What am I Doing at Work?

The day after Thanksgiving, and the office is like a ghost town. The local news media seem to think there's nothing going on today but Black Friday sales. The office is as quiet as a morgue.

So what am I doing here? How come I'm not out there enjoying a sunny day on my motorcycle?

Just dumb, I guess. But at least I'm not at Walmart:

By NBC News, msnbc.com staff and Associated Press

Violence erupted at Black Friday sales across the U.S. with one bargain-hunter left critically injured after being shot during a robbery and 15 other people injured when an angry shopper used pepper spray. Several of the incidents took place at Wal-Mart stores as millions of Americans loaded up on holiday purchases.






Isn't this is the season of peace? Happy Holidays, y'all.

What Are You Grateful For?

We can always find things to bitch about: the economy, the weather, the neighbors' annoying habit of looking better than me. ...

But how often do we focus on the positive?

Whenever I feel sorry for myself, I find it a good exercise to make a gratitude list. I write down the things — no matter how small — that make my life worth living.

On this Thanksgiving Day, I give thanks for the many blessings in my life because it's better to love the things I have than to covet those I may never have.

I am thankful for ALL of the days of my life and the opportunities they present to learn and practice peace.

Instead of complaining about the many obligations that take up my time and energy, I am becoming grateful for the family that nurtured me when I was a child and continues to care about me as we grow older.

I'm grateful for the friends who take time to answer the phone when I call them in need. I'm grateful that I can answer the phone when my friends are in need.

I am grateful for the ability to recognize that there is always another way of seeing, because my eyes and ears can deceive me.

I'm grateful for my precious cat, who purrs when I come home at night and patiently waits for me to rise each day. She teaches me the need for play, and unconditional love that transcends momentary transgressions.

I also am grateful for my dear, imperfect husband who has loved me for more than 33 years despite all of the crap I'm capable of throwing at him.

I'm grateful to those people and situations that vex me, because they teach me how to forgive.

I am grateful for a God of my own understanding; one that I may never understand fully, for there is always more to know.

I'm grateful that I can trust and be trusted in a world filled with illusion.

I am grateful for courage to do what I think I'm incapable of doing: The ability to get and stay sober. The ability to adapt in a changing environment. The ability to overcome mortal fears that could have prevented me from riding my motorcycle — and from daring to love others.

Most of all I'm grateful for those people who love me when I feel unlovable.

What are you grateful for today?

The Scoop on the Snap-On Motorcycle Calendars

That was fast! Too often the communications people for companies I deal with get back well after my deadlines. But Daniel Golla, Global Program Manager for National Premium Inc., got back to me late yesterday afternoon. He says the mini-calendar I received is “exclusively available through Snap-on franchisees or representatives.” So I guess that means wherever you buy Snap-on tools. (We generally get ours at Sears, so I don’t know where that would be. I’d Google it.)

But a larger wall calendar is available for sale. Golla says:

1. Enter website www.snap-on.com
2. Click on "Licensed Gear and Merchandise" link
3. Click on National Premium Store
4. Click on "2012 Calendars"

So there ya go. Or, you could go directly to the calenders.

I don’t see one that is exclusively motorcycles, however. These items feature cars, trucks and bikes. But they do have some fun playing cards with custom vehicles, $6.95.

Snap-on Motorcycle Desk Calendar

Andrew C. Delikta of Waterford Township, Mich., is one of 12 people honored for their stylish bikes by being included in a 2012 mini Snap-on promotional calendar.

The actual size of the calendar is about 7 1/2 by 3 inches. The pages are the tear-off kind with a sticker back so you can stick it to a flat (not pebbled) wall or cabinet.

Pictures include a classic 1971 Honda CB750 and a 1971 Harley-Davidson FX Super Glide Boattail (the AMF model), a number of customs and a very, very strange-looking 2000 Yamaha R1.

Somebody sent me a copy of the calendar, but didn't make it real clear where you can get one of your own. I contacted the PR dude and will let you know when I do.

The other 11 months have super-cool bikes — vintage and custom — owned by people all over the U.S. and Canada. If you want to get your bike onto the 2013 calendar, you may get an official entry form from your area Snap-on Tools franchisee, or call 1-800-717-7834.

First Look at 'Dragon Tattoo'

This week I got my first look at the new American version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." This is a story I first heard about from a massage client of mine, who was reading the book. The story is of a genius young woman, Lisbeth Salander, who after being sexually abused, becomes a tough, strong and independent person. Well, that's not really the plot, which involves a whole lot of intrigue. But, of course, it was her motorcycle riding that caught my eye.

Hmmm ... kinda shadowy! I like dark stories.

Her personal style has spawned a goth fashion line.

Borrowed from the UK's Daily Mail:

Unlikely trend-setter: Lisbeth (played by Mara, left, and Noomi Rapace in the Swedish version, right) has suffered from every type of abuse imaginable, is aggressive, unforgiving and cares very little about how she looks 

Daniel Craig is in it, too. He's kinda hot. The movie comes out December 21.  Here is the trailer:

Caught in the Labyrinth

Today I return to work after a little over a week off because of sudden-onset vertigo. I had this in April, when we went to Florida, but it went away on its own. At that time, I figured it had something to do with the pressure changes of driving through the mountains in the southeastern states.

Having had lifelong issues with my sinuses — as a child I once burst an eardrum from an ear infection, and I always got motion sickness — I know firsthand how the ears are connected directly to the sinuses. Flying has often caused severe ear pain and blockage. But till this year I hadn't experienced dizziness from that.

Early this month it crept up on me at work. I just felt kind of nauseated, but didn't know why. I woke up on Friday with the symptoms I'd experienced in Florida — moving my eyes caused a feeling of the room moving around me.

I didn't understand this till I saw an ear, nose and throat specialist yesterday. The problem was my brain, you see.

Well, it starts
in the ears.
The semicircular
canals in
the inner ear are
the organs that
help us keep
balance. Kind of like
the bubble in a
carpenter's level.

I went to the doctor, who diagnosed accute labyrinthitis. She gave me antivert, an  antihistamines, which reduces swelling in the inner ear and thus dizziness. And I got prednisone, a steroid. I accidentally ignored the instructions and took all five of the first day's prednisone, and went to bed. When I woke up I felt better — the dizziness was gone. But I stayed home, rested and drank water for the next two days.

Yet, on Monday when I got up and got on my computer in the morning, the dizziness returned in a big way. I went back to the doctor as instructed, and despite our best efforts, I threw up all over myself driving home.

I alerted my friends, colleagues and news sources that I was unable to spend the day on the computer because of this condition.

I couldn't get in to see the ENT till the following Monday. When I did, he told me he'd seen 200 cases of labyrinthitis this year and he said it was likely caused by a virus. A member of his staff said it could last as long as six months to a year.

They also explained to me that when the ears and the eyes are sending different signals to the brain regarding your body's orientation in space, the brain struggles to interpret the input and can't quite rectify it. This is what causes the nausea and "floaty" eyes, rapid involuntary eye movement called nystagmus.

So I got an antiviral drug, which I'm taking for the next 30 days, and thank goodness I feel balanced again.

The interesting thing about all of this is the number of people who told me they have the same problem. Who knew so many were struggling with this?

Here's some info from the National Library of Medicine:

Labyrinthitis is an ear disorder that involves irritation and swelling of the inner ear. During labyrinthitis, the parts of the inner ear become irritated and inflamed. This interferes with their function, which includes the ability to keep your balance. Its symptoms are associated also with Meniere's disease, which causes deafness as well as ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Labyrinthitis commonly occurs after an ear infection (otitis media) or an upper respiratory infection. It may also occur after an allergy, cholesteatoma, or taking certain drugs. During labyrinthitis, the parts of the inner ear become irritated and inflamed. This interferes with their function, which includes the ability to keep your balance.

The following raise your risk for labyrinthitis:

• Drinking large amounts of alcohol
• Fatigue
• History of allergies 
• Recent viral illness, respiratory infection, or ear infection
• Smoking
• Stress
• Use of certain prescription or nonprescription drugs (especially aspirin)

Symptoms:

• Abnormal sensation of movement (vertigo)
• Difficulty focusing the eyes because of involuntary eye movements
• Dizziness
• Hearing loss in one ear
• Loss of balance, such as falling toward one side
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Ringing or other noises in the ears (tinnitus)

A Trip to Indian Springs Metropark

Sunday was a lovely, sunny day, if a bit windy. We wanted to take a ride but I didn't know where. I didn't care!

Ironman picked out a park in the Huron-Clinton Metroparks system. I thought we'd been there before, but it turned out to be a trip of discovery.

We went to Indian Springs Metropark, in White Lake Township. It's one of the newer parks in the system. As in the other parks, there are a number of things to do — including a splash park, which naturally we skipped in this chilly time of year. Our goal was the Environmental Discovery Center, a new-looking three-story structure partly underground.

View from the upper floor.

It has exhibits about the natural habitat and man's interactions with it, as well as classrooms and a science lab for young students. But the highlight is the underground Pond Room, where you can walk under the surface of a pond stocked with bluegill and other native creatures. It was carved out of a cornfield, we learned when we ran into the surveyor whose last job before retirement was to survey the park and create its maps.

Corridor leading to the Pond Room.

Ironman shoots a fish.

Self-portrait with fish.

Look up!

Look down from the outside balcony.

We walked into the pond room and found it difficult to see much in the murky greenish water except for those fish lingering near the glass.

After that, we spent an hour and a half walking the trail to the Timberland Lake. Having been warned that massasauga rattlesnakes live in the area, I was on the lookout for one. But, I also learned at the Discovery Center that not one human death from massasauga bite has ever been reported.

Can you spot the slithery fellow in the leaves and twigs?

We did see three snakes along the trail, but they were only garter snakes, not Michigan's only venomous snake.

"Snow Fishing" allowed?

A rear view of the Discovery Center.

View Larger Map

Did You Put Away the Motorcycle?

People often ask me at this time of year — especially since I stopped riding to work — "Have you put your bike away?"

I know they mean to ask if I've stored it for the season. But I say, "I put my bike away after every ride."

It's true I haven't ridden in a while, and we did put gas stabilizer into the tank last time we filled up our bikes. But that doesn't mean I won't take it out again if the weather warms up.

And today looks like such a day.

Michigan Helmet Law Repeal OK'd

Big news here: The latest attempt by Michigan lawmakers to repeal the state’s law requiring use of helmets by motorcycle riders has passed the state House.

The Associated Press reports that Senate Bill 291, approved by a 69-39 vote Wednesday, next returns to the Senate. If the Senate approves the House-backed changes, the legislation would be sent to Gov. Rick Snyder.

It’s unclear what Snyder will do if the bill reaches his desk.

The bill would allow riders 21 or older to go without helmets if they meet certain insurance and experience conditions. 

The Legislature has passed bills to repeal the state’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law before, but the bills were vetoed twice by then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

Avoid Meeting Deer by Accident

November is dead in the middle of the deer-vehicle crash season.

And although it's hard for my friends to believe, because of the number who have crashed or nearly crashed into deer this year, but Michigan has dropped 23 percent in the number of deer-crash claims, according to statistics from insurance company State Farm. That is the largest decline among U.S. states, according to State Farm.

In fact, this was the third consecutive year in which the statistics dropped.

It was about three years ago, in May, when a friend of mine was killed by a deer in a freak accident. He was driving south in a Honda Civic when a deer was hit by a northbound vehicle. The deer flew up into the air and crashed through his windshield, causing him to drive off the road into a ditch. He was the one person I would least have expected to die in a car crash.

So I looked into this a little more, and found some interesting facts. For instance, 18 percent of fatal deer crashes in Michigan last year occurred during daylight hours, according to the Office of Highway Safety Planning.

Michigan is the state with the fifth highest crash likelihood — 1 in 90 chance of striking a deer in the next 12 months — after West Virginia (1 in 53), Iowa ( 1 in 77), South Dakota (1 in 81) and Pennsylvania (1 in 86), according to State Farm.

In 2010, eight out of the 11 people killed in deer crashes were on motorcycles. Here is a map of Michigan with crash statistics by county for 2010.

This video showed me just how stupid deer can be about walking onto the road.

My friend's death reinforced my belief that sometimes when it's your time to go, it's just your time. But I still don't want to temp fate and wind up with a disabling injury that could have been avoided.

Avoiding deer-vehicle collisions
Here are tips on how to reduce the odds of a deer-vehicle collision involving your vehicle becoming part of the story we tell next year:

• Be aware of posted deer crossing signs. These are placed in active deer crossing areas.
• Remember that deer are most active between 6 and 9 p.m.
• Use high beam headlamps as much as possible at night to illuminate the areas from which deer will enter roadways.
• Keep in mind that deer generally travel in herds – if you see one, there is a strong possibility others are nearby.
• Do not rely on car-mounted deer whistles.
• If a deer collision seems inevitable, attempting to swerve out of the way could cause you to lose control of your vehicle or place you in the path of an oncoming vehicle.