A Bloggers Centerline Day is the brain child of Gary France. The idea was to get as many bloggers to go outside and post a picture that should include the blogger and a centerline of a roadway. Well without further ado here is my picture. 
Had it not been for seeing a reminder from Allen Madding I would have missed this. I just ran out this afternoon and found a road that didn’t have traffic and simply took the shot. This was sorta fun and really simple.
Ronman
I spent a nice couple of days away for my birthday this year. I enjoyed some peaceful four wheeler riding and camping at the wonderful Land Between the Lakes Turkey Bay OHV area.
Being out in the woods and enjoying the solitude of this area through the week was wonderful. It was just what I needed to recharge my batteries.
Ride Safe
Ronman
I always find it a tad bit humorous when someone asks me if I’m going to so and so for whatever gathering. The look on their faces are always priceless when I say that it’s the first I’ve heard of it. Then there’s that awkward silent pause. I have to laugh just a little on the inside.
Some things never really change with time. I’ve never been on the A list. Well unless you count when someone needs a strong back and a truck, trailer, or someone to drive a rented truck. Then oddly enough I’m one of the first called. Hmmmm.
To me the thing that’s even worse than this is when the activity is already in progress and you happen to contact someone who’s on the A list. You get the “hey we’re all down at such and such. You should come join us.” Um, no. It’s the afterthought invite. Yeah I think I’ll be passing on that one too.
Here’s another good one. You know when you are in on the planning stages of an event or trip. You’ve worked out where to go and when. You’ve got the work schedule in order so you can make said trip. Then BAM! You find out that it’s been decided that the rest of the group has changed plans. Yeah we’re leaving earlier than agreed upon. Knowing full well you won’t be off work by then. The best part is when they say that they weren’t planning on you going.
Don’t ya just love it? These are the same people that want you to take them on all these out of the way trips you go on. They wonder why you do things by yourself. They don’t understand why you spend so much time alone.
Working a schedule on the opposite axis as most of the rest of the world doesn’t help either. Relationships of any kind are hard enough. Add the odd work schedule and it’s exaggerated. These same people see how difficult it is to have relationships with friends are the very ones always asking why you don’t date.
Not to mention the fact that you’ve pretty much put your life on hold to care for two elderly family members. Single handed mind you. For this I’m very grateful to be able to do. Although it is very taxing mentally and physically. You get to the point to where you just put out the fires that pop up in your path. You don’t hope for the best. You don’t prepare for the worst. You simply take care of the situation at hand.
In trying to prepare yourself for this task you’ve sold the one object that was your escape. The one thing that took you places physically mentally and emotionally to that happy place. To the places of the past when times were good. To the places and people who made you into the man you are today.
Thank God for those people and places of my past. For if it were not for them I couldn’t do what needs to be done.
I’ve ridden thousands of miles with my friend Brian on the highways and byways of this great land. We’ve visited some of Tennessee’s state parks. We’ve made memories at traffic lights talking to the locals. Hahahaha Oh man that one time was funny. We’ve been rained on, hailed on, sunburned and simply enjoyed the rumble of our scooters. You may even remember that back in 2008 we roomed together on the second annual Memphis HOG Chapter Posse Ride.
Recently we were able to get together for an afternoon of some off-road fun. Nothing major just a little look-see around his hunting lease. This place is located along the Tennessee Kentucky border and is simply beautiful. There are streams and hills and hollows and ridges to wander around and check out the beauty of nature.
Enjoyed a relaxing day hanging with my friend. Hopefully we can do it again sometime in the near future. Damn work always seems to get in the way of having fun and what not. 
the one who holds the keys
to that special place hidden in the trees
that you’ve kept locked away for so long
waiting for them to come along
only to find that it’s not to you whom they belong
…to hell with keys
the only romance shall be
between the breeze and the trees
Ronman
Many of you know that my good friend the Love Buzzard was in a horrific truck wreck last October. This man has defied the odds for sure. To say he’s one tough OLD bird is putting it mildly. Speaking of OLD, he just celebrated another birthday.
For many weeks the good people of Tick Ridge had been plotting against the Love Buzzard. You see being an OLD ugly Love Buzzard he’s a tough one to fool. Let’s just say those in the national security business could take notes from the good folks of Tick Ridge. Miss Anna and their kids worked diligently to make sure this birthday was going to be something special.
Monica baked a cake and cupcakes for everyone to enjoy. She’s quite the little baker. We all enjoyed the food prepared by all the ladies along with some ice cream as well. Noticeably missing was Butter Pecan, but that’s another story. Suffice it to say we were all well fed by the time the party was over.
In true Love Buzzard fashion all the lovely ladies were flocking to him. He says it’s a curse and not a blessing but I’m not sure I believe that. He sure seems to enjoy all the attention.
Being tough runs in the Love Buzzard’s family. Here he’s pictured with his brother Barron. Now he’s one tough dude. Once we rode in temperatures dipping down into the lower 30s or upper 20s and Barron wore only jeans and a sweatshirt. That’s on a bike with no windshield too.
Here all of the Love Buzzard’s grandchildren pose for a group photograph. They all seemed to enjoy celebrating with their Grandpa on his special day. 
Pretty Miss Anna looks on as the Love Buzzard opens some of the many birthday gifts. You can tell there were lots of laughs and happiness was running rampant throughout this wonderful event.
Many things over the past few months have warmed my heart. One thing for certain is the way in which friends care about and take care of one another. Though it may seem strange to hear such things from me seeing as I’m such a loner at times.
I try to take care of my own. Those who know me know this. I’ve recently been blessed to see others taking care of their own as well. It’s so nice to see this in action from the not to distant outside looking in.
I have many different and diverse groups of friends. Some of which I’m more a part of than others. One such group enjoyed an afternoon together. Now this group I feel as though I’m on the outer edge looking in for the most part. But that’s OK. I haven’t been around as long as the majority of them have. The beauty is that each and every time I’m around this group I feel more and more a part of it. Good folks for sure.
At best life is difficult these days. Know that those around you are struggling in their own fight. You never know when that one smile or hug you give can make the difference in someone having a horrible day or having a sweet memory.
Thinking back on it, I believe it’s all been right before my eyes this entire time. I’m oh so grateful to finally see whats been there under my nose.
Ronman
I know it has been some time now since I posted to this site. I’ve been going over in my mind what I wanted to say. I’m certain that all of us have been reading blogs that just simply seem to dry up and go away. We’ve checked back on a regular basis only to find no new entries. I didn’t want to fall to the wayside in such a manner.
I’ve made some major changes in my life lately. Some of you know what’s going on but most don’t. We all come to a time where we have obligations. I’m at such a time. I’ve always tried to have integrity and be a man of my word. I’m taking care of such things and that’s why I haven’t posted many entries over the past year. In doing such it has become painfully clear to me that I needed to make the right choices on some things whether I wanted to or not.
Here is a good place to sit down.
I’ve sold C.C. I didn’t want to but knew it was what needed to be done. Going into this I don’t plan on it being a permanent ending to my riding. Without going into too many details I’ll just say I felt in my heart that it was an honorable sacrifice. For those that do not know I have an elderly Mother and Aunt that I care for. I’m happy to do whatever I can for these two ladies who have given me so much throughout my life. Now it’s my time to step up and pay it back.
So now you know. I trust you will understand. I don’t plan on doing away with my blog. I don’t plan on not posting anything. What I hope to do is to continue to post photographs and stories about the things going on in my life. I don’t think I’ll be able to do any long trips in the near future but I will hopefully be taking lots of day trips or overnight weekend getaways.
I don’t have a scooter to ride around but I do have other toys. I’ll have the truck camper to journey in. I have a four-wheeler to ride and hopefully take some back country photographs to share. I even have a boat and kayak to venture off in. So you can see there are many ways for me to get out there and immerse myself in my thoughts and in nature.
I’ll understand if some of you don’t want to follow my blog anymore. I’ll also understand if some of you think I’ve lost my mind. So be it. All I know is that I am at ease with the choices I’ve made and I have a clear heart and mind in doing so.
Ronman
Thanks to modern technology I am sending this test message from my Blackberry. If this works I won’t have any excuse for not getting new posts up. Wish me luck.
Ride Safe,
Roman
I know it’s been some time since my last post. I do have a few things to get up on the blog as soon as I can find the time. I’ve had a change in my work schedule and I just haven’t been able to sit down and get something ready to put on the blog.
Ride Safe,
Ronman
