I lied

(Don McClean--Castles in the Air)
I havent gone to bed. Ive reached that marvelous plateau when sleep seems pointless and the second wind of insomnia takes wing. Besides, Ill just apnea myself through 9 hours of nonrestful snoozing anyway. So, another post of bunk....and throughout this post, I'll be inserting songs Im currently listening to.

Lubbock has a strange obsession with Buddy Holly. I understand that he came from here and that he pretty much inspired the proginators (I KNOW thats spelled wrong) of rock and roll, but Lubbock has alot more going for it than just being the Home of Buddy Holly. Several schools, including Texas Tech and my new digs Lubbock Christian, the vast, blue West Texas sky, lots of snotty young spoiled girls who give you funny looks...well, okay, not that one. Just figured Id through that one in for balance.
(Ministry--Just One Fix)

I really suck at saving money. Even when I dont have any money at all, I manage to spend some. Truly amazing. Of course, this is an offshoot of other self control issues I have, but I need to get my keister to an accounting class or something similar. Or marry a girl that has financial skills. Opposites attract and all that.

(IRON MAIDEN--Quest for Fire)
Speaking of Maiden, my dad, mom, brother, myself, and some other folks drove to Albuquerque the weekend I moved all my crap to Lubbock (long story--I was still in my apartment in Dallas for another week, but all my stuff was in my apartment in Lubbock. Serious hassle, but a necessary hurdle). Let me just say that Iron Maiden put on the best show in the history of mankind. They even put on a better show than Rush did last August, which is saying alot because Rush blew my socks off. The concert was totally worth the 8 hour round trip and week of crushing fatigue. Maiden doesnt come around every week, ya know.

(Kansas--Black Fathom 4)
My sister is 8 months pregnant and I cant wait to be an uncle. The kid is going to be completely spoiled (being the first grandchild on both sides of the family) but thats all good. Ive already laid claim to the Crazy Uncle title. They can come visit me in my concrete bunker in the depths of the Texas wilderness. Buwhwhahaha....

(Dream Theater--Raise the Knife)
and for the record, It hasnt taken me forever to write this. I just skip tracks alot--much to the chagrin of anyone that rides in my truck.

Observing the Ebb and Flow of Mankind

...because there is nothing else to do right now. Im waiting on my job at Brinks to finish my background check, and in the meantime, Ive been working on my motorcycle, exercising, not exercising, sitting on my butt, watching lame shows on TV, sitting on my butt some more....I dub myself Lethargy.

On the other hand, after 2 strenuous years of internal strife and upset at the morbid hands of corporate America, its nice to do nothing. I actually dont want to work (surprise, I know thats unique) but the majority of my thinking mind is losing it doing nothing.

The worst part of doing nothing all day is the creeping sensation of mental decrepancy. I cant even conjure any good thoughts up. Idle mind is the Devil's playground--definitely a true and pertinent statement.

I guess I'll go to bed now...its 4 in the morning. Harumph. Nothing else to do....as a side note, Im quite used to the second shift lifestyle--get up at noon, stay up till everyone else is useless getting up then crash. I rather like it--in Dallas I could avoid most people and the complications (or benefits, depending on your outlook) but here in Lubbock that really doesnt fly. My new job starts at 5 in the morning, so Im sure for a couple of months Ill look like Bela Lugosi after a few Ed Wood movies. Burn, Ed Wood! Too bad you're already dead!

Farewell, sweet Enfield.

Unfortunately, I traded my Albion-manufactured Enfield No. 2 Mk 1** at the last gun show I went to in Dallas. My motivation was purely logistical (sp?)--I had just bought 2500 rounds of 7.62 Tokarev pistol ammo and no pistol to accompany it (it was a good deal, so sue me). I found a pleasant fellow gun nut who gave me what I paid for the Enfield so I could go and purchase an original CZ-52, the roller lock beauty made by the Czechs circa 1952. I regret trading it; it was a collectors piece, and I loved the break open action, and I intended to keep it (I had even put it away in storage) BUT finances being tight, I had to shirk a loved gun to replace it with another.

So farewell, sweet Albion, I hope your new owner appreciates your rugged historical quality as much as I did. Im sure he will, he was my kind of guy.

Honda modification, part I

Since Ive bought my Honda Shadow, its undergone some, uh, changes. All positive, mind you. To start from the beginning:

I bought the bike from craigslist in August of 2007. It seemed like a good deal; about a thousand bucks under blue book because the druggie Oakie I bought it from had to pay rent. It seemed okay, but he had lost the key, plus the key to the gas tank, and chopped the frame (I didnt know this at the time). I load her up in my truck, get it home, and over the course of time, I find out all its wonderful problems--gummed up carbs, disconnected vaccuum hoses, and most importantly, the rear of the fender cleft in twain. Notice in the last picture the plastic fenders and side covers which I no longer use, the cut down exhaust pipes missing mufflers (which caused another set of issues) and what you cant see is the bobbed fender, which Ive included in another picture on here. SO, over the period of several months I rebuilt the carburetor (a first), learned so much about engines and motorcycles it astounds me, ditched the plastic rear fender because it broke in half (cheap plastic #%#%) and started working on other areas of the bike that need attention.

Today, since I have my shiny new (new 30 years ago, anyway, but new to me) townhouse with attached garage (YES! A GARAGE!) I started getting down and dirty with the bike since I now have a secure location to work on it without the fear of the weather, or jerks living in my apartment complex trying to steal it every night (not joking here, thank God for fork locks). I completely gutted the electric components from underneath where the seat usually goes and pulled out the battery box, a platic contraption that takes up way too much space and needlessly consumes most of the area near the chain and swingarm. Since Im kinda winging it here, my plans are as such:

1. Drill out exhaust baffles, because its too quiet (I replaced the cut off pipes with a set of stock 2007 pipes that still fit...the old pipes were rusted over and provided no back pressure whatsoever). Down the road Im going to wrap the pipes in heat wrap and cut off the mufflers and add exhaust tips for aesthetics.


2. Rig up an aluminum or steel plate between the frame rails to mount the battery on and mount the rectifier above the battery on spacers. I saw this on another guys site, so I wont take creative credit for it (VLXS.com, sweet bike).


3. Figure out somewhere else to store the rest of the electrical junk, like the fuse box, in line relays, igntion coil, blinker relays, etc. Its going to be fun! I get to exercise my creative side! I cant tell you how starved Ive been with no creative outlet.


4. Replace the rear monoshock, or at least lower it a few inches so the swingarm and the rear of the frame line up to make it look smoother.

Ive still got a long way to go, including new tires, rebuilding the front forks, cleaning some minor rust off, reconfiguring the air intake (its a dual carb setup, but the air inlets are facing at opposed 45 degree angles UPWARD toward the tank...itll be tricky, but Ive got a plan! No one else has done this I know of, which makes it even better!), and recovering the newly resurfaced seat. Woo! Im stoked! I just need to learn to weld....that comes next.

Pics at the top: First pic is a cardboard box top I used from my moving boxes to catalog where all the wires run. It'll work, I s'pose.

Second pic you can see the chopped frame, and the sloppy edges that he never did ANYTHING with. At least seal the frame tubes off, for crying out loud! You can also see the gap between the frame and the swingarm where the battery was, and where I will be reconfiguring the wiring harness.

Last pic is the bike before I did anything to it, pretty much right after I bought it. Notice the rear plastic fender and side covers, which wont be seeing any ussage.

Been a long time

Ill admit Ive been shirking my blogging duty. My excuse is that Ive been fired from my job, moved to Lubbock to start at LCU this fall, and have had all the complications usually associated with said duties. I like my new digs here in Lubbock--1200 square feet, only myself, and plenty of stuff to keep myself busy--trying to find a job, fixing my motorcycle, getting back into bike riding (Im only three blocks from school, so time to get back in the riding mood). Oh yes, folks, the future is bright.

Now where did I leave my shades?

Any day at the range...

Brando and I spent a relaxing Sunday afternoon at our local gun range this past weekend. Few things in life are more soothing than a little target shooting. Both of us were having accuracy problems--quite frustrating when you're expecting close groups (or at least semi-close groups...) but it was fun nonetheless.

We were packing up to leave and the gentleman in the next booth was shooting an old Remington ball and cap revolver. We asked, and he gave us a few shooting tips as well as letting Brando try out some of his nicer pieces. Its great meeting another person as enthused about something as you are.

All in all, a smashing success. Wish I could do it more often!

the Main Monkey Business*

Random thoughts.

• Socialism doesnt work. Mental masturbation doesnt change that fact.
• San Francisco could detach from the US and float away and no one would know the difference.
• UPS should pay me more. You know, quality assurance and all that.
• Im moving to Lubbock soon, and I hope its better than Dallas. My unfortunate cynical nature tells me to expect otherwise, but I say my cynicism can take off. I wish it would, anyhow.
• Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is a really funny show. Its a spoof of Stephen King and all the other 80s horror shows, and it is an instant classic. Look it up!
• Ethanol is a joke and will be remembered as such.
• Global warming is a joke and will be remembered as such. I could go on with this, but its not convincing anyone of anything so whatever.
• Milkbones taste better than anything on the menu at Boston's "Gourmet Pizza".
• Alice in Chains was a much better band than Nirvana. Its true, folks, its true.

Political Woes

Since everyone now is a pundit, politics are a sore subject. Between the flurry of self-delusion (Obama will reform, Clinton will reform, McCain will limp around and....reform) and the ad hominem chest beating, Im pretty sick of all of it. If McCain gets the nomination (he will, thinks to morons in the Republican party) then there will be a 4% voting difference between the two parties. No joke--McCains voting record is only 4% more conservative than Clintons. Awesome, right? In the spirit of the American political circus, I dedicate this song:

Let's get out and vote!
Let's make our voices heard.
We've been given the right to choose,
between a douche and a turd.
It’s democracy in action!
Put your freedom to the test.
A big fat turd or a stupid douche,
which do you like best?

Its sad when South Park makes sense.

Excellent Metaphor, I say

Disposable Heroes--Metallica


Bodies fill the fields I see, hungry heroes end
No one to play soldier now, no one to pretend
Running blind through killing fields, bred to kill them all
Victim of what said should be
A servant `til I fall

[Chorus:]
Soldier boy, made of clay
Now an empty shell
Twenty one, only son
but he served us well
Bred to kill, not to care
Do just as we say
Finished here, Greeting Death
He's yours to take away

Back to the front
You will do what I say, when I say
Back to the front
You will die when I say, you must die
Back to the front
You coward
You servant
You blindman
[End Chorus]

Barking of machinegun fire, does nothing to me now
Sounding of the clock that ticks, get used to it somehow
More a man, more stripes you wear, glory seeker trends
Bodies fill the fields I see
The slaughter never ends

[Chorus]

{Why, Am I dying?
Kill, having no fear
Lie, live off lying
Hell, Hell is here!

I was born for dying

Life planned out before my birth, nothing could I say
had no chance to see myself, molded day by day
Looking back I realize, nothing have I done
left to die with only friend
Alone I clench my gun

[Chorus]

{Back to the front}x5.

Thats the way that Lady Luck dances*

I apologize for the last post. Im not going to delete it; that would be...childish, I guess. Its been a long semester, with mundane work I really cant stand and school that makes no sense, in substance or format. I had grand plans for a Cisco Networking degree, but I find that I dont have the "understanding" (meaning the stubbornness to wade through a thick and nonsensical curriculum, working with teachers and peers that have never communicated with the opposite sex in a relaxed setting--NOT JOKING HERE) the work. Ive decided that Im just going to roll the bones and take a jack of all trades approach and take a bunch of classes that sound interesting.

Anyhoo, the last post was inspired by the old rock station here in Dallas, the infamous Eagle 97.1, as it is back up in operation. They used to be a great station, now they just play the same stuff as the other two corporate rock stations here. The question that is giving me an ulcer is:
If you have two stations playing the same thing, WHY MAKE A THIRD?!

Oy.

*Roll the Bones, by Rush.

Most of our pocket wisdom is conceived for the use of mediocre people, to discourage them from ambitious attempts, and generally console them in their mediocrity. --Robert Louis Stevenson

Im writing this post from work, where Im sitting...doing nothing...as is SOP. I cant stand my job. Ive been wrestling constantly with what I want to do with my life, but nothing appeals. I dont want a good paying job, I dont want a manual labor job, I dont want to be someone's lackey till I rot in the grave. I think Im a closet self-deprecating perfectionist who has never acknowledged that I am such (to myself). That being said, I want to announce to the world what I should be "when I grow up":

I should be in charge. Not in charge of a grocery store, or some company peddling useless wares to bored people with no aspirations. I want to be in charge of something significant.

Big talk, right? Im not done soapboxing yet.

My generation--Im generalize and consider "my generation" anyone from the ages of 0-25, has no motivation. In short, we are a generation of vegetables. If history is a good indicator (which it always is) my generation will run this country into the ground. There is too much to be said about the complete and utter lack of skill or competence, so Ill sum it all up in one sentence: If tomorrow, the world awoke and every American from 0-25 was gone, no one would notice a damn difference. Sure, MTV would go under and that Girls Gone Wild jackoff would have to go sell baubles to gypsies, but there would be no long term impact.

Me for President in 2008.