I thought we should set up a thread for VolatileVFR so that members can donate money and or items to help him recover from the horrible fire that destroyed his apartment recently. Maybe we can all give up buying gear for our own bikes for one month and help him in this time of need. Most all of his personal items were destroyed as you can tell by the pictures he posted recently.
He mentioned that he can post up a list of items as well. Hopefully we will hear back from him soon and get his contact information so that we can help him out.
I sent him a PM asking for sizes. I have some extra gear with very little use on it that I can send him. I had an apartment hit by a tornado and know what it feels like to have nothing. I had renters insurance but it still sucked. sad.gif
I received a PM from him stating he needed jacket, pants, gloves, and boots. His Arai Hayden replica survived, a bright spot for sure. The boots are a 9.5-10 and I think I have those covered. His jacket was a 42-44 Joe Rocket, I have a large First Gear so I think I might have that covered as well. Gloves are a medium or large, he said either fit well. I didn't see a pant size in the PM. I will let you guys know what else I hear from him. smile.gif
bluedragon, Mar 13 2006, 10:25 AMok well how do i get him these gloves? blink.gif
The poor guy is going through so much he didn't send me an address. goofy.gif Shoot him a PM and I'm sure he will give it to you or if he sends it to me I will send it to you. smile.gif
baileyrock, Mar 13 2006, 11:15 AMSounds like money would be the biggest help, I will see if HS willl let us set up a Paypal domation link.
That would be great to be able to quickly get him some cash in his Paypal account and to be able to get in touch with him so that we can get ahold of that list as well.
Does anyone have some pants for him? I would hate to see him riding around in shorts like Fixer. tongue.gif He said his leather size is 42-44 I'm guessing that would be a waist size of 32-34? unsure.gif
He has told me that he wears 32-33 waist and 30 length. His fiance is out clothing and belongings too. Hopefully there are some ladies and sig-o's on the board that can help her out as well.
Wow... It is amazing what gets started behind the scenes all the while a person is working at his highest speed just to understand what has happened and trying to get back up from the knockout...
Well, to start off, I am actually on a time frame on this computer, since I have lost my means of talking on VFRD in my own residence. A friend let me borrow his laptop yesterday, but it turns out he needed it back at about midday today for an employee going out of town.. Perfect...
Quick catch up and 'briefing' for those new to my last week in 'as close to hell as possible'... heh...
My fiancee bought us both Aerosmith tickets for Valentine's Day... The concert was scheduled for this past Saturday in Pensacola, an hopur away from my home. We decide to go early, check in to our hotel and make a great day of it. We sat on the water, ate a great lunch, sipped a few margaritas, and prepped ourselves for our out-of-town venture back into our past. We check-in to this beautiful hotel (she bought tickets, I took the hotel smile.gif ) and hang out for about 45 minutes. 45 minutes into our stay in Pensacola (around 3:45 PM now), the guy at the front desk calls... "Yes sir, are you the to that are here for the concert??...Oh, well, I just checked teh website...It is cancelled.." huh.gif Ummm, !#!%$ .. Ok, so we decide to stay in Pensacola and have a nice 'vacation' of a night. We had some drinks and appetizers at a local restaurant and downed a bottle of wine (Bonefish Grill). We arrive back at the hotel a bit later, and, as neither of us really smoke, my fiancee has ALWAYS wanted to smoke a cigar.. We indulged and I bought a really nice cigar lighter and two very nice cigars... Fast forward a coupe of hours... It is now 12:45AM... A friend calls me from work and says "Hey Michael, My father just called and told me either your building or a building close by is on fire"... Bewilderment at this point... I call the emergency line at my apt complex, talk to the owner, and yes, a blazing fire nonetheless... "Umm, Denise (the owner), my dog is still inside!!"
It is now 1:37AM.... I made the hour trip in close to 25-30 minutes!! I find out the firefighters were scared of my 20 pound HUGE dachsund wiener dog!! !@$!%$ Two hours later I am allowed to walk in my NASTY rain forest of an apt. and call for my dog. I hear her tail beating on the wall as she hears my voice...but, no Lilly... I venture back into the master bedroom , peek into the walk-in closet, and like a rocket, she dives into my chest clenching with all her might to hold on... She was so scared!!
4:30 AM... The apt. complex has NO protocol for this situation... We end up in the apt. model for the night with another now homeless DJ. Very nice... He is like that guy with the hat turned sideways and walking the 'crutch-walk'...Awesome...
6:30 AM... 2 hours of no sleep later, we head down to see what is left, and what the outcome is.... the stench is unimagineable!! All is ruined... EXCEPT, my TV is not even Wet!!! WOw!! No bed, no sofas, no furniture, coffe tables, side tables, no dining room table, NOTHING!! However, in the distant light, a beautiful glow of red and some graphics show through the moky mist... ARAI!! Nicky Hayden replica still lives!! It was like the one muscle still left, still fighting, still saying 'Back OFF!! I belong on a Veee Four!!"...
Currently.... Due to the saturated realty and rental market in Mobile from all the Katrina survivers moving over here, there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING available. Ik have a feeling what we do find and have to settle on will either be a very dangerous environment for my fiancee, myself, and my VFR...OR...it will be one of those deep pocket digging residences available only to those with deep pockets...
That will be the start to my story of a romantic evening for now... More to come in the next 24 hrs. seeing as to the fact that my time has ended on this computer... Thank you all for the kind concerns and the help that you have already done!! Although I called this 'as close to hell as possible', do not misunderstand that I have been very positive through this whole scene of events. The past 6 months have been the most challenging I have had to endure yet... Katrina knocked me into unemployment for approximately 3-4 months... A week after Katrina my father was diagnosed with a malignant and terminal brain cancer that has proven to be VERY aggressive and fast spreading... And now, Fire has struck my own personal life as close as possible... I think by now I have built a nice wall for myself and no challenge will ever have its claim to fame on me...
There has been too much involved in this whole situation ... I will explain this in my next post.. that is, the cause, the reasoning, and what the complex is doing about the fire and its victims...
Thank you again to all!!!
Michael Harris
INFO requested:
Address: 6700 Wall St Apt. 1C Mobile, AL 36695 (temporary address, but I should be here for AT LEAST 2-4 more weeks if not more...)
Paypal: gtmtnman@comcast.net
As I mentioned to Kevin, I have never received payment via paypal.. I assume it is just as easy, but my curiosity is how to make sure payment goes to my bank account rather than the credit cards I have on the acount...
Priorities: Need a place of residence, therefore, application fees, security deposits, pet fees, deposits, etc etc... Need something to actually put in the residence..heh... Although my inflatable air mattress just may have to work for a while... smile.gif School books are going to have to be a necessity... this is mylast semester and I am doing evrything i can to graduate and get my degree for my father.. this is one of his dreams, and I take a lot of pride in it.... with exception to Mr. Arai, all gear was eaten.. It seems I have help with possibly gloves, boots and a jacket... Awesome Awesome!!
Thanks to everyone... Time has been overwhelmed...the computer is slowly zapping my fingers...
Paypal is really pretty easy to use. The only bummer is that they will skim a few percent from everyone who sends a donation. I just sent you a donation, and I'm sure others here will follow suit. Stories like this just remind me how lucky I am. I'm too big and fat to help with clothes, so hopefully the cash will help with other crap (like new books). Do whatever you have to do to get that degree.
You should be able to send the money from the Paypal account to your bank account (for free I think) in 2-3 days. The money will stay in your Paypal account until you do something with it. I don't think it will automatically go to a credit card.
Let's keep this thread bumped up so that returning members can see it in the latest postings on the home page. Sounds like Michael has had his share of troubles losing his job to the hurricane, his father very ill, now the fire, trying to finish school.
Try to dig deep with your donations to help him out as much as we can.
I can fit your bike in my garage if we have to, while you figure out what gives. I would think the apt complex would not worry about forcing you out of your garage at this point, but......
You know where I am at. My garage may not be very convenient, but its secure! Call me, you know the number! 24-7.....
Let me know some info on your GF's needs to, I might be able to get some stuff through some friends & work.
VFR Listees:
If you need to send stuff to Michael and his getting mail maybe an issue, I live in Mobile across the bay about 12 miles from his apt. He knows where I live and if you need to send packages or stuff here to my place, I can help. Send to
Michael - C/O L. Tieszen 912 Van Ave Apt 1533 Daphne, AL 36526
I have not been able to get him this weekend, we were playing phone tag. I know he is trying to work and handle school thru all this too.
There are 6900 members here. Granted, not all are active, and not all have the means or the inclination to help. But if everybody who is a "regular member" (and we know who we are) and/or anybody who has ever benefited from info posted on this forum can kick just a few measley bucks towards helping Volatile's predicament, the combined funds could really help a brother out. And I can vouch that Mike is a square guy. Yaknow...he was within a whisker of riding all the way from Mobil to Jax, just to join our 6 hour Okeefenokee Swamp Ride last January. I was gonna put him up, but some of these other problems kinda made him reconsider doing it, understandably.
Now, I'm basically a greedy prick that never donates anything to anybody. Ebeneezer Scrooge is my role model. wink.gif So, I'm not asking you guys to dig deep into your pockets.....but you can certainly sent a few bucks Mike's way, eh?
Oh...you don't have PayPal? It takes just a few minutes, plus a couple days to confirm the whole thing with your bank and then transfer funds from your bank, etc. But, PayPal is GREAT for internet buying (ask me how I know this!) as it's safe, fast and easy. So, do Mike a little favor, and do yourself a bigger favor and get PayPal. Hell, send a few bucks cash in the mail if you wanna go that route. C'mon, guys.
Hey! Anybody wanna buy my GenMars for a 5th Gen? $85, delivered. The only catch is.....you gotta send the money to Volatile, not me.
Mike--Your funds in PayPal are "remote" from all other monies and accounts you might have. It's like a piggybank sitting on the internet...no attachment to your bank unless YOU move the funds one way or the other via prearranged channels that were set up when you open the Pal account. So, no worries.
My donation was small. Lots wrapped-up into life. I Would like to go more.
I have a liquid asset to part with. A BRAND SPANKING NEW Z.G. Double bubble, for a 6th gen. It's out of the package, but never used. Not once! Would like to get $80.00 out of it. (paid 99). Figured this would be a good opportunity to get it out of my house. P.M. me, I'll "give", (I'll cover shipping), it to the highest bidder, while the, "winner", sends proceeds to Michael. Sorry I'm so poor, I figured this would be a way to get top dollar, and help a brother in need. fing02.gif Any bites?
Trace beat me to the punch. LOL. not only am I poor, I type slow too.... LOFL! Keep in mind Mike, If we get burned-out, we're comming to live with you. LOL.
I have a summer weight Black & Silver Power Trip jacket w/ liner hanging in the closet, it's barely 6 mos old. I only wore it a few times before I got my JR. Its yours, come & get it!
this is freakin fun! gives me a warmfuzzy! come on everyone! it makes you feel good! ima send a little extra in with the gloves. VFR owners=step above the rest.
Trace, Mar 13 2006, 11:17 PMNow, I'm basically a greedy prick that never donates anything to anybody. Ebeneezer Scrooge is my role model. wink.gif So, I'm not asking you guys to dig deep into your pockets.....but you can certainly sent a few bucks Mike's way, eh?
+1.gif To pick up on Trace's point, we should also remember that it's tax season and those of us destined to receive in the range of modest to generous refund amounts may want to consider sharing some of it with Mike and his fiance...mine is due any day now.
Snip Currently.... Due to the saturated realty and rental market in Mobile from all the Katrina survivers moving over here, there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING available. Ik have a feeling what we do find and have to settle on will either be a very dangerous environment for my fiancee, myself, and my VFR...OR...it will be one of those deep pocket digging residences available only to those with deep pockets...
Snip Priorities: Need a place of residence, therefore, application fees, security deposits, pet fees, deposits, etc etc... Need something to actually put in the residence..heh... Although my inflatable air mattress just may have to work for a while... smile.gif School books are going to have to be a necessity... this is mylast semester and I am doing evrything i can to graduate and get my degree for my father.. this is one of his dreams, and I take a lot of pride in it.... with exception to Mr. Arai, all gear was eaten.. It seems I have help with possibly gloves, boots and a jacket... Awesome Awesome!! Snip
I have family and friends in Daphne. I can ask them about possible rentals if the eastern shore is not too far for you. In the mean time, I'll send a donation to help with those books. Hang in there!
Don't forget, Michael & his GF could probably use stuff from Walmart, Home Depot, Sears, etc. So next time you are doing your routine shopping, and extra $5, $10 or $20 gift card can help to work wonders too! Easy to mail! Can be bought in his name also! Just another idea on helping.....
Michael, hopefully that'll help! Not sure what state your electronics are in, but I've got a friend with numerous Laser printers, let me know if I can help....
I will be posting a bit more later, but I realy wanted to express my gratitude to all. Just to reiterate, I currently do not have a computer, so I am checking the site as much as possible via library and friends' computers. I am just beyond amazement at how much you all are helping a fellow Viffer in need.
To make my point and not to establish the pity factor, but now, due to my dad's brain cancer and huge expenses with ongoing chemotherapy and his research drug from Abbott Labs, in conjunction with UAB, I will be able to make sure they do not take money out of their expenses and try to send it my way. That really means a lot to me, fellow VFR community!!
Trace, Mar 13 2006, 08:17 PMHey! Anybody wanna buy my GenMars for a 5th Gen? $85, delivered. The only catch is.....you gotta send the money to Volatile, not me.
End of thread · 50 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 5 May 2006