LABTYD

Nothing Much new

2009-01-22T09:31:00.000-08:00

Not much to say new, life for me in winter is pretty boring, really. Learning to play bass guitar.. Waiting for spring so I can RIDE!!! Part in the garage to mount on the bikes, but not much incentive at -degrees.... Soon.....

YewHoooie!

2008-12-19T12:44:00.001-08:00

Just talked to Machine Services in Green Bay... They received my U-joint this morning.. It's DONE... and will be mailed back Monday!!! Yikes!!! How's that for service? Now if they could just stop the SNOW

SNOW OH NO!!!!!!!!!!

2008-12-19T08:38:00.000-08:00

Snowing like the devil here, 10-20 inches of "Lake Effect Snow" expected here, already 8" up the shore in Two Harbors. This am, my house in Superior .. no snow.... over the bridge.. mist, almost drizzle. MN side, light snow. 2 miles later, 20th Ave E in Duluth... WALL of snow... Gonna be ugly getting home! Still have shopping to do and a snowblower to fix at my house I'm selling.. ARRRGHHHHHHHH....

Yew Joint

2008-12-18T07:44:00.000-08:00

BMW U-joint is on it's happy way to Machine Services in Green Bay, WI for a re-build... $160.00!!! But, the beast should be completely fixed after this.

Tue-zel-day

2008-12-16T08:54:00.000-08:00

*&*(^*&^&+%&%&(*_)(_!!!!!!!!!!!!
My 'new' snowblower doesn't run!! -10, It'll start, but only runs with the choke fully on for a few minutes!!! Arrrghhh..... too cold to repair in the evening, will have to wait for Saturday, also forecast for a 'high' of below zero... Got some good 4' drift shoveling exercise anyway! Ah, Life in the Northland.... did score this wonderful Santa Claus and a used Bike Lift this weekend!! WhooHooo!!!

Weekend BMW Blues

2008-12-08T06:41:00.000-08:00

Arrrgh... My pretty R1150RT has been plaguing me this summer with failures and leaks. The final drive developed a major issue, and though I repaired it with good old JB Weld, I figure it will let go in the middle of nowhere, so elected to replace the drive with a low-mileage used one. Changing it out this weekend, I found the rear u-joint to be bad. The kicker? The u-joints are not easily replaceable, they are staked in, and ... BMW only sells the complete driveshaft for $800+. OUCH... Honda, here I come. There are machines shops that will do the job, looks like about $250 or so. Oh, well, 4" of snow and all winter... The replacement drive came with a yoke (they usually do not), the U-joint is ok, but... doesn't fit my bike, it's for an older model.. Arrrrrghhhhhhh!!!!!

Work, uh, sucks...

2008-12-04T08:26:00.000-08:00

Been at my 2nd life profession, in the computer field, for about 11 years. Maybe it's burnout, but .. I'm just tired of fighting Bill Gates constantly.... In my former life, I was a laborer, a millwright, a railroad machinist, and a railroad 'hostler' (like an engineer but only moves locomotives for servicing, a horse cavalry term). In those jobs, the worst it got on a problem was you needed an acetylene torch and that ALWAYS worked... Sometimes I long to be back in one of those 'blue' jobs where when you go home, 100% of the job stays at the job..
Guess I'm waiting for the second wind; for this to pass, as I know it will.
1 Good thing about this job: Instant Gratification
1 Bad thing: Clients expect Instant Gratification

Thanksgiving dead ahead, cap'n, past, and gone

2008-12-01T09:43:00.000-08:00

Interesting, brief this year. No family gathering, buffet at a local semi-posh restaurant with, as it turns out, pretty disappointing grub. Thinking they've cut back due to the economy like veryone else. I like a Big Family Gathering with Kids Running Around Like Nuts, so this was pretty quiet.

I have a BMW motorcycle with some 'issues'. Waiting for parts, which finally arrived Saturday. the IRONY? Saturday is the first day we had snow that stuck on the roads... Hard to test the scoot when it's icy... I don't hate winter, but I hate not being able to ride..

Saw a friends band Saturday night. Gave me a jones to get involved in one again, mine recently folded up, as they are prone to do...

Weekend

2008-11-24T06:54:00.001-08:00

Good weekend. Lunch with a friend, winterizing my home, nice talk with my riding buddy FJ, and a former band-mate Jessie, visit with my son and grandkids. Life is good, if not perfect. May have a reunion jam Friday.

First Day

2008-11-21T09:47:00.001-08:00

Just ramblings of a madman.
Winter is my off-time, I live to ride.
Lots more in the Summer.
In the meantime, a blurb now and then about whatever.

Last night, at our weekly jam at my house, had a surprise guest, drummer friend Ed who desires to learn guitar. Much teaching and laughing ensued as my friend Dale and I switched into "Master Po" mode... Grasshoppah did well..
What would life be without music... Answer: death....