tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81763317300842938492024-03-14T03:07:05.549-07:00It's been a long journey.cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-35184155024461849452020-05-20T06:26:00.002-07:002020-05-20T06:26:46.955-07:00Sooo. Now we are confined to prevent getting the corona virus. Wearing a mask & gloves to go to the grocery store. It's been two months, now. And I'm in the high risk group; 81 with asthma. I'm not sure why I bother to post here; nobody ever comments, so it must not be read very often. At least I can still ride the Harley to breakfast once a week. We go to a little bakery in Bangor (Calif), get apple turnovers, and take them to a park to eat. The restroom is still open, and nobody has stolen the toilet paper, yet. The freedom on the ride is stress relieving. Maybe there will be a vaccine soon.cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-88701936250487440612018-08-22T21:13:00.000-07:002018-08-22T21:13:38.322-07:00It's late, and I'm tired. Getting old ain't fer sissies, I've been told. I am becoming a believer. Still, it beats the alternative. At this point, I get introspective on my core beliefs. I have always thought we are all spiritual beings, having a human experience; that death is part of life, and we move on after we die. Death is not something to look forward to; neither is it to be feared. Life is a learning curve. We make mistakes, learn, do better. I did not expect to live this long, so I must still have more to learn. I believe in God. I pray. If He grades on the curve, I will not be doomed to Damnation, as I feared on reaching puberty. Are we born with both good and evil? Does love help the good to win out? Love can hurt more than bullets. Making other people happy is just part of love; making yourself lovable is important, loving yourself for who you are, or who you become is perhaps the hardest challenge of all. Every day is a gift. Be kind to the cat, and the people in your life.cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-63568726345823091262018-06-07T09:33:00.003-07:002018-06-07T09:33:41.502-07:00Memories, and sadness.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was 79 this last April. I'm still riding the '05 V-Rod I bought in 2006. It had 2,100 miles on it then, and it has 36K+ on it now. I love this bike. I rode it back to the rally at the Kansas City assembly plant in September 2008. We had a reunion of V-Rod owners, and got a full tour of the plant. I even got to meet one of the guys who hand built my CVO bike. The reason I rode the V-Rod, instead of my much more comfortable Road King, is that we were going to do a large group V shaped picture of about sixty Rods at the rally. It never happened. We had heavy rains from the aftermath of hurricane Ike. So the picture got cancelled. My plans to ride on up to Milwaukee to see the newly opened Harley museum also changed. Instead, I headed home, by way of the Black Hills, and Mount Rushmore. I got V-Rod saddle bags for the trip, then sold them on eBay after I got home. I kinda wish I still had them. I did carry an extra two and a half gallon gas can strapped on behind, which I desperately needed a couple times, since I favored the road less traveled. I did have a GPS, which got me pleasantly lost more than once. Other than getting soaked, it was a good 3,500 mile road trip. I travel well by myself, but prefer not to anymore as I have gotten older.<br />
Riding a motorcycle provides a sense of freedom nothing else can touch. People who don't ride will never know, or understand this, and it is pointless to try to explain it.<br />
My good friend has finally had to give it up. He is only a couple years older than me; too ill to ride anymore. He does not complain. I understand the look in his eyes, when he asks me to help him sell his bike. He watches as I change his battery for him. It is resignation, silent, painful. It is time. So soon, it is time.cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-75524295575439952532017-08-29T15:48:00.001-07:002017-08-29T15:50:27.771-07:00I haven't posted on this site in a long time. A lot has happened in the last few years. Our 18 year old cat, Shadow, died last March 20. She was mostly Burmese, and made a cat lover out of us both. We miss her; she was our first ever cat. She had a good life. She came to us dying, broken foot, crooked head, and full of ear mites, maybe five or six months old, and a skeletal two pounds.<br />
I was allergic. She went from a box on the front porch, to the garage. to "just in the laundry room", to our laps, into our hearts. I got over the allergy. We treated the ear mites. Her foot healed, and in time her head got straight, so she no longer spiraled to one side when she jumped down. Her coat got shiny. She grew to almost ten pounds of sleek, beautiful grace. Life was good.<br />
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I never knew just how much you could come to love a cat. I do now.cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-67606416562694514342016-12-02T06:16:00.001-08:002018-08-22T21:14:49.400-07:00Where does the time go? It has been four years since I posted here. Where did "Capt.Gampa" come from? Well, that was the name of my boat, a little 16' C-Dory that I bought before I retired. I ocean fished it for a few years. It was nice and dry, but rocked badly even on calm days; it was just too short. <br />
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cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-69171307410033476622012-07-15T08:44:00.001-07:002012-07-15T08:44:26.144-07:00Civil War Model cannon 1:8 scaleI built this over the Winter in my cold garage. It took a couple months, but it was a fun project. I might make another one this Winter. It is .50 caliber, shoots black powder.<br />
<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos?tab=wq#photos/104255192032225050465/albums/5692435816659276849">https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos?tab=wq#photos/104255192032225050465/albums/5692435816659276849</a><br />
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The link covers the whole build process. Enjoy.cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-24844828309645431772010-08-28T09:34:00.000-07:002018-08-22T21:14:48.955-07:00Coin Hunting 101, a primer for novices<div></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-79575670239882864892009-12-23T18:27:00.000-08:002009-12-23T18:47:24.624-08:00Mexico Dec. 2009<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SzLWFq15prI/AAAAAAAADis/7rk1mEeNleE/s1600-h/IMG_0502.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418628694568183474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SzLWFq15prI/AAAAAAAADis/7rk1mEeNleE/s400/IMG_0502.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Well, a weeks cruise to the Mexican Riveria seemed like a good idea to escape the recent snowstorm, and get away from the Christmas shopping rush. We flew to LA and back, and I take Airborn before and after I fly, but I still came down with a cold after I got back home. Hopefully, this is not swine flu, which was widespread in Mexico recently.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">We went with our best friends, Nancy and Corrie. The weather was fairly good, rainy when we left Long Beach, overcast and cool the next day, and 75 to 85 degrees and fairly clear after that, with a couple spectacular sunsets. Here's a picture:</span></strong></div><br /><div></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-42331690051199467812009-08-27T07:20:00.000-07:002009-08-29T18:16:01.823-07:00Myrtle Point, Or. motorcycle rallyUnited Motorcycle Club International, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">UMCI</span>, is a motorcycle club for the "Older than Hells Angles". You have to be 40 years old to join, so I qualified 30 years ago, which makes me feel a little weird.<br />The rally in Myrtle Point, Or., has been going on for more years than I've been eligible to be a member, and so I feel right at home with the 97 other folks that showed up this year at the Coos County fairgrounds. They came on Honda Gold Wings, Harleys, in motor homes, and in cars, for the three days of reunion, good grub, and much philosophical discussion on the art of getting older while maximizing fun.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374657495688485634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SpaehCPnGwI/AAAAAAAADB0/9UPc6RHpGCA/s400/P8190070.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />That's me in the doo rag, Bruce, in shorts, Rapid Robert in the black jacket, our good friend Corrie in the vest, and 87 year old John in the helmet. We all left together from Grass Valley, Ca. the morning of Aug. 19, rode to Red Bluff, and over Hwy 36 to Arcata, on the Calif coast, where we spent the night. Hwy 36 is a fine, twisty, ideal motorcycle road over the coast range from the central valley, and winds its way thru Grizzly Creek Redwoods state park, where the giant redwood trees are even older than some of the club members. It was 98 degrees when we left Red Bluff, and 52 degrees in the cold, misty fog by the time we got to Arcata. Such is Calif in the Summertime. To quote Mark Twain, "The coldest Winter I ever spent, was a Summer in San Fransisco".<br /><br />The next morning, we had breakfast at the Samoa Cookhouse, out on the ocean peninsula just South of Arcata. It is also a lumbering museum, and well worth the stop to see all the historic photos and artifacts. There is one picture of a downed redwood tree, with about 30 loggers sitting on it. They are holding the 28 foot hand saw used to fell the 26 foot diameter tree.<br /><br />The run up the coast to Bandon was cold, foggy, and somewhat wet at times, and interupted by frequent road construction stops, the bane of traveling weekdays.<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374785191112151218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SpcSp4xFELI/AAAAAAAADCE/1VvgQGq1Noo/s400/P8200076.JPG" border="0" />Paul Bunyan, and Babe, the blue ox, at the Trees of Mystery, near Klamath, Ca.</p><br /><p>See the following link for more pictures from the rally: <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/cyberfish2/MyrtlePtRally">http://picasaweb.google.com/cyberfish2/MyrtlePtRally</a> </p><br /><p>The Coos County fairgrounds had been substancially improved since I was there two years ago. Several of the "dangerous" trees had been removed, and a nice pond with a waterfall, and flowers had been added. I had previously camped in a tent under one of the dangerous trees. We bikers live on the edge. I stayed in the Myrtle Trees Inn this year, with the luxury of being able to stand up to get dressed, and a bed I didn't have to blow up again in the middle of the night. This also enabled me to pack the bike a lot lighter - no tent, sleeping bag, etc. Last time, I loaded all this stuff on my '03 Road King. It looked like I was going for a month. So....</p><br /><p>A few comments about the new '09 Street Glide. ABS brakes. Six speed. 96ci motor. Wider frame. Cooler, rerouted exhaust. Removable tour pack. Radio. Fairing. Six years worth of improvements made it well worth trading in the Road King, which I loved.</p><br /><p>Breakfast Fri & Sat mornings was a Mary McMuffin, just like a McDonalds McMuffin, but nice and hot, and without the eggshell. Fri night, we had all kicked in a can of chilie to the main pot. It was great, with the hot dogs. Sat night, we had a catered seafood feast, with fresh local oysters, albacore, halibut, and cod, probably the best $15 I ever spent.</p><br /><p>We roared (at least the Harley did) into town Thursday afternoon, happy to be in sunny, 78 degree weather with a nice breeze. Doris Walter, my riding buddy for Fri & Sat, was already checked into the motel with her granddaughter, Janice. Doris is a great poet; I got to read her book while I was there. They came all the way from Texas, by plane and car.</p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SpnH1bK5cTI/AAAAAAAADDU/Zi-rnYY0G14/s1600-h/Coos+Bay+Camp+out+(8).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375547350883856690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SpnH1bK5cTI/AAAAAAAADDU/Zi-rnYY0G14/s400/Coos+Bay+Camp+out+(8).jpg" border="0" /></a> Janice took this picture Sat. morning, just before we left on the poker run.</p><p>Even with a GPS, and printed directions for the run, I had to ride with a group to find all the right stops. We had perfect weather; even the cold ocean wind held off till afternoon.</p><p>I had high hand for the Hi/Lo poker wheel, and got to split the $80 pot, a first for me. Won a couple cans of smoked albacore in the raffle, too.</p><p>The ride home Sunday was much more direct, from Myrtle Point east to I-5, south to Red Bluff, Hwy.99 to Hwy 70, and on home to Grass Valley on SR-20, about 440 miles for the day, and some 1284 miles for the four day trip. Redding, Calif. was downright cool at 92 degrees. This will be my only long trip for this year. I'm really looking forward to doing it all over again next year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /> </p><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p><br /></p>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-12152185548213966562009-07-30T07:26:00.000-07:002009-07-30T07:36:15.506-07:00TwitterWell, I guess I have to keep up with the grandkids. I signed up for Twitter today. I even made a correct guess on how to add in my cell phone number. So - how does this work? If you post, blog, whatever, on Twitter, does it automatically become a text message sent to my cell phone? Come on kids, help me out here. Just don't do it while you are driving.cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-55273054014427078182009-07-06T09:00:00.000-07:002009-07-06T09:07:51.827-07:00Have I been saved?<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Have you been saved?</span></strong> </div><span style="font-size:130%;">It is a question I get asked occasionally, usually by someone interested in the status of my immortal soul. Or the contents of my wallet. I was first asked in 1958, walking down the streets of San Fransisco's mission district with Bobby O'Rourke, or perhaps staggering down the street would be the better term. The askee was a Salvation Army bell ringer, a true, blessed, and dedicated servant of the Lord.<br />I remember my answer - "Why, no, Sister. I don't believe we have. " And she replied, "Then I will pray for you. " To which my dear drinking buddy replied, "Don't bother, Sister. We can sin a lot faster than you can pray."<br />Hysterically funny at the time, as I've gotten older, I've come to consider the question in a more sober light. I have decided the short, and final answer is: Only God will be the judge of that. No mortal human has that right to stand in final judgement.<br />It has been my belief for many years that we are all spiritual beings, born into a human experience, that we are born with both good and evil as part of our humaness. We are free to choose how to live our lives, to let the good or evil predominate. Our choices will ultimately determine the answer to the above question.<br />I no longer embrace the angry, punishing God of my Catholic upbringing. Most days I pray to the God of my understanding for the guidance to live a proper and meaningful life, and for the help to learn from my mistakes.<br />In my opinion, organized religion has always been about power, and money. Same for politics. However, any time you would like to say a little prayer for my soul, please do. I may need all the help I can get.</span>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-11042845759255340602009-07-04T10:14:00.000-07:002009-07-04T12:39:55.728-07:00Million mile Monday.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/Sk-rv66AyOI/AAAAAAAAC0o/mE9opv5b5Oc/s1600-h/HOG-Mon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354687321721587938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 287px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/Sk-rv66AyOI/AAAAAAAAC0o/mE9opv5b5Oc/s400/HOG-Mon.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Million Mile Monday was started last year by H.O.G. (Harley owners group). It was the first Monday in June, and is a world wide day to ride for all HOG members. At the end of the ride, you go to the HOG website, log in with your card number, and post the miles you rode for that day. You can print out a mileage certificate, and, for $5, order a run pin for your vest. Most Harley riders have a leather vest covered in patches and pins, reminders of the rides we have taken, and the places we've been. Here is a picture of mine:</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354663853731684114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/Sk-WZ51NHxI/AAAAAAAACz8/blenCxeB03Q/s400/Ed429.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Last year, HOG members logged in over 3 million miles. This year, we rode almost 4.4 million miles. Corrie and I started out with six other club members, and rode South on highway 49 to Angels Camp. There, the rest of the group turned off to go up over Sonora Pass, and back to Truckee, Ca. and home.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Corrie and I continued South of Hwy 49 to Coulterville, Ca. then West on 132 to Modesto, North on 99 to Sacramento, East on 80 to Hwy 49, which we took North to get back home to Grass Valley. We each logged some 348 miles on what, so far, was the hottest day of the year. We started out at 68 degrees, but by the time we got to Coulterville, it was well over 100, and in the central valley, riding back on the hot pavement, I got readings up to 117 degrees. By then, we were stopping about every 30 miles to wet down, and suck up Gatorade and water. </span></p><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">At some point, the ride stopped being fun, and became more about survival. I had long since sweated off the sunscreen, and would have ridden naked if it had been legal. Now, there's a sunburn you wouldn't soon forget. I took all the stuff out of my pockets, stashed it in the saddlebags, and poured water down my chest, back, and into my pockets. I wet my hair, even tho I had to wear a helmet. In 30 miles, we were bone dry. Hot. Thirsty. Tired. Sunburned. Homesick.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">I can't wait to do it all over again next year. Next year, we will ride a cooler route, up thru the mountains.</span><br /></p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-86765691448367317082009-06-06T09:13:00.000-07:002009-06-07T11:01:37.436-07:00Royal Caribbean cruise May 2009<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SiqX3f_5eyI/AAAAAAAABWQ/So8JOdJfW78/s1600-h/Europe+5-20-2009+3-32-5.JPG"></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SiqXIuLOHtI/AAAAAAAABWI/YULu5mTwcvA/s1600-h/Europe+5-24-2009+1-17-43.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344250083918356178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SiqXIuLOHtI/AAAAAAAABWI/YULu5mTwcvA/s400/Europe+5-24-2009+1-17-43.JPG" border="0" /></a> We went on a cruise to Scandinavia and Russia on Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas, May 16-28, 2009. It was a great adventure, but like most long trips, there was good and bad. The ship was beautiful, the food was great, the crew was happy, and our room on the starboard corner at the stern had a large balcony; perfect for taking pictures. I took 756 pictures. I would have taken more, except I cracked the display on my little Sony Cybershot. It still functioned, and thanks to the optical view finder, we could still take pictures, but we could'nt view settings, or see what we shot. </div><div>We flew from Sacramento, to Dallas, to London, and left on the ship from Harwich. We went to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinn(Estonia), Oslo, and back to Harwich.</div><div>Heathrow to Dallas to Sacramento and home.</div><div>Working on a cruise ship is hard work, with long hours. But if you want to see the world, what a great way to do it. When you get older, travel becomes more difficult. Jeanne was just six weeks out of knee surgery, in some pain, but determined to get around, with or without the help of a cane. On some of the tours, we lagged behind a bit, but she never complained. What a trooper. All the walking seemed to help, actually. Gettin' old ain't fer sissies. </div><div>You can see all the pictures on my Picasa web album here: <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/cyberfish2/JewelOfTheSeasCruise">http://picasaweb.google.com/cyberfish2/JewelOfTheSeasCruise</a>#<br /><br /></div><div></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-5983418497765953612009-03-25T10:20:00.000-07:002009-03-25T11:13:00.896-07:00Hawaii 3-09<div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/ScpuJ4244AI/AAAAAAAABBI/ziwcnk_T9jQ/s1600-h/DSC02638.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317183426224775170" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/ScpuJ4244AI/AAAAAAAABBI/ziwcnk_T9jQ/s200/DSC02638.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/ScpuW9Dz-CI/AAAAAAAABBQ/jGP_VlVnVbs/s1600-h/DSC02679.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317183650691020834" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/ScpuW9Dz-CI/AAAAAAAABBQ/jGP_VlVnVbs/s200/DSC02679.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/ScpvEe-Gv6I/AAAAAAAABBY/JG3XarleMW8/s1600-h/DSC02854.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317184432888004514" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/ScpvEe-Gv6I/AAAAAAAABBY/JG3XarleMW8/s200/DSC02854.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/ScptVJcqRVI/AAAAAAAABA4/EPHIP6fAFXo/s1600-h/DSC02711.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317182520145102162" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/ScptVJcqRVI/AAAAAAAABA4/EPHIP6fAFXo/s200/DSC02711.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/Scpt1mDlSFI/AAAAAAAABBA/F4hZZRUJW00/s1600-h/DSC02717.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317183077580359762" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/Scpt1mDlSFI/AAAAAAAABBA/F4hZZRUJW00/s200/DSC02717.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/ScptCm6f3aI/AAAAAAAABAw/SfPLkhRNnXA/s1600-h/DSC02651.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317182201637363106" style="WIDTH: 192px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/ScptCm6f3aI/AAAAAAAABAw/SfPLkhRNnXA/s200/DSC02651.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div></div><div></div><div>Life can be exceedingly wounderful at times. My wife won this trip to the North shore of Oahu. Our grandson is in the Navy, and stationed in Honolulu with his wife, and two great grandkids, so we were just 30 miles apart, maybe for the last time in our lives. Our granddaughter got to fly over too, and spend time with all of us. She has always wanted to swim with dolphins, and she finally got to do that this trip. For Hawaii, the weather was cool, windy, and rainy. Grandma had to buy a sweatshirt, and I got a cool long sleeved red shirt from the Banzai Pipeline. The 15 foot waves were not quite right for great surfing, but I got a few good pictures of the brave souls willing to give it a try.</div></div></div></div></div></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-53205823903446966532009-02-11T16:22:00.000-08:002009-08-29T18:33:23.987-07:00The Perfect Storm<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SZNs77dC-rI/AAAAAAAAAy4/BHF1ZUW48M0/s1600-h/DSC02529.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301700963172809394" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SZNs77dC-rI/AAAAAAAAAy4/BHF1ZUW48M0/s320/DSC02529.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SZNs7k-6_HI/AAAAAAAAAyw/5LZJIp3kKeY/s1600-h/DSC02528.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301700957140876402" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SZNs7k-6_HI/AAAAAAAAAyw/5LZJIp3kKeY/s320/DSC02528.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SZNs7gtkPHI/AAAAAAAAAyo/4QoBwxNds7o/s1600-h/DSC02527.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301700955994340466" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SZNs7gtkPHI/AAAAAAAAAyo/4QoBwxNds7o/s320/DSC02527.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SZNs7niKxPI/AAAAAAAAAyg/SdlVqkAxGFc/s1600-h/DSC02526.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301700957825582322" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SZNs7niKxPI/AAAAAAAAAyg/SdlVqkAxGFc/s320/DSC02526.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;">The bottom pictures are from 7:30 this morning. We had about an inch of fresh snow, about 30 degrees F. The top pictures were taken eight hours later, at about 4 PM, and 36 degrees F. Now, I gotta ask you, is this the perfect storm or what? There was enough heat left in the asphalt driveway to melt the snow, so it didn't ice up. The rest of the landscape got just enough to take a few pretty pictures, then the blessed rain came and washed it all away. And, by golly, you don't have to shovel the rain. To me, THAT's the perfect storm.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;">P.S. As I sit here typing this, looking out the den window, the temperature has dropped, the rain has turned to heavy, wet snow - dime sized flakes. If this continues, we will have a foot of snow by mid morning tomorrow. Ah well. I put the snow shovel in the garage. We won't be riding the harleys to the meeting tonight, like we did in January. Does anyone make tire chains for motorcycles?</span></div></div></div></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-88676478322981027962009-02-06T11:42:00.000-08:002009-02-06T14:39:04.012-08:00New Harley - insanity?<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SYy79i3vRAI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/5x-27wX-_2U/s1600-h/DSC02260.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299817527515235330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SYy79i3vRAI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/5x-27wX-_2U/s200/DSC02260.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SYy7vsxagwI/AAAAAAAAAxI/lNNXk0nntsE/s1600-h/DSC02259.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299817289654895362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SYy7vsxagwI/AAAAAAAAAxI/lNNXk0nntsE/s200/DSC02259.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SYy7XUH1fAI/AAAAAAAAAxA/e0JRq602Ivw/s1600-h/DSC02256.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299816870721190914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SYy7XUH1fAI/AAAAAAAAAxA/e0JRq602Ivw/s200/DSC02256.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SYy6_W8BrkI/AAAAAAAAAw4/nsDQFPMJbG4/s1600-h/DSC02288+(800x600).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299816459160104514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SYy6_W8BrkI/AAAAAAAAAw4/nsDQFPMJbG4/s200/DSC02288+(800x600).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SYyTg2-qjkI/AAAAAAAAAwA/xE_96OC7XEA/s1600-h/NewFLHX.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299773054231678530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 259px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SYyTg2-qjkI/AAAAAAAAAwA/xE_96OC7XEA/s400/NewFLHX.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Jan. 10, 2009</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Well, the day started out cheap enough - just show up at the Auburn Harley dealer for Get Acquainted day, pay the $15 to renew the local H.O.G. membership for the year, have a free <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">samich</span> & Coke, get in a nice ride in the overly warm January California sunshine, drool over the beautiful new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Harleys</span>, yak with other members about old rides, or upcoming rides for this year. I just happened to mention that I loved the new red Street Glide. We took a major loss in our retirement funds recently, so my wife said a new bike was out of the picture for now. The '03 Road King was pushing 50K miles, and didn't have a lot of trade in value. Or so I thought. New <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Harleys</span> are almost never discounted. Besides, there was nothing on the showroom floor just like I wanted. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">However - out in the garage, slightly dusty, covered with paw prints, sat this brand new 2009 Hot <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sunglo</span> Red <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">FLHX</span> Street Glide. ABS brakes. Six speed. Six gallon tank. Newly redesigned wider frame. 180 rear tire. Radio AM-FM-CD. Rerouted exhaust (under the frame, much cooler on the legs). Horribly stock mufflers; think Honda-like. 96CI engine, handlebar mounted fairing with gages and a cigarette lighter <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">plug in</span> for my GPS, or heated jacket(which we don't need in sunny Calif!!??) - all things lacking on my pretty 100<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">th</span> anniversary Road King. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Well, that was love at first sight, even tho the Street Glide needed a lot of additions and replacements. It was, after all, except for the ABS brakes, about as stock as they come.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Several years ago, I took a test ride on a BMW with ABS brakes, and I loved the very positive way it stopped. Harley has always been a little slow to adapt new technology. Maybe it is because the owners tend to be traditionalists - fuel injection is just too mysterious, if you like tinkering with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">carburetors</span>. There aren't any water cooled bikes that have that throaty rumble of an air cooled V-twin, and there are a lot of good Harley riders that will tell you they can stop just as well with conventional brakes as ABS, so they have been slow in coming, plus they add some $700 to the cost of a new bike. So I test drove an ABS <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">equipped</span> Harley, and stopped it hard several times. And I'm sold. I'm convinced that in a panic stop, if I braked THAT hard on my Road King, I would have locked up the front wheel and crashed. You have to be going straight, tho. If you do that going into a curve, even ABS won't keep you from going down. There is a DVD that comes with ABS <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">equipped</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Harley's</span> that explains all that.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">So I make them an offer they couldn't refuse. They countered with an offer I couldn't refuse. I called my wife and explained all this. I forgot to remember that it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. It took two years of begging and whining to get the Road King, and I'm just too damn old to go <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">through</span> that again. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">So, now I'm stuck with 7 years of very affordable payments, with the option of paying it off at any time with no prepayment penalty if the economy improves. I have a bike that needs a lot more invested to make it like I eventually want it to look and run. But I'm good at doing most of the work myself, and for me it is a labor of love. I've already added a taller, clear windshield, a meager beginning for what lies ahead.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I have a lot of parts left over from the Road King. I have just listed many of them on eBay. Hopefully, I can generate enough cash to get a head start on all the changes I want to make. Thunderwoman will get over it, maybe even come to like the new bike eventually. Meantime, looks like I'll be riding alone for a while.</span></div></div></div></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-56506633833341517312008-12-15T11:24:00.000-08:002008-12-15T11:48:17.322-08:00Toy run<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SUa0ZeDoTII/AAAAAAAAAio/i34B0gF1_MM/s1600-h/DSC02080.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280105962796502146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SUa0ZeDoTII/AAAAAAAAAio/i34B0gF1_MM/s200/DSC02080.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SUawX7NE_9I/AAAAAAAAAiY/h5NflLHrKYQ/s1600-h/DSC02083.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280101538214510546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SUawX7NE_9I/AAAAAAAAAiY/h5NflLHrKYQ/s200/DSC02083.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SUavbYs6ALI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/w7cURzcNuvA/s1600-h/DSC02078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280100498160615602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SUavbYs6ALI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/w7cURzcNuvA/s400/DSC02078.JPG" border="0" /></a> Dec. 13, 2008 Well, the storm held off just long enough to attract 1281 motorcycles to this years' run, but it was quite cold. I got a kick out of one of the kids - he took a look at my vest and asked, "Are you a general?" I said, "No. Why?" He said, "If those were Army medals, you'd be a general"!<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-16596015932513609192008-12-15T10:18:00.000-08:002008-12-15T11:22:12.541-08:00Snow storm<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SUauDddOPDI/AAAAAAAAAiI/lgsEBe9_gyE/s1600-h/Snow08c.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280098987608521778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SUauDddOPDI/AAAAAAAAAiI/lgsEBe9_gyE/s400/Snow08c.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SUajcnmZJ0I/AAAAAAAAAiA/lmmRE0MdzPk/s1600-h/Snow08a.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280087325200164674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SUajcnmZJ0I/AAAAAAAAAiA/lmmRE0MdzPk/s400/Snow08a.JPG" border="0" /></a> Dec. 15, 2008. We awoke to seven inches of snow this morning. There is more on the way. This much snow is fairly rare at 2430 feet in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Only twice before in ten years of retirement have we had this much at once. I grew up 60 miles west of Chicago, and when I retired, I never wanted to shovel snow again. Or be that cold. This is wet, heavy snow; the kind you get when the temperatures are just at, or slightly below freezing. We need the moisture. It has been warm and too dry so far this "Winter". We have power now, but it went out for a few seconds several times last night, and I had to reset most of the clocks. I have a small portable Honda generator; it will run the tv, a couple lights, and the fan on the propane fireplace. The dish antenna has to be free of snow to function, so I have to spray it with Pam, or hose it off, if the hose doesn't freeze solid. So far, it's not too cold.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><div></div></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-7441926541916150552008-11-16T07:37:00.000-08:002008-11-16T12:51:32.469-08:00The other cat, Shadow<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SSA_iDFPm5I/AAAAAAAAAaQ/CZMdnnGEbIo/s1600-h/IMG_1310.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269281418198883218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SSA_iDFPm5I/AAAAAAAAAaQ/CZMdnnGEbIo/s320/IMG_1310.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SSA-7hdMQjI/AAAAAAAAAaI/x_OP1aTrKyU/s1600-h/Cat8-99a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269280756337492530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SSA-7hdMQjI/AAAAAAAAAaI/x_OP1aTrKyU/s320/Cat8-99a.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>We occasionally house-sit for friends in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kona</span></span>, Hawaii. Take care of the dog and cat, fix stuff around the house, do a little yard work. Their cat, Bandit, is not a people cat, will swat you, or hiss if you try to pet him, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">altho</span></span> he has mellowed some in recent years. When we came home in July 1999, we said we would <strong>never</strong> have a cat. Besides, I'm somewhat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">allergic</span>. The next morning, this <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pathetic</span>, starved, injured kitten crawled out from under our car. My wife said we had to take it to the pound. I said nobody would adopt it in such bad condition. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Sooo</span></span>, she went from a carpeted box on the front porch, to the vet to be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">neutered, to the garage, to confinement in the laundry room when it turned cooler. Now, Shadow sleeps on the foot of the bed, and I use <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Nasonex</span> to keep my nose clear. I never knew anyone could get so attached to a cat. If my doctor said get rid of the cat, I'd have to get another doctor. She is ten years old now, and still a joy to have around. We keep her in at night because of all the critters-coyotes, bobcats, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">raccoons</span>, and the occasional bear or mountain lion. Joey is fated to be an indoor cat; they live longer and stay cleaner. Joey has not figured out how to purr without drooling. He sings, loudly, for his dinner. To hear him, you would think he had not eaten for days.</span></div></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-20599963784854549922008-11-13T17:46:00.000-08:002008-11-13T18:53:44.386-08:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SRzisQg-OZI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/HoZyoiYxzGw/s1600-h/Big+Joey.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268334914092022162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 285px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SRzisQg-OZI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/HoZyoiYxzGw/s320/Big+Joey.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SRzZK2-N8zI/AAAAAAAAAZI/2KW_f-ZGCw0/s1600-h/DSC02006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268324444695032626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SRzZK2-N8zI/AAAAAAAAAZI/2KW_f-ZGCw0/s320/DSC02006.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>BIG Joey! Gee, they don't stay kittens long.</div><div> </div><div>He won't be seven months old for another week! We weighed him today at 9 lbs, 9 ozs. Anybody know how long cats keep growing? He's almost quadrupled in weight since we brought him home. His purr-manent appetite is amazing. When he is awake, he makes the Energizer Bunny look like a snail. More to come...</div></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-87717353673512207032008-11-13T12:18:00.000-08:002020-11-18T15:20:14.630-08:00Introducing Joey, the wonder cat.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SRySHXiVyhI/AAAAAAAAAZA/KtHCGN5ovCg/s1600-h/DSC01545.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268246319391427090" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SRySHXiVyhI/AAAAAAAAAZA/KtHCGN5ovCg/s400/DSC01545.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>
<div>Joey, the wonder cat, earned that label due to the perpetual look of surprise on his face. He is of undetermined ancestry, rescued from the local pound as a three month old kitten. We figured (or perhaps more accurately, I figured) he would be good company for Shadow, our other cat. Shadow is a ten year old neutered female who arrived at our house in very bad shape, starved, one foot broken, full of ear mites, and a crooked head. More on Shadow later.</div>
<div>I am a firm believer that you do not pick a cat; they pick you. Joey climbed up the side of his cage and reach thru with one outstretched paw to snag my pants leg, his meow plainly saying "Please get me out of here, NOW." So we did. </div><div> </div><div>Joey is almost three months old in this picture, and 2 lbs. 7 oz. The white "bib" made this picture come out pretty well. He has been in foster care since birth, so he is sociable, almost litter box trained, and eats huge amounts of food for such a little cat. </div>
<div></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-8204857863567900662008-09-25T16:58:00.000-07:002020-11-18T15:25:51.963-08:00"The lonliest road"<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNwlvtdZkaI/AAAAAAAAARg/-57OvaFPOtg/s1600-h/DSC01655.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNwlvtdZkaI/AAAAAAAAARg/-57OvaFPOtg/s160/DSC01655.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border-bottom: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top: 0px; border-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a></div><div align="left" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Hwy 50, on the way to Ely, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Nev</span>. I did not know before I started this road trip, that there would be many such roads in the several states I traveled through. I put new tires on the V-Rod before I started, and although I never had tire trouble, I did wear a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">substantial</span> flat spot across the center of the tire before I got back home. I live in the old '49er gold rush area of the Sierra <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Nevada's</span>, where the roads are twisty. I'm more used to getting wear over a broader area of the tire. In Nevada, you can cruise sometimes for many miles without seeing another vehicle. This is a good place to carry extra gas, and a few candy bars, and a couple bottles of water. If you have trouble out here, cell phone service is spotty. Gas is non-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">existent</span>. So is water. The buzzards are ever vigilant.</div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-46452416723423584042008-09-21T20:36:00.000-07:002008-09-22T14:10:25.486-07:00Day 17-18 Going homeIf you knew how slowly I type, you would know what a labor of love it has been to post all this stuff. I guess some additional comments about the trip itself would be in order. By now, I was a little bit homesick, and didn't take many more pictures. A couple of truckers I met in Elko, Nv. recommended a brothel called the "Disco & Diddle". I'm kind of sorry I didn't drive by and get a picture of that. I met a lot of interesting people on this trip. I got to fulfill a dream at an age where a lot of guys would be retired to a couch in front of the TV. "If you survive it, it becomes an adventure." I did, and it was.<br />There were some additional things I could have done in the planning stage to make this trip more comfortable. I found out, too late, that windshield height is a critical factor for riding in the rain and the wind as well, at freeway speeds. My windshield needed to be two to three inches higher to prevent the buffeting, and the rain blowing in around and under my helmet. A snug fitting, waterproof cover for my seat would have been a great help. So would a water seal on my boots and gloves. The 15 pounds of stuff I sent home from Kansas was not missed, so I over packed.<br />All things considered, I had a wonderful time. Someone ask me if I would do it again. My answer was an emphatic YES. But not on the V-Rod.<br />One last thing - If you have to yawn while riding along, it's a good idea to close the faceshield ALL the way.cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-90632734585104584732008-09-21T20:06:00.000-07:002008-09-21T20:34:38.884-07:00Day 16 Sept. 18, 2008 Tuesday<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcSLXZPngI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/MyNgkWvavyU/s1600-h/DSC01813.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248683877191360002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcSLXZPngI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/MyNgkWvavyU/s400/DSC01813.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcRWFbC1KI/AAAAAAAAAQw/LkrnvySksXE/s1600-h/DSC01857.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248682961834005666" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcRWFbC1KI/AAAAAAAAAQw/LkrnvySksXE/s320/DSC01857.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcQg2NHoLI/AAAAAAAAAQo/6ACiMsbGiVQ/s1600-h/DSC01869.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248682047216001202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcQg2NHoLI/AAAAAAAAAQo/6ACiMsbGiVQ/s320/DSC01869.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcQCE7xvnI/AAAAAAAAAQg/RYMehXhXWfk/s1600-h/DSC01850.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248681518593850994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcQCE7xvnI/AAAAAAAAAQg/RYMehXhXWfk/s320/DSC01850.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcPrwGpvRI/AAAAAAAAAQY/iD9MEyR5Irs/s1600-h/DSC01846.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248681135045197074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcPrwGpvRI/AAAAAAAAAQY/iD9MEyR5Irs/s320/DSC01846.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Bikers dream about days like this! Perfect weather. Twisty roads. Very light traffic. Lots of wildlife. This was easily the best day of the trip. The pictures tell the story. I even saw a mountain lion, but too quickly to get a picture. Most of the pictures are from Custer State Park, on the wildlife loop. The picture of the GPS shows how twisty Hwy 16A is. That was fun.</div></div></div></div></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8176331730084293849.post-35972637268236069382008-09-21T16:21:00.000-07:002008-09-21T20:04:26.920-07:00Day 14 Sept. 16, 2008 Tuesday<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcLHe68oqI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/bfCKfrCxbuA/s1600-h/DSC01845.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248676113910899362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcLHe68oqI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/bfCKfrCxbuA/s400/DSC01845.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcKi2tJ-FI/AAAAAAAAAQI/MncjDkXcZqc/s1600-h/DSC01827.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248675484640344146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcKi2tJ-FI/AAAAAAAAAQI/MncjDkXcZqc/s400/DSC01827.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcKQeNtClI/AAAAAAAAAQA/1i89bM3b2do/s1600-h/DSC01835.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248675168828328530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Uk_Sg-RCxgI/SNcKQeNtClI/AAAAAAAAAQA/1i89bM3b2do/s400/DSC01835.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>This trip originally had three destinations: the V-Rod homecoming rally in Kansas City, Mo; the newly opened Harley museum in Milwaukee, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wi</span>; and a ride <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">thru</span> the Black Hills, S.D. with attendance at the nighttime lighting ceremony at Mount Rushmore. The bad weather forced me to skip the new Harley museum, but Keystone, S.D. is only a days ride from North Platte. Keystone is only four miles from Mount Rushmore, and right in the heart of the Black Hills. My wife and I drove <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">thru</span> the whole area about this same time of year three years ago. Harley riders are quite familiar with this area because <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sturgis</span> is at the North end of the Black Hills. A pilgrimage to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sturgis</span> during the second week in August has attracted up to 600,000 bikers. It is a tradition that started some 68 years ago. Now, that many bikers, most of them on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Harleys</span>, tend to be a noisy bunch. The party goes on 24/7, so sleep is often not an option. Those of us that require 8 hours of sleep every night tend to sneak into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Sturgis</span> after all the vendors go home when the party is over. So I arrived in time to get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">moteled</span>, and go to the lighting ceremony at Mount Rushmore. The ceremony is one of the finest tributes to democracy I have ever had the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">privilege to attend. </span></div></div></div>cyberfish2http://www.blogger.com/profile/06068819093075610447noreply@blogger.com0