Good in shed...

So my holiday time was spent (and I'm still spending or rather projecting spending...) building a shed for the bikes:







Winging it takes time, but then I fly by the seat of my pants so hold on!
Thanks to Mag the Tool Gal, a master of the pun and tape measure...

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Update, for Doohickie who asked for a DIY, here's some links to the sites that I got my design (mostly) from.

http://www.homeenvy.com/db/6/86.html

http://www.southernpine.com/diyplans.shtml

Basically I came up with my own dimensions based on what I thought I'd need for 3-4 bikes by simply placing them on a tile floor and counting the tiles. I left out the front brace to facilitate easy bike entry (but makes squaring up the frame rather difficult).

When trucking lumber home in an Elantra Hatchback, 2x4's and such can slide in fine and may stick out. But plywood is another matter. I had to have it all cut up to suit both the shed and what will fit into the car. It was a bit of a pain but it all worked. I did have to go back in with a couple of pieces to have them cut again...

Measure 5 times and cut once... okay twice, but make the first cut on the other side of the line.

Santa's Coming Tonight!

Slackin' off...

Yeah as the title says, I've been slackin' off in the riding dept. I guess I could give the usual reasons; It's been cold, rainy (true), I hurt my knee, I need to get another stem for the LeMond and a fit, I've had issues keeping the tubes airtight... All legit reasons mind you save for the fact that I own 4 bikes and if I can't ride outside I can hit the gym at work and spin (4 machines but only 1 works right). Bah!

What gives then?

Have I reached the plateau of challenging myself and now I'm using any reason to keep from riding? Or am I overwhelmed with other things that I need to tend to more so than riding? Or is it some of all of the aforementioned?

Me thinks that's the cause. After 5 months of steady riding, things have caught up and need attention around me including myself and the bikes. Time to refocus.

Full commute

OK this time it was for real, I rode the bike to work and from work. Getting there is easy as cake, one reason: Few cars to consider. The ride home however is fraught with cagers coming from all directions and all wanting the same thing, to be home themselves.

I did improve my lighting rig with higher lumen flashlight by Coleman and scoring a great mount from Todson. I also got some fleece lined gloves, which worked so well I needed to change to the normal pair halfway there.

More blinkies are desired for the rear of the bike to create greater visibility. Word has it the 99 cent stores may have a decent option for 99 cents...

Second commute...

Rode in today and being that it's a workday it counts more so than Sunday's ride. I did however drive home... in the Co-worker's truck. We borrowed it to move an entertainment center after work.

The ride was chilly and became foggy once I reached the first descent on Genesee. That cleared up on the other side but picked up when I got into the UCSD area. My hands got a bit too cold and I almost lost my light, it slipped out of it's mooring halfway along. And of course I forgot my ID badge... in my car! Had to get a temp from security.

I felt great afterwards and for most of the rest of the day, yay cycling!

I do think it's time to get a proper fit on the LeMond, I've been getting by on using the Kona as a template for adjustments, which may be an OK starting place but I feel I need to have a fine tuning.

First bike commute...

It came down to this: I had to work this weekend and I also wanted to ride more than a few miles on the new addition to the stable (tho I've been riding at lunch on it...). Saturday was a non starter there are too many other things to do and then try and fit those 1 or 2 extra things in so Sunday seemed the logical choice, only thing is Laurie works at 11:30 so I need to be back home before then. And the job I'm doing will take around 3-4 hours to complete.

So I leave at 5am because it'll take about an hour to get to Torrey Pines from home (1:06 including a victory lap around bldg 7).

My first stop was going to be the local 'Bux since on most days they open @5, not on Sundays, so I roll on. I stop at the Coffee Bean on my way, nope no sign of life there. Hmmmm think, think, think... Oh yeah there's one across from UTC mall. yeah it'll be open by the time I get there (5:45) nope, they open at 6. Dayum, next one is back down Nobel close to UCSD, they'll be open so I head that way. I remember the Peet's on the other side of the street from the 'Bux in the other shopping center and since it's on the side I'm riding on they will get my business, if they're open that is and they are, so excellent I caffeinate and move on and ride through UCSD and on to work.

So here are my observations:

1. I need to get a better headlight.

The Mini-Maglight I velcro'd to the stem is a good idea in theory but not so in practice. It was cheap (free save for the LED replacement I installed), but it's only attribute is that of providing me with visibility to others, it does little to give me much in the way of road illumination. Maybe mounting it lower onto the forks would be better, or just a higher lumen headlight.

2. The canyons get cold, real cold.

I knew this would happen so I wore a Merino wool sweater with a white tee shirt over it as well as a skull cap to keep me ears warm and I brought a backpack along with my street wear and so I could ditch the cold gear on the ride back, which will be blazing hot today... Oh and I'm sure the backpack will suck riding home in the heat, but oh well it's handy to carry stuff in for the ride. Oh and conversely office buildings tend to throw off some heat from the HVAC system. Nice...

3. Cars are your enemy, and they're your friend sometimes.

It's nice to have car headlights light up you ride at 5am.

4. Descents...

With regards to item #1, since I couldn't really get a good idea of what lay ahead, I took it real easy down all the hills, Genesee from Clairemont Mesa Bl through the 52 interchange is a bit long and steep, with most of the speed picking up towards the end due to an increase in slope, so ass back, easy on the grip and mind those binders.

So I lit out of work @ 10:30 and take a different route home. It's flatter and has less cross traffic (read lights) and not that much more distance wise. It was hot... H... O... T... hot! But oh well I can't dwell on that minor issue, just make sure I'm hydrated and I carry on.

I would have taken more pics but I was under a time crunch and couldn't fit that in along the way. I did stop for one shot though...





All in all, not a bad commute, more cars than I thought for a early Sunday morning.

Idyllwild

This past weekend the Mrs. and I drove up to the loverly mountain community of Idyllwild for a romantic anniversary getaway. We stayed at the Creekstone Inn - a rustic, yet swank structure with nice views of Tahquitz peak -







We had great weather on Saturday as we strolled (hiked...) around town and visited a few of the nature spots in the area like the petroglyphs just a stone's throw (groan...) from our room.



Sunday was hit with fog, rain and then hail as we sat and ate at the Red Kettle.



It was 38º with a nice wind to blow the chill right through you, I didn't bring much in the way of cold weather gear, so I suffered a bit waiting outside for a table, Laurie OTOH had the brains to buy a nice Pea coat from Penny's and brought that along. We ran into a co-worker of mine there and chatted a bit, we had also run into a customer of Laurie's from the restaurant the night before at dinner. Strange meeting people you know in far flung places...

New steed in the barn...

Well I sprung for a geared bike... I decided it was time and since I had some dosh scraped together hidden under a mattress for the job I looked around and decided on a older LeMond Zurich.

It's more than my abilities in a way, but it spoke to me and screamed my name. I only wish it would have told me that the headset needed work before I exchanged cash with the previous owner, but after a $115 repair bill it's lesson learned to scrutinize things to a much higher degree than I'm used to doing and adjust the offer to suit the situation with this in mind. Oh well so it goes...

I've got some Crank Bros Quattros on it that I found used and I'm rocking some nice Cannondale shoes I got for 50% off, now I need some spandex to complete my kit... lol!

The Zurich is a different ride than the Kona for sure, it's twitchier and also gives one the feeling of speed. Being a steel frame it rolls pretty smooth and has a nice overall feel to it, I just need to spend some time in the saddle to really get to know it better, kind of like a women...

Mt Soledad

So on Sunday, I thought I'd climb Mount Soledad. On the bike that is... It's a nice ride but a bit of a climb for a newbie on a singlespeed but I had nothing to lose, so I went for it and 12 or so miles later here I was:


It's about 25 miles round trip and took me 2 hours or so counting the stops I made along the way, one of which was a bike swap meet at Hi-Tech bikes. Who could resist? I had to stop on the way back, just in case I missed anything of course...

My fav part was eyeing the architecture in La Jolla on Soledad. It's all mid century rambling California ranch designs save the occasional oddball box that shoots up out of nowhere looking like the Metabalife corporate HQ or some bad refurb from 1989, or worse the late 90's early 00's when the granite countertop/stainless mentality flooded the rehab scene and everyone decided to obliterate the old with a coat of bland stucco and new double-paned windows...

Some good climbs and descents kept me tight in the saddle and today my gams are letting me know my age just a bit more than usual.

Anyhow, I'll have to include the route on longer trips, especially if I spring for a geared bike.

Tour De Poway...

So on October 5th, 2008 I struck out on the road and headed north by northeast to Poway (about 15 miles...) to ride in the 23rd annual Tour De Poway. There were 5 options in total, 18, 26, 50, 67 and 100 miles and since I'm a relative newbie when it comes to biking and all things velo, I opted for the 26 mile course. The 67 is called a metric century (100km is about 67 miles) and the 100 mile is well a century, it is akin to running a 26 mile marathon I guess. I wasn't ready to ride the longer routes mainly due to the Poway grade that heads into Ramona. It's about 8 to 10% over 3 or so miles and with just one gear to take me where I want to go, I wasn't ready for the workout. Hopefully next year...

I hit the road at 8:10 after fueling up at Starbucks. My route was to take me past Miramar Naval Air Station along Kearney Villa Rd and I noticed some signs indicating that it would be closed to traffic from 1 to 5 because of the airshow. I thought this over and kept on going, because I had made the commitment to commute to the event regardless. This will come into play later... Then I ran into some light rain, so I just forged ahead what has rain ever hurt? It stopped before too long and I dried off quickly. So up Pomerado and over and into Poway I rode, seemed easy enough but the downside of Pomerado looked a bit long and tough for the ride back.



I rolled into the staging area, Old Poway Park around 9:15 or so, checked in and hung out waiting for the start time at 10. A friend (yes you Karen...) joked that she didn't think they'd let any Townies into the ride but I saw some, not the exact make or model but the style nonetheless. So 10 o'clock rolled around and it was go time. I started out somewhere in the middle of the crush I think and felt the need to gain some lead on the others. No it's not a race, but the competitive spirit is always hovering above these kinds of events so a little friendly challenge is present regardless of skill or training. I made my way toward the front and did fairly well considering until the first incline and I fell back some, but did my best to keep up with the pack.



All in all it was a very nice day, not too hot or too windy and I completed the course in about 1:45. Lunch was served, and well received...

After lunch and lounging around a bit and winning a Beatles name that tune contest, I decided to roll on towards home. Now I remembered what lay ahead both on Pomerado and at Kearney Villa. The first just required my resolve and energy, so I drank a Coke before I left. The second required detente, so I thought about what I might say and how I said it. With all that in mind I struck out homeward bound. Pomerado presented itself as I had thought, as bad or worse than Torrey Pines probably worse at the time as I was past my zenith by then. Fortunately the downside was a breeze and I coasted a good bit of the way before my second reckoning.

I came up to the intersection and saw a agent of some description manning his or her post on the other side. I motioned to them to find out if I could get passage but was summarily ignored, so I crossed the street (after waiting forever on the light) and asked them directly. A solid "No" was the answer, no amount of pleading or negotiating made any difference. One gal informed that there was a 15 mile detour, "Yeah I know" was my sarcastic reply. So off I went. I really didn't want to have to ride the extra miles but I had zero choice since I was the one who opted to commute. Miramar was slow going due to a nice headwind and I still had the hills of Genesee to tackle late in the day, but I continued and made it home in one piece, without incident (unlike the last ride lol!). My final mileage? 67...

Adios, Paul...

I guess it's marathon time, with lots of popcorn and salad. Thanks for giving of yourself and letting us enjoy the fruits of your labor. I bet it was a grand ride, I'll take the advice on the planning and I'll knock back a few beers in your honor later. Cheers!

Speaking of milestones...

It's been 3 years since my tumor resection. And I'm cancer free yet again. Hoo Ha!

I get a bi-annual cystoscopy now instead of every 3 months, and before long it'll be an annual thing until I slough off this mortal coil (in the grand style I might add!). For those of you dear readers (all -5 of you...), cystoscopy is the frontal version of a colonoscopy, mmmm fun! I'm kinda glad the last few times the tech has been a woman, because somehow I feel that a woman's touch is well less invasive than a man's, though one of the male techs I was ok with during the procedure, and the doc is a guy so I'm not sure what my deal there is... And who cares really, they see this stuff all the time.

How this all came about was a because of a kidney stone, and in deciding on a proper route to treat the thing, a stent was to be placed in a ureter to let the thing pass. In order to do this, they needed to do a... cystoscopy, and in doing that a bladder tumor was found. Well that had to come out for sure. Thank God for the stone I guess, as bloody painful as it was...

Which reminds me I need to get a blood draw for a PSA test...

Summer's spell will continue...

Ah yes it's been now 3 months since getting the Kona (not officially, that was 4 days ago, I'm just now getting around to posting...), and do I feel the difference. I have more energy, strength and less of a gut. Not that I really had much of one to begin with, but I fit in pants I didn't wear 3 months ago but I bought at some time in the past. I'll have to try the suit I was married in, it stopped fitting right not long after Weston was born.

I think I'll keep this up for the long term.

I have now a something I can do without a problem, save for the fact I want more bikes. And that's a big problem, not only is it a money thing but more so a storage thing. With 4 bikes of various sizes in the house at any given time, the wife is scheming to make them invisible or at least least obtrusive. Adding one or 2 more would send her over the top I think, rather I know... But I really want another road bike... Hmmmm what to do, want to do...

Aftermath...

A quick pic of the leg and hand for your viewing pleasure...




















The swelling has gone down and I think I'll live lol...

Bike the Bay

So it's been awhile since the last post and I must say that my body is responding to the challenge I set forth almost 3 months ago. I see progress, real progress. Granted it's not earth shaking or such, but I see and feel it and that's all that matters. I'm not ever gonna race a bike, but I am going to kick what ass I can and have fun and regain some youthful edge while I'm at it.

So... I decided to sign up for a sponsored bike ride. Woot! Look out here I come folks... But wait we go across the Coronado Bay bridge:


Well I'm just a little afraid of the damn things now aren't I, so I signed up for this and forgot that little bit of my self? Hmmm I'll have to tough it out I guess, I'm sure there will be others in the same boat so get with it man. It's a flat run and the bridge is the only real terrain and obstacle I'd see so I focused on overcoming any issues with the bridge and let the rest be.

Ah yes the rest...

As in hordes of people, of varying ability and gear. Most were roadies in spandex I'd say and many of them weekend warriors (I probably fall into that category sans lycra...). I stood in the staging line chatting with a couple of older guys and had some good laughs with them, then after about 30 minutes of this it was my time to fly...


Although it isn't a race, they are some who feel the need to compete, and that's perfectly natural and sometimes dangerous as we shall see...

The bridge transit was perfectly fine, my efforts at minimizing my phobia had paid off, I only felt a small twinge of fear as I rode over. I maintained focus on my task, I did not look over to the left and kept an eye out for potential wrecks. All was well until mile 8.5...





The problem with large bike rides is the sheer amount of people all going in the same direction on a standard bike path, now if all were of the same or similar mind fine, but this ride had as I mentioned many different riding abilities (mine included...), so the propensity for some to want to break away from the pack(s) is increased. I was in this mindset as well, and it worked... for a while.

I came up upon a small group as I was trailing an older gent on a newish Schwinn road bike that had a squeaky pedal and I was doing a fairly fast clip. I had let him get ahead of me because of the varied clumps of other riders here and there. In front of me was a gal who had someone in front of her. So in perfect form we both decided to pass our obstacles together. I was left with little room save for the rough shoulder to my left. I had just used it before and it was perfect. This looked a bit less so, but I had no choice so I went for it. The problem was I had too much berm to get back up on, and this was my undoing.

I flipped and rolled.

The gal who had been in front of me watched me go down and did say that I had perfect form in doing so, so I am good at something...



That 'gal' turned out to be a real sweetheart and has a name too! Lonna felt terrible feeling she had caused the problem, but I told her otherwise that it was my own poor judgment in speed and conditions that was to blame, not her. She did help me out and sacrificed a bandanna and some water to soothe my wounds. Having no ill will and seeing that her and her friend, Karen were genuinely good folk and avid cyclists, I rode with them both on and off the rest of the way. Karen kicked both our butts on her Electra Townie, a bike of modest design and such but a good inspiration to any and all who just want to ride. Karen is also an evangelist for the bike, she does her best to sell them at any turn regardless of the fact she has no connection to Electra other than product ownership.




Lonna and Karen





So I rode on, what could I do right? Some pain, some gain, why not. Later after a quick sprint to pass a group, I met up with Gary, who was glad that I had just done so as he needed it and was feeling a tad winded because he was on my left the whole time. We chatted about various biking subjects and parted just before the finish line promising to keep an eye out for one another. Which is what these events are about it seems; Camaraderie.

I had one younger gent tell me later I was his hero, because I had only one gear and his 27 couldn't keep him from feeling the pain. To him I say: "In time, my son, in time. Work on it and don't let up. In no time you'll be fit and fine."

As for single gear folk, I saw a handful of fixed gears, one nice chrome Bianchi track bike and no other freewheel single speeds such as I was running. It doesn't surprise me, SS is not hipster and no one thinks of the value of being able to coast on one gear.

Well I do, and it's helped me immensely.

Breaking Away...

Ah yes, I'm sure we all once had dreams of doing something big only to have life bust in and shake us back down to reality. Some never seemed to have that problem and what ever challenged them, they took it on and beat it's ass to a pulp. I once had some kind of dream, I'm not sure what it was anymore but I had one nonetheless.

It didn't have anything to do with biking, but I have always like to ride, and in high school it was the best form of escape for a transplanted Minnesotan during the day. I had the good fortune to have an elective cycling class for PE. So not only could I bike in to school (which had it's own problems...) but then I got to forgo having to play soccer or baseball or run a mile or more, all of which I sucked at doing or plain hated altogether.

I recall a few years later when living in LA riding to visit my girlfriend, because well I didn't drive. I rode from Culver City up and over to Century City. I guess it wasn't enough to save our relationship from the scrapheap of romance though but it was a good effort I think. I stopped riding at that point because I moved to the high desert and riding a bike there made little sense to me at the time.

I eventually moved to the south, was given a beater 10 speed which got stolen , then finally got a car and then a few motorcycles. After I moved back to So Cal and I started working with an avid cyclist did I get a bike and get into it. This lasted until my son was born and then I got rid of the bike and my thighs languished. After a job change and an influx of disposable income did I buy a another bike, but it is a cruiser though and as cool and fun as it is, for what it is it's limited in ability and scope. I also bought it because it looked really cool...

Recently during a doctor visit the nurse found my blood pressure to be a bit high for me (131 over 85 or some such) I also thought that to be a bit high as I thought it used to be more like 115 over 70 or so. So hmmmm I thought I need to take care of that. After thinking about it some and a few people I kind of knew were getting into cycling, I figured I should get a bike and today I did just that since it's Father's Day tomorrow and the wife asked me what I wanted and I told her I wanted a bike. I preempted her of course because I had a good idea of what I wanted. I thought I'd start doing some limited commuting and I bought something suggested for the task. And in total Popeye style, it's a bit on the hipster/rebel side if you would:

It's a singlespeed/fixed gear and it's a work in progress, or should I say that I'm a work in progress... Time will tell and from my short ride today, it'll be a fun challenge.

Currently here at the distillery...

Another one of those "been some time since...' posts. Well I've nothing to say for myself, save the usual indulgent crap littering most blogs and mine as well though I've cleared out the past detritus somewhat so I'll leave that nonsense out today...

Took a look at some property the other day, and my god what is the world thinking with this shit? Overpriced crap even still, it'll be some time before prices adjust to reality and we can take the plunge.

Question of the day: What are you going to do with your tax rebate check?

Me? I'm putting it back in the spot that was dug out after paying taxes.

Good day, carry on...

"You are HEALED!"

Since my last post on the matter, I finally went to a physical therapist to get the elbow sorted out and well, got it all sorted out.

Thank god. Now I can take up fencing or tennis and really give it a proper workout... Yeah right lol

I do need to remember to exercise it though from time to time, like in between masturbation maybe?

Wadda, wadda, wadda whoo...

Been a while since having last posted anything, so here's a bit of nothing to kick the tail end of St Paddy's Day back into Lent.

Jury Duty

So far I've been on for 3 days, tomorrow to be (hopefully) the last, then I can post my thoughts and feelings of the trial, the legal system and jury duty itself.

I think the time has come...

...to forget about motorcycles.

Too many indications have pointed toward not getting a bike than have been toward getting one. And it's as simple as the thought that my son needs me more than I need an alternate mode of transportation. There's that and my elbow. It's not improving and I'm sure that it may never be the same even if I get some treatment other than what I had been doing, which led to the previous post...

Then there's the risk factor for my age group, which since the 90's has been climbing to where it now surpasses the past champion of risk, the 18-25 year olds. Mitigate all you want, but the numbers don't tell lies. I'm sure that I wouldn't be partaking in many of the risk factors that increased the statistics such as drinking, riding at night, riding beyond my ability and hooligan antics, but sometimes you can do all you want and still the blue hair in the Buick or the distracted soccer mom on the cell still crosses your path with disastrous results.

And I think when one is younger, one's reflexes and mental agility are better/sharper/etc, so that handling a bike in an environment such as commuter traffic the earlier one starts the better one has to gain the lifelong skills and knowledge that are a necessity under those circumstances or any other for that matter. I've ridden before, but that was 12 years ago and I only rode for a few years.

Some of what I'd read by riders made a lot of sense when it came to the mental state when riding, and that was if you felt it wasn't for you, then don't push it. Do what your heart and mind are telling you and enjoy what you've got and maybe one day that will change or maybe it won't, it's no big thing life goes on either way.

In the end it was a narcissistic idea to prove to the world I was still a tough and virile male ready for anything the world had to offer or throw at me. Well I guess I'll have to prove it some other way... Stamp collecting???

I love pain

Please bring me some more.

Last Friday saw me in the ER with what turned out to be gastritis. I thought it was an abdominal blockage or a midget stuck in my gut trying to hack himself out with a knife, damn the pain! It was akin to kidney stones but without the shear intensity of stabbing that that ailment brings to the sufferer (and I have been one of them on several occasions).

The nurse gave me a cocktail of Lidocane (numb the surface of the stomach and esophagus), Simethicone (gas), Donigel (Bella Donna- muscle relaxant), some antacid (obvious) and Phenobarbital I think (to relax me?). It worked a charm, wasn't near as bad as the nurse said it would be and I was feeling myself soon after taking it. Yay drugs!

So how I came into this it seems was from extended use of NSAIDs for my elbow. I was using 600mgs of Ibuprofen regularly as well as aspirin on occasion to relieve the pain from this damnable tennis elbow (I haven't played in 30 years...). I had been trying to work the problem through with home remedy, but now I need to let the physicians have their way with me... or at least my elbow.

Now I have to lay off caffeine, spicy foods and booze for awhile. Damn.

Get off my...

Ass.

Tell me, is it me? Or am I just a paranoiac with over active adrenal glands.

Why do women ride my ass and ya know it's not just mine, I see them riding other's asses as well. I just can't figure this out. I see an occasional guy doing this, but mostly the other sex. Guys typically ride your ass then tire quickly of this and just move on. Women on the other hand will ride and ride, like it's a challenge to ride your ass and that they like it or something or it has a purpose like cheese toast or sandals.

'Cause you know, at 65-70 mph, I really like someone sniffing my ass in traffic, it's a comforting feeling like brandy on a cold night with a fire going in the fireplace. Fun like liposuction too.

Women, what the hell is your problem?

L'altra donna

The lure of the Italian opera is calling me again, and I may be near the breaking point and just pull the lever (um watch out for the puns). Damn the torpedoes, full throttle ahead! The biggest issues holding me back are cost and risk factor. The cost I can avoid by getting an clean older example of Bologna's finest, but the risk factor can only be mitigated by proper training and saddle time. I plan on taking the MSF course soon if I make acquisition, then it's riding time again with all the proper gear...

As far as bikes, I'm torn between an older era, low HP model in the Cagiva Alazzurra and a newer somewhat higher HP sport model such as a early 90's 750ss or a 2003 620ss.

Of course the rationale here is all over the map, I like the concept of the Alazzurra as something to get back in the saddle with and learn wrenching bikes all over again, but it's an older model and kinda rare but by all accounts though it's a decent handling bike with modest power and what not. And on the other hand the 750ss looks so damn nice that you want to ride even if you're tethered to an iron lung, but both of these are carbed models which have their high marks and flat spots... now the 620ss is fuel injected and gives one the feeling of needing to hit the road running and not looking back, all the while not having any of the quirks of carbed bikes, of which there can be plenty if one hasn't sorted them out.

I started this back last year with the latest Sport Classic models, but as they are at least 10k and just a wee bit outta my league, that was a non starter. Monsters looked promising, but I'm just not a street fighter. The 620 multistrada had has a really good chance, but the Terblanche styling still kinda rubs me the wrong way, and again the price is a bit more than I felt I could (or should...) hack right now unless purchased used. Both are very good bikes though by all accounts.

Well I guess we'll see how it goes for the next week as the fever builds up in my soul and I need to make a decision...

One can only hope I suppose...

I guess I have something to look forward to...? Not there yet by a long shot, well OK maybe 20 years or so, but it's a start. Hell with some claims of 2-3 times a month I might even have a better one at that point in my life... Hmmm time will tell I reckon. Carry on...

New iMac

And what a change it is, after maxing out the RAM, it's teh snappy as they say especially compared to the old mini. Hopefully it takes me to 2010, ah when we make contact...

Migrating accounts and such was a real gas, I do it so often I forget all the settings and options. At least Apple makes it rather simple.

The new keyboards are interesting, I'm not much of a typist so it seems fine. I type as poorly on this as I did on the previous style KB, actually I think I'm a little faster and confident, maybe it's all in my head. Usually is I've found. It certainly is quieter and less clunky feeling than most, oh the Dell KB at work is positively clunky and wobbly -and it's new.

Now I need to sort out all these hard drives and the data they contain. It's like a virtual garage, basement and attic combined. Thank gawd it's just bits and bytes, I'm still unpacking from the move this past March.

Time for a change...

T-minus some short amount of time and counting... and new keyboards as well... \/\/ øø†!!!!

What a difference a DAC makes...

A DAC, digital analog converter that is...

Let me tell you ladies, if your SO is the least into audio learn these words: Burr-Brown. Speak that to them and they will melt at your very sight (which they should already, but one always should have extra ammo on hand right?) this chips are the holy grail to audiophiles, well mostly... they're the shiznit. If my SO knew them I'd be putty in her arms (as it is I'm mud and cement mostly, but I digress...).

After an arduous install of an Alpine iDA-X001 unit into the daily driver, I remember my youth spent in rapt attention to detail wiring up various tube gear and gingerly rebuilding old tube mics to record real drum sets and upright bass and why sound mattered. But at some point I forgot all this (cough**children**cough) and just decided to go with the flow. Hmmm what was I thinking... Dunno, but I got some of the old spark back and will be diving in for more tomorrow at 5am on the way to work...

So much for that...

Nothing much to report, just that it's the middle of the month and some depression has set in to smooth out my year of self inflicted torture. But damn a guy can hope and dream right? So that I do and go on without much effort or finesse just keep on keeping on as it were without letting on too much or mostly none at all. It wouldn't be good if I did, so I'll just keep it to myself.

Goddammit, what ever happened to hopes and dreams? Where'd that shit get off to anyhow???

"Middle age gotcha boy, that's all...An' it aint' probably comin' back anyhow." said the old negro woman selling crab cakes on the pier, sweating it out in the hot, salty coastal Georgia sun with her crusted feet in flip flops, setting aside an old styro container full of crabs and all waiting for someone to revive her from the surf and sand induced catatonic state so as to maybe buy some crabs. Then everyone could all go home and enjoy the day somehow, somewhere and someway.

Weekend wrap up...

So what's in the news... iPhone, iPhone, iPhone, rainstorms, iPhone, iPhone, more terror in Britain, iPhone, iPhone... I'll just ask you to use your imagination instead of me attempting some foolish analysis that inevitably falls short of the mark. Enjoy the holiday weekend.

Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam...

Ah it's that time again blog fans (are there any here today, yesterday, anyday...?) for Spamcetera! Here's the latest and greatest:

Good Day,

My name is Mr Feng Zhao,an external auditor for the United Overseas Bank,Singapore,working as part of a bigger team that
covers the entire Asian region.

An investor died without naming a next of kin to his fund in my bank.The amount is $15.7M and banking regulation/legislation in
Singapore demand that i notify the fiscal authorities after three years.The above set of facts underscores my reason to seek your
permission to have you stand as the next of kin to the deceased investor.This funds will be approve and release in your favour as
the next of kin if only you will adhere to my instruction and cooperate with me in one accord.

I have all the legal and Banking details of my deceased client that will facilitate our putting you forward as the claimant/beneficiary
of the funds and ultimately transfer of the $15.7M plus interest to any bank account nominated by you.I am prepared to
compensate you with a 20% share of the total funds for your efforts.The final details will be given upon receipt an affirmation of
your desire to participate.

Please contact me through my email private addresses below as time is of the essence in this business.Also endeavor to forward
the underlisted details below to my email address.

I wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.

FULL NAME
DATE OF BIRTH
OCCUPATION
TELEPHONE NUMBER
FAX NUMBER
EMAIL ADDRESS
AND POSTAL ADDRESS

I do expect you prompt response.

Thank you,

Mr. Feng Zhao

Here let me give you that urgently requested personal info so you can deposit all those funds into my account(s) and I can get on with my life and $3m or 20% of nothing...which ever is more realistic...

Here is that info:

FULL NAME: Hugo Z. Hackenbush
DATE OF BIRTH: 06/06/1944
OCCUPATION: Nigerian Scam artiste
TELEPHONE NUMBER: 1.800.555.1212 x666
FAX NUMBER: 1.800.555.1212 x0000
EMAIL ADDRESS: sballmer@microsoft.net
AND POSTAL ADDRESS: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave Washington DC 02121

The object of my desires

Interesting, very interesting. But stupid...

None of this around my HQ, just the "I object to sex um" maybe...

The iBook lover really cracks me up. If you've ever read through any Mac-centric sites or posts about Apple products and then seen what the comments section is filled up with, you'll certainly appreciate this part of the article.

Read on. Me? I'm going to fondle (con-sensually) my iBook.

Vacation plans

It's been almost a year since the last road trip and now I feel the wanderlust building up again. With enough time off saved up I think it's time to venture further out and for a longer period. 2 weeks should be enough to meander through the west and up to the old homestead. Zion, Bryce, Yellowstone, Little Big Horn, Rushmore, Devil's Tower. Ambitious but what the hell, what have I got to lose but gas money and some tire tread.

The thought of car travel doesn't jibe with the SO, soooo... we no go joe. Oh well so it goes...

Out of the blue

...Then out of the blue
Love came rushing in
Out of the sky
Came the sun...

And so out of the blue, there you were again. Not that I'd asked the gods for you to show up unannounced and in fine form. But there you were nonetheless. Those times are gone and whatever remains is all in my head. Oh well so it goes...

So without further adieu I'll let Mr Ferry croon out the rest of this post:

Both ends burning
Burning
Burn
Now my course is plain as day
Running bold across to play
Both ends burning with a strange desire
That feeds the fire in my soul tonight...

Happy Mayday comrade!

Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь!

Sorry you missed the fun Fidel...

Hi Fi, why fi?

So with the visuals having been taken care of (mostly...), the audio had been sadly lacking(non existent), but that has been sorted out for the most part by some wise ( I feel) purchases.

First off I needed speakers and I had thought I'd settled on B&W for that. Well after an audition at an local retailer, I found was wrong. The models I looked at were for the sound quality heard, somewhat overblown and overpriced and given the room I heard them in I was not at all impressed and not interested in spending any money with them for anything at all. So I went looking... I found too many options to keep up with but then a friend offered up a pair of older Boston Acoustics needing a woofer. Easy fix, ordered those up from MCM and now I needed an amp to power them up once the parts arrived.

I was prepared to spend 700 bucks or so and it's easy, if one desires to spend well beyond this amount, so I needed to keep it where I planned. Looking around town yielded little results, but one Friday after work I made my way to a shop close by home and found what I'd seen online. So I dropped the coin on a decent integrated from NAD and some speaker wire (under budget by $300) and sped home to hook it all up. Of course I didn't have anything yet that worked, so I just looked at it and waited...

The following Monday the woofers arrived and without too much ado I installed one of them and AB'd the 2 speakers (stock and modified). Interesting comparison, but in the end useless because I only had one stock and no original replacement and 2 new paper cone woofers with cast frames, shielded magnets and steel phase plugs. The replacements had more clarity in the mids and were smoother overall. The original had more punch in the mids, but that came at the cost of a harsher, cardboardish tonality ( I think the plastic cone was the reason).

All in all a good choice so far of the replacements. The price was right and the fit was pretty close. Some tweeter damping in the 7k area seems to be needed, but I'm partially deaf above 7-10k anyway and the thought of some woofer shims to attempt a simple time alignment has been considered. For now this will have to do to stave off the lust for a pair of B and W Matrix 801's and a Krell or some such...

Boob tube

OK, the flat panel is installed and showing a loverly HD image. After much debate in the corners of my mind and searching for a good deal, I dropped the coin and drove off into the night with a reasonable Toshiba LCD. It's only 32" (I'm confident that the size will take care of the needs, much like something else...) and tunerless but the cable box will take care of that and since it has an HDMI input I can run the digital signal into it and let the DVD run on the component input and clean things up visually.

Now the fun begins with respect to getting stuff (movies, photos...) from the computer onto the screen. I had thought a while back about getting into the HTPC scene, but all of that seemed fraught with compromise and excessive tech-geekery, which is not necessarily beyond me but that I'm not all that interested in all that mess. So Apple has this Apple TV media extender just out and that may suit though it's limited in what video codecs can run though it, but the hacking is rapidly changing all that. But maybe it's still not what I want out of such a device so the HTPC concept hangs out in the back of my mind taunting me with possibilites and promises of better days ahead. Decisions, decisions...

Ah the things we think about to forestall the inevitable sloughing off of the motal coil...

Kiss me I'm Irish mostly German...

...but kiss me anyway you fool.

Yeah so I have an Irish surname, but my grandfather was half Irish and half German (and served in WWI as a translator plus was gassed there by his kind), and his wife was totally German and my mother's family is German, Dutch and French. So while I have a bit of a the old Teutonic touch to me, I still have a romantic penchant for lazily idling my time away while knocking back some whiskey or a black and tan and dreaming of better days ahead.

Beware the Ides Of March...

Funny how the mind is sometimes. Walking from the cafeteria back to the office this morning it felt like it did 30 some years ago when I was a kid in Minneapolis. I don't know why maybe the foggy, overcast sky and the cooler temps mixed with the barren trees gave me that feeling of nature lying in wait, ready to blossom in the spring once the temperatures rose above 40 degrees and the snow and ice receded like a glacier. The feeling engulfs you like a blanket as the senses determine the location, then all in an instant as your conscience recognizes the flood of memories it's gone not to return no matter how hard you pause to reflect and recall them. So it goes, nice as it was...

Numbness in my extremities

Mostly in my psyche... The migration has me at a loss in more ways than one. First off I can't find anything, and second off I'm not sure where anything will go exactly should I find it.

Cable is finally on and I can watch 155 channels of nothing on, buy some pay-for-pr0n, surf the net and dream of a big screen LCD and media center. But alas Time Warner has questionable service with regards to Roadrunner's setup and execute. I don't recall much ado when setting up my Cox accounts but it seems that the login and password T/W provided are not working so I can't setup my email app.

Oh well big deal, there's boxes of shit to unpack, furniture to buy, beer in the fridge and a motorcycle to consider.

Done deal!

The loan is funded - \/\/Ø؆ !!!

Let the moving begin (followed by Miller Time ®)!

The great migration

Ah yes so now the fun begins, addresses both real and virtual must be ordered, created and changed, new phone number and area code and then remember who I should inform of these changes. That's the fun part. Oh yeah ordering up all the necessary services and what not, then getting to know the surroundings.

I did scope out the gas station and grocery store, 2 important suburban life requirements and there's a reasonable looking Italian place in that same mini mall along with a donut shop, independent video store and a host of other stuff that should prove interesting from a reconnaissance angle. I haven't seen any bars or lounges of note yet, but there's plenty of time for that soon enough.

The boxes are piling up at the condo and are eagerly awaiting transport, I am not eagerly waiting to move them though. Does anyone ever enjoy moving? The change is good, but the getting there is sometimes a bear. Last time wasn't too bad and hopefully this one won't be either. And don't be prayin' for rain...

Time to be moving on...

Looks like a northerly direction will be in the cards, and if things don't work out then it's on the buyer's dime not mine. I guess I'll miss the old place and all that came and went with living here. A lot has transpired and a lot of nothing as well. I never made my first million, didn't bag 'The Big One', Haven't won the lottery. I did how ever manage to survive some dismal periods of my life with relative success and came out on top almost without trying. I must be mostly Irish after all...

We tried to recall some of the past residents the other day, some both of us remembered, some only either one of us did, and their cars and habits as well and some we both had a hard time recalling much of anything about that person. Tried to remember the residents at the previous place on Palm as well, funny how time flies and memories fade. A good deal of people that were here when we arrived are still here, still plugging away at life. Some have of course moved on, some have died; Here's to Joe the WWII vet, Arlene and the lady in 24 who the HOA had to place a lien on her place after not paying the HOA fee for some time, and to Richard whom I went to high school with and never met him 'til I moved a few doors down from him. Oh well so it goes.

And after 4 years of being an HOA board member and putting up with the typical crap, I did see the place get painted (oh what a battle for something so simple), the parking lot resurfaced twice (currently ongoing second resurface), new management company (a near disaster), numerous notices to residents, 4 years of Christmas trees in the dumpster after 4 years of notes telling them to do otherwise. New mailboxes and new laundry equipment (of course just as we're leaving the place) thanks to yours truly and plenty of other nonsense that I hope to avoid in my future as a renter.

Also during the past 4 years I have scraped, textured and painted the ceilings. Painted just about every surface at least once. Installed a new stove, dishwasher, AC unit, ceiling fan and kitchen sink. I did not install those low E vinyl frame windows we had discussed very early in our stay or add a washer/dryer area anywhere within the 999 sq feet we called home. I did break a plate glass window in a fit of rage and then paid $66 to have it repaired after removing it and taking it to the place while I waited. And then in another fit I punched a closet door and had to repair that. The key is using expanding foam and Bondo. After it's dried, sand it smooth, primer and paint. You'll never know I lost my temper into that door.

Yeah I guess I'll miss the old place, but I will have my memories and though we'll reminisce from time to time, those too shall fade... Somewhat.

Sacrificial ham for the gods

Oh gods of relocation how might I appeaseth thee?? What? Ok, say nothing you say? Yes oh great and glorious gods of relocation I will truly and absolutely keep my festering gob shut. Thanks...

Back to square one...

Well the Cookie monster dealt the death knell on the deal, by not calling our Realtor back and paying off the assorted escrow fees. Oh well so it goes. Start at the beginning, pass go do not collect $200, whatever the hell... Relisted on Tuesday as a 'just in case', plan B now plan A, and plan C now plan B. Plan B now refi... On a positive note or maybe a not so dim one, the fed probably won't be moving the rate one way or the other so if it comes down to a refi within 3-6 months maybe things will hold together. Oh and maybe the Israelis will keep their pants on about attacking Iran.

Nope...

Jan 5 came and went without the anticipated event, glad I didn't hold my breath... It seems Salvatore bought another house and the loan company wouldn't approve anymore money for him. Putz, thanks.

Maybe the backup will pull through if Cookie gets her shit in line and produces the paperwork in a reasonable time frame. But if it's like the last time around, she'll drag ass and piss us all off in the process. Relisting today as a backup. And if the dump gets no action, refi will be the only course. Oh joy!

Signed, sealed, delivered...

It's yours Sal...

Escrow in motion. Now let's enjoy the season, 'cus when it's over it's Miller time!

Closing time...

Word is Jan 5... Baited breath now, but certainly not holding it.

Holy Space dust Batman!

I always wanted to be an astronaut, but now I have an even stronger reason for wanting such...

Smart, talented and beautiful and all in outer space. Fly me to the moon!

Ok I'm being ridiculously male, but well that's me sometimes. And besides who can resist such a nice smile?

Waiting for Godot, or someone like him.

Hmmm, so the appraiser came by today, things will get interesting now. Can he make the numbers stick/jibe with current trends or am I just foolish enough to feel this whole thing will close escrow soon and we all can get on with our lives and I can buy a motorcycle.

First he has to send his report to the lender, they pass it on to the underwriter, it then goes to someone else and then the escrow company. Oh yeah the appraiser says about 48 hrs to complete his appraisal. I think I'll think about other things for the next week or so.

We shall see, shant we then...

Yes baby, show me the money!

"Sold? Ah jus' a sec, hold yer horses boy. Doan be a countin' them thar eggs b'for they's hatched..."

"But dam it Ah like a doin' that, let's me know if'n Ah will need to git a 6'er or 12'er of Schlitz..."

Signed more papers today, just waiting to open escrow. Yee haw, hell yes!

Ah but wait... Wait!

Dr. Doom has a lot to say about Peak oil (PO) and all that it may, or may not entail. He doesn't deny that it's an inevitable possibility from our demands on the earth's petroleum geology, but he does question the PO dogma and it's proponents and he gives no quarter for he feels that our technological abilities can work to overcome our gluttonous ways. I guess we shall see... or not.

Apocalypse Now?

Right now I'm feeling like a character in a 50's sci-fi/horror flick when the aliens have landed and I must save the ones I love, but kinda like (in essence...) Sophie in Sophie's Choice I'm torn between the ones I love and some greater good.

Peak oil.

Economic breakdown.

Global warming (note first mention of greenhouse effect is 1897!).

Collapse of civilization (as we know it).

Now I'm hep to the jive of worrying too much over things you can't control and just taking a chill pill, but let's face it some things hang in the balance right now and I don't think we're all much too concerned save a few brave, prescient souls who are spearheading the downsizing revolution (well the talking and planning parts, I imagine some actual hard work is being done by some who want to head off well in advance any discomfort by already getting used to discomfort...).

And of course many will scoff, and granted I admit I'm a bit credulous at times and led astray, but I think the reality lies somewhere between heaven and hell and I think John Michael Greer has found that spot. He presents his case in a reasonable manner without too great an alarm and in a lucid and readable form. All I can say is that I hope he is more right than wrong then some of the other gloom and doomers.

Something that does bother me is the amount of plastic(s) we as a society consume/require/put in use etc. Everything has some bit of plastic in it and most if not all of it comes from petroleum. And my god at the plastic crap we bestow upon our children in the form of playtoys, bullshit and otherwise and for what exactly? So they can play and have fun, can't they do this with metal, wood, paper or their minds? Oh no, plastics offer so much more in terms of longevity and stability, so let's just have a polymer orgy shant we?

It's all like sex, how long can this last until you're spent and have nothing left in you? And yes it was fun while it lasted.

The Real Estate analogy

Or rather this piece quite simply, puts in plain english with regards to unlimited growth, expectations and our survival in the face of loss of our perceived notions of what is and isn't society. It's been a fool's game with regards to the Real Estate market here in So Cal and elsewhere. But it seems the sun has affected our mental constitution here to such a degree that we or at least some (many?) of you thought things could continue unabated. Ha, and a big fat one you dopes.

Any way on to the punchline, things all over are in the same mess. And this guy very adroitly spells out in long form (but worth the read) what is and what may just lie ahead.

Make no mistake sports fans, things are not as they seem. Fool yourself into believing 'the same old same' old will prevail but I for one have been changing the trim of my sails. Things are a blowin' in the wind and I'll be goddamned if I know what they are per se, but they will not be 'the same old, same old'...

Wither thou goest

I'm pretty sure we all had in our childhood a friend, a pal, a tag-a-long companion made of fabric and poly fill. I vaguely (oh so vaguely..) recall a floppy hound tan with long, brown ears but this has been 40 years hence so I can't verify the accuracy of this memory. Anyhoo Doodles has a poly fill stuffed companion in the form of a penguin. He goes everywhere, and I mean everywhere, and he is loved. To death practically... But I digress.

Penguin Baby as he is known to us all has made his way to the Georgia, Yosemite, Fisherman's Wharf, Bodie and countless other locales far and wide. And of course he has made a few unscheduled layovers as well. Once in the backpack of the child above us for several days, and was almost returned (by mistake) by his mother to the child's daycare. Whew, close call Penguin Baby. Then there was that junket in the movie theater, fortunately for us we didn't have to resort to our substitution doctrine... Yes thank god for eBay. Since Penguin Baby was a commercial entity, finding a clone was reasonably easy on fleaBay. Doppleganger in hand the wife and I were prepared for any situation, of course now we had to work on our substitution speech but this was a small price and easily reconciled to the larger problem of not having 'the' Penguin Baby.

I did say that he is loved, right and to death? And that it shows? Well a penguin is normally black and white and possibly a touch or 2 of some other colors but the dominant ones being black and white. And penguins love the water right? Not this one. He started out predominantly white and black but as time goes forward he begins to take on a gray and black appearance. Unless of course you wash him, or at a minimum scrub the outside with soap and a sponge.

So this is what I found myself doing this Sunday night. Good god was that guy dingy, so I gave him the once over and sat him in front of a fan to dry. Doodles is always happy to see that Penguin gets a bath, but he never wants to participate or take the initiative to do it hisself it seems. I guess he's content to leave it up to us like so much else about life, why stop at Penguin Baby...

Not again..

Oh well 1st offer fell through, as did another more recent one. Just can't get above the bar on this one it seems. Refi looking high on the board again, but damn it I'd rather cash out and have some funds to work with instead of being in the same place but only less broke at the end of the month... hmm could be worse, could be rainin'. Wait a minute it's threatening to...

Hot again...

So taking less or rather advertising a lower range and offering the bloody moon has gotten the fearful into the place and ready to make offers. We countered one lowball offer today with an equal response, so next week maybe we'll see how the flop plays out with the turn and river cards and where we stand in the deal. Escrow was said to close on the 20th of next month, hmmm 10 days to pack up 4 years of life and find a place after the 17 day backout (or whatever it's called in real estate jargon) period has ended. Can you say 'Rent back'?

The lure of the Italian Opera

Or, I want a Ducati mommy...

The local Ducatistas had their monthly meet up in Little Italy tonight and I felt the urge to go and see all the Italian beauties up close and personal. Ah the sound of the twin and the dry clutch that is a Ducati, truly a symphony for the ears. You can read about it all you want, but to hear it is yet another thing all together. Wonderous indeed.

Grazie Bolonga!

Bring out yer dead!

My home is beginning to become a repository for loved one's ashes... I say beginning because I have only 2 remains at the moment. I wonder when it will increase in number and other loved ones cremains begin to play musical chairs and I'll have to play host to dead people/animals.

My wife's cat's ashes were the first to take up resting here for what seems to be enternity. I thought ashes were either to be placed into some cemetary/resting area for dead loved ones or (preferred...) scattered in some place that the 'loved one' loved to go and such.

'Pepper' was cremated a few years back and has been sitting in a nice white cardboard box waiting for well ah Godot for all I know back behind some books on the bookshelf. We had thought of scattering her back in Georgia, her home state but that is yet (as you know) to happen.

Sooooo.... today my wife informs me that the neighbor's relation has dropped off her (the neighbor) husband's (common law) ashes because he was not able to access her place. But now get this, half of them. His mother wanted them as well, so I guess they decided to do a 50/50 split. And she feels that they need to be placed into her hands without her daughter's knowledge. The thought being that she might be curious and open up the bag containing them. And by the way my neighbor and her mother in law are like this: @#*$^%&!!!

Oh the joy of familial relations.

So now his ashes (or ah half of them...) are sitting not far from Pepper's waiting for delivery, which I hope and will see to it, is tomorrow... God willing of course and I don't find myself in a position to end up on the shelf in a box during the night.

Deja Vu all over again...

Well wouldn't ya know it, but when I was posting my last entry Laurie was talking to the realtor about basically what I was on about! Weird, very weird we never connect in such a fashion, hmmm what does this portend? OK the title of the post doesn't really work properly, but it sounds good...

Should we stay or should we go now...

What's that popping sound?

Ah yes that be the housing market... having had the condo up for sale almost a year now (over a year, but a water leak prevented us from making a solid go of it last year starting in May), few call, fewer come to look and no one is making any offers even though the unit is priced below current average (or so we think...). I had comtemplated on having the carpet pulled and wood flooring done and even installing a big screen TV, but it was pointed to me that regardless of what one is offering, no one seems to really be looking.

It's summer for christ's sake, where is everyone? Hiding out in a safe place from theimpending explosion, that's where. What a bust, we had hoped to have been moved out by this time last year, pocketed our tidy profit set up retirement funds, paid off debts etc, etc but as mentioned a small disaster prevented the unit from being put on the market. Oh well, so it goes and here we are going out of the prime season for sales and back into the doldrums.

Foo... now I gotta consider either taking far less or worse, refinancing and staying put or if the cashflow would work renting it out and breaking even or taking a small loss. Laurie is tired of living here, and I am too to some degree but if push comes to shove it may come to that if it can't be rented. Hmmm not good...

Places of note to get away...

I love to travel, to see new places and revisit old haunts. One funny habit is to find places I think would be good for a rendezvous, I think it goes back to an old girlfriend who had a thing for the Caravan Motel in Gorman, Ca up on the Grapevine. Somewhat run down and lacking 2 star accomdations, it was a sweet little place to run away to, to forget and enjoy each other without distraction. We never stayed there (or consummated anything for that matter...) but the thought of a remote and/or somewhat mundane architechture for a place to meet up and tryst excited me. So on my recent trip up the coast I ran across a number of places I thought would be worthy (and then some) of possible sites for future reference.

1> Outside of Solvang/Buellton on the 101 is a real cool place on top of a hill called the Skyview Motel

2> In Cambria, I came across the BlueBird Inn, a quant old motor inn of the grand design right off the 1 not far from San Simeon. Wonderfully 50's in a Hitchcock fashion...

3> On the 1 before Big Sur is a small place that is basically on the side of the cliff (on your left if headed north), I'm not sure if it's Gorda or Lucia that it's near (I could be wrong at that it may be before Carmel). At any rate it's damn cool and worth a getaway, provided you like to drive the 1... I'm not sure I'll make it to this one.

4>Also in Cambria is the San Simeon Pines, it may not fall too much under the prerequisite of being rundown, but it looked like a neat place nonetheless, I'd go in a heartbeat.

5>There were several places in and around the eastern Sierras I think would have been perfect. Bridgeport had one or two, We stayed June Lake and there was plenty to chose from there, but it wasn't all the remote, though were we stayed was somewhat 'rundown' albeit comfortable and not grungey it was a bit cozy with the other cabins, but in the off season who cares... right?

On the road again, but never soon enough...

Sea of plastic...

To hell with the new economy, it's all about some plastic/metal/wood/paper bullshit and how much can you consume or rather collect and store in whatever space you might or might not possess. Happy meals, birthday parties, Christmases, Bar Mitzvahs, Anniversaries and on and on and on and on. Where does it all end anyhow? Oh yeah at the end.

And where does this all lead us anyway, this capitalism gone awry? Bueller, Bueller....?

Sinking, sinking again...

...vat are you sinking about? Damn I had an idea for a fun and worthy post none of this instrospective, emo shit of late, but I forgot to not only remember it but to write down the basic idea. Oh well so it goes...

Back on track... hopefully

"For a minute there, I lost myself, I lost myself..."

Seems that the fool in me had overpowered the rational idiot side of late, aside from any recent, breaking events, and I've let this malignant force control the horizontal and the vertical within the id willingly. But I think I've conquered this effront and beat it back into it's corner with a few upper cuts and a left jab (Ok so I threw in a rabbit punch or two but it worked...).

This has always been my complaint about the innerself. "It's Ok, I'm a guy this is what we do sometimes" I hear myself rationalizing back in the corners of my mind, and/or "I'm reaching middle age it's expected" Oh yeah? Tell that to those who might care/ are impacted/ may give a crap or have something to say.

Lost, one Dave...

I would like him back, do you have him and if so can you give him back please? You don't have him, well where the hell is he then?! Don't know, hmmm what to do, what to do then because I'm losing my mind here, oh please give him back...pretty please with sugar on top. Do I need to quote a James Brown song or something... Hmmm maybe he wondered off on his own, probably and it figures, just when you think he's keeping up on the trail he goes off on his own and gets attacked by lions. Damn him...

(photo previously used, now used a second time to an even lesser effect...)

1 in 5

I became a father out of exuberance. Our friends, Mark and Teri had just a baby girl and I could see that look in my love's eyes. So I made good on that look, sent the boys for a swim and made the girl honest. 9 months later Weston was born and it's been 5 years since. We always sort of felt, at least more recently, that the man-child needed some competition. Initially I shrank from the thought, of course the rest of me didn't. Nothing became of any of it, and for a while there thankfully as a mortgage and a small family was more than I could sustain without the help of creative financing, a bit of luck and eBay. Things gradually improved and I was back on my feet and ready to rule the roost again.

So with some trepidation we began thinking about the 'competition', well words lead to action and action to reaction and eventually... nothing happened. Hmmm worked before, what's up now? Well we're all a bit older maybe those swimmers have lost their stamina... maybe the targets aren't dropping into their position or have begun to run out. Step in medicine and the wonders of science. As it was the fault lay in the recieving end, high FSH levels were at fault apparently. We trudged on hoping for the best (I guess) until one day I was informed of the '2 stripes'...More hmmmm, so off to the lab for confirmation. And it's confirmed, so joy wonderous joy, ah but wait been there and had hopes dashed, so take 'er easy and wait and see.

7 weeks go by...

One gets one's hopes up by obvious signs of wonderment, I must say even I, Mr. Dubious had more than a twinge of joy. But life obscures life as much as life begets life, (at least in my case) so things get rearranged by the daily vicisitudes... Life is like that I guess, unless it's in your face you have the option to engage or disengage. So I was going to wait for the tipping point I guess.

That wasn't in the cards.

I get a call at work on my cell and see it's from Laurie. Intuition tells me something is wrong, as I knew she was at the doctor's this morning for a prenatal visit, and the poor reception and garbled voice give me more to run with. When I get to a place that I can get proper reception, my intuition is validated. During a normal office visit it was determined that viability was not ocurring, no fetal heartbeat. A second ultrasound with better gear is required and I need to get Weston from school.

The ultrasound tech did a good job handling the situation of parents not to be and sent us on our way up to the Doc who would be handling things from that point. The D Call (?) doctor is what we're told to ask for, I know immediately who this person is and I suspect Laurie does as well. We go up to the 4th floor to meet this person. Now on the way to this office we pass by: Decedant's Records, Birth Certificate office, Labor and Delivery and what the hell else that seemed oddly ironic/significant. I made no comment, no need to make the situation worse. Sure it's a hospital and this stuff might in them, but it had a ring of irony nonetheless, so we trudge on for the ultimate word. And we both know what that is to be. The doctor we saw has a tough job, I couldn't find fault in him or any of his staff and he gives us the low down and ghe options. Laurie opts to let nature take it's course, and I can see her feelings on this. The guy in me might say "go ahead, do what you need to do", but this is not my decision and I make no comment on this matter.
......................

I had hoped to fill this space with some happier news today but the cards were not responding to my dictates and I need to post my thoughts of the day, which in contrast to yesterday's silliness runs the gamut I guess. Any Merlot left???

It's trash I smell and other observations/rants of the day

The breath of the morning
I keep forgetting.
The smell of the warm summer air.

I live in a town
where you can't smell a thing,
you watch your feet
for cracks in the pavement. *

I woke up, did my daily ritual and went out to the car to go to work. Funny thing the day smelled like trash. It did, really. Never smelled it before and not sure why now. I've smelled it other places most notably at the 805/52 interchange, there's a dump there. Smell it there most balmy mornings, never when it's cold, damp or rainy. I don't look forward to smelling it by my house tomorrow or any other day frankly.

Women:

Why do they ride your ass, and I'm not just talking in a relationship but on the freeway at 60-70-80mph. I see it all the time, occasionally I'll see some dude doing it, but mostly gals. What's up with that ladies??? Give us some room please...

Cellphones and driving. Yes we all do it to one degree or another, but I think the female side of humanity tends to gravitate more towards this behaviour than men, at least from what I can see, and we're not talkin' just a quick burst of gab it appears that major, life changing decisions are being discussed . OK, so that's ancedotal, do you want me to run some studies? While driving?

WalMart:

I observed today that most WalMart shoppers cannot park properly. Granted this is not just a WM phenom, but it seems that a high percentage of them have trouble getting their (usually giant assed truck/SUV) vehicle reasonable straight in the dock. I did noticed I wasn't that much better though...

Trash and more trash. The parking lot is also probably one of the dirtiest I've seen for such a new establishment. Granted their open late or even 24/7 but man talk about crap everywhere and the vehicles the average shopper drives, they drip more oil, tranny fluid, coolant and whatnot than is allowed by the EPA.

*Subterranean Homesick Alien - Radiohead

Yosemite

Amazing place it is...

Ghosts in the machinery

Bodie is an amazing collection of trash, ramshackle buildings and forgotten people. Sure there is a history, but many of the people who came and went are lost to the wind and dust that permeate the remains of a long ago day.

What was once a thriving gold mining town on the edge of the eastern Sierras, the boom/bust cycle that is life has lain waste to the best laid plans of mice and men.

Needs, wants, desires

I just love feeling needed... I'm not sure how much of me there is to go around though. It never hurt to ask, right?

Home again

Hmmm yes home at last, nothing quite like one's own bed, bath and beyond. Oh yes and work, now there's something that never changes and is always in front of you like some damn old blue hair in a Buick with her blinker on for the last 4 and a half blocks grinding away at your patience. Could be worse though, could be rainin'...

Today's update thanks to Trout Town Joe's...

I wish I had the time, I'd fix their Linksys wireless setup for a meal...

The highlights so far-

SF:

Lots to do and not a lotta time to do it, so we made do with what we had. Went to the typical spots, Fisherman's Wharf, Palace of Fine Arts, Chinatown, Cable cars etc. Didn't do half of what we hoped but saw the town just the same. It's all recon for future getaways, vacations and whatnot. High point was Weston's observation after getting a total laff out of a joke toy butt that farted when activated by motion; "I guess they like butts in San Francisco!" Yes Weston I guess they do...

On to Yosemite:

Plans come and plans go, and well many of my plans have gone by the wayside, but that's Ok I can get by any old way. Weston came down with a cold and it was decided to spend the night in a proper room instead of a tent. Found a decent cabin at a Thousand Trails close to the gate. Ah the wonder of God/Nature/Supreme Deity that is Yosemite. It's all it's cracked up to be even with tourism bustling in and around it's magnificent shadows of huge monoliths thrusting forth from the lush meadows. I'm glad I faced my own fears to see this wonder.

And beyond:

The road that runs through YNP, the 120 is not open for long. It seems like they road crews spend 2 months clearing it only to have it filled up again in 2 months. I'd hoped it have been open in time to go through on to the 395, but no way charlie, you gotta backtrack and go to the 108 and make a 4 hour detour. Now after going back down the Old Priest grade was a bit of a pain and then heading back east up the 108 slightly monotonous, once we got into the Dardanelles things picked up quick and the wonder of the Sierras was evident once again, oh and then the Sonora Pass. At 9200 some odd feet it took a 24.5% grade to get from 7000' to the pass at 9200' all in low, all at 10-25 mph. Oh and then back down at 12-15% grades to such and such valley. Crazy stuff, Johnny Walker helped in Bridgeport to settle the old nerves...

Today we're in June Lake and planning to go up to Bodie to see how people lived way back and then Mono Lake and hopefully the Devil's Postpile near Mammoth. And then tomorrow it's home with a stop in Bakersfield to drop Melanie off at the train station and a tip of the old hat to Buck...

The car is a mess from the travel inside and out, I can see how my next weekend will be spent.

Travel log - Star Date 61006

What's the point of planing and purchasing stuff if you forget it? I knew I had forgotten something, but I couldn't think what it was until we got into our first night's location and had the tent setup - The latern I'd got the week before... Good thing I'd brought a small flash light...

Another thing about planning and executing is to consider the unforseen, so how do you plan for that?, it's UNFORSEEN right??? Ah no grasshopper you must see with your mind's eye and then put that into action... So where do i find my mind's eye anyway? Ah my son that's a zen thang buddy. Great, thanks...

So with that in mind I'd planned on leaving extra early, like 4am... what was I thinking? Someone had told me about getting through LA and all that and I wanted to be at San Simeon early to set up camp and see the Hearst castle by 1 or 2. Wasn't gonna happen. Ill prepared anyway, I'd had an HOA meeting the night before that drug on and wasted my precious time. Oh well so it goes... So we left around 8am.

Yes LA is a great big freeway Mr Bacharach, and I only kinda know my way to San Jose... A pit stop in Oxnard at 11 and lunch in Solvang at 1 put us in San Simeon by 5. I set up the tent (or pitched for you lovers of double entendre...), got some provisions back in Cambria and $17 later we had hot dogs and marshmellows! So then it was bedtime and a night on the cold, hard ground.

We broke camp the next day and pressed on to parts north. Weston decided he'd rather see the aquarium in Monterey than Hearst castle so we drove on without futher adieu. Of course now traveling with kids is payback from our parents when they drove us on vacation, right? His fav line was: How many more minutes? And of course he only wanted to hear his music, not daddy's.

My brother and I had driven down from Frisco once in a rusty Chevy Vega back in '78 on the PCH and I recalled it with fond memories, seen through the foggy lens of history. He drove and I rode. Well I'm afraid of heights, like blood and guts the mere mention of them gets me stirred, yeah I know it's irrational to a degree but I hate 'em nonetheless. So with white knuckles and sweaty palms I drove up, down and around Hwy 1. Thank god for the tall redwoods and lush valley of Big Sur to calm me down.

Had lunch in Big Sur at noon and pushed on to Monterey. Made it there in time to see the aquarium (Doc would be proud...) and have a look see then push on to SF.

Having brothers and sisters in various major points if interest makes for cheap lodgings, next vacation... Hawaii, Steve-o!

I'm glad someone has decided to leave an open wireless AP open as well, my sister only has dial up so hat's off to you j's house...

All for now...

Goin' up the country, baby don't you wanna go...?

Ah yes the Summer vacation, I remember them well. Jean Shepard did too in Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss, and his recollections are oddly similar, must be the Midwestern thing.

A recent family email from my father recalling a vacation to the Canadian Rockies got me thinking about doing the same with my family, so I started planning... And planning.

Though I've lived the better part of my life in California, I've never been to Yosemite or much of the Sierras. I guess a trip from SF to SLC once years back could do for having been thru them but I digress.

So let the trip begin, I'll post when I can with a pic or two for all you who care to partake via the interwebs...

I'm going up the country, baby, don't you wanna go
I'm going up the country, baby, don't you wanna go
I'm going to some place where I've never been before

I'm going, I'm going where the water tastes like wine
I'm going where the water tastes like wine
We can jump in the water, stay drunk all the time

I'm gonna leave this city, got to get away
I'm gonna leave this city, got to get away
All this fussing and fighting, man, you know I sure can't stay

Now, Baby, pack your leaving trunk, you know we got to leave today
Just exactly where we going I can not say
But we might even leave the U.S.A.
'Cause it's a brand new game, and I want to play

No use of you running or screaming and crying
'Cause you got a home as long as I've got mine