T.G.I.F.

One more work week just about done. Harley is in the shop for 5,000 mile service. Switched out plugs Monday night, and front cyclinder plug was badly fouled. Mechanic said front cyclinder was getting too much fuel. Hopefully they can and will adjust this. Shipment of tires is due in next Tuesday, so have appointment Thursday for new rear tire before I leave Sunday for Sturgis.

Finally got word that the TERI check had reached its destination in NH. Took two weeks, and I was getting nervous. Was mailed from Columbia on the 10th but did not reach New England until the 17th, and they won't post it until the 22nd. Worked too hard and too long for that check to get lost!

Went to River Club last night---Thursday evening commitment. Cards were not good. Lost first two games but was leading third when time was called---we always stop at 9 PM. No money involved, but the competition is fierce among members as we play Setback, an old card game. Median age of club members must be 80. I am next to youngest member! Oldest is 82. We have dinner at 6:30 and then play for about two hours. Need new members. Club has dwindled to only a dozen or so. More than twenty years ago, when I first joined, we must have had 40 members. Age has taken its toll.

Headed to Winnsboro tomorrow for part of weekend and then on to Greenville Sunday for PASCAL board planning retreat at Furman. Hope to have dinner Monday evening with daughter Shannon, grandson Tucker and cousin Andrea in Greenville.

Still have two hay fields near Winnsboro that very much need cutting but can't find time to work that in yet. Maybe after the Sturgis expedition...

Impending Retirement

Friends and family members tell me that they are so busy in retirement that they wonder how they ever found time to hold down a full-time job. That is discouraging. With eleven months and two weeks left before I hang it up, I am looking forward to having some "free" time. It just seems that there is always a long list of things to be done and little time for leisure activities. The Harley seldom gets cranked more than once or twice a month, even in this ideal riding weather. Debra and I have not riden together since May probably, and she is a good riding companion, on her Honda 1300. She doesn't have a windshield and does not want one--even often rides without her helmet, which I fuss about since I always wear mine.

There's a PASCAL (Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries) retreat at Furman this coming Sunday evening through Tuesday mid-day, and I am considering riding the Harley to that meeting, weather permitting.

The TERI (Teachers and Educators Retirement Incentive) monies have begun to flow into the IRA accounts (at least they are supposed to have), and FMU has paid me for my unused annual leave since TERI plan was up June 30. Also got reimbursement from SCRS for the deductions they had taken last year which the SC Supreme Court ruled were breach of contract with TERI participants. Amazing how quickly one can go through extra income to pay off debts, etc. Hopefully will still have enough to finance Sturgis trip! I keep reminding Shannon and Kevin that I am spending their meager inheritance.....

Visitors and Quick Trip

My son Kevin and I replaced the spark plugs last evening, and guess what! The Harley runs like a new one. Am one step closer to being ready for the Sturgis trip. Called nephew in Knoxville last night, and he said he and his family would be happy for me to stay first night on the road with them, as I did last year. Always nice to visit with family.

Daughter Shannon and grandson Tucker have been visiting me for the last two days and will stay one more, so am really enjoying them. Kevin and his friend Christine came over for dinner last night---we had warmed-over spagetti from the previous night.

Made a quick trip today to home town of Winnsboro, north of Columbia, for funeral of George R. Lauderdale, life-time member of church I was raised in. He was my Sunday School teacher in high school, and his widow had also taught me Bible School. They had served as our youth leaders too. He was an Erskine alumnus, retired merchant, served several terms as county treasurer and was a pillar of the church and the community. Church was air-conditioned but cemetery was quite hot. Saw lots of familiar faces and got to speak to many acquaintances and relatives. Service was very fitting, in my opinion. Pretty music too. Four hours of driving today washed me out though, even in the Toyota. Got to toughen up for Sturgis run!

July 12 ----Snags

Well, the Sturgis trip continues to hit snags. Learned yesterday that the new "Screaming Eagle pipes I installed are affecting engine and fuel injection programming, so FI must be reprogrammed. May have to replace air cleaner with "Screaming Eagle" model too. More money. Plus local H-D dealer cannot get tires for Electra Glides right now. They are on back order, and with more than 11,000 miles on mine, I did not plan to strike out for Sturgis with an almost worn out rear tread.

I continue to get flak about the trip, especially going solo. I wish family and friends understood how important to me this diversion is. It has been years since I aimed a shotgun at another creature or wet a hook or even swung a golf club. My first and last cigarette was in high school, and a quart of Jack Daniels lasts me at least a year, sometimes two, so my drinking can only be described as "occasional." Romantic life has been limited to two wives and one girlfriend, so one could hardly label me as fast. My job carries a lot of responsibility---managed a $2 million plus budget last year, with a staff of 23, in a hightec pushed service industry that saw 176,000 customers over the last twelve months. I need this trip to maintain what little sanity I have left, which is sometimes questionable at best. Why can't my family and girlfriend understand that or at least give me credibility for knowing what rings my chimes and gets me out of bed each morning? Already I am finding it difficult to sleep as I anticipate three weeks in the saddle of a touring bike. July 29 cannot get here soon enough to suit me!

Sorry for the whining. Next time I will try to provide cheese to go with the whine.......pd