Should I go...?

[DDT (12)]

Should I go…?
 
I have an opportunity for a real ride coming up in a few days. Yep, and our girl and I surely need that! Thing is, I don’t need to be rushing things, because the possibility of setbacks lurks out there, and I must be wary… Oh yeah, I do have a little experience with this…
 
I’d had a time during radiation treatments trying to get my bowels empty and my bladder full at the exact same time for each daily treatment (38 in all!). Laxatives had had to be used, then anti-diarrhea pills to turn things off again, not to mention the highly undesirable use of a penis clamp. So, several weeks were going to be required for things to settle back down and normalcy to slowly begin to return. That finally has eased up more than a month following the end of treatments!
 
I was also struggling with some new and unanticipated issues, as well. Light-headedness and unsteadiness weren’t singular, isolated incidents, and they didn’t appear to be going away or even easing up. Weakness had been expected, but it would take more activity and time than hoped for to revitalize me on that, but… ‘Hot flashes’ also were coming and going several times a day, but those are normal and will ease eventually, I’m told. I wasn’t able to ride without many of those issues complicating things and a couple even posing some serious risks.
 
My blood pressure medication turned out to be a culprit here, and a new script with reduced ‘potency’ has caused that lightheadedness and unsteadiness problem to go away… diarrhea has relented, and the overall weakness is less noticeable. I’m now approaching a point where I just might be up for a little ride of the overnighter variety.

I surely hope so… the walls have been steadily closing in on me, and the call of the open road has become more of a scream! I really need this… but I don’t need to venture out unless I’m ready and steady enough to not get ill on the road! Oh woe…
 
An opportunity to attend a wrench party of sorts has come up… and… I’ve been invited. Should I go? My conservative side says it might be too soon, and I should give things a little more time to work themselves out. My other side says, “Hell yeah! Go!” Time to start regaining my strength physically as well as mentally.
 
An easy ride is being considered, taking an extra day or two on each leg, meandering a bit but nothing strenuous, no long days or marathon stretches… just take things in moderation and by all means avoid inclement weather… If I do go and things work out, then I’ll be one happy dude! If things were to turn ugly, though… well… Another setback and the overall recovery will end up taking even longer than it needed to…
 
At the moment I’m planning to go. I’d be leaving on what would normally be a two-day ride, but I’m thinking I’ll likely take three days at least, depending upon developments. Once there, I’ll wing-it and take things as circumstances and conditions dictate. The return will be determined later with how I’m feeling plus the weather outlook, etc., all factored in.
 
The routes I’m toying with will all be easy, low traffic, mostly two-lane roads, and the stops should be frequent enough to avoid difficulties… I’m now down to deciding which day to actually depart and whether to wear my leather jacket or a denim one.

For much of the trip, the leather would definitely be a good choice… the other part on the way home, well… I’ll likely just go with the leather, though, so as to not take any chances of the sort that could add to the likelihood of illness. Being weak, cold, and/or wet is a sure-fire recipe for… much unpleasantness! Again, I have some experience with this, too…

So, I won’t know the ultimate choice until we actually go KSU… or not, in another couple of days… Meanwhile, I’m hawking the weather forecast sites and studying Google Maps… all the while with my fingers crossed! I think I’ll start packing my bags today… and dreaming a bit, too…

DDT

[Wizzard]

I sure pray that it works out for you Bruce. You deserve it.  

[..]

Do tell someone your supposed route in case .....................................

HA! Supposed route and DDT don't exactly go hand in hand.

[f6gal]

Maybe some wayward soul would be willing to tag along with you.  I know that's not usually a factor in your game plan, but not a bad idea for now.

[trout dude]

Totally up to you my friend but letting you know I will be in the truck with the trailer in case we need to come get you.  Will take my bike off the trailer put yours on I’ll ride and you drive LOL. Either way we will be in touch

[The emperor has no clothes]

Penis clamps ?  (I had no idea)

[f6john]

Penis clamps ?  (I had no idea)

I think the medical field must have all kinds of medieval devises! But if they work, well.....

[Valkorado]

Penis clamps ?   (I had no idea)

That one raised my eyebrows and puckered me sphincter a bit as well.  Sounds very Josef Mengele.  

I really hope you're feeling able to muster the mustard for a good jaunt Bruce.  Don't bite more than you can masticate yet unless you're in a roadside diner somewhere!   

[Valker]

Penis clamps ?  (I had no idea)

It's Bruce. I figured he'd just tie it in a knot if it needed that.

[Rams]

Bruce,
I have no idea where you're headed but, if you need some assistance, give me a call.   We'll figure it out and get you taken care of.   
I once went all the way to the New York state line to assist/rescue a stranded Valkyrie rider from KY so, don't think I wouldn't track you down if you needed me to do so.

Rams

[shortleg]

  I know what some of the things you are feeling are doing to you.
Myself I struggle everyday finding strength because of  Chrones taking
 Quite a bit of my insides and struggle to keep what is eaten inside long
Enough to give me strength which also makes ridding should I say a very
Strategic type of planning.
   I belong to a Masonic ridding group and have found with a few shorter rides
Building up to a longer one has been working for me. Try to find someone to ride with you
 And make them know as with any ride you can only go as far as the smallest tank
Or the one in worse condition.
   Pushing yourself will only result in your loss of health and God forbid our loss of.
Another of our beloved brothers.

[3fan4life]

That one raised my eyebrows and puckered me sphincter a bit as well.  Sounds very Josef Mengele.  

Better Josef Mengele than Lorena Bobbitt in this case. 

[Bret SD]

Bruce,

I'm glad you're going, either way it goes you'll be stronger both physically and mentally from the experience.

[DDT (12)]

All,

Thanks for all the replies, offers of assistance, kind words, and bountiful encouragement... That said, alas, there comes a time when even those who unwisely sometimes tend to force issues have to allow better judgement to prevail. Not a happy decision at all, but I'm going to pass on this opportunity after all. Mostly because of the rain forecast for either here or there or in-between over the next week, but for other reasons, as well.

I'm still experiencing some modest ups and downs, and a 'reminder' the last couple of days has reinforced the reality that I still have a little ways to go before I'm truly road ready. I could probably be successful in forcing this issue, but the cost could be rather more than I'm willing to pay. There is so much looming on the horizon, even in the near term, that I simply don't want to miss, that having to miss any of that is not worth the risk for this opportunity. I'm going to just play it safe...

No complaints being registered here! I read Shortleg's reply above, and once again I'm reminded of just how good I really have it. Dang, things could be so much more inconvenient! There are more riding days and adventures out there, so risking the longer term is simply unwise, so... I'm going to be another homebound non-rider for another week or so with high expectations for better days ahead! On the bright side, no need for a penis clamp anytime in the foreseeable future!

DDT

[Farside]

  I was going to give my .02 cents and now I don't have too.  I'm glad the weather wasn't going to be in your favor.  Get ready for the MS ride, it's around the corner. 

[Valkorado]

Good call.  Ya gotta go with the gut and in my case sometimes the colon, too!  Remember that rainbow just around the corner.  

Which beats this...

Aah, springtime in the Rockies!  

[DDT (12)]

I was going to give my .02 cents and now I don't have too.  I'm glad the weather wasn't going to be in your favor.  Get ready for the MS ride, it's around the corner. 

Keith,

Yeppers in a very big way! A big part of the logic I used on myself in coming to the decision I reluctantly made... I have some really wonderful and dear friends in that area, and a good many from other areas, like you for example, who will be attending... Risking not being able to attend myself was simply more than I could bring myself to do...

FYI, Sweetchecks is wanting to attend in a big way, also! She is recovering from hand surgery, and her doctor is advising her not to ride yet. She is not happy! She told me she was going to run it by her husband (who doesn't ride) to see if he would go along with her riding on our girl with this humble rider... I have no idea how that might turn out... I wouldn't rule out the possibility she just might show up on four wheels either...

All of that just reinforces how big of a deal this is growing into! Man, it is going to be soooooo good to hang with all the boys 'n gals soon! Nope, I just plain don't want to risk upsetting those prospects!!!

DDT

Good call.  Ya gotta go with the gut and in my case sometimes the colon, too!  Remember that rainbow just around the corner.

Seth,

As usual, you are right as rain! Hope you and your unpredictable colon can make it to the MS thing... Gonna be a hoot for sure... You need to be in the middle of all that so you can impart some wisdom to us struggling students of smart stuff... Looking forward to sharing some wind with you again... whether its there or somewhere else...

DDT

[Valkorado]

You need to be in the middle of all that so you can impart some wisdom to us struggling students of smart stuff...

 

I don't have a patent on the smart stuff!  If I got in the middle of you gurus and master elaborators, I'd be mostly all ears.  I know the value of listening to glorious truths and elaborate lies, and I'm guessing there will be plenty of both being tossed around!

Me, I've discovered that the more I listen the more I learn and the more I learn the less I know...

I'm just bumbling through this life!   

[Farside]

I was going to give my .02 cents and now I don't have too.  I'm glad the weather wasn't going to be in your favor.  Get ready for the MS ride, it's around the corner. 

Keith,

FYI, Sweetchecks is wanting to attend in a big way, also! She is recovering from hand surgery, and her doctor is advising her not to ride yet. She is not happy! She told me she was going to run it by her husband (who doesn't ride) to see if he would go along with her riding on our girl with this humble rider... I have no idea how that might turn out... I wouldn't rule out the possibility she just might show up on four wheels either...

All of that just reinforces how big of a deal this is growing into! Man, it is going to be soooooo good to hang with all the boys 'n gals soon! Nope, I just plain don't want to risk upsetting those prospects!!!

DDT




  I sure hope she can make the trip, I know she'd like to be there. Don't tell her but I do too. I saw that she had her hand operated on and I was hoping it would be healed.   If she's arrives in the cage that'd be good too.
    It does sound like fun for the 1st MSM gathering and you bet you'd have some folks disappointed if you didn't show becasue of your other trip.   Let me know when you plan on coming thru. I've got a room for you if you get here Thursday. And of course you can ride w/ Jeff = Chrisj , my friend David and myself as we leave out Friday AM. Taking the long way up since we're only 200 miles away.

[Rams]

Bruce,

All I’m going to say is this if, in anyway the Mississippi madness event could affect your health please stay home. Will come visit you at your location.
It is simply not that important although we would all love to see you.

Rams

[f6john]

How unique is that, a wife who rides and a husband that does not! I’ve never met Sweet Cheeks, along with a whole lot of others, but if she shows up in Hattiesburg, I will be able to add a another reason I’m sorry I won’t be there. I’m not a great conversationalist but I would love to listen in on all the tales being exchanged.

[Daniel Meyer]

An interesting and timely musing/thread...as most of yours are DDT...I'm wrestling with that very same question...though I have to say, if the threat of penis clamps was in any way involved I'd need to figure out in flight fueling as I'd be running hard and never stop...I believe there's about 5 million miles of roads in the US...I don't think they could catch me if I got more than a couple minutes head start...

Ur...where was I? Forgetting my place is NOT a sign of impending senility or mental cog-stripping in this case...indeed, when the words "penis" and "clamp" are used in the form of a phrase, if that DOESN'T demand all available processing power be redirected to ponder the immediate context of said phrase to determine if...or if not...extended flight is possible and/or necessary, well that would be a sign. Of something anyway.

So...a ride is coming up...and penis clamps are not involved...and the stir-crazy has far surpassed acceptable levels...that road time is as necessary for my comprehension and capability to process the world as sleep is...that time for self-examination and soul searching that for me cannot be found anywhere else...is fast approaching "mandatory" status.

So the question for me is whether I'll fall apart at the seams...and there's rather a lot of those, something over 7 feet of 'em at last count, though only about 4ish feet of those are most recent, and in reality, only a few inches of those are problematic. That's enough though. So annoyingly problematic that if the solution DID involve penis clamps...I might ponder, just for a moment, NOT running.

The timing is close. The healing has rather suddenly leapt forward...there's a point with this sort of thing where movement and stretching and such switches from "damaging" to "therapeutic"...with a doc that's rather insistent that when that switch flips, and only when that switch flips, that the transition should be rather instant. And extreme is just fine.

Extreme tends to suit me.

So, "To ride or not to ride"...has never been a question...when all other factors line up...and my "mortality" has never been a factor before...and I'm loathe to allow it to become such now...but yeah, it has.

But I think the switch has flipped, and I'm functionally immortal again...at least, if sheer will is involved. And sheer will is the only reason I've made it far enough to ever ponder the situations where it wasn't the answer to any other shortcomings.

So, pondering. Answers soon. And I got to use the phrase "penis clamps" multiple times in writing, which, while it was never on my "bucket list", nevertheless is an accomplishment of sorts.

I'll see you on the road?

...

...

Yeah, I'll see you on the road.

[Thunderbolt]

Bruce sounds like you made your decision based on sound advice from betwixt your ears.  But to have you and Daniel writing about such devices in the same thread.......well that is downright interesting.  Daniel sounds like the switch is flipping on the writing as well, maybe a new book is brewing.  I have two of the previous installments.
Good luck to you both.

[DDT (12)]

Keith,

Not sure just now which day we might be leaving the Ocala area... Bert and I will be riding from here together. I have no idea if we'll be swinging through Bama to pick up Sweet Cheeks or not... probably not, but I most certainly would if she wanted me to. We'd enjoy sharing some wind with you, Jeff, and your other bud... if things worked out that way... Thanks for your always positive and reinforcing replies! I do appreciate ya, dude!

DDT



Seth,

I hear ya, man! Hope to see ya in the not too distant future... I'll be the guy trying to practice what he's learned: Nature gave us two eyes and two ears but only one mouth... there is a reason for that!

DDT



Ron,

I'm not worried about the MS event... it's anything prior to that interfering with your gathering that does give me pause! Nope, I'm really looking forward to being there in Hattiesburg soon... Heck, I'm still hoping for some party gals waiting in my room for me... So, I'm trying to remain healthy and wholesome just in case...

DDT



John,

Yeah, but that's not all... She is absolutely unique in most ways! She can turn a wrench, build stuff, figure out mechanical problems, ride all day and party all night! She is widely traveled and quite intelligent. She is also down to earth and easy to be around... Yes, you are missing a lot there.

You are correct in that the conversations generally and the BS sessions are a huge miss for you, as well! See, you should have found a way, my friend... The only consolation of all this is that there will be other opportunities... My advice is to NOT let too many of these go by, though... that would be a shame.

DDT



Daniel,

Well, if you have the prospects of a penis clamp in your future... you do have my condolences. It's only because they actually work that I even tried that torture device... As much as I didn't like that thing, it did help me finish out my treatments this century!

As you no doubt know, I share your feelings and sense of urgency when it comes to riding... That special soul cleansing, spirit rejuvenating, unique path to coming close to making sense of this thing called life. My best wishes to ya, my friend, and I do hope you keep on keeping on... we need ya, and your special 'voice' is important to us all...

DDT



Terry,

Thanks, my friend. Yeah, this turned out to be one of those unusual times when logic prevailed over desires... I'm trying to 'play for the long haul' here, so that means short term niceties have to be foregone sometimes to improve the odds for bigger things to come...

I don't know if Daniel has any new books 'under construction', but like with you, I'd surely be interested! He has lots of good stuff to share, a fascinating twist to seemingly little things, and a most enjoyable way of expressing himself that make all of his final products great reading!!! Far more than just entertaining, however, they are also enlightening in surprising ways...

DDT

[Rams]

Bruce ,
Whatever the decision, I wish you favorable and dry winds with no need for the “penis  CLAMP”.   Just typing that has me cringing!  

Master elaborators,  now there’s a title I had never thought of.   May have to come up with a trophy with the winner’s name in large bold font for this event.  Should I go ahead and scribe a name on it?

I learn much from this very worldly group.   Some of it I might be better off remaining unenlightened about.   I took your request seriously, I may have come up with some playful companions for your entertainment.   But be forewarned, it’s rumored they are a bit physical in nature and you may want to come prepared as in, ATGATT.  I’m told that they are the adventurous type.

Edited:   You did say “party” right? 

[DDT (12)]

Ron,

Those playful companions you've arranged wouldn't happen to be heavy droolers, would they? As far as the favorable and dry winds go... I'm keeping a careful eye on that, but it does appear, at least for now, we may be able to successfully navigate through or around any nastiness and make the ride up there into a pleasant longcut... Speaking of which...

I called Bert this morning and chatted with him about our possible routes, departure dates, and likely stop/stay points... He indicated he was up for just about anything I wanted to undertake, so... hard to beat a partner like that, huh? He also mentioned that Nick (Bronxboy) has indicated he might be interested in joining us and making it a threesome... That would be great indeed, as he is an excellent rider and even better companion!

I do have a couple of longcut alternatives in mind, and I'm thinking three possibly four days to get there... Gawd, that sounds sooooo good to this serious sufferer of acute cabin fever! All two-lane roads nearly the entire way with no 'slab work' other than possibly an incidental mile or two when it might make sense. No long days or rigorous butt-burner episodes, just laid-back, easy-peasy cruising... stopping any ol' time for breaks and practice BS sessions (we want to be in competitive shape for the big show), perhaps some BBQ, too... We should be primed, locked and loaded when we arrive Friday afternoon...!

Several clusters of folks from down this way will be headed in your direction! We've thought about joining several of those groupings, but... I just want to get out there and do some freelancing, so joining others likely won't happen... Nope, just this 'dog-whisperer' solo, or Bert and I, or Bert, Nick, and I... We'll all be there, I just don't know right this minute if we'll be arriving in a small group, as part of a larger group, or as individuals...

DDT

[Rams]

Ron,

Those playful companions you've arranged wouldn't happen to be heavy droolers, would they? As far as the favorable and dry winds go... I'm keeping a careful eye on that, but it does appear, at least for now, we may be able to successfully navigate through or around any nastiness and make the ride up there into a pleasant longcut... Speaking of which...

I called Bert this morning and chatted with him about our possible routes, departure dates, and likely stop/stay points... He indicated he was up for just about anything I wanted to undertake, so... hard to beat a partner like that, huh? He also mentioned that Nick (Bronxboy) has indicated he might be interested in joining us and making it a threesome... That would be great indeed, as he is an excellent rider and even better companion!

I do have a couple of longcut alternatives in mind, and I'm thinking three possibly four days to get there... Gawd, that sounds sooooo good to this serious sufferer of acute cabin fever! All two-lane roads nearly the entire way with no 'slab work' other than possibly an incidental mile or two when it might make sense. No long days or rigorous butt-burner episodes, just laid-back, easy peasy cruising... stopping any ol' time for breaks and practice BS sessions (we want to be in competitive shape for the big show), perhaps some BBQ, too... We should be primed, locked and loaded when we arrive Friday afternoon...!

Several clusters of folks from down this way will be headed in your direction! We've thought about joining several of those groupings, but... I just want to get out there and do some freelancing, so joining others likely won't happen... Nope, just this 'dog-whisperer' solo, or Bert and I, or Bert, Nick, and I... We'll all be there, I just don't know right this minute if we'll be arriving in a small group, as part of a larger group, or as individuals...

DDT

Bruce,
Regardless of what road you travel to get here, know that you're always welcome.

Reference that "entertainment", if heavy drooling is what  you want, that can be arranged.   But, be forewarned that one should be careful about what they wish for, they might just get it. 

Rams

[DDT (12)]

Ron,

Heavy drooling was NOT a request or desired specification! It was merely speculation resulting from ponderation... coupled with knowledge of your 'best friend' companions. While I have known some 'dogs' in my time, I do not seek them out! No, perhaps I'd be way ahead of the game if I were to just drop the whole surprise room guest thing all together... Besides, I haven't done any serious long term trekking with Bert yet, so I don't know how much fun he can tolerate... I'm thinking it might be a good idea to break him in gently... Thanks for the thought, though...

DDT

[Rams]

Rom,

Heavy drooling was NOT a request or desired specification! It was merely speculation resulting from ponderation... coupled with knowledge of your 'best friend' companions. While I have known some 'dogs' in my time, I do not seek them out! No, perhaps I'd be way ahead of the game if I were to just drop the whole surprise room guest thing all together... Besides, I haven't done any serious long term trekking with Bert yet, so I don't know how much fun he can tolerate... I'm thinking it might be a good idea to break him in gently... Thanks for the thought, though...

DDT