| I must have honey on my ass! |
[Aug. 19th, 2007|08:14 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  chipper | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | The Simpsons on TV | ] |
My last post related the sighting of a bear cub while mountain biking on Friday afternoon. Well...I took another ride at the same trail system this morning and guess what? Yep another bear sighting. This time, an adult bear. The bear must have heard me before I saw\heard it it, because it was in full run through the brush when I finally saw it. However, he stopped. I stopped. He sat up and looked at me. I looked at him. He continued to look at me. I decided this was enough looking and decided to turn around and go back the way I came. I looked back. He continued to stare at me. Yeah, I know black bears are typically more afraid of people; however, I didn't want to test the theory that he might run away if I continued to ride toward him.
Was that enough bear sightings for the weekend? Nope. S and I went for a Miata top down ride this afternoon near the area I mountain bike at and there was a bear cub in the road. When we came up to him he thought about climbing a tree next to the road but froze as we stopped to look. What a cute little thing. We looked around for Momma Bear, but didn't see her. After a few minutes, the cub decided to run on up the hill next to the road.
Three bear sightings in as many days was kind of neat. Just wish I had my camera. |
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| Warning - Of MTBing and Bears, Oh My! |
[Aug. 18th, 2007|09:54 am] |
Mountain biking, one of my few passions, will be the death of me - possibly literally. Last Saturday, I was riding a new trail at my local trail area. There is this sweet downhill with several humps in it. You can catch some serious air on the humps, but I wouldn't advise it because the humps are right between trees and have direction changes just past the trees.
My problem? I have been ignoring the rear shock on my bike for awhile. The air pressure in the main chamber has leaked down over time so the compression stroke has less resitance than it should. The rebound stroke still has most of its pressure. This situation creates a catapult effefct of sorts if the rebound damper is not adjusted.
So here I am racing down this sweet downhill (the fastest I have ever ridden it) saying to myself, "Self, watch your speed on the humps." I didn't listen to myself.
The experience of being ejected from a bike at almost full speed is a feeling of weightlessness. Oh, but gravity soon takes over from there and reality sets in. I landed on the point of my left shoulder and the left side of my head. I heard the shoulder pop and then the pain set in. I quickly sit up and start feeling around for a broken collar bone or dislocated shoulder. Everything seems in place, but the pain was terrible and I could barely move my arm.
Only one choice - ride out of the woods as best as I can. Once to the truck, I took my helmet off and notice I broke my helmet in two places. Not dents, mind you. Complete breaks all the way through the helmet. I quietly thank the powers that be and the helmet manufacturer.
So I drive myself to the emergency room...and wait. (A fat man in spandex riding gear is not a pretty site while sitting in an emergency room.) Luckily, x-rays show no breaks. The nurse and PA both ride bikes and were interested in how I crashed so badly. I relate the story and they send me on my way.
It has taken almost a week for me to be able to move my arm in a near normal manner. It still hurts and I have a hard time sleeping, but it is getting better. The lingering issues are the muscles painfully cramping up at unexpected times.
So, Friday, I am back on the bike for the first post crash ride. Step 1 - Adjust shock rebound. Check! Off I go, albeit a bit slower than last Saturday.
I head for the same trail I crashed on. The first half mile or so is climbing then a short downhill chute. As I hit this downhill, I notice something black behind a tree next to the trail. As I get closer, I notice it's a bear cub which gets scared and crosses the trail in front of me and starts running up the mountain. He startles me as much as I startle it.
Now, the images of Momma bear taking her agression out on a fat man in spandex race through my mind. (Again, fat man...spandex...not a pretty sight.) I look around for Momma bear and don't see her around, but I am not waiting to be introduced. I get the hell out of Dodge as fast as I can.
There are all kinds of wildlife where I ride, but seeing the bear was pretty cool.
I finished my ride, incident free. Some shoulder pain, but not too bad. I didn't crash and I did not become bear poo either.
Friday evening ended with some beer and a cigar. A good evening, which offsets the bad Saturday of last week. |
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| It's alive! |
[Jun. 23rd, 2007|09:26 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | accomplished | ] |
At approximately 9PM last night, the Bugeye was raised from the dead. After 30 some odd years, the engine fired last night and ran strong. Great oil pressure and the temperature came up and held at 180 degrees. This is a major point in this project for me. I have secretly been very nervous that I screwed something up in the engine and it would all blow up - especially when I couldn't get it to fire last weekend. All that was wrong was a weak starter.
Noted items needing correction are a fuel leak at the rear carb, re-bleeding the hydraulics as the clutch would not disengage, time the engine properly, check the generator output and tune the carbs.
Many things lay ahead as it is nowhere near finished yet, but excuse me for being excited at the moment. |
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| Sadness |
[Apr. 16th, 2007|05:07 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  sad | ] |
Virginia Tech, a home for me for four years of my life, has suffered a tragedy beyond imagination. My heart goes out to the families and friends of the victims and the Tech community as a whole. |
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| Bugeye Update |
[Mar. 13th, 2007|03:19 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | calm | ] |
I was able spend some quality time with the little lady this weekend...err..my project car. Life's been crap lately so my unwinding time has been in the garage. I was able to install the dash and hook up all the associated wiring. Here's a pic:
Bugeye Dash
The radiator went in last night. Next will be the radiator hoses, exhaust & carbs. I'm getting closer to firing the engine up, but just not close enough to suit my needs. |
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| Short Catch Up |
[Jan. 20th, 2007|08:45 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | crappy | ] |
It's Saturday, I'm at work, I feel like crap and I am missing gaming weekend. Heard that story before? OK, let's shift gears...
I may have mentioned this before but check out this website:
http://www.teamsprite.com/
The site documents an all girl auto shop restoring an Austin Healey "Bugeye" Sprite. This is the same kind of car I am "restoring". These girls and their teacher have done an absolutley amazing job. The car was auctioned yesterday for the sum of $21,000. An astounding price for a Bugeye. Someone picked up a collection quality car there. Mine will be a nice driver quality - nothing like theirs.
Speaking of my car, the driveline is in and I "borrowed" the battery from my wife's car to turn the engine over to make sure the starter works. It was nice to see a little life in the old car.
I mentioned I feel like crap. Health issues have plauged (sp?) me the last several months. I have gotten the run around from Doctors and I go for a second opinion next week. Too much to go into here at this time, but let's just say I'm very tired (literally and figuratively) of the whole ordeal.
Time to actually work since I got my butt out of bed to do just that. (I am actually ahead of schedule in that regard, but my poor desk doesn't look like it.)
Oh, one other car related noted. I surprised the heck out of S last weekend by pulling into the driveway in an '05 Honda S2000. I was just test driving it, but the look on her face was priceless. It was a sweet, fast car, but I just don't see spending that much money when my little Miata is almost as fun, albeit with 100 less horsepower. Plus my butt was too wide for the seat. Damn seat.
Later. |
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| Back Home and Happy New Year |
[Jan. 1st, 2007|10:26 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  tired | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Blade Runner on TV | ] |
We are back from a weekend at my brothers. He and his wife had given S tickets to see the Monet exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, NC. I am not part of the "art" crowd (i.e. I don't necessarily know what I am looking at)and I am particularly not a fan of impressionist art; however, I definitely have to say seeing that many original paintings of a celebrated Master was quite impressive. There were over fifty of Monet's paintings in one gallery. Some I liked very much, others I did not, but I could still appreciate the skill of the painter.
Other than the museum trip, we ate, drank, played games, wathced football and movies. A fun weekend, but overindulgence in food and staying up late has taken its toll on me. I am tired. I will hit the bed shortly after reading a little bit in the book I am working on.
Now that the Holidays are over, my busy time at work will begin which bums me out some. Oh well, it pays the bills and buys my cigars.
Later. |
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| Wet Christmas |
[Dec. 25th, 2006|09:00 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | awake | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | XM Top Tracks | ] |
Merry Christmas to all! Even with the rain.
I am the first up in our house. The coffee is made, the presents are wrapped and the food pre-prep is done. Now we wait for my brother and his wife to arrive to join me, S and my parents.
The most excited "person" in the house is the dog. Regis has an uncanny ability to pick a wrapped present from the pile that is actually his. He must be able to smell plush squeaky toys. A few years ago, he snuck to the tree, picked one out and had it unwrapped before we knew it. How did we know? "Squeak...squeak...squeak! Hey everybody, look what Santa brought me!" I think he was proud of that.
I am playing with one of my "early" gifts. An XM radio subscription for which I subsequently went out and bought the home stereo adapter kit. So I am in my basement flipping channels and listening. I particularly enjoy the comedy channels. Need a laugh? Just tune to 150XM. Now I'm listening to ELO on chennel 46. Cool.
Time to go refill the coffee cup and put some shoes on. I still have a few cleaning up chores to do too. |
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| Bugeye Update |
[Dec. 19th, 2006|10:35 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | sleepy | ] |
I got off my butt and installed the engine and tranny into the Austin Healey Sunday after which I decided to build a small photo album showing some of the progress. (Well I couldn't sleep last night and needed something to do - OK?)
Here it is for your viewing pleasure.
Bugeye Album |
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| The state of things. |
[Dec. 18th, 2006|11:20 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  aggravated | ] |
I'm recovering from being sick.
I'm so behind on getting ready for Christmas, it's not funny. S has done most of the work even though she has been sick also.
I'm getting behind on work.
I hate Dr.'s.
On the plus side.
I am alive, if not well.
S's present is bought. http://www.markyoung.com/paintings/lg_regis.htm
I got off by butt and put the engine and trans into the bugeye yesterday evening. |
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| Football, football & more football |
[Sep. 23rd, 2006|09:56 pm] |
I like college football. I don't read up on every aspect of the game, I can't quote stats, etc., but I do enjoying watching and attending games. Through no planning of my own, I have been able to attend college games three weekends in a row. One UVA (Thanks Dave!) and two Va Tech games (Thanks Jeff & Go Hokies!) I will miss the next Hokies game because no tickie - no laundry. Also, the RAH&FGP will descend upon my house.
Today's game was Tech vs. Cincinnati. Boy did Tech stink it up the first half. Their national ranking at 11 was not apparent in their play. The second half was a different story. They came back out to play and finally win.
I am getting the itch for season Tech tickets again. That means becoming an Athletic Fund contributor then get in line for tickets. The amount of contribution is one of the factors which sets your tickect priority. I hate playing that kind of game, but it's a polpular athletic program and that's how the business works. Oh well, we'll see. |
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| It was a good day... |
[Aug. 25th, 2006|08:20 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | content | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Lyle Lovett - I've Been to Memphis | ] |
once I got past a certain a-hole vendor.
Yesterday I was invited as a guest to a Rotary Club lunch meeting. They were having a small car show during their meeting. I ended up missing the meeting portion because I was deep in conversation with another Club guest talking Austin Healeys. He had a beautiful 100-4 Lemans. A very rare version of the 100-4. Some other cars at the show were: thre Porsches, an Olds 442, a Viper, an rare British car called an HRK or HKR, a couple of Model Ts, etc.
So after eating a free lunch and talking cars, I headed back to work and was promptly handed the keys to a 2004 Porsche 911 to "go to the bank" in - without supervision. No hesitation there. I took the "long way" back from the bank. What a nice car. Fast, agile and sexy looking. Too bad I can't afford one.
The rest of the workday was uneventful and after leaving work I took a mountian bike ride and had a great ride. I felt good and it showed in my climbing.
Back home, it was me, the dog, a cigar, a bourbon and a swing to finish the day off.
It was a good day. |
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| Idiots |
[Aug. 23rd, 2006|09:15 am] |
PHOENIX (Reuters) - Life imitating art is all very well. Unless, that is, it's a movie about deadly snakes on the rampage.
Movie chain AMC Entertainment Inc. said pranksters at one of its Phoenix theaters released two live diamondback rattlesnakes during a showing of the film "Snakes on a Plane" last Friday. No one was injured.
AMC spokeswoman Melanie Bell said, "One was found in the parking lot during the show, and the other in the movie theater. They were both removed, and no one was harmed."
The snakes were later released in the desert.
Bell had no further details.
The movie stars Samuel L. Jackson, and spins a yarn about a crate-load of escaped snakes that run amok on an airline flight, attacking passengers and crew.
"There were kids at the show, and it was actually very reckless," Russ Johnson, the president of the Phoenix Herpetological Society told Reuters.
"The snakes' bite carries a powerful venom that could have seriously injured someone," he added. |
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| I'm a deviant. |
[Aug. 14th, 2006|08:37 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | annoyed | ] |
Deviated septum, that is. That's the only notable thing from my sinus CT. But I am not enough of a deviant to require surgery.
Oh, by the way, I am learning to really dislike Doctors. It took three hours on Thursday just to see the Allergist and learn this and have him basically throw up his hands on why I have headaches and ignore a couple of other questions I asked. I was not a happy camper when I got out of that long wait. Now on to an ENT and Neurologist and have them throw up their hands. Now I know why they call it a Medical Practice. |
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| I'm not a doctor... |
[Jul. 31st, 2006|09:17 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | Headache | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | "Joliet" Jake Blues - She Caught the Katy | ] |
...but I play one in my head.
God I feel like crap. My sinus\allergy problems have done nothing but get worse lately. I had a CT scan last week and took the films with me but I didn't get the report. My follow up appointment isn't until Thursday so...I have been holding the films up to the light and trying to diagnose my own problems. Let's see, yep still got a brain..there's a nose. Hey! Where's that cute boyish grin? Oh yeah. that's on the outside!
Honestly, I have compared the films to example CTs on the web. Although not as clean as a "normal" CT, my films are not anywhere near as bad as the "bad" examples. There are some notable anomalies, but are these enough to be causing my constant headaches and other issues? Are they surgery eligible? Somebody just fix it please!
Oh well, on other events in our boring life, S has felt bad since getting back from vacation. Same story, different chapter. She never gets full relief from her pain. My sinus issues are minor compared to her problems. Sorry dear. I wish I could fix it.
On the biking front. I road last week and felt so bad I had to turn around after a couple of miles. Yesterday I felt somewhat better and got a decent ride in except for the endo on an easy trail. A small drop with a rock in the middle of the trail. I saw the rock, the rock saw me. A skinned knee and a bruised calf and ego were my present. I still had a very good ride. Quite the opposite of three days prior.
The Austin Healey awaits more work. I haven't touched it since vacation. Mainly because of lack of energy (yeah sinus crap again) but I also need some specialty coatings I have ordered for the gas tank. More on the Sprite later.
Adios. |
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| I'm back. |
[Jul. 24th, 2006|05:56 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | cranky | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Silence | ] |
Not that anyone missed me though.
Vacation was nice but the workload which was on my desk when I got back this morning sucked. Plus I had to head out mid-morning for a CT scan of my sinuses which just made the day even worse because getting caught up was not in thew works.
Vacation highlights:
I broke a seat mounting bolt on my bike almost three miles into the trail on Tuesday. The bolt snapping sounded like a gunshot in the woods. Luckily I didn't fall on the seat post or rear tire and harm "The Boys." My brother rode back to the trailhead while I and the rest of our group waited and was able to scrounge a replacement bolt from the mobile bike shop set up there.
On the Thursday ride, my brother had his back seize up badly. His foot went numb and severe pain hit his leg and lower back. Me, his wife and others in our group walked him out by supporting him as best we wcould and shuttling bikes back and forth. I did point out to him that he was as far away from the trailhead as possible and also was at the bottom of the major climb of the trail. His back has great timing - three plus miles of hiking in Sidi biking shoes is not fun, especially when supporting someone. Oh well, he did ride back to get me that bolt I mentioned earlier. :-)
My boss gave me a bottle of Bookers for the trip -MmmmMmmm good.
My brother presented me with a pipe he made for me. Nice. I do not smoke a pipe often, but this was a nice smoking pipe if I do say so myself.
There are other highlights and fun things, but I'm just too darn tired. Let's just say we had fun and will look forward to our trip next year.
Oh, nobody fell into the river this year while kyakking (sp?) - That is a highlight! |
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| Weekend\Holiday Wrapup |
[Jul. 5th, 2006|08:45 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | complacent | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Joe Satriani - Satch Boogie | ] |
Gaming weekend was fun as always. Firiends, games, food and a good cigar. Good times. Two new versions of games I have played before were probably my favorite. Those would be the new triangle version of Blokus and the Markim (sp?) edition of Ticket to Ride. I stayed away from the Carcasonne (again sp?) game late on Saturday night. It's a fun game but long and this gamer was too damn tired. Oh, "Who's the Ass?" was quite enjoyable too.
Surprisingly, traffic on I81 was not bad for a holiday weekend and I made it back home without incident or aggravation. I was able to get the chores done I needed to and then I spent time on the Austin Healey. All but one brake line is in. The last brake line will be the tough one. I do not have the original to pattern the necessary bends from so I will have to "free hand" the pipe bends. Of course this is the pipe with the most difficult bends to perform. Hopefully the car will stop when I press the brakes when it is all said and done.
Monday was a work day with little to note.
Tuesday work was closed for the 4th and I took advantage of it. An early morning bike ride got the blood flowing as well as the mud. It has been a week since the heavy rains hit our area, but the mud holes are still around. The new crank set on the bike shifted smoothly, but I could feel a little flex when I stood up and pounded. I'll live with it.
After riding, I camped out and watched the end of the Tour de France stage. It will be interesting to see who will come out on top in the post Lance era. One top contender, however, will not make it to the end - out with a broken collar bone after a crash. I think there were two or three collar bone injuries yesterday in the Tour. Ouch!
After the Tour, S and I went to see Cars in the theater. We really enjoyed it, both of us being at least part redneck. (It's in the genes.) I think anyone seeing it that is not familiar with NASCAR would miss some of the humor, but it still was entertaining.
The fourth was wrapped up with dinner at a friends house. A nice low key evening.
So now it's the fifth and I don't want to work. I hate mid-week holidays. I certainly would rather have had a long weekend. |
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| Lightning follow up. |
[Jun. 29th, 2006|09:32 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | awake | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Radio | ] |
We found where two of the strikes hit. One hit our neighbor's storage shed and blew several shingles off, knocked a hole in the wood and blew up the light fixture inside.
The other (maybe same) strike hit a tree about fifteen feet from the shed. Not the typical tree strike though. The strike blew an half inch root out of the ground and made a nice little furrow in the dirt. The top of the tree looks unscathed.
Phone service is back. One of Verizon's lines basically burned up, affecting several houses in the neighborhood.
Cable and internet is still out. The earliest Cox will come out is Saturday. Great customer service there. |
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