Website Additions and Deb's Progress

I've finished posting the "Sturgis 08" picks (go to Fine Art Galleries > Sturgis 08). I added about 300 images to the gallery. We had lots of great photos so it was hard even to narrow it down to 300. Eventually, some will be replaced with new pics so check the gallery often.

NOTE: Our "Event Pics" gallery link takes you to a site where we post all of our event photos. They are unedited and uploaded just as they came out of our cameras. The "Fine Art Galleries" link take you to our favorite photos from various shoots. These photos have been edited individually, color corrected, and some have PS effects added. These are art quality photos. If you are looking for a photo of yourself at a rally, check the "Event Pics." If you are looking for some of our most interesting photos of print quality, go to "Fine Art Galleries."

On a different note, Deb continues to recover and is able to get around now with both a wheel chair and crutches. We're hoping she'll begin to walk again sometime in November. The docs say her leg will never be the same again and she will most likely have chronic pain. She most likely will have limited use of that leg. And yes, the a**hole who hit her has now filed a lawsuit against her. After nearly killing her, he has the balls to sue her for "damage" to his bike. I have a lot to say about this but unfortunately I have to be careful what I say now that there is a lawsuit in progress. Nonetheless, I hope this guy can sleep at night. As I said before, this guy is no biker. A cheap wanna be who can't handle his bike and who thinks all he has to do is ride a bike at Sturgis to become a biker. If he wants to know what it takes to be a biker, he should have a little concern for the person he almost killed rather than inflicting further injury on Deb with a lawsuit.

I've said this before, but I want to say thanks again to all the people who have expressed their concern and wished Deb well. We've gotten lots of help and offers of help. There is no way we could ever repay those who have helped us. We shoot lots of charity rides and donate to various charities and biker organizations throughout the year and will continue to do so. We never expected we would be on the receiving end of others help. Thanks to all.

We especially want to thank Bob Davis of Sturgis Bike Week. In addition to running his business (you are probably familiar with the Sturgis Bike Week t-shirts) he has driven from Sturgis to Bismarck every weekend to cover Deb's wedding photography for her. This usually involves 1 or 2 weddings per weekend and about 10 - 14 hours of shooting per wedding. Bob is not only a fine photographer but a GREAT guy and friend. We cannot thank him enough. Make sure you check out Sturgis Bike Week website.

Another Update

Deb continues to recover at home. Doesn't look like she'll be shooting any bike events for a while. Dr. says she won't be walking for another 3 months. I'll continue to pick up the slack until she's back on her feet again. We did, however, miss one one of our favorite events last weekend. We've been shooting the Minnesota ABATE Rally for a number of years but of course couldn't make it this year. We look forward to going back next year. Deb also missed a couple of days shooting the 105th in Milwaukee. Guess we'll have to wait five years to make up for that.

We continue to have shots published in magazines. Several published in next months's In the Wind and a bike spread in American Cycle Magazine. Those are always welcomed but in light of all the hospital bills and loss of income, it doesn't make up the difference. I have a much better understanding now about the need for health care reform in this country. One accident can completely wipe out a family's assests.

Recovering

Deb was released from the hospital in Bismarck and I returned from Chicago to pick her up and bring her back. She is now recovering at our home in Illinois. One thing I've learned is how wheelchair INaccessible the house is. But she is managing and each day getting a little better physically. Psychologically, she is having a hard time adjusting to remaining inactive. It's difficult for someone who was so active to now be confined to a bed and/or wheelchair all day and night.

On a different note, we are adjusting our schedule due to the accident and have had to cancel several shoots. We (I) will be shooting a small ride close to home on Saturday for the Aurora Chamber of Commerece. Deb may be out manning the booth and slideshow after the ride, but certainly not shooting the ride.

Again, I want thank everyone for all they have done and continue to do for us. The offers of help and support have been overwhelming and greatly appreciated. North Dakota ABATE, Greg Zook (who holds the record for the most phone calls asking how Deb is doing), Nancy and countless others were all there when we needed support. It's nice to know that good people still exist.

More Surgery

Deb came through her second surgery well. The surgery reconstructed her lower knee by putting in plates and screws to reattach the bones to a stable surface. She is going to be laid up for a long time so but at least she will be able to walk again as long and the recovery goes well.

We still have several events to shoot before the major riding season is over. I'll be doing those alone. If she is able, Deb may be sitting at our display but it's going to be a while before she can shoot.

Sturgis Pics

Spending so much time in the hospital has given me plenty of time to work on our pictures from the Sturgis Rally. The unedited files are now up on our proofing site (event pics). We'll now go through them and pic out the best for our Fine Art Gallery > Sturgis Picks. Make sure you come back and check them out. In the meantime, see them all by clicking on "event pics" and go to the Sturgis 2008 Gallery. The proofing site also contains a gallery dedicated to the Sturgis Police. Eventually, we'll take the best and put them into the "Sturgis' Finest" gallery in our Fine Art Gallery section of our main web site.

Progress

Deb is doing much better today and has had many visitors. When she's not talking to friends and family, she is working on her laptop, rearranging appointments, and yes, working on booking future weddings and portraits. She is already planning a trip back to Chicago to shoot a motorcycle ride with me in a few weeks. Of course, all this is dependent on the surgery she has tomorrow to try and reconstruct the bones connected to her lower knee. It appears the swelling has gone down enough for them to begin the procedure tomorrow morning. The doctors say it will be a long recovery, but knowing Deb, if the docs says 6 months then it will probably be 2 months for her. Hopefully, everything will go well tomorrow. . . .

Additional Info

First Deb's progress: She had her first surgery on her knee yesterday which was a prep for future surgery hopefully on Monday. A device was screwed into her upper and lower leg bones to stabilize the leg and hopefully reduce swelling. They will attempt to reconstruct the knee on Monday. She's doing OK but very upset about missing her work and other recent developments regarding the accident.

The state of South Dakota has charged her with disorderly conduct and she has to make a court appearance early in September (like she's going to able to do that). Additionally, according to the insurance company, the "honorable" ex-cop who hit her is planning on filing a law suit against Deb, apparently to recover the cost of a highway peg that was damaged when he hit her. . . Can this get anymore bizarre? What is wrong with people? I honestly don't know how this guy can sleep at night. I'm sure his mind is so clogged with thoughts about that damaged footpeg, that it's keeping him up at night. Poor guy. Maybe I should organize a benefit for him and collect highway pegs from other bikers and send them to him. Maybe it will give him some peace knowing that we too are concerned for the condition of his peg and hope for a speedy replacement. Maybe then he could have some concern for the person he almost killed.