I have been at Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco over the last week. I think the below graphic adequately describes how much I am looking forward to Chicago weather when I return.

Note to self... unlock handlebars before riding motorcycle.

My motorcycle has a security feature of being able to lock the handlebars in a slightly turned position. This is designed to be used when parked (not riding).  It seems that I forgot that yesterday.  The result -- I went about 4 feet and dumped my bike in the middle of our driveway.  The engine guard / highway bars on my bike (see pervious story) worked great, and neither my bike nor my underside leg were scratched.  However, my top-side foot did not fare so well. I'm not sure how, but I sprained it well enough that I can't put weight on it. I have a doctor's visit this afternoon and will have to use crutches for the first time in my life.

P.S.  If anyone cares, this is not the first time something like this has happened. When first starting to use cleats on my bicycle, I fell over once or twice when I forgot to unclip.

I also ordered highway bars from Vicente, a member of an online Kawasaki Vulcan forum.  These bars are custom made in a shop in Mexico. Then Vicente checks them for correct fit, has them chromed, and then ships them from his home in Texas. I received the bars in a well-packed box. As Vicente described, the bars were very sturdy and the chrome was high-quality. The included directions for installing the bars were great, including numerous photos.

When I installed the top black steel plate which the bars attached to, the holes in the plate were about 1/8" too far apart to match the screw holes on my frame. I had to elongate the holes on the black steel plate with a drill press. (Vicente tests them for fit before shipping, so we are not sure why my bike was off a little.) I also added a few extra washers to each end of the u-clamps. Other than that, the installation was straightforward.

I am very happy with the highway bars and tell anyone that cares about my custom-made bars that spanned 2 countries in being made. I would recommend them to anyone with a Vulcan 500 who wants bars.

While taking care of a email setting problem for an instructional assistant in a 3rd grade classroom today, I overheard an interesting discussion.  The class, seated on the floor in a circle, was discussing a book about a caveman who had a dinosaur as a pet. The teacher, emphasizing the fictional nature of the story, asked, "Did caveman really have dinosaurs as pets?" A resounding "No!" arose from the class.  "Were dinosaurs around when cavemen were on the earth?" Another strong chorus of "No's".

I bit my tongue and shook my head a little, heart saddened some. I am probably imaging it, but perhaps there was a little disappointment hiding underneath that 2nd third grade "No". What if they were able to hear or read about true dinosaur stories?  "True stories", you may ask?  Yes, true stories like God creating the land-based dinosaurs on the fifth day, the same day as man, stories of Adam giving different dinosaurs their names, stories of Noah finding room in his huge ark for them, stories of Job's knowledge of dinosaurs, and speculative stories of a new Earth were dinosaurs may once again roam the earth along side of grown-up third graders.

Behold now, Behemoth, which I made as well as you; He eats grass like an ox.
Behold now, his strength in his loins and his power in the muscles of his belly.
He bends his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
His bones are tubes of bronze; His limbs are like bars of iron.
He is the first of the ways of God; Let his maker bring near his sword.
Surely the mountains bring him food, And all the beasts of the field play there.
Under the lotus plants he lies down, In the covert of the reeds and the marsh.
The lotus plants cover him with shade; The willows of the brook surround him.
If a river rages, he is not alarmed; He is confident, though the Jordan rushes to his mouth.
Can anyone capture him when he is on watch, With barbs can anyone pierce his nose
-Job 40:15-24

I just finished the filing my Federal and State taxes, as well as paying my first installment of our property taxes. In Sunday School, we just finished studying about how the slaves in Egypt paid 20% of their produce as a tax to Pharaoh through Joseph. The slaves had a good deal. We pay a total of about 27% in taxes -- and I'm sure I missed some. I am not complaining... much. We live in a great country. It's just that people sometimes forget that if the government does something, we have to pay for it.

• 10% Effective Federal Income Tax (after deductions and such)
  
• 3% State Income Tax
• 9% State & County Sales Tax (don't forget utility, gasoline, and phone taxes)
• 5% Property Tax  (property tax compared to our annual income)
  

  

Romans 5:3 (RSV) says, "We rejoice in our sufferings..." and I Thess 5:16 (NAS) commands "Rejoice always". There is no one I know who has lived these verses out more powerfully than my younger cousin, Melinda. In 2007, she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Since then, she has had 2 surgeries, with a 3rd surgery coming up on Monday, Feb. 1. 

However, ifyou read Melinda's most recent journal post (Jan 27, 10), you will not find someone who is petrified, but someone who is bubbling over with thankfulness, literally in every paragraph. Melinda spends more time praising her surgeon and asking people to pray for God to bless him, than she does asking for prayer for her own surgery. Wow - what an example for us all.  The next time I start to complain about something, I need to shut my mouth, re-read this post, be thankful, and pray for Melinda (and yes, Melinda, I will pray for Dr. Madden too).