Yesterday I rode up to Nelsonville to help out my Dad with his new DSL install. I was nice to be able to do something for him. It seemed kind of odd in a way, to do something for him that he did not fully understand, for the man who did so many things for me when I was a kid that I did not understand. But anyway that is not the gist of this entry. More to the point this should serve as a warning to others. It was cold yesterday, colder then I thought it would be on the bike, but I rode it anyway. I got about 7 miles out of Athens and had to pull over to warm up at the Ranger Station because my legs stung and I could not feel my legs very well. Now, I rode the highway to Nelsonville so I was traveling about 55-60 mph in 25-degree weather. That made the base ambient temp around minus 3 degrees Fahrenheit. It took about 20 minutes to get there. At that temperature frostbite sets in after about 30 minutes. I did have 2 pairs of gloves on but I was still cold. The worst was yet to come. I rode back cross-country, thinking that I could drive a little slower and not get chilled as badly. Nice theory anyway. The route I took led me through much of the scenic back country of Athens. For those of you not too familiar with the terrain, it is all nice little frost hollows. The temperature can differ as much as 20 degrees cooler in these areas from the average, due to their protection from the wind and the sun. If we just drop the temp by 10 degrees that makes it 15 degrees for the base temp, with an average speed of 45-50 that made the ambient temp minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 27 Celsius. Frostbite sets in at that temperature in about 15 minutes. My ride was 25 minutes long. When I got home I was having trouble closing my hands around the grips of the bike. I did get it up on the stand and got in the house okay, but Judi (bless her) had to take off my helmet, as I could not undo the strap. She tried to warm my hands, but they hurt too much to be touched. I headed into the kitchen and soaked them in cool water, slowly increasing the temperature until they started to warm up. Finally they began to hurt worse so I knew there was not much damage. Today, my fingers are a little pink and still a bit sore at the tips but not so much as to keep me from typing. Guess there is another upside to having that blacksmith leather like skin. No broken skin or blackening, so I would say no frostbite, but dam close enough for me.
So, there you have it. Public admission of a dork attack. Me vs. Mother Nature, we will call it a draw.
Till next time, be mindful and awake.
Saturday, March 13, 2004
Monday, March 8, 2004
Coffee and dreams, bitter and sweet
Well, of late I have found myself quite addicted to ridding my bike; a pastime of most efficacious manor and deep soul cleansing. You would not think that ridding would do that, but perhaps it is feeling the wind on your face and the press of the air on your body that forces the dust from your mind and soul. We all accumulate dust in our being; just not everyone knows how to clean it out. I hope everyone finds his or her own way to do it. I had perviously made a comment about the look of a fighter pilot, but all I was missing was the silk scarf. Well, no more, thanks to Heather and The Fish, I have one now! Look out Red Baron, you have more than Snoopy to worry about now!
In other news, nada.
Life in general has been quite quiet of late, so much so I am actually getting caught up on a few projects now and then. I need to direct more attention to my writing. Everyone knows about writers block, but I think I have come up with a new one, Writers Guilt. When you know you should write or you want to write, but the whole of the universe seems to conspire against you to keep you from writing, yet, you still have a layer of guilt for not changing things so you can.
It surprises me sometimes the things I learn from reading my friends blogs. With all these extra eyes I have developed quite an intelligence network one could say. I am informed from conversations, blogs, news, phone calls, excreta. I listen and see things all the time and just file them away for later if need be. Makes me glad I swore long go to only use my powers for good, he he.
Well, not the most exciting of entries, but none the less it is still an update of sorts.
Better than everyone just skimming past, seeing I did not update the page yet again. I am doing something unusual for me; there is neither music nor movies playing right now. The sound of the heater seems to be enough for me. I usually hate silence in general, but right now it seems to be just fine. I keep looking out the window and cursing the snow I see, I want to ride more. It is just too cold out. Now, you may say it is only 40 degrees, it is not that cold. Consider this, if it is 40 degrees outside and I am riding at 50 mph, the effective temperature on my person is now 25 degrees. If the temp drops to 30 degrees at that same 50 mph, the effective temp on me is now 12. See? Way too cold to ride. That does not even take into account any wind there may already be. For example, 40 degrees with a 15 mph wind is effectively 32 degrees, now, we take that base of 32 and add in the speed of riding, 50 mph, and our new effective temperature effect is the same as if it were 4 degrees. Water freezes at 32 degrees; Bryian freezes at anything below 40. Bryians operational temperature range is optimally around 85-90 degrees. And now you know why I still wear a jacket when it is 75 degrees outside. This ends meteorology 201 for today.
This one came from my friend Toms blog. I am not big on quizzes, but this one did interest me a bit. I wonder how accurate it is? You decide.
Maybe more later, after more coffee…
Till next time, be mindful and awake.
In other news, nada.
Life in general has been quite quiet of late, so much so I am actually getting caught up on a few projects now and then. I need to direct more attention to my writing. Everyone knows about writers block, but I think I have come up with a new one, Writers Guilt. When you know you should write or you want to write, but the whole of the universe seems to conspire against you to keep you from writing, yet, you still have a layer of guilt for not changing things so you can.
It surprises me sometimes the things I learn from reading my friends blogs. With all these extra eyes I have developed quite an intelligence network one could say. I am informed from conversations, blogs, news, phone calls, excreta. I listen and see things all the time and just file them away for later if need be. Makes me glad I swore long go to only use my powers for good, he he.
Well, not the most exciting of entries, but none the less it is still an update of sorts.
Better than everyone just skimming past, seeing I did not update the page yet again. I am doing something unusual for me; there is neither music nor movies playing right now. The sound of the heater seems to be enough for me. I usually hate silence in general, but right now it seems to be just fine. I keep looking out the window and cursing the snow I see, I want to ride more. It is just too cold out. Now, you may say it is only 40 degrees, it is not that cold. Consider this, if it is 40 degrees outside and I am riding at 50 mph, the effective temperature on my person is now 25 degrees. If the temp drops to 30 degrees at that same 50 mph, the effective temp on me is now 12. See? Way too cold to ride. That does not even take into account any wind there may already be. For example, 40 degrees with a 15 mph wind is effectively 32 degrees, now, we take that base of 32 and add in the speed of riding, 50 mph, and our new effective temperature effect is the same as if it were 4 degrees. Water freezes at 32 degrees; Bryian freezes at anything below 40. Bryians operational temperature range is optimally around 85-90 degrees. And now you know why I still wear a jacket when it is 75 degrees outside. This ends meteorology 201 for today.
This one came from my friend Toms blog. I am not big on quizzes, but this one did interest me a bit. I wonder how accurate it is? You decide.
Maybe more later, after more coffee…
Till next time, be mindful and awake.
Friday, February 20, 2004
And so it begins
Yesterday, I was able to take my first real ride on my new 2004 Military. I will skip the details of fright I caused Judi /my beloved other half/ when I laid it down in the soft ground that is our side yard. No damage to me or the old girl, but Judis heart took the majority of it. I did not even get dirty from it so we shall move along!
Once on the road, it just took a few minutes to get her all warmed up. Of course, like a dutiful rider I spent 2 hours before hand checking bolts, installing new cowlings on the light and speedometer, and general looking over the bike. In my mind it is a lot like a preflight check on an airplane. Do it now because at speed you do not want to wish you had!
I was ready to go. Helmet, goggles, gloves, and a heavy-duty buffalo hide jacket. I felt more like a biplane pilot than a bike rider. All I needed was the flowing silk scarf. Ease out the clutch, gear up, flaps up, and pull back on the throttle. The happy machine suddenly roared to life with the voice of a giant grand dragon. I banked into the curve at the bottom of our hill and leaned into it for the first time. I was hit with a sudden rush of adrenaline like the first time I hade ever ridden, almost 25 years ago. Shifting was a little harsh, but that I attribute to a very stiff shifter and me, as it is still a very new bike.I made it to the stop sign at the top of the hill, paused as required and then turned to follow down the street. A simple 35 mph cruise for now. Then came the first problem.
At the end of the road, about a quarter mile down I got hit with a cramp in my hip. Downshift, neutral, coast, ease it over to the side of the road and stretch that leg out. Remind myself I am not 17 anymore and wait for the pain to pass. It does and I move back out onto the road. Since it is now about 5pm, I decide the back road option is much better. I have driven this way a thousand times, all of them unremarkable. Today though things seem different, I was not traveling in a capsule of steel and glass. I was out there to see things as they are. No illusions, just the realness of the whole thing this time. I could feel the road unlike before, every dip and bump and they all were helping me get aquatinted with my new friend. We began to ride together, not as individuals. Up through the hills that are just now trying to spring back to life from a harsh winter during this brief respite from the cold. Up onto the ridgeline and past the high fields. The sky was clear like glass and the air clean and crisp. I looked out over the valleys and I could see for miles, it felt like I could take a sharp turn and ride the beast off into the sky and forever.
I reached my office/shop and took a rest for a while as my business partner Mark tried not to drool over the bike. He was impressed with the look and the sound, continually telling himself with 3 corvettes he did not need a new bike. I had a smoke, checked a few bolts and tightened them down and was off on the road again. A short stint on the highway and I was back again to the ride along the ridges. Oddly enough, there was a rainbow in the sky, the third one of the year, the other two coming earlier in the same day. The trip home was just as enjoyable as the drive out there. After I got home, I put the girl up on her center stand and let her cool down before she got her cover for the night.
I must say, I have a new friend. Her name is Royal Enfield.
Thanks to Judi for our introduction, she gave her to me as an x-mass present, and thanks to Dan at DRS Cycle. You help and assistance will never be forgotten.
Till next time, be mindful and awake.
Once on the road, it just took a few minutes to get her all warmed up. Of course, like a dutiful rider I spent 2 hours before hand checking bolts, installing new cowlings on the light and speedometer, and general looking over the bike. In my mind it is a lot like a preflight check on an airplane. Do it now because at speed you do not want to wish you had!
I was ready to go. Helmet, goggles, gloves, and a heavy-duty buffalo hide jacket. I felt more like a biplane pilot than a bike rider. All I needed was the flowing silk scarf. Ease out the clutch, gear up, flaps up, and pull back on the throttle. The happy machine suddenly roared to life with the voice of a giant grand dragon. I banked into the curve at the bottom of our hill and leaned into it for the first time. I was hit with a sudden rush of adrenaline like the first time I hade ever ridden, almost 25 years ago. Shifting was a little harsh, but that I attribute to a very stiff shifter and me, as it is still a very new bike.I made it to the stop sign at the top of the hill, paused as required and then turned to follow down the street. A simple 35 mph cruise for now. Then came the first problem.
At the end of the road, about a quarter mile down I got hit with a cramp in my hip. Downshift, neutral, coast, ease it over to the side of the road and stretch that leg out. Remind myself I am not 17 anymore and wait for the pain to pass. It does and I move back out onto the road. Since it is now about 5pm, I decide the back road option is much better. I have driven this way a thousand times, all of them unremarkable. Today though things seem different, I was not traveling in a capsule of steel and glass. I was out there to see things as they are. No illusions, just the realness of the whole thing this time. I could feel the road unlike before, every dip and bump and they all were helping me get aquatinted with my new friend. We began to ride together, not as individuals. Up through the hills that are just now trying to spring back to life from a harsh winter during this brief respite from the cold. Up onto the ridgeline and past the high fields. The sky was clear like glass and the air clean and crisp. I looked out over the valleys and I could see for miles, it felt like I could take a sharp turn and ride the beast off into the sky and forever.
I reached my office/shop and took a rest for a while as my business partner Mark tried not to drool over the bike. He was impressed with the look and the sound, continually telling himself with 3 corvettes he did not need a new bike. I had a smoke, checked a few bolts and tightened them down and was off on the road again. A short stint on the highway and I was back again to the ride along the ridges. Oddly enough, there was a rainbow in the sky, the third one of the year, the other two coming earlier in the same day. The trip home was just as enjoyable as the drive out there. After I got home, I put the girl up on her center stand and let her cool down before she got her cover for the night.
I must say, I have a new friend. Her name is Royal Enfield.
Thanks to Judi for our introduction, she gave her to me as an x-mass present, and thanks to Dan at DRS Cycle. You help and assistance will never be forgotten.
Till next time, be mindful and awake.
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
To quote my friend, Mr. Torquil....
* If you take an Oriental person and spin him around several
times, does he become disoriented?
* If people from Poland are called "Poles," why aren't people
from Holland called "Holes?
* "When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?
* Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?
* Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?
* If horrific means to make horrible, does terrific mean to make
terrible?
* Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one?
* Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist, but a
person who drives a race car not called a racist?
* If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?
* Why do women wear evening gowns to nightclubs? Shouldn't they
be wearing night gowns?
* If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
* When someone asks you, "A penny for your thoughts," and you put
your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?
* Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
* Why do croutons come in airtight packages? It's just stale
bread to begin with.
* If you mixed vodka with orange juice and milk of magnesia,
would you get a Philips Screwdriver?
* Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a "whack"?
* If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it
follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted,
cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked and dry
cleaners depressed?
* Do Roman paramedics refer to IV's as "4's"?
* In an emergency do Romans call IX I I ?????
Alright, they are not actual Mr. Torquil quotes, but they could be!
times, does he become disoriented?
* If people from Poland are called "Poles," why aren't people
from Holland called "Holes?
* "When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?
* Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?
* Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?
* If horrific means to make horrible, does terrific mean to make
terrible?
* Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one?
* Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist, but a
person who drives a race car not called a racist?
* If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?
* Why do women wear evening gowns to nightclubs? Shouldn't they
be wearing night gowns?
* If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
* When someone asks you, "A penny for your thoughts," and you put
your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?
* Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
* Why do croutons come in airtight packages? It's just stale
bread to begin with.
* If you mixed vodka with orange juice and milk of magnesia,
would you get a Philips Screwdriver?
* Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a "whack"?
* If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it
follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted,
cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked and dry
cleaners depressed?
* Do Roman paramedics refer to IV's as "4's"?
* In an emergency do Romans call IX I I ?????
Alright, they are not actual Mr. Torquil quotes, but they could be!
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
What a weekend....
What a weekend indeed.
We went to Columbus for an SCA event of some magnitude. A friend was getting /elevated/ into one of the peerage orders. She dam well has earned it. Out of the blue, I hear that another old friend from our group is being elevated as well. That is so cool for both of them. But, I have to say at the same time it does bear a certain amount of sadness with it. Most, if not all of the people I started with in the SCA are now going to be or are already peers, Laurels, Pelicans, or Knights. I would say they have all earned it, sometimes in spades.
Okay fair warning, I am about to vent.
The one thing all but one of them share in common is they have left. With this shire, that is not an unusual thing. We are based in a college. Big turnovers are to be expected. Me, I have been here over a decade, even when you take out the time when I withdrew from the SCA for personal reasons. Part of me is pissed a bit at feeling like I have been overlooked. Most of that comes from location. I would also say a good bit of it comes from my bad attitude. Or at least what I see as my bad attitude. I do not play politics, nor do I suck up to anyone. I am me. In the society I am Eidiard. Period. I love what I do, but there is part of me that wishes for the recognition of a peerage so I could try to make it a little better for the next generation. There is quite a difference between Joe Schmuckly saying something is wrong and Master/Master/Sir Joe Schmuckley saying it. Part of it as well I can honestly say is pride. I think that is one of the hardest realizations I have come to. In truth, it does hurt. It makes me wonder if my priorties are all screwed up. Most likely they are. Or it makes me question what am I doing wrong? Still, I do in a sense feel left behind. It makes me ask, why do I do it. I know deep inside why, I will get to that in a moment.
How do I see myself? Many times through the eyes of the others in my shire. I am looked to for advice and solutions when problems arise. When things are tough, I am looked to as a leader. Why? I do not know, but it does happen. If I lead somewhere, they follow. It is quite odd for me, I am not used to it. I hope I never will be to be truthful. When one becomes complacent in a leadership role, they loose focus and the ability to see things around them. When one is not among the people, how do you know how they will think and react? I see this with a lot of peers in the SCA, removed from the majority of the people, moving within the peerage circles and not getting out there and getting their hands into things. Leadership from on high is not leadership; it is a dictatorship.
Now back to the question why do I do it. It is not an easy one to answer directly. Maybe a few examples would be good. We had 10 of us that went to the event this weekend. The way back was ice everywhere. It was nasty and going to get worse as we headed home to Athens. Somehow I ended up in the lead again. I made the decision we should lay over in Lancaster at a hotel room for the night. It seemed the smart thing to do. So, we went to the Holiday Inn Express and I got us three rooms for the 10 of us. Everyone had a warm bed. Silly I know but I wanted to make sure everyone was all right. Yea, it was not cheap, but a little talking got us the best deal one could hope for in the situation. I talked with one of the people who went with us early the next morning and she commented about the cost. I could only reply I felt better about spending the money on the hotel rooms then having to spend 50 bucks on flowers to send to a funeral for one of us. To me it made sense. Perhaps it was a way for me to protect myself from possibly feeling guilty for pressing on. Perhaps it was survival instinct. Who knows? But all 10 of us got home safely. That is what mattered most. I was under no real obligation to anyone but I felt I had to do something. So I did. Jefferson once said evil flourishes when good men stand by and do nothing. I believe myself to be one of those good men who do not stand by.
One of the members of our shire was without garb due to a change in plans. Judi took her out and outfitted her with some basic garb from the merchants and then came back to me to try to justify the money spent. I told her I did not care about the money, but did she look good in it. She said yes and that was all that mattered to me. That is why I do it. I had another member of the shire come up to me and say the fatal words - I am bored. After a few minutes of questioning I found out she was interested in learning something new. So I went to the merchants and grabbed a lucet shuttle and a roll of cord, sat her down with someone who I knew had a great deal of knowledge about it and let her go. When she asked what she owed me for it, I told her that I never mentioned money and to not insult me by trying to pay for it. She seemed a little shocked. I did ask foir a yard of finished cord for one of my medallions when she had figured it out. Sorry, but when I give someone something I do not expect them to pay me for it. I remember what it was like when I was new and things were tight money wise. There was no one there for me. Now before you thing it is just a matter of me spending money let me relate another story to you. We have a new woman in our shire that had expressed an interest in learning to fight. I said no problem; let me see what I could do to help. A short time later I came back to her and told her I had asked a female fighter of some great knowledge to help her train as a favor to me. She did not know how to react, but in my own mind, that may be the make or break point for a new person in the society. Those points come for every person, we just have to recognize them and act when they become clear. I made sure everyone ate and had fun at the event. I have told Judi I am the self appointed shire Minister of Fun. Making it fun for others is how I find my fun. That is why I was a marshal for so long. That let other people have fun while I took over the work part. I always looked at it as a way of paying back all those marshals who stood there for me when I started and let me fight. It is also why I encouraged others to become marshals or whatever, to keep the fun rolling for each generation. That is why I do it. To see that smile they get when it is fun. I cannot turn away when someone asks my help. I just cannot do it, no matter what it takes. It is something deep inside me that will not let it go. Does not matter if it is standing guard, carrying things, manning a broom, telling a story or just being a sympathetic ear.
I doubt anything will ever come of this writing, but it does in a way make me feel better to vent, even in a virtual way.
Part of me in shy and perhaps a bit ashamed about how I feel about these things and says do not post this, but another part says put it up. So I will listen to the part that says post, even though I may regret it later. Do me a favor and do not ask me about this. I do not want to talk about it any more. Maybe this is my way of trying to put this behind me.
Okay, end of venting, my head hurts.
Till next time, be mindful and awake.
We went to Columbus for an SCA event of some magnitude. A friend was getting /elevated/ into one of the peerage orders. She dam well has earned it. Out of the blue, I hear that another old friend from our group is being elevated as well. That is so cool for both of them. But, I have to say at the same time it does bear a certain amount of sadness with it. Most, if not all of the people I started with in the SCA are now going to be or are already peers, Laurels, Pelicans, or Knights. I would say they have all earned it, sometimes in spades.
Okay fair warning, I am about to vent.
The one thing all but one of them share in common is they have left. With this shire, that is not an unusual thing. We are based in a college. Big turnovers are to be expected. Me, I have been here over a decade, even when you take out the time when I withdrew from the SCA for personal reasons. Part of me is pissed a bit at feeling like I have been overlooked. Most of that comes from location. I would also say a good bit of it comes from my bad attitude. Or at least what I see as my bad attitude. I do not play politics, nor do I suck up to anyone. I am me. In the society I am Eidiard. Period. I love what I do, but there is part of me that wishes for the recognition of a peerage so I could try to make it a little better for the next generation. There is quite a difference between Joe Schmuckly saying something is wrong and Master/Master/Sir Joe Schmuckley saying it. Part of it as well I can honestly say is pride. I think that is one of the hardest realizations I have come to. In truth, it does hurt. It makes me wonder if my priorties are all screwed up. Most likely they are. Or it makes me question what am I doing wrong? Still, I do in a sense feel left behind. It makes me ask, why do I do it. I know deep inside why, I will get to that in a moment.
How do I see myself? Many times through the eyes of the others in my shire. I am looked to for advice and solutions when problems arise. When things are tough, I am looked to as a leader. Why? I do not know, but it does happen. If I lead somewhere, they follow. It is quite odd for me, I am not used to it. I hope I never will be to be truthful. When one becomes complacent in a leadership role, they loose focus and the ability to see things around them. When one is not among the people, how do you know how they will think and react? I see this with a lot of peers in the SCA, removed from the majority of the people, moving within the peerage circles and not getting out there and getting their hands into things. Leadership from on high is not leadership; it is a dictatorship.
Now back to the question why do I do it. It is not an easy one to answer directly. Maybe a few examples would be good. We had 10 of us that went to the event this weekend. The way back was ice everywhere. It was nasty and going to get worse as we headed home to Athens. Somehow I ended up in the lead again. I made the decision we should lay over in Lancaster at a hotel room for the night. It seemed the smart thing to do. So, we went to the Holiday Inn Express and I got us three rooms for the 10 of us. Everyone had a warm bed. Silly I know but I wanted to make sure everyone was all right. Yea, it was not cheap, but a little talking got us the best deal one could hope for in the situation. I talked with one of the people who went with us early the next morning and she commented about the cost. I could only reply I felt better about spending the money on the hotel rooms then having to spend 50 bucks on flowers to send to a funeral for one of us. To me it made sense. Perhaps it was a way for me to protect myself from possibly feeling guilty for pressing on. Perhaps it was survival instinct. Who knows? But all 10 of us got home safely. That is what mattered most. I was under no real obligation to anyone but I felt I had to do something. So I did. Jefferson once said evil flourishes when good men stand by and do nothing. I believe myself to be one of those good men who do not stand by.
One of the members of our shire was without garb due to a change in plans. Judi took her out and outfitted her with some basic garb from the merchants and then came back to me to try to justify the money spent. I told her I did not care about the money, but did she look good in it. She said yes and that was all that mattered to me. That is why I do it. I had another member of the shire come up to me and say the fatal words - I am bored. After a few minutes of questioning I found out she was interested in learning something new. So I went to the merchants and grabbed a lucet shuttle and a roll of cord, sat her down with someone who I knew had a great deal of knowledge about it and let her go. When she asked what she owed me for it, I told her that I never mentioned money and to not insult me by trying to pay for it. She seemed a little shocked. I did ask foir a yard of finished cord for one of my medallions when she had figured it out. Sorry, but when I give someone something I do not expect them to pay me for it. I remember what it was like when I was new and things were tight money wise. There was no one there for me. Now before you thing it is just a matter of me spending money let me relate another story to you. We have a new woman in our shire that had expressed an interest in learning to fight. I said no problem; let me see what I could do to help. A short time later I came back to her and told her I had asked a female fighter of some great knowledge to help her train as a favor to me. She did not know how to react, but in my own mind, that may be the make or break point for a new person in the society. Those points come for every person, we just have to recognize them and act when they become clear. I made sure everyone ate and had fun at the event. I have told Judi I am the self appointed shire Minister of Fun. Making it fun for others is how I find my fun. That is why I was a marshal for so long. That let other people have fun while I took over the work part. I always looked at it as a way of paying back all those marshals who stood there for me when I started and let me fight. It is also why I encouraged others to become marshals or whatever, to keep the fun rolling for each generation. That is why I do it. To see that smile they get when it is fun. I cannot turn away when someone asks my help. I just cannot do it, no matter what it takes. It is something deep inside me that will not let it go. Does not matter if it is standing guard, carrying things, manning a broom, telling a story or just being a sympathetic ear.
I doubt anything will ever come of this writing, but it does in a way make me feel better to vent, even in a virtual way.
Part of me in shy and perhaps a bit ashamed about how I feel about these things and says do not post this, but another part says put it up. So I will listen to the part that says post, even though I may regret it later. Do me a favor and do not ask me about this. I do not want to talk about it any more. Maybe this is my way of trying to put this behind me.
Okay, end of venting, my head hurts.
Till next time, be mindful and awake.
Saturday, January 3, 2004
It's mine..all mine!!!!!
Alright, so I went a while without an update. Big deal, it was the holidays.
There was work, lots and lots of work since my partner was in Colorado. Least he had a good time there so it was a good thing.
Let me tell you what I got. It is a sure sign I was /VERY/ good this year!
Yea! It's a 2004 Royal Enfield 500ES Millitary.
To put it lightly, it ROCKS!
Today I passed my exams for the motorcycle license, got an 80 percent so I was pleased. So, if you see what looks like some demented messenger out of WWII movie, your not seeing things. It's me!
Unloading it from the semi was a treat. If it were not for The Fish, Daniel and Jax, I would have been stuck up the preverbial creek. Thanks again everyone, hope the pizza made up for it in some way.
And last but not at all least a very BIG public thank you to Judi for such an awesome present!
MY SWEETY GOT ME A BIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There, I am better now....
MY SWEETY GOT ME A BIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you tell I am enthused?
Anyway, more later as this saga I call life moves on.
Till next time, be mindful and awake.
There was work, lots and lots of work since my partner was in Colorado. Least he had a good time there so it was a good thing.
Let me tell you what I got. It is a sure sign I was /VERY/ good this year!
Yea! It's a 2004 Royal Enfield 500ES Millitary.
To put it lightly, it ROCKS!
Today I passed my exams for the motorcycle license, got an 80 percent so I was pleased. So, if you see what looks like some demented messenger out of WWII movie, your not seeing things. It's me!
Unloading it from the semi was a treat. If it were not for The Fish, Daniel and Jax, I would have been stuck up the preverbial creek. Thanks again everyone, hope the pizza made up for it in some way.
And last but not at all least a very BIG public thank you to Judi for such an awesome present!
MY SWEETY GOT ME A BIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There, I am better now....
MY SWEETY GOT ME A BIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you tell I am enthused?
Anyway, more later as this saga I call life moves on.
Till next time, be mindful and awake.
Monday, December 8, 2003
147 dozen eggs and Wal Mart
Okay, I can deal with a screw up as well as anyone else, but even I have a limit. I found out that the limit was 147 dozen eggs. Let me tell you why.
So Judi and I did our normal expedition into the mouth of the beast and went to Wal Mart. Not too unusual, you get desensitized to it after a while, like banging yourself in the forehead with a hammer, after a while the pain goes away. So, we roll up to the check out lane and unload the cart, not a big deal, pretty normal. I swipe my card while the minion is still scanning things. Then it happened. The eggs. He could not find the UPC code on the eggs, it seems they did not have one. So he scratches his head, checks his cheat sheets, stares at the eggs some more, checks his sheet again, then goes back to looking at the eggs. So he says /How much were the eggs?/. I said/$1.47 I think./ He somehow overrides the register and we happily go back to mindless scanning. We get to the end and he hits the key to charge my card, a whopping $300+ dollars. Okay, I was stunned for a moment, but I thought maybe there was that much. He hands me the receipt and I begin to look for the offending item. Eggs. 147 dozen eggs at a cost of 1.47 each. $216.09 worth of eggs! Wait a minute, 144 dozen eggs are a full palette! I get his attention as he is happily starting to scan the next poor fools stuff. Hey dude, I think we have a problem. I show him the receipt and he is shocked. Oh man, take it to customer service and they can fix it for you. So off to customer service we go.
This is where it starts to go down hill. The young lady at customer service was very nice and ran off to check the price of the eggs and find the upc /because it will be faster if she does it./ So five minutes pass and she returns. She now has a second dozen eggs with a upc. Then comes the computer follies. She starts to do a return receipt and is told by a higher up she has to put the item in 147 times. Apparently there is no way to tell the computer that 147 of something is any different than 2. So she starts with the repetitive key combination. Somewhere around 90 some odd entries another person shows up and suggests she just do it as a department refund or some such thing. I think Judi could tell my patience was getting short. So the go to do a refund, swipe my card and then have me sign the receipt. Oh, by the way it will take 9 days for this to show in your account. WHAT? 9 days!. I think they could tell I was getting pissed as the other lady suddenly interjects /or we can give it to you in cash right now./ Good answer, you move into the bonus round and get to keep living! So the ritual starts again, tap tap tap, print, swipe scribble, count out the cash. After all is said and done, we got the eggs we wanted for free and a refund.
Something deep inside tells me hat the egg saga is not over, but I feel it may take 9 days for me to see the problem. Then I will go from there.
So Judi and I did our normal expedition into the mouth of the beast and went to Wal Mart. Not too unusual, you get desensitized to it after a while, like banging yourself in the forehead with a hammer, after a while the pain goes away. So, we roll up to the check out lane and unload the cart, not a big deal, pretty normal. I swipe my card while the minion is still scanning things. Then it happened. The eggs. He could not find the UPC code on the eggs, it seems they did not have one. So he scratches his head, checks his cheat sheets, stares at the eggs some more, checks his sheet again, then goes back to looking at the eggs. So he says /How much were the eggs?/. I said/$1.47 I think./ He somehow overrides the register and we happily go back to mindless scanning. We get to the end and he hits the key to charge my card, a whopping $300+ dollars. Okay, I was stunned for a moment, but I thought maybe there was that much. He hands me the receipt and I begin to look for the offending item. Eggs. 147 dozen eggs at a cost of 1.47 each. $216.09 worth of eggs! Wait a minute, 144 dozen eggs are a full palette! I get his attention as he is happily starting to scan the next poor fools stuff. Hey dude, I think we have a problem. I show him the receipt and he is shocked. Oh man, take it to customer service and they can fix it for you. So off to customer service we go.
This is where it starts to go down hill. The young lady at customer service was very nice and ran off to check the price of the eggs and find the upc /because it will be faster if she does it./ So five minutes pass and she returns. She now has a second dozen eggs with a upc. Then comes the computer follies. She starts to do a return receipt and is told by a higher up she has to put the item in 147 times. Apparently there is no way to tell the computer that 147 of something is any different than 2. So she starts with the repetitive key combination. Somewhere around 90 some odd entries another person shows up and suggests she just do it as a department refund or some such thing. I think Judi could tell my patience was getting short. So the go to do a refund, swipe my card and then have me sign the receipt. Oh, by the way it will take 9 days for this to show in your account. WHAT? 9 days!. I think they could tell I was getting pissed as the other lady suddenly interjects /or we can give it to you in cash right now./ Good answer, you move into the bonus round and get to keep living! So the ritual starts again, tap tap tap, print, swipe scribble, count out the cash. After all is said and done, we got the eggs we wanted for free and a refund.
Something deep inside tells me hat the egg saga is not over, but I feel it may take 9 days for me to see the problem. Then I will go from there.
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