Quite smoking get caught up on some resto's and maybe add one more , OMG i got to have this and lie to my self this time it will be the last time for a long time.

John,

Sorry to hear about your son. That will shake a man up...

I've about 10 kits to restore/detail and decide on the keepers. Still have my eyes open for the right kits or snares. As some of you have just seen, I have very nice Gretsch RB to work on in Champagne sparkle...

A happy and blessed new year to all on vdf

kellyj

drum related, i want to tidy up unfinished projects. i have been doing this in the past 6 months and loving it. was close to where i wanted to be and acquired a few more now. its all good though. i'm on it as soon as i heal up enough to do it.

tore down a keystone acro for a dawn bath today. didnt appear it had ever been apart. these are my fave restorations.

life wise, 2011 was great and also challenging. lot on my my plate right now,mostly family health wise for myself and my wife. thats whats important.

i hope to continue to build stronger realtionships with some of mine fine friends here.

mike

Drum related..More drums and parts.Life related getting over this B/S court case and the "M" word this year....Mikey

I resolve to do the following:

1) gain 50#

2) drink more

3) get into more fights

4) go deeper into debt

5) take up smoking

Okay- my logic is that most people vow to do the exact opposite and fail miserably, so I am using reverse psychology!

As a guy who is also into Italian motorbikes, I never like to hear of a fellow rider being injured. Every time I ride, I have to make certain that I don't become paralised with fear of a permanent injury. It makes me angry when I see people visibly distracted by their mobile devise whilst driving.

I am sorry to hear about your son and I hope you have a better 2012.

Thank you Kelly, Bunny for the well-wishes. My son is 36 and he has always been very active. Skiing, surfing, basketball, off-road sports, you name it, he does it. He's a New York City firefighter. He was honored to be selected to replace one of the firefighters from Engine 6 that died in the towers on 911. Having been a volunteer firefighter for 5 years prior to joining the NYFD, he finished at the top of his graduating class at the training academy. As a kind of acknowledgment/reward, he was invited by the Capt, of Engine 6 to replace the brave rookie they lost on 911. I don't have to tell you how deeply proud I am of him.

The accident was not Jame's fault. He was T-boned at a busy intersection in Brooklyn. He was on his way in to work at the firehouse. The accident has rendered him near immobile. After -four- surgeries to save his right leg, he's still looking at two major surgeries this year. One of them to completely replace the knee in his leg. It's been a nightmare for all of us. James is currently able to walk using a cane and he recently got permission from motor vehicle to drive with his left foot. I hope to see him continue to recover and make progress. But it rips my heart out every time I see my son limping around struggling just to get across a room. He is very much the hero. Keep a good thought for him.

John

It's almost never a motorcyclist's fault. Few exceptions exist; however, since you are so much more exposed to the conditions at hand, a motorcyclist is *usually* much more attentive.

I was lucky to walk away nearly unscathed from a hit and run by a malicious driver a little over 20 years ago. I decided to get back in the game two years back so I can accompany the Patriot Guard, and with a few near-misses last summer, my riding became limited to Sunday riding on the highways. I just want to punch every texting driver I see.

Drunk driving is wrong; however, I think texting whilst driving is 10,000x worse. A drunk driver has their senses dulled; a texting driver doesn't give a toss whether or not they kill someone; after all- their phone is more important than who they could maim.

John, I do hope your son gets back most if not ALL of his mobility and can ride again.

Hey Bunny, if you click on my profile, I have had a photo of my son James holding my grandson (also a, James,) on graduation day from the fire dept. academy. The photo is 9 years old. My grandson is a real looker ain't he? If he stays straight, that one is going to break a lot of ladies hearts in the future!

John

Good looking pair!!! You must be so proud!!!

I always have a soft spot for firefighters. Some of the boys I ride with are firefighters. They even accept my Italian bike!!! They do take the mick out of me for not riding a Triumph...

I am throwing a bit of holy water the way of you and your family. I don't want to ruin my MacBook by throwing holy water on it. Okay, maybe throw a bit on the next money order I send you for whatever I buy next. It sounds like you need a blessing or two sent your way.