5 more days

It's nearly time for our trip. The forecast a week out is looking damp for Saturday so be sure to pack the rain gear on the outside chance the weather man actually gets it right for a change. The days will pass quickly so be sure to button up loose ends and make those last minute changes early this week. Pack early also to be sure you don't forget anything. Last minute packing almost always leads to forgotten items.

Come on Friday!!!

Federal "not so" Express

So I bought a new helmet on the 3rd, it shipped out on the 4th, and a few days later when it got here I didn't like it. So using the good ol' USPS Priority Mail I returned it to Pamona CA on the 7th. The helmet was received on the10th and on the 11th my refund was in my Paypal account. After work on the 11th I bought a different helmet from a different seller. My "new" new helmet was shipped out via Fedex on the following day, the 12th. I know this because the seller was gracious enough to  provide me with a tracking number. As of this very moment my helmet has still not arrived. Today is the 19th. 7 days? 7 days from California by a company with the word "express" in their name? And the thing that really confuses me is that, per the tracking number, my helmet spent a whole day in Charlotte going from one Fedex hub to another. I will most likely end up sending Fedex a charming little email expressing my displeasure with their less than speedy service. Will it fall on deaf ears? Probably but I'll feel better. Rest assured that, while I have always prefered the post office over independant contractors, I am now thoroughly convinced that I will always use the postal system for my own shipping needs.

Anticipation builds

The countdown has begun. 12 more days till we ride to Damascus for the weekend. The next two weeks are going to be filled with preperations of our road trip. Today I turned my rigid mount saddlebags (that I hated) into throwovers that I now love! 10 seconds to install and remove. They way it should be. Now if I could only speed up time.

When it rains....

Broke as usual and going backwards. Last week the dryer quits and luckily the damage was only $30. Money I didn't want to spend but at least I had it. Yesterday my wife says "The truck won't go faster than 35." Today after work I determine that I now need a new transmission. Fucking awesome!!! And it gets better. My transmission guy tells me the rebuild of mine is like $800 just for parts. I have to call him tomorrow to see if he can find me a used one cheaper than rebuilding. It's a transmission damn it, not a whole car. The sad part is that if I sold the truck as is, it wouldn't bring much more than enough to buy the new transmission. Like a rock my ass.

Too much money for too little work

Calling around today to find a place to mount a tire on the rear of my Sportster, I realized something. I am in the wrong business. One place I called wanted $50 to mount a tire. I then asked about bringing in just the wheel and they said $25. Still high in my opinion but better. This made me realize something. $25 to mount the tire and $25 to pull the wheel. The tire mounting I can overlook because even though they use a machine , tires are a pain in the ass to change. Now $25 to pull the wheel? Come on. I don't do this for a living or even more than once a year and I can pull/replace the wheel in less than 10 minuets. My math puts the labor rate for a tire change at $150/hr.  No thanks buddy, I'll pull my own damn wheel.

The best a man can get.

This sentance was a marketing masterpiece for Gilette for as far back as I can remember. Now while I personally disagree with this in most of their product line, I can honestly say that there disposable razors fit that bill. My normal male grooming routine (my face) really couldn't care what brand blade cuts away the shag as long as the job is done. My newly revisited hairstyle on the otherhand misses the smooth gliding comfort of their design. I'm sure Bic makes a fine ball point pen and a quality cigarette lighter but their razors will no longer be welcome on my scalp once the current supply is gone. They cut fine but have nearly no glide. Infact, in my opinion they are only one step above an angry Apache with a bone handle knife. I did manage to accomplish my touchup with only the smallest of incidents but I fear the next rondevous as the blades have now been used and have even less chance of cutting only the hair.

Do you know what today is?

Today is exactly 8 weeks till the Blistered Bottom Ride version 2.0. This guy is counting the days. Let's just hope the weather decides to warm up between now and then.

Sweet 16

Yesterday my daughter turned sixteen and today she passed her driving test. Having gone through this with my eldest son two years ago sort of prepared me for the day. Sort of.

The moment she left the yard to drive herself to school for the first time, the pride I felt had to battle the fear for control of my emotions.

For me that day has been many years ago now but I remember it vividly. I know one day she will as well.

Shooting my mouth off

You know it really shouldn't surprise me but it does. How can people living in a free nation, a nation built on freedoms and rights that are unamiable, how can they be so willing to trample the very document that gives them the right to do so? The 2nd amendment of uor US Constitution affords every individual the right to keep and bear arms. I understand that 200 yrs ago the country was a different place but the reasons behind that simple clause still exist. We were not given this right. Many men died for it. Many men fought a war against a greater, more powerful army and won. Those men didn't fight and die so can huntor defend our homes from criminals. They died so we can defend our very way of life from a tyriness government. That is the reason we have a second amendment.

Now, now we have people inside our own country, our own friends and leaders that are willing to give up that right just to feel safer. Not be safer, feel safer. I realize that I live in a corrupt world with a population over run with lazy, tender, immoral people but I will not waiver on my position here.

"Those that would sacrifice a little liberty for a little safety, deserve neither liberty or safety." Benjamin Franklin

Protect your rights people, once you lose them they are gone for good. And don't think it can't happen. It has happened in other places they thought it couldn't too.

For all of you that are for restricting my rights, I leave you with this.
If we ever lose the 2nd amendment, how will you defend the rest of them.

"To take over a nation, first disarm it's people." Adolph Hitler

Change of face

Well today while waiting for the monsoon I took those ugly ass Saddleman saddlebags off of my Sportster. Since they are bolt on, the rear turn signals have to be relocated to behind the bags. This isn't a problem since the bags come with plastic brackets to remount them onto. The problem with that is all the rear bolts have to be taken out to do the job. I had to remove two bolts from each bag. The same two that hold the sissybar and rack. The same two that also hold the fender to the frame. Done and done. Time to put the lights back on. Not so fast. The wires are threaded through the bag and I had to remove the plug from the wires. That by the way requires removing the tail light. Ok, now I'm ready. NOPE. Even lifting the fender as high as it will go doesn't give me enough clearence to install the 3.5" bolts without hitting the tire. Damn it! So I loosen the axel and belt adjusters and push the tire forward. Finally they go on. Much easier to put it back together.

Now what to do with the bags?

Virginia is for...

Well this installment of the Random Thoughts is coming to you from Christiansburg Va. Work has me out of town for couple of days. Virginia is for lovers or so they say. For me it's all work. I used to work here every single day, back when there was more money involved and my back was younger. Two years ago I, along with a few others spent some time here just enjoying the beautiful countryside. Plans are to revisit that idea again this year. For now, I just want to go home. I hate hotels.

Wooley

Hey bud. Get in contact with me. let's do another weekend ride.

Well it's been a year since I posted anything here, time to catch up.

Firsth of all, Happy Easter everyone. Jesus loves you.

In the past year I have been back to work and I'm still broke as a convict, thank you family.

 Our son Matthew has obtain his first real job. It's part time and he makes minimum wage but it's steady and he enjoys it. He makes his gas money and a little to spend on girls and what-not, for the rest of his needs we provide. He's still in school and an "A-B" student so we don't mind. I think he's looking at a junior college to start and transfer out. Hard to believe he'll be a Senior next year.

 The daughter got her learner's permit. She's doing well and getting better as a new driver. Come April 30th she'll be ready for the road test and hopefully safely running about town and country with the freedom all 16 year olds should enjoy. Her mother and I bought her car as we did with our eldest so all she needs to do is continue to be the "A" student/athlete she is and concentrate on prepping for college.

 Little man has entered middle school and is doing fine. The ADHA tends to play a role from time to time but we keep it at bay most of the time and his school work reflects it for the most part.

The wife and I celebrated out 18th anniversary in October. Still happy and WAY more appreciative of each other than where we stood when it started. Love you Tonya.

I have a new bike (finally). I lucked out and found a 2003 with VERY low miles and worked a deal where the bike is mine free and clear. Economy be damned, the bike is mine and it's not going anywhere. As fate would have it, out of the blue Peewee called the day after I got it and asked when we were going to go on another riding/camping trip like the one Billy, Wooley, and us took a couple years ago. I'm ready, well as soon as the tag office opens I'll be ready.