Since I've been keeping this blog I find myself taking a lot of pictures of Sophie in various places. Sometimes because it's a good shot. More often, it's to prove that my bike's actually present, rather than the subject of some made up tale. Pictures make blog posts a little more interesting, too. A blog about riding should have pictures of my bike, right?
Something just happened that made me realize that not everyone sees it this way. Oh, the blog readers know exactly what's going on. You'd expect members of the general non-riding public to wonder who this person is taking all these pictures. They're not enlightened so why worry about what they think? In between, though, are those people who are supposedly bike enthusiastists, if not blog readers. You'd expect that they'd at least understand the attraction between a rider and his bike. Not always, it turns out!
Let me share this little story with you.
This is Theresa. She's a fairly new instructor. Theresa rides a Harley. She also drives a Mustang. I would suppose that she's a motorcycle enthusiastist. After all, she undertook the journey to become an instructor in the first place. Here she is, on the range, in a cold rain. Parked nearby is the Mustang. Remember, it's cold and rainy. A far cry from the warm sunshine we had on Saturday. I'm out and about on the bike. This is about 75 miles from home. It was dark and rainy when I left home. It's still rainy but no longer dark. I'm not teaching but I've stopped by for a while during my work day.
Sophie is parked next to the Mustang. Being an addicted blogger, I'm always on the hunt for relevant material. I've also grown accustomed to carrying my point and shoot digital camera whenever I'm on the bike. Which is almost always. After a while the camera's out. The bike and the Mustang together seems like a good photo. Sometime or other this picture will come in handy for a post. One thing leads to another. A shot is lined up, the shutter's squeezed, and thousands of little electronic particles are somehow aligned to creature an image. Because of the dark and cloudy day, the electronic flash illuminates. Here's the photo.
As soon as she saw the flash, Theresa asked me,
"Did you just take a picture of your bike?"
Suddenly I'm put in mind of a country song by Shania Twain. It's called "That Don't Impress Me Much". Here's some words from it.
You're one of those guys who likes to shine his machine
You make me take off my shoes before you let me get in
I can't believe you kiss your car good night
C'mon baby tell me-you must be jokin', right!
Oh-oo-oh, you think you're special Oh-oo-oh, you think you're something else
Is this how Theresa views me? Do other people see me taking photos and think I'm having a love affair with my bike? I'm just taking pictures for my blog, everyone! Come to think of it, though, my ride does look a lot cooler than the Mustang, don't you think? By the way, please turn your head away. It's time for Sophie's good-night kiss.
Miles and smiles,
Dan
Any bike looks better than a ford :) found on the rode dead? freaking ol' rebuilt dodge? backwards is driver returns on foot...I'd rather ride in a sleet storm in an open face helmet on a 50cc yamaha champ, than drive a mustang :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I know that it’s an inanimate object, but I have considered all of my bikes, at the very least, a lifelong companion. For reasons unknown, I’ve given them a gender and at times, a name. I’ve talked to them constantly ever since I was a child to the present, I've patted them proudly on the tank while riding down the street, taken their pictures in public and yes, when nobody else was looking, even stole a kiss or two. But that’s just among us Motorcyclists, alright?
ReplyDeleteThank goodness, i am not alone...
ReplyDelete:-)
Never has photography been so easy, inexpensive and available. And then someone has to go and ask why we take pictures? Because we can. Besides my motorcycle is prettier than yours and I have pictures to prove it.Neena neena neena.
ReplyDeletePictures say a thousand words. You know your a blogger addict when you stop what your doing to capture a moment in time to help explain our story. Don't stop. Lady R
ReplyDeleteAin't no shame in bike love! Hey! That could be the beginnings of a country song! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI prefer 2 wheels almost any day (there is a limit), but there was 1 Mustang that I've always wanted to drive but never will... When I was very young Mom had a 1968 candy-apple red 2-door 4-speed ragtop. My brother learned to drive in that car, then she sold it before I was old enough to learn to drive. ::whine, complain, pout::
ReplyDeleteAs to taking too many pictures of Sophie, only you can determine 'too much'. Maybe Katie has a say, too. But you're using them for illustration, not to make a garage calendar.
That sounds like an idea, after all, she IS a Naked bike! Motorcycle PORN! Show her with the saddlebags off, or maybe the trunk.
ReplyDeleteMaybe even do both for for lovers of a bike's backside.!
Take a pic just as she's slipping into bed, out in the garage.
Far too many bike owners go for the black leather look. A bit fetishistic, don't you think?
The pics could be unashamedly, NUDE, and proud of it.
Celebrate her nudity, you're not ashamed are you?
Lady Luck asked me a while back why I have so many picture of my bike and so few of her. Luckily, I had a valid answer: I don't have a blog about Lady Luck. :D
ReplyDelete@Allen - I like my Mustang just fine. It's been the 2nd most reliable car I've owned. The first was my Rat-Buick, a '91 Buick Century. That car WOULD NOT DIE.
Allen,
ReplyDeleteYou forgot "fix or repair daily"! Never heard of it backwards. Cool.
Earl,
If you won't tell, I won't!
Hrishi,
No, you're not alone. There's at least Earl and I. Although, I'm sure there's more of us out there than care to 'fess up.
Conchscooter,
I'm going to need a much bigger wallet to show off all those pictures, I think. Although people already start scattering when they see me pull out the one I already have.
Lady R,
What's even worse is that I don't just wait for opportunities. I actually go out and look for possible illustrations!
Doug C,
Sing it to us, lad!
Krysta,
Love that red color. My flirtation was with a baby blue '67with a 351 Cleveland motor. Thanks for bringing back the memories!
Tinker,
Imagine how many search engine hits I'd get if the words "naked" and "pictures" in the blog regularly. I'm not ashamed of Sophie's nudity but she thinks she looks too bony naked. Although she did ask me if the Givi trunk made her rear look fat.
Lucky,
Great answer. If you don't mind I may use it some time.
Take care,
Dan
I have been in the process of updating and changing Macintosh computers. Lots of graphic changes and with it new software. Your photography comment brought forth in my mind's eye a love affair. between you and Sophie.
ReplyDeleteWe who ride or wish we could ride have to keep one thing foremost when it comes to love. You might like/love Sophie your motorcycle,
however until you mount her she is an inanimate object!
And your wife Dan is NOT an inanimate object, more likely Katie is the one true love you have which keeps you going as much as the Energizer Bunny!
Eh, don't let 'em get to you. Even before I was blogging, you'd find me pointing my camera towards all kinds of crazy things, and getting all kinds of crazy looks as a result.
ReplyDeleteA friend and I once pulled into a gas station in the middle of the night. While he was filling his tank, I pulled out my camera and pointed it off into the darkness. He thought I was crazy, but the resulting photo actually ended up selling. Just keep in mind that, when you pull out the camera, you're capturing the world as you see it, even if every one else thinks you're nuts.
-Samuel Perry
2Down365
Heck Dan, it's only recently that I've even started posting pics on my blog that DON'T include a picture of my motorcycle: Maria.
ReplyDeleteMy wife calls Maria the mistress, but allows me all the time I want to keep my mistress happy. She also calls the motorcycle my "prozac on wheels" due to the positive effect riding has on my moods.
Redleg's Rides
Mustang or Motorcycle? I will take one of each please.
ReplyDelete