If you have children or know someone with kids, this is a great book with a message we all can relate to, acceptance and diversity. My wife Pam wrote this children’s book and the illustrations will even appease your eyes.
Support Pam and check her book out.
My wife’s up and coming children’s book
3/26/2021
Beginning the day we (myself, my wife, two dogs … and Archie, lol) got settled into our new home the story of Archie started to unfold. With the arrival of each animal, adding their own uniquity, the story took constant twists and turns. It was QUITE apparent from the get-go that Archie ran the yard. It became a joke in the house that Archie would draw this group of animals to our backyard, whom all seemed so comfortable together, as if his piercing cackle yelled out the GPS coordinates! It wasn’t until he left one day for good, very soon followed by the others, that we truly realized that what we had questioned and joked about was in fact, truth. Nature cohabitating in all its wonderment! The story though … my story … at this point, was caught between wild prophesizing and a dead-end bewilderment.
The yard remains beautiful…
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A friend of mine who writes her own blog about her bikes, trips and life experiences just posted after a long hiatus. Why? Well, like me, she didn’t have much to post about bike, trips but she did about life. Hence, why I haven’t posted anything in months. You see I feel if I have nothing pertaining to riding why write? This post is an update as to why I am NOT riding. Read along or “X”out if you choose.
In a nut shell I am bike-less. Sold my bikes because I can’t ride. Sold my bikes because it’s too depressing to be that aware I CAN NOT ride.
Riding requires eye sight. After numerous battles since 2014, divorce, motorcycle accident with fractured right tibia in 2015, hit with Graves Disease Sept 2016, “treated” the graves with radioactive iodine in December 2016, hit with 1 in a million thyroid eye disease (TED)in February 2017 and now? The thyroid eye disease has gotten so bad I have had at thyroidectomy, June 2018, Left eye orbital decompression surgery July 2018 and then right eye orbital decompression surgery Sept 13 2018. Also found out recently that my pigment epithelial detachment (PED), diagnosed in 2007, just bad luck to have it, has moved up towards my retina.
Two competing issues. I high dose steroids for Thyroid Eye Disease TED), not bulging eye one . but the use steroids made my detachment move. Down goes the steroids in come inflammation in my right eye. Bottom line I can not see well enough to work or drive consistently. Due to high dose use of steroids I also have steroids induced myopathy. Severe weakness and get out of breath easily.
So, you see…when for years I took vacations, took adventures on my bikes, explored new places…that was living. Now, I spend almost everyday off at the specialist office only to hear surgery is a defensive measure, there is no cure for TED and my endocrinologist saying I an in survival mode, just doesn’t cut it when it comes to riding a bike.
I dream bout riding again aimlessly and being back to me. I have no idea why my body has given out and my eyes. I have no idea what the future has in-store for me. Will I continue to see something? Will I be able to work? Will I be disabled? Dreading that possible reality.
I just don’t know nor do the specialists. So, there you have it. Silence broken…TMI, probably, getting re married though Sept 28th. I will look like Pam beat me up being only 15 days pot op from eyed surgery #2. She’s a saint, has to be since 2015 I been really in and out of commission up until present. What will we ever do if I actually get healthy?
That’s about it. Everyone says be patient…even though there isn’t a cure for either TED or PED, be patient. No prognostication. Be patient. So, I will. I have no choice. I am sidelined from work and as I be patient I go to the ocean a lot to swim and try to relax. Sounds like what a life but when your vision is so blurry you can’t even see the words as you type like I am here…it’s bit unnerving and scary. Love spell check these days.
If you read this thanks and if not totally understand. If there are grammatical mstakes or missing words, well…I did my best.
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It’s been awhile since I have posted anything here. I guess it’s because I have been frustrated. Been sick since October, but really feels like I have been knocked out since my motorcycle accident back in Oct. 2015. Seems my body doesn’t like the month of October. I went through a thyroid storm. Diagnosed with Graves Disease. No big deal, millions get this right? Well, of course it complicated my diabetes. Sugars were through the roof for months. Still are high and I am learning my insulin pump. I have a dead right shoulder. Waiting for a MRI to see if I have a tear or “just” a frozen shoulder. My eyes have been puffy for over a month, creating blurred vision at times. No diagnosis yet and I have seen many specialists.
This is funny from my adopted country, Canada
“And we’re happy to pay for it,” say a united front of Canadian premiers, national leaders, mayors, citizens, and casual acquaintances, of the newly planted hedge that has sprung up seemingly overnight, running unbroken for 6,416 kilometers, along the world’s longest undefended border.
“Sometimes the best way for neighbours to get along, is a little bit of privacy. Even in the winter. Even when you have to break frozen ground to get it. Even when your neighbour has spy satellites and a penchant for caching electronic communications. Even then, a hedge can’t hurt.”
A continuous growth of Cherry Laurel, the overnight hedge stands an average of two meters high, and is expected to grow to be at least double that by the end of Donald Trump’s first term, when a review of the green screen is planned. At that time the hedge will either be topped with barbed wire, or…
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Since I can’t ride I have too much on my hands to pay attention to very controversial topics.
I am hoping to get a few weeks away on holiday this year. Response I get from my colleagues. “What? You’re dreaming, no one gets more than a week at a time and if you get that you’re lucky.”
I moved back to the USA in 2015 after living in BC, Canada near Vancouver for 18 years. I am American born, NY to be exact and thought how hard wold it be to re-acclimate to my home country? I was in for such culture shock. Moving back to a country that does not share the fundamental values of most Western countries, including my Canada was very overwhelming. Depressing too.
What fundamental values? I will focus on healthcare & vacation time plus family time.
I have had the “privilege” to experience USA healthcare practically from the moment I landed on Long Island. Dreaded motorcycle accident. Broken tibia with a recovery timeline of 7 months.
Ambulance brought me to the nearest trauma hospital 8.9 miles away. Paramedic didn’t put me in a c-spine collar nor could he get the pulse ox to read my vitals yet he somehow told the hospital over the radio what my vitals were. Hmmm…how did he do that? Hospital was great. They triage me right away. Very thorough diagnostics. I was thankful until I received medical bills for the only on call orthopedist and radiologist.
You see in the USA doctors can work in a hospital that takes your insurance but they do not have to by law and bill separately. Really? You are in a trauma situation and I was told from my insurance company I should have asked if the doctors took my insurance. If they were in my “network”. Since ambulance companies are private they can charge whatever they want. I was charged $125 for 8.9 miles plus an ACLS fee totaling $2900. My partner who shared the accident was charged $1200 for sitting on a tool box in the same ambulance as me. $4100 to transport us to get care after an accident. This is when I realized I wasn’t in Canada anymore.
“Health care in the United States is a $3 trillion industry, accounting for nearly 18 percent of the gross domestic product, up from 14 percent in 2000. Health care inflation outpaces inflation in other markets. Federal, state and local governments share the financial burden of health care with employers and individuals. In the aggregate, states spent $199.2 billion of their own resources in 2013 on Medicaid health services. Medicaid spending accounted for 16.9 percent of all state-generated funds —4.7 percent more than in 2000.
But the return on investment has been disappointing in some areas. The U.S. spends twice as much on health care per capita compared to other industrialized nations but isn’t the healthiest nation, by far. Americans have shorter lives, higher infant mortality rates, higher incidence of chronic diseases and more than many other high-income nations.”(http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/cost-and-quality.aspx)
Healthcare is seen as profit making. An ED doctor told me he never knows if his patient is covered by insurance. He doesn’t want to know so he can actually treat his patient not worrying about possible personal expenses his patient may incur. Not only is it for profit, with some exceptions like the VA, you need an advisor to choose your insurance coverage. I was asked by my insurance company when I signed up, “So, how do you think you will feel this year? Do you think you will be seeing a primary physician a lot? Or do you think you might be hospitalized?” My body is a crap shoot?
Main articles: Health insurance and Health insurance in the United States
More competition is how this country rolls. President elect Trump wants more competition because he believes this will lower costs? Costs to whom? Insurance companies according to me have it made. They make billions because when you are covered there are deductibles to be met, for me $3000, out of pocket expenses, for me and my non-married partner $9000. I am still confused why my insurance company pays for some things and not for other. The other surprise to me is how much Federal tax I pay, not anymore than I did in Canada (see link below) and I had full medical coverage without networks. Coverage supported financially through Provincial and Federal taxation. I actually netted more money in Canada than I do here. No pensions anymore as well in the USA.
I have diabetes and so far from June, 2016 I have spent over $2000 on top of my healthcare premiums to take care of myself. Things got more complicated with a new diagnosis autoimmune disease as well. I am not even close to my deductible because not everything I have paid for goes towards that amount and then there is out-of-pocket. Who the hell knows the difference? In the USA you HAVE to be married if your gay to not get dinged covering a dependent. Added to my pay very 2 months is $1200 for my partner. There is no such thing as common law that is recognized by the IRS.
OK, so you get my point about the USA healthcare system. It’s broken more than Canada yet I always hear “we” have the best system, people from all over the world come here to get care. Hmmm, really?
In the USA families hardly get anytime away from work to have their children. I think it’s 12 weeks now if you are employed. In Canada family is seen as a priority. You can take up to a year off when you adopt or have a child. It is believed in Canada the more time the parents have with a new-born the better the bond. Holidays away from work are emphasized. Compensation for work is emphasized. Comparing my jobs between both countries the pressure to work all the time in the USA allows time to only dream about a lengthy vacation.
I have been told go back to Canada if you don’t like living in the USA. Part of me wants to, a huge part but I love my American partner and my family. I have dual citizenship so I can go back. Like everything else it’s complicated and my bond to my partner and family is greater than the country I live in. I just wish or dream that the US would be more humble and acknowledge other healthcare systems & family time are about sharing the costs and actually work.
Everything you read here is my opinion and even my million dollar brother’s wife with “great” coverage complains about the costs of healthcare. Most do in the country but nothing is done to make life, health something to not worry about because the pharmaceutical and insurance companies run the USA system. Check out this site…for tax info. Do Canadians really pay more taxes than Americans?
Don’t get me started on the mortgages here either. Another very confusing system. Oh since I appear to be bashing the USA healthcare system…I am seen as not Patriotic.
I miss my bike. I really do. I can’t ride my F8 or any bike for that matter.
This was my last and almost first real ride since I busted my tibia. About a month ago I went out and it was like a breath of fresh air. My last 2 years have been challenging to say the least. Someone sent me message about how “strong” I have been throughout these years.
My diabetes has gone from Type II to what some call Type 1.5. Sugars out of control, complicated now by thyroid issues. I am weak, I tremor, I am exhausted all the time and I can’t ride nor work all my on call shifts.
The only good thing with an over active thyroid is loosing weight. So, since I have moved back to the USA from Canada I have gotten into a motorcycle accident, broke my tibia, was out of commission for 7 months, my diabetes has progressed to the point I may need an insulin pump and now my thyroid is out of control. All of my issues can be treated. Good news eh?
Treated with drugs. More drugs and always paying attention to my body. Sounds easy…to me it’s annoying. Am I strong? I feel overwhelmed and week again. I just want to catch a break, no, not literally.
I have the most incredible partner who inherited a partner who continuously gets sicker and sicker. 
I read all those great FB pages and see so many out riding old and new bikes. Having the adventures of their lives or just riding for the enjoyment.
I am happy riding…yet I feel for now this is another loss. Anyone who rides understands what two wheels feels like.
I dream about the 1200 I trashed, I dream about being healthy. Not pitying myself, I just want normalcy. Every time I look around a corner there seems to be a surprise not in a good way. I am sick. I look well but I am ill. I am trying to look forward but I always seem to think about BC, Canada.
Our new President was elected. Perhaps I am sick over that too? 
I guess now everyone knows who I voted for and why I think about 
I will end this by promising myself to get the medical help I need and comply. Now, I also have to figure out a way to do my job. 24 hr shifts between 14-18 times a month. In the mean while I will try to be a good partner and will dream about my present bike
and the new bikes coming out. 😉
It’s been a year since my crash…
Never did get surgery for these breaks and now my foot is about 3 degrees out of placement and although I did a ton of PT, hired a personal trainer I am left with a leg that does not perform as it did prior to the accident. I went hiking in the White Mountains a few weeks ago and it was at that time my leg weakened quickly to the point it felt like a peg leg.
The fall foliage in New Hampshire was amazing though and worth every limp. 😉
This past weekend was my first decent ride since I have moved to Connecticut. Went out with some gals from New England, Minna and Victoria. Continue reading “One year later and my leg?”
My new friend Glenn, great visit and glad to be a host
I had the distinct pleasure to spend the last few days with a few celebrities in the ADV world. 1st was someone that I’ve been following for a few years now,and it was a treat to finally meet her in person! Leslie Saforelli (aka ADVgrrl) just moved back to the east coast from Vancouver BC where her extremely popular blog chronicled her adventures to the Artic Circle and more than one cross country trip( US and Canada). Unfortunately,Leslie is still recovering from a crash last year on her R 1200 GS with her partner Pam. I’m sure she will be back on those trails soon enough! Thank you and Pam for hosting me.
After leaving Leslie and Pams place in Connecticut, I headed for Rhode Island by setting my GPS to “walking” which is always fun because you never know what will show up. I was pleasantly surprised…
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Continue reading “FOR SALE ’13 BMW F800GS”
I haven’t posted for a while mainly because I am still not riding. Into my 8th month of recovery from my motorcycle accident back in October 2015, I am regaining strength and flexibility day by day. Yet, as hard as I have worked especially since March 21st, 2016-the day I became weight-bearing, I feel I have such a long way to go.
Continue reading “It’s been awhile…”
Great company sharing how they are developing real motorcycle gear
April 27, 2016
There’s been a lot of progress on our backpack-style tank bag in the last few weeks. Andrew has been at the factory working on the first production prototype, and it’s looking really good. This design is based on our mountain biking & trail riding hydration packs, adapted to tank bag dimensions and mounting. We’ve been calling it the ‘Nomad,’ and will likely stick with that name. There will be at least 1-2 more iterations of this bag before the design is finalized, so if you have additional input, we’d love to hear it on the Mosko advrider.com thread. We only have a few more weeks to make revisions.
Here’s what it looks like on a KLR.
And on my KTM 950SE.
There are a bunch of cool features on this bag. On the top of the beavertail, we have MOLLE webbing, which can be used to…
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Here’s a short video I made celebrating my 50th belated birthday gift. Cross learning to fly off my bucket list. Interesting how many who ride seek other adventures as well.
April 5 – 6 2016
In February I turned 50, half a century old. I remember when I was younger thinking 50 was old, yet when I look in a mirror…I don’t see an old woman. Weird, I see someone who has been through many trials and tribulations but not weathered, not old, just living.
Continue reading “50 is just a number & Helicopter”
Advgrrl Motorcycle Adventures & More 
