First off... Please call me Jazz!

So what's in a name? I was never much into nicknames when I was growing up. Riding a motorcycle seems to require a handle almost as much as a helmet. 'Linda' is basic and simple, but doesn't really SAY anything about me. In other venues such as Yahoo and my website, I go by 'CowNow2', not due to any physical resemblance, but as a reflection of my udderly large cow-lection of black and white bovines. While the image of a cow on a motorcycle might make for great laughs on a Chik-Fil-A billboard, it's not really a good choice here.

Jazz is different: Straying from the stereotyped perception of a heavy-metal, rock-n-roll or Southern Rebel biker to something more laid-back and smooth. Jazz encompasses both rhythm and blues, can be hot or cool, traditional or funky, upbeat or soothing. I may be a little bit country and a little bit rock-n-roll, but I will always be JAZZ at heart!

I find it very interesting to have found a site that, while mainly a business, is also a place of networking and friends. I had my share of the dating sites back before I met my husband, and most of them were just spawning grounds for sharks, bottom feeders, eels, pirhana and clown fish. This is different!

Before I met my husband, my first and only experience with bikes was about 30 years ago when my first husband taught me to ride his Honda GL500 in a parking lot. Once. I rode with him as a passenger, but it never occured to me to do more than that. And when we broke up, the feeling of wind in my face just faded away.

My first date with Jimmy was on the back of his Road King Custom, and the memories of riding came rushing back to me. (Sing along here...) I like it, I love it, I want some more  it!  Two and a half years ago, he gave in and installed a passenger back rest to make my ride more comfortable. We only got in one ride with that setup before winter came. The bike was parked in the shed, but the gears were spinning in my head.

My IRS Savings Account came thru, CraigsList was in my favor, and I became the proud owner of a 1990 Yamaha Virago 535 in February, 2008! The bike had been in storage for most of the time, and had less than 2500 miles on it. She sat in the shed for about a month, coming out only to putter around the back yard, before I could take the rider safety class and get my license. I doubled the mileage in the first year... My "starter bike" and I!

I started daydreaming around Christmas of that year. Santa didn't bring me a new ride, but my tax refund made a good down-payment. I bid a fond farewell to my little Yamaha, and rode home in March with a brand new 2009 Harley Sportster XL 1200C. It was love at first ride! I've been almost 2 years as a Harley Owner, and I'm a little over 12,000 miles! Not bad for a "part-timer"!

My husband and I do mostly day trips ~ our 'Sunday Rides' ~ with our longest trip so far to Gatlinburg last summer for vacation. Our mis-matched days off, combined with the weather and house chores that MUST get done, have limited us for long road trips. Monday morning comes too early for him, where as I get to sleep in.

THAT'S why I hang out here. In a world of Monday to Friday jobs, I work retail, and that screws up the traditional 'weekend'. Getting a Saturday off is like pulling teeth, and better not to even bother asking. Taking the bike out for a solo ride on a Monday is fine, but riding with others is just more fun! The trick is finding other local riders with free time during the week!

I had been part of the Cruiser Customizing community for over a year, but hadn't really done much with it. I noticed a post by Chucker around the end of March for a ride in May to Tail of the Dragon. My husband wasn't up for the trip, but said I could go if I wanted to. That was all it took! Chucker pointed me over to BON (BikerOrNot.com), as I was curious about meeting other female riders going along. I spend my online time between here and there now!

My first group ride was an overnight trip with a bunch of people I didn't know from Adam, and I had a BLAST! I have since ridden on many more BON group rides and have met a lot of really cool people! I continue to try to get my husband to go along on their Sunday outings, but he doesn't want to ride with a group. I have gotten pretty good at riding in group formation, and enjoy the chance to travel roads that I otherwise would have never known about. I'm loving it!

So there you have it! That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

*sigh* So I guess I didn't stick to the story after all...

November, 2011: Black Friday has been renamed "Big Blue Pearl Friday".

As some of you may know, my mother died this past January. What she left behind was a lifetime of memories, and a pretty sizable estate. Even divided three ways, it allowed me to get all my "stuff" paid off and make some investments.

One of those is a 2012 Harley Street Glide.

My Sportster was traded UP, after giving me 23,140 wonderful miles in just under 3 years. Not bad for a new / part-time rider!

One of my mnother's great loves was her garden, so in her honor, my bike's name is Blue Belle. Her spirit will alway ride with me!

Jazz

Jazz / S40C

Where the Ride Never Ends!