REMEMBER ONLY YOU CAN HELP COMBAT OVARIAN CANCER
CHECKS TO:
GAIL PURTAN FUND
KARMANOS CANCER INSTITUTE
4100 JOHN R DETROIT, MI  48201
1-800-527-6266
"IN MEMORY OF MARY LOGSDON" - IN NOTE SECTION OF CHECK

AUGUST 11, 2006 - BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE 

The day started out ok, I guess. I mean, I woke up and all. Then, I noticed that getting on the internet to check email and upload the journals was impossible. It wasn't working. I went to mention that at the desk and the clerk said, well your room is right where it falls off and the internet isn't very accessible there.
I suggested that perhaps that change.

It is almost like being back in parochial school. I have a new "seat", as it were, but it's right next to teachers desk. I am in a room right by the front desk. She claimed it has the best reception for WIFI, and it certainly does, but there is this underlying feeling that I have been put on notice, somehow.

Yesterday, when I was checking in, there was this fellow ahead of me that was very nice and telling me about how much I would like staying here and where are you from and what kind of bike is that and on and on…….. He finally left and the clerk said, "Be careful, he's weird." Well, I am no rocket scientist, but I had figured that one out pretty early in his conversation. It turns out that he gave his kidney to a kid here in Minot and now he wants to adopt the kid. He's also Cheryl Crow's brother and could have his entire stay at this motel paid for with just a phone call to sis. He's a preacher, and had an epiphany while driving here to Minot.  Oh Lord, I do NOT want to become this guy's best friend. I think he left thought. I was very short with him at breakfast. He wanted to sit with me and I told him I was waiting on some business friends to arrive, after they had their meeting with Brian Schebil. That Brian, by the way, has apparently changed jobs yet again…. I was chided for not using the right email address. Well exxxxxcccccccuuuuuuuussssssseeeeeeeeeeee meeeeeeeee.

Just kidding Brian. I took the Harley over to Roghrider Harley Davidson not too far from the motel to see if they could find the source of a noise that I get at 2900 or 3000 RPMS. I thought it might be a loose timing chain. They took it to the shop and checked it out. They found a loose muffler clamp that vibrated at those rpm's and tightened same. When they brought it back around to the front, I asked what the charge would be. This is very important: THERE WAS NO CHARGE FOR FIXING THAT CLAMP - AT A HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP.

GASP!!!!!!

The service manager wished me luck and I was out the door to go to lunch. I have had two meals at restaurants here. I ate at Michaels which is an Italian Restaurant next door to the Harley Dealer to get my Italian Spaghetti fix. This morning, after leaving the Dealership, I went to another recommended place. Believe it or not, it was this neat little Diner just about a ¼ mile down the road from the Harley dealer. I had a great meal there too.

I wanted to see if I could get out to the Air force Base, to see if I could get a photo of one of the Buffs, but I was unsuccessful, based on the current state of "readiness" that they were at. I turned around and left. When I was coming back to the motel, I found myself in a parking lot that had one too many speed bumps. Remembering my little kickstand accident in Tucson, I went over the first one veeerrrrrrrryyyyyyyyy ssssssssslllllllllooooooowwwwwwwllllllyyyyy.  I did the same on the second one, but I still hit on the second one, and sure enough, the kickstand became this limp noodle thing. I went and retrieved the spring and headed back to Roughrider Harley. I bought a new spring for, and this is the best part (the standing joke is that H for Harley really means H for Hundred and D is for Dollars) it only cost me - this is not a typographical error - $8.95 - BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE, they put it on for NOTHING…….

I gave the guys a tip for helping me out twice in one day and not putting a price tag on the service.  Here is one Dealer who will build a strong customer base with that kind of customer friendly help. So, if you Harley people ever find yourself out in the cold cruel world, go to Roughrider Harley in Minot North Dakota, they are good folks.

In fact, almost all of the dealerships that I have had occasion to frequent have been very helpful and quick in providing the necessary service so that I could bet back on the road. That certainly is refreshing. 

I have received more notifications of more donations being made to help fight Ovarian Cancer.  If everyone who reads this, sent in a $5.00 check to the address above, there would be a nice kick in the research budget to help eradicate this killer disease. I know that there are a lot of causes out there that are asking for discretionary dollars. I am asking about one. For me, it is personal. I hope that my daughters and granddaughters do not have to worry about that any more. I hope that none of you reading this will have to deal with it either. O.C. needs to be more easily found at the very least and more readily treated as well.