IPOD
RADIO
"I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused" 
Drove to, Asheville, NC tonight to rescue some precious tin for my sisters old cherished Mustang. Someone stole the hood off from her car while parked in my mother's carport. Apparently the guy has a barn full of stolen car parts, but the courts and modern psychiatry have declared the poor darling a kleptomaniac, so he gets to keep the parts and continue to pilfer with a free card.
Anyway, the trip was in a warm rain on a twisty Western Carolina road called U.S. route 70. It winds down thru places where you can almost see you own taillights, paste ancient homesteads with Christmas light displays that would rival Time Square[didn't even know they had electricity out there]. The road climbs up and down and around thru Pisgah National Forest, along the French Broad River[My beautiful Acadien takes that name as a personal affront]. After I got to Asheville Mapquest let me down badly and I wandered the back roads of Fletcher for an extra hour. Eventually arrive at the house of tin to see a beautifully mint red 1970 Mustang. He also had 3 gigantic black tomcats that needed to have their heads scratched for about a half hour before I was allowed to leave.
The drive back was in even heavier rain. I even saw some frogs hopping acros the road near Mars Hill. Very strange for December. Some more Al Gores alarm I guess. At least the rain slowed me down enough to see all of the Hill Billy Christmas displays tho. Uneventful the rest of the way except for a cup of 6 hour old BP coffee. Deposited the precious tin in the barn, this time under lock, and went to the house and turned on the garage heat and the electric blanket. Still amazed that us Hill Billies have electricity aren't ya'. We even wear shoes in the winter months.
Same as except with hood.
Anyway, the trip was in a warm rain on a twisty Western Carolina road called U.S. route 70. It winds down thru places where you can almost see you own taillights, paste ancient homesteads with Christmas light displays that would rival Time Square[didn't even know they had electricity out there]. The road climbs up and down and around thru Pisgah National Forest, along the French Broad River[My beautiful Acadien takes that name as a personal affront]. After I got to Asheville Mapquest let me down badly and I wandered the back roads of Fletcher for an extra hour. Eventually arrive at the house of tin to see a beautifully mint red 1970 Mustang. He also had 3 gigantic black tomcats that needed to have their heads scratched for about a half hour before I was allowed to leave.
The drive back was in even heavier rain. I even saw some frogs hopping acros the road near Mars Hill. Very strange for December. Some more Al Gores alarm I guess. At least the rain slowed me down enough to see all of the Hill Billy Christmas displays tho. Uneventful the rest of the way except for a cup of 6 hour old BP coffee. Deposited the precious tin in the barn, this time under lock, and went to the house and turned on the garage heat and the electric blanket. Still amazed that us Hill Billies have electricity aren't ya'. We even wear shoes in the winter months.
Same as except with hood.
Went to visit Mom and the 4 sisters-of-no-mercy over Thanksgiving weekend. I visited my baby Alfa Romeo in a cold dark barn in the hills of Pennsylvania. I must rescue her soon and start the makeover. I haven't driven the beauty since my 1st year of college right before my Vietnam adventure. I've been collecting new pretty parts for her for many years so I think I have enough for a first rate effort.
Had T'Day dinner at my extremely rural sisters house. Halfway between a remote Air Force Radar installation [once called the "DEWLine"] and Marie Antoinette's Asylum that she never saw. History reports that her head rolled before her exit carriage did. It was and is a very beautifully quiet and peaceful place. Probably would have been too boring compared to the ballrooms of Paris. Tho I grew up near the Asylum, I still prefer the streets and subways of Paris.
Number one Son was hoping to see snow this trip, but it was gone before we arrived. I was almost hot there. Climates are definitely changing, I remember ice skating many years on Thanksgiving day.The geese are still splashing around not even thinking of head'n south for another month. Yes there is global warming, but no, it ain't man made Al, you idiot. Maybe he's not as dumb as the board that gave him a Nobel prize for incredibly bad science but his intellect ain't even close to the Nobel zone. Anyway, I wanted snow for him, but not for me. I hate the cold, I grew up in it, and could never wait for spring. At least the Draft and the Navy got me to a warmer clime even if it was rather noisy. I still have my signed invitation from Richard Millhouse Nixon and the card that came with it, grade A number one with a draft lottery number 8. Haven't had such wonderful luck with any lottery since.
Had T'Day dinner at my extremely rural sisters house. Halfway between a remote Air Force Radar installation [once called the "DEWLine"] and Marie Antoinette's Asylum that she never saw. History reports that her head rolled before her exit carriage did. It was and is a very beautifully quiet and peaceful place. Probably would have been too boring compared to the ballrooms of Paris. Tho I grew up near the Asylum, I still prefer the streets and subways of Paris.
Number one Son was hoping to see snow this trip, but it was gone before we arrived. I was almost hot there. Climates are definitely changing, I remember ice skating many years on Thanksgiving day.The geese are still splashing around not even thinking of head'n south for another month. Yes there is global warming, but no, it ain't man made Al, you idiot. Maybe he's not as dumb as the board that gave him a Nobel prize for incredibly bad science but his intellect ain't even close to the Nobel zone. Anyway, I wanted snow for him, but not for me. I hate the cold, I grew up in it, and could never wait for spring. At least the Draft and the Navy got me to a warmer clime even if it was rather noisy. I still have my signed invitation from Richard Millhouse Nixon and the card that came with it, grade A number one with a draft lottery number 8. Haven't had such wonderful luck with any lottery since.
Saw Beowulf tonight. Computer animation is not my favorite, but an excellent movie non-the-less. When they try to make animation so perfect, why don't they just film real actors and get it over with. The facial detail was perfect, but they still can't get the fluidity of motion just right. Kinda jerky and less than natural. My teenage son did get to see Angelina's animated boobs, as did I. Real or imagined, still rather pleasant. And, he did ask for a hardcover of the book, so the classical bait did work. We'll see how he likes reading Archaic English. Not for me I am sure. Well worth seeing, Madam and I both enjoyed it. Nothing like drunken Brits with a Copenhagen accent to cap a perfect evening.
Trip to Paris is off for now, soon tho I hope. A little wisp of snow today, just a reminder that summer is gone. Rain most of the week, too late for this year, but badly needed by the French newnews in the vineyard. I still have allot of vine trellis to build[6 rows], now that the rain has softened the ground. A good project for Christmas vacation if work doesn't consume it. Labor of love on old cars, and motorcycles, and digging in the vineyard is not work. Avocation feeds the soul and creates peace. Things don't seem to be slowing down here, so grease and dirt are the few escapes I have now. Paris for a week would have been a great release, but it wasn't to be right now. Maybe Madam and most favored Son will be able to come with me next time. A hormonally emergent teenager in springtime Paris will be something to see.
Running was a serious challenge tonight but I did maintain my distance and speed after all[ I didn't feel very fast at the end, but my watch said don't worry be happy]. My token 100 meter sprint at the end was just a tad faster than my usual extra slow. Never have been a sprinter, I just try to wear'em out over the long distance. Most will give up because they burn it out early trying to show the old man[You know what they say about old age and treachery]. 14 year old is on to me so it doesn't work with him.
Just made it to 500 miles on the Nubian Mustang. I have discovered that birds and cats[ 6 of the dark angels] have no respect at all for black paint. The felonious felines just lay there and grin with that "I'm a cat and you can't stop me" defiance. Teen age son doesn't complain too much when I explain the Mustang term of 2 + 2.
It basically means 2 passengers[front] and 2 tortured prisoners[back seat]. He dare not protest as I'm sure he will want to borrow said road rocket when the drivers license develops. I'm sure Allstate will be happy to ensure a teenager in a 500 horsepower car. He's more the academic than the motorhead dad, but he may see the Mustang as a means to impress the cuties[what a sexist remark, but true].
Still collecting bits for the Royal Oak Wednesday night cruiser. This is going to take longer than I thought. No one wants to part with their precious junk as easily as they used to. Harleys have become too much of a cult thing. The good old days of worthless Harleys is over. Oily junk is now the darling of Wall Street. Time marches on. So far I've been able to run ahead of it. Hope I don't get run over during a distraction.
Just made it to 500 miles on the Nubian Mustang. I have discovered that birds and cats[ 6 of the dark angels] have no respect at all for black paint. The felonious felines just lay there and grin with that "I'm a cat and you can't stop me" defiance. Teen age son doesn't complain too much when I explain the Mustang term of 2 + 2.
It basically means 2 passengers[front] and 2 tortured prisoners[back seat]. He dare not protest as I'm sure he will want to borrow said road rocket when the drivers license develops. I'm sure Allstate will be happy to ensure a teenager in a 500 horsepower car. He's more the academic than the motorhead dad, but he may see the Mustang as a means to impress the cuties[what a sexist remark, but true].
Still collecting bits for the Royal Oak Wednesday night cruiser. This is going to take longer than I thought. No one wants to part with their precious junk as easily as they used to. Harleys have become too much of a cult thing. The good old days of worthless Harleys is over. Oily junk is now the darling of Wall Street. Time marches on. So far I've been able to run ahead of it. Hope I don't get run over during a distraction.
Mojo says she approves the color. I must refrain from the temptation 'til the first oil change.
Been in Nashville for 2 weeks and it rained hard the whole time, thus no running. I did run tonight and it felt great to get back at it. There is no doubt that running is a drug and I am addicted again after twenty years of total withdrawal. But I'm back to stay. Maybe some day I'll be that eighty year old man that passed me at mile 20 in the New Orleans Marathon. Very humbling for a 28 year old badass road burner. He was living proof that it's always there, you just have to go get it. Anyway, the trip to Nashville was to bring about a hundred jobs to the company I work for. A rare thing to create high paying U.S. automotive jobs these days, but they are real and will last many years. I'm very lucky to work for a company that is expanding everywhere even in North America. Lots of weekends and nights but the work is worth it in the long haul. I guess we still make what people want. From Alfa Romeos to Zundapps [WTF is a Zundapp you say? A Russian motorcycle of course].
Should be heading back to Dijon in a few weeks. Looking forward to some more time in Paris. I spent a 2 days in the Louvre and only saw less than 10%. Wish there was a way to live in Paris, but that is too big of a dream I fear. At least I can fly thru Detroit and visit a few friends on the way.
Madam LaPlace says the motorcycle project must go on hold for awhile, although the Mustang has a new due date of November 8th. Probably will get here when I'm in France and Madam will take it away from me. She thinks I drive too fast even in my old Civic. How could that be. I scare very few people, never hit anything or anyone, and get over MPG at 80. Who could expect more from my mortal soul anyway? I'm a test engineer, just testing.
Life in the fast lane, keep right please.
Should be heading back to Dijon in a few weeks. Looking forward to some more time in Paris. I spent a 2 days in the Louvre and only saw less than 10%. Wish there was a way to live in Paris, but that is too big of a dream I fear. At least I can fly thru Detroit and visit a few friends on the way.
Madam LaPlace says the motorcycle project must go on hold for awhile, although the Mustang has a new due date of November 8th. Probably will get here when I'm in France and Madam will take it away from me. She thinks I drive too fast even in my old Civic. How could that be. I scare very few people, never hit anything or anyone, and get over MPG at 80. Who could expect more from my mortal soul anyway? I'm a test engineer, just testing.
Life in the fast lane, keep right please.
Great run last night.my 10K time is sub 40 now and continually improving. Going to stay at 10K distance 'til after the new year and see if I can get my time below 35 minutes. That should give me enough encoyuragement to try another marathon next year.
The mustang is due in next week and I thought I'd be excited, but it's taken so long the enthusiasm has gone.
I am rather enthused about this monster motorcycle I'm trying to put together though. The cats as well as Madam LaPlace think its stupid.
Oh the pain of of a deeply troubled artist. I shall press on. No one makes the bits for the look I want, so I'm making them by hand one at a time. Very slow, but its what I love to do best. All polished aluminum and stainless steel, shiny is very important on these things. Still haven't decided on a color yet, but that is last, so lots of time to decide and be influenced by artistic souls. Any personal preferences out there? Must be bright and look good under street lights, 'cause these apparitions are made for the night, ghosts that appear and thunder for a moment and melt into the darkness. 
Waiting for another trip to Paris, a new found fascination I don't think will ever go away.
The mustang is due in next week and I thought I'd be excited, but it's taken so long the enthusiasm has gone.
I am rather enthused about this monster motorcycle I'm trying to put together though. The cats as well as Madam LaPlace think its stupid.
Oh the pain of of a deeply troubled artist. I shall press on. No one makes the bits for the look I want, so I'm making them by hand one at a time. Very slow, but its what I love to do best. All polished aluminum and stainless steel, shiny is very important on these things. Still haven't decided on a color yet, but that is last, so lots of time to decide and be influenced by artistic souls. Any personal preferences out there? Must be bright and look good under street lights, 'cause these apparitions are made for the night, ghosts that appear and thunder for a moment and melt into the darkness. Waiting for another trip to Paris, a new found fascination I don't think will ever go away.
