Some interesting things of a blog

Well... I was reading some of my previous writings (with a lot of spam comments btw!) and I found this post I wrote in 2005. Well, interestingly enough, this parabole of the 'ten talents' follows me over life. And, in 2018, I decided to 'use' them. I left the corporate world and got my Ph.D. Am I happy with my decision? Definitely! Was it a straightforward decision, something easy to live with? Not really... You don't see people around you throwing away a (successful, some may say...) career and go to study. But I did it.

And I am happy with my decision.  

Back to business

 Well, it has been quite a long time since I wrote my last post. As I mentioned before, this is the place where I compose in English. Basically, as a form of practicing the language. 

Perhaps I should change the title of this blog. I sold my motorcycle in 2011. And since then I've been scarcely riding. But I still love bikes. And I will probably get another one sometime, although I believe that a 52 y.o. guy is quite old for a biker. Yes, pure prejudice. 

Autobiographic song

I stressed the parts the are mostly related to my feelings in these days...

Wise Up - Aimee Mann

It's not what you thought
When you first began it
You got what you want
Now you can hardly stand it though
By now you know it's not
Going to stop
It's not going to stop
It's not going to stop
'Til you wise up

You're sure there's a cure
And you have finally found it
You think one drink
will shrink you 'til
you're underground and living down
But it's not going to stop
It's not going to stop
It's not going to stop
'Til you wise up

Prepare a list of what you need
Before you sign away the deed
'Cause it's not going to stop
It's not going to stop
It's not going to stop
'Til you wise up

No it's not going to stop
'Til you wise up
Now it's not going to stop
So just give up

Traveling alone - Part I

Finally it happened: I got my back and went out alone on the road. I mean it: no other bikes. Just me and The Bike. My friends and I decided to celebrate New Year's Eve in a nice house of a friend in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, a city 300 km away from Sao Paulo. It was a sunny and nice day; everybody jumped in the cars, but I took my bike and went out.

As always I was a little scared in the beginning. With lots of people rushing out of city for the vacations, traffic was not easy. But slowly The Bike and myself entered in harmony and I could make my turns faster and at ease. Close to Vinhedo I reached my friends that departed early. And I really felt so good to be upon my Bike. I was 3 hours of full meditation, concentration and peace. I needed to stop near Mogi Mirim because my left shoulder was aching so much that I was considering leaving The Bike in the gas station and pick it up later. Fortunately it was just muscular stress and a 10 min break with coffee relieved my pain.

Next part I'll tell about the rain and the mud.

Maybe it is not a waste at all!

The good thing about writing is that you can always go back and check how things evolved. Well I should say I don't feel anymore my life is such a waste.

Yesterday I put down on the paper ten good things I believe I did this year. I listed things in the most variable aspects of my life. I was surprised how easily they came.

Of course I need to improve. And next year the idea is practice some volunteer job. I feel the need to help people, but I still don't know how to do it, But objective is set and I am going to reach it.

On my motorcycle I feel myself in the greatest harmony with it. It is funny how we get integrated with the bike. A few months ago I sent it to revision and when it came back it was so different. The way my bike answered to my commands was unusual. Pirsig related this in his book and I thought he was exagerating. Now I know it is true.

Finally I am using a cool decoration in my helmet; the symbol of the Supreme Soul. You can see it at the bottom of this page http://www.bkwsu.com/ retreat/madhu/m7.html

I can't show it here because it is copyrighted ;-)

Just for Fun

I've watched the "Pirates of the Caribbean" with my daughter one of these days. I forgot to say that, besides motorcycles, I am also addicted to sailing. So here the result of one of those funny internet tests



Which Pirates of the Caribbean character are you?

Connections

Sometimes riding a bike you reach a crossroad. And you need to decide where to go, if you keep in your road or if you pick another one. Life is sometimes like that.

In my professional life I got a road I am not found of. Well I am now drawing the plans to get my bike to another, pleasant, winding road. This does not go straight to the point, but probably will make me happier.

Lately I've considering seriously if my life is not a big waste of time. If I am not wasting my gifts. I don't want to get a few years and miles ahead, look back and say: "What is the meening of this?". I am so afraid of wasting my talents. That's why I reproduce the short story below told by Jesus Christ. As I went regurlarly to church in my childhood this story stuck in my mind as if it was a prophecy. What a mess! Mixing Christ with Buddha and motorcycles!

Well... why not?
14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

(Matthew 25.14-30)

Visiting the Buddish temple

One of these weekends we went out for a ride. Until we meet we had no fixed destination. The place should be not so far because it was a Sunday morning and Monday... working day.

So we decided to visit the Buddish temple. I have some affinity with Buddha thoughts so it was a place I was particularly interested in seeing. While riding I could feel how I improved: the turns are soft now, I am breaking in a slow and safe rate. But I still like speed although sometimes I get afraid. My thoughts flew away. As I already mentioned, riding is a meditation exercise. The more you integrate with the bike the more you can meditate. Almost a preparation to visit the sanctuary.

Seeing the temple from the road is an amazing view. The installations are quite big. They have libraries, classrooms and a restaurant with delicious vegetarian food. Those who know me know I love barbecues, but that food was something. Would the love and hubleness of the monks and laymen making the difference?

Anyway it was a pleasant and peaceful ride.

Trip to Serra Negra

Here we go. The trip was really cool. We went riding two bikes: Fernanda riding her Kazinsky 250 with my girlfrind in the back and I with my Falcon 400. Why my girl went on Fernanda's bike? First because ate that time she was not that confident in my riding "style" and second because a custom bike is better for those who travel in the back.

At Bandeirantes we rode on average 110 km/h. Cruise speed, no rush. Then when we went up to the mountains we needed to slow down, but the trip was far more interesting. All the nature and all the turns in the winding road. I felt myself so integrated with my bike as if it was a part of my own body. I was really happy and a little afraid because it was my first trip.

During the trip we cressed with a lot of bikers. Some of them had those high speed bikes, others were "easy goers" with their custom bikes. We were following the intermediate path. A Zen way of riding