Employee of the Month – Good idea or Bad idea?

As you know by now (or maybe not if this is your first time reading my blog, if so Hi!) the hubby and I are in the process of starting our own business, a motorcycle shop to be precise. And we have been discussing Dragon Cycles (our business) a lot lately, especially about getting everything ready for when we find an investor. We are hoping that when we find one and get the money all we’ll have to do is buy the building and equipment and get the people.

We were talking about bonuses when we got on the topic of Employee of the Month. The hubby wants to do it but I’m not sure. See the thing is I’ve never worked somewhere where they had Employee of the Month or at least never worked there long enough to find out.

30 Day Blog Challenge – Day 9 |Something You’re Proud Of|

So today is day 9 of my 30 day challenge and I get to tell you something I’m proud of. I’m proud of the fact that I graduated from Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI). Why? Because, first off, not that many people who start MMI actually graduate. It’s a really intense tech school, most guys end up attendance failing and just don’t come back. Or they fail a class or a couple of classes and just quit because it’s too hard for them.

And secondly, most girls who start don’t finish either, mainly because they can’t hack it. MMI for girls is like 50% harder than it is for guys. Because being a girl in a guys world is hard (for most girls). You get compared to guys all the time. Are you smart enough? Are you strong enough? And then there’s the fact that they will make fun of you and talk down to you. Guy humor is very different than girl humor. They think calling you a hooker or a slut is funny, when you probably think it’s insulting. You have to have an attitude, an ‘I’m not going to take your shit’ attitude and ‘I will kick your ass, if you come near me’ attitude. You can’t be weak. It’s like they smell it and will attack you (not literally, of course). The teachers will push you harder than the guys. Some will do it to make you quit, some do it to make you a better mechanic. Either way, if you make it, you are stronger than you went in. But if you can’t handle it, you will not make it. I know quite a few girls that started MMI and didn’t even get half way through it.

For me, at first, it was kind of hard. I had no idea what I was doing and thought they all did. But then I realized that we were all pretty much in the same boat. And most of the time I was smarter than them and tougher too. They called me a hooker, I called them a slut. They said they could kick my ass, I said I’d stab them with a screw driver if they came within 5 feet of me. After I proved I could keep up with them as a mechanic, I was way more sarcastic, I could joke around and not get offended and I had just as bad a mouth as them, they accepted me and started treating me like one of the guys. That’s when I knew I had done it; I earned their respect as a friend and as a mechanic. I’m proud of that because most girls can’t do it. They couldn’t keep up, they got offended and they took shit too seriously. But then again, I prefer hanging out with guys than dealing with girls.

But anyway, that’s one of the things I’m most proud of.

On a side note; today is the hubby’s birthday. We didn’t do much, but I plan of getting him a good present after we move. I would tell you, but he reads this and I don’t want to give it away.

Confessions of a biker; I’m afraid to ride my bike

Well let me start from the beginning. I’ve been riding passenger with my dad since I was 4. I’ve always been into motorcycles, even when people thought I was weird and everything in high school.

Well my junior year of high school my dad bought me a motorcycle, a Kawasaki 454 ltd. I didn’t have my permit yet, so he found it, test rode it and bought it. I pretty much didn’t have any say in it what so ever.

So a few months later, after I got my permit, my dad tried to teach me how to ride my bike. Let’s just say it didn’t go to well. I wasn’t comfortable on it and could barely touch the ground, even with leaning the bike over a bit.

Ever since then I’ve been nervous getting back on it. I was even nervous when taking my rider education class in Orlando, FL and I was on a Kawasaki 250 Eliminator. But after a day of riding it in the rain, I actually got used to it.

Then a day or two ago I find out that my dad finally admitted that he got the bike more for him than me. And that he finally realized that “my bike” is a little too big for me right now.

So yes, I am afraid to ride my bike. But, since my husband is going to auctions for our shop, he’s going to get me a 250 Eliminator and I know I won’t be afraid to ride that.

“Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly.”

My bike (AKA Kawasaki 454 LTD)

This is a Kawasaki 250 Eliminator (I want this one) :)

A motorcycle helmet can save your life.

Four years ago today my friend Dee got into an extremely bad motorcycle accident. She was a passenger with a guy who was taking her for a ride. He was speeding and not paying attention and rear ended a truck. He ended up with a broken leg and some bad bruises and scratches. Dee on the other hand, well, she went flying and ended up going head first into a telephone pole. She was in a coma and the doctors said she may not make or would end up a vegetable. Well a week or so later she woke up. It was a long road of recovery but she’s doing a whole lot better now. (She’s even got a super cute little baby girl.)

The doctor said that her wearing a helmet was the thing that saved her life. And I just happened to be the one to make her wear it. I made her promise to keep it on and even tightened it up so it was on properly. Well after the crash she called me (and still does) her angel. (I still find that a bit weird) I just believe that it was the helmet; I’m a big advocate for wearing a helmet. It’s the one thing that will be between your head and the pavement if you go down.

Now, I’m telling you this story for two reasons. One; because I just can’t believe it’s been four years already and even though Dee went through that, she’s living a normal, healthy life. And two; if you’re going to ride a motorcycle, please, please always wear a helmet. Because it can be the sole thing that will save your life and it only takes a few moments to put one on.