The Poem

First of all, I hope everyone had a great holiday and will have a happy and safe New Years. Santa came in style at the Tanner household as usual. He brought all kinds of good stuff for kids and adults alike. Highlights of my Christmas loot are a sweet pair of sneakers from my lovely wife, an ipod clock radio for my garage, and some $$$ towards my wheel/engine fund (still haven't decided).
It's been a good year, and God has blessed us abundantly. I know it's been a while since my last post, so hopefully I still have someone interested enough to read my drivel. I look forward to catching up on your blogs as well. I came across this poem that my wife had me write for her for an English assignment a couple semesters back. I wrote it in about 5 minutes with no preparation so it's not a masterpiece by any stretch, but it does express some of the feelings that riding my Harley evokes in me. Hope you enjoy it.


Eighty chrome spokes spinning like saw blades,
melting into the pavement.
Forty-one millimeter forks gripping the disc in its place.
Beefy ape hanger handlebars give a menacing profile.
The single blazing headlight casts a cold cyclopsian stare.

The pungent smell of exhaust
as eighty-eight cubic inches of hell raising history come to life.
The low clean lines of the fat tank and ample fenders
curve down into the frame which houses the heart of the beast.
Like an outlaw adorned with skulls casting sinister stares,
it evokes trepidation in all who it encounters.
Chrome adornments give this American masterpiece an eye catching glimmer.

Like temptation, lust, even addiction,
once you are in its grasp you become its prisoner.
You live to ride, you ride to live.
The saddle creaks under you,
like that of a cowboy in the old west.

Nostalgia and patriotism envelope me,
calling to mind those who have given their lives at home and on foreign soil
so that I might ride free.

Humility grips my soul.
Pride drives me on.
The bar and shield beckon me,
like the stars and stripes over a soldiers casket.

This is my motorcycle, this is my Harley.


By the way...she got an A+!!!

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

Not too long after I got my Harley on Christmas Eve 2005, I came across www.hdforums.com. Just like any kid at Christmas I wanted to learn about how my new toy worked, but didn't want to screw up anything with a price tag this big. The guys on this forum have helped me immensely over the last 3 years. I learned so much about how my bike worked before I ever turned a wrench. Since getting the bike, I have performed 90% of my own mods. This is coming from a person who has minimal background working on cars. Before buying my Harley I owned a Honda 750 for two years. The biggest mod I did on that was switching out the exhaust. The knowledge I have gained from HDforums gave me the confidence to do things myself. It also helped me decide which mods may be out of my reach.
Since that fateful Christmas Eve in 2005, I can honestly say I have increased my knowledge about these bikes 1000%. Being an active participant on the forum has also paid dividends. I have saved a lot of money by not having to buy parts twice or by not buying things that don't work because I have read others reviews.
All the guys and gals on the forums are more than willing to lend a helping hand with whatever questions I've had, no matter how ludicrous it may be. My wife can attest to the fact that I enjoy my time reading the forums, and I try to pass on as much knowledge as I can. Not only is the forum good for information, if you like bikes (and I do) then you can see pictures of all kinds of Harleys.
So anyway, I just wanted to say thanks to the folks over on HDforums.com and let any of the visitors to my blog know of a great site that is full of information and helpful people. No matter if you have a Sporty, Dyna, Softail, or Bagger if you have questions, someone over there has the answer.

P.S. - if you come visit at the forum, my username is WARG.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

DISNEYWORLD...week in review

We went, we rode airplanes, buses, the monorail, trains, and boats. We went on jungle cruises, pirate ships, rockin' rollercoasters, haunted houses, and saw all kinds of shows. We chased down characters from every movie Disney has put out since Steam Boat Willy. We ate all the fried, baked, sugared, buttered, iced, frosted, and greasy food they had. And we did so with a 10 month old, a 21 month old, a 2 year old and a 5 year old that all had their own agendas.

Thank God we are home safe and my boys are in their own beds...now, I'm going to bed.