tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55603188882725506482024-02-19T09:33:36.502-07:00MondayMotoMadnessThoughts about motorcycles, tools that work (or don't), travel, and occasionally politics. Places I've gone, routes that were special, and food I've found along the way.
And, thankfully, not too much of any of it.
J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.comBlogger890125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-7083684983866542952022-03-19T10:27:00.002-06:002022-03-19T10:27:28.577-06:00Trip Prep<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">"Getting ready for
the trip to Death Valley and Baja California is going slowly. The
fact that it is going at all is a major advance over my usual <i>Throw
everything in a bag at the last moment</i> technique!"</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">I wrote the above a week ago. As you can see I'm not much further along in the packing process. I need someone to tell me, "Take this, not that" Too many options leads to decision paralysis!</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9T8GqUPB1reP-ygprB_tueTk_tNXPHQIXa4--z2Vl4SXZtcJylK0G996mdHK7iyfErW8SqZn3MK1-aNGStD-_UpFg7TqdwjqCJvfcU0B5sgBLqGJP7V4Yizr63e0F9YKkG40fU-8JQNLumGnh2rAnvCcRFh4jPVivWklHBaUF0hllanqDuGGTwscvEQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="4608" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg9T8GqUPB1reP-ygprB_tueTk_tNXPHQIXa4--z2Vl4SXZtcJylK0G996mdHK7iyfErW8SqZn3MK1-aNGStD-_UpFg7TqdwjqCJvfcU0B5sgBLqGJP7V4Yizr63e0F9YKkG40fU-8JQNLumGnh2rAnvCcRFh4jPVivWklHBaUF0hllanqDuGGTwscvEQ=w504-h283" width="504" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;">Frankly, I was hoping the cat would be more help!</span></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Roboto;"><br /></span></p><hr />
Make my day, subscribe and tell a friend about this blog!J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-57610359279279129802022-01-13T12:47:00.001-07:002022-01-13T12:47:10.037-07:002022 - It has to be better<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">2021 ended with a crashing thud. Endless days of a non-covid flu with relentless complications that are just now getting better.</span><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Plans for 2022 include trips to Death Valley and Baja for the races. The either the Utah or Idaho BDR with a friend. Lastly a cross-country trip to catch up with friends.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Stay tuned! The future's so bright I have to wear sunglasses!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span><div><div><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span></div></div></div>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-18118699172837917052021-05-25T10:01:00.002-06:002021-05-25T10:01:56.550-06:00History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQTTrgyNdtRAJWcdqb4CdP0KuZ4RxRvoP89qeyxajTxbfpThMCcikkZN1M6sVEjzXfVjRMj8yg89UNbg0YHi7XO_sdUR8LXHpk1gs73xehcVdoVECW6d4QTBifTO82zwUnG2bCkTBZ3g2/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="1200" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQTTrgyNdtRAJWcdqb4CdP0KuZ4RxRvoP89qeyxajTxbfpThMCcikkZN1M6sVEjzXfVjRMj8yg89UNbg0YHi7XO_sdUR8LXHpk1gs73xehcVdoVECW6d4QTBifTO82zwUnG2bCkTBZ3g2/w640-h354/image.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>This is a note from my friend Bob who is on a month long trip along the east coast:</div><div><br /></div><div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-dlala" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">This is a story of unforeseen circumstances, of serendipity. </span></span><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
I ended up in Bedford VA last night. As chance would have it, the National D-Day memorial is located in Bedford, a small town in the Blue Ridge mountains of VA. I spent the morning at the memorial park. It was a powerful experience</span></span><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block3" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-57gkl" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Why Bedford? It’s because of The Bedford Boys. The town of 4,000 sent 35 young men off to war with a parade and much fanfare in early 1941. 23 never returned. They were part of the initial assault wave to hit Omaha beach. 19 were killed in the first 10 minutes. 4 more in the ensuing inland invasion. Bedford had the highest proportional losses of any town in the country. Hence the decision to built the memorial in this small town. The story of the Bedford Boys is tragic.
There are forces active in our country today that seek to erase and rewrite history, destroying memorials as they go. They are misguided, evil or both. I hope they don’t come for the D-Day memorial. There have been regimes in the modern era that have, to varying degrees of success, took action to erase and rewrite history, destroying buildings and artifacts of their history along the way. The Russian Communists, the Chinese Communists, the Khmer Rouge, are examples. </span></span><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block4" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-etk02" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Our country’s history has been both glorious and uplifting as well as sad and tragic. But it is our history. Our history. It can not be undone. It should not be erased and rewritten. What happened to the Indians was tragic. Slavery was very bad. It when against our founding and fundamental principles of Liberty and Justice for all. “All men are created equal”. The southern “Lost Cause” movement was a specious narrative. There is no moral justification for slavery. But we need not allow our history to be erased and rewritten, and our memorials destroyed. If the south wants to honor the brave men that fought for what they wrongly thought was a righteous cause, we should let them. Unfortunately, the misguided and evil forces of active today have had some success. And governments of all levels have kowtowed to them in many cases. It’s sad. Our history happened. It can not be undone. We should remember the good, the bad, and the ugly.
</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block5" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-44hr0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Remember our History</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block6" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-4af75" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block7" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-3a696" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Remember the Bedford Boys</span></span></p><div data-hook="rcv-block8" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="paragraph"></div><div class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-9r08t" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></span></div><div data-hook="rcv-block9" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" type="empty-line"></div><p class="XzvDs _208Ie _247b9 _2QAo- _25MYV eaHbJ _247b9 public-DraftStyleDefault-block-depth0 public-DraftStyleDefault-text-ltr" id="viewer-e6rjj" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; font-size: var(--ricos-custom-p-font-size,unset); font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; min-height: var(--ricos-custom-p-min-height,unset); outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="vkIF2 public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; direction: ltr; display: block; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Never Forget</span></span></p></div><div><br />
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Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</div>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-4340787138221894032021-05-06T21:41:00.003-06:002021-05-06T21:41:35.619-06:00Romance<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Oxygen; font-size: 13.2px;">A farmer and his wife are driving along in their pickup when she says,</span><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"> You never tell me you love me.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">He replied,</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"> I told you I loved you when we got married. If I'd a changed my mine, I would have let you know.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><hr />
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-31290764770804148852021-04-27T22:10:00.003-06:002021-04-27T22:10:58.264-06:00Romance<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">A farmer and his wife are driving along in their pickup when she says,</span><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><span><span> </span> </span>Remember when we used to drive all scrunched up close, side by side?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">He replied,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><span> <span> </span> </span>I ain't moved.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span></div>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-50819456487151857072021-04-19T11:09:00.004-06:002021-04-19T11:09:52.021-06:00Boston Drivers Abroad<div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">A few months back a woman in a Mercedes was riding on my back bumper maybe 2' away. I kept slowing down but she didn't get the message. Finally as she roared around me I pointed the way to heaven with my middle finger.</span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">At the very next light we were sitting next to each other. She rolled down her window and yelled, "You didn't have to be so rude about it!"</span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">I replied, "Since you were driving like you were from Boston, I wanted to let you know that I'm from Boston too!"</span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Who knew a Mercedes could do a burn-out?</span></div><div class="gmail_default"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-113846309021779832021-04-11T10:44:00.003-06:002021-04-11T10:44:39.050-06:00Certified Adult<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Once a month I take the neighborhood kids to the town swimming pool. It gives them a break from their parents and their parents a break from the kids. It's fun for me and we have pizza afterwards to celebrate that nobody drowned.</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Yesterday I took 7 kids (aged 4 - 11 years) for the usual fun and games. This time it was a little different. The kids had to stand next to a line on the wall and the ones that weren't tall enough got a white wrist band to signify that they were limited to the Kiddie Pool.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Then the woman turned to me and wanted to put a blue band on my wrist. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHCDcUbvO6_xG-7cjuHz39n-of5CHuKvTkXq5E0vS_F6OkRsLrSXvHWsYiZ-OWwm53NVgxC0RoFRk0luJJI3Z2a3dYrn8rq-FqR6NWITv8Im1KRD40fD5adggAXpOtj5XbQxQlaPVpMI2/w300-h400/PXL_20210409_231950474.jpg" width="300" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">"What is this for?" I asked.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">"This shows that you are a responsible adult."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">What? Wait! Me? A Responsible Adult!?!?!? - Never in my life has it ever been suggested that I was either <i>Adult</i> or <i>Responsible</i>. This was a whole new chapter in my life. There must be some major shift in the cosmos for this to take place.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Despite this life changing event we all had fun and nobody drowned. The double pepperoni pizza went first followed by the Hawaiian pineapple/ham. Stomach aches are not counted as a casualty.</span></div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span></div>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-60746309496893562242021-04-04T14:05:00.004-06:002021-04-04T14:05:54.807-06:00Spring<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Today is that glorious day when I reach into the back of my closet for the shorts I put away last fall. 72F today so I'm loving it. I know all of you in Arizona and California would be grabbing your fleece sweaters but here in the land of big mountains we're celebrating!</span><div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">I had to go to the store so I donned shorts and a t-shirt. I'm so pasty white that people were grabbing their sunglasses as I walked by. What can I say? At least I wasn't like one person who was as white as I was and at least 250 pounds! Do they make super-duty flip-flops for people like that?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span></div></div>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-33961297128407099002021-03-29T11:40:00.003-06:002021-03-29T11:40:25.133-06:00Safety Tip<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Do not put your finger through the hole in a bagel while slicing it.</span><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">The cream cheese will not cover up the blood!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span></div>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-29816409264135228162021-03-23T16:04:00.000-06:002021-03-23T16:04:03.235-06:00Plumbing<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">It began, as all these sorts of things
do, with an <i>innocent</i> remark, “The sink in my bathroom seems to be
leaking a little. Could you look at it when you get a chance?”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">As every married man knows, real
message was, “There's water under the sink which can only get worse
by the minute. Declare a crisis and call 911. NOW!”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">I dutifully went to inspect the errant
sink and did indeed find water under the cabinet. Hardly a gusher,
more like an intermittent drip. The little arm that raised and
lowered the stopper needed tightening and that seemed to fix it.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">But, of course, it didn't.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">“That stopper doesn't stop anything
and needs a new one.” </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">OK, that shouldn't be too difficult</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">So off to Home Depot for a new drain and stopper.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">But, of course, it was. To separate the
pipes the hoses had to be disconnected and the sink lifted out.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Once the sink was out I realized it was
past its Best By date and needed replacing as long as I had it all
apart.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">So off to Home Depot for a new sink.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Back in the bathroom the new sink
turned out to be an oval unit rather than the round one I thought I selected. I had carefully matched all the numbers but still got
it wrong.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">So off to Home Depot for a new new
sink.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">I realized that the card with the item
number for the oval sink was next to the round sink in the display
and only by carefully checking the small print did I find the correct
part number. The lady at the Returns counter was very nice and I
checked out with the new new sink. And a couple of new work lights I
saw along the way.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">I spread the adhesive on the new new
sink, set it into place, checked the alignment and all was well.
Until I bent over to check the clearance from below. The new new
sink's drain was ~2 ½” over from the old sink and didn't align
with the drain pipe coming out of the wall.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsVSHNyuThtPnRJd71_OSk1RyDpvrwgCgWqDuTxVPdXMtEroOWrY1TExO-S7m5IvAZHwJm7FKug99qmn1MxOqICHVNlmCBHs71YbDANY05EqjTBv-V3ZfqnrUKMhYUixH5A-JqDY7gQDN/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsVSHNyuThtPnRJd71_OSk1RyDpvrwgCgWqDuTxVPdXMtEroOWrY1TExO-S7m5IvAZHwJm7FKug99qmn1MxOqICHVNlmCBHs71YbDANY05EqjTBv-V3ZfqnrUKMhYUixH5A-JqDY7gQDN/w300-h400/PXL_20210321_161500237.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">So off to Home Depot to see what
fittings I would need to bridge the gap. I think the checkout woman was beginning to think I'm stalking her.</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">OMG, they have a flex pipe for just
such problems as I have. Think of the flex straws you used to suck up
chocolate milk when you were a kid.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Rushing home with the solution in hand
I found that there was not enough room and not enough flex. I was
able to force it together but it leaked worse than when I started.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">The solution was simple, cut the drain
pipe coming out of the wall and install a new slip joint. Simple but
one miscalculation and it was going to be tearing out the wall time.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">I called Matt at Matthew's Plumbing and
asked Matt to drop by at his earliest convenience. As Dirty Harry put
it, “A man's got to know his limitations.”</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9VPy0Zgem52N-7FJNPBb1bD9L5r51I7dng0H5E8WYvbZyutuwNqQsddI34OkFKdQJOtSstSL22V-Pm3mKXXQUFk-dUmmj7IXQegRMltJSPySqHyIWp-AjYcnot6RXNetth8-Sotd_KQ_/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9VPy0Zgem52N-7FJNPBb1bD9L5r51I7dng0H5E8WYvbZyutuwNqQsddI34OkFKdQJOtSstSL22V-Pm3mKXXQUFk-dUmmj7IXQegRMltJSPySqHyIWp-AjYcnot6RXNetth8-Sotd_KQ_/" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">At least the drive to Home Depot is scenic.</span></p><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-17735024764003120702021-03-12T13:05:00.002-07:002021-03-12T13:05:53.435-07:00Images<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">I have a very nice Canon digital SLR but I've wanted to get back to basics for a long time. I bought a Canon A-1 on EBay a year ago. It was the camera I lusted for when it came out but I never had the budget to afford it. Now, it's cheap as dirt because people can't instantly post the pictures on fakebook.</span><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">It's the slowness that attracts me now. I have to be a little more careful and a lot more thoughtful in my technique and composition. I can't just fire off a dozen shots and pick out one that looks best.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">I let it sit while I did other things but finally bought film for it and took it with me on a hike. Everything seemed to be in working order for a 40 year old camera. The first roll of pictures were OK if uninspiring. So many things to set and check. I finally bumbled through it and was satisfied when the results came back.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFt32xblP08PXQqoUgxMwkkuBfMLXU1gCvXLGCV75CNP8ut5nZVwfcSnuDsGF0n7619QTKJhxw3bKWMNt5uVOZn3I0wwCqwuPCK7-_JMqRNn-A0AY94_2G7eRHOFl4199GrhhS3_Hvlen/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="995" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFt32xblP08PXQqoUgxMwkkuBfMLXU1gCvXLGCV75CNP8ut5nZVwfcSnuDsGF0n7619QTKJhxw3bKWMNt5uVOZn3I0wwCqwuPCK7-_JMqRNn-A0AY94_2G7eRHOFl4199GrhhS3_Hvlen/w400-h253/img107.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I took it with me on the Death Valley trip last month. I had my trusty Olympus digital as a backup but I wanted to see if old school photography still held my interest. I chose Ilford black and white film to see what would happen.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmm-pJyQnkFjzsxm1qVCxooshelCwj_zQZM21hO8kSzhlkcJbZpViHxwGsZWp9I8_4hZOBwNOslqiFILtRkIizbniJhbpHudgQC1dw7mLHgqOTwHbsvC6n8ZcqCbE1uDgth_hIxtZALsA/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="993" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmm-pJyQnkFjzsxm1qVCxooshelCwj_zQZM21hO8kSzhlkcJbZpViHxwGsZWp9I8_4hZOBwNOslqiFILtRkIizbniJhbpHudgQC1dw7mLHgqOTwHbsvC6n8ZcqCbE1uDgth_hIxtZALsA/w400-h253/img125.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />As you can see the results are promising but I obviously have a long way to go.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEovpseum_ltGzHZEmMckH7a-UG-RJcRG4jlEpoHOjn5k6d6OcXR0q_VIG4iX6TDIL0bbIn0hGvlBGDqE2CBZbNeKEsRmkBEav2B-gqLCtII9joy5yYQ5_2aNRqR9nAajWWOcol_dyzbR9/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="628" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEovpseum_ltGzHZEmMckH7a-UG-RJcRG4jlEpoHOjn5k6d6OcXR0q_VIG4iX6TDIL0bbIn0hGvlBGDqE2CBZbNeKEsRmkBEav2B-gqLCtII9joy5yYQ5_2aNRqR9nAajWWOcol_dyzbR9/w255-h400/img135.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><br />I had fun developing the film last night. Filling the tank, first with developer and counting the minutes, then each of the other chemicals in their turn. Taking out the film and seeing tiny images on the strip of celluloid was gratifying. At least I hadn't totally bolloxed it up!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">I just ordered more film so that I can continue this experiment. I'll post pictures from time to time to better illuminate my commentaries.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><hr />
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</div></div>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-56930731928914277892021-03-10T11:13:00.002-07:002021-03-10T11:13:32.368-07:00Day 101 - Conclusion<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Well, I made it. A few
hiccups along the way but I think I've stayed true to my intentions.
I've had a lot of fun doing it and have found a few insights about
myself along the way. The important part is that I set a goal and
followed through. I'm pretty easy going and patient so sticking to a
deadline each day is not in my normal character. Not that I'm lazy,
let's just say that I'm good at prioritizing and most things just
aren't that big a priority.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">I like writing. It both
clears and focuses my mind. Typing at a keyboard is good for this but
writing on a piece of paper is even better. I was once told, “If
you can't explain it, you don't know it.” I will leave you with
three books that are worth reading on this subject:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">On Writing Well –
William Zinsser</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Writing To Learn –
William Zinsser</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Thinking On Paper –
V.A. Howard, J.H. Barton</span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">To all the people who
subscribed (and endured) the past 100+ days, thanks for coming along. Your remarks and encouragement have meant a lot to me. I'll continue to write about my thoughts and record my trips but, for
now, I think I'll take a short break.<br /><br /></span></p><hr />
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-10831103651682791362021-03-09T20:22:00.000-07:002021-03-09T20:22:02.474-07:00Day 100 - Notes<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">When traveling I like
to keep all sorts of notes. Where I stopped for lunch, how much gas I
got in what town or village, maybe a quote from somebody I met along the way. I have
all sorts of notebooks from trips, large and small, that I have kept
through the years. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">I keep threatening to
transcribe them but I doubt I ever will. I started once but the
computer I used is obsolete and the disks are not compatible
with anything I have now. </span>
</p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Even when I tried it I
could only half remember the context for many of the entries. I tried
to annotate with remarks but that made the job all the more onerous
and the project languished. I can type better and faster now so maybe
I'll try again when I'm old and installed in some elder care
facility.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">The problem is that I'd
rather be out filling up new notebooks instead of sitting at my
computer pecking away while I drool on the keyboard. Besides, who
would read any of it. It would be nice if there was an affordable
voice to text editor that I could just talk to. I could read an entry
and explain the circumstances. That might be interesting if
accompanied with a couple of good stiff drinks.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">I think there is a lot
of personal and family history that is being lost for lack of writing
it down. Once there were family Bibles that maintained a continuity
through generations. Now there is fakebook and tictok that have all
the persistence of dew in the desert. What will future generations
think when all they have are videos of cats riding Roombas and
pictures of people doing stupid things?</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">My recommendation is
<a href="https://www.riteintherain.com/">Rite in the Rain</a>. I like
the #372 lined paper for most of my notes and the #352 grid paper for
diagrams or sketches. I keep them in a #200 binder, the lined paper
in front and the grid paper in back so I can grab one and insert it
into flow. I've found the C9200 cover is handy because it has pockets
to tuck away tickets or cards that I want to save. It's a tidy way to
keep things together and protect them.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Lastly I like the
<a href="https://www.spacepen.com/bullet.aspx">Fisher Bullet Space
Pen</a> to write with. I have a simple brass one that has taken a
beating and lasted forever. It fits nicely into a pocket on the
binder cover above. Over the years the sweat and grime from my hand has given it a nice patina.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Even if I, or anyone
else, never read the notes, it's fun to write them down and capture
an instant in time and of my life. It clarifies the moment and brings it
into sharp focus. Writing it down helps me see things I often didn't
even know I'd seen.<br /><br /></span></p><hr />
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-71847810005788016322021-03-08T19:09:00.001-07:002021-03-08T19:09:09.742-07:00Day 99 - Book<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">People often ask me
about adventures and travel and what I might or might not recommend.
In the summer. I say, “Just Go!”</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">In the winter it's a
little different in the Great White North. I know that some hardy souls
convert their bikes to winter sleds but I'm all for staying close to
home where it's warm. Reading accounts of other's adventures is
always a pleasant way to pass the time until spring returns.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Jz6LLqMKCc29HN3TKEr4umOf7e4o7lb3JhgpU4-KpWRKOSV_hxuKCyYRHGlx-FkERLhclXaQKKSiR2J4A0MZRN_9gNXLB7NPdVfYMDha6F1PBDBm2GBURkWOlzcwrTLksUcRrZ3HTdIL/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="181" data-original-width="278" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Jz6LLqMKCc29HN3TKEr4umOf7e4o7lb3JhgpU4-KpWRKOSV_hxuKCyYRHGlx-FkERLhclXaQKKSiR2J4A0MZRN_9gNXLB7NPdVfYMDha6F1PBDBm2GBURkWOlzcwrTLksUcRrZ3HTdIL/w400-h260/Beryl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><p></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">My favorite adventure
book has nothing to do with motorcycles. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_with_the_Night">West
With The Night by Beryl Markham</a> is the book that hooked me on
travel, especially in Africa.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Forget those two
loonies and their camera crew, this is the real deal. She grew up
training race horses in Kenya. She then learned to fly and was the first
woman to cross the Atlantic east to west which is against the
prevailing headwinds. Hers is the story of a life time.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">It's
a great book that's easy to read and hard to put down. No less than
Ernest Hemingway said,</span></p>
<blockquote>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><span></span><span><span>“<span style="color: #202122;"><span>
[she] can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writer.
</span></span></span><span style="color: #202122;"><span>”</span><span> </span></span></span></span></p></blockquote><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Oxygen;"><span>I've given away dozens of copies. As a loyal reader I'd be happy to
send one to you too. Just drop me a note.</span><br /><br /></span></span></p><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-21798378928346864932021-03-08T18:53:00.008-07:002021-03-08T18:53:59.533-07:00Day 98 - Travel<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxaUPuf-MkXPk2TbPeO2ahzq-GgJUo1OyFcXG5rPj3LqwdqXZvqOVfLMZI379XP_iHLyFqCJnW4X-ZDaoD5Nch5g1SB4opmyjDmEYsshCeBODSbiYYP3a_6Mc4fn3lKbIJLGCBKIt0OOI/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><img alt="" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="473" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxaUPuf-MkXPk2TbPeO2ahzq-GgJUo1OyFcXG5rPj3LqwdqXZvqOVfLMZI379XP_iHLyFqCJnW4X-ZDaoD5Nch5g1SB4opmyjDmEYsshCeBODSbiYYP3a_6Mc4fn3lKbIJLGCBKIt0OOI/w400-h316/REF1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><p></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Oxygen;">Imagine
that the you had just graduated from the University of Vienna and
were at a celebratory dinner with lots of guests. Your home is in New
York and the question comes up, “How are you getting home?”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Oxygen;">Fly?
That's pretty easy and convenient. Ship? Leisurely and relaxing after
all the years of study. Maybe see a little of Europe before heading
back to The States?</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Oxygen;">Robert
Edison Fulton Jr's (REF) answer in 1932 was, “I am going to ride
around the world on a motorcycle!”</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Oxygen;">When
people think of motorcycle adventure books they most often focus on<b>
Jupiter's Travels</b> by Ted Simon. It's a wonderful book that makes a
mockery of any phony reality show. Ted was was the real Been There,
Done That rider who went with what had when it was time to go. I met
him once and he signed my copy. A fantastic and humble guy who tells
it like it was with no punches pulled. A hell of a book!</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202122;">REF's
book is no less fascinating. He heads out from London and tours
through the middle east and Asia on his way home. Some of the photos
he took are straight out of Lawrence of Arabia. </span></span>
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Oxygen;">Names
like Kabul and Kandahar fill the pages of the book, familiar to us
now in the daily news, but foreign and exotic back then. Bombay,
Malaysia, and China are points along the way. All on a two cylinder
Douglas motorcycle that was overloaded to the max.</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202122; font-family: Oxygen;">The
book is <b><a href="https://smile.amazon.com/One-Caravan-Robert-Edison-Fulton-ebook/dp/B06Y198VY9/ref=sr_1_2" target="_blank">One Man Caravan</a></b> and I highly recommend it while we are cooped
up and locked down. It's out of print and either unavailable at the
usual second hand book sellers or outrageously priced. However, there
is a<a href="https://smile.amazon.com/One-Caravan-Robert-Edison-Fulton-ebook/dp/B06Y198VY9/ref=sr_1_2" target="_blank"> Kindle edition</a> for $11 that is more affordable. I should
obviously take better care of my edition.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202122;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202122;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oENsGhS0hDlnPbJ5FUgglxLljwl_X6z8h-1PxifhZJ5qI9VKHEkJpsnkF7c2HQZiVT13UR8Nz4Jvdy1LGMav-Ielnah0HX2VT-KgVas9M0WJRPJ8Aabcnqa0u5PhyuAc8DfQGviJwPji/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="644" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oENsGhS0hDlnPbJ5FUgglxLljwl_X6z8h-1PxifhZJ5qI9VKHEkJpsnkF7c2HQZiVT13UR8Nz4Jvdy1LGMav-Ielnah0HX2VT-KgVas9M0WJRPJ8Aabcnqa0u5PhyuAc8DfQGviJwPji/w400-h253/REF2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #202122;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #202122;">Note
– Although REF has passed away his son still has the motorcycle and
it resides in Colorado. My friend Linda knows him and he has promised
to show me the bike and talk about his dad. I'll share all that when
I visit him this summer.</span></span><p></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-10690046541983117762021-03-06T19:50:00.002-07:002021-03-06T19:50:09.765-07:00Day 97 - Chores<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">This is funny – The
next time you and your spouse/</span><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">partner</span><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;"> get into an argument and they
are really ripping, grab a towel and drape it over their shoulders.
Announce loudly, “Now you are Super Mad!”</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">They will either break
out laughing, Or kill you!</span></p>
<hr />
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">When a man says he will
do something you can be sure he will do it. There is no need to keep
reminding him every six months.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">The problem with trying
to do something is that there is always something that needs to be
done first.. Today I was going to vacuum the
house. Eazee-Pezee, right? Hardly!</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">As I started in the
hallway the plug pulled out of the wall socket for the
lebenty-lebenth time. Arghh! I had been promising myself I would fix it for
<i>a very long time</i> and decided that today was the day.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Because I'm such a good
planner I already had a new socket. In fact, I had several of them
for all of the other sockets I planned to replace. Gathering up my
tools I went downstairs to turn off the circuit so that I didn't
light myself up like a dim bulb. Then I went back upstairs, plugged
in a desk lamp, and called my dear sweet wife to watch when the lamp
went off so I'd know when I switched off the right circuit. Back
downstairs to the panel and start switching things off. It was, of
course, the last switch I checked.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Back upstairs I
dismantled the switch and connected the new one. I worked my way
through school wiring fire control panels on nuclear submarines so
this was pretty elementary. Task completed. I tightened down the face
plate and went downstairs again to switch on the circuit. No sparks
or flames so job well done.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Back to the vacuuming,
but first – set all the clocks that had been reset when I turned
off the circuits looking for the right one.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Now, back to the
vacuuming. Looking good until the rotary brush got tangled with the
fringe on one of the area rugs. Happens all the time – just
untangle it and hit the little red Reset button. But first - go find a
small pointed instrument to push on the button.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Found it but the system
is not resetting so put it on the kitchen counter and disassemble it.
No problem, I took apart six cylinder, four valve, double overhead
cam motorcycle engines so this is a piece of cake. Nothing looks
wrong except that the light bulb is burned out.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Downstairs again to
look up the bulb and order it on Amazon. Why is it that one bulb
costs $9 but two bulbs cost $10.35? Six for only $13.50 as if I
thought the machine would ever last that long.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Back upstairs to button
up the attachment and get to work. Ding-Dong. Oh look, the friends I
was cleaning the house for have arrived. Oh well, They don't care and I can always vacuum
next week.<br /><br /></span></p><hr />
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-21785643814005593192021-03-05T22:23:00.002-07:002021-03-05T22:23:45.947-07:00Day 96 - Rally<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">A couple of friends and
I are planning a motorcycle rally to be known as the <b>Six Corners of Utah Rally</b>. <br />It's in the form of a scavenger
hunt but the goal is to collect places and not things. We are
tentatively targeting Memorial Day but that may get shifted depending
on how quickly we can get everything organized.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Instructions:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">There
is no entry fee. However if you wish to make a donation to help
cover costs a jar will be available at the sign-in desk.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen; font-size: small;">You
must sign up at least 24 hours before the rally date in order to be
entered for scoring. The website is at <a href="http://6cornersrally.org/">6cornersrally.org</a></span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">You
may choose a class when you sign up. You can only enter one class.</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Street
– any bike allowed</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Small
– 200cc or less</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Scooter
– 12” wheels or smaller</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Vintage
– 1980 or older</span></p>
</li></ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">The
destinations will be sorted into themes.</span></p>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Urban
warriors – SLC area</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Unlimited
– anywhere in Utah</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Adventure
– many dirt roads</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">6
Corners – all the <b>Welcome to Utah</b> signs</span></p>
</li></ul>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Destinations
will be scored by distance and difficulty. Destinations farther away and/or
the more difficult to get to will score more points.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">The
currently planned Rally start is Liberty Park in SLC.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">On
the morning of the Rally you will be given a shop towel with a
letter or number on it.</span></p>
</li></ul>
<ul>
<li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">At 9:30 a list of destinations with point values will be available.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">You will have up to 30
minutes to plot your best course of action.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">At 10am the Rally will
officially begin. Ending time to be determined.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">At each destination you will park in front of the indicated sign or landmark,
place your shop towel prominently on your bike, and take a picture
of it with your phone.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">You will then text
that picture to Rally Central to be scored.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Only 1 phone number per entry
is allowed.</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">At the end of the
rally the points will be totaled and participant scores will be
posted on the website. Everyone will be emailed a certificate with
their score and the position in their class.
</span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">The purpose of this
rally is to have fun and enjoy the great state we live in! </span></p>
</li><li><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Ride Smart and Ride
Safely. Don't come whining to us if you get a speeding ticket!</span></p>
</li></ul>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br />
</span></p><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-70059541005066359502021-03-04T19:49:00.003-07:002021-03-04T19:49:15.984-07:00Day 95 - Movies<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Here are some of my
favorite movies:</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><a href="https://youtu.be/zmr1iSG3RTA" target="_blank">Lawrence of Arabia</a> –
I was a kid when this came out and I was totally fascinated with
Lawrence. The scope and grandeur of the film were enough to win 7
Academy awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. I read his
biography and his book, The 7 Pillars of Wisdom. At the time I was
sure that it was indicative of some future role for me to play in the
world. It could possibly have inspired my love of the desert.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><a href="https://youtu.be/joGb3859K3s">The
Americanization of Emily</a> – James Garner at his best as a
“Practicing Coward” It's a spoof about the absurdity of war and
the people who think dying is an act of courage. A young Julie
Andrews gets to play a real person instead of the Mary Poppins
persona she later assumed.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><a href="https://youtu.be/V-31l0eKBkU">Dear
Frankie</a> – For every kid who has no father or was ignored by the
one they had, this movie will tug at their heart. It's not sad but
rather shows the real connections a family can have. It's not a
romance movie but a movie about the depths of real love. <span style="color: #030303;">Emily
Mortimer</span>
and Gerard Butler give outstanding performances</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><a href="https://youtu.be/H9Z3_ifFheQ">Love
Actually</a> – Although I'm a sucker for Vanessa Hudgens Christmas
movies, Love Actually is my favorite for the holidays. It's
bitter-sweet with thrilling hits and heart breaking misses. In the
end, it's all the things we've all been through. An all star cast but
for me Bill Nighy steals the show.</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><a href="https://youtu.be/gnVt0tqT7YQ">Son
of Rambow</a> – Simply put, this is the kid you wanted to be when
you were a kid. So much exuberance and energy that only kids
could possibly have. If this doesn't put a smile on your face, you're
dead!</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><a href="https://youtu.be/IJ7AXKWmWOg">Grosse
Pointe Blank</a> – School reunions can be deadly and assassination
can be fun. John Cusack at his best. This movie has so many funny
moments that I couldn't count them all if I tried. How often does a
woman get a marriage proposal in the middle of a gun fight? Here's a
question – is Joan Cusack the most underrated actress in Hollywood?</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><a href="https://youtu.be/6qoaVUdbWMs">The
Way Way Back</a> – I usually avoid coming of age movies but this
one hits the mark dead center bullseye! In fact it was almost too
close to home for me in parts. Awkward and funny by turns but all
very true to life. The water slide scenes are hysterical.<br /><br /></span></p><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-59320756780730351702021-03-03T21:45:00.005-07:002021-03-03T21:45:55.101-07:00Day 94 - Speech<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Today's program will be
interrupted for this important announcement.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Free speech is being
attacked on all sides. Hong Kong was promised autonomy when it was
repatriated from the U.K. However, as we can all see, it's
independence is being crushed by the forces in Beijing who demand
subservience to their rule. Myanmar suffered a military coup and its citizens are being shot in the street for raising their voices.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">In the U.S. People are
not yet being jailed or murdered for differing opinions but cancel
culture is doing the same thing on a more insidious scale.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">I remember a PBS
broadcast some years back when young Germans said they were tired of
being cast as Nazis. “We were not even born when the Reich was in
power!” Now, even a microsecond of hesitation will cast any white
person as a racist. In fact, not apologizing for the color of their
skin is an admission of guilt according to the “woke”.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">A political science
teacher I once had said that it was impossible to make ideas safe for
people, the only path forward was to make people safe for ideas. The
only way for that was an education that openly debated concepts and
the facts. In other words, Free Speech.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">That seems to be what
the new agenda fears most. Cancel culture seeks to silence any
opposing views. Are there bad people with bad ideas? Of course there
are, on both sides. Only open an open forum without fear of reprisal
will expose them.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">What the new
progressives want is power by any means. By cloaking themselves in a
mantle of righteousness and casting guilt upon any that oppose them
they are no different than the ones they wish to depose. Socialism?
Look to Venezuela for a shining example. Benevolent ruler? How about
Che Guevara who was a blood thirsty megalomaniac. The thing that
characterizes both regimes is the suppression of free speech. That and a population that wants to change the repression for freedom.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><span>I was a member of
Students for a Democratic Society for a short time when I was young.
It didn't take me long to realize that most of the leaders were in it for their
own ego trip. They assured themselves that only they could see
clearly and that the ends justified the means. Anyone who didn't agree 100% was the enemy and must be silenced.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">We can't turn back the clock and reverse the actions of our
predecessors but we can avoid repeating them by open discussion and
not silence.</span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">The only thing for the triumph of evil is for good
people to do nothing.<br />-- Edmund Burke</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">The Who said it best in 1971.</span><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"> </span> </p>
<p align="CENTER"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYMD_W_r3Fg" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: Oxygen;">"Won't
Get Fooled Again"</span></a></b></span></span></p>
<p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">We'll
be fighting in the streets<br />With our children at our feet<br />And
the morals that they worship will be gone<br />And the men who spurred
us on<br />Sit in judgement of all wrong<br />They decide and the shotgun
sings the song<br /><br />I'll tip my hat to the new constitution<br />Take
a bow for the new revolution<br />Smile and grin at the change all
around<br />Pick up my guitar and play<br />Just like yesterday<br />Then
I'll get on my knees and pray<br />We don't get fooled again<br /><br />The
change, it had to come<br />We knew it all along<br />We were liberated
from the fold, that's all<br />And the world looks just the same<br />And
history ain't changed<br />'Cause the banners, they are flown in the
last war<br /><br />I'll tip my hat to the new constitution<br />Take a bow
for the new revolution<br />Smile and grin at the change all
around<br />Pick up my guitar and play<br />Just like yesterday<br />Then
I'll get on my knees and pray<br />We don't get fooled again<br />No,
no!<br /><br />I'll move myself and my family aside<br />If we happen to be
left half alive<br />I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky<br />Oh
I know that the hypnotized never lie<br />Do ya?<br /><br />There's nothing
in the streets<br />Looks any different to me<br />And the slogans are
replaced, by the bye<br />And a parting on the left<br />Is now a parting
on the right<br />And the beards have all grown longer overnight<br /><br />I'll
tip my hat to the new constitution<br />Take a bow for the new
revolution<br />Smile and grin at the change all around<br />Pick up my
guitar and play<br />Just like yesterday<br />Then I'll get on my knees
and pray<br />We don't get fooled again<br />Don't get fooled again<br />No,
no!<br /><br />Meet the new boss<br />Same as the old boss</span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br />
</span></p>
<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br />
</span></p><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-36174133839459850992021-03-02T19:52:00.000-07:002021-03-02T19:52:15.428-07:00Day 93 - Scramblers<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">How do I love thee, let
me count the ways …</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Or</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">How do I love bikes,
let me count them all …</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5OOFfa9ELZjdAXX7_epCZ8bubmE-SIK1_eIJsJtV-r_ghdhMWHuYbHsIRDAUXlMKHaEZMobrH2kuu_9M9lfdfxkiPv_IYFATK8nDhUVUQEGS0JOT1dgZ7W1OKBIVsc0EcrnT1C28oSIm/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5OOFfa9ELZjdAXX7_epCZ8bubmE-SIK1_eIJsJtV-r_ghdhMWHuYbHsIRDAUXlMKHaEZMobrH2kuu_9M9lfdfxkiPv_IYFATK8nDhUVUQEGS0JOT1dgZ7W1OKBIVsc0EcrnT1C28oSIm/w400-h300/IMG_20210302_134340.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">I just moved into a new
storage space that finally lets me keep them all together and frees
up my garage for working on one without tripping over all the others.
Best of all, it has doors at both ends so it's drive-in, drive-out.
No fuss, No muss!</span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihei9DLrL0LJ3ztMSln8A3QSkmaeRbr74Qa0eZids9Q7jCanJpA_ceBt5pxUw1gImsE7c7FU4ptYWYmG8NO30fC1H-hO9ASXp4Io3IqtFFNrHKgeNcAWfXEIKuI8uejNgcY-cjkbQ6-uHF/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihei9DLrL0LJ3ztMSln8A3QSkmaeRbr74Qa0eZids9Q7jCanJpA_ceBt5pxUw1gImsE7c7FU4ptYWYmG8NO30fC1H-hO9ASXp4Io3IqtFFNrHKgeNcAWfXEIKuI8uejNgcY-cjkbQ6-uHF/w400-h300/IMG_20210302_134529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Best of all, there is
room for more! Notice that only one of Beth's bikes has moved in. The rest of hers will double the count.</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUlshT0dnMtKc9N7rpOcGhl-hrdUOnGDk_NH30yGLT1Oo83fzY5RNjnmW-mbtz6pT7vGnj3uOvwerGRjAzMubaYOz63JCGf08kY-plRb_WchPRjrPQ7ze7TmT3fQ9CvHzpHRDaZF7nBkb/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUlshT0dnMtKc9N7rpOcGhl-hrdUOnGDk_NH30yGLT1Oo83fzY5RNjnmW-mbtz6pT7vGnj3uOvwerGRjAzMubaYOz63JCGf08kY-plRb_WchPRjrPQ7ze7TmT3fQ9CvHzpHRDaZF7nBkb/w400-h300/IMG_20210302_134422.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">The ratty one on the
right plus the last two in line (not counting the orphan with the
rusty tank and no engine) are all Honda 250 Scramblers from the '60s.
The one minus the engine has been owned by me or one of my friends
since my days at Fun Bike Center in San Diego. That is to say, a very
long time!</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdGB4txeGgcGV9LfV2e3hXQjI5Y4cXeCFUZVXV8RehI3kyjJmpe8HSc7oehKBQipe80ac2g6cPTd9oIMJjOsbl4Xm4W8oc8WSUp9lxr2WfXihXsYF-NxQPsIa1lRlt3TZqwyW5u2eo76Q/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdGB4txeGgcGV9LfV2e3hXQjI5Y4cXeCFUZVXV8RehI3kyjJmpe8HSc7oehKBQipe80ac2g6cPTd9oIMJjOsbl4Xm4W8oc8WSUp9lxr2WfXihXsYF-NxQPsIa1lRlt3TZqwyW5u2eo76Q/w300-h400/IMG_20210302_191602_1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">This engine has been a
living room sculpture for the last year waiting to be installed in
that bike. It was rebuilt by none other than my friend Bill Silver.
He is probably the most knowledgeable person on vintage Hondas
outside of Japan and has written several books on the subject. I like
to think I know a lot about them but Bill puts me to shame.</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">The plan is to take the
three bikes plus the parts I've accumulated over the past few years to restore my original bike and make
one more complete bike for a daily rider. The goal is to do it this
summer and ride it down to Baja.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">This is the 50<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of <a href="https://youtu.be/qoEKHkvJIkQ" target="_blank">On Any Sunday</a> and it only seems proper to ride the
same bike that started the very <a href="https://www.cycleworld.com/before-there-was-baja-1000-there-were-ekins-and-robertson/" target="_blank">first Baja 1000</a> down to Mexico.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Stay tuned!</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</p><hr />
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-24289885956245313812021-03-01T21:36:00.005-07:002021-03-01T21:37:17.317-07:00Day 92 - Hero<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">I suppose that kids
nowadays think of Transformers, or comic book super heroe</span><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">s, or Harry
Potter characters as the ideals they want to pattern their lives
after. When I was a kid it was John Wayne or Steve McQueen. Manly men
who could do anything, win any fight, and always get the girl in the
end.</span></p><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkLbDD_xWNHu3O75zuRQev3co-FdHiq7nafPgjJqDD1sKJkcg4awGkVHcodzVPWpK99AHW1AConDmOrAeN1ftMrLSq4YQ3f-xrr7bdqYd1BL5_8eRee-5KoGay1ztQeMuxj14xox4zKi7/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="635" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibkLbDD_xWNHu3O75zuRQev3co-FdHiq7nafPgjJqDD1sKJkcg4awGkVHcodzVPWpK99AHW1AConDmOrAeN1ftMrLSq4YQ3f-xrr7bdqYd1BL5_8eRee-5KoGay1ztQeMuxj14xox4zKi7/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">I, of course, was
different. I wanted to be like </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Garner" style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">James
Garner</a><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">. He was always cast as a lovable scamp who had a trick up
his sleeve to foil his enemies rather than a mighty fist that could
punch his opponent into next week. That appealed to to me because I
was an awkward, skinny kid who couldn't fight his way out of a paper
bag.</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">What I did have was a
brain and a knack for seeing through people. I could figure out what
they wanted and find ways to convince them that punching me was not
it. A smart mouth got me into trouble but just as often got me back
out of trouble. </span>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Garner always got the
girl, but I'd have to wait awhile for that. In the mean time I'd just
do the “Aw Shucks” routine and tell them that hitting me would be
more embarrassing for them than painful for me. Mostly, it worked.<br /><br /></span></p><hr />
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-71741895499247770672021-02-28T20:09:00.002-07:002021-02-28T20:09:24.166-07:00Day 91 - Shop<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">What is old is new
again. In my case what is old may still be hanging around.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRXTHyga1bTYfJ4lchrN2xD0Cpld9j3qdYnvQ1njovK6olQlSrnz-yChaHPP4YzrA3aNg9Oc9MTHZ7u6gmgAkvuxHu5DaKBsEAg2swq0tohO9_D_iXYLbsv2x85G1jhiH2hg9aXNGCzih/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1343" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRXTHyga1bTYfJ4lchrN2xD0Cpld9j3qdYnvQ1njovK6olQlSrnz-yChaHPP4YzrA3aNg9Oc9MTHZ7u6gmgAkvuxHu5DaKBsEAg2swq0tohO9_D_iXYLbsv2x85G1jhiH2hg9aXNGCzih/w262-h400/Img015.jpg" width="262" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br />These are my old tool
boxes. The little one on the ground is the first one I bought use
when I got my first mechanic job at Weymouth Honda. The picture is
from 22 June 1977 in San Diego.</span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIdzuzotU5W7LUOH_ROwsZHX1mWTUiFEt6guaZaqnr8l2DmM6zu4nl87Ktmbw_2anRdpvE7f08L1fayIRU8E7zw1VUTafhaESuQBRYcf86l8sGQHdnBJLHFtOXx4H41J2NRLeWg40UKW-/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSIdzuzotU5W7LUOH_ROwsZHX1mWTUiFEt6guaZaqnr8l2DmM6zu4nl87Ktmbw_2anRdpvE7f08L1fayIRU8E7zw1VUTafhaESuQBRYcf86l8sGQHdnBJLHFtOXx4H41J2NRLeWg40UKW-/" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br />Same toolbox 44 years
later filled with the original Snap-On tools I bought back when I
started. Close inspection reveals the same decals plus many years of
grease and grime.</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZqobK2E3FGuS0ghQ-R7PwW04FKYjbrLSGS6N3d3I-cEKk4YfrwDatEDf0EtfnBLj6dWYsSRvx59tcKTD9XDrj9QQJcTOvKgt12LixN78lvZP94qaZ53cXiDUoz9hbej2E6WmZgdFV534/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZqobK2E3FGuS0ghQ-R7PwW04FKYjbrLSGS6N3d3I-cEKk4YfrwDatEDf0EtfnBLj6dWYsSRvx59tcKTD9XDrj9QQJcTOvKgt12LixN78lvZP94qaZ53cXiDUoz9hbej2E6WmZgdFV534/w225-h400/P2280012.JPG" width="225" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br />These are the new tool
boxes I bought to replace the big ones in the previous picture. The
originals went to my brother who was starting out as a diesel
mechanic and needed some tools work with. I kept my original wrenches and all
the motorcycle special tools but gave him the rest. What are brothers
for?</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wSYJFfqtP2vgWDA0ZiyTU-4UY0cibsTpFDoLEuc2AX2GZlTpPi_CU_9ODLWolrsAjP8KMGgzIYPk5cR84XZSsttXYknyvkl5RfpcL-Ix87IEzXhzk5zvw055kVjeVuuJzz7McO8PPxEc/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wSYJFfqtP2vgWDA0ZiyTU-4UY0cibsTpFDoLEuc2AX2GZlTpPi_CU_9ODLWolrsAjP8KMGgzIYPk5cR84XZSsttXYknyvkl5RfpcL-Ix87IEzXhzk5zvw055kVjeVuuJzz7McO8PPxEc/w400-h225/P2280014.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br />This is the workbench my dad made for me when I was 10 or 11. He kept it
while I wandered the world. I was happy to find that he had saved it
and brought it home in the back of my truck.</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5D_uFZLGXslTLZwnbM2D2lh9ygQBez_Q8mRp3LZPHIAsCiAPojRF0MlrDZgroRV0vTPGE6rslTZKgQh7vTcNQBf8E-PINIZ72Qn0MXjcU17cP4pE2QItkRDomZ7dG66kLCb7sYa7T4Q7h/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5D_uFZLGXslTLZwnbM2D2lh9ygQBez_Q8mRp3LZPHIAsCiAPojRF0MlrDZgroRV0vTPGE6rslTZKgQh7vTcNQBf8E-PINIZ72Qn0MXjcU17cP4pE2QItkRDomZ7dG66kLCb7sYa7T4Q7h/w400-h225/P2280015.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br />A Honda Interceptor 750
on my lift. Once you have a lift you will never go back! For you
readers in California and Arizona, that weird red and black mechanism to the left is a snow blower. No reason for you to know that!</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaAjgII6MezzEDABo0T6NVXyHnVMEWgUT-vWIygashDMFkJ0vN8mLf6w7Bl-r8zwFD2rvbfrYEZlLZJTKK_PuWATbseECHlxC7sBhcRW3Laq4ADtxsMhYA_QOoQr0OwFaSNu42fVDBWUC/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaAjgII6MezzEDABo0T6NVXyHnVMEWgUT-vWIygashDMFkJ0vN8mLf6w7Bl-r8zwFD2rvbfrYEZlLZJTKK_PuWATbseECHlxC7sBhcRW3Laq4ADtxsMhYA_QOoQr0OwFaSNu42fVDBWUC/w400-h225/P2280017.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><br />This is Beth's half of
the garage. Her own tool boxes, her own workbench, and her own lift.
She does most of her own work with some help from me on occasion. She
just replaced the brake lines on the Hawk GT with braided stainless
steel lines. I was allowed to pump the lever while she bled the
brakes. That's one of her two Ducatis in the background, a 900 SS LE.
She has 9 bikes in all if you count the race bikes and Bonneville LSR
bike.</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">You know those t-shirts
that say, “If you can read this, the bitch fell off!”? Beth has
one that says, “If you can read this, the bitch just passed you!”<br /><br /></span></p><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-42231923467283785242021-02-27T19:51:00.000-07:002021-02-27T19:51:48.497-07:00Day 90 - Dates<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">In
<span style="color: black;">high
school I was beyond shy. I was frightened to death of girls and never
went on a date or to any of the dances. I didn't have many guy
friends either but I was straight A's in my engineering classes. A
nerd's nerd even before anyone knew what a nerd was.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Oxygen;">I
was a big fan of movies like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6JVaUHS0Ow">To
Catch A Thief</a> where Cary Grant was always so confident and
sophisticated. I also liked all the Doris Day / Rock Hudson movies
for the same reason. This led to one big problem, I knew how they
acted right up to that moment where things started to get intimate and
the camera panned up into the sky. <i>Wait!</i> <i>What?</i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Oxygen;">I
finally started dating and was very popular. I did all the things I
had seen in the movies. I took girls to fancy places and treated them
like movie stars. The only problem was that none of the
relationships ever lasted more than 3 or 4 dates. I was the perfect
gentleman. Which is to say, <b>BORING!</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Oxygen;">There
was that problem, I didn't know what to do next. I'd take them home
and they'd want to be kissed. I didn't know anything about that
and just shook their hands. Queue the death knell.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Oxygen;">The
guys all thought I was really hitting home runs because I had so many
different girls and I was certainly not going to disagree with them.
When they asked about this one or that one, I replied that a
gentleman didn't kiss and tell. In my case they didn't even kiss!</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Oxygen;">Cary
Grant couldn't have put on a better act. I went to parties, took
dates to clubs, and was seen at all the best places. Only I knew what
a façade it was. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Oxygen;">Then it happened, there was this girl that everyone
wanted and nobody came close to getting. I was at a party having a
reasonably good time when she came over and started talking to me. I
was a little shocked but went into my routine of being suave and
above it all.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Oxygen;">After
a few minutes she said, “You are totally full of shit and are
coming home with me tonight!” </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Oxygen;">OK!!</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><span style="color: black;">And
this is where the camera pans up into the sky and the music swells in
romantic interludes </span>… </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
</span></p><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-1247360374036473172021-02-26T19:57:00.003-07:002021-02-26T19:57:39.611-07:00Day 89 - Cars<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">My first car was an old
Ford that didn't have a motor. Or a transmission. I bought it with
the money I had saved from my allowance. I had it towed to a place a
block from my home. My father found out about it and hit the roof.
What was I thinking? What was I going to do with it? HAD I ASKED
PERMISSION? I don't know, I don't know, No …</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtle9DnD8EgR4m4h6SpNgPv1YAtSyJvRuqsftu1z6i1-GfY9YeOZbphKWgVSf77Q-LqNBnhzRk0haM2E_oRwRPpRTxO-w-U9eJaKsI2vDAWQGt8CU5PPuiX-S-cG-2EoQW_VyGZ_1LTao/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="294" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtle9DnD8EgR4m4h6SpNgPv1YAtSyJvRuqsftu1z6i1-GfY9YeOZbphKWgVSf77Q-LqNBnhzRk0haM2E_oRwRPpRTxO-w-U9eJaKsI2vDAWQGt8CU5PPuiX-S-cG-2EoQW_VyGZ_1LTao/" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">My second car was a '53
Chevy Bel Air convertible. This one was in great shape with the
exception of the transmission which was blown. I bought it for $50 of
my paper route money. My sister's boyfriend was eager to make points
so he helped me find a replacement transmission in a junk yard and
helped me install it. I kept it parked down the block and only drove
it when nobody was looking.</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">When my father found
out about it he hit the roof. What was I thinking? What was I going
to do with it? HAD I ASKED PERMISSION? I don't know, I don't know, No
… Experience told me that he wasn't going to say yes under any
circumstances so it was up to me to <i>go pirate</i> if I wanted a
car.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Did I mention that I
didn't have a license? My father thought that if he withheld the
license it would keep me from driving. Just the opposite, it made me
want to drive all the more. Needless to say the Chevy was quickly
sold to the first person that answered the newspaper ad.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDgzctkAqT6bAhzUfyd0IQacdBAgJUC1n3NaLa7RuZsLAH9S7BUt06AMcwbUwFZ5jmRl653-Y4mCDI01LHrmwTTthu1E8bUt8LaeFZg4jHRJIEw2lFaDCeqQb3u3sxZmZ8dC5yd4D9eDs/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="656" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDgzctkAqT6bAhzUfyd0IQacdBAgJUC1n3NaLa7RuZsLAH9S7BUt06AMcwbUwFZ5jmRl653-Y4mCDI01LHrmwTTthu1E8bUt8LaeFZg4jHRJIEw2lFaDCeqQb3u3sxZmZ8dC5yd4D9eDs/w400-h309/TR-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">Arnold Mendoza lived
with his parents next door to us. He had just gotten out of the
Marines and drove a red Triumph TR-3. He also had a girlfriend named
Mary who rode a BMW R69S motorcycle. She wore fitted sealskin
leathers and looked better than Marilyn Monroe. Arnie felt sorry for me and taught me how to drive. Mary smiled at me and said I was a nice kid.
When he moved out into his own apartment he let me hang out with him.
He went to college during the day and worked as a janitor at night to
pay for it. I used to “borrow” the Triumph while he was working,
it was easy to hot wire, and go riding around the city just happy to
cruise with the top down. He knew but didn't seem to mind as long as
the car came back with gas in the tank.</span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBDB4f1WXGnGrhAvmi0MdZppziKmvx6lbGDY8kCJ1F87PXsdauOwsPgllYgjI1Kw9yu-lGsJA-XEviWF_R5UuJq2zoLwlPTnnPtH_vDQcEmiYQvRfqyuBOLEmTHnLYXyAowmVyHdP98QO/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBDB4f1WXGnGrhAvmi0MdZppziKmvx6lbGDY8kCJ1F87PXsdauOwsPgllYgjI1Kw9yu-lGsJA-XEviWF_R5UuJq2zoLwlPTnnPtH_vDQcEmiYQvRfqyuBOLEmTHnLYXyAowmVyHdP98QO/w400-h300/Scout80.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">My next, almost, car
was an International Harvester Scout. Other kids wanted T-Birds or
hot rods but the ugly duckling with 4-wheel drive called to me. I
went down to the dealer and a sympathetic salesman sent me home with
brochures and a sales agreement to be signed by my parents.</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">When I asked my father
he hit the roof. What was I thinking? What was I going to do with it?
HAD I ASKED PERMISSION? Wait! I was asking permission. I was a
straight A student and he said that if I worked hard I could have
anything I wanted. That stopped him, but only for a second. He was
not going to sign for a vehicle because “We do not buy things on
credit!”</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">My mother must have
talked to him because a few days later he brought up the subject and
suggested that something a bit more practical might be possible. I
think he was thinking of a second hand sedan but I had found the new
love of my life. A bug eyed Sprite!</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3qARaLGIXi1hQFolvv6td-eabTr1AIZmiKzPONzdQ1NafKpcx4HTrXh9qjbZnGhDjVh6FRY89kEWHefs8vyOMEfwfSqPpzBbtBCJxJO2MhdVIDdgNgKxiCXW_jejOLQcc3aMI-LQjVGm/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="660" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3qARaLGIXi1hQFolvv6td-eabTr1AIZmiKzPONzdQ1NafKpcx4HTrXh9qjbZnGhDjVh6FRY89kEWHefs8vyOMEfwfSqPpzBbtBCJxJO2MhdVIDdgNgKxiCXW_jejOLQcc3aMI-LQjVGm/w400-h266/Sprite.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">This was a car that
only the British could make. No interior door panels, to open the
door you reached in through the sliding Plexiglas window if the top
was up and pulled on a wire to release the catch. The was no hood,
the whole front end came off, and no trunk lid, you flipped the seat
forward and stowed things behind you. However, it had one feature
above all that made it attractive to me. It was affordable!</span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Consolas, monospace;">I took the brochure to
my dad and made my pitch. He was stuck, he had said that if I had
a solid plan he would give permission. In the end it didn't matter. I
had turned 18 and had to register for the draft. The Vietnam war was
going full blast and I had a choice of volunteering or being sent to
the Army Infantry. I joined the Air Force because I didn't like
people shooting at me. But that's a story for another day!<br /><br /></span></p><hr />
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5560318888272550648.post-300226689977165172021-02-25T18:53:00.004-07:002021-02-26T19:58:01.601-07:00Day 88 - HoSD<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><span>In 1976 I was working
as a mechanic at Fun Bike Center in San Diego. The owner and I had a </span><span>contentious</span><span> relationship. He needed a good mechanic and I needed a good
paycheck. He thought he could tell me what to do and I was sure that
nobody could tell <i>me</i> what to do.</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">I got fired on
a regular basis. At first I would load up my tool boxes and take them
home. A few days later I would find an excuse to drop by the shop and
the service manager would tell me to get back to work. Later it
became such a ritual that I would merely push my tool boxes into a
back corner so I didn't have to take them home.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">On one occasion I
actually got fired and rehired in the same sentence.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
</span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
"You're a pain in the
ass and you're fired, now get back to work!”
</span></blockquote>
<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfB6-cZsT9f-agKaMzpwRqFUpgdV82tgdsbrQ6MfBRncrlqQ3wzdGQ_UHKrd-WnQzNf213T-9z5hCcPthvrBFp7OqHl6y9hX82_jJoifQigFIGIp5n3ZNSFJsJVThlghw8tl_LsUaJQG5/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1299" data-original-width="2048" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfB6-cZsT9f-agKaMzpwRqFUpgdV82tgdsbrQ6MfBRncrlqQ3wzdGQ_UHKrd-WnQzNf213T-9z5hCcPthvrBFp7OqHl6y9hX82_jJoifQigFIGIp5n3ZNSFJsJVThlghw8tl_LsUaJQG5/w400-h254/Img019.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark, our fearless leader in the middle</td></tr></tbody></table><br />That went on for a
while until I got tired of the game and went to work at Honda of San
Diego. Our service manager was an young guy who drank too much. If he
hadn't come into the shop by 10am we would send the lot boy in the
shop truck to pick him up. More than once he returned with the
manager passed out in the back of the truck.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Oxygen;">His most memorable
moment was when he got into an argument with a customer on the phone.
Suddenly he yelled, “Did you see that, that asshole hung up on me!”
He immediately called the customer back and yelled, “Did you just
hang up on me?!?! You don't hang up on me!! I hang up on you!!” And
with that slammed the phone down on the receiver so hard we all
thought he broke it. Needless to say we were all in uncontrollable
hysterics.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3gawKw9HpMMY-4QJIpm6kVjrzjDnTAMo82TTMkdWtdrMBm-35288Mc_RFFH0xphte31Wo5LDUaCE2_MKpxI2HpPlZVe-mqAhRERydt8BgouOCxtPdm6fYpA1COYBi65UKn-T0yBZoArK/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1299" data-original-width="2048" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3gawKw9HpMMY-4QJIpm6kVjrzjDnTAMo82TTMkdWtdrMBm-35288Mc_RFFH0xphte31Wo5LDUaCE2_MKpxI2HpPlZVe-mqAhRERydt8BgouOCxtPdm6fYpA1COYBi65UKn-T0yBZoArK/" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still have the small toolbox by my feet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><hr /><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">
Make my day, tell a friend about this blog!</span>J. Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10513201954735890360noreply@blogger.com0