Let’s make this quick. I won’t eat turkey and I despise holidays because my heart is three sizes too small. But I’m thankful for all of you and I hope that each one of you has a chance to remind the people whom you love of that fact. Enjoy the day. If you’re alone, then take a moment to reflect on the fact that your story is not over and there are still chapters to be written. Some of those chapters will be written by fate, but most of them will be about how you respond to fate and its challenges.
Most importantly, don’t buy a television on Black Friday! I’ll admit that I did my “Black Friday” shopping last night: my son and I went to Allen-Edmonds and I bought the “Sturgis 2.0” motorcycle boots. So in the next riding photo I’ll have, you will see real boots on my feet. Doesn’t really matter; today, I’m just thankful that I can ride again.
Well said. Thank you…
Some day you’ll have to explain why you’re an A-E guy and not an Alden guy !
That one’s easy. I live forty miles from a well-managed A-E outlet.
For me to buy Aldens, I’d have to travel further or pay more. I have three sets of Aldens, but they’re all Brooks-branded.
Argh, you live near an AE outlet. Double argh. I guess my wallet is fuller for it.
That said, I have a nice collection of made in USA Frye Arkansas, Redwing, and Walkover and Vintagev shoes that I’ve cherry picked from Sierra Trading Post.
I had to make a deliberate decision to stop getting STP emails. I was spending thousands of dollars a year.
Happy TG to the Best and the Brightest, and to the Baruths!
Shiney side up Jack. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
have a great one
We had some damn good turkey today (my woman is a hell of a cook), breaking our years long tradition of Golden Corral buffet.
But I am admittedly typing this as I stand in line at Walmart to get an Xbox for a gift. I’m part of the problem.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and all the readers.
Thank you for the link- my wife is looking to buy one of those garbage TVs for my daughter.
Happy Thanksgiving Jack. Heal quickly.
Definitely true with the TV’s… it helps a ton when the stores have the same demo playing on all of them. The Vizio I was planning to buy last year was clearly inferior to many other screens that only cost a little more. Samsung had the best overall picture for the non-4K TV’s we shopped, and LG was a close second. LG didn’t have anything out there on sale so we got a Samsung. It was one helluva deal and no complaints in t 12 months hence.
HAPPY (urp) THANKSGIVING TO ALL ! .
FOUR generations in the same house to - day , sorry I can’t post any pix .
Jack , I still have to carry my cane everywhere I go so I had a Hollywood Costumer make me a webbed carrier ~ thin Conan The Barbarian’s sword harness , for a cane , made of simple nylon webbing .
It works a treat .
-Nate
I need to look into something similar that I can wear on a motorcycle.
The harness works a treat but DON’T use it with a brass knobbed cane ~ everyone thinks it’s a sword then .
-Nate
That might not be a problem…you can always quickly disprove it is a sword, if needed, e.g., for access to a public space. OTOH it might serve as a deterrent in certain situations on the street. And a brass knob walking stick is a lot of weapon, as is, anyway. A sword might make a greater show of force, either brandished or utilized, but enough can be done with a good balanced walking stick with a brass ball head.
Wielded one way, it is a hellacious club. The other way, a rapier fast instrument that can either slash or thrust with the best of them. And a well aimed thrust can be totally deadly or disarming…enough so to even the playing field if confronted by multiple muggers/attackers.
I don’t know what the harness you are talking about looks like, but I would want either one that has a carry similar to a Japanese katana, or one that approximates an arrow-like carry on the back, a la numerous superheroes and ninjae, the presumed plural of ninja.
The Japanese swordsman/sword saint Miyamoto Musashi advocated a style of swordless swordfighting, the school of no-sword swordsmanship. This is basically aiki-jitsu, the precursor to aikido. But for anyone not comfortable with that as a defense, a well-balanced walking stick, coupled with practice at basic sword and staff motions, can level even a lopsided playing field.
I’d like to see some pix of the harness you described…
And a belated Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, B&B plus Baruths.
Yes Volando ;
The head of the brass knob no longer is smooth & pretty because some fools in the Ghetto thought any crippled old man would be an easy target ~ one can’t waste a moment in teaching them the truth if you want to live .
Anyway , think of a ‘ Sam Browne Belt ‘ made in ballistic nylon strapping , the angled strap across my back has a nylon tube / sheath for the cane so the head of the cane sticks up over my left shoulder .
I don’t much care if ordinary folks think I’m carrying a cane but these days one must be cautious when riding motos at above legal speeds when the gendarmes get excited .
I don’t want to get shot again , powder burns , burn like a b*tch .
-Nate
And ;
I have a nifty photo of me riding and wearing it on my Birthday ride but I’m not allowed to post photos here .
-Nate
Happy Thanksgiving. Wonderful to see you out and about.
Props for wearing a a high viz bright yellow jacket - smart - too many fashion forward riders out there in all black gear as if they’re trying to not be seen by cagers.
When I rode it was on a yellow bike, with yellow/black jacket and helmet - even with that still too many lane departures coming my way in beltway traffic.
You need a repsol cbr to go with that cane. Get the full Gregory House look.
You’re gonna love the Sturgis boots, Jack. I’m rocking a pair right now and they are incredible
@Nate Good stories, good attitude. You seem determined to live out the ancient Chinese oath/imprecation “may you live in interesting times”.
Never had a chance to put any marks on the head of my cane, but it doubtless deterred a few people who were not likely wishing me well.
It is reassuring to know that I am not alone in the world among older gentlemen who have no intention of allowing ourselves to be run over, shot, stabbed, or whatever, with impunity.
I’m going to live until I die, and I’m glad to know that you, as an online friend, are committed to the same philosphy.
Sometimes I wonder how I’m still alive .
Then I remember to go on enjoying every day I have left .
May there be many yet to come .
Found the Moto/cane harness picture but no way to add it here =8-( .
-Nate