Fifty Plus (50+) - As far as 2008 goes...

At this point, I'm just going to take it one day at a time. :D

Wise fellow- but at your time of life- you don't have much choice

At this point, I'm just going to take it one day at a time. :D

I set my clock ahead to 2009 several months ago -- can't wait for '08 to be over.

(Edit: except for the Bigfoot hoax. That I liked: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7571483.stm )

I set my clock ahead to 2009 several months ago -- can't wait for '08 to be over.

(Edit: except for the Bigfoot hoax. That I liked: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7571483.stm )

Sorry to hear that Benge...2008 was one of my best years.

It's already 2009 in Aukland and Fiji. Weeeeee and Happy New Year.

At this point, I'm just going to take it one day at a time. :D

That's always a good plan.

At this point, I'm just going to take it one day at a time. :D

Be here now. :thumb: A much shorter timeline.

At this point, I'm just going to take it one day at a time. :D

Where in the heck have you been? Didn't know if you were on a cross country solo biking trip or locked in your closet??? Whatever-here's hoping it was all good.

I have to work the rest of the year.

Where in the heck have you been? Didn't know if you were on a cross country solo biking trip or locked in your closet??? Whatever-here's hoping it was all good.

Somalian pirates seized my bike; it was only through the efforts of a United Nations peace-keeping force that I was freed and able to return home.

That, and my other passion (photography) took over my body for a while. That's what a new Canon 50D will do for ya... :D

At this point, I'm just going to take it one day at a time. :D

I may do that for one day. After that I'll only address 2008 by looking back.

Sorry to hear that Benge...2008 was one of my best years.

Just to clarify - not a bad year for me or my family personally, just a gloomy year for the world (IMHO). I don't mean to turn this into the P&R forum, but I think 2008 represented the clumsy, chaotic end of an era of living beyond our means as a country, and we likely won't even see the bottom until '09. That's why I wanted '08 to be over, to get on with "finding the bottom" of this mess we're in. '09 will be tough. 2010 - better days.

Due to the absence of DG for a while- 2009 has been delayed. and that is official.

A "leap second" will be added onto official clocks around the world at midnight to account for the Earth's slowing spin on its axis.

London's Big Ben, whose bongs bring in the new year across the UK, will have its Great Clock adjusted.

And the BBC will add an extra "pip" to mark the delayed start to 2009.

Twenty-three leap seconds have been introduced since 1972 to keep GMT - internationally defined time - and the Earth's rhythms in synch.

Revellers all over the UK will have an extra second to celebrate New Year to arrive a tick later

Timekeepers at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) will make sure Britain remains up-to-date by adding a second to the UK's atomic clocks, kept at the NPL's Teddington base in Middlesex.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7805534.stm

That's a good start (or end?) DG. My dad would have been 89 today. Looking forward to "the first year" being over and putting the events of this year behind us, with happier thoughts and memories to think on.

Somalian pirates seized my bike; it was only through the efforts of a United Nations peace-keeping force that I was freed and able to return home.

That, and my other passion (photography) took over my body for a while. That's what a new Canon 50D will do for ya... :D

...or maybe you shot the pirates with your new Canon and then rode really, really fast on yer white bike and....

Happy New Year!

Somalian pirates seized my bike; it was only through the efforts of a United Nations peace-keeping force that I was freed and able to return home.

That, and my other passion (photography) took over my body for a while. That's what a new Canon 50D will do for ya... :D

So if you had gotten a Nikon D300 we might never have heard from you again?????

I'm with you 100% as 2008 has been a total:trainwreck:for me and the Mrs. 2009 has got to go up our were going to just step off edge and find a comfortable looney bin:twitchy:and become permenent party, hopefully I can post this message with lot's of "smiley faces" at the end of 2009! Supposedly the world is ending in 2012 so get out and RIDE:speedy:

Yeah 2008 was not a good year for me... I lost a ton of money, I had family problems (still do!), work sucked and it looks like I will be at a desk another 20 years because of my disappearing 401K, I barely rode, got way out of shape and thus gained a million pounds... so that is all now behind me. 2009, another year. I WILL be getting my act together - first thing, more riding! :giver::commute::speedy::backpedal::bike2::winter:

Anyway, although I don't drink (thank goodness one vice I don't have...) I hoist my glas up to you all and wish you a Very Happy New Year! :cheers:

2008 was a very good year. I found a new job which allowed me to get back on my bike after 15 years. Poor excuse for not riding, I know.... But it was what it was. I am also of legal age to post in this forum as of this year, so I think that is A-OK as well. Sure, we lost some money, and the world seems to be in a bit of a mess, but this one voice can't fix that yet. So, the world part of it aside, I am just as happy as a little clam.

Supposedly the world is ending in 2012 so get out and RIDE:speedy:

Yeah, what's up with that? Wouldn't it be a hoot if that ancient Inca ar Mayan guy just up and died of old age before he could get beyond 2012 on that calandar and now a whole bunch of people think that the world is gonna end at that date? Kinda makes me chuckle to think of it that way.

Happy New Year

2008 was a Great Year for me.
Started on a $15 road bike.
Lost 25 lbs.
Got a new bike.
Dinotte Tail light.
Cannon A530 camera.
Met a fine group of retired riders.
Used Vitamin H for Energy.
Looking forward to 2009 rides.

Rode a total of 11,200 miles.

Used Vitamin H for Energy.

I never heard tell of vitamin H. Just googled it, and came up with some info on a B vitamin called biotin. What else can you tell us?

I never heard tell of vitamin H. Just googled it, and came up with some info on a B vitamin called biotin. What else can you tell us?

It really is my secret energy food.
Don't tell or show this to anyone.
OK?

Two handsome dogs. One needs a shave and hair cut.
Not


Vitamin H = Hot Dog. They give me energy. Some old men like Pie...
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/Last%20rode%2008/LastDog026Crop.jpg

I do look better with a shave and helmet
Dec 24th pic from Ryan Bowen

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh187/10wheels/Last%20rode%2008/RB4.jpg

Well, NOT SORRY HERE to see it go. My bride needed a spinal fusion after suffering severe back pain, and is curently recovering from that procedure. Injured my knee while doing AOMM, then part of a 5 rider pile-up on my return to the bike in August. By way of my job, have been involved the middle of the market meltdown. My employer no longer exists A/O today (merged out of existence), we aren't getting paid, I had a great and profitable year in terms of my own production, but still may not have a job under the new regime (waiting to hear SOMETHING), so it's been a slice. All that having been said, my family still thinks I'm worth keeping around, I'm still able to ride and stay in reasonable condition, and I have a job TODAY, so it's not SO bad. Additionally, I know many have it worse, and I read about the challenges life has thrown some of our friends here like Blues Dawg, and I'm reminded to count the blessings. Still...get 2008 'outta here!!!!!

It's been an odd year.

On the plus side, I fell in love, moved into a great place (small, but wonderfully charming), got a new utility bike, had a couple of really engaging projects in my consulting practice, and got some new photo gear which really excites me.

On the other side, just got the statement on my IRA the other day, which is now almost completely kaput. Didn't get out of debt, but didn't go any deeper either. (I was SO close to being debt free!).

No significant health challenges, except I need implants which I can't afford, so no complaints there. Didn't lose the weight I wanted to lose, and didn't get in the miles I wanted to ride, but there's always next year! Kids got a year older, are doing fine, and the cat continues to charm me.

Hate to see all the turmoil in the world, but there's not too much I can do about any of it, so I try not to let it get to me. I was unfortunate enough not to have the money to invest when everything was booming, so now I'm fortunate enough not to have lost it all.

Life still looks berry berry good, even in the midst of chaos out there.

I guess we need ceremony and ritual to mark our lives, but the arbitrary celebration of a "new year" is one I've never understood. I'm just glad to be alive and able to post on the forum, eager to get out for a ride with my oldest son tomorrow, and pleased that so many familiar names are still around on the 50+ threads. Ride on.

I'm with you 100% as 2008 has been a total:trainwreck:for me and the Mrs. 2009 has got to go up our were going to just step off edge and find a comfortable looney bin:twitchy:and become permenent party, hopefully I can post this message with lot's of "smiley faces" at the end of 2009! Supposedly the world is ending in 2012 so get out and RIDE:speedy:

That trainwreck image is actually a copy of the CT scan of my lungs...

But, hey, I survived the year and even reached my mileage goal. I seem to be easily pleased these days.

I missed all of my goals and have been held back. No 2009 for me, I have to do 2008 all over again.

Between my brother and I we got my mom re-situated in Georgia, got my dad's finances sorted out, and his estate resolution under way. Good biking the first half of the summer, good year for family, and for work.

Until the financial crisis. I'm a non-union employee (design engineer) in the auto industry, with a Tier 1 parts supplier. When the OEMs won't build cars or can't buy parts, parts suppliers don't get paid. On Christmas eve we were told we go to four-day weeks, with a 20% pay cut, starting this Monday. I could try to go to another supplier, but my company is just about in the best shape of all. My colleague at another one is off for 6 weeks. At least not all the company's revenue is from the Big 3, most is actually from Japan, China, and the EU OEMs.

So I get to work on Mrs. road Fan's new bike, get in whatever riding I can, and I'm fresh out of excuses for not working on our taxes. Oh well ... life goes on.

Road Fan

No significant health challenges, except I need implants which I can't afford,
Maybe we could take up a collection.

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/bigjohn53/Saline-filled_breast_implants.jpg

Me, I met a lovely girl this year just after I stepped into a gopher hole and tore some knee ligaments. (Being pathetic but moderately brave is attractive I guess.) Despite being off the road for 3 months, I netted a good year. Tomorrow's my first back-on-the-road real ride (maybe a whopping 10-15 miles)...I've been looking forward to this day like others anticipate a century. Rain, fog, meteor shower...I can't wait.

I missed all of my goals and have been held back. No 2009 for me, I have to do 2008 all over again.

No sir, no do-overs. Start with a fresh slate tomorrow and hope for a whole new perspective.

Tomorrow's my first back-on-the-road real ride (maybe a whopping 10-15 miles)...I've been looking forward to this day like others anticipate a century. Rain, fog, meteor shower...I can't wait.

Go for it! I know all too well how rewarding those first few baby steps can be (I'm still making them). Have a great ride and a great year. :thumb:

I missed all of my goals and have been held back. No 2009 for me, I have to do 2008 all over again.

You might try goals on sled Miles?

Go for it! I know all too well how rewarding those first few baby steps can be (I'm still making them). Have a great ride and a great year. :thumb:

Thanks, B.D., maybe I'll come back with a 10 mile "ride report" :thumb: And, BTW, recalling what you've done this year helped me keep my perspective while being impatient for a few months.

With seven minutes to go, I think 2008 is just about finished. Time to fire up the telly for Dick Clark and the countdown!


http://www.tvsquad.com/media/2006/1/ny107_new_year_2006_dick_clark.sff.jpg

I always make plans for the coming year; even if I know I be able to accomplish them. Plans mean hope and hope is something to look forward to. 2008 was the year that I finally became officially retired, thus accepting the awful truth that I will no longer be called upon to help save the world from its countless foes. I've been lovingly cleaning and polishing my LeTour and accumulating parts to finish restoring my Varsity. I plan to haul them home to Ohio for a couple of weeks of real rural touring in the spring. Hope to drop about twenty pounds before I leave (at my VA Dr.'s insistance). Tying to decide whether or not to shave and cut off my pony tail.

"As far as 2008 went"..............there, fixed it for you.

As the last plesant surprise of 2008, I found a new post by DG. Welcome back.

Today has been the BEST DAMN day of the year, so far!
It's also been the WORST DAMN day of the year, so far!
Happy New Year!

Now that it's 2009, I think we can all agree that this thread is obsolete and must be closed. :lol:

Now that it's 2009, I think we can all agree that this thread is obsolete and must be closed. :lol:

If not, someone will bring it back in 3 or 4 years.:rolleyes:

Great thread. I've really missed you all! Life is sweet in spite of its ups and downs. All we can do is hold on for the ride and holler, "Wheeee!"

http://www.edupics.com/phpThumb/cache/9/9d/9d0/9d0c/phpThumb_cache_edupics.com_src9d0c827e01cdb80b8bc248b94394fec4_par09ff33df758b5f7c5623216939181bf7_d at1188200014.jpeg