Walk in Grace

When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained. Mark Twain

2012-01-23T08:27:00.003-07:00

THE WARREN BUFFET SUGGESTION FOR FIXING CONGRESS

2012-01-13T19:19:00.002-07:00

THE WARREN BUFFET SUGGESTION FOR FIXING CONGRESS--from a CNBC interview.
_*Congressional Reform Act of 2012*_
1. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office.
2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the
American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.
Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.

If each person contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Don't you think it's time?

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-10T07:24:00.002-07:00

Benjamin Franklin: "Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man."

Now where was I………..oh yeah:

2012-01-08T09:57:00.002-07:00

Now where was I………..oh yeah:
…and …….DEER! I grab a handful of everything! Rear brake locks! Ain’t got no ABS on this 98 glide! I let up and stab again. Bambi’s standing there looking at me! Maybe I can slide around him………….oh shit….no, he’s heading the same way! Only one thing to do……………………………
(to be continued)
Only one thing to do………..as I frantically try to brake and steer and not go down, I yell as loud as I can: “GIT!”
Now, those of you who’ve been around dogs, or cats (even women, although
their response may be different)….know that a well-shouted “GIT” will
usually get the animals attention, and USUALLY will result in the animal
cringing and slinking away. Now, and I swear to God this is so, I shouted “GIT” at the top of my lungs, TWICE, and Bambi scrambled, hoofs
clicking and clacking against the asphalt as he tried for traction on the same road surface I was trying to stop on…..and when he finally got a grip he exploded like someone had strapped a JATO bottle on his ass, and maybe I just touched his back-end with my wheel, I dunno, but he got the fuck outta my path, and I continued my panic stop to the side of the road, where I checked my pants to see if there was a load in there! It was the closest I’ve come to almost hitting a deer. (Now I HAVE hit a deer before, but that’s not part of this story) After a while (could’ve been a minute, could’ve been 10, I dunno, I decided my heart wasn’t gonna jump outta my chest, and my breathing was sorta under control again, so I had a smoke. Maybe I shouldn’t have smoked Mother Nature, but then again, it seemed to help, and I rode the rest of the distance over the mountain at about an ol’ lady 35mph, til I got to the bar we all hang at, and had a nice snort of Clown Oil. That helped! Told my tale to my bros, laughed, loosend up a little, and then one of my buddys asked me, “Hey, what’s all that brown shit all over the left side of yer fairing?”
Guess Bambi used something besides JATO to get away from me!
Mi Vida Loca

Stroker Says:
January 6th, 2012 at 4:33 pm

The Wall..

2012-01-05T20:50:00.003-07:00

BIKERNET UNIVERSITY HISTORY DEPARTMENT, VIETNAM CLASS--A little history most people will never know. Veterans Statistics off the Vietnam Memorial Wall

"Carved on these walls is the story of America , of a continuing quest to preserve both Democracy and decency, and to protect a national treasure that we call the American dream." ~ President George Bush

SOMETHING to think about - Most of the surviving Parents are now Deceased.

There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010.

The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties.

Beginning at the apex on panel 1E and going out to the end of the East wall, appearing to recede into the earth (numbered 70E - May 25, 1968), then resuming at the end of the West wall, as the wall emerges from the earth (numbered 70W - continuing May 25, 1968) and ending with a date in 1975. Thus the war's beginning and end meet. The war is complete, coming full circle, yet broken by the earth that bounds the angle's open side and contained within the earth itself.

The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth , Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.

There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall.

39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.

8,283 were just 19 years old.

The largest age group, 33,103 were 18 years old.

12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.

5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.

One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.

997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam .

1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam .

31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.

Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.

54 soldiers attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia . I wonder why so many from one school?

8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded.

244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall.

Beallsville , Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons.

West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.

The Marines of Morenci - They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest . And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci's mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.

The Buddies of Midvale - LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam . In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths.

The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 - 2,415 casualties were incurred.

For most Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War created. To those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that these numbers created. We are, until we too pass away, haunted with these numbers, because they were our friends, fathers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters. There are no noble wars, just noble warriors.

--from Buckshot

A Hopi Elder Speaks

2012-01-03T17:24:00.004-07:00

"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered . . .

Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader."

Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, "This could be a good time!"

"There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are torn apart and will suffer greatly.

    "Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, Least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
    "The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from you attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
    "We are the ones we've been waiting for."

-- attributed to an unnamed Hopi elder

Hopi Nation

Oraibi, Arizona

Why we Ride?

2011-12-06T11:36:00.000-07:00

“I go out there so I can look into myself,
and when I’m there I can see myself standing still,
and the rest of the world going mad.”

Friday night; gonna feel awright

2011-12-04T10:31:00.001-07:00

Friday night gonna feel awright, slam some beers, get a little tight, hit the streets, grab some gears,
Ride wit da wind, got a big grin, gonna strut my stuff, look for muff. Yadida-yadida………

Done wit work. Sleds out back. I put my leather armor on like some tourney knight gearing up for battle.
Chaps over 30 years old, still supple, smooth, soft like a virgins bottom. Jacket creaks softly with age, slips on like a second skin, smells faintly of the road, oil, grease, blood and the wind. Got everything? Lessee….glasses, yep, 2 pair, one for day one for night. Gauntlets, boots oiled last week. Pocket check: Lighter, chap stick, ball bearings….whoops they belong in the left-hand pocket! Spare toothpicks, and all the little shit that lives in the bottom of my vest pockets….wallet? yep. Cell phone…yeah….didn’t used to
have to worry ‘bout that, but now it’s just one more barnacle ya gotta have. Knife? Yep, left pocket,
clasp exposed…wouldn’t wanna get popped for concealed! Still got my Swiss Army in my jeans pocket too. Money? Yep…..’bout $40.,maybe some bimbo’ll buy me a drink! I lean over, unscrew my gas cap,
yeah ½ tank…that’ll be enuf for a bar-hoppin’ tonight. Pot? Now where the fuck did I hide it this time?
Oh yeah, there it is, in my “special place.” Guess I’m good to go. Saddle up. Air’s cool tonight, rained last night, carb will love it. Enrichment lever up, gas on, two squirts, stab the button. 96 inches rumbles to life, I keep goosin’ the throttle to feed the carb a little richness. After 1 minute I flick the lever down, keep the revs up slightly, and feel the barrels with my left hand. Just before too hot to touch, I throttle back. Engine idles smoothly. As smoothly as my cam allows. Clutch in, one down, ease out of the lot,
Out the back gate, down suburbia, past the little pastel bungalows of middle class America. I hit the freeway on ramp, and come outta the turn in second, then grab a handful and hit the road at about 90, jetting past Mom & Pop and the kids at about warp-factor 1…..and ease back before some lawdawg gets me in his sites. Lucky again, no cops on my stretch of road. Over to the fast lane….keep it one step ahead of legality, 5 mph over whatever anyone else is doin’ until I break free of the city limits, and roll up the coast where this time o’ nite there ain’t no fuzz. Freeway becomes a two lane. Rt 1. Northern Kalifas.
I float past cars ahead over the double yellow like some wraith of from the nether-world…..isolated from the mundane, oblivious to the cages I pass, they are not in my dimension. They are simply those to pass. Those to float around, and thru. I clear 4 mile beach at 100, and shift into 6th. The evening sun settles towards it’s fiery death in Lake Pacific. The air is crisp and fresh with the ocean scent, and my engine
at 4000 rpms sounds as if it’s alive, and in tune, and shit, all the sweetness in the world rolled up in one thrashing, spinning, roaring frenzy, oddly at peace with itself, as the world flashes past my grin at 120.
I roll off the throttle ½ mile from the turn, and down shift, bleeding off speed. Slowing, slowing….turn
coming up, I tap the brakes slightly to corner without sliding, and after the apex it’s wick on again as I flick from 2nd to 3rd. Corners now, little coastal canyon road. Shadows. Green, cool with the dampness from last nights rain. Road maybe a little slick. I slow some, and lean thru gentle right then left then right turns. Road starts to climb. I throttle back up, and let the big S&S do it’s stuff as I head for a straight uphill. On it all the way now. Front end pulls up slightly off the road. I twist back slightly letting the front wheel find traction again. This is the back way to my bros and home, but its 25 miles of reason for me to blast the weeks tensions out, and there’s a crown and seven waiting for me when I get there.
I crest the top close to a ton again, and …….DEER! I grab a handful of everything! Rear brake locks! Ain’t got no ABS on this 98 glide! I let up and stab again. Bambi’s standing there looking at me! Maybe I can slide around him………….oh shit….no, he’s heading the same way! Only one thing to do……………………………
(to be continued)

RUN FOR THE WALL

2011-06-23T20:27:00.002-06:00

RUN FOR THE WALL
By: Jennifer Jensen Walker

Thunder in the streets,
Tears in the eye,
As our love and honor
...Go to the ones that die.
We remember them,
We always hold them dear,
As they serve their country
Through their blood and fear.
Some families still wonder
Where their brothers may be hid,
But all we can do is honor them
For the service that they did.
So raise the flag up high!
Keep it ever from the dirt!
Help the soldiers in your life to see
We never want them hurt!
POW ... MIA ...
We pray that hearts will mend!
We cry for you, we ride for you,
Our vigil will not end!
Run for the wall!

The Strength and knowledge of the forever

2011-03-29T16:38:00.002-06:00

It shines as the internal light that is within

It blows in the wind that caresses us

It travels in the breath of every moment

It flows within the water that we drink

It burns within the flame of the fire that warms us

It grows within the maps of the seeds that harmonizes with Earth Mother

It grows within the power that comes from the sun that shines upon our path

It comes from the life force that the tree people give to all

It surrounds us in many ways

It is the communication between all my relations

Expansion of consciousness is an evolutionary process, so who are we within the greater scope of the Universe. We are full of life and vitality with free will and the power of manifestation. We have free will and the ability to choose that which we are. It is a good thing to carry consciousness to higher levels of awareness. This is a trail to enlightened states of being, which raises consciousness and this is in the interest of all my relations. Building levels of intuitive perception where the intuitive mind connects into a type of psychic awareness. Where life takes on a greater meaning. Where there is appreciation for all things that surround us. Entering a space of awareness where all emotional turmoil and insecurities can be released if need be.

Keep the faith my Brothers and Sisters for we will never surrender..

SHAPESHIFTING

2011-03-29T16:37:00.001-06:00

I stood watching the spider spinning her web.

She called out to me, as we opened up communication and we began to talk.

A transformation was beginning to take place where something incredible was happening slowly I shape shifted into her body.

I could now see through the eyes of the spider. A respect of the beloved spider was now part of me.

Thoughts of spinning the web overwhelmed me.

Now I will be connected to the insect nation in ways never previously considered or believed possible.

From time to time I would gift a spider with a tasty morsel and humbly say thank you; this keeps the ties strong.

Flying across the ocean with wings of light I did come across the dolphins swimming into the waves.

Spotted dolphin called to me and my thoughts merged into his, now I see who your are the spiritual leaders of the water nation.

I began to see through the eyes of the dolphin

I had now learned how to swim to the deepest depths of the ocean.

The rivers and sea became my new extended home.

I became connected into the fish nation in ways I never believed possible.

Red Hawk flew over me and called out. Why do you limit your self by walking only when you can fly?

Thoughts of the Red Hawk merged into my thoughts.

I began to see through the eyes of Red Hawk.

Once again the feeling of flight was all about.

At the blink of an eye I could now fly to the highest of mountains.

Now wings to fly were upon my body, and the sky became my second home.

The universe, which controls....

2011-03-29T16:36:00.000-06:00

The universe, which controls all life, has a female and male balance that is prevalent throughout our Sacred Grandmother, the Earth.

This balance has to be acknowledged and become the determining factor in all of one's decisions, be they spiritual, social, healthful, educational or economic.

Once the balance has become an integral part of one's life, all planning, research, direct action and follow-up becomes a matter of course. The goals that were targeted become a reality on a consistent basis.

Good things happen to good People; remember, time is on our side.

16 REASONS WHY ALCOHOL SHOULD BE SERVED AT WORK...

2011-03-29T16:27:00.002-06:00

1. It's an incentive to show up.
2. It leads to more honest communications.
3. It reduces complaints about low pay.
4. Employees tell management what they think, not what they want to hear.
5. It encourages car pooling.
6. Increase job satisfaction because if you have a bad job, you don't care.
7. It eliminates vacations because people would rather come to work.
8. It makes fellow employees look better.
9. It makes the cafeteria food taste better.
10. Bosses are more likely to hand out raises when they are wasted.
11. Salary negotiations are a lot more profitable
12. Employees work later since there's no longer a need to relax at the bar.
13. It makes everyone more open with their ideas.
14. Eliminates the need for employees to get drunk on their lunch break.
15. Employees no longer need coffee to sober up.
16. Sitting "Bare ass" on the copy machine will no longer be seen as gross."

There is a great need during....

2011-03-29T16:26:00.001-06:00

There is a great need during these crucial times of change for the SPIRITUAL way to be shared with the world. It is not that "Beings" have all the answers. In fact all the answers lay within and we only need a reminder to "re-remember" the things we once held as common knowledge. As "Beings" it has been one of our great duties to be among the caretakers of the earth, our mother, and the carriers of the knowledge from creator to the rest of the people on behalf of our great planet and the universe we know... and beyond. All things are interconnected.

" It is a difficult road we walk for the people and our Earth Mother as the protectors of the light". As our linear society progresses into the 22nd century there must be some kind of balance to the things that influence our very existence as two "leggeds" upon our Earth. For this linear society; that treats the Earth as an infinite bounty of resources; to be used with no consciousness of the unborn that must have a place to come when they are ready. It is our responsibility to ensure that they come into a place of nurturing and understanding of " All my Relations" so that we can focus the activities of mankind to the advancement of our whole being-ness. So that we can share, and live hand in hand with our brothers and sisters around the world. This is One World Nation talk? But it is not the same as the ones with the great desire for power and authority in the monetary and self-serving plane. We as Earth People do not need to have one currency, or one government to tell us what to do. We already know what is right or wrong, we do not need a world court to tell us anything. We need only ask our heart, we need to sometimes disconnect from our brain and ask with-in ourselves: Is this a pure of heart decision? Is this good for the Earth and the other two leggeds who walk upon our Mother? The answers will come, as needed "All things in their own time" People ask, "So what is it we can do? I am only one person?" My reply is "Only one person!" Some people have a tendency to lessen their power in this fashion, and give it away. There are many lessons that will assist these people and it can be used by the worthy to help these lost ones back onto the "Path of Goodness and Light".

"The Truth"

2011-03-29T16:06:00.001-06:00

"When mankind interjects their subjectivity into the truth and it becomes other than the truth, with what man has made askew, then it is not from the universal consciousness. It is of "ego". As time goes on and man returns from where he has come from (the Earth). Then the truth once again comes to light in its original form. "The Truths" are deserving of being treated with respect and reverence".

Stand at a busy intersection in the city and close your eyes and listen to the sounds...

2011-03-29T15:58:00.003-06:00

Stand at a busy intersection in the city and close your eyes and listen to the sounds of traffic. As you listen, create an inventory of the sounds...a one to one relationship between each sound and its source, in the same way that our eyes and our internal dialogue work together to interpret the world by creating a one to one relationship between what we see and the objects in our inventory.

As you isolate each individual sound, your ear strips it away and slowly the world becomes apparent not visually but aurally...you feel yourself as a sound in a world of sounds. And listen for the breaks... I don't really know how to describe this... find the emptiness. The places of silence in between the noises. Sounds are just made up of various moments of vibration and lack of vibration, on multiple scales, both in terms of the frequency of the sound...oscillating back and forth to determine the pitch, and in terms of how the sound hits our ears. Our brain perceives in sound in patches, but the same way we string together individual bits of light to make the fabric of our visual field, we string together all the various pieces of sounds to make the constant hum, the background music of our lives.

As you identify and isolate a specific sound, for example a car alarm or a particular conversation, or a truck passing, you should be able to hear underneath it. Break through the fabric and the break the world down into bits and pieces...differentiate the competing sounds and they cancel out.

And at the bottom what is there? Underneath the city, beneath the barking dogs and the chatter of pedestrians and the whooshing of cars and the slow click of changing traffic lights and the flapping of birds wings and the airplanes going overhead and the dull thud of the road just sitting there...what is there? there is the silent, imperceptible hum of the ground of the city, of the earth itself...and what is under that? Continually strip away the sounds, deeper and deeper and what is at the bottom of the pile...silence?

"Clues That You Have Had Enough To Drink" By An Anonymous E-Mailer

2011-03-29T15:50:00.004-06:00

This one's for the ladies....

1. You have absolutely no idea where your shoes are.

2. You've just had to get someone to help you pull your pants up in the ladies room.

3. You suddenly decide you want to kick someone's ass.

4. In your last trip to "pee" you realize you now look more like Tammy Faye Baker than the goddess you were just four hours ago.

5. You drop your 3:00 a.m. burrito on the floor, pick it up and carry on eating.

6. You start crying.

7. There are less than three hours before you're due to start work.

8. You've found a deeper side to the office nerd.

9. The man you're flirting with used to be your 5th grade teacher.

10. The urge to take off articles of clothing, stand on a table and sing becomes strangely overwhelming.

11. You've forgotten where you live.

12. You've started to sound like Jessie Ventura from the cigarettes you've smoked, because (as you've mentioned like 10x's by now) you only smoke when you drink.

13. You yell at the bartender, who (you think) cheated you by giving you just tonic, but that's just because you can no longer taste the gin or vodka.

14. You think you're in bed, but your pillow feels strangely like pizza.

15. You start every conversation with a booming, "Don't take this the wrong way but..."

16. You fail to notice that the toilet lid's down when you sit on it.

17. Your sloppy hugs begin to resemble wrestling take-down moves.

18. You're tired so you just sit on the floor (and why not!).

19. You show your friends that girls can pee standing up if they really want to.

I Am Missing You by Leather Zachmann

2011-03-29T15:47:00.001-06:00

The day is dark; the nights are dreary.
My heart is heavy; my head is weary.
I writhe beneath sweat soaked sheets,
Tears keep the rhythm to my heart beats.

I am missing you.

I hear your voice whisper inside my head.
I cry aloud, alone upon my tear stained bed.
I wish your face would, from the darkness, appear.
Remembering you, feeds my soul some cheer.

I am missing you.

"Where are you now?" I asked the night.
Silence, the only answer to my plight.
I moan softly to your pillowed image.
My love for you will not diminish.

I am missing you.

What I'd give to see you just once more;
For a phone call, or a gentle knock upon my door.
Perhaps a letter from some far off place,
Just to let me know that you are safe.

I am missing you.

I wait, I sigh, yet hear not one word.
I pray to God, but even He hasn't heard.
I implore you to reach out and speak to me.
I lay, face buried, hoping you'll hear my plea.

I am missing you.

It's been so long since we've departed.
I weep, beneath the sheets of the broken-hearted.
I try to overcome these feelings for you.
I wish a fresh start, I wish to begin anew.

I am missing you.

I have no choice now but to let go.
I guess I've reaped what I did sow.
So here is my final sad farewell,
But know eternally, my heart you'll dwell.

I will forever, miss you.

"Unwelcome Friend" by Leather Zachmann

2011-03-29T15:40:00.001-06:00

Hello old friend, how have you been?
Hope you won't mind if I don't welcome you in.
You cause me such heartache, oh the despair;
My smile, my life, my nerves you do wear.

Yes I feel you now, how can I not?
You eat at my happiness, my body you rot.
At times it's depression, you blatantly hurt.
I call you friend, but I'm just being curt.

The name that you bear, everyone knows.
You succeed your plight, your fame it does grow.
You grin, you laugh, and continue to seek.
The strong can't survive, you destroy the weak.

From infant to elderly, you strike at us all.
You're the kind of friend no one will call.
We haven't a clue why this game you do play.
We can't afford the price you force us to pay.

Tablets and pills we ingest by the dozens,
Attempting to rid you and your cousins.
I've begged many times on folded knee,
"Please leave me alone, I beg you to flee."

Your family comes in many shapes and forms.
Inside our bodies you rest safe and warm.
One thing for sure, the last name is the same.
You're known to us all as the family of "Pain."

So no, you're not invited to come in for tea.
I close my door politely, I ask you to leave.
But I can't fight you, you force your way in.
You show no mercy, unto death, you will win.

Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions

2011-03-29T15:37:00.001-06:00

When I look at a patch of dandelions,
I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.
My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me,
I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away.
My kids see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune
and don't have much rhythm so I sit self-consciously and listen.
My kids feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words.
If they don't know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it.
I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk.
My kids close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it,
until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray, I say thee and thou and grant me this, give me that.
My kids say, "Hi God! Thanks for my toys and my friends.
Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go
to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy."

When I see a mud puddle I step around it.
I see muddy shoes and dirty carpets.
My kids sit in it. They see dams to build,
rivers to cross, and worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from?
No wonder God loves the little children!

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back
and realize they were the big things.

POWERS?

2011-03-28T21:08:00.001-06:00

It is becoming increasingly fashionable today for seekers to dabble with the occult in the pursuit of esoteric powers and experience. However the ancient spiritual traditions discourage this – why should the seekers of truth preoccupy themselves with powers over the material plane? These practices are distractions from the real goal of transcendent truth and they can become a source of ego (which the seeker is desires to transcend). Remember Goethe's Faust who became enslaved by these powers and Shakespeare's Macbeth whose downfall was precipitated by the three witches; both characters lost the battle with their lower self.
The deliberate pursuit of psychic powers is not favored by sages and advanced sincere seekers. They discourage such practices deeming them an obstacle to realizing oneness of being. Powers are in the realm of phenomena which are obscuring factors in self-realization; on the whole dangerous ground to tread for those still on the way to stop the discursive activities of the mind in order to attain a one-pointed flow of awareness. In the course of spiritual practice powers may manifest spontaneously as a result of practice of concentration in previous lives. Great is the allurement of psychic powers such as knowledge of future events, understanding the language of birds or animals, spirit mediumship, clairvoyance, astral travel, telekinesis, reading of tarot, making oneself invisible or tiny as an atom (anima), and its opposite (mahima) and many more! And great is the discernment of those who have the strength to withstand them. No doubt the acquisition and perseverance resulting in concentration which could be used on the royal road instead of by-lanes.
Acquired powers are to some extent due to a cultivation of generally available techniques and to some extent to development of an aptitude for spontaneous power that was inherent but not powerful enough to manifest without training. It is enough to say that they are not approved of by true masters. In order to seek them, a man's mind must be directed towards them, not towards spiritual liberation. Therefore they cannot lead him to Liberation. Preoccupation with them is far more likely to distract him from it; and it can do this just as effectively as preoccupation with physical wealth and power. At best they exist within the phenomenal world which we should be striving to transcend; at worst they degenerate into sorcery and magnify his ego by giving him power over other s and winning their submission and adulation.
Midway between these two subcategories are powers which come to a man spontaneously in the course of his quest and as a by product of it. They also can be a hindrance on the quest. Whether and how far to use them will be a matter for decision by the Guru or for sober, dispassionate judgment if there is no physical Guru.
The third category into which the second may merge, is of those who have made them selves channels for the Divine power by complete submission or dissolution of the ego which obstructs it.

Supermarket of Truth??

2011-03-28T21:07:00.001-06:00

So many seekers these days find themselves wandering from aisle to aisle filling their trolleys with "truth", seemingly unaware of the price they will have to pay once they get it home, it is a case of buy now , pay later.
In this New Age there are so many alternatives offered to those who seek more from this existence than the material world of illusion that surrounds them. They know there is more to it than this, but where is it?
The roads the seeker may take are many and various, they may take themselves through drug use, through attachment to partners, or through any of the great number of cures and therapies offered to them by the New Age movement. These are however ultimately dead ends that lead one to the backwaters of pride and ego, leading us further away from the one road that leads to our enlightenment.
This desire to grow, to understand the reason for our existence is a force that lies deep within every human being. The satisfaction of this desire and the answer to all our questions is also within us, ours already, bestowed upon us by the benevolent creator of this Universe. If this is so then how can you pay for any spiritual teachings? How can one pay for what is ours already? Such a mighty force as this does not understand money.
Much of the spiritual teaching offered these days is very costly and a lot of the time cashes in on your desire to evolve. Perhaps such teachings satisfy the mind and inflate the ego so you feel better temporarily, but do they give you the ultimate satisfaction that you seek, to know yourself.
There are others who try to reach another dimension of experience through taking drugs, but again are they aware of the price they are paying for this so called increased awareness? It has been described that taking drugs is like being given a vast and glorious treasure and that instead of using the key to unlock the door you use an explosion which destroys half the treasure in the process.
Still others have relationship after relationship in an attempt to find the love they seek, unable to understand why they continually fail. It is not that they are being consciously immoral, but they have no sense of right and wrong to guide them towards a behavior that will bring them love and security within a stable relationship.
In this modern world we are addicted to sensations, from shocks to sweet surprises, everything from food, to entertainment, to your chosen partner to gratify your senses in one way or another. They provide a luster for the exterior of your being while neglecting the substance within. Most of the time and for most of the people this world of temporary sense gratification is enough to satiate, but for those who are seekers of truth they will always feel a longing for something more. This urge within you is basic for your growth, it is your desire to evolve. Once we connect with this power within us, then we find the satisfaction of the Spirit, which will enlighten us as to our part in evolution. When we know what we are, and what our potential is then there is no need to harm ourselves. We no longer identify with the exterior illusion of our existence, but swim in the ocean of joy within.
What happens is that we think we know what we are doing that we have everything under control, which is another one of life's illusions, for there is a much greater force in the universe than ourselves that connects us with all life and wishes only for us to evolve into our potential selves, and the sooner one is connected to this power the sooner one will reach the perfection one seeks. So much can be justified with the mind, we can say its alright, I'm OK, we can convince ourselves of anything, but when one listens to the Spirit the cogs of the mind bare down to leave the truth spinning freely.

THE FINAL INSPECTION

2011-03-28T20:58:00.002-06:00

The soldier stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining bright,
Just as brightly as his brass

"Step forward now, soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
" No Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
     And at times my talk was rough,
Because the world is awfully tough.
     But, I never took a thing
That wasn't mine to keep...
     Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
     And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear,
     And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the People here,
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord
It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't I'll understand."

There was a silence all around the throne
Where the saints often trod
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, soldier,
You've borne your burdens well

Come walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

AN OPEN LETTER TO ANYONE WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM

2011-03-28T20:56:00.002-06:00

Dear Hero,

I was in my twenties during the Vietnam era. I was a single
mother and, I'm sad to say, I was probably one of the most self-centered people
on the planet. To be perfectly honest, I didn't care one way or the other
about the war. All I cared about was me-how I looked, what I wore, and where
was going. I worked and I played. I was never politically involved in
anything, but I allowed my opinions to be formed by the media. It happened
without my ever being aware. I listened to the protest songs and I watch the six
o'clock news and I listened to all the people who were talking. After
awhile, I began to repeat their words and, if you were to ask me, I'd
have told you I was against the war. It was very popular. Everyone was doing
it, and we never saw what it was doing to our men. All we were shown was
what they were doing to the people of Vietnam.

My brother joined the Navy and then he was sent to Vietnam. When
he came home, I repeated the words to him. It surprised me at how angry he
became. I hurt him very deeply and there were years of separation-not
only of miles, but also of character. I didn't understand. In fact, I didn't
understand anything until one day I opened my newspaper and saw the
anguished face of a Vietnam veteran. The picture was taken at the
opening of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. His countenance
revealed the terrible burden of his soul. As I looked at his picture and his
tears, I finally understood a tiny portion of what you had given for us and what
we had done to you. I understood that I had been manipulated, but I also
knew that I had failed to think for myself. It was like waking up out of a
nightmare, except that the nightmare was real. I didn't know what to do.

One day about three years ago, I went to a member of the church I
attended at that time, because he had served in Vietnam. I asked him if
he had been in Vietnam, and he got a look on his face and said,"Yes."
Then, I took his hand, looked him square in the face, and said, "Thank you for
going." His jaw dropped, he got an amazed look on his face, and then he
said, "No one has ever said that to me." He hugged me and I could see
that he was about to get tears in his eyes. It gave me an idea, because there
is much more that needs to be said. How do we put into words.all the regret
of so many years? I don't know, but when I have an opportunity, I take it.
So here goes:

Have you been to Vietnam? If so, I have something I want to say
to you-Thank you for going! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please
forgive me for my insensitivity. I don't know how I could have been so
blind, but I was. When I woke up, you were wounded and the damage was
done, and I don't know how to fix it. I will never stop regretting my actions,
and I will never let it happen again.
Please understand that I am speaking for the general public
also. We know we blew it and we don't know how to make it up to you. We wish we
had been there for you when you came home from Vietnam because you were a
hero and you deserved better. Inside of you there is a pain that will never
completely go away. And you know what? It's inside of us, too; because
when we let you down, we hurt ourselves, too. We all know it. and we suffer
guilt and we don't know what to do. So we cheer for our troops and write
letters to "any soldier" and we hang out the yellow ribbons and fly the flag and
we love America. We love you too, even if it doesn't feel like it to you. I
know in my heart that, when we cheer wildly for our troops, part of the
reason is trying to make up for Vietnam. And while it may work for us, it
does nothing for you. We failed you. You didn't fail us, but we failed
you and we lost our only chance to be grateful to you at the time when you
needed and deserved it. We have disgraced ourselves and brought shame to
our country. We did it and we need your forgiveness. Please say you will
forgive us and please take your rightful place as heroes of our country. We
have learned a terribly painful lesson at your expense and we don't know how
to fix it.

(name withheld)

A Man Of Honor

2011-03-28T20:52:00.002-06:00

A man of honor is a free man. He is a principled man, given to moderation, is hospitable and generous. He offers a helping hand to friends in need. He aligns himself against the enemies of his friend. He never forgets to be the foe of his enemy. This he does with all his heart.

The opposite of honor is disgrace, and because he lives his life as a member of a brotherhood, he can easily bring disgrace to his brothers. Therefore, it is intolerable for a free man to live in such a fallen state. If he is disgraced, he can only restore balance by confronting the source of his fall from an honorable status. The power of good is shown not by triumphantly conquering evil, but by continuing to resist evil while facing certain defeat. The cause against the evil we fight for may be hopeless. Nevertheless, we will fight for it to the end. The evil is not a great man-eating beast, but a host of men, disguised as protectors, bent on enslavement.

Outsider
www.chopperguy.net

WORDS TO LIVE BY?

2011-03-28T20:49:00.003-06:00

1. I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you.

2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.

3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

4. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand yet touches your heart.

5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them.

6. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.

7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their time on you.

9. Maybe our God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know the difference and learn how to be grateful.

10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.

11. There's always going to be people that hurt you, so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust the next time around.

12. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and know someone else and expect them to know you.

13. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.

REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN FOR A REASON. BUT, WE MUST ALL DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO DEAL WITH IT.

Biker Lifestyle Defined

2011-03-28T05:57:00.002-06:00

Biker Lifestyle Defined
by Leather Zachmann

It's not just about owning a bike
or how much you spent on it...
It's not about how many miles you ride a year
or how many bike functions you attend...
It's not about how much leather you wear
or how many trophies you have won...
It's NOT about "Harley Davidson"
or how many black T-shirts you own...
It's about the untraveled miles that lie in wait...
And of all the People you met in your journey's...
It's about a feeling of Oneness: You and Your Bike.
That scream and the rumble beneath your ass...
That look of wonder and amazement
of the crowd that gathers
as you drive two by two
roaring through the city streets...
It's about those lonely nights
when you're freezing your ass off
and wish nothing more than a warm
friendly face to offer a smile...
It's about the wind in Your face,
The fight against Nature...
and how much dust and rain
You have wiped from Your brow...
It's about making our own rules,
Believing in what we stand for...
A Stand we make against a system
that tries to hold us back...
A system that cages our Brothers
for senseless reasons...
and the struggles we have
and will fight for to the bitter end...
It's about helping a Brother,
Being there when all the chips are down...
Lending a hand despite the circumstances,
Going that extra mile...
It's about our Freedom...
Our Independence...
Our Fight...
Our Lifestyle...
It's about Honesty, Loyalty, and Respect!
It's ALL about the Honor of Brotherhood!
Yuppies and Rub's read this and weep.
We haven't respect for You...
You guys are just Men on Motor Cycles,
NOT Bikers...
20 years ago You all hated us...
Now with Your "Hog Chapter's",
"Wild Pigs" Clubs,
and "Wanna Be" Rallies...
You wanna be like us...
So no matter how much that Bike cost...
How far You trailer it...
How many miles you brag about...
How much Leather You wear...
Or How many mustard covered weenies
Your Old lady choked on...
You are not one *US*
Until You learn what Brotherhood
means and LIVE it!

"Keep it Vertical Baby!!!!!"
©Leather Zachmann 2002

Play On Nellie.. Play On

2011-03-27T08:39:00.001-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS0YWrqk4XE

Rest in Peace my Brother..

Live...

2011-03-27T07:48:00.002-06:00

The more one does and sees and feels, the more one is able to do, and the more genuine one's appreciation of fundamental things like home, and love, and companionship can be.

Flame On..

2011-03-27T07:46:00.002-06:00

If you're riding' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there. -WILL ROGERS.

Join the Dance

2011-03-26T17:56:00.002-06:00

To make sense
out of change
you must …
plunge into it
move with it
join the dance

It is all worth it

2011-03-26T16:42:00.002-06:00

It is all worth it Wolfman..

in a world you may not always
understand.

May the pain you have known
and the conflict you have experienced
give you the strength to walk through life
facing each new situation
with optimism and courage.

Always know that there are those
whose love and understanding will always
be there, even when you feel most alone.

May you discover enough goodness in others
to believe in a world of peace.
May a kind word, a reassuring touch,
a warm smile be yours every day of your life,
and may you give these gifts as well as receive them.

Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.
Teach love to those who know hate, and let that love
embrace you as you go into the world.

May the teaching of those you admire
become part of you, so that you may
call upon them.

Remember, those whose lives you have touched
and who have touched yours are always a part of you,
even if the encounters were less than
you would have wished.

May you not become too concerned
with material matters, but instead place
immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart.

Find time in each day to see the beauty
and love in the world around you.

Realize that each person has limitless abilities,
but each of us is
different in our own way.

What you may feel you lack in one regard
may be more than compensated for
in another.

What you feel you lack in the present
may become one of your strengths in
the future.

May you see your future
as one filled with promise and possibility.

Learn to view everything
as a worthwhile experience.

May you find enough inner strength
to determine your own worth by yourself,
and not be dependent on another's judgements
of your accomplishments.

May you always feel loved.

Watch your character, they become a biker's destiny.....

2011-03-26T07:55:00.006-06:00

Spirit Father, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Watch your thoughts, they become a biker's words......
Watch your words, they become a biker's actions......
Watch your actions, they become a biker's habits.....
Watch your habits, they become a biker's character.....
Watch your character, they become a biker's destiny.....

The Softer Side Of Leather

2011-03-26T07:48:00.003-06:00

The Softer Side Of Leather
by "Author Unknown"

        Some think bikers are mean
        Some dress in leathers and others in jeans
        You don't like our patches or the clothes that we wear
        You hate our bandanas and you hate our long hair
        You don't like our scooters and our loud noisy pipes
        You think we're not loyal to the Stars and Stripes
        you don't like our patches that are worn on our vests
        You think we're so different from all the rest
        But the truth is, mister, we're kind of alike
        You drive a car and I ride a bike
        You have no tattoos painted on your arm
        But we fought side by side over in Nam
        So the next time your children are running around
        Enjoying their freedom, and the fun that they've found
        Remember us bikers and all that we do
        We feed our lost veterans, we're red white and blue!
        We bring toys for tots and toys for a smile
        By riding our bikes for miles and miles
        You see, us bikers have never forgot
        Our homeless veterans and our homeless tots
        We are loyal to our clubs and true to our bro's
        We will always wear black from our heads to our toes
        Society once said that long hair was for fags
        But you'll never see a biker burning a flag
        Now the tattoos and leather you don't understand
        Stands for free independence that us bikers demand
        Our long hair and patches and bikes with loud pipes
        Is a tribute to our freedom, the Stars and the Stripes
        So before you make up your mind on just what I might be
        Take a look in the mirror and what do you see?
        The man that you see that is staring right back
        Is not too much different from that biker in black.

        Ride Safe, Ride Free!!