Category Archives: Blog

My wings were clipped and yet I am still able to fly!

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 It is time I speak about why my wings have been clipped the last number of months as many of you ask where I have been or where the Copper Queen is when I am on a different bike, thank goodness I have been able to continue carrying the Throttlegirl message with the support of several gracious H-D Dealerships and individuals that believe in what it is I am promoting in this world, rewarding people that are doing good in this world, highlighting people that grab their eternal throttle everyday. It really is that simple. So here goes…the adversity I am walking thru and the beauty that has come from the experience thus far.

In August of 2012 I set out on a journey with the intensions of traveling across this country raising awareness and money for Children’s Cancer in my inaugural long distance campaign as Throttlegirl. As most of you know and for those of you that don’t, the story did not end the way I had it scripted.  Over 2,OOO miles into my 6,000 mile quest, a deer jumped out in front of me and I was forced to lay down my trusty companion, the ‘Copper Queen,’ my custom Road King. I was so incredibly fortunate not to have gotten hurt, however, after the twelve-hour rescue, she was not so lucky and insurance has deemed her totaled based on the value of damage of her custom work.

Up until now, I have chosen to not talk about the difficulties I have found with dealing with AAA Insurance.   Truth told, eight months later and I am still dealing with the situation and it is far from resolved, a very unfortunate situation.  They stand firm on the value of my bike essentially equaling what the cost of my paint job is worth amongst the other numerous details I need not feed here on this platform. Ironically enough though, they totaled her based off the value of her custom work.

Needless to say it is a mess and my Copper Queen still sits totaled, not able to carry me, nor Throttlegirl message. This my friends, is why I have not been out on the road in the full capacity as some of you have inquired within about.  They say good things come to those who wait and I continue to believe… What I will tell you is I have learned a great deal and I have not given up faith that AAA will do the right thing.  Even if the last several attempts to have AAA contact me and continue to try to resolve the matter positively have not been responded to… I still have faith.

Let’s get to the beauty in this situation! The amazing friendships that have been born and the support has been nothing short of miraculous.  Because of several fabulous Harley-Davidson Dealerships and some very inspiring individuals, I have been able to continue a portion of my mission of ‘Rallying All to Rise as One’ utilizing sponsored motorcycles.  I am forever grateful for these gifts and words cannot express my gratitude nor will they ever. These businesses and people have been Throttlegirl Angels and true TG Road Warriors.

Having said all of this, if you have a question about a particular bike…ask me! I have been able to ride and play on several different models and haven’t met one I haven’t liked yet! While I wouldn’t recommend test riding this way, it has been great getting to know the feel of all these sponsored bikes. You know me, always looking for the gold nugget in the situation!

Not looking back and moving forward I’m standing tall in the face of adversity just as the Throttlegirl message promotes. I am dedicated to seeking what is right and what is fair and I truly have faith the Copper Queen will ride again.  Please help get Throttlegirl back out on the road!  The Throttlegirl ‘2013 Summer of Support Tour’ is set to take off across the country August/September, Riding Non-Stop for Non-Profits. Where there is a will there is a way and I will be out there traveling this country (on some sort of a motorcycle, Copper Queen or not), rewarding several non-profits with much needed funds and support. This has cost our mission greatly and enough is enough, our hands have been tied but it is time now to break free of AAA binding less than professional and extremely disappointing business ethics and corporate responsibility code.

You can help Throttlegirl get back out on the road numerous ways.  One of which is by taking care of yourself, living the TG message and make sure your insurance is doing its job.  I ask you, please…make sure our insurance broker is your ‘friend’ and that you are not just a number and a paycheck to your insurance company. Do not be afraid to ask questions and assume nothing.  Tell your friends and family to do the same thing and tell them what I am going through so you/they make sure they don’t.  Tell AAA this is not okay.  And most of all…continue supporting the Throttlegirl Mission of rewarding good in this world. Together we really do make a difference.

Because of the generosity in this world and belief in Throttlegirl’s mission, while my wings have been cut, I am still able to fly. Pretty soon I hope to be riding the thermals, firing the Copper Queen back up and hitting the road carrying my torch. For this I am humbly grateful to you all.

Throttle Up friends! Always…no matter what!!!!!

The Big ‘C’ Word aka Commitment

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Ah yes, commitment.  I have been putting a lot of thought into the word commitment lately and it’s meaning.  Sure.  I’m committed to several things, as you know one of them and top of the list is being Throttlegirl and my love of the road and my motorcycle, The Copper Queen! Obviously! Seriously though, I am talking about the root of commitment and its deep foundational meaning.  So many people run from it, is it the fear of the unknown?  Loosing ourselves?  Having to have acceptance?  Not truly knowing what we value? I had this response on-line and I couldn’t agree more:

“In this changing world, commitment means remaining steadfast and true to your principles and goals, no matter how much dust is kicked up on the path ahead. It means reminding yourself of the obligations you have – not solely to other people but to yourself – and honouring those obligations. By understanding the meaning of commitment, you acknowledge the profound effect that staying steadfast has on the community around you. Your path isn’t solitary and you are not on that road alone. Every committed action you take and every decision you make inspires others to take on their own personal challenges and to discover their own courage and determination.”

Well said my Canadian friend, “Steadfast and true to your principles and goals” and “Profound effect of staying steadfast” as well as “Courage and determination!”  By honoring the commitment to ourselves and our hearts light (no, I’m not referring to the hearts light in terms of romantic gestures but yet your Eternal Throttle, we all have one) all other levels of the meaning of commitment will compliment life, yes even the ruff patches.  This does not mean you have to stick it out in a war zone if ya catch my drift!  A war zone inside you or of those around you or those that cause you unhappiness.  In life there has to be compromise, there has to be acceptance that you’re not always going to like everything that comes your way, that you’re not going to be able to always get your way.  Having fear of these things however, and committing just to commit is sacrificing yourself and settling on the basis of thinking you have to, for what…to have better character…?  Not the case, in fact it is empowering a lack of character by doing so.

Honoring the foundational level of commitment to oneself provides the trust, strength and grace to wade through any ruff waters ahead or for that matter, smooth sailing in calm waters too.  Often it won’t be smooth sailing and others having expectations of your commitment to yourself may find themselves disappointed, this is not your anchor, stay true to your personal commitment no matter what you have to walk through, it will prove to be worthy once granted.  Life is not about shooting rainbows (out of our you-know-what’s) at all times. In fact, what I do know is that you have to have rain to even see a rainbow!

Personally, I would rather honor being committed to my own principles and goals on every level and know my heart light burns bright than lie to myself, or have others lie to me by being in denial and smothering the inner flame.  Many do so and believe commitment is about being able to say I’ve “stuck it out” based on principles that may not even be their own.  I suppose one would have to take the time, effort and action to dig deep into their own constitution to truly know their principles, face the fear of being completely honest with themselves and find trust in it.  Maybe this is the basis of why people find fear in commitment or miss understand the context of the word?  Seems to me, if one digs for their own truth then when it comes to “committing” it is not even thought of as such.  It is pride and something worth staying steadfast to, something that wakes the soul and is a gift granted and welcomed with open arms.  So then, my conclusion is only when we commit to ourselves at the foundational moral fabric level will we ever be able to commit in health to people, engagements, goals and all other things we deem deserving of this gift.

Life is an action filled team sport, positive action in committing to ones true light, the “eternal throttle,” is the main commitment I seek today. Having found it, I spend time holding on to it daily and make sure I maintain regular service on it,  Because of this, I am able to shine that light on my path and feel it is such a gift rewarded to be able to be committed to being Throttlegirl.  Carrying the TG message and torch, honor the meaning of such values and in turn being able to reward, highlight and honor those who are doing the same.  What an amazing compliment to the amazing journey of life, ultimetly committing to each other and lighting each others paths.

Throttle Up my friends, commit to your worth and greatness that lives inside you, COMMIT to grabbing your Eternal Throttle!  After all, “Throttle is Power…Grab yours!”

Best always,

TG

 

Season’s Greetings

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This time of year has a certain magic about it. The smell of fresh baked sweets, the sounds of bells ringing, the fresh blanket of snow making for a White Christmas, the look of a child and their innocence of imagination gone wild and let us not forget the gifts of family and loved ones reaching out and traveling from near and far. Christmas is so much more than the materialism of the modern marketing holiday it has become. Sure, gifts are amazing both giving them and receiving them, in doing so let’s all take the time to honor the core of the message and gifts given in this holiday season. A gift given is from the heart. There are many ways of giving gifts through out the year and many (quite frankly most) come without a price tag nor can they be bought. Take a smile for instance. Doesn’t cost a thing but indeed they can light up a room and the day of the person you are gifting it with! I absolutely love the gift of a pure smile, in my opinion…it doesn’t get much better than this and any kind of smile given has a distinct meaning. A sideways smile, a smirk, a wide open tongue sticking out smile…any kind of smile you can conjure, tells a great story and translates exactly how you are feeling without a second guess. In addition to the gifting of packages to one another this holiday, let’s honor and celebrate the gift of our moral fabric and spread cheer by gifting smiles galore. Try it I dare you! Pass a stranger on the street, make eye contact and smile.Simple as that. Watch what it does not only to their day in that moment…but to yours. Merry Christmas to you and yours, many smiles sent your way! From our family to yours, take care of one another! Ho, Ho, Ho!

Knowing Happiness, You Must First Be Free To F.L.Y

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To know TRUE happiness, sounds so simple doesn’t it? It should be and yes, the smiles we wear on our face daily would allude to suggesting we know it. On a simplistic plane, sure we have all experienced the simple gift of a smile and that feeling that brings it to our face. I’m talking about the deep self-worth, I deserve the world and there is love and beauty in everything in the now happiness, not taking anything for granted, the kind of happiness that lives deep inside of us all. I was at a social function with friends recently when a conversation was approached about honoring the gift of true happiness. We were concerned for a persons welfare and they stated, “I don’t think they know what true happiness is and until they figure it out for themself, what can be done?” “There is no other explanation for their actions and we’ll all be here to pick them up again when the truth presents itself once more.” I felt incredibly sad and immediately wanted to go into “make them see the light mode.” Yet I knew from my own personal experiences that unless this person figured out that this indeed is what they need to find in themself and unlock the treasure box they are, that nothing I could or would do would turn this light on for them. It is a huge mistake to believe that someone else’s happiness is your hands or for that matter that yours is in theirs. When people make others dependent to feel this way, it is their own insecurities that reveal themselves and it is unfair. A disastrous trial of peaks and valleys of where no one is right and no one is wrong, just not healthy and far from honoring true happiness. We try so often to fill outside factors, people, places and things in our life to fill this happiness often going to extremes, pretending to be something we’re not, putting on masks, saying things that we try to convince ourselves of maybe truly even thinking we mean, changing a situation in some way to escape the reality, perhaps even going as far as physically changing our geographics or buying material things, as if this will change and fill what we are looking for…the list can go on. Here’s a very simple example, I love chocolate M&M’s, I could plow through a bag in nothing flat. If I’m having a ruff day there’s nothing like a little bag of chocolate love to give me that momentary relief of ahhhh. However, not but five minutes after that bag is gone I immediately want another bag or can easily go back to the feelings I had that I turned to the M&M’s in the first place to find comfort in. It is a cognizant choice to feed the feelings looking for an escape or a choice to say enough, no mask needed, I can honor these feelings but walk through them, identify them and choose, (yes the freedom of choice that comes with true happiness), to change the situation or what is feeding these feelings. What it comes down to setting ourselves up for failure rather than success in the long run by not honoring our true self, creating more chaos in our souls and getting further away from finding true happiness. Our hearts and souls want to fly! My favorite acronym, F.L.Y: First Love Yourself, you must take action to know what makes your soul fly, yes taking action. It takes work! We live in a society and all have experiences and perceptions that make us who we are and in truth, many of these we hold on to are not that of our own. They are pushed on us by others. I do not believe that intensions are bad in most cases but only we can find true happiness in our selves and ultimately honor it. It may make others uncomfortable, sad, elated or even mad but it is not their soul to be concerned of, it is your own light you are responsible for lighting. If those in life condemn you for wanting to radiate true happiness at your frequency, then they need not be in your life and are teachers of the best kind and again, goes back to their own insecurities and fear based thought processes. My hope is that we all take time to know true happiness, what gives us this gift and set ourselves free to fly honoring its gift of freedom. It spills into everything we do and every life we can then touch positively. Those smiles we wear on our faces then become larger and even more true, becoming the best gifts to share with the world! Here’s to knowing TRUE happiness, complimenting life’s gift of happiness…not complicating it!

Throttle Up!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours! I am filled with so much gratitude for all of your support of Throttlegirl and our mission! As we sit around the table feasting, enjoying the company of loved ones, I ask you to please take a moment to honor those who may not be as fortunate. I ask that we give thanks and honor the gifts presented in our lives, as well as the challenges we have encountered. There is a gift in all experiences had, the good times and the trying times, let’s not take them for granted and give thanks for the lessons hopefully learned. Let us give thanks to the people who have come into our lives, all of them and yes…even to those who have left. We are mere travelers on the road of life, let us all be thankful for making the most of our journey by honoring our true selves. Fill your heart with compassion and gratitude, sending it out, giving it freely to everyone this Thanksgiving. A very special holiday…I am grateful for the gift of all of your light! We indeed all have so much to be thankful for! One grateful Throttlegirl here, much love and light to you all!

Throttlegirl Rally Wear

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That’s right folks! Just uploaded and launched the new logos and lines for the Throttlegirl Road Warrior and Rally Wear Merchandise! Some of you are already sporting the new items as we first had them available at the Throttlegirl Street Vibrations Booth in Reno Nevada. I don’t want to limit the support to just women’s wear so we designed a few options for men, of course women can sport these too! Even our Future Throttlegirl’s are included in options, after all it’s never to early to set a great example! I hope you enjoy and wear your TG Rally Wear proud, together we do make positive differences. When you wear Throttlegirl Rally Wear, you claim proudly that you support the cause and are dedicated to Riding with Cause. Perfect timing for the Holidays too! Sure, a nice shining rock to wear is nice but cruising down the road grabbing your eternal throttle is way better…if you ask me! Call me a simple, positive, forward thinking lady…and I’ll take it. It’s not what we have in our pockets that make us rich. It is the ability to give away the gift of our hearts with compassion and tolerance. Throttlegirl Rally Wear goes to doing just that. So wear it proud, wear it often, tell your friends about what we are set out to do and grab the eternal and literal throttle of life! Oh, and please send us pictures of you wearing TG Rally wear and we’ll post ya on our site and social media! Who knows, you could even win more TG Merch in the future for doing so! Throttle Up my fellow Road Warriors!

Off to the American Legends Motorcycle Rally in South Carolina!

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Packing up for Irmo, South Carolina to support and have fun at the American Legends Motorcycle Rally!  So incredibly excited for this event as it is the first of many to come as a newly sanctioned sport in the family of the AMA.  Packing up and heading out tomorrow in the wee hours of the morning!  I’ll keep you posted, there is a great amount of support for Throttlegirl in South Carolina and I can’t wait to share all the amazing people, companies and experiences that lead to further carrying the TG torch!  I’ll be there filming so make sure you swing by and say hello if you’re in the area!  Throttle Up!

For more information on the American Legends Motorcycle Rally check out: http://legendsrally.com/

2012 Street Vibrations is a wrap!

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I am so incredibly inspired by all the amazing people that came by the Throttlegirl booth to meet me personally and tell me about their stories of overcoming adversity and nominate their favorite charities and people who make a difference in their communities.  We all have a story to tell that warms the heart and by hearing of your experiences I am humbled and moved.  We live in a beautiful world full of generosity, it is time to highlight and reward the positivity.  So many people bought Throttlegirl Rally Wear and will be wearing it proudly, you’ll often hear me say grab your Throttle, Throttle Up or some variation of it.  While indeed I am fortunate enough to ride my motorcycle carrying my torch, we all have an eternal throttle and after this past week at Street Vibes in Reno, I am fired up to meet so many that are grabbing theirs!  You made me one happy Throttlegirl, thanks for inspiring me!  Lastly, to Chester’s Reno Harley Davidson in Reno, NV…Thank you for having Throttlegirl and supporting the movement of Rallying All to Rise as One!

The Throttlegirl Team- TG D, Throttlegirl and TG Mel!

Welcome to the official Throttlegirl blog!

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The Throttlegirl website has officially been launched and thus, my very first blog! While still being developed, the website promises to be chalked full amazing interactive fun and will constantly be evolving on a daily basis! Can’t wait to share all the surprises and developments we have in store! I am so incredibly excited and humbled to have such an amazing forum and opportunity to be able to carry my message of hope, inspiration and motivation from my beloved motorcycle.

Sharing my experiences along the way, it ‘s my goal to promote the goodness in this world and in doing so, share smiles, make laughing contagious and take names living life to its fullest all along the way! You’ll also be hearing from “Moto Melissa” as she is often my eyes, ears and finishes my sentences often. Sharing our takes and perception on events and happenings compliment each other so well…she is a witty woman that Moto Mel, always keeping those around her, and me, on their toes! I love sharing the adventures with her, I hope you do to!

Join us on the road of life either literally, here on our blog, on Throttlegirl WebTV, FB, Twitter or on the Throttlegirl website…anywhere and everywhere my friends! We have a big message to promote and I look forward to seeing you grab your throttle of life and help catty this message with me, this is only just the beginning! THROTTLE UP here we go!!!!!