What am I Doing?

Just for the heck of it, right now I'm playing in 4 musical groups.  There is a serious problem for the groups counting on the local Parks and Recreation department for practice space funding, because everyone, nation, state, county, city, everyone is having a hard time making ends meet, so we'll all have to come up with our own funding.  The Symphony isn't dependent on Parks and Rec, so so far so good there, and the quintet is small and practices in members houses.  But the big band and the community band are too large not to need a space.  The big band just came under the wing of the community band so donations can be tax deductible, but one of us had to be on the Band Board of Directors, so I'm it.  I try not to disrupt the meetings too much.  That is harder than it sounds.

Himself has retired from fixing county vehicles and equipment, and started a motorcycle repair business, and to help with that, I'm taking a class at the local community college in Quick Books.  I'm am quite the slowest thinking person there.  Good thing I'm not competitive.  One of Himself's friends recommended the class, and he is taking it, too, so when I see him outside of school we can talk about it and discuss problems.  Great class, and great teacher.  I enjoy helping in the shop and picking up parts, too.  All I have to do is sign, and they have everything ready for me.  Fun!

Just last weekend his old motorcycle club had a ride and show, and I got to help put exhibitor ribbons on all the bikes and take pictures.  Himself was so busy talking to people he didn't get to see all the motorcycles there.  I didn't get to see all the interesting bikes in the parking lot, but I saw everything that was entered.  The Norton above was a recent customer, and though he didn't win a trophy, he got a ribbon at the show, and he went on the ride.  Below is the town where we stopped.  

Confused and Slow

This photo was taken by Himself of Someone Else on a club ride called "The Longest Day Ride". It was cold. The subject is warming his hands with the heat from his BMW's engine. Himself was happy to get soup and tea when he came home.

They aren't the Confused or the Slow. I'm that. I'm so confused. I think it's July, but it's not. I've been thinking that for weeks. I wonder what will happen to me when it really is July. Will I think it's June? I went to my doctor and she said getting off the gabapentin (for shingles damage to nerves) will probably help me be myself, so I'm getting off.

Yesterday Himself took me on the Gold Wing to Newport, where we saw the Pacific, watched a huge fishing boat dock at the cannery, drank coffee and wandered around, then took the river road to Toledo where we got gas and dinner. Poor old 1984 Gold Thing, it has 269,000 miles on it (we bought it new) and now a wheel bearing is making clicking noises. It's just now getting needy. Last month he replaced some fancy power transferring gear, but mostly the Wing just runs and runs with no complaint and no interference from humans except to ride it and gas it up. He says he thought he heard it before, but wasn't sure. He always wears earplugs when he rides. This time, even I heard it, after he pointed it out to me.

Smith Lightning

Do you know that if you click on the photos they get bigger? This one is from this weekend. HH and Lightning went to Smith Rock. It's so beautiful!

DD and I played in the same orchestra together last night, and it wasn't in a pit for a musical. I'm thrilled. It's the local community orchestra, and we're playing suites from American in Paris and South Pacific, some movie music, some Oregon Trail music, what else? It's fun stuff.

Best Laid Plans

Do things in this photo look wet? Oh, let me tell you. DD added some bits to his beloved 45-flathead and was eager to take it out to test them, so he listened to the weather report and decided Friday (not this Friday) was the perfect day for a ride. He asked at work to have it off, and eagerly waited all week for his adventure. He took off for coast in a light drizzle, so was wearing his rain pants. Never mind that the weather forcast predicted dry and partly sunny. He saw sun and blue sky ahead to the south, so headed that way, and wound his way eventually to Florence, where some little tiny thing broke on his bike and he fixed it, but the surge caused a headlamp to blow. I don't remember which one, bright or dim, but I notice new ones arrived in the mail this week. The drizzle never stopped. He's just passed Sea Lion Caves in the photo, and on a clear day you could see Heceta Head Lighthouse from here, which is just down the road. When he eventually returned home, he handed me his gloves and said "feel this." They were dripping and so HEAVY. I think he had fun, but his jacket and gloves felt like they'd been held under water until they couldn't absorb any more, and they left large puddles on the linolium. The next day was beautiful.