Steve's Destinations

[Kootenanny]

I enjoyed Steve Thornton's piece in the May issue, "Destinations Unknown."

I've met and ridden with Steve, so there's a bit of a connection there. And I understand some of his feelings regarding his father--I lost my father to cancer (after a lifetime of nicotine addiction) several years ago.

I also don't own, and probably wouldn't know how to use, a GPS unit...and I'm sure I'd get lost in the backroads of SoCal, too.

One criticism, though: Steve, you don't "pour" over a map, you "pore." In this internet age of spell checkers and poor English usage, I've become even more sensitive to errors in print--I expect the paid professionals to be correct, dammit! :)

[TimP]

Interesting. Thanks for making me look something up. "Pore: Archaic, to think intently or ponder." I didn't know that...

[Malks]

But then, English grammar was never a strong subject. I would have used pour as well.:o

[stevethornton]

That's embarrassing. In my defence, I can tell you that I spelled it this way in the submitted story:
Before that trip, I had pored over maps of southern California
However, as a newly hired copy editor, you'd think I'd notice that something terrible had happened to my own story.
Well, thanks for the reading the story, anyway. And I do empathize with the desire for professional writing devoid of stupid mistakes, dammit. I grit my teeth just about every time I read something these days, and especially every time I watch a television newscast.



QUOTE=Kootenanny;5167]I enjoyed Steve Thornton's piece in the May issue, "Destinations Unknown."

I've met and ridden with Steve, so there's a bit of a connection there. And I understand some of his feelings regarding his father--I lost my father to cancer (after a lifetime of nicotine addiction) several years ago.

I also don't own, and probably wouldn't know how to use, a GPS unit...and I'm sure I'd get lost in the backroads of SoCal, too.

One criticism, though: Steve, you don't "pour" over a map, you "pore." In this internet age of spell checkers and poor English usage, I've become even more sensitive to errors in print--I expect the paid professionals to be correct, dammit! :)[/QUOTE]

[Kootenanny]

Hey Steve--ever read 1984? Orwell was prophetic...

But I didn't start this thread to criticize your writing--I wanted to say that I liked your piece. I've been poring over maps of California lately myself (northern California, in my case).

About my dad...not long after I bought my Buell (you know who I am now, right?) my dad came out to visit. I felt a bit defensive about buying a new bike; I told him, "I bought it because I wanted it!" His health was failing at the time, and his response was, "I wish I could still ride one!" I learned something from him that day...do what you want while you still can.

[stevethornton]

But I didn't see what you did ... last summer. Yeah. I took my dad for a ride on a Yamaha Venture back when they first came out, like 1984 or something, and every once in a while I'd show up with something new that I'd borrowed, but he was hooked into restoring Modal A Fords, and it's just hard to get someone to sit down on a Hayabusa when they're in the Henry Ford mode. Still, we were able to have share some nice moments around the machines of whatever generation.

[Mel]

I really enjoyed meeting you at the Harley launch in Baltimore a couple of years ago, Steve, and was pleased to see that you've joined CC now. Best of luck in your new position and hope to see you again sometime.

[stevethornton]

Thanks, Mel. I like to think that if we had met there, we'd both have enjoyed it, but I've never been to Baltimore. Unless ... wait a minute ... did this guy have a glazed look in his eyes? Did he smell of tequila? Because there was this one weekend ...
Odds are better of meeting in B.C., since I live only a couple of hours from your location, discounting any ferry rides, of course.

[Mel]

Woops, that would be Steve Bond I'm thinking of, sorry. I'll have to put my brain fade down to residual gas fumes in the cargo trailer I recently slept in at the track during a race weekend...

Regardless, best of luck to you, Steve Thornton, in your new position.

[Kootenanny]

Yo, Steve--was that your byline I saw on the front page of the Merritt daily, while enjoying brekkie at Mandolin's?

[stevethornton]

Thanks for the good wishes, Mel. I've been reading Cycle Canada since the mid-80s (I wrote my first piece for them in 1983, I think) and have always loved the magazine, so it's a great pleasure to be associated with it.
And yes, Kootenanny, I work for a little newspaper in Merritt. Next time you're at Mandolin's, give me a call at the Merritt News and I'll come down and have a sticky bun with you -- and that's no euphemism.

[Mel]

... I'll come down and have a sticky bun with you -- and that's no euphemism.

Well, shoot, that just takes all the fun out of it...

[TimP]

And then Steve and Mel got personal.

"Oh yeah?" He said.

"Yeah!" He said.

"Oh Really?" He said.

"You betcha" He said.

"Why I oughtta..." He said.

"Bring it on!" He said.

And then this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbj-7SJJkBc

[Kootenanny]

And yes, Kootenanny, I work for a little newspaper in Merritt. Next time you're at Mandolin's, give me a call at the Merritt News and I'll come down and have a sticky bun with you -- and that's no euphemism.
Will do. I get into Merritt every now and then (sawmills, ya know).

[Mel]

And then Steve and Mel got personal.

"Oh yeah?" He said.

"Yeah!" He said.

"Oh Really?" He said.

"You betcha" He said.

"Why I oughtta..." He said.

"Bring it on!" He said.

And then this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bbj-7SJJkBc

Tim, does your significant other know you've been youtubing "assless chaps"? Better she should find out now than be surprised later...

[TimP]

Please understand that I am completely innocent here. Others on this forum may have their preferences and issues, and may or may not have directed others to pursue similar predilections, and may or may not have made accusations that are totally without merit, or not. But all I ever did, and it is to my complete shame that I admit to it here, is click on a few offered links. And this is what I find.

And KZDon is NOT my significant other. I deny it completely.

[KZDon]

My significant other may be pleased to hear that ... although she says she thinks the minister wants to ask her out... of course, if he does, he gets the four kids as well.

that oughta fix his wagon.