but all these things are not worth even a moment about my BIKE

 

It is not a means of transport or a piece of iron with wheels, it is the lost part of my soul and my spirit.

 

And when someone says to me: "You have to sell the BIKE and you have to be a more serious person", ... 

I do not answer.  I just swing my head and smile,

 

Walking on, BIKE..... only the person who loves them understands it.

 

May God bless my friends and their toy of great people!

 

And the adventure continues.  

Gus Pappas

 

Roll Me Away

I started riding a motorcycle in my mid-30s. Why then, I"m not sure, just never got to it until then. Well, after learning a few lessons on a Kawasaki, I purchased my 2007 Harley-Davidson Road King and never looked back. 

Ronald Reagan often said one of the things he liked about being on a horse is it clears your mind being on top of an animal like that. Mr. President, I (and many others) get the same from being on top of horsepower. It's you, your bike, nature and the road. I've taken my Harley on ridges of over 4,000 miles often, and a bike is a large part of my retirement plans. 

I joined the Blue Knights, a law enforcement motorcycle club in 2010, and this past weekend I spend 4 days at our regional conference in South Padre Island. Cops and motorcycles, just something right about it. 

One of my favorite groups is Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. While there is no "official" video for this classic, this is a good one. The song just explains how sometimes you just need to get away from everything. Some people it's a horse or boat. For me, it's a two-wheel animal. 

From 1982's "The Distance," Roll Me Away. 

Have a great weekend!

An awesome version of a classic of Rock-n-Roll

From the man who is IMHO the greatest guitar player on the planet right now.

Granted, there were some others recenlty in the competion, but they have sadely already passed. BB King. Prince. A few years back Clapton was asked, "What's it like being the greatest guitar play on earth?" Slow Hand's response, "Better ask Prince about that." High praise from a master of the art.

I found this by pure accident and I thank God for it. I know it's old (1991) because Clapton actually has a cigarette on his bass in a public building. But's it's taking it to town with the London Orchastra.

From Eric Clapton, his classic Layla. Enjoy and have a great weekend. I'll be with my Blue Knight brothers at our regional conference and am looking forward to some time on my bike.

I just gotta get a message to you...

The message? There were music videos before MTV. But they were not called that.

It was a short film of the group playing their song for a TV variety show or American Bandstand. Hi tech, by no means, there was no high tech. and not budge, not to mention no MTV (Before that great thing was prevented into another reality TV s^&*hole).

Anyway, from the pre-disco and disco era, a great song about love, loosing it, and what you will do to get it back. A classic theme of many a good poem and song. 

The Bee Gees and their great song, I just gotta get a message to you.

I'm off on a motorcycle ride tomorrow. Have a great weekend. 

I Know There's Something Going On!

And it's more than the weekend.

I'm a 1983 graduate of Grace King High School in Metairie LA. Can't believe the 40 year reunion is coming up quick. And the parish wants to close the school! Acutally, reorganize the local schools, make a charter school out of the facility, split the current students to two other schools.

That sucks.

A few months back our Facebook alumni page asked us to list the songs of the year for us. So in honor of my 40 years of escape from Grace King, I'll start with some of them until the reunion in October.

Something about this song always hit me. Part of it is likely my ingrained paranoia. But, remember the unofficial motto of the old KGB, "Even paranoids have enemies." Or maybe is widsom of Garak from Star Trek: Deep Space 9, "Paranoid is what they call people who imagine threats against their life. I have threats against my life." Didn't know until recenltly Phil Collins played the drums on this song. That is banging noise to back up her pipes!

Fredia, I Know There's Something Going On!


Have a great weekend and Happy Easter.

A good way to start the weekend...

My wife and several close friends have been Rush fanatics for ages. I was late onto to them, but we saw the group around ten years ago, and it was an incredible concert. Would love to see them play again, but Neil Peart's passing in 2020 ended that. The three members always said Rush would only be those three, and one was gone, Rush was gone. 

I would really have love to see Peart play with Phil Collins. Awesome drums. And I really appreciate Peart used to ride his BMW bike to concert locations, not fly or take the bus. 

With that, here is Fly by Night, one of their classics.

Have a great weekend. 

Phil Collins knocks it out the park...

I found this a few weeks ago and it's an awesome liver version of the Phil Collins classic, Take A Look At Me Now. from the movie Against All Odds. In spite of what the YouTube says, it's not the "official" video, but a fantastic live version of the song. 

Heading to New Orleans for a retirement party. Have a great weekend. I leave you with Phil Collins.  

Something the Oscars missed...

Last week I posted on my Facebook page on an article about the Oscars, how there were trying to become more relevant. They were trying to keep the slide in ratings from continuing, so they would present all awards, limit the time for speeches, etc.

My answer, "Guys, it ain't the Oscars, it's the movies. They suck." If someone is unwilling to spend 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours in a theater, after getting ripped off on tickets, snacks, etc, why do you think we will bother watching your show to talk about about great you are and how the country which provides your wealth is bad. It says enough when Gary Oldman won the award for his awesome protrayal of Sir Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour and thanks America,  he got no applause while praising the country of most of the people in the audience, and the twitts on Twitter attacked him.

Well, it's not like I watched the show. I posted on FB "Onto more exciting news, I have a fresh coat of paint on my garage wall and I'll watch it dry as tonight's entertainment." Looks like a lot of other people have the same thoughts, only 16 million people watched. To put that into context, just ten years ago over 40 million did. 

To no one's shock, Top Gun: Maverick, nominated for six awards, only got one. It was only to top grossing movie last year, the only reason theaters actually had reason to be open, so of course they don't care. Talk about an industry that's missed the mark. Give the customer what he wants. 

A few years back I was working the VIP Entrance at the Super Bowl in Houston, and I had the pleasure of meeting Lady Gaga. I've dealt with VIPs before and they can be jerks, but she was very pleasant, spent time with every K9 out there (she's a dog fanatic), and immediately said she would take some pictures with my officers: 

As the Academy snubbed its best film of recent time (out of six nominations, it won for Best Sound), I figure I'll give this a post. It's Lady Gaga's song from the soundtrack (also nominated, didn't win), Hold My Hand.

Thank you my lady for a great few moments on one long ass day (17 hours on the clock). I would be delighted to meet you again. Everyone else, have a great weekend. 

Southern Cross

I heard about this song from a friend in high school. George and another mutual friend were driving to pick up something, Dave wanted to skip out, but George was hesitant. Then this came on the radio. And George said, "Let's get out of here!"

I was only upset they didn't get me in. 

A great song for when life is wearing you down, something to relax to. And think about getting out for a while. 

So hopefully you will get "around the world" this weekend, however that works for you. From one of the greatest bands of the Rock Era, David Crosby (RIP), Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash, Southern Cross.

Have a great weekend. 

One of my favorites from the man, and unquestionable my favorite video. It's simple, Bruce, and guitar, and his music. And a very well written song about the frality and insecurites you have in a relationship.

I don't know what drew me to this song, but here it is. Brilliant Disguise.



Have a great weekend.

The Show Must Go On!

Damned, gone far too soon. 

I never got to see Queen live, but I've listened to their music countless times and watched their music videos (back when MTV was actually about music and not another reality TV s^&*hole). And can anyone forget their performance at Live Aid. Reportedly Elton John told them after they got off the stage, "You guys just stole the show!" Coming from someone like him, that is high praise. 

Freddy Mercury, anther great one taken too soon. F#$% AIDS. 

I never knew this had an "official" video, but here it is. Queen,  "The Show Must Go On!" 

Enjoy, and have a great weekend. 

RIP To The Greatest Of All Time...

Can't believe it's been two years since he passed. As too many have said, no one can replace Rush Limbaugh. They can only succeed him. 

The man was in credible in many ways, but the biggest contribution was just showing anyone, including a man from small town Missouri can use his talent and hard work to achieve greatness in their chosen form of endeavor. 

I remember his final show in 2020. The final show before he took two weeks off for the holidays were generally an annual thank you to his listeners and staff, but this was different. The previous year he took a lot of time off for cancer treatment, and you could tell it was taking a toll on him. But on his final show, the way he said, "Some day I won't be able to do this show" was telling. He was saying good bye. Maybe he has a premonition, maybe he just was too tired, one can only guess. But it was a great loss to America when he finally passed

As a good friend said,  "No one gets out of here alive." And someone else said, "It's not the years in your life, but the life in your years." And few men put as much life into 70 years as Rush.

For him, his opening song, The Pretenders, "My City Was Gone." 

RIP Rush. You are missed. I laugh every time I think of the fun you would have with Ballongate.

Have a great weekend. 

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

I have to say I didn't know his name, but I've loved his music for ages. Especially this song. I just knew it from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (I pray Hollywood doesn't remake that!). I can't think of a better song to start the weekend with. 

There is no "official" video for this song as the movie came out years before videos were conceived. But here is alive version with the author. Enjoy.

RIP Burt Bacharach. A life well lived, and you will be remembered.

Have a great weekend.

Always loved Joan Jett, and seeing her is on my bucket list. Women in the 90s/00s, your success was paved by some real bad asses like her, Pat Benatar, and the Wilson sisters. The could play, sing, and write. 

Found this by pure accident, and gotta say it's not something I would expect from a Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famerer, but she knocks it out the park. 

From the Late Show with David Letterman (back he was actually entertaining), Joan Jett and the Blackhearts play the theme to Mary Tyler Moore, "Love is All Around." Enjoy and have a great weekend. 

I remember speaking with a female friend a few years back about Pat Benatar, can't recall why we got on her. But I made the point, "I really doubt I was the only teenage boy in this country with overactive hormones and fantasies of that woman in her spandex and leather." 

Well, the years have gone on and she has continues to rock on. I got to see her at the House of Blues in 2010, she can still rock like crazy. But it blows me away she turned 70n on January 10th. But is one sexy senior citizen, aging well. Good lord I'm feeling old.

With that said, I wanted to post this last week in commemoration of that event, but I posted instead on the passing of David Crosby. But her birthday cannot go unnoticed. 

She and her husband Neil Giraldo have written and produced countless awesome songs. But I must say my two favorites songs from Pat are covers. At the top of the list is her cover of Billy Thermal's I'm Gonna Follow You. But a close second is her cover of Kate Bush's Withering Heights.       

From what I understand Bush had never read the novel, but saw the 1967 BBC movie and within a few hours, wrote a classic. I've heard her song, good, but Pat knocked it out the park. And can't think of a better way to say Happy Birthday Pat. 

From her 1980 album "Crimes of Passion." Enjoy and have a great weekend. 

Just A Song Before You Go. RIP David Crosby

Another great one gone. I generally finish the week with an uplifting song for the weekend, but last night's news puts a bit of a damper on that. 

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and occasionally Young, were an awesome group of singers, musicians, but more critically, song writers. Says enough you hear the first note on Ohio, Southern Cross, or Wasted on the Way, you immediately recall all the song lyrics. Says enough. 

With the mileage he's been though, he had a long run. Thankfully he managed to defeat his addictions and continue on doing what he did best, entertaining people with awesome music. 

Can't think of a better song to send him off with. RIP David Crosby. 

Not sure I'm fired up...

But looking forward to this year, in spite of feeling old.

With the wife out of town for a few days, I have some times to myself. Really great day, spent most of it cleaning, middle age sucks. But it is the first weekend of the year, and I'm actually looking forward it it.

Next weekend starts off with a party of several high school friends on Friday. The on Saturday we're attending a William Shatner presentation, get to see him live before he rejoins, I hate to say, most of his crew. He's doing a tour, giving the "inside" view of the making of the series and the movies. What the hell, I've spent money on other things that see to be a waste, but if you want to, it's not a waste. And I'll say this, he's 91 and still going strong for a man that age. I'm really wondering if he will outlast George Takei (85) and Walter Koenig (86).

In March my beautiful wife and I we celebrate 10 years together. To celebrate, in May we're heading on a cruise to Alaska. We will be attending the Blue Knights Regional Conference in April, and hopefully attending the International Conference in July. 

All in all, hope to have a great 2023, last few years have sucked. 

In hope for a quick start on a great year, from Pat Benatar''s seventh album Wide Awake in Dreamland, her first release, "All Fired Up," I can't believe I got that album during my Army basic course at Ft. Huachuca AZ in the spring of 1988. Damn time flies. But it's a kick ass song and one thing I will do before this month is out is watch Pat and Neil "Spider" Giraldo's admission into the Rock&Roll Hall of Fame a few months back. Long overdue IMHO.

With that, enjoy this video, and have a great weekend. 

Happy New Year..Same Old Lang Syne

The New Year is upon us, and I always come back to this classic from Dan Fogelberg. I don't know if there is an "official" video, but this is a good one. 

A chance encounter of a former love, and catching up over the hours. Something is still there, but you have gone on in life, and it is behind you. Life everything in the past.

Something to remember as you face the New Year's Eve, and the party, champaign, resolutions. Life goes on.

Happy New Year.

Almost Christmas. In honor of the Savior's Birthday, Silent Night by Manheim Steamroller.

Enjoy.

Merry Christmas in November

I get annoyed when I see Christmas stuff in store as early as August. Hey guys, the kids ain't back in school yet! 

Well, Thanksgiving is past and it is now the official Christmas season. The next few Fridays it will be Christmas music. If you have never seen Mannheim Steamroller live, do yourself a favor and watch them. The show is fantastic. 

Carol of the Bells live. Enjoy and have a great weekend.