My Plastic Passion....

Update on Jospeh Keen and Family

2012-02-05T22:53:00.007-05:00

Joseph’s funeral and burial was held on last Thursday. Tina had to work,but the Kids and I went (Nick opted to visit my Grandparents,having a phobia about funerals ever since having my older cousin died when he was 4 years old and taking him to the funeral).

It was a good service,and Joseph looked good,if that’s a proper thing to say (I’ve been to a funeral or two where the deceased looked horribly made up…). We visited with his Grandmother (Judy) a while and settled in,and Jamie was able to see and visit with many of her old friends and classmates. Joseph’s older brother,Richard,made it in from Afghanistan as well. While it was a beautiful service and burial,obviously,it was also very painful,to the friends,families,Jamie,and myself-many tears were shed.
Talking with the family,some of my fears and self-imposed guilt were laid to rest. Joseph being much more mature than his few years and then I had thought,was content and happy for Jamie “even if” he “couldn’t be her BF anymore”. They discovered on December 29,if I understood correctly,that despite the fact that most of his cancer was in remission or stable,it had passed into his brain and attacked it vigorously,which ended his battle.

One of his brothers had went to check on him Sunday morning last,and told his Grandmother that he wasn’t breathing-which had happened a few times earlier,and she went to his side,screamed his name and he gasped,opened his eyes and was smiling at her as he placed his hand on hers. She looked into his contented eyes and saw a peace and happiness in them (her words),and as tears began to stream down her face,she told him “Joseph,honey,you can go on if you want to,I will be fine,I want you to be happy,at peace),and he squeezed her hand and drifted off for his last time on earth with a smile on his face.

An update on the Keen family:

I found out that Judy Keen’s (Joseph and Richard’s Grandmother,whom they lived with\were raised by) own Mother,who was 91 years of age,had been battling with her own serious health issues for the past several months,and just as the family was loading into the car to go to Joseph’s services,they got word that she too,had passed only minutes before,so they sat though Joseph’s services knowing they had just lost another close family member. If I heard correctly,the services for her were held today (we couldn’t make it).

I received another phone call with an update this evening that Judy is in congestive heart failure as I type…doctors believing that the series of recent events in the family “just being too much on her heart”,and I was told the prognosis isn’t good.
Richard,it’s my understanding,waited to join the Marine Corps until his family’s health seemed stable enough to feel safe to go away for a time…and now all this,weeks after having been stationed in Afghanistan.

Prayers and thoughts are much welcomed and appreciated for the entire K family,and I consider it a personal favor to myself for those that have and will.

In Loving Memory of Joseph Keen; You Are Missed

2012-02-01T12:40:00.000-05:00

While out and about yesterday,the Wife and I got one of those phone calls everyone fears (whether secretly or openly,no matter how “tough” one is),hearing that one close to our hearts has passed on from this life to the next.
Jamie’s ex boyfriend,who was also both before and after a long time best friend,Joseph Keen,died Sunday,he was 17 years old. He had been battling a rare form of bone cancer for a long time,one that most often strikes children,and has a very high mortality rate. For the last couple years,he had been doing well,and it had seemed that he was in remission,seemingly inspired by Jamie to have the will to fight,to beat,and to live.

I remember the first time we met in person a few years ago-this was shortly after he and Jamie decided they wanted to be BF\GF,so knowing the family and having known him from many talks over the phone,we went for a visit. It was so cute…here I was,head almost shaved and wearing a “do-rag”,goatee grown out several inches and a leather jacket,and Joseph thinking “Wow,I’d better not piss this guy off,he looks mean”,LOL,he sat there the entire visit with his hands on his knees,almost trembling,and completely and on purposely NOT so much as looking over at Jamie,when we left,Jamie said “Daddy,thanks! The first time I get to see him at home,he’s terrified of you!”,LOL,all’s I did was talk video games,bicycles and cars with him.

Now,he was almost 3 years older than Jamie,but he was also a devout Christian,and both very kind-hearted and very respectful of her (he has never even kissed her on the mouth,cheek only),as well as everyone else-but I believe the love he had for Jamie went much deeper than “puppy love” or “childhood crushes”,I believe that boy would have earnestly and honestly proposed to Jamie if he had been given the time to live long enough…and as long as it was after college,I half think she would have accepted…there’s,while always G-Rated,was one of the most sincere ones I’ve personally seen.

He always had this huge smile on his face,was always happy. LOVED video games,and always took time to also be a good “big buddy” friend to Nick. He always had a joke to tell,and a kind word of encouragement to anyone needing it. I can’t say I EVER heard,or heard of any discouragement from that young man the entire time I knew him.
Jamie’s face always lit up when he would call,as did Nick’s. Knowing the family well,and Joseph having earned our hearts and our trust,we would often work it out with his Grandmother (who was rasing him) to let Jamie,or Jamie and Nick both go up for a visit of a few hours,and they would play video games for hours,laughing and enjoying the company. Nick loved him as much as anyone,and looked up to him as the one teenager who treated him not as a little kid,but as a friend. Joseph…was an awesome,awe-inspiring,and great kid,he would have made an awesome adult in this cold,dark world full of a-holes (come on,you’ve driven somewhere and seen how the world is getting…).

After our house fire last year,they would only have a couple more visits to spend together,mostly because we were now 65+ curvy road miles away rather than the previously lived houses 5-6 miles. I can’t even remember if Nick even got to go,now that I think about it-as Jamie would always throw a mini-hissy that she didn’t want him to go,because “He’s MY BF,not Nicks!”,and Nick always wanted to go,and was broken-hearted whenever she could and he couldn’t (bearing in mind that sometimes Nick would be such a hyper child,that we would make him wait until “next time” to calm down,knowing his energy level would wear hard of both Joseph and his Grandmother)…as a matter-of-fact,before their breakup*,I distinctly remember both Jamie and Nick asking to go for a week at the least,and my telling them no because it was such a major undertaking being so far apart-plus they didn’t understand that the 2 hour visits after school just were no longer feasible….and yes,I’m beating the crap out of me about this

A couple of months ago,Jamie got a call from him and was as usual excited to hear his voice,but after 15 minutes or so,she brought the phone down to me crying and said “Daddy…he bought me a ‘promise ring’ and asked if I would marry him when I graduate…I don’t want to hurt him,but I’m not marrying ANYbody until I’m a licensed veterinarian,that’s 6-8 years of school”. And buy her a “Promise Ring” he had,from Zales,and he had both his and her birthstones put in it,one on each side. At this point,the Dad-of-a-14-year-old-daughter in me kicked in,though I didn’t say anything about it knowing that if I got all “So 1950′s” about it that it would backfire,though I did think she’s a bit young (like 10 years!) to be even discussing such things.

So though I didn’t say anything about that,I did from that point on look for things I could point out to Jamie about them “staying together”,most notably I distinctly remember pointing out that he would possibly never be able to support her,or even help much,due to what this specific cancer does to young bodies….I didn’t exactly want to “break them up”,but the Dad in me wanted to slow things down between them…sigh.

*Fast forward a week or so,and Joseph showed up at our door 15 minutes before Jamie’s school bus brings her home (he was en route to his semi-weekly treatments),Promise Ring in pocket. When Jamie got home,though she was nice and loving about it (and looking to me for support),and though he tried to look mature and adult about it,when she told him “I think we should split up,and remain friends,but not be BF\GF anymore”,the look on his face was total devistation-and for this,I feel completely responsible,having “leaned” Jamie in that direction,thinking it best for them both at this point**.

Sometime Sunday,Dan (his brother,I think) had went in to check in on him and he wasn’t breathing. If I understood correctly,this wasn’t the first time this had happened in recent months,and his Grandmother had yelled his name and in the past,he’d wake up and be fine. So when she did this Sunday,she told me yesterday,he opened his eyes and gasped,looked at them and smiled,then drifted off and never woke again.

His older brother,Richard,is freshly in the Marines (I’m pretty sure he’s stationed and out of Basic Training\AIT),and it will take him 3 days to arrive home,at which time they’ll make funeral arrangements for friends and family…I’m sure the place will be standing room only,as the entire community was touched in some sweet way by Joseph and his cancer,his life-if at all possible,we will be there as well.

**This is…difficult to even type out loud,and I would never say it,especially to Jamie or Nick. It’s my understanding that while Jamie,Nick and he were growing closer as friends,and as he believed he and Jamie to be soul-mates and that she did as well,that he was doing well,even beating his cancer,and I know it to be fact that after the breakup,he only had strength to fight and live a couple of months. I can’t help but wonder,had Jamie not been at least hinted that she should slow things down,which ultimately ended their “going together”….well,maybe he could have had the will to fight,continue beating it…and I can’t help but feel my responsibility for that-and all that that entails.

I firmly believe,that for one to feel like they are responsible for being there to keep someone alive,that it’s all on their shoulders,is too awesome a responsiblity for anyone to carry,let alone a child of 14 years-but I still can’t help but feel fault in his death for my part in Jamie…..sigh,sob. Damn.
Joseph-I am deeply sorry my young friend,you are missed,and I will tell you this face to face someday when I pass on and we meet again,Jamie,Nick…indeed as do we all-loves,misses,and will mourn the loss of you,my friend,you will never be forgotten.

As 2011 ends...

2011-12-31T12:20:00.000-05:00

...2012 begins. I wish everyone a happy and safe New Years tonight\tomorrow,and a more awesome than this year new year-at least until the Zombie Apocalypse hits next Winter :p

It's that time!

2011-12-24T10:57:00.002-05:00

I want to wish everyone the very merriest,mostest blessed,and safest Christmas this weekend! From my heart to yours :)

I wanted to take a moment...

2011-12-23T10:26:00.002-05:00

...to wish you and yours,from mine and me,a very merry,emjoyable,blessed and safe Christmas this weekend!

Steve

A post of non-posting of no updates of anykind...

2011-12-15T17:03:00.000-05:00

I've been either too busy,or too down in the neck/back to build on the Bullitt,so no updates there,and as you may have figured,no rides as of yet either.

Between the holidays (I'm not saying "holidays" as in "Holiday Tree",but as in there are a few close together,it's CHRISTMAS,dang it,and have a Merry one! :) ) and all of their running of errands,spinal issues (the normal-for-me-variety),and regular have-to's,nope,nothing done.

This has absolutely nothing what-so-ever to do with the fact that we've finally been able to replace our lost-in-the-fire XBox recently (ok,ok...it's a Christmas gift split for the kids,but not being technically MY gift,do I really have to wait to sneak it out during school hours and late nights to play? I mean...I HAVE TO check the used games we bought to make sure they work,right? :p)...really,LOL!

As we've been enjoying unseasonably warm (and dry half the time) weather,I'm ITCHING to be able to ride again...even if just a spin around town (though my knobbie roots are screaming "SINGLETRACK!"). As is usual for me about this time of year,the remembrance of the smell of new bike haunts me as well,though I've purposely been shying away from bike shops and forums...I just couldn't justify a new bike purchase when I was barely able to ride the three I built-up this year,LEAST of all a new mountain bike...still,I had never owned a CX bike until this year (and it quickly became my goto bike-though moving to the city may have helped that),and a SS CX does sound so sweet (especially with bikesdirect.com having a steel framed Motobecane SS CX'er for sub $400 shipped).......Waaaahahahahahahaha! Er...sorry :)

Ah well. It's that time of year,and it's difficult to not get caught up in all the commercialism that IMHO tries to kill the real reason for the season...Christians celebrating the birth of Christ (which,though a faltering one,I am,and I do),especially reading about e-friend's first rides on new bikes all over the web.

I already have what I want for Christmas this year,though...finally,a very happy marriage,a healthy family that did NOT burn up back in June,my health (spinal issues and such not-withstanding...it could be so much worse :) ),my friends,a decent house to live in,food in my belly,Mustang in the driveway,and I could literally go on for hours (as we all could).

This is a Seinfeld post about nothing,really,just the ramblings in my head as I sit,LOL! I hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

PS: On the Jabberwocky. I've had a few emails in regaurds to it,though I haven't found the right prospective new owner (one spaz offered to let me eat shipping and gift it to him for $400.........come on,REALLY? One made mention of the often neglect and horrid treatment of all his bikes and mentioned "I can't figure why they can't make a bike that will last more than a coupel months..."........um,no),and quite honestly,I've been sleeping not-so-good since I made thought of selling it. If the right buyer comes before 1-1-12,to a new home it will go,but a growing % of me hopes that doesn't happen.

Update: 2008 Mustang Bullitt; In the home stretch!

2011-12-09T20:49:00.001-05:00

I piddled with some sub-assemblies today as I felt up to it. I also got most of the trim on the glass done9Needs more stop light red out back),so about all that's left I'll try and get done tomorrow (eg: decals,all the body's bits glued on,mate the body to the chassis and figure ride height and how to mount those Pegasus wheels).

More to come :)

OK,I HAD to...

2011-12-09T00:44:00.001-05:00

I have to wait for the dishwasher to run it's cycle before I can crash out anyways,so I went ahead with the mockup and pics tonight,LOL! Here's a few teasers...

Getting closer and closer,teeheehee! More tomorrow :)

BAM!!!

2011-12-08T23:28:00.001-05:00

Piddled with the chassis a bit more,hoping to get it (all except the ride height,and tire\wheel mounting) done tomorrow,and if at all possible the interior as well. HOPING to finish this one really soon. More to come :)

Ahhhh!!! THAT'S more like it!

2011-12-08T14:42:00.001-05:00

Quick update: Got that new hood prepped and primed,and it went on smoothly! Teeheehee!!! I'll go through the steps to get it sprayed today (while working on sub-assemblies) and post it up later when done.

More to come.

2008 Mustang Bullitt: Update; New hood is in the house!

2011-12-08T12:23:00.001-05:00

Just a quick update. I haven't done much of anything since last updates other than some trim painting and interior sub-assemblies,I kinda lost steam after being frustrated with my painting woes on that resin hood. Let me note,that this was MY bad,nothing wrong with the hood whats-so-ever,so Alex at LSM was under no obligation to do anything about it. However,when I emailed him and asked what I'd done wrong,he promptly molded up a fresh hood and sent it out to me,free of charge! WHAT A GUY!!! :D

Here's a shot of the hoods...

I've had it in for a few days now (since Monday),but have been pretty busy,what with my Mom having had a hospital scare and Nick being sick and at home this week,but I have a renewed steam to finish this one up fast now that I have the hood in,especially as 2011 draws to a close. See,this time of year,people on the forums start posting threads like "My 2011 Builds",and while I build for myself and the enjoyment of it,if it seems everyone has butt loads more accomplished for the year than I,it...bothers me,LOL! Must be my competitive OCD streak,eh? Anyways,it's been a tough year for building,and the Bullitt being completed brings my total up to a whopping three builds for 2011,LOL! Of course,Nick's '70 BOSS 429 Mustang (that I'm building for him next) will be a fairly quick build,barring unforeseen issues (of which I expect none,having built a few of those kits since first released in 1982),and as my next build after that is a pretty much OOB ("Out Of Box",or box stock) rendition of that swanky new Snap Tite '10 Mustang GT Ragtop,I may get 5 in...that's more than any year in the last decade for me,ha! More to come :)

Back to models and Mustangs for a minute...

2011-12-03T01:02:00.001-05:00

Getting closer on the Bullitt project,nothing worthwhile of pics yet though,just mundane detail painting (body trim,interior,etc). If I hadn't mentioned,I have every one of Revell's '05-'10 kits in the newly rebuilt stash of "to builds\NIB's" ("New In Box"),but there had been rumors of Revell making a Skill 1 Snap-Tite Plus 2010 GT ragtop for a while,and online vendors (eg: modelroundup.com ) have teased us with "Coming Soon" pics and announcements,most stating "December".

There has been much buzz in the small circles of Mustang model builders,fans of both the newest generation of 1:1 Mustangs AND Revell's series of kits have been chatting up the forums for weeks...nay,months...about it's impending release. There's been much talk about kit bashing (taking bits\parts from two or more kits to build one model) the newest glue\full detail kits ('10 GT and GT500 hardtops) with this,and I've been just as eager as anyone to get my paint stained hands on one (4,actually*).

Well,while I was out to the LHS (Hobbytown USA in Johnson City,TN) today in search of some new paint for my next couple projects,I saw they had just stocked a few,so I snagged two of em!

SO...looks like I'll be happily building Mustangs for a l-o-n-g time to come,LOL!

(*These two kits will be built box stock-for the most part-one for Nick,one for me...stocking stuffers. I want to score one more each of the full detail '10 GT and GT500 kits,and make conversions to ragtops in full detail kits kit bashing these)

Jabberwocky specs and pics:

2011-12-02T18:43:00.001-05:00

Here’s the specs on the Vassago Jabberwocky that I have for sale:
Frame: 2010,green,18″ (Medium) frame-bought new and professionally built at The True Wheel bike shop in Bluefield,WV
Fork: 2011 Rockshox Recon Silver Air 80-100mm (currently set at 100mm)
Cane Creek S-3 headset
Truvativ Hussefelt white stem,BB and Stylo SS crankset 32t chainring: Renon 24t cog,Sram 9 speed chain
Avid bb5 cable disc brakes 180mm\165mm (front\rear rotor size) with Jagwire Kevlar cables,and Avid SD5 levers
WTB Speedisc AM wheelset with Shimano Deore disc hubs,disc specific (as is the frame,BTW) wearing CST Cabalerro 2.25″ tires
Sette white riser bars (oversize),seatpost and ti-rail saddle

As I said,the Jabberwocky has >100 miles on it total,mostly offroad,with no scratches of any kind that I have seen. In these pics,it was just after a gravel grinder ride (dirt road),it will be clean when shipped\delivered if sold. Price is $950 plus actual shipping costs,or gas used to deliver if close enough. I may would consider a trade for a 1st generation Chevy S10 (2wd short wheelbase,4 cylinder\manual) or similar that’s of equal value (meaning,it may not look the best,might have some minor issues,but the going rate for an ’80s mini-truck in running condition locally says it would be a fair trade),as I could always use a truck (to slam and drag,ha! :p),and going back to having an extra vehicle means less mileage on the Mustang. Hit me up if within a reasonable distance and we’ll get together and look them over.
I would also consider selling only the frame*,for $300 plus actual shipping\gas,but being honest,Huck N Roll has brand new frames (which would not be any better than this one in any way other than saying “it’s new\never been built up”). I will list this here and maybe local Craigslist until about New Year’s,if it hasn’t sold,that will be my sign to just keep it,LOL! Email me at singlespeed92@gmail.com . Please excuse the dirty pics…

For Sale!!! Mint Condition Vassago Jabberwocky!

2011-11-28T14:05:00.001-05:00

I will shoot some good pics and post some pics up in the next day or so,but due to the complete lack of being able to ride enough to warrant having 3 nice bicycles and with wanting some extra cash for something I can use,I've decided to sell one of my mountain bikes.

It was a tough decision as to which one,as I LOVE em both. In the end,it was decided that since my ability to ride is...not as consistent as I'd like,it's really hard for me to stay "SS fit",so I'm keeping the geared one (Bandersnatch).

Absolutely nothing wrong with it,no scratches,scrapes or dents,and it only has between 50 and 100 miles on it total...it's a new bike. I have around $1,200-1,300 invested in building it up,I'll sell it for $950 plus actual shipping costs (including a bike box\packing if I have to pay someone to do that),or a tank of gas and deliver\meet up to 50-75 miles or so.

Anyways,pics and full specs coming soon. Whoever buys it won't be disappointed,it really is mint condition,it's an awesome deal,right before Christmas. If no takers in the first 2 weeks,it'll go on eBay.

I can only ship to the US and Canada,sorry for any inconvenience. If interested,please email me at " singlespeed92@gmail.com ",with something like "Interested in the Jabber" in the subject line so I don't send it (being an unknown sender) to SPAM. Thanks :)

2008 Mustang Bullitt: Update; More hood paint woes

2011-11-26T20:24:00.001-05:00

Seems that resin hood from LSM is going to fight me until the bitter end. NOT that there's any issues with the hood itself (it's a perfect example),but I apparently really botched that prep-stage the first time,badly enough that it was pre-botched the second go round,LOL!

So I sanded it down,re prepped following Alex's advice,primed it using the same paint brand he uses (Duplicolor),and here is the result...

Since I'm expecting to finish this one up soon,the first part of the week at least,it's going to be needing a hood fast (that Shelby GT500 hood only works with the GT500 grille,not an unmodified Bullitt or standard GT grille),so I snatched the kit's stock hood from the box,prepped,primed,and shot the black undercoat (should be dry about an hour ago) to use in the mean-time,until such time as I can figure what I did wrong and get that resin cowl hood finished and installed.

I also took the liberty of spraying the interior bits,fenderwells\firewall,grille and such,so pretty much all the spray-work (other than finishing the hoods) is done,assembly and detail painting can begin as early as tomorrow,though probably not until the house is empty of other humans (just Moonlight and me,teehee!) Monday.

If I get more done sooner,pics will follow.

Had a decent enough Day of Thanks spent with family (ALWAYS an "iffy" proposition,LOL),but since I wasn't up to\able to pedal yet,missed Dave and I's annual Turkey Ride at the Breaks,second year in a row (both times due to "bad spells" with my disability). Sorry,Dave,I missed you.

On Black Friday,I did my usual...avoided anything even remotely resmbling shopping,even slept in until almost 11:30,LOL! When I got out of bed,Tina and I went out to eat,and then headed to a local Ford dealership in search of catalogs on Mustangs. I'd planned to snag a '11 or '12 booklet,and was greatly hoping for a left-behind '10 booklet,for use as reference material for (obviously) model building. We wound up talking to the nice sales lady,though,about the '11s that are about to be a model year old,and were treated to a test drive in both a new Premium Coupe (that swanky new 31 MPG,305 HP 3.7L V6),AND a new Coyote 5.0L\6 speed powered GT coupe. While my Mustang will outrun the new V6 (once the rear end problem is fixed,and considering the mods I've added since that day at the track,an educated guess based on road tests on the new V6 and stop-watches with my old GT),it wouldn't be by a great lot,and there's no WAY I'd ever hit 31 MPG's,not on a good day going down hill in neutral with a strong tail wind. I was impressed (not for $31K though,but base price with that engine is under $24K...).

As for the GT,well,I knew going in that it's a high 12 second car right off the (showroom) floor,so I was set to be impressed. It didn't disappoint. I must own one of these one day (before they're "classics",LOL!),but not at the expense of the '08 Bullitt I lust after. I have a sneaking suspicion that that salesman will hesitate to say "OK...punch it! Lets see what it's got!" not time he takes on of these out...he said that to the wrong cat,LOL! Of course,it was on the highway from the last red light,and now traffic of any kind (cars,pedestrians,cyclists or animals) up ahead,and I didn't break triple digit speed. Even with those circumstances,that's just irresponsible on a public road,especially in an unfamiliar car belonging to someone else (you know I wanted to ,though...right? ;) ).

Well...more to come :)

I hope....

2011-11-24T23:16:00.001-05:00

I hope that everyone had a very very happy,and very very safe Thanksgiving today! :)

2008 Mustang Bullitt: Update; Paint and a Mock-Up

2011-11-24T00:54:00.001-05:00

I wanted the Medium Green Metallic Pearl to be a bit darker than what the can's cap shows,as Highland Green Metallic (the factory color on these) is a bit darker,so I decided to spray a black coat over the primer before the green. But I wasn't sure that would work,so I grabbed the hood of the spare body I had originally teste compatibility on with my last build (a Revell 2007 Shelby GT500) an sprayed it Tamiya primer grey,followed by several cats of Duplicolor Universal Black,followed by a few coats of the Green,and several coats of clear gloss coat (also Duplicolor-all coats dried for 25 minutes,and wet sanded between each with 1200 grit paper). Here is the result of that experiment...

SO it would work!!! Then I began the body spray in the same manner,and here are it's results...

Of course,I masked off most of the areas that need to be matte black on these,for eg the cowl panel and around the mirrors (I didn't mask the black areas around the headlights or front bumper cover,it looked too complex for the type of tape I have on hand). Even though it wasn't an option on these,I really like the matte black panel between the tail lights offered on Premium package cars (bothV6 and GT after about '07),so I masked it as well (you can just make it out in that last pic).

Since we all know I can't resist a mock-up shot,I shot a few. Note,the hood in these pics is that spare GT500 hood-test-mule,not the resin cowl induction hood that I have yet to strip and restart...I like this one on there too!

This one's coming together pretty well,IMHO (and rather than to be the type to think "my builds are best",I'm more of my own worst critic,LOL). Next thing I'll do is spray the basic interior platform and components,and lay them aside,detail paint the body and glass (black trim,etc),but it won't be long until I'm setting this one on the shelf,teeheehee! Here's a pic pulled from a page of Bullitt pics pulled from the web,it shows some of the black trim I'll be doing...

More to come on this one,but it may be a couple days.

I want to wish everyone out here a very blessed,happy,and safe Thanksgiving!!!

2008 Mustang Bullitt; Update

2011-11-21T18:44:00.001-05:00

I have gotten a bit done to this since last post. Not as much as I would have liked,but I ran into some issues (not inherently with the kit,or aftermarket bits,the issues were self-inflicted) that have slowed progress. No worries,though...it's only styrene (plastic,the type used for kit manufacture),and there's nothing I can do to it that can't be repaired,right?

First,a bit about the hood,and LSM. I've known Alex (owner\opporator of Lex's Scale Modeling) for a few years now. I've never met him in person,he living out in Texas and me no longer driving long haul trucks,but he's a very good and loyal e-friend. The kind of guy that just can't help but to be a good friend,he's just awesome people.

Anyways,LSM carries several resin hoods for various popular model kits (many of which I've had and reviewed when I had a model website other than my forum),as well as lots of detailing supplies,everything from ignition wiring to brake lines,to seat belt matrial and many other items. I can personally and highly recommend doing business with Alex,as he's always treated this customer and friend very well. You can find his website here . You'll even see a model of mine or two featured there. Tell him Steve,aka Olskoolrodder sent you :)

I had a mishap with the hood,due in no fault of the hood's. See,resin casters must use a non-stick agent to spray into the mold before the resin is poured in to cast the part (some casters use PAM cooking spray,for example),and unless thoroughly removed,neither primer nor paint will adhere to the part. There are several methods to removing this mold release agent (MRA),and the one recommeded by Alex for his parts is Westley's Bleache-White. Now,I had a feeling I should have soaked it in a bath of it for a spell,but being the impatient chap that I am,I took a toothbrush (not one I use,BTW,LOL!) and scrubbed it for a few minutes,dried it (compressed air),then shot three lite coats of Tamya grey primer on it (this is synthetic lacquer). BAM!!! It was that obvious that I hadn't gotten all of the MRA off,as the primer bubbled up and just looked...well,see for yourself...

So I've sent an email to Alex,asking him what he recommends to do (obviously I'll need to strip it back down,but no more chances am I taking,LOL!).

I have the engine almost complete (not adding any extra wiring\detail-just need the exhaust manifolds and a few small bits that are currently air drying after paint).

I also have the base spray work finished on the chassis (much detail painting will be done)...

I'm not 100% sure this is completely accurate on these cars,but a primed chassis with body colored over spray is prototypical correct on so many cars and from so many years ago until present...plus it just feels right. Should I actually be able to buy one of these down the road,I'll crawl up under and have a look-see.

At any rate,I also got some preliminary body-work done. EVERY part in a model kit,large or small,will more than likely have "mold-lines",small lines left from the molding process,these must be removed for accurateness (or in some extreme cases,just to look good). I have most of them removed,only the slightest of hints left to remove. On these kits,there is a mold line on each of the car's corners,just on or around the bumper covers...

Bullitts didn't have the typical GT's rear wing. Revell includes two small pegs to use as "plugs" for the molded-in-wing holes (where this kit is a modified reissue from a series). These may or may not have been factory correct on some Bullitts,but the three 1:1's I have seen had standard wing-delete trunk lids,so I'm filling mine in. Still needs a bit of putty work,and more primer (which I'll finally be running out of soon) before it's ready for color coats,but it's getting there.

That's as far as I've gotten today. More to come :)

Small Update Edit 1 AM:

I have the body's mold lines all smoothed out,and I slabbed some Sqaudron Green Putty on the trunk lid for working out tomorrow...

Putty for model building is lots like Bondo for 1:1 cars. Some of it comes in two part mixes (like Bondo),some of it is pre-mixed. Each will have pros and cons,but I have always had good luck with Squadron Green (pre-mix),it's found in almost any well stocked hobby shop,is very inexpensive,and easy to work with (so long as you're not lollygagging while spreading it to shape). More to come :)

New Project: 2008 Mustang Bullitt

2011-11-20T00:21:00.001-05:00

I don't have the faintest of ideas why I wait until late at night (late to some,I suppose) to begin a new project when I've had all day to do it...but that's usually how I work,LOL! Anyways,I cracked open the shrink wrap on my Revell Bullitt kit and started on it,though it's been a slow start.

This is one from a really nice series from Revell that included 7 kits all based from he same tooling (molds). The other kits sharing this lineage are the '06 GT,'06 Shelby GTH,'07 Shelby GT500,'09 (guessing on the year) Selby GT500KR,their newly released '10 GT,and Shelby GT500 (I have each of these,and I'm guessing they will share some DNA and compatibility with the coming-soon '10 GT rag top snap kit). Well known (to hobbyists) issues with each of these is a too-high ride height,and well out of scale (too high profile-too tall) tires.

There were only 7,700 Bullitts built in 2008,offered in Highland Green Metallic (which I couldn't find in rattle-cans,though I bought something that looks close) and Black-I don't have information as to the numbers for each color. They had a bit stiffer sprung suspension than standard GT's,as well as a tweaked exhaust system,rear wing delete,and a few well chosen parts from the Motorsports catalog,bumping base horsepower from the standard GT's 300,to 315. All of them were manual transmissions (as well they should have been...why waste all tha performance with a slush box,right?),and quotes from magazine road tests claim around 13.6 et down the quarter mile,wit 0-60MPH coming around 5.2 seconds.

Anyways,I won't be building it "box-stock" (building with only kit included parts) or replica-stock,I'm planning to use a sweet resin cast cowl induction hood from LSM and a set of Pegasus Hobbies 20-scale-inch "Chrome T's". Here's a few shots of the hood..

Here's a couple pics of the body,with hood and wheels for a preliminary mock up...

Tonight,I'm painting and assembling the engine\drivetrain,and just getting a "feel"for the kit...Grokking the kit. I have built one of these,box-stock (bad ride height,tires and all),and actually won an online Model of the Month with that build...but it was a standard '06 GT kit,it was IN 2006,it burned in the house fire,and I only vaguely remember having done it,LOL!

Unfortunately,a few (poor) pics is all I have left of that one.

So anyways,I'm really pretty excited about this build-so much so that when I found 3 on eBay for under $30 shipped,I bought 2 of them ($22.48 shipped....that's about the price of ONE kit at an LHS,not counting the time,gas,and wear on the car to go get it!),I'll build both a stock green and black one to go along with this one,maybe. The 1:1 is on my short list of cars I would trade my '94 GT rag top in on (it' a short list for sure...not many cars I would trade it in for).

More to come :)

Daytona Finished

2011-11-17T23:10:00.001-05:00

Well,it sure isn't my best work,but it didn't turn out too awful badly for a 26 year old snap kit,LOL!

The chassis-to-body fit leaves a LOT to be desired,and left the stance a bit high,but that's something I could probably go back into and tweak a bit,if I weren't so anxious to get into another project (that I've been waiting to finish this one before starting). Also,not realising anything was wet and with my not having been there to tell him,Nick picked it up to look at it,and there's a big glue booger (what some of us in the hobby call a glob of glue,often in the shape of a finger print) on one of the light covers,LOL! No worries,this is a shelf model,not a contest build (well...it is my entry in PA's 3rd annual CBP,but I both digress,and know that I can shoot the pics so as not to show it ;) ),and he felt so badly...how could I possibly be angry with my youngest child? Anyways,pics...

So this is my first complete from start to finish build of the year (it's friggin' November!),as my only other complete was a stalled project that was 95 or more % complete when I started back in the first part o the year. This has been a hard year for building,between issues with the injuries,as well as the house fire back in June and other things have conspired to keep me from the bench. Hopefully,it won't be my last of 2011,not counting Nick's '70 BOSS 429 Mustang (I won't count it as "mine" if he helps one time). I'll be working on it with im over the weekend,and beginning my next project tomorrow some time,being either a semi-replica of my first owned Mustang,a 1981 model 4 cylinder hatchback,or a 2008 Mustang Bullitt edition (my dream car-out of ream cars I might actually own in the next few years). I'm wanting to build both of those soon...I just needed to clear my first "back to the bench" in the new life\house and get back into the groove,so to speak.

At any rate,I have a semi-replica of LO BLAZE as an entry to PA's 3rd Annual CBP (Box Stock class,subject being "Longroofs"),but I have until August to finish that one,though I'd like to have it finished in time to take to Hobbytown's annual Spring show to enter-as well the afore mentioned pair of Mustangs. We'll see how it goes,but I DEFINITELY want to have a couple decent completes finished and ready by this March in-person show (where I brought home a 2nd and 3rd in class ribbon,one for each of 2 classes,last time I went with my '49 Mercury kustom and '69 Charger RT replica-stock). So anyways,thanks for looking :)

Small Update on the Daytona and Nick's BOSS 429

2011-11-16T09:21:00.001-05:00

All that remains to finish the Dodge Daytona project is minor detail painting and final assembly. I will be doing the detail painting in a few minutes,so it will have time to dry in time to do the final assembly later tonight.

I will also get going on Nick's Mustang kit,get a little more smoothing\prep work on it's body,and get a final coat of primer on it,as well as prime the chassis in time to shoot the body-colored overspray that 1:1's had when they left the factory in those days (many still do). That should a smile put on his face.

If all goes as planned (does it ever? :p),I'm anxious to break the plastic wrapping off of my next project tomorrow,a Revell (1:25 scale) 2008 Ford Mustang Bullitt,which is on the short list of real cars I want to own,and own one within the next couple years*. They were offered in only two colors in 2008,Highland Green Metallic and Black. I will be building this one in as close to Highland Green as I could find (Duplicolor has that shade only in 5 oz touch-up pens,and having no airbrush anymore,I would need a "rattle"can anyways,the Medium Green Pearl Metallic I bought is fairly close),using a sweet resin cowl induction hood I scored from good friend Alex over at Lex's Scale Modeling (in acontrasting black),and a set of Pegasus Hobbies 20-scale-inch "Chrome-T's" wheels (one of the MANY aftermarket companies in this vast obby that most people don't even know exists),which look amazingly like pollished Torq Thrusts (like LO BLAZE had on it),with a slightly dropped stance and some high performance bits pulled from the parts box (which includes a few late model Shelby kits ;) ).

*With the plan to keep my '94 GT as both a daily driver and one to later restore to near stock\mint condition,the list goes as follows: '08 Bullitt preferably in Black which was an optional color that year,'03-'04 MACH I,preferably a manual transmission and Grabber Blue or Competition Orange,'01 Bullitt in any of the three colors-Blue,Highland Green,Black-an '05-09 GT hardtop (can't go wrong with red or black),or an '02-'04 GT nicely optioned (ditto on colors). The hope is,Spring of '13 to begin looking and buy. I'll know the right car when I drive it,it will have been treated with respect,and lovingly maintained (ot ran hard and parked wet,flogged and "ragged out").

'85 Dode Daytona: Just a mock-up pic or three.

2011-11-14T01:22:00.001-05:00

A "mock-up",if you didn't know,is when you put things together just to get an idea of what it will look like when it's done.

I had a slip of the Sharpie while trimming some of the windows\body,so I'll have to touch up the paint a bit. After that happened,I switched to a tiny brush and paint. Some of it will need a second coating,but this is about what it will look like.

Chassis is done,save for some exhaust tweaks,as is the engine save for some detail painting (I won't be adding wiring\plumbing as I'd planned,I just need to finish one,LOL!),and I'll be fiddling with the interior before I crash out tonight. So anyways,I'm looking at the next day or two having this one done. Pics...

What's really nice is that that ride height (though a bit high for this builder's tastes) is almost about right for the 1:1 I owned...which is very convenient as I don't have to meddle with it further,LOL! Anyways,more to come :)

Current WIP's

2011-11-11T17:32:00.001-05:00

A "WIP" is a "While In Progress",a current project in model building terms. I thought I'd take a few minutes and share what's "on the bench" (a common phrase in the hobby\on the boards) currently,but first,what's been going on this year for me in the hobby.

This is not a rant,as at this point,I can look back and laugh a bit at the irony. As I've posted about,we had a house fire earlier this year,and it was dramatic to my model building,as I hadn't built much this year before,and haven't finished anything since. The funny thing? I had 300+ unbuilt kits,many resin conversion bodies and\or bits and parts,and an unknown number of stalled projects at the time of the fire-which completely burned out the wall the majority of these were stacked up against from the next room's side...most were lost,only salvaging 20-25 kits,and no resin.

Why is that funny? Well,my biggest year (with the term "biggest" meaning the most number of kits finished) this century had been only 3-5 completed builds for that calender year,so at that rat of builds per year,plus knowing that I would buy between 4 and 20 kits (plus resin and parts),how old would I have to live to not only catch up but to finish them all? LMBO! See? Irony :)

That said,I have gathered a pretty impressive "stash" (what modelers refer to their collection as) ust since moving here in the new house,considering the limited budget,thanks in large doses to some good and carin friends I've never met. Model builders around the world are typically some of the nicest,most helpful and generous people you will ever meet,really. Before we even received settlement from the insurance company,I was getting phone calls and emails (thanks to public library's Internet access and my Dad's) from model building friends and even model builders I had shared forums with and didn't really even know,all offering to send me what eve I needed to get back to building,from kits to supplies everything in between. Awesome people,right? Between them,eBay,LHS's (that's "Local Hobby Shop") and a steady if not large budget,I already have about as many kits as I'll build by the time Jamie graduates high school in 3.5 years (or beyond). A HUGE thanks (and I will continue to say so) to everyone out there who graciously sent stuff my way,you are greatly appreciated!

OK,WIP's on the bench. As some of you know,I host\own\opporate a small model building forum of my own for the past 2 1\2 years,Plastihaulics Anonymous (you can find P.A. here),and we have for the entire time had two class CBP (that's "Community Builds Projects"; A friendly competition or build-off where everyone entered builds a similar theme,if not the same kits) going. At first they were "Semi-Annual",meaning twice per year,but as the last one ended and we were getting set for the next,members of the forum (or "board") voted to change some of the rules. We would still have a Box Stock class (where nothing that isn't included in the box,save for paint\glue,Bare Metal Foil-BMF- for the trim and flocking for the carpet,and no major scratch building allowed...a class to keep it simple and inexpensive) and an Open Class (where as long as the theme is adhered to,pretty much anything goes,from lots of aftermarket bits,to extreme scratch building),but for the first time,members would be allowed to build up to 3 entries,a wheel swap (from another kit,no aftermarket whee allowed) in the Box Stock class,and the biggest change being that it be stretched from an every six month build off to an annual one. SO...I have two entries there.

The theme for the Box Stock class this time (as voted by members) is "Longroofs",meaning vehicles with,ahem,long roofs. Examples would be SUV's,station wagons,vans,pickup trucks with camper shells,etc. While I have yet to begin on my entry,I'm going to be building a semi-replica (there were no 4 door full detail kits made,and being "Box Stock" class,I can't modify a 2-into-4 door kit,so...) of the '95 S-Blazer I recently owned\sold,LO BLAZE. This will be eerily similar,but will sport only 2 doors. Here's the kit I will be using as a basis...

I will modify the kit's suspension (possibly converting it to 2WD,like the 1:1 was,if possible within the rules) to severely lower it,and swap some wheels from a Revell '65 truck kit as they are very similar to the Torq Thrusts I ran on it. Here's a couple pics of the 1:1 as I owned it for those who haven't seen it...

It may be a while before I get going on this one,though,I don't like having more than 2-3 WIP's at a time so as to avoid feeling swamped.

My entry for the Open Class (whose theme is "Mopars",any vehicle produced by the group of manufacturers,both past and present,owned by Chrysler Corporation) is also a replica of a 1:1 car I owned in the past (no pics,sadly,they were lost in the fire) oddly enough,and drove for a few years o th mid-1990's. It's a 1985 Dodge Daytona Turbo (not a "Turbo Z"). I have vivid memories of this car,both interior and exterior,and have sourced pics of drive train and chassis online. I'm using this,a mid-80's released snap kit (ie: skill level 1,low detail,easy assembly,etc) for the basis of this build...

I have been working on this one a bit. I found very close matches to the 1:1's paint (was a two-tone) and sprayed the body and have found a set of aftermarket wheels that are amazingly similar to the ones I ran on the real one (which were 16",these are scale 17",but pretty close,eh?),and will attempt to finish this one (with minimal detailing like basic engine wiring\plumbing,etc added) over the weekend,as I'm wanting to get going on some other projects soon. Here's where I have it so far.

This is a mockup (where it's "set together" just to get a feel for how it will look).

I also am just beginning a Father\Son build with Nick (and is the reason behind not having actually started on the LO BLAZE replica ;) ),and will pretty much be built both box stock and to look like the box art (pics of actual built model on the box),a 1970 Mustang BOSS 429...

This is a decent kit,if a bit simplified for a skill level 2,first released back in the early 1980's (this kit actually set off a revolution of kit manufacturers producing better and more detailed kits that we still enjoy today,but that's another kit history story),so it should be perfect to get hi going with building. As with most non-kid kits today,it's molded in all white styrene (the type of plastic in kits),and tis particular re-release has several optional parts,most notable 2 style hoods,engines and a trio of wheel\tire choices. I will be doing the majority of the build,but Nick will be learning and lending a helping hand as well.

No pics,as white primer on top of white plastic doesn't lend itself to very interesting pics,LOL,but I have primed all of the body's parts after prep (eg: removing mold lines,etc). He's a Mustang Freak just like his old man,he is :)

Well,these are my WIP's,as well as lots of other tid-bits. I will post up pics\etc as I go through them,and as I finish them. I want to kind-of hurry with the Daytona as I'm just itching to build a modern ('05-present) Mustang kit,bu that would be more WIP's on the bench than I'd like at one time.

A new direction.

2011-11-10T19:48:00.001-05:00

As anyone who semi-regularly looks through here may notice,there's a big difference with the header pic and name of this space I all my blog. This has reasoning behind it,allow me to elaborate,but first a bit of history some of my friends\readers have heard mentioned way too many times,but I digress...

I have been a lover of all things bicycle-related for pretty much all of my life,greatly preferring mountain bike riding,but having great interest in all aspects of the lifestyle. However,having sustained fairly serious spinal injuries on the job just over ten years ago,as I age into these injuries,my ability to ride has become more and more sporadic,often times as few and far between rides as 6-8 months.
As a matter of fact,I'm more often than not,unable to to ride due to issues with said injuries,and it has become apparent (especially after having gone through both my paper journals and here) that I have spent more time in an ill mood and longing to ride-yet unable to do so-than actually being out riding. As I age,I'm just not able to enough to neither keep me happy nor sustain a "riding blog". Hence,the shift towards another passion of mine (though arguably more of a hobby,where-as I consider bicycling a lifestyle). I suppose I knew this...if I were able to ride everyday,I wouldn't be sitting home and drawing a disability benefit,I would be happily out earning much more monthly income for my family and myself.

Have I given up on my love of riding? Nope,nor will I cancel my subscriptions to bicycle magazines. Will I hang up my helmet for good? HELL nope,but I understand and am accepting that those days come fewer and farther in between than they once did,and will become fewer than they are currently as I age....these injuries won't magically heal themselves,and they will degenerate as time marches on.

SO,here I am,changing the direction of what I write about here. I've briefed on model kit building\collecting over the years,as well as my love of the automotive hobbies I have dabbled in. Expect more posts on these subjects,less on riding as I'm riding less these days.

LOL! NOW we'll see who gives a hoot and who doesn't...I watch the stats on this blog,and know exactly how many people read it every day-even when there hasn't been a post in weeks. I'm interested to see how that changes. Will there be new people find and read it? Will it spark interest in the same people? There will still be bike content when bike things happen after all,LOL!

Enjoy :)

Not riding much...

2011-11-08T22:16:00.002-05:00

...but been really busy at the model bench. Maybe get back to posting soon,havin too much fun (um...and been being too buy helping Tina find work ;) ).

I hope everyone had a...

2011-10-31T23:02:00.001-04:00

...very safe,very enjoyable Halloween!!!

Sad Day

2011-10-20T22:05:00.000-04:00

Note: We are still changing cable\phone\internet providers. The cable and phone have been disconnected since early this morning,but apparently and obviously the internet,for whatever reason,is still connected. If only it can stay "on" until the new services are connected next week,fingers are crossed...

As many of you who've been reading my drivel know,we have two dogs we love and have been sharing our lives and home with,Blackberry and Moonlight,sisters,litter-mates.

We shared with their Grand Pop,Spot the wonder-dog (and miss him sorely),and their Mama,Blossum (whom wasn't a good fit with our family,and a home had to be found for her. Out of nine pups,only Moonlight,Blackberry and another survived the first 3 months,and a home was found for the third. Let me say up front,neither of them has died (I realise this sounds like it's headed that way...),but their has been a change.

We were ecstatic when we were finally able to bring the girls here after the fire forced us to move (and spent many a night worried about them being on their own,so to speak,at the old place,depending on my grandparents to feed them. It's been an,interesting couple months (has it been that long?) learning to live with them,teaching them to live indoors with us.

This evening,when my Mom and brother arrived for visit,Blackberry (for argument's sake,Jamie's dog) dashed outside as soon as the door was opened. I was in another room,so Tina ran out after her (unbeknown-st to me),and when she got close enough to grab her collar (she never got the opportunity),Blackberry turned and attacked Tina. She grabbed Tina by the hand\arm and...well,I'm sure you've seen a dog attack someone\something,whether live or on TV or whatnot. She pulled Tina to the ground,ripping at her arm (which thankfully was covered due to the cold). Tina finally got free and ran inside to get me.

So then I went outside to find her (knowing full well she could hurt someone else,since she had apparently snapped,or be injured herself). It took several minutes to find her (pretty much mauling a stray dog,BTW),so I ran towards her,treat and leash in hand and she turned towards me,and attempted to attack me as well. Being a bit...meaner,than anyone else in the house,what she got for her trouble was a right cross across the head as she lunged at me.

The weird part? Once that happened,after she was no longer dazed (she was leashed at that point),she began behaving normally,her sweet,loving normal self,and I pinned her outside to check on Tina.

Blackberry never broke Tina's skin (though she certainly tried),so there's no scare of Tina becoming rabid or anything (neither of our dogs has had access to outside the house since the first week they were here,so have not been exposed,themselves,either),though it remains to be seen if her middle finger is broken (she refused to go to the ER,at least for tonight). She's out a good jacket though...something we're all short on here (cool-cold weather clothing). It's reasonably swollen,and possibly due to the swelling,she can't bend all three joints (knuckle and the others). We'll see how it is tomorrow,but personally I urge her to go have it looked at.

SO,I had to drive Blackberry to animal control (especially her beginning to act aggressive towards the kids and myself after enough time to have made the phone call. Her being "Jamie's" dog,Jamie wanted to go with,and see her off. This was....very difficult.

For the record,our dogs are never mistreated,but loved and cherished,played with and well treated. Really have no idea what went wrong in her mind,or what caused her to snap this way. I do know she is already greatly missed. Jamie cried herself to sleep,and Moonlight understands enough to know she's now "alone" with the bipeds,so we've all made special cares to spend extra time playing with and loving on her,and we spent much time consoling Jamie as well. This,what started out as a fine-if cold,windy and rainy-day,has indeed ended a sad day. Here are the last two pics we shot of Blackberry,just before she again turned aggressive...

And as Jamie said her first "last goodbye"...

Blackberry,if we...if I...have failed you as pack-leaders in any way,I am deeply sorry. You will be,and are missed. Godspeed,my friend.

Bound to happen...

2011-10-19T13:43:00.001-04:00

...down in the neck and barely walking after all that riding. Dang,sometimes I hate having spinal injuries\issues (well,not just sometimes),LOL! Just as well,cold\rainy front rolling through and I own no cold\wet riding gear (all burned in the fire). Still have internet hooked up,but I fully expect them to disconnect it after midnight tonight (which is when they're supposed to per our cancellation request),and it will be Monday at best before BVU gets here to hook it up with their service. I should have went with them from the brginning,they have an awesome reputation with their customers.

If there's no posts between then and now,that be why. Happy humpday to all,and to all a great week :)

Two rides: Part II

2011-10-17T21:16:00.001-04:00

Today after the school bus ran,Nick and I headed out for a ride,just for the sake of riding (I LOVE that reason!). We rode the opposite direction from yesterday,and on the way back,hit the 2 mile (or so,I didn't measure it) MUP as well. A real shame there isn't several of these,running all over town,LOL! Scenic,wild life (well...squirrels and ducks,ha!),and no traffic. Here's a few pics...

I also shot a short vid of Nick riding some small stairs whilst we took break,but haven't uploaded it to P-Bucket yet,LOL,next time :)

By the way,I now have a new-and-improved ride log,you can find it here,if you are interested in the ride's basic stats,I've been logging it there the last couple weeks,since accidently deleting my old version (I know I could technically "un-delete" it,but I wasn't happy with it,so...). Check it out :)

NOTE: We are changing internet\cable\phone service providers this week,so from sometime this week until early next week I will be offline,unless I mosey to the library (where I cannot post pics).

Two rides with Nick in as many days! Part I

2011-10-17T21:09:00.002-04:00

That's right...Nick and I got in two rides between yesterday and today,teeheehee!

Yesterday,after riding to Food Lion to return a Blockbuster DVD,I got back home to find Nick raring to go,so off we went to Food City (opposite direction,less traffic,more kid-rider-friendly route) for a gallon of water and some dish washing tablets,but we decided to take the long route back home,LOL!

On the way back,we stopped at the local Goodwill parking lot for a break. They weren't open,but the manager and some workers were there bringing the weekend's donations from the parking lot to inside. We were chatting about the weather and the ride,when Nick came bounding up,"possum eating grin" on his face shouting "Daddy! Look over here! Here's a 16" bike with the tires I need on mine where I slid the back too much,and here's some computer speaker wires,and here's....". She and I both got a chuckle out of his enthusiasm,and I started to explain to him that this stuff was donated and would be sold at a low price. When the manager (didn't catch her name) saw the disappointment on his little face she said "Listen,you two. That bike he mentioned needs a chain,hub,seat and such so we're going to trash it,if you have the tools with you,you're welcome to yank whatever you want off it,and you can have whatever you can haul on those bikes for free.." He was....ecstatic,to say the least,so I got to work on removing the wheels from the little huffy while Nick started picking. By the time I had them off (what...5,6 minutes?),he'd done picked out 40-45 lbs worth of good stuff,stuff we could actually use\needed (new shoes for his sister,binders and fresh paper,etc,etc,etc),LOL! By the look on the ladies face,she was shocked,pleased and very amused at all the stuff we were lashing to my bike,LOL! Here's some pics from the rides (both my solo and with Nick)...
Before I picked Nick up...

After snagging him...

After the Goodwill stop...

Stay tuned for today's ride!

Father-Son ride today.

2011-10-14T20:25:00.000-04:00

Short and sweet,hungry and dinner's almost ready,LOL!

Nick and I took off not long after the school bus ran,and rode his farthest (farthest not at the high school track) mileage ever today. We went half-way down the Parkway's length on a parallel street (a "bike route" no less),down to a convenience store,bought us a Gatorade to split,took a break and rode back.

Can't really get Jamie into riding here lately (I think her overheating back in August on a ride kinda burned her out on it),so it's just been a Nick and Daddy thing. It was AWESOME watching him learn the ropes of rode\traffic riding,and without his training wheels,LOL!

While we were taking our drink break,there was another rider pedaled up,on his wife's Treks no less ("Hers has the basket" he said). We got to chat riding and chat bikes for a few with him. He teaches at a local college,and loved to ride.

I NEED to remember to bring our digicam along on some of these rides (a new one next year wouldn't be a bad idea...ours survived the house fire,but it seem to struggle to do it pic taking job as time goes since then).

Well,after this Winter,we'll know how this car-lite thing will work for me with my injuries (I know there are lots of days I'm just not up to standing,let alone riding). If it works out,and eventually only have one car tagged with "regular use" tags\insurance (leaving the Mustang as an "occasional use\pleasure vehicle,2-4,000 annual mileage),I may overhaul this blog to,kinda like those "Copenhagen Cycle Chic" type blogs,maybe like Bristol Bike Guy or something,write more about riding in this fine city...I think those type blogs are uber cool. A thought anyways :)

For stats on the ride,see my ride log blog (see links).

Short Utility Ride With Nick

2011-10-12T19:53:00.001-04:00

It wasn't very long,but I wanted to test the waters and see if I was up to it,Nick (my son if you didn't know) was pestering me to ride some with him (now that he has his training wheels off,he's tearing it up!),and Tina was out of Coca-Cola. So,Nick and I rode down to the 7 Eleven down past State Street to get her a 6 pack of Coke.

It's important to me to teach Nicholas all about riding on the road,how to deal with traffic,and lane position,intersections,etc. He does really well,though sometimes his youthfulness (he's 9),excitement and inattention could be disastrous,so what we do is I put him just in front and to the inside (between the curb/road's edge and me) of me,and make calls to instruct him,as well as giving general reminders\instructions before we hit the road.

I need to get some pics of him\us riding,post them up,so you all can see the excitement he has for riding!

Humpday update

2011-10-12T12:34:00.000-04:00

Being the middle of the week,Wednesday is hump day,the hump of the middle of the week,LOL! Isn't it funny,that even the calender says "WTF" starting on Wednesday?

I'm feeling much better by today. Neck's still a bit stiff,headaches stopped yesterday,shin isn't even noticed,and the rear of my left thigh is healing nicely (sitting is much easier too).

Yesterday,I was pretty anxious to get out on the bike,but having no rain gear left (all burned at the old house-no moneys to buy new) I didn't venture out in the steady drizzle-rain. Today it was raining a bit early-on,but is only threatening to do so now...but I sit and wait on the cable guy to come figure why our cable freezes for 2 seconds every 8-10 minutes. So here I sit,enjoying the reading of friend's blogs,sipping a slushy-cold Mtn Dew fresh from the freezer...does it get any better?

While I was at the old house over the weekend,I found and brought here out stored winter coats (thankfully they were stored in the shed,not the house),and I also found that old Nashbar front rack (that I used to run on the Monocog in it's commuter days) and brought it,as well as what I have left of the old Trek 6000.

I've been thinking of some changes for the O8 CX bike,and the parts I pull from it could easily be used to bring the old friend (Trek) closer to once again be ridable. I was also thinking more on this car-lite thing...

Seeing as how the plan was always to pull tags and insurance from the Mustang come first foul winter weather,I will technically be car lite,being a family of 4 with one usable car,even if only for the winter months. I was talking with Tina on the subject of biking more\driving less (neck\back\etc permitting of course),and she,seeing the excitement in my face in turn got excited too.

I told her I was going to need fenders,some lighting and a good lock at least,but that between the mini-front rack and the rear rack with Coke case I should be good for making light-moderate utility runs,but I'd thought about scrounging for a trailer,or maybe tax time buying an Xtracycle conversion for one of the bikes (the Trek maybe?). A shock to me,she agreed,LOL!

The biggest hurdle to using the bike in place of a car\truck isn't logistics anymore (not living in the city again),and there are people with much more...problematic...disabilities than mine who live car-lite\car free by bike all over the world,so that isn't as big an issue as I may have thought,it getting up off the couch\out of the car and doing it. So until I can make myself do more by bike (barring pain\issues preventing it),it wouldn't make justified sense to spend on a trailer or Xtracycle. But if I do....

Ah well,that's what's on my mind this mid-week anyways. Seems I often do more thinking than doing. Wonder why that is?

Breaks Interstate Park Today

2011-10-10T00:10:00.000-04:00

Well,the day didn't go quite as planned,but ride the Breaks I did...sort of. Dave go there early,but before I got there,he called and said his daughter was sick and had called needing to go to the doctor,so he had to go,but he waited around until I got there so we at least got to see one another for the first time in months. I also got to see Brian and his crew coming out of the woods just before I was going in,that's always cool,getting to chat with old friends.

I decided at the last minute to suffer up Cardiac,seeing as how it's now a 2 hour drive to get there (minimum). Guess what months of no riding does to one's fitness level...LMBO! It was a suffering to be sure. I pedalled every bit of it,but took many breaks. Here's the Bandersnatch and an exhausted me up top...

All was going well,and I was having a good ride. The Bandersnatch's FIRST trail ride on real trails actually! I was enjoying the sweet mountain air,the Fall colors,the feel of dirt under my tires,the sweat running down into my eyes...yeah,this is what I miss!

As anyone who rides regular trails year in and year out can tell you though,trails change a bit from year to year,even season to season,and these trails are no different. As I was swooping down a fast section (20+ MPH),I didn't notice there was a new low hanging downed tree (about forehead level) until a nano-second before I hit it...just enough time to look down (no time to duck),hitting the tree squarely in the center of my helmeted head. I didn't wreck,but I did stop pretty quickly,being very dazed and disoriented. It was then I realised I'd split my helmet nearly in two (GOOD thing I had it on,or I might still be lying there,out cold or worse).

I had two more minor skirmishes,due mostly to my being disoriented,but knowing I was alone and my previous spinal injuries,I knew enough to get myself out and to an ER (one that's even familiar with my spinals/case),and have xray confirmation of a mild concussion,as well as having agitated my c-spinal region (my problem area anyways),knocking a few things out of alignment. Note-I must have left my helmet on the trail,I don't have it now,and I thought I still had it on after driving myself to the ER (uh...yeah).

The worst part of the whole thing is,at least after the headbutt,I wasn't having much fun (was way fun before that,LOL,imagine that). But ah well,realising how bad it could have been,it wasn't,and I wanted a new helmet anyways,LOL! Will this deter me from trail riding in the future,knowing what could easily happen due to already having a screwed spine? HECK no! I LOVE riding,and so long as I'm able to sit and spin the pedals (even if not often enough to have a base-line fitness level),I will any time I feel able...it's part of me,and who I am. Now on to much more better news....

After 2+ years of trying to talk him into letting me remove his training wheels,Nicholas finally let me take them off earlier this week. After only a couple-few short days riding around the block,he's riding as if he's been on two wheels for years,and is ANXIOUS to trail ride with his old man! I'm SO proud of him :D :D :D

PS:

2011-10-09T00:27:00.003-04:00

I recently accidentally deleted my ride log blog-wasn't very happy with some of the crying I'd done on it anyways-so I started a new one. Much apologies to those who were following it,but here's a link to the new one...

http://ssmtnbikersridelog.blogspot.com/

I hope to have it more active than the last one (meaning,I get to ride more). Oh yeah,I also found a Cateye in my old bike shed (budget Velo 8),replaced the battery and calibrated i tto the Origin 8 since I ride it most. Thankfully,not only had I been using Cateye computers only for years,but they are compatible between computer and mounts across the line of similar models,so while it isn't 100% accurate this way,I have the Jabber,Bander,and O8 set up to swap the computer from bike to bike as I ride. Smart,eh? :p

Luck be wished...

2011-10-09T00:08:00.000-04:00

As I go to take Jamie to visit with Joseph tomorrow,I would have been needing a way to kill a few hours to make her visit worth the 1.5 hour (one way) drive there. I had thought of riding on out to Gizmo's (favorite hobby shop) to pay on a layaway,or maybe dig through some more of the junk at the old house for anything else that might be salvageable (though at this point,we're borderline of running out of storage space in the new house...the first step in becoming hoarders again,anyways,LOL!). Nah. Too far to Gizmos (adds an extra 1.5 hours round trip from Joseph's),too much like work to dig around the old house for a Sunday (it'd be dirty work too,with no lighting in the house...). What to do...what to do?

So I called up DeadheadDave,to see what his Sunday looked like. "Sure wish I had someone to go ride with!" he said,teeheehee!

So here's the plan: Wake up not too early,but early enough (8AM-ish),load up the Bandersnatch* onto the Neon (pronounced "Nee-un" with tongue in cheek),drop Jamie at Joseph's house,use their phone to call Dave and tell him to "leave now" so we'll be there about the same time,and head to old faithful...the Breaks Interstate Park (no longer my local trail area...sigh) for a round about the Cardiac,Rattlesnake and such for a few hours.

I'll post up some ride pics assuming I don't forget the digicam. Yes,still somewhat down with the neck/back (and out of my non-narcotic-by-choice pain meds for some time now). So,wish me luck that I can actually make it there,and make it around the old trails without increasing the pain/issues.

*Bandersnatch: I know,I know,it hasn't been ridden much at all since I built it up,but my first instinct is always to grab the Jabberwocky (being my SS),especially since I bought that $50 rear cog just for riding those hilly trails at the Breaks (24T cog),and haven't gotten to ride there since I installed it (which wasn't long before the house burned and we had to move). Here's the thing. Vassago isn't shy about letting it's customers know their frames (Jabber and Bander anyways) are designed SPECIFICALLY around a 80mm travel or rigid fork. Rigid is out for me offroad,indefinitely,and while a decent mid-level fork it is,the RS Recon on there is set at 125mm. It raises the front end enough,that when combined with my too-wide-for-me handlebars (I need to cut/trim those...),actually cause a bit of extra pain in the neck/shoulders area for me. Not having the tools to pull it apart to set it at 80mm,I REALLY should get it to Buzz,or at least a shop around here,to get it done,LOL!

Have a great Sunday! :)

Back to bikes and riding...

2011-10-04T10:48:00.001-04:00

Though I still can't seem to stand upright and the pain/etc that's a constant companion hasn't left,I've discovered something,something that strikes me as odd...

Knowing full well from much experience these last few years that what usually onsets the issues with walking is,well,walking,it strikes me a weird that biking-at least road riding where the bumps/jumps and herky/jerky doesn't happen very much-actually seems to help a bit. What strikes me as odd about it is it seems to my uneducated-on-the-subject-self that walking and pedalling are similar motions using close to the same muscles. At least,it seems to help with that lethargic,bloated,not moving around enough feeling,helps me feel...stronger anyways. So anyways,though I'm still (STILL :( ) down with it for now,I feel pretty happy that I made myself get out and pedal a bit. I think this bears further study and some experimentation (um...riding,taking it easy).

This is bike-related,I promise...Mondays are garbage pick-up days in this neighborhood,and most people set their cans/piles out by the curb on Sunday evenings (as do we),and the truck normally runs early,about the time the second school bus runs.

We have some new neighbors down at the end of the street (actually,they moved in about a week before we did),and they were getting around to cleaning out the former tenant's junk from their basement,and they set it all out on the curb Sunday evening. Most of it was just that...junk-old busted chests of drawers,chests (think,treasure chest chests),an old twin-sized bed frame,etc. The garbage pickers were really quick to circle and start picking on their mopeds,as Jamie and I watched,discussing the benefits of recycling and how "one man's trash is another's treasure",I noticed some red plastic laying there,knowing immediately it was a milk crate...the errand running bicyclists go to carry-all when mounted to a rear rack (see,I told you,ha!). I figured surely these guys riding their mopeds (there were several,at least 3-5 over the course of a half hour),hauling stuff on a regular basis on a small 2 wheeler,they'd snag it up and be gone with it,but as the afternoon was rolling on and Jamie and I sat and talked,I kept notice of it.

I saw it being moved around a bit,but no ne picked it up and kept it. I also noticed there was a second useful bit of plastic there,what looked like a bread crate from that far away (it wasn't a bread crate). An hour or so of not seeing anyone picking,and seeing the neighbors (he and his wife/GF) I hadn't met yet outside piling more there,I figured it'd be a good time to walk down and meet em anyways,and ask permission to snag the crates ;). They both seem friendly and good sorts of folk,enjoyed meeting them :)

It was indeed a milk crate in good condition,but the other was cooler than a break basket (especially if you're one of the MANY peeps that collect Coca Cola memorabilia),it was a Coke crate like the ones I see the Coke man in the grocery hauling and setting up Coke displays,so I grabbed them both,spiders and all,LOL!

I may use the milker,but that Coke crate fits pretty goodly on the rack on the O8. Here's a few pics...

It isn't secured on there yet,just sitting,but looks to me like some well placed and snugged tightly zip-ties will have it rock steady and ready to haul small things to and from. I guess now I really should start looking into a good lock and some lights to make me more visible,eh? I would like a rack that mounts on a bit lower,which would give a bit more room for hauling,but hey,waste-not\want-not,this is what I gots,right?

All these thoughts about utility cycling has me thinking thoughts I've had often over the years (and made mention of here a time or two...),trailers,long bikes and going car-lite (lets be realistic here...I dig on cool kustom or fast cars,so even if in perfect health and my spine magically healed itself,I'd never be car-free,by choice anyways).

I still have most of that old Trek mountain bike (the "2000 6000") over at the old place (assuming no break-ins in my absence),and it would still be a prime candidate for a long-bike conversion,especially if the funds for say,an Xtracycle,were available (tax refund time,maybe?),but have also revisited sites speaking of DIY conversions (including bikeforums.net's nice Utility Biking forums,they have a sticky thread on the subject there),as well as done some research on trailers,specifically the DIY/Build-it-yourself variety. After discussing the subject with my Dad,there's even been talk of the two of us building one together...of course,the easiest/simplest way of scoring a new trailer would be to run to the department store and buy one,LOL,but until Tina secures a decent wage...

A local Walmart,for example,has two different "kiddie trailers",one made of aluminum tubing by Schwinn,and another one made of (weldable) steel by some unknown-to-me brand. The Aluminum one is 3 lbs lighter,but $51 higher ($139 vs $88) for that 3 lb lighter weight though. Seems to me that owning a steel trailer like this,and having access to Dad's mini-welder I could modify it a bit if I chose to,that the saved coin could be used for lights/lock and such also. I used to have a similar one back when the kiddos were younger (Nick was a toddler,Jamie in kindergarten),and I'd go to the local town park (there was NO town for miles,but they had a park...),load em up and drag them behind my first SS mountain bike for 15-20 miles. All of the bits on those that are for hauling children are fairly easy to remove,looks like snap-fasteners and Velcro for the most part,but having a water resistant encasement could be nice too,should wet weather hit while out on a grocery run or what-not. Here's a few pics of one that's been converted for utility usage by someone else (images pulled from one of those DIY trailer sites,and are not my own)...

It's food for (my) thought anyways...especially with KMart having layaways,LOL! Any thoughts,ideas or advice?

Also,on a Blogger related subject,I'm getting these "error" messages when I try to log into my list of blogs I read/keep up with. Firstly,that's why I haven't been reading or commenting on friend's blogs lately,and secondly,is anyone else having these issues,or could they be something in my PC's setup/settings? This is annoying =/

General ramblings.

2011-09-29T15:23:00.000-04:00

"General ramblings" means nothing really new to post,LOL! But looking back,I was pretty upset the last couple posts,and though there's no new good news on the Mustang woes,there's also no reason to harp and cry about it if there's nothing I can do,right? :)

Still no bike rides,as I'm still having the same issues walking or even just standing straight up,LOL,but I'm feeling a bit better today than I had been. I'd LOVE to get a few good rides around the neighborhood in with the kids before old man winter sets in,and it pains me a bit each day when Nicholas asks if we can that day. I hate disappointing him more than not getting to ride for myself.

Tina celebrated her 39th birthday on the 25th...well,celebrate might be too strong of a word,LOL,as she dreads next year when she hits "the big 4-0" hahaha! We went out to dinner together,but pretty much just stayed in and enjoyed the day of rest. Next month,we'll celebrate our 19th anniversary-it's been a long road,with many struggles (and "near miss" divorcing),but we're finally on the right track to enjoying one another. We've finally learned to communicate,and have grown closer,as well as finally learned how to be friends. I look forward to each day,seeing what may come.

I've decided not to sell the Dime to my oldest "friend" after-all. Not necessarily going to buy it back from my Dad (haven't gotten that far in thinking about it yet). For one,I've known Frog for what...33 years (since we were 5)? He had me-as a favor to him having "been friends all these years"-hold the truck (as in,not sell it to anyone,keep it for him) for the last couple months,saying "I'll buy it first week of September". There have been some times we REALLY needed to sell it,needed the money,and several times during that time I've told interested people "It's sold already,just waiting on the dude to finish paying and pick it up",and now he's being his age-old self,making himself scarce and hard to get up with,making excuses,and "Oh,can you hold it one more month?" type thing.

A bit of history here....Frog has NEVER been reliable or even trust-worthy at his word,as far back as I can remember having known him. There's been so many times over the years that I've put trust in him and been let down (pretty much 100% of the time),often costing me money (like the time he sold me a slightly stolen,busted piece of crap Explorer...)or worse,friendships. Now,he isn't a bad sort of fellow...just full of something dark and stinky as a general rule. That's OK though,that's Frog,and I've known for most of those 33 years that that's how he is,and I accept him as he is as my oldest "friend" (that's why I always put it in quotes too,LOL). Besides,as far as the Dime is concerned,Dad didn't want me to sell it (buying it back from him in the process for a bit more than owed) to him. It's a moot point now anyways,having passed the "will you hold it for me" point,Dad found and bought a transmission for us to install and fix it with.

That will probably be next Spring though...and I'll be swapping the worn tires off the Mustang onto it and it's 500 mile old tires (same size tire,BTW,225/50-16") onto the Mustang. We may buy it back come tax refund season,we may not-I will be most likely looking for a more economical/practical daily driver,so I can project the Mustang a bit anyways so one never knows.

I've been using every excuse I can think of to not go find a doctor locally (or visit my regular doctor from the old area either)...I mean,there's not much they can do to fix the injuries,they aren't going to magically heal themselves,and they will most likely degenerate as I age (evidenced by looking back from the accident until today),so I really don't see the point in the hassle and aggravation...though the refills on my prescribed non-narcotic pain meds (I refuse to accept ANYthing I can become impaired by or addicted to) have run out,and the over-the-counter stuff (Tylenol,Advil,Aleve,etc) really don't have any effect,so sooner or later,I really should...I hate going to the doctor's though,being the big baby that I am,LOL! I'm going to have to go fairly soon regardless,as the pain/etc is even preventing sleep for more than a few hours at a time for a while now.

NOT to get back on negative subjects though...I've been in a pretty good mood of late,enjoying the weather (most days have been clear and sunny,not so hot),time with the family,and the new house/neighborhood. We really like it here,only missing the old place when...well,we don't,LMBO! :p

So as September draws to a close and October begins,I hope all my friends are having a great week so far,and weekend to come :)

Small Mustang Update

2011-09-23T01:08:00.000-04:00

After having been told yesterday that the clutch was indeed bad/faulty,and to call to see what time I could pick the clutch up for a refund/exchange this morning...here's what I was told-"Well,we haven't touched your car,we pulled it back outside. We had a pickup truck come in with some issues,and can't seem to get the parts it needs in,so we're going to have to deal with it before we can mess with your Mustang...you can come and pick it up and us call you in a week or two,or just leave it." WHAT THE HECK??? "Ok" I say,"So now that you've made put-near a grand off me,when I tell you I have had to borrow money to pay for this new labor,you push me off to the side for some dude that just rolls in off the street-leaving me/my car hanging-I'll come get it...have the keys ready and your trash/grime cleaned out of it.".

SO,the car is here. It does seem to run out smoother at interstate speeds,though obviously not right (same vibrations/shakes,but at a higher speed now),and the clutch still shudders the car when pulling out. I'll ride it sparingly and only in town (ie: NOT at interstate speeds) until the first snowfall,deactivate it's tags and drop insurance on it unil warmer/prettier weather returns. This will give me time to save some cash,plan the attack on fixing\building the car up a bit (an see if there's some legal restitution I can seek for the screwing I received for my trouble/money),and other such things.

Will I post up the name of the shop? Not...right now. I would REALLY hate to be wrong about what I'm thinking about them and the "work" they performed on my car,but when it gets torn into by a mechanic I trust (a good checkup on the whole issue areas coming,just waiting my turn to fit in his busy schedule),if it turns out I was ripped/hacked/screwed over like it appears that I was...heck yeah I will,and I'll also make sure it gets out to the locals who hit the drag strip/build their cars in this area too.

I apologise for sounding...grouchy and not my normal self. Despite the LOVE of green and all things bicycle,I do love Mustangs,always have,and this is my baby...right underneath God,family,friends,people in need,bikes and our furry friends we share our home with. This has been an...ordeal...for me,but just having it back in my driveway (even running at less than 100%) I already feel tension on the matter ease up a bit,and my mind/thoughts drifting back to model kit projects and two-wheelers. Things like building a kitbashed* replica of my Mustang in 1:25 scale,and utility biking**. I even dug out that rear rack I used to run on the old Monocog back when I commuted to work at the concrete plant (I was a driver,as if there were any doubt,LOL),bent the front brakets to fit/mount on the O8 CX.

Before pic...

After...

Bikeforums.net has started a new sub-forum recently,for disabled cyclists to have their own place to chat. Now,there are many people on there who have it much worse than I with much more serious ailments than I (legally blind/deaf's,amputee's,etc),but I'm finding that there are lots of people out there too,like me,who aren't disfigured,but are disabled-and still have a love of all things cycling. This has encouraged me greatly,and though I still feel the difficulty walking and doing day-to-day things as the current "spell" continues,I also feel a renewed desire to ride creeping back in...funny how that works,eh? LOL! I both aplaud and appreciate the staff at the forum there for the new board,as well as respect and and admire thoe with disabilities much more serious/painful/debilitating than my own.

*"Kitbashing" is the taking of two or more seperate kits,combining parts in order to build something different. In this case,I'm taking a Monogram 1994 Mustang GT hardtop kit and swapping parts (including the cutting/grafting/swapping of both front/rear bumpers between the two kits) with a Monogram 1994 Mustang Cobra ragtop (as well as a set replicas of my real stock wheels off of a 1:24 scale diecast model/replica of it),to replicate my real Mustang as closely as possibe.

**Utility biking as the term is used on bikeforums.net's sub-forum of the same name refers not to "joy riding",or riding to and from work or similar (that would be "commuting"),but rather using the utilarian aspect of the bicycle and running errands/etc (eg: grocery runs/shopping,etc) by bike.

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

Buyer beware...

2011-09-21T21:28:00.002-04:00

So I have this Mustang. It rode well and smooth,well beyond legal speeds (that one time I gave it a run...yeah,that one time),and done alright at the track. Only thing on the car that needed any attention mechanical-wise was a slightly weak clutch,but even that wasn't slipping yet.

So I sold my beloved Blazer,partly to buy some parts for Mustang,one it slightly needed,one I wanted. A new clutch and a new ring/pinion for the rear end (going from .273 ratio to a .373). I went to a local Autozone (off Bonham Rd in Bristol,VA...hey,it ain't slander if it's documented provable,ha!) and bought their "high perfomance clutch",which is what the tech dude there recommeded. I then went to Nickels' Performance (a fairly well known mail order speed shop like Summit,local store) and bought the gears,where I asked the clerk "who's good at working on Mustangs that won't rip me off,or charge an arm and a leg?". I won't name the shop,because where I was beginning to think they'd ripped me off,I'm finding I was mistaken,though they have charged a proverbial arm and leg for these two jobs...$883 (labor alone) and counting.

"It's a 6-8 hour job,and wll run you right at $500 + tax" they said Friday before last,telling me "Bring it in Monday morning,we may be able get it done by that evening,Tuesday atthe latest" they said.

Wednesday afternoon,it was finally "finished,ready" to pick up,and what I found was a brand new loud amount of road noise coming up through the gear shift hole,and grease stains throughout the front of the car,as well as an extra $133 tacked on the bill...sigh. Not to mention that the speedometer was not calibrated,and was reading DOUBLE what I was actually doing,so I had to take it back,where they changed out ONE of the TWO gear-plugs to calibrate the speedo to the rear end ratio (not for free,mind you...seems to me that would have been part of the job in the first place,not an after thought that wasn't even mentioned to this unsuspecting customer who is decisively NOT a mechanic),still leaving it 20+ MPH off at highway speeds...I had to either agree to pay to have the tranny dropped...again...to replace the other plug inside it,or do what I did,go buy a new GPS to check my speed...there's another $100 spent.

Friday morning,we took it out on the interstate,and when I got to the posted speedlimit-70 MPH-it was insanely shakey,loud,and UNsafe to drive. Back to the shop. "Must have gotten something out of alignment,or maybe a nick on a bearing or something,or maybe it was like that when you brought it in?" Um...not even at 130 MPH,dude,so they took it back in to see what they could find.

That was Friday of last week (we're about to go into Thursday,need I remind you...)...they still have it. They now have the rear end right,and have narrowed it down to two minor,one major issues.

1) Rear universal joint is worn,but not unusably so
2) There's some play in the transmission's tail shaft (has to be a bearing or race/seal)
3) That brand new "high performance clutch" from Autozone is SEVEREY warped and otherwise faulty.

Since the clutch being a faulty part,this isn't the shop's fault/responsibilty/liability,SO they want another $250 to pull it out and reinstall another new one. "No problem," I thought,"Autozone has warantees,and the labor is a direct result of their having sold a faulty part"....Aaaaaank!!! Wrong!!! "We'll exchange the faulty clutch,but we're NOT responsible for any labor! If you like,we can file a claim with the manufacturer and send it back,there's a slight chance they'll agree to partially reimburse for labor...but I wouldn't get my hopes up..."

"So...I buy your part,which turns out to BE a faulty part,and that was only able to be apparent AFTER paying a professional to install it,so I have to pay to swap the bad part you sold me back out of it,and take a chance on the 'new' one being just as bad (seems after a BBB reearch,I'm not the first to experience this with Autozone...),leaving me potentially having to pay yet a 3rd labor charge out of MY pocket (which is now empty,BTW)...because YOU sold ME a bad part to begin with???" WTF ("F" being "frig",not the othe "F" word ;) )???

So basically,what has transpired is,I took a nice old Mustang,went to a "highly recommended" shop,bought a clutch at a nationally recognized parts store (AUTOZONE-this particular one is in Bristol,VA off Bonham RD),and what I got back for the $1,000+ I've spent so far (not to mention the 10 days without my car as of this post) is an unsafe,unreliable dangerous-to-drive piece of crap..and the bill continues to grow (as does my anger level,BTW). Looks to me like,someone between the shop and Autozone should be legally liable for this...someone other than the victim (I know,I know...everyone thinks that they're the victim,but come on...re-read that up there).

On a less...angry note about it...I figure while this may be uber stressful right now, in a few months,it should be just a bad memory as I drive (top up...winter time,LOL) it down the road enjoying the solid clutch and lower rear ratio,sigh,but right now? Sigh.

I waited 21 years to buy my second Mustang,this is my baby,and I feel completely screwed over. Should I not? (seriouly...I'm asking).

Ahhhh,wouldn't life be SO much simpler if I were still physcally capable of enjoying this new city-life by being able to bicycle everywhere,be car-lite if not car free? Heck,it would be simper if I had just bought a basic economy hatchback,LOL! (I would like to have one for MPG's and daily driving...).

Hope everyone's week has been going better than mine (as a Mustang owner/lover anways...otherwise,things have been enjoyable :) ).

Happy 200th post to me!

2011-09-13T01:14:00.000-04:00

It doesn't seem like I've been posting/keeping a blog/journal since 2008,but then again,it seems like forever,LOL! So,happy 200th to me :)

9-11 came and went again over the weekend. I may not have made a post (what else could be said that hasn't been?),but I did not,nor will I ever forget that day,those who lost their lives,those gave themselves,or those bastards who took everything from some.

The Wednesday following my last post,I took LO BLAZE to a local auto auction and paid the $5 to run it through. I honestly had no thoughts or intentions of selling it,I was just curious what it would bring had I been wanting to. Well...it sold. A car dealer from up in KY was there and REALLY wanted it-but so did this other gentleman,and when it bid for what I would have been willing to sell for,I sold. I still have the steel cowl induction hood off of it (though should we decide to buy back the Dime from Dad come tax season,I'll put it on there,if not,I'll probably just sell it). A good chunk of that money went to buy for the Mustang (a needed clutch,wanted rear end gearing change,and wanted full tune to optimize performance with what I have currently on the car),parts and labor. I felt like I was betraying it as I slid it's key off my keyring,and do miss it (especially when it's time to haul garbage to the dump,LOL).

It doesn't seem like it's been as long ago as it has since the old place burned,but we just paid the second payment on this place...so I guess things are pretty much back to normal (with the exception of still needing certain things we don't have,like winter wardrobes,but we're managing...or else money wouldn't have been spent on go-faster parts for a car,LOL). Yeah,it's feeling like home by now,though I have caught myself thinking about when we lived at the old place and missing some things (like a semi-private yard,all the land we owned,room to do what we wanted and no one to tell me otherwise,not to mention never worrying about anyone stealing anything),but it's a better place (not just talking about the house itself),I'm just glad NO ONE was home that day,I shutter to think...

I still haven't physically felt up to riding,it's been weeks now,sigh,and I'm just wondering if it's that time I dreaded...the time when I'll be able to ride less and less until I no longer do. Wouldn't that be ironic? Finally build up the most expensive/nicest bikes I've ever owned and then no longer be able to ride? I won't sell them off just yet though,at least not all of them (I have been thinking about selling one for more speed parts for the Mustang...but which one? I couldn't decide unless I was forced to anyways,LOL).

I haven't even felt up to sitting long enough at the model bench to get a model build/project going...EVEN as much as I want to replicate the Mustang (and I pretty much have all the parts I'd need,including a non-Cobra,GT body to cut and attatch the nose and tail to that Monogram 1994 Mustang Cobra convertable kit I was gifted). Soon though...I'm actually itching pretty hard to build something,and out of all the things I enjoy doing just for myself,model building is the least expensive-not to mention easiest on the injuries.

Tina will be another year older this month (whoops...I ALMOST typed her age in! :p),so I want to wish her a VERY happy b-day. And next month on the 13th,we will have been married for 19 full years. WOW,LOL!

Well,that's really about it for now,nothing else really going on here,no miraculous healing of mine,no new job for Tina (still looking hard),nothing new with the kids...life and times,life in general. I hope any and all my friends out there are doing well and enjoying themselves :)

Happy September!

2011-09-06T01:06:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe we've been here a month already! I guess we have though,I'm going out to pay the 2nd payment on the place this week (as well as all the other bills due). Having just paid a Neon payment Saturday,we owe only 1 an 2/3 payments on it (payments are $150 per month,we owe $250),finally about to have it paid off,woohoo!!!

Went to look at a 1988 (Fox body) Mustang GT Saturday for a possible swap,but the owner wasn't home (like he'd said he would be when we talked the eve before),but after re-reading it's description and looking at it's pics,it honestly was his loss. Since,Tina and I have talked,and decided we really should keep LO BLAZE. For a couple things (besides liking it),we know exactly what ails it and what it needs to be fixed,and two,we use it lots to haul everything from garbage to the dump to furnitures. This isn't to say that I wouldn't trade it off for the right Mustang (be it another GT,or a 4 cyclinder-or-V6 for a more economical daily driver),just that I'm no longer actually looking for one.

I did piddle with it a little this week,a little prep and spray work,as I felt up to it (meaning,a few minutes at a time,little per day...would have been an hour job otherwise). I scuffed the surface rust along the outer frame rails,as well as the front bumper,and sprayed them flat black. Here's a couple pics of before (from when I first bought it)...

...a couple pics from during...

...and a few from after...

There hasn't been ANY riding since last post...my neck and back areas flat haven't let me,been down pretty much since forcing myself into helping build the shed,sigh.

We also picked up our lawn-mower,Blackberry and Moolight (our pups) while over that way Saturday. These pups had never been pinned,never seen any kind of a collar,and we've been trying to house train them. So far,they've been doing pretty good.

They stay out of things (like garbage) they aren't supposed to mess with,have obey'd commands well,and have taken to indoor living well,only having a few "accidents" inside. Of course,these mishaps (be them bowells or bladders) aren't their faults,but rather a lack of paying attention to them at the proper time after them having eaten or dank. We have learned their systems a bit though,as well as where they would prefer to "go" inside the house if they couldn't get outside,and have taken precautions like "puppy pads",and this has worked well.

They seem very happy to finally be back with their "pack" (us),the kids are UBER happy having them here,and Tina and I now realise how much we missed them too. Blackberry is the obvious Alpha between the two,and like her Grandpa,Spot, before her,loves the family and is NOT afraid of anything or anyone who she thinks a threat to any of us,nor strangers-but is friendly and looks to us to see our attitude towards anyone (eg: when a neighbor dropped by for a visit while I was out smoking on the porch,when she saw I was friendly,she was too,but when a stranger was walking down the sidewalk and she saw me suspiciously watching,she stayed alert,focussed on him and let out a low growl,LMBO!).

Moonlight is a bit more...reserved. She isn't skittish by any means,but is more,mild mannered. She looks to BB to see how she'll react to new people or loose animals,and then adopts the same attitude BB has,and just like any well behaved non-Alpha,she patiently waits for BB to finish eating or drinking to have hers,LOL! We're all very happy to have them back home,our home.

Showing a bit of mess yet unpacked,here's a few pics of em...
Blackberry and Moonlight

Moonlight

Blackberry

Not being up to riding,I've been feeling a bit...restless,though I haven't had opportunity (while having gumption) to sit and work on a model project as of yet either,though I have set-up a new work bench area (complete with a nice used PC desk for the bench,bought at a local Goodwill),but I hope to remedy that this week.

Well,that's it for now,nothing more new to talk about.

Ramblings (Don't worry,short winded)

2011-08-30T20:56:00.000-04:00

We're finally settling in the new place,and it's beginning to feel like home. Even errected a nice little shed last weekend (well...I supervised and handed tools and such to Dad...I'm kinda down in the neck/back a bit),and have all seven bicycles out of the dining room and into their new "garage". Here's a few pics...

We put it so that when the door is open,it opens onto the front porch...

It's really nice to have a shed so close to the house (it was a few hundred feet from old house to old shed),more convenient,especially when I'm hobbling. All that's left to do (this year) is run some wiring in there for electrical now,and next year I'll probably add linolium flooring,insulation and finish the walls like a room.

Still haven't ran the Mustang at the drag strip yet (I just want to know,ya know?),and they aren't running this Thursday either,but next week...I may lose interest by then,LOL! Finally got the A/C working in it (just in time for cooler temps,yeah! :p),after having had it in the shop several times trying to track the culprit down (Elite Automotive on Volunteer Pky Bristol TN-just a couple miles east of the Speedway,423-57-ELITE...AWESOME service after sale,honest prices,awesome place to buy your next used car,they REALLY stand behind their word,and NO,they aren't paying me to say that,LOL,I'm just a very satisfied customer).

On the subject of vehicles,at least until Tina finds work,I've decided to put LO BLAZE on the for sale side of the street (if she finds work fast,I may keep it,for hauling and winter use). Got the tranny fluid leak fixed (was a line loose),and she still starts every time,but I've only been using her to haul trash off anyways...but dang she looks good all shined up...

...I'm asking $3,000,but I'd also consider trade on another Mustang ('85-93 GT,or even a 4 banger LX if in pretty good shape),so I can drive another,save miles on the '94 (or...if the "right" 5.0L powered Foxbody,I may would build it for strip/street use,daily drive the ragtop I have). Actually,a late 80's LX 4 cylinder (for MPG's) ragtop (for style) automatic (so she can drive it too) would be ace if in equal condition.

Haven't been riding much the last couple weeks due to hurting/being down in the spinals...but that's why I'm "disabled" and not working isn't it? My instinct is to add an "LOL" there,but really,it ain't funny,it's painful,aggrivating and sometimes depressing. Haven't sat down to build on a model kit either...out of 300+ unbuilt kits (not counting the built ones,some of which I won awards for at shows and online),I was able to salvage about 18-20 of em,assuming there's no major warpage that I won't see until half way through the build. I have some real family that I'm not related to on various forums though,and several (along with earlier mentioned help) sent NIB (new in box) as well as rebuilders/projects,and I have plenty to keep me busy building for a while (especially if I can't find time or pain free time to build,LOL),including some '94-98 Mustang GT or Cobra ragtop kits,teeheehee! Another HUGE thank you out to all those friends who really are family!

Well,that's about it for now. I hope all my friends out there in Blogger-land are doing well :)

Almost forgot...

2011-08-15T19:05:00.000-04:00

I would like to publicly express our deepest gratitude to all those people (friends and family alike) for any and all help and love through all this. You each know who you are (it would take many minutes to list you all,and I fear I'd leave someone out,so...).

To those "friends" who didn't bother to even so much a sFB us to say "Hey,you still living?",you're still friends and loved,LOL! :)

We're alive and doing well,finally,LOL!

2011-08-15T19:02:00.000-04:00

Well,Allstate settled a couple-a-few weeks back,and we were house shopping for a little while,looking primarily for a new doublewide similar to the one we had. We did find a couple,was even able to have financing for it,but we found a local place called "Creditgopher.com" that not only helps correct and rebuild credit,but they also sell houses here locally (Bristol TN/VA and Tri-Cities area) and they are not only working on my and Tina's credit,they had the perfect-for-us house and was able to get us into it. Come Friday will make 2 full weeks we've been living in it. I only have a couple pics,and these were taken before we even got the fridge inside,LOL!

We're REALLY happy with it! Of course,unlike the old place,it won't be paid off in the next 5 years,but it's much nicer. Everything inside and out (I mean everything ) is brand new,completely remodeled,from the floor to the roof (and it wasn't done using cheap stuff)...maybe not in the colors we would have chosen,but hey,new is new,right? :) Of course,now we're in town,just barely,so everything that took so long to drive to is now right down the street...including the major car show over last weekend that the kids and I rode our bicycles to (WOOOHOOO!!! City riding!!!),a drag strip (and Bristol Motor Speedway Nascar track,for those who are fans of that),all kinds of things we never lived close enough to to enjoy on a regular basis. Sweet! As for the old house...I finally can post pics of that too...

Here's the wall that blew out.

And Jamie's room (where most of the fire was limited to).

Jamie's room through the connectinh bathroom.

A little of Nick's room.

I could show more,but you probably get the drift...it would have been VERY bad had anyone been home at the time.

So onto other,more pleasant subjects. The Dime still sits (at Dad's now) in need of a transmission,but I may have it sold to my oldest friend (Frog),as he's already looking for a tranny and a way to haul it home. The Blazer has held up fairly well considering it's needs and the mileage on it,though it still needs tranny work,major steering work (complete overhaul),and such,but the A/C stopped working the other day. It's OK though,I may have it sold to a dude what works at a detail shop here in town. I won't be needing it (other than to haul anything,LOL!) anyways,as there was just enough left over to buy a nice used car to tool around in. It's a breed of car I've not owned for 21 years,and have often missed/yearned to own again (I honestly don't know why I waited so long,there've been plenty of times I could have afforded one between 12th grade and before I was disabled,LOL)...I bought another Mustang,teeheehee!

It's a 1994 GT convertible,was a local trade and a 1 owner (female driven,but her husband was a gearhead),and has maintenance records back to 1996 or so,every penny (except gas) that was spent on it,I have receits for. It's in awesome condition,having slept in a garage all it's life. Mostly stock too,save a few well chosen bolt-ons and a (Ford Motorsprt E303) cam (in-the-fender cold air intake,headers/exhaust-but-stock-muflers,pulleys,chip,and the like),and it's a 5 speed (the clutch is a little weak,sounds like a throwout bearing spinning on a hard launch). The only places on the car that don't look (or smell) like a new car is some faded paint on both plastic bumper covers,and chips on the rear wing's edges. I haven't had chance to run it out to the drags yet,but from a 45 MPH rollout,it had no problems pulling away steadily from a mildly modded (cat back exhaust and cold air intake) 2010 Saturn Sky Turbo (which is advertised at 240HP stock-which is 25 more than Ford listed on the Mustang GT in 1994) up to about 125 MPH (4 lane hwy,absolutely NO traffic in sight ahead of us,only lasted a few seconds and we both backed out of it...I am NOT promoting street racing,but I digress...). I'm going to install a new (heavy duty,dual disc) clutch soon as one of the S-trucks are sold,and swap the /308 rear gear* for a .373 (that was the factory ratio,there are no receits that it's ever been swapped,and at 60 MPH in 5th gear,it's only turning 1,200 RPM,so it's a fair guess),and swap on a pair of Flowmaster mufflers (it already has headers,2 3/4" pipes back to the mufflers...IDK why they would open it up like that only to choke it back down). Anyways,I'll get it to the drags soon as a new clutch is in there,and here's a couple pics (from before I got the Dime's license plates transfered onto it,LOL)...

And the mostly stock 5.0L...

I haven't logged into my Photobucket that has my bike stuff in it yet,but I will,and I'll post some pics of the car show we pedalled to,and the kids on their bikes while there soon. It's good to be getting back to normal,and to anyone who read my angry/depressey post (that I deleted soon after),much apologies...it's been a long couple months,but you know what they say (well...I read it on a church sign years ago anyways,LOL!),"When you're down to nothing,God's up to something". He certainly was in our case :) OH!!! Alomst forgot! Blackberry and Moonlight,our pups! My grandparents have been feeding them since day one,we will be going sometime in the next few days to get them,and will be attempting to house train them both,as we no longer own enough land for them to roam free (nor would that be safe or legal here),so wish us luck on that,LOL! TTYS :)

July 28,2011 Update

2011-07-28T14:12:00.000-04:00

Short but sweet...

Still waiting on Allstate to do something about the house,but as I understand it from Dad (whose name the policy is in),they are close to finalizing things. Looks like due to zoning law changes,we may not have the option of utilizing the "home replacement" part of the policy,as the county may have it writ up that no new doublewides can be built there-which would knock us out of owning a home,as there's not enough income to pay the mortgage that we still owe there and buy another piece of lnd elsewhere to build on.

Which means,based on what they've been telling Dad,we'll most likely have to accept a "low-ball" cash settlement,or more acurately...basically we came within 5 years of owning our own home outright/free&clear,and are screwed out of the chance by the way our policy was written (which BTW,we were outright lied to at the beginning,see other post where I mentioned "You are NOT in good hands with Allstate"). What it appears is to happen (based on word from Allstate) absically is,despite my having paid insurance on the place for years,we've lost our chance at owning it,which being realistic my being disabled and on a fixed income (which the friggin government now wants to cut out to cover all their spending debts...I won't go there today though,at the library and only 7 minutes left to surf,LOL) was my one chance in life to own any kind of property. So thank you Allstate,if that's the way you go,for taking advantage of a bad situation by covering your own asses instead of the asses that pay your saleries (um...I'm being VERY sarcastic,and a little vulgar,soory-here).

On a better note,this has been just what Tina and I have needed to fix us (to someone in particular,you know what I mean),and we've been wearing out the Red Carpet Inn's pool,LOL! I've also spent several eves (not in the last 10-12 days,neck's out again) with the kids,riding the bikes at a local park covered up with sidewalks,including the Jabberwocky,and the Bandersnatch...I need to get the CX out there,LOL!

OK,that's all for now,4 minutes left on my library card's i-net usage for today. I hope all my friends out there are doing well.

Saturday; July 9,2011

2011-07-09T16:01:00.000-04:00

I figured since I was a bit emotional last post,I could update how we are doing. We are still at the Motel 6 in Bristol,TN,and will be at least until the 15th (that may extend,depending on Allstate) awaiting some kind of news on the house.

So far,we haven't really taken the time to enjoy a relaxing day (until today,at least),having been running all over town for "have-to's",but on one of the trips to the Bar-B-Que pit...er..our house,I loaded up Nick's little Trek bike and the Jabberwocky into LO BLAZE and brought them here. This morning,finally,I got to take him to a local park to here (Jamie is gone on vacation with my folks) that has lots of sidewalk for walking/riding ("Bicycles must yield to pedestrians",so I know it's allowed ;) ),even a few "trails" off the sidewalks into the woods (it's dirt,mild hills,and a few roots/mud holes,but singletrack it ain't,LOL). We probably got in 10-15 miles total,and despite still having training wheels on his little bike,we even rode a mile or so out-then-back on one of the trails. He's.....HOOKED on dirt (those of you that know me,can actually here me grinning from ear to ear :D). This was a good break from all the crap of worry and tears over the mess of picking up one's life after losing everything.

Jamie is still at Myrtle Beach with my parents,so I cannot comment on how she's coping,though I imagine she's having a good time.

I also won't make the assumption on how Tina's coping inside,but she seems high then low on the outside. I guess it bothers her that virtually none of our friend's family here locally have so much as bothered a quick email/Facebook message/phone call to say "Hey,are you OK,love ya,prayers coming",though it has gotten back to me that some of my "family" has been insinuating they have been carrying us financially since this happened. Let me say...NO they have not,nor has those individuals bothered to drop a line to see how we are either. Those are the ones....that want all their church friends thinking highly of them. BUT,I'm not going there,that's between them and whatever god they think they're serving,and my mood is a bit lighter after having a short ride with my son :)

LO BLAZE is running fine,despite it's 199K miles on it,though it has been a bit of a strain on it to be pressed not just into everyday driving,but "gotta go here,then there,then back again" all day everyday that goes with picking up pieces,LOL,but I'm proud of it (as if it had soul or feelings,hahaha!),and appreciative we bought it.

I wish I'd brought the Bandersnatch,rather than the Jabber,though...32x24T spins out AMAZINGLY fast on bike paths,though it's perfect for the Breaks Park trails I would normally be riding.

Well,that's about it I suppose,nothing else new to report on,and I'm always on the edge of loosing it when I think too hardly on it anyways-not the stuff that was lost,but the lack of giving a sh*t by close friends and family. I won't let the fact that very few people have stepped up and helped out (or even called/emailed)change the fact that I always spent time,effort and moneys to help others in need. What I do when I see someone in need is between God and me,that almost no one has given a crap about us is between them and whatever god they claim to serve.

Peace,out for now.

Disaster Struck 6-30-11

2011-07-07T10:50:00.000-04:00

This won't be a long post,as I no longer have a home or my own PC to post,we are in a Motel 6 and I'm using it's "for guests only" PC.

While the kids and I were at a VA State Park and my wife at the college taking tests all day Thursday,June 30th (2011,duh,LOL),our house caught fire and burned up. NO ONE was home or hurt (THANK GOD!),but the house and anything inside was a total loss*.

Of course,we had insurance. We have Allstate. Let me state right now that at this point,we are finding that we are NOT "in good hands". They have put us into the motel,but only until the 15th. They are standing firm on the was the policy is written (and are legal,to do so,BTW),IN MY DAD'S name. This office/branch/broker has known full well the legalized "rent to own" arrangement and that WE have been the ones paying the premium all these years (and they NEVER had problems accepting my payment,BTW),and that despite what we were told way back when by their agents,we would NOT have coverage for anything of ours. At this point,we have no idea where we will be after the 15th when their room financing expires....it's my understanding that my Dad had to legally threaten them to get us in here to start with.

SO....here we have an insurance agent for one of the most recognized insurance companies in the country,Allstate,and though they would be "legal" to do so,standing on a policy's wording,they knew full well the entire situation of the living arrangements/ownership when they...well,5 years ago,that particular agent flat misled (I don't want to say lie) as to what would happen,knowing full well,we would be pretty much screwed should anything ever happen.

So they are "legal",but are the "right"? I think that should they try and drag this out,LEAVING MY FAMILY (wife,2 kids) homeless in the meantime,that it will be time to exercise my rights as an American citizen and peacefully picket their location. I wonder,in the court of "Public Opinion" (especially with local news media driving by and seeing...),how much it will matter that they are "legal",when one of the nation's leading insurance companies,they one proudly advertising "You are in good hands with Allstate"....has it in their power to do what's "right" by the DISABLED VETERAN and his FAMILY but they chose NOT to?

OK,apologies,I am a bit...ticked off right now.

The vehicles weren't damaged (obviously the Blazer and Neon weren't,we were all gone for the day-the Dime still sits needing a transmission). We have been able to salvage a few (very few) toys of Nick's,mostly Hotwheels cars,and 6 of my model kits,but that's pretty much it at this point,and we aren't allowed to go inside and look for anything else (imagine that....Allstate doesn't appear to give a crap about helping-at this point at least,but they don't mind at all to bar me from my own property)(...because they are going to try and find someone to sue,like the manufacturer of the A/C unit that was determined to be the cause of the fire. Oh yes,THEY want THEIR money....I'd better hush though,blood's boiling),though all bicycle stuffs (except for every issue of Dirtrag back to the late 90's,and every issue of Bicycle Times magazines...yes,I shed more than a couple tears...),eg bicycles themselves,most riding gear,tools,etc are fine,having been in the shed....but that's really about it.

Prayers and thoughts REALLY appreciated,and while even knowing we are homeless as of 7-15-11 (most likely,depending completely on the charity of others,and Allstate),I can't bring myself to ask for "handouts",but I also don't want my children sleeping under a bridge in the Blazer. Clothing over-runneth thanks to a few family members and friends (and no small part by the local Red Cross of America-HUGE appreciation to all those who've helped),and we will qualify for emergency food stamps as soon as we can get away from all that's had to be done to get there. Really,all we need at this point is money to help keep a roof over our heads until the insurance decides how bad to screw us (from what the adjuster said,we'll be lucky to clear enough to pay the mortgage off at $18.5K...and even that will go to my Dad,whom I'm not 100% sure how much I trust after our past).

The problem is,despite everything,the bills are still due,and with Tina laid off (and not yet drawing unemployment),the SSDI benefits are pretty much gone. Funny how that works,eh? I'm not asking for handouts,but I also know that if everyone I know gifted only $5 each,it would pay a couple months in an efficiency apartment or similar. I can be reached at " mailto:minitrucker4life73@gmial.com " or " singlespeed92@gmail.com " if anyone feels led to help out in that respect. I want to say though,any thoughts and/or prayers are much,MUCH appreciated as well.

IDK when I'll be posting again,as I'm on the motel's PC,but hopefully soon everything will get back to some kind of normalcy.

"So I'm another year older" and stuffs.

2011-06-25T01:40:00.000-04:00

So yesterday I turned another year older. I was kind of in a downer mood leading up to it-NOT due to worries about getting older or any such non-sense,just...stuffs,LOL! It turned out to be a decent day though. Took the Blazer to Buzz's and dropped off the Origin 8 CX bike for some work,enjoyed the trip with Nick,and spent the eve with Jamie,then took Nick to the track and rode bikes (me on the new and very black OP Cruiser). Nothing too hard in effort,just cruised around and around. Good day,good eve :)

Today,after yet another near sleepless night (I'm averaging 1-3 hours per 24 lately...),was up and off to Pop's house with Nick in LO BLAZE (it's license has become it's name,LOL!) to install that new starter. Spent the day there,pretty decent visit too (and productive*).

With all that's been on my mind lately,I'd actually forgotten that just a few days before my 38th barfday,it was Mom and Pop's 40th anniversary. HOW COULD I FORGET THAT??? I mean,it's right AT my birthday for goodness sakes,LOL!They are planning a little vacation this weekend,to Gatlinburg,TN,and Pop's going to follow Mom like a puppy while she walks all the streets in the shopping district to carry her bags...ain't that sweet? :)

Took an hour or so cleaning up a very dirty Blazer (I HAVE to show pics,LOL,but hey,it has the other-stock hood back on LMBO!) with Jamie (she wanted to help,LOL)...

Sorry,couldn't resist...I'm a pic-whore :p

I suppose for the weekend,I'm open. Nothing planned (well,I need to install that new toilet...),no alarms set for in the morning...ah,nice! Talked to DeadheadDave today,might try and sneak a ride in (if my hip lets up)...you know,I'm actually sleepy,and about out of things to ramble on about,I think I'll crash out. I wish everyone an AWESOME weekend!

Blazer and ramblings

2011-06-22T15:06:00.003-04:00

Well,the Blazer's starter doesn't,an average of 2 out of every 3 times I turn the key. So I bought a new starter ("remanufactured") today,will try and make the trip to Dad's in it Friday morning to swap em out (I neither have the knowhow,nor the tools...plus I have his drill to return,LOL). It doesn't seem to be leaking transmission fluid quite as quickly as I'd thought,and seems ot be shifting fine so far,and of course,the wheel has stayed on.

It gets LOTS of attention. Both kids and Tina has mentioned that everywhere we take it,it seems "everybody looks and checks it out",and twice Monday I had someone pull alongside of us,blow their horn to get my attention,and give me the "thumbs up".....weird. True,it's a decent looking ride,and I definately like it,but it isn't like,a show truck perfectly flawless,or a Ferrari or anything.

Took Jamie (in the Blazer) and watched Green Lantern in 3D last eve. A truly awesome movie,and I'm hoping they do an even-more-awesome sequel,like they did with Batman Begins (The Dark Knight) and Iron Man (Iron Man 2). But then again,I was always kind of a fan of the series growing up anyways,so I might have predisposed to liking it before actually having seen it. It did have a bit much foul language in it,but given who played as Hal (Green Lantern himself),it wasn't a big surprise anyways (I usually dig his movies,FWIW).

It's been raining/storming lots latey,like,daily...but at least it isn't 100 degrees and 100% humidity. Today,it's pretty pleasant out,though after a sleepless night (due to anxiety/stress as well as more than my usual amount of pain...both are still bothering me,BTW),here I sit indoors. Sigh. I need to get to the doctor,tell her how I've been feeling,that the prescription I have (only for Motrin at this point,I still don't want anything I could become addicted to) is both empty and in need of a refill,nor is it helping much (at all,actually)...but I doubt I'll remember to schedule an appointment,seems I'm preoccupied with the things that are causing said anxiety/stress lots lately. Could the worry over things that I won't mention here be causing some kind of depression? LOL,is asking the question an answer unto itself?

Sigh,I guess I'm just in "one of those moods" lately,but it isn't as if I don't have reasons to be (reasons that very few people know of).

Oh,did I mention that Tina called a while ago,told me her job was ending in the next week or so? But at this point,I'm not so sure I believe her,especially knowing the questionable nature of how her last job ended (there is STRONG evidence that she was not fired like she claimed to have been,but rather quit like she had threatened to do for 2 years),and knowing that she knows that so long as she is not able to support herself that I won't ask her to move out (and yes,BTW,I do believe she would use that,or anything else that she could,to manipulate both me and the situation...especially guilt).

Ever have one of those moods where you just feel like everyone and everything in your life is intentionally out to make things suck? Or at least,to suck the joy out of your days? Maybe I have bipolar disorder too,LOL! (NOT making lite of Bipolar Disorder,BTW) Maybe it's just that tomorrow's my birthday,and a miniature mid-life crisis thingies hitting,LOL! True,there has been some major life changes in the last few years (becoming "disabled" for one,unsure of whether to file divorce for another,though that's been there for at least a decade). I guess I thought I would be...further along on where and what I wanted by now,not that my age bothers me in the slightest,it doesn't...I'm only turning 38 afterall,LOL!

Ah well,a good old fashioned nap will make things seem brighter...think I'll go sneak one in :)

Happy Dad's Day!!!

2011-06-20T00:18:00.000-04:00

Firstly,I'd like to say I hope all the Dad's out there had AWESOME Father's Days!!! Mine,was pretty good :)

Took Jamie and Nick to the movies this afternoon,saw Jim Carry's "Mr. Popper's Penguins". I HIGHLY recommend the movie for families,it was decent,funny,and even a little sweet! My favorites? Stinky and Nimrod,LOL!

Last week was pretty decent as well,starting off with a truly awesome Father-Son day Monday with Nick (Jamie was at my parent's house for a few day's visit),then a 2.5 day road trip to see some awesome friends...it was just a dang good week! Until I go thome,anyways,LOL!

Not getting into a fight I had with Tina,but Friday eve while driving angry,I terminally broke the Dime's transmission. It will run fine in 1st,2nd,and reverse (Park and Neutral are fine also),but that's it...and there are some nasty grinding noises coming from it's case. So tomorrow,I'll be dropping the insurance coverage on it,as after my little spending spree recently,there just isn't enough in the "pot" to replace a transmission right now. The plan was to fix a few minor issues on the Blazer over the weekend,drive it a while.

Well Saturday,after swapping it's Torq Thrust wheels back onto it (the Dime's wheels wouldn't clear the control arms,not drivable that was,so...),tightened it all up with an impact wrench (I mention that for a reason),and took off down the road for a test run,to remind me of it's personality.

As soon as I hit 60 MPH or so (2 lane road,BTW),it started violently fish-tailing (in a curve no less),but when I tried a controlled stop,it got insanely worse. So there I was,going 20 MPH over the posted limit,in a curve next to a 40' drop into the river,couldn't control it nor stop. Somehow (God's own hand keeping me safe,it sure wasn't dumb luck I tells you!),I held it around the curve,and thanks to Him,there was neither a car in the parking lot nor any pedestrians walking at the Post Office,so I hit it's lot at around 45,and the left rear wheel popped off (shot down the road at 45 MPH on it's own),frame dug into asphalt,and I got it stopped. Just as thankfully,other than my pride (and heart-rate),no damage,no injuries.

I did have to walk home though. If I've never mentioned before,walking generally starts the lumbar region and hip to hurting,and this time was no different,but I made it,it was only 2 miles after-all. Got Tina's car (the Mini-Mopar,the Neon),some tools,a hydraulic jack and headed back down there (with Tina). Now,the Blazer's lower (up front at least) than the Dime ever was,so it took some ingenuity to get i jacked up. The problem? Apparently,with spacers out back,there just wasn't enough stud left to securely hold onto the lug nuts,and they'd back out,releasing the wheel. So after checking everything out very well and reinstalling the wheel,I pulled the right rear also,yanked it's spacer too. I drove it cautiously about 30 miles today,seems that was indeed the problem,no issues today. This reminds me of a T-shirt I used to wear all the time,a "Cars-R-Coffins" t-shirt,LOL!

I had forgotten that sometimes the starter doesn't (start,duh!),but I did remember it leaked transmission fluid fairly badly. I didn't feel up to putting it up on jack stands and crawling under (what with the lumbar/hip acting up after the walk,and the neck strained after the stress of it all...),and it sits too low to really see where it's leaking,but I bought a few quarts to carry with me just in case ,and hopefully,Dad can come down to help me with it next weekend. I'm very hopeful it's a simple,quick/easy,and inexpensive fix,and am halfway convinced it needs a pan gasket (why I don't know...I just am).

I was reminded of one thing though,after driving it (TODAY'S drive,not yesterday's,LOL),it rides OH SO MUCH better than the Dime,is much better option'd,and I do actually like it better. Only thing I don't like? No easy way to haul bikes,at least not like I'm used to with the truck. There's no hitch (so the Yakima is useless),but I do still own that "hang off the back" rack,and if I remove both wheels,I can fit 2 mtn bikes in the hatch area without affecting the seating. Problem is,I got a new bike for Dad's Day (well,that isn't the problem,LMBO! :p),it's a cruiser style bike with those sweet triple top tubes that curve downward like the old balloon bikes...won't easily work with the rack...I suppose I could pull it's wheels to haul it like a mtn bike.

It's from Wallymart. Lets get that out of the way up front. I've long wanted a bike with a similar frame,but when I would find them (and rarely so),it would be on eBay,often as not a "local pickup only",and priced WAY out of range,being for the most part 70+ year old bikes. My friends over ar Ratrod Bikes' forum (you can check it out here) have recently enlightened me that there are LOTS of them buying these Wally-Cruisers for $100-300 brand new,and using them for their builds/projects,and have been very satisfied with them..."It's not like you'll be racing one in a 24 hour mtn bike race,or hucking 10' drops,just cruising the boulevard!" one member said. Good point.

I got to thinking,this is actually my very first EVER Walmart purchased bike,LOL! Not that I'm a bike-snob (by any stretch of the word,I dig ALL bikes!),but having been an avid mtn biker,loving real singletrack,real rocks/roots/logs/mud and knowing that these department store "mtn bikes" REALLY weren't designed for trail riding,I never had need or desire to shop there. Besides,"support your local bike shop" is a motto of mine,especially with as cool an LBS/shop owner/friend as I do business with.

Well,it's an OP (Ocean Pacific) Cruiser,and was sticker-ed at a meager $98. Upon inspection (ok,I just glanced over it,knowing it was to be a project and I wouldn't be using much more than the frame),I found scratches and gouges in the finish all over it,so I figured,"What the heck,it can't hurt to ask!",so I asked Dre,my sales associate from electronics if they would discount it because it was damaged (ALL cosmetic,paint issues though),and I go tit for just under $70 before taxes. SWEET! LOL!

With all that's happened since picking it up Friday morning,I haven't ridden it yet,and only have these horrible pics shot in the bike shed late at night relying on my sorry excuse for lights up there,but here she is...

...and here's the paint issues that got me a sizable discount...

I haven't weighed it (yet),but it actually feels pretty light for a Wally-Cruiser,probably due in part to the aluminum frame. I have a picture in my head of the final result of a rebuild,but here are a few pics pulled (without permission,and I am NOT taking credit for these bikes,only giving mad props to the owners/builders) from Ratrod Bikes' forum...

Ideas are floating :)

Well,that's about it for now. I'll update on the state of the Blazer and the cruiser project as things get done :)

Nope,not yet,LOL!

2011-06-11T19:53:00.000-04:00

Well,plans had been tentatively made to ride over the weekend,but they just weren't meant to be.

Saturday morning,Tina wanted to go in search of the ultimate bargain hunting...yard sales. We got a bit late of a start,so most we found had been picked through,so she didn't have much luck. Me and Nicholas? We were pretty much just along for the ride,sat in a non-air conditioned Dime (S10) most of the day. We did get out and walk through a flea-mall at one point,then went on down to my parent's house,where it was asked and approved for Nick to spend the night,so off to the mall (asin,non-flea mall,a mall-mall,LOL),where she wanted to go next.

I had looked at a nice old bike in one of the 3 flea malls we walked through during the day,though,and just couldn't get it out of my head. The asking price had been $50,and it was of unknown brand and decade to me (and the owner),but I couldn't shake the feeling of wanting it. So,running the risk of yet another fight,I told Tina I was going to leave her at the mall while she shopped,run back and look at it again,and be back in an hour or 1.5 hours.

So I drove back down the interstate from Bristol (TN) to Abingdon (VA),and arrived just 15 minutes before closing. I went back in,looked it over really good,and found it was not only old (and Canadian),but in overall decent shape,also in ridable condition. So I offered the gentleman a pair of twenties for it ($40),and after a look look with this glaze of thought on his face,he said "sold",we shook hands and I rode it out to the Dime (so technically,I have been on a ride,LMBO! :p ). Here's a few pics...

Through posting a question for any info about this bike/brand on bikeforums.net ,I got one reply with a link to a website that had a bit of info on the brand,you can check that out here and the page on CCM bikes here. I also emailed the site host,Randy,a general email about the bike and his cool site,to which he promptly replied. He seems like a really down-to-earth and knowledgable guy,so I'll be chatting with him more hopefully....ah!!! New bike friend! :D

From what I got from his page on CCM bikes,and from looking at pics on there,I think it's much older than I'd originally thought,maybe pre-World War even. Research will tell. To think,I just liked the look of it,and was thinking of a mildly custom rebuild,ratrod style...not if it turns out to be really old,it will the be more of a restoration than just a rebuild. History,ya know.

Anyways,I also spotted a cool little 16" wheeled bike in the style of the infamous Schwinn Stingrays and other muscle bikes of the late 60's to 70's. Having to go back to my parent's house Sunday evening to pick up Nicholas,I stopped at that flea-mall "just to see what the pricing was",having no intention what-so-ever of buying it (and if you believe that...I have some ocean front property to sell you in WV,LMBO!),and whenthe gent said "Twelve dollars takes it home",I whipped out a crisp twenty for him,LOL! Here's a few pics of it...

It's made by KIA...yes,that KIA (I will NEVER buy another pre-Hyundai-ownng-KIA automobile so help me God! Long story,but it's in the blog last year,LOL!),and is stickered as first being regstered in 1982. Seems plausable. Nick REALLY likes it,and when I told him that he and I could do a Father/Son Project of rebuilding it,any way he wants it,he go teven moe stoked,LOL.

It seems to be in pretty decent overall condition,needing most obviously a rear tube,chain (very rusty),and it could use a good overhaul (especially tires),so I'll just get it ridable for him what with the weather being so nice (and HOT) recently,and com cooler months,we'll tear it down to rebuild it.

Today,I spent all day in the shop with Tina's car,trying to get her A/C working in it. When I took the car in,I told them "The A/C isn't working,the compressor is shot". It took the shop (Kidd Tire and Auto),a shop I've been faithful and a loyal customer to for around 15 years,ALL day to have itready to roll,and cost me $93.92,to hear them tell me "The compressor is shot,it's going to be another $414 to fix it".....Please forgive the language here,but WTF??? This is the second time in two years I've felt royally screwed by them,so...I won't ever go back. Ever. So,either she sweats (and this heat is really very hard on her),or I'll do what I'm planning...price compressors at parts stores,buy one,and my Dad and I will install it (a pretty decent sized job,requiring the power steering pump to be removed first,at least).

It occured to me recently...

2011-06-02T12:30:00.001-04:00

That I have yet to even take a ride on the new Bandersnatch. "That can't be!",I thought,but nope,no rides on it as of yet. This is horrid!

There are a few reasons,some of which I could have overlooked,some I couldn't. Most relevant,I've been down in the neck and back for a spell again,and the couple days I did feel up to a possible ride,I needed to mow,and went to a family cookout (where I QB'd touch football game...alls I had to do was throw a ball,right? LOL!) I've been in a singlespeed mood,so the Jabber had been being my "go-to" bike of choice,and now that it has more proper gearing for my hilly trails and my out of shape self,that'll more than likely not change for a bit. I've been too lazy to load up and drive to a trail when the road is right there at the end of the driveway,and gravel just a mile or so from there. I've been out lots. I've been in a mood. I've not been in the mood.....I could go on.

I'm going to ride tomorrow,and/or sometime over the weekend,and it's going to be trail (no CX/gravel/road grinding). Problem is,I not only just got the Dawes back to rid-able condition (and actually haven't ridden it on a "real" ride either),I just go the new cog on the Jabberwocky (and am dying to hit trail to try my legs with it),and I....still haven't ridden the Bandersnatch. Which do I ride? LOL!

Maybe I'll hit the Breaks tomorrow (weather permitting;read-heat) and take the Jabberwocky for a solo ride. But then again,maybe I should get up with Dave,see if he'd be up/in for a Blacksburg ride this weekend,ride the Jabberwocky then...argh! I NEVER thought I'd EVER have the problem of having too many choices of what bike to ride,LOL! And yet another bike caught my eye while at Buzz's shop this week,LMBO! :p

While there getting some service done,another customer came in for the eve's group ride (every Tuesday eve they ride somewhere,be it the local city park's trails or a trip to Seven Sisters) on his swanky 29"er SS'er,an Origin 8 Scout. I wanted one of those so badly about a year ago,I could almost taste the chain lube. Having had my O 8 CX bike for a while and having a few rides on it now,I'm loving the feel of their particular steel,ESPECIALLY for the entry fee on their frames (especially coming from Buzz).

He was running his rigid,with a OEM steel fork off another bike,SS (no idea of his gearing choice),discs (of course),and big fat speedy tires (less knobby than my typical choice would be) on some kind of white rims. Looked SWEET! He said it weighed out around 26LBS,right close to what my Jabberwocky actually weighs in at sans seat-bag and computer. I could see one of these set up with a bit longer legs than my Jabber now has (maybe a 32x20,or even 32x18),fast rolling tires (Big Apples?) and one of O 8's sweet carbon forks with bb7's....perfect setup fo rme for Blacksburg's fast and swoopy trails (where my new 32x24 gearing would spin out too quickly and 100mm Recon is overkill).

I have yet to fix the minor ails on/to sell the Blazer,but it wouldn't take much/be long and some extra moneys will be there. At under $200 for frame and (once again) using some parts off the Dawes,it wouldn't be a major investment (hear the grinding of rusty gears coming from my brain,do ya? :p)...but,dare I? She's still major-league ticked off at what I've already spent this year at Buzz's (coincidentally,Buzz is right happy with me these days,haha!),but since I'm most likely done there anyways....

So anyways,think I orta log out and call Dave...

Pics of Moonlight

2011-05-27T17:50:00.000-04:00

She just showed up (imagine that,it's dinner time,LMBO! :p )...

Dime Pics and Other Stuffs

2011-05-27T17:41:00.000-04:00

Here's a few fresh pics of the Dime with the Torq Thrust wheels swapped on,after a much needed bath,LOL! I really like them on it :)

And here's a couple of the Blaze in desperate need of a bath,LOL,with the wheels it will be sold with (from the Dime)...

I actually like these wheel much better on the Blazer than I did the Dime,though where it already has a rear-to-front rake about it,it needs something bigger out back,like say,265/70-16's. IF I were keeping it,I might would go that route,rather than drop the rear anymore,being as the frame is less than 6" from the ground now (on level ground). While I have decided to sell it,we all know plans change and people change their minds,but I'd be more surprised than anyone,LOL!

Also,some of you,my friends,may remember that Blossom gave birth to 9 pups back in October,and that after they were weaned,we found a home for Blossom and a few pups (some died,sadly),keeping 3 for ourselves. We had to find a home for one of them,Oreo (oddly enough going by her name,the spotted one,LOL!),but we still have and love 2,Blackberry and Moonlight. I didn't see Moonlight around while I was out shooting pics,but here's a couple of Blackberry now-a-days....

That's really all for now...no rides yet again,the neck,lumbar region and hip still acting up,but not as badly,I didn't need the cane today,though walking without it was a bit of a chore.

I want to take a moment to thank all of the brave men and women this Memorial Day weekend for their service,and their sacrifices,those who sacrificed their everything,you are remembered,and to all who served,you are appreciated :). I wish everyone a wonderfully blessed weekend!!!

But I had a PLAN...

2011-05-10T00:16:00.001-04:00

That's right,I had a PLAN. Here was the PLAN...

Borrow a few dollars (a small loan). Buy a certain '95 Blazer I'd found for sale locally. Pull off a few parts I wanted on my Dime,swap them out for the Dime's parts (Belltech drop kit,real Torque Thrust wheels in 16"-not repros,steel cowl hood,odds and ends). Take the Blazer to my Dad's house to put up for sale in his driveway (there would be more people,literally,in a day see it there than in a month here). Pay off loan well early.

Clean,simple,and would have gotten me some parts I wanted (some were needed) for practically free,just a bit of work-most likely by Dad's hand (since the neck is still preventing me from doing much...no more rides yet =/),but mostly freebie parts none-the-less. That was the PLAN.

I made one fatal mistake...I took Tina with me to look at the Blazer one last time. Not that she wasn't on board and in agreement with the PLAN,she was. The problem was,after seeing it (even filthy from sitting in a dirt-road hollow for months-interior was like new and uber clean though),after a test ride in it,after experiencing it...she wanted to KEEP it,LOL! She said "We should sell your truck,keep the Blazer,you take the Neon"....um-NO! LOL! We may have to sell one or the other,but looks like we'll ow be a 3 car/truck family,as there's her Neon,my Dime,and the Blazer sitting in the driveway with my or her names on the titles,LOL!

It's an old truck,it needs a little work,but not-so-much...that steel cowl induction hood needs smoothed and painted (has never been-only black primer that's faded away),as does the front bumper,the grille has been broken and glue'd/epoxied together,the front is several inches lower than the rear (the rear needs dropped to level it,NOT the other way around-it's 2WD after-all :p),it really needs an LS2 V8 from a Trans Am/Camaro SS too,ha!

These pics are of it dirty,before it was washed,and they really don't do it justice...

Of course,it came with it's original hood as well...

And while it does sit a little high in the rear end,it is fairly low,a bit lower than the Dime actually. Here's a Mtn Dew can next to the frame on level ground...

...almost low enough,hahaha!

So,I guess there's a new PLAN. Turn that small turn-around loan into a loan and just make it's payments,get it licensed and insured (I'm hoping the tag "LO BLAZE" or similar is available...) and enjoy all the niceties it has that the Neon and Dime doesn't have (CC,power everything including seats..basically it's fully loaded except for leather and moon roof),and decide whether I/we want the Dime to be a full on project next year,or the Blazer,LOL! Ah....I LOVE mini-trucks!!!! I'll get some cleaner pics of it to post soon. And HOPEFULLY,the neck/hip will let up and I can finally get a first ride in on that Bandersnatch soon!

Oh,and Nicholas's 9th birthday is Friday,party Saturday-I'll post on that too :)

More ramblings on the Dime.

2011-05-04T21:31:00.001-04:00

Well,some visuals anyways,LOL! Sorry it's so filthy,but hey,the way it's been raining...LOL! Anyways,a couple pics of the stance,and the wheel well gap with the new tires...

And here's a pic of what I had done to it today...

It's a true dual exhaust system from the manifolds back,sporting two Flowmaster mufflers. I decided to have them weld on the cheaper chromed tips instead of the nicer stainless steel ones. My train of thinking was "If I install a roll-pan this summer..." (which I fully intend to do) "...they will stick out too much,like 6-8"...I'll have them cut these back off,and weld some stainless ones on the,all tucked up inside neatly,barely visible (and less likely to drag).

So now that my mini-spending-spree on bikes has come to an end,will I start going crazy with the Dime (S10)? Nope,LOL,she won't let me,hahaha!

I think tomorrow I will have finally run out of excuses to not go visit my parents,Dad's been at me for weeks to come see him now,and since the neck's not going to let me ride for a few more days yet anyways (and since I have new exhaust to show off-rolling my eyes here),I plan drive out that way as soon as the kiddos are on the school bus,and be back before they are (parent's house is about 1.5 hours away).

Ah well,more rain...

Ramblings.

2011-05-03T19:12:00.001-04:00

I haven't felt up to a ride since Saturday eve's road ride on the CX (click here to see the post on my ride log),but I did gain some revelation on the whole drop bar skinny tire riding...and it was not only cool,it was (as expected and forwarded by friends) faster than the mountain bike on road. I liked it. Not enough time in to know where I want to make a bunch of tweaks to setup,but I do have some thoughts/observations on the Origin 8 as it's currently setup.

I like the drop bars,but a set maybe an inch wider would ease a bit of shoulder/neck strain climbing (whether in the drops or the hoods).Granny's gear on the CX bike isn't the same as Granny's gear on the mountain bike,LOL,it's la wee bit taller,so it being a confirmed (via the "weigh myself on my bathroom scales,then weigh myself holding the bike,then subtract" method-though our scales are both pretty accurate compared to our doctor's scales,and very consistent) 26.2 pounds,it isn't the lightest of road-ish bikes,but as spec'd,I didn't expect it to be a featherweight anyways. I wasn't at all impressed with that pair of Shimano Alivio mechs (especially after being used to upper level X9 stuff from Sram on the mountain bikes),as it seemed any time I had to put some power down for a hill,it wanted to "ghost shift",as in,shift a bit between two gears...not cool. This is probably in the adjustments,but either way...still not impressed with Alivio,LOL!

As far as the gearing difference between the mountain gearing I'm used to and the taller gearing for roads,there are only a few options. I could change the crankset for a 22/32/44. I could go a bit cheaper and change the cassette to an 11-34. I could get a little fitter and keep it as is. For now? I'll get fitter,leave it as is,but if I really take to the whole "gravel grinding" type of riding (and I probably will,there are lots of 'gas well' roads around my area),I may look into lower gearing later down the road,as those options are pretty well steep (and long hills at that,4-6+ miles climbing). Otherwise,taller gearing (since it really isn't excessively so) will help build stronger lungs and legs right? ;)

Not that it wasn't pouring rain most of today anyways,but I had appointments today,but as the neck is feeling a bit raw still,I wouldn't have tried to push a ride anyways. I took the Dime (Chevy S10) to have it's new tires finally mounted/balanced,and the drive-train serviced (I used to do that myself...),switching to all synthetic fluids and a reusable K&N air filter (one of their oil filters as well). The shop explained to me that using synthetic oil,I can stretch oil change interval from 3,000 miles to somewhere around 8-9,000. I was thinking,"MAN! If I could safely stretch that out to 10K miles between changes,that's only 1 oil change per year!",LOL!

Tire size dropped a bit,from 225/60R-16" to 225/50ZR-16". They looked right at one inch lower,but I measured the bed and front fender heights in the exact same parking spot before and after the tire swap,it sits almost exactly 3/4" lower overall front and rear. That's a cool thing. Unfortunately,this tire profile reduction also increased what little wheel-well gap I had from "just a wee bit" to "noticeable". Not cool. But hey,I was wanting to lower it just a bit more anyways,at least in the front. It's currently about a 4" front/5" rear drop,judging by parking next to a stock extended cab Dime,and actually sits a wee bit lower out back,no doubt due to the cheap way it was lowered before I bought it. Now that my bike spending spree has ended,I'm setting back for a complete suspension/lowering kit,to lower it correctly,using Belltech drop spindles (2") and coils (2-3"),and also their drop leaves out back (3") in combination with blocks (2-3"). I want it either level,or with just a wee bit lower up front than the rear. These parts will also improve it's ride quality over the "cut and heat" method that was obviously used by the previous owner. I don't want to harp on him too harshly though,he took EXCELLENT care of it mechanical,and kept records as well.

So Tina's Neon had just under $500 in repairs last month,some normal wear and tear items,some due to a previous owner's lack of care for it. It still needs the A/C fixed (which i will have done very soon),as well as the horn (this will need fixed before the inspection sticker expires 5-31),and I still need to swap on the new oil pan. I've been putting it off,hoping for the mud pit (aka-my driveway) to dry up and the neck to feel OK in the same week,but it looks as though I'll just pay a shop to do it. We did have them look over the entire drive-train last shop visit and go ta bit of bad news. Yes,it does leak oil around some damage t the oil pan as we knew,and a bi around the valve pan gasket (as I suspected),but it's leaking most of it from the back side of it's head-gasket...this is major work,or major expense (3 days and $750 if there's nothing else wrong with it's head at our trusted shop)...we may just opt to continue to add oil to it,since it isn't likely to worsen into a more elaborate problem (you would have to see it to understand my thinking,but knowing what head-gasket issues could be,the ones that are most likely to happen aren't so bad),ride it another year that way,and buy her something newer,nicer.

I'm still hoping to buy a third vehicle before next winter sets in,so I can just pull the Dime off the road during the bad-weather months,just transfer it's license plates and insurance. I had been thinking about another Dime,4x4 extended cab,any year from '89-03 (so I could keep the torque of the 4.3L,maybe a small lift and 33" tires you say? Sneaky sneaky I am,teehee!),but a new thought occurred to me on a different,if not similar in mechanical makeup (lots of shared parts). A Chevy Astro mini-van. Some of these came equipped with AWD (that's "All Wheel Drive"),so it would definately fit the bill for winter usage,it would have my beloved 4.3L V6/4L60E automatic,and would make for an excellent bike trip vehicle with one of it's rows of seat removed (and makeshift motel with a good sleeping bag if the trip begged an extra day ;) ). I Haven't ruled out a Blazer/Jimmy either....ah,I don't know. I may just look for a $500 front wheel driven car just for winter,but a few things are for certain: A lowered S10 2WD on low profile/speed rated tires will NOT go in the snow very well,the heater core in mine will definately need replaced (no heat in it now),and either way,I don't want it on salted snowy roads.

No rides on the new rides yet.

2011-04-29T08:18:00.000-04:00

I still haven't had the opportunity to try out/ride one of the new bikes. My neck is feeling much better,I can now lean my head from side to side,as well as turn fully to the right,though not as much-so to the left...it's getting there.

That isn't the whole of the ride stoppers,though. For the last couple days,I've been suffering some flu-like bug. It hit hard and fast Wednesday afternoon without warning...raw throat,fevers,chills,and much body/joint aches. I spent nearly 24 hours in bed,no strength to stand,LOL!

Went to the doctor yesterday,and got some antibiotics. I wasn't told exactly what I had,just that "yeah,that's going around...". I'm feeling much better as far as body aches and no fever,but my throat's still pretty raw,and I have little energy.

The Fast Five hits theaters tonight (The Fast and the Furious Five),and all of us being fans of the series,I'm hoping to take the kids ("I" as in,Tina and I) to see it tomorrow,or if I'm not up to a ride by then,Sunday for a matinee showing. Thor's coming soon,and one we're all eagerly anticipating,Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (can't recall it's name) comes out on May 20th....for the first time in a few years,there are actually several new movies coming we want to see before they hit store shelves as DVD's,LOL!

Well,at any rate,Monday will make one full week since bringing home th new Origin 8 CX bike...I hope I feel up to at least a short road ride on it. We shall see.

See last posts title...and a few of this Dad's new worries.

2011-04-27T00:01:00.000-04:00

Built yesterday/first half of today,brought home this afternoon...

That big 'ol Manitou Drake fork is used,bt in like new working condition (cosmetically good too ;) ),bb7's on hand-built-by-Buzz WTB wheels (Sram hubs),all the Redline's Sram X9 2x9 drive-train (SLX double front mech,bash guard needed,LOL!)IRD 2.1" tires (that are amazingly close to the same size as those Caballero 2.25"ers),that new-for-the-Redline Sette cockpit,Cane Creek S3 HS,and mini-Ergon grips.

I've only had the opportunity to take a short (paved) test spin,and a spin around my property,but the neck is feeling MUCH better each day. Soon. The Jabberwocky got it's own wheel-set (used,only on gravel/pavement I think),the exact same wheel-set as like the one I recently sold on eBay (WTB Speed Discs on XT hubs,all black,disc only),and it's new crank-set...

...which means the Dawes finally gets put back together soon (waiting on the new cog to come in for the Jabber next week)...so that's 1 freebie 29er SS,2 new Vassago's,and an Origin 8 'cross bike,all in a matter of a couple months. DEFINATELY the Year of the Bike at my house,LMBO! Now...all I have to do is convince my spine to let me ride some...my Doctor's on board (well,he recommends ROAD riding for my neck/fitness),my heart's in it,just need to ride every chance I get,since one never knows how/when my injuries will prevent it,nor for how long,LOL! A dang good time,I've been having,bearing in mind,with my spine,these could very well be the last bikes I ever buy for myself. My workshop's quickly becoming too small,LOL!

One more pic because I just can't help myself...

On another,more disturbing note (2 actually): Nicholas was up at my neighbor's house this eve,and he and one of their sons (Nick' 9 next month,theirs is,like,5 maybe?) snuck one of his Dad's pistols out of the house,fired a couple rounds through a S&W .38 snub-nosed revolver. Nothing bad came of it,and they assured me (and I know these to be good,honest,God fearing people,BTW) it could never happen again (all firearms will now and forever be locked in a gun safe),but it could have been horribly bad (two kids and a revolver? yeah...),and Tina's freaking out about it...mentioned wanting to move over this incident (well,she's wanted to sell here and move since,well,we moved in,LOL!).

The other side note: The neighbor also showed me recently shot pics (time/date coded,FWIW,but I would have believed him anyways*) of a rather large and aggressive pack of coyotes in his back yard (visible from mine,BTW),as well as a black mtn lion up on the hill-side/wooded area behind his house (also clearly within eye shot of us). Now Tina's REALLY freaking...may have to forgo even daydreams of building a nice,larger workshop for the bikes here.

*When I was but a Nicholas aged lad myself,everyone around knew there were coyotes roaming around,though they were never a threat that I knew of,and there were always rumors of mtn lions (the black ones...Panthers,I guess?) being in the area,and I'd occasionally see tracks (black bear also),"evidence of recent passings" (semi-fresh poop),and the rare pics of them in someone's yard late at night/early morning. Bear in mind I was all over these mountains on bicycles and dirt bikes (motocrossers more often than not),and neither did I ever se one myself,nor did my parents think it threat enough to not allow me to roam the woods at Jamie's age and younger (she's 14). So there's proof they (all-the coyotes,black bear and cougars/whatever ya call them) were around then,and apparently now,but with the winter we had,seems to me they'll all be picking any food they can,so the kids won't be going outside alone anymore (one of the reasons we moved here...reasonably safe for kids),and I guess I'll now be armed when outside a night. Kinda makes me wonder about our much loved and missed Spot (hard to believe it's been 2 years since he disappeared)...see,he wouldn't have "backed own",even from a mtn lion (I know this from knowing him the 4 years he shared his life with us)...

Things for me/us to consider,huh?

Yep,ths is officially the Year of the Bike at my house....

2011-04-25T22:32:00.000-04:00

I took the Jabber to my trusty (not so local) LBS today,as well as my Redline. I had planed to purchase a Vassago Bandersnatch frame and swap all the upgraded bits from the Redline over to it,and eBay the RL. Didn't quite work out that way though,as Buzz (LBS dude extraordinaire) decided to take it in as trade for a very fair price,so I went a little farther than I thought I could.

The Bandersnatch frame is mine (as well as a brand new handbuilt wheelset/tires,used Manitou fork,HS and such to get it rolling),the Jabber gets a slightly used (by Buzz) set of WTB Speed Disc wheels (AWESOMELY priced!),it's new cranks (so the Dawes will be re-assemble this week,or soon at least,LOL!),and I'll take Andrew spin it around the Breaks before he completely writes it off as not wanting it soon. I'm going back tomorrow to finish everyhing up (well ok,Buzz is spinning his master wrenches on all of it,I'm just picking it all up,LOL!) in the morning :)

Also,after talking with Buzz about the wanting of an "all road" bike (ie: a bike I can ride pavement,B/C or worse roads,gravel,etc on),he made me an offer I just couldn't pass up (don't tell the wife,LOL! :p) on a floor model 2011 Origin 8 CX700..so I brought it home after a few for-better-fit swaps. The only ride I've gotten in on it,though,is the test ride,it was late eve by the time I got in. Here's the only pics I have of it so far,sitting in my shed...

Here's a link to their webpage about this frame.

Now,I don't know so much about road or CX bikes and their components,but for the pricing I scored it for,I figure it's a decent mix for budget and reliability. Can't WAIT to get out and ride this one! It's my first ever skinny tire'd bike...in sweet,sweet steel no less :) As these tires wear out,I'll most likely build it more into a "Monster Cross" type of ride,with a bit fatter tires,but for now,I'm SO stoked I don't know what else to say,LOL!

An update on this latest neck issue: Still can't "lean" my head to the left or right,but it's hurting MUCH less,and I have about 70% range of motion (well,at what my personal 100% would normally be...which isn't as much as the average person,but I digress...),it seems to have "slipped" back into place,as it were,so I hope to feel up to a ride this week :-D Pics of the Jabber's new digs,and the new Bander soon as I get them all here :)

A bit better.

2011-04-24T19:43:00.000-04:00

Firstly,HAPPY EASTER to everyone!!! And lets remember it AIN'T about some stinkin' bunny,LOL!

Secondly,feeling a bit better. At this rate,I hope to b able to pedal as early as mid week. This is actually the quickest I've felt better after"The Slipping" (of the neck thing).

Lastly,look for some shuffling of parts,bits,and bikes in my shed soon...it appears that FINALLY,this will be the Year of the Bike for me :-)

Peace.

Ugh...here we go again =/

2011-04-23T22:35:00.000-04:00

This will be short,if not sweet...

When I awoke this morning,as I stretched before rolling out of bed in a half asleep daze,whatever it is in my neck that "pops out of place",popped out of place. I spent the day (barely) hobbling on the cane,in great pain,and unable to look up,down,left or right.

Usually this lasts 7-10 days,last time was 7 months or so. REALLY hoping it's a short one this go round.

On a more pleasant note,I may be looking into finishing the Jabberwocky (still needs it's own/new crankset/BB and wheels) soon. Also,I still have New Bike Fever...here's to hoping the neck lets back up in time to enjoy it all (eg: REALLY SOON).

OK,that's all,time to pop another (prescribed and used as directed) pain med. Hope everyone has an awesome and blessed Easter :)

Anther ride today,it was killer!

2011-04-21T23:00:00.000-04:00

Killer for me,LOL,because I was trying to wear out a 21 year old Andrew for most of it (never mind I held a driver's license when he was born...),LOL!

Good ol DeadheadDave checked out of work early and met us (actually beat us) over there,so it was definately a fun ride,had two of my best-est friends along :) We made our normal loop,but when we pulled out from Frog's Rock,we let Andrew go first,figuring he'd wait till we all got rolling before dropping the hammer...boy were we wrong! See,from there,you HAVE to come down and out single file,and it's a bit technical,hard to get rolling. Here's Dave taking a sip of Gatorade (no,he wasn't stealing mine,all he had was water and forgot his snack,so knowing that stuff has sugars and electrolytes,I paid that bottle full forward,being the kindly sort that I am :p)...

Then,when we saw he was gone,I didn't even bother mashing my too-hard-for-my-out-of-shaped-self-gear on the Jabber up that tricky uphill "s" curve,I pushed with Dave,letting Andrew farther on out. So..I dropped the hammer myself,and stood up,mashed that gear (about 2-4 teeth taller than I was wanting),and caught sight of him when he stopped to down a drink of water,spent the next 30 minutes chasing him before I caught his wheel on what is my favorite downhill section,LOL! So we waited at the bottom for Dave (who decided not to mess with the legs and lungs of one 20 years younger,or my over inflated ego,hahaha!,He rode his own ride for lots of it...and he probably isn't suffering like me as I type :p).

Took a few minutes to figure the timer function on my camera,didn't make it back in the pic for the first one as we rested up...

I got it figured,and had 10 whole seconds to mad dash back over...only to find out the angle of my head makes me look almost bald,ROFLMBO (OK,it receded a few years back,but Mohawks are coming back in style :p)...

Now,I don't want to sound like I was busting all Andrew's youthfulness...he was all set for and wanted a second lap (and wasn't nearly as worn out/out of breath as I either,LOL!)...Dave and I said "go ahead,we'll be right here when you get back",LOL!

Andrew's only been riding a couple weeks (coming from a dirt jumping background,he has pretty decent bike skills though),I do believe another mountain biker is born,he's DEFINATELY hooked,and currently looking for his first bike purchase (looking for more of a free-ride/all mountain style of bike than XC). He's an awesome friend and all around good guy (am I old enough to call him a kid?),I hope to see him out pushing us old timers down the trail for many years :)

Abut all the pics left to show are of the bikes,after the ride...

On another,related note-at the end of the Rattlesnake,I swapped bikes with Andrew,giving him the new Jabber,I too old faithful (the Redline d440),and in about 100 yards,I knew without a doubt that for sure and for truth,riding rigid bikes was indeed increasing the issues with my old injuries...within that hundred or so yards,my neck (right where the damage is) began hurting so bad I wasn't sure I'd make it to the truck...so now I'm doubly hopeful that the new Rockshox (on the Jabber) heps to extend the amount of riding I'm able to do in the future :D

Ride Today

2011-04-17T20:42:00.000-04:00

Finally got together with DeadheadDave today at the Breaks (Interstate Park) for some singletrack bliss (yeah,LOL,not with the gear ratio I'm running...bliss? :p ). He'd been off the bike almost as long as I had,having injured his back on the job last Fall (herniated discs and such). He brought his burly geared Surly,I took the Jabberwocky on it's second dirt ride ever.

We rode around all the trails,save for the hilliest of them (Cardiac),saving that one for a different gear ratio on the Jabber,and some time to get our base fitness levels back,LOL!

I felt much better today than I did last Tuesday,mostly due to the fact it wasn't in the low 40's,it wasn't raining (it was definately wet in some spots,though),and I wasn't hypothermia,LOL! That,and I remembered to stretch out a bit to warm up,and cool down. Here's a few pics from the ride...

And after the pain...er...ride (LOL!),she ain't all clean and untested any more :)

I can't WAIT to go again! I figure,since I never know when the spinal thing will "slip out of place" and cause all the havoc it does each time,I'd better grab as much riding as I can while it's acting better. Still,it causes me to take more (prescribed) pain meds than I would be if I didn't ride at all,but how would that be living,I ask you?

On another note,a fellow blogger and I have been chatting via blog comments,and PM's on MTBR,looks like my first trip to Blacksburg this year will be early June,and he's driving down for us to meet (and meet up) here,then we'll drive on down to B-Burg and rent a room for that night,hit those sweet,fast and swoopy trails the next day. I can't WAIT,hahahahaha!!! I'm hoping Andrew has bike by then (either the re-gifted Dawes,or one of his own,or at least loan him the Redline again) and is off work,and here's hoping DeadheadDave can make it too...mini group ride! Either way,I'm looking forward to riding my favorite trails with a new friend,it'll be grand,it will :)

Trail today

2011-04-12T23:49:00.000-04:00

Cold,rainy,out of shape,lactic acid....AWESOME day!!! :D

New Friend

2011-04-08T10:41:00.000-04:00

I went to the LBS (not so "L",that's local) to pick up my beloved Redline d440 yesterday,where I'd left it to have a new Rockshox Recon Solo Air fork I had bought installed,and some Avid bb7's. Well,there's this other LBS right down the street from that one. See,the problem is,those two dudes lov one another about like oil mixes with water...but having known and been friends with both for over 10 years (11 for on,15-18 for the other),it puts me squarely in the middle,so I just visit both when I can,keeping that fact on the down low,LOL! Anyways,after leaving the one,the other let me test ride this sweet,sweet Vassago Jabberwocky that was well out of my price range ($1,689 worth of steel SS goodness). He shouldn'ta orta let me do that,LMBO!

So anyways,he made me an offer on the frame/HS/chain that I could not pass up,and Tina's car payment moneys,our "uh oh" moneys,as well as a little I had stashed back (was actually for a gift for Tina...honestly!) got blown,LMBO! She seemed genuinely happy got it,FWIW though.

So I now own a 80% new Jabberwocky! After setting back what I pulled to buy it,I'll look into having Buzz (the shop owner/friend/dealer) hand build me a fresh white wheelset,I'll find me some white cranks (hopefully Truvativ Stylo's),and she'll not only be all new...but she'll be (already is!) the most expensive bike I've ever owned,LOL! I already had some white pedals back ordered from Pricepoint,and have a little store credit,so I'll order a matching Sette seatpost next week. Here's a few random pics of it...

Sitting out behind the shed...

And sitting in the bike shack (the shed)...

I rode 'er around the property yesterday eve for about an hour (first riding in how long??? 7+ months!),with the fork locked out. DEFINATELY feeling that Wet Cat geometry love! UPS will be delivering (supposed to,anyways) some CST Caballero 2.25" tires some time today as well. Yes,those wheels are the cheap ones (not just inexpensive,LOL!) from the freebie 29er SS (32x20t gearing as she sits),a are the cranks and funky red pedals (in their defense...thy looked much better on the black bike,LOL! And hey,I dig platforms,it's all I ride ;) ). I can't WAIT to get her on some sweet singletrack! I'm hoping the added squish from the Recon will allow me to ride more (after several visits,my Doc seems to think it's a great idea,both the riding AND the suspension)...so my riding rigid days? Gone,LOL! I'll also be saving for a nice 100mm air fork to go on the Redline (geared bike) this summer too...maybe a Reba.

I was talking to Buzz about Vassago in general,and it seems they have shut down production after the owner came back,"re-evaluating company structure",because the company had been taken in a direction he didn't like. What ths means to consumers is,Vassago swag is difficult if not outright impossible to find for the time being. That said,Buzz also has 3 Bandersnatch (Vassago's geared hard tail frames,and sweet they are! Buzz rides one) frames in my size in the storeroom of his shop...He can't do layaways right now with demand possibly being what it could be),but I'm really hoping he'll have one left when I can snag some extra scratch,cause it sure would be nice to have one parked besides my Jabber for those days I need gears,wink wink/nudge nudge.

Well,the "house wife" duties need taken care of,that's all for now.I will be trying to catch a glimmer of non-downpour this weekend and give the Jabber a break-in ride on trail. This is the most excited I've been (other than kid's birth,of course,and SSDI approval too) in a LONG time! Teeheehee!

Still having pic uploading issues,but...

2011-04-03T17:55:00.000-04:00

I figured out how to upload them from my Photobucket :) I did indeed get her home,and despite being uber sleepy from a restless night (was too excited to sleep),enjoyed the trip as well. I had it figured right at a one tank trip,and despite driving it hard all the way up and back down (running with groups,between 70-90 MPH for the most part),the Dime turned in 24.8 MPG's (this is borderline 4 cylinder territory)! Made a cool new friend too,as well as learned some new wrenching skills from him while there.

Here's a few pics of how it sat when I brought it home,complete with a bit of KY mud still attached,LOL! She still looks this way (mud and all),less a bunch of parts I removed* and a gear swap (from an 18T cog to a 20T),and has only been ridden around the property as of yet.

*I have a bunch of parts on order for both the Deadeye and (Redline) d440 that should be in,and I should get em all on,sometime this coming week. The d440 is getting a Rockshox Recon Solo Air Silver 100mm air-fork (hoping that that will ease up on the neck issues enough to ride a bit more),Avid bb7 dsc brakes (upgrading from the bb5's),a new Truvativ Stylo 3.3 crank-set/BB,a new pair of tires,CST Caballero 2.25"s,new Avid speed dial brake levers,and a new complete cockpit kit from Sette parts (bars,stem,seat,post). This frees up the RaceFace Turbines (crank-set) on there for...

The Deadeye will inherit those all singled out,has a new Cane Creek S3 headset installed (by yours truly,using te LBS's tools),new cables,a matching pair of CST Caballero tires,Avid speed dial brake levers and the bb5's off the d440,and an all white complete cockpit,also from Sette. There may be a couple more widgets I forgot to mention,but the point being,both bikes are getting a fairly serious makeover,the d440 a makeover,the Deadeye a making-of-it-mine :) I'll get some pics up once everything is in and on.

An update on where Tina had been fired a couple weeks back. She has spent several hours every day through the week (Monday-Friday) searching high and low for employment,but the job market in our area is...well,small. Out of many jobs she had potential to land,she was interested in one in particular,working security for a new-to-the-area company at local coal mine sites. If you look back a couple-3 years in my blog,you'll see we had both done this kind of work in this area before. She wanted this one not just because she enjoyed the type of work,not just because there's much opportunity to walk for better fitness,bu also it pays a scant $0.27 less than the job she lost (which is a few dollars more than minimum wages,which is what most jobs in this area pays).

Well,she had an in person interview last Friday,and they were so impressed with her,that out of 15 or so potential employees,they hired her on-the-spot (all others are still going through an interviewing process). They had her drive up into West Virgina (had to leave here around 5AM to make the appointment,LOL!) yesterday,for a paid 8 hour training class,and as I type,she's working her first 12 hour shift (which is about to end,in about 14 minutes,6AM-6PM). My hopes are that she really enjoys this one,and that they treat her much better than that pit of vipers she was working at.

Seem to be having PC problems

2011-03-29T19:59:00.000-04:00

I can't seem to get it to load up pics from my hard drive. My PC is a bit overdue servicing/devirusin,so that could be it (lots of freezing,crashing,slow to respond,etc),but I will try and see if I can get them uploaded to Photobucket and "insert from url" them that way. More later (tonight or tomorrow :) ).

New (to me) Bike!

2011-03-24T20:45:00.001-04:00

Last year,there was this cheap (inexpensive too,haha!) 29"er SS bike I had wanted to buy around tax refund time,but I eBay-spent myself right out of budget to. I tried for several months to set back a little here and there for it,but something always came up,where the moneys was needed elsewhere,and it didn't happen. This was before that Origin 8 frame from all around good guy Guitar Ted came about,BTW. It was a $319.99 (shipped!) Dawes Deadeye from Mike over at Bikesdirect.com...

...these are bare bone,basic bikes for people on a very strict budget,or for those wanting to get their feet wet with SS's and 29ers...I mean the highlight of the line is it's set of WTB Nanoraptor tires,for goshes sake,LOL! They do come equipped to be fairly versatile,however,being geared and disc brake ready out of the box,with (if I remember right) rack and fender mounts and such.

Well,I had recently after a long intentional absence from the bicycle forums (was just too heart breaking to go on,not being able to ride,LOL!),I logged back in recently and went to check the 22 page long thread on these bikes,to see if anyone still had theirs after nearly a year and had an owner's report onthem a year later. I started asking questions about sizing,and such. A couple people I'd conversed with before asked where I'd been,I told em about the issues with the injuries,and how my finances are a'changing for the better finally,and I was thinking hard about buying one of these (especially still feeling the pain of a lost loved one...my Monocog,haha!).

Well,an e-friend there and I were talking about the differences between the 15" framed bike and the 17" one,how some of the sizing/specs/geometry kind of overlaps a bit (the 17" has only the slightest of longer top tubes,the 15" has a longer wheelbase,for eg),and he PM's me saying "Hey Steve,I have a couple 15"s and a 17"er,and just ordered me up a Vassago Jabberwocky frame,if you'll pay the shipping,I'll send you which ever Deadeye frame/fork/wheel-set you chose,but be aware that either's wheel-set is coming to you in rough shape,that's the weakest link on the bike." So,I PM'd him back really fast,gave him my phone #,said "Call me!",LOL!

Well,we had a good late night chat,and it seems he's only around 150 or so miles from me up in Kentucky,a town I used to frequent back in the late 90's (my flatbed trucking days),so I asked if he wanted me to pay the gas and lunch and meet somewhere in the middle,but he has recently had a fairly serious (for that type of) surgery and isn't really up to a mini-road trip,so the plan was made that if I drove all the way to his place,we could use his tools and pick through his parts stash and quite possibly build up a complete bike to haul home. The plan is to build up both frames (one at a time,using what stock parts he has left),ride and decide which fits me best,shake hands and head back home with a new-to-me bike and new friend (one that doesn't live so far away that meeting in the middle for an occasionally ride isn't out of the question) :) :) :).

He tells me the wheels for both are in "rough condition" but serviceable,especially my being a lightweight at around 150lbs (he said he's a hard charger on rough trails and 250 +/- lbs,so the wheels may be fine for me),but even had I not recently sold my only extra wheel-set (those WTB Speed Discs I ran the trail tires on on the d440) and if I have to buy a budget new set...$150-200 or so on top of a free bike ain't so bad (much better than that on top of having just paid for a new one at $320,that'd be Monocog 29 territory),so we will see.

I will update here when I return,hopefully with fresh pics of the new acquisition (unless of course he's the "mtbr.com killer" and this is his lure for his next victim,LMBO!). At any rate,and FWIW,the SS-ness of it comes from having track/SS dropouts,but the wheel is cassette ready,using spacers and a single cog,so I can take any 9 speed cassette (I have 1 or two laying around maybe) and REALLY fine tune my gear ratios-SWEET!

On other Bikesdirect.com news,since I was last interested,they've added a new model,the Bullseye. It's basically a Deadeye,in a matte color (Copper,Green or Grey),with a disc only fork,and Avid bb5 disc brakes installed,and is only $30 more,at $349.99 (shipped!). If I chose the wrong frame size after riding and am still in the market,I may pick one of these up,as the bb5's on my d440 have served me well,and there's flat no way I can see to easily outfit a v-brake equipped bike with a pair of them for $30 front and rear (not unless you scour the mail-order catalogs for a year and get REALLY lucky,LOL!). Here's a pic of one of these (all these pics,BTW,are pulled-from-the-website-"stock photos")...

I'm thinking about choosing the 15",as I know I need a more upright seating position than most due to the neck injuries,but also,if it's a bit tight even for me and my needs,a set of dirt drop handlebars would open it up a bit,the d440's stock 1x8 (all Sram X5 stuffs) drvetrain and those 38mm CX tires currently on the d440 would make it into a sweet (if heavy) CX (Cyclocross) ride for road and gravel riding (which I'm still most likely to get in,assuming I even can,LOL).

On another subject,I got my temporary "Handicapped Placard" (the permanent one will be mailed in a few weeks or so) to hang in the rear-view mirror of the vehicles today...now that helps it sink in that the wait/fight is finally over! It felt really weird to park in front at the Food City this eve,LOL,right up next to the door,in a wide-enough-to-prevent-door-dings spot even.

Until next time...

Twas a sad,sad day.

2011-03-19T16:48:00.000-04:00

Well,here's the thing...THREE short days before I got my SSDI approval letter in the mail and made my appointment to get SSI until SSDI kicks in,we were needing a little extra cash,electric bills being what they w=are during the "we need heat" months,so I made 3 ad's on eBay. I sold that sweet Vassago ODIS rigid fork off the d440 (actually,an hour after the ad hit,it sold),those WTC Speed Disc wheels and Exiwolf 2.3x29" tires (along with tubes,9 speed cassette,disc rotors and skewers...ready to install they were),and the third ad was for my much loved Monocog (the SS).

Well,for a week,I watched the "watchers on the auction for the Monocog,hoping nobody would bid on it,but a few minutes before it ended,a cool dud up in Chicago-land "bought it then" ("Buy It Now"),sigh. Sounds like she's going to a good home where she'll be loved and ridden (more than I'm able to,obviously),but had I known,she wouldn't have gone on the block for sale,LOL!

So Thursday,I had the pain of loading her in the Dime to go get a box,to pack,and to ship her. I held back,but there would have been real tears...I've had that Monocog for 7 years,and put many miles on roads AND trails in over 32 states on her,more miles than any other bike I've ever owned (I usually traded around for a new one every 3-4 years). I miss her terribly,even though my riding future is uncertain (other than I certainly won't be getting to ride as much as I want to...). Here's her last few pics as my bike...

Makes me REALLY long to buy another SS,another Monocog,or one of those Dawes Deadeyes (both 29"er SS's),whether or not I'm able to ride much or not. Sigh. I won't start any pre-shopping or anything,because I'll have some soul-searching/justification figuring to do (can I justify buying a new bike when I don't even know if I can ride? It's been half a year +/- since I've been able to...) before I get that far,and besides,for the last couple years,I've done much pre-shopping and the like,gotten all excited,and then something (read: funding) fell out from under it and nothing came of it...so IF a new SS is in my future,I'm not jinxing it by planning it,LMBO!

Something I found cool: While out to a former LHS I frequented over the years (not-so-much anymore) to secure a box to ship the 'Cog,the proprietor was working on 2-stroke power-conversion on a cruiser bicycle (a Huffy,no less). Here's a couple pics of that,and despite the Huffy-ness,I think it's cool as all get out! I would have loved to have ridden it,LOL!

An update: Tina's job has ended. Now,she told me they fired her for breaking company rules,but that they had talked her into "voluntarily quitting" which they claimed would benefit her as far as getting benefits like unemployment and such while job searching. Firstly,and I mean no disrespect to the wife I love,but she can't be that dumb...if one voluntarily quits their job without a very valid reason,they get zilch,nada,NO unemployment. Secondly,I actually have my suspicions that she just up and quit,that there was no talk,no firing. She's been VERY vocal over the last 2 years that she hates that job and was always looking for a good reason to quit it. Not that I would want her to have to stay at a job she flat hates,but seems the timing's convenient,and there's been much attitude about it from her to guide my suspicions. Honestly,I'd MUH rather her go find another job,even if it pays less (now that I'll be drawing my benefits),if she'll enjoy it and be happier working there (where-ever "there" is),but it kinda screws wit my head that she may be straight faced lying to me,rather than seeking my support in that. I could be wrong...but I doubt it,too much evidence I haven't mentioned. Ah well...19 years this October,and she still doesn't trust me to be in her inner thoughts/wants/etc.

Well,it's 60 degrees (cooler today than yesterday) and sunny out (was raining earlier,and rain's called for until Monday),I think I'm gonna go dig all of my old Trek (2000 6000) stuff that I still have out,see what would be needed to put it back together.buying as few parts as possible. Might SS it via a chain tension-er...but it won't be the same,LOL! Still,I've had this one for 11 years,but it's been "ot of service for the last 5-6 of those,LOL!

Finally!!!

2011-03-14T15:30:00.001-04:00

I received a letter from the department of SSI/SSDI last week,and they FINALLY approved my case! :) :) :)

I haven't been around much due to lots going on and flat hurting too much to log in,but I'm still kicking,LOL! After 25 months trying,fighting and begging,it was like a wave of warm relief to open that letter and read the words "fully favorable decision". So now,it's just a waiting game on when I start drawing my benefits,and according to SSI during an appointment last week,they (SSI) will be paying me in the mean time,and SSDI should kick in in 4-8 weeks,with the backpay check coming later this year.

I want to take a moment to express my thanks to one Eric C Conn,my lawyer,and once and for all let the record (my records) show he does in fact "Get The Job Done"! Thank you Mr. Conn!!!

On another note,I did in fact go down to Roanoke and pay the deposit on,and later buy that S10 truck,and in the last couple months it's proven dependable. It does have a few problems (eg: needs a heater core,brakes shimmies,etc),but it's a 16 year old truck after all,and what used truck doesn't? I'm very happy with it,and have changed a couple things. I added billet grille inserts (NOT the ones pictured in the eBay ad,these have 3 bars each,the pic showed 4 bars each,but I digress...the 4 bar ones in catalogs are well over $100 + shipping,I paid under $30 for these shipped brand new,so I'm happy with em :) ),added clear corner markers (and amber bulbs to stay legal),and I just ordered a polished billet grille "bowtie" emblem to finish it off. Here it is before,and a couple after the grille and corner marker installs...

I also installed new Belltech Nitro Drop II shocks (fronts are still in the box,I'm going to wait and see if I lower it more before I tear into it) for better ride...

And last but not least,I also bought a new set of rubber for it,since the fronts are pretty worn,Kumho 225/50-ZR16" (the ones on it are 225/60's)...

Tina told me "You shouldn't install them until the rears are worn down a bit (they still have,like,3/4 of their tread-life left),as that would be wasteful,so I have been doing this...

...since I'm doing what she said,she should be happy about this,right? RIGHT?? LOL!Actually,she shot the video so I'm being funny :p It was actually intended to be a longer burnout,but I couldn't believe the traffic on our "main hollow-drag",we had to keep stopping for cars coming...more traffic than what people live out here,LOL! Must have been miners heading to/from the coal mine (3-4 miles up the road). After the video was shot,a "County Mounty" (Sheriff's patrol) was behind me,and I though "OH CRAP!!!",but as he slowed to a walking pace to go around me (after I pulled to the side to let cars pass),he gave me a big "thumbs up" and went on,LOL!

Not having been able to ride for months and months now,I finally bit the bullet and put some things for sale on eBay (2 sold/shipped already,the last ends in a couple hours),that sweet Vassago rigid fork and WTB wheels (with cassette,rotors,skewers,2.3x29" tires and tubes included),and my beloved Monocog (pending). I may even go as far as to sell my much loved 29"er ('08 Redline d440) if I can't ride it by summer...put that money into truck mods. It's hard to accept at that phase of my life may be over,but at least the goo Lord saw fit to nudge me in another direction for my passion/interest (I still have models to build,andlik I mentioned in an earlier post,I was born a Mini-trucker...),AND saw fit to provide what I needed to enjoy those passions,so it's different,but all good I suppose,LOL!

That's about all the major updates her for now,I'l try not be off s long next time :)

Ramblings,cause as usual,can't sleep,LOL!

2011-01-31T01:39:00.000-05:00

Well,the appointment Friday came and went. I have no earthly idear as to whether it will help me finally get SSDI approval,but the paaps at the law office seemed content to expect I'll be approved shortly thanks to it. I think I'll wait until I get the approval letter in my hands before I get all excited this go round though...done had my hopes up/heart broken a few times over it,LOL!

Felt pretty well down in the neck/back Saturday,and wound up sleeping most of it away under the influence of a prescribed muscle relaxer. Typical,BTW.

We finally,after a couple-three months of laying out,made our way back to church this morning (ours has "Sunday School" at 10AM,followed immediately by church service at 11AM). It felt good to be back in there...the right place for me,for us,to be. Of course there were lots of "We missed you!" 's and such,but we slipped out pretty quickly after the service ended,ran down to Lebanon's KFC and had some of Colenol Sander's finest from teh buffet,family meal-kinda thing,LOL!

The rest of the day was spent realing from having eaten too much,but spent as a family for the most part,and the Lovely Mrs. Tina and I spent the evening watching sappy movies what made us both shed a tear,LOL! Those kids have SO nuetered the mean-ness in me,hahaha!

Tomorrow,Tina's W2 is supposed to be in the office by 4PM (it was supposed to be there Friday...),and we have an appointment to file at H&R Block at 6:30PM tomorrow eve,so "8-15 days later" we should be making the trip (the first Friday to follow the day the refund arrives) to finally pick up my new-to-me pickup. I can't begin to escribe the anticipation! Now...I'm PRO-bicycling/alternative transport,but I AM an Infernal Cumbustion Engine nut as well,a mini-trucker at heart,and having owned no less than 3 1st generation Chevy S10 trucks,I like em pretty well,though this will be my first taste of their 2nd generation.

I even ordered something for it already...a set of front clear corner light lenses (I'll need a pair of amber bulbs to be legal),LOL,so it's begun,even if in a small way. See...I can't leave stock well enough alone,and in my mind,I already see several possible varients of the "finished" truck,LOL! I'll also be trying to sell that...that,FORD that's been sitting out there terminally broken down for parts for $400 or so,to finance a few parts for the Dime (like a weld-on roll pan,smooth tailgate skin,license plate box to french/weld into the center of the newly smoothed tailgate with the handle relocated inside,a billet grille insert......),and I'll want to drop it down another inch or so...LMBO,it never ends,teeheehee.

Anyways,here's a pic of the lenses I ordered (psst,look up),as well as some inspiration of other's Dimes I pulled the pics of from forums (S10forums.com,and S10forum.com)...

Here's a couple different hood options I like,one with the scoop from a Camaro SS ('98-newer),though I've seen fiberglass hoods with it modled in for sale complete too...

And one with the scoop ("nostrils"?) from a '98-newer WS6 Ram Air Trans Am molded in...

I really like both,but it would depend on availablity,as well as pricing. Here's on of one possible way I may do the rear end,roll pan,exhaust and all...

It would be a bit less work and welding to do it this way,since there's no welding of a license-plate box in the tailgate...but noticing every Dime on the road around here now,it seems everyone and his brother's Dime has their's this way,and since I'll be saving a buck and welding it on myself with my Dad's MIG welder,I may just go ahead and do it in the gate. Here's what I'll do to the trim of my interior (as quickly as a warm enough day,and close-to-match paint is found)...

And here's a friend's from " s10forum.com" Dime,complete with a conversion on the front with parts from an Oldsmobile Bravada (basically a 4 door Blazer/Jimmy),notice also how low his sits,that's about where I want mine at,and I'm told it's getting front end paint this week as well,to match the truck...

And these two,I just really liked....

Well,I guess I better crash soon,that school bus shuffle comes early,LOL.

SSDI update

2011-01-18T15:24:00.000-05:00

As I've been quick to complain about these last two years,I've been repeatedly denied benefits by SSDI (disability),even at time when SSDI THEMSELVES declared me "unemployable due to injuries/illnesses",and after THEIR OWN DOCTOR'S declaring me totally disabled.

I've known I had an upcoming second court hearing in front of the judge coming soon for a few weeks. I got the call from my lawyer's office today that rather than have me come all the way up there and sit,waiting all day,the new Judge has said I can go to see MY LAWYER'S DOCTOR for "one last evaluation,and he will make his determination based solely on that doctor's report (if I understood right),and this will happen next week's Friday (1-28-11) at high noon.

Those friends of faith,I ask you to keep us in your prayers over this,and those of other beliefs,I ask your fingers be crossed and good vibes sent our way...after 2 years of suffereing financially,and being cast out by the same government office that I paid into every week since I was 15 years old,we NEED this approval/benefits,and it's long overdue. You have my heartfelt thanks and appreciation (as does Mr. Eric C Conn and his staff of legal peoples).

A new ride is found...

2011-01-13T22:43:00.000-05:00

...and secured,by way of a deposit paid (all legal-like and notarized...) and the agreement to hold it until our full refund comes. See,last weekend,we went with the Lovely Mrs. Tina's end-of-year check stub to get an estimate of what our refund will be,and they not only gave us that,they spotted us a thousand buck advance on it,teeheehee. I had already been looking all over the web and in several local trade papers,to "get a feel for" the current market.

I had found a really nice semi-one owner '96 Chevrolet S10 (here-after referred to as the "Dime") 2WD extended cab only 3-3.5 hours away,so I called and talked to the owner of the dealership about it,and what I could do.

Turns out,he had bought the truck new for his Grandson when he was 16,and when he hit 19,it was retitled in his name (had been in the Granddad's and his name,so Carfax shows two owners,but it's really just the one). He's currently off serving in This Man's Army,and asked his Popaw to sell it for him,"help somebody out" if he could. Upon finding out I'm a semi-disabled Vet myself,he knew I was the one who the truck was meant for,so we struck a deal (and for that particular truck,a deal it is!). Anyways,here's a few pics...

As you can see,it's been lovingly maintained (all receipts come with it from day one,all work done at Grandpa's dealership/shop). It has no rust,one small dent (not in these pics-behind the driver's door on the bed),153,000 +/- miles on it,they only repair currently needed is the climate control's in dash swith needs replaced. It's equipped with the famous 4.3L Vortec V6 (190HP) and the automatic overdrive,A/C,Cruise control,power locks,but manual roll-up windows. It also has a nice Sony (I think) CD player and decent speakers,and has that 3rd door (rear) that opens,but only one jump seat in the rear seat area...so we can't all four as a family ride it,though I may just swap in a bench seat up front so Tina,Jamie and I can ride there,Nick in his new favorite seat in the back. It has fresh front brake pads/rotors,a fresh oil change and tune-up,and those 16" wheels and tires were installed just before Christmas (not my favorite wheels there,4x4 wheels-notice the fake beadlocks-but at least they're semi-polished aluminum and 16"),and the Grandson,I was told,lowered it 2"/2" front/rear,though it looks more like a 4"/4" to my eye (which has owned,and seen many-a-lowered Dime).

SO here I sit,looking at the pics of my new ride,anxiously waiting for Tina's W2 to get here,so's I can go pick up my new pickup,LOL! Now,those who really know me know most likely,my brain's already been churning with mods...I mean,besides loving FAST cars,I was born a mini-trucker,LOL! So yeah,I have been,but nothing too over-the top. I'll have to add the afore-mentioned bench seat,I may want to add a bit of stereo wattage and a single subwoofer (that wouldn't interfere with Nick's entrance/exit),maybe 1-1.5" more lowering to eliminate the wheel well gap,some 18" chromed wheels,I'll want true dual exhausts,and to shave everything (door handles,tailgate handle,rear rolled pan,complete chromed front end with clear corner lights),and if it ever becomes a secondary ride for me,not one I depend on,I'd love to airbag it so the frame rests squarely on tera-firma when parked.

For this year though,maybe the dual exhausts,a rear rolled pan (smooth tailgate skin with the license recessed in it's center),and the chromed front end,these are the only plans. It's been far too long since I've had a "nice" truck in my driveway,I can't wait to go get it now :) :) :)

As a side note,Nick and I rode Tina's Neon down there. From gas fill-up to gas fill-up (in Richlands,VA on the way out and back) was 307.3 miles,and pumping every penny it would hold both times,it held 8.535 gallons on the return trip. Do the math...that's 36.004 MPG's,running a good portion of the trip on I81 at above 85 MPH. SWEET!!! LOL,I only expect 18-22 out of the Dime though,but I digress...

So I have to buy a second vehicle this tax season.

2011-01-04T16:48:00.000-05:00

Tax season,for us at least,usually means a decent sized refund check,last year's being larger than any to date. Usually,this is spent catching up on or paying off bills,and the remainder is split and blown on wants,which we feel OK with because at least until SSDI approval or released to go back to work,it's the one time per year we can.

2010 saw much issues with our vehicles. On the same day before summer,BOTH my KIA Sportage AND the Lovely Mrs. Tina's Ford Contour broke down. The Contour still sits out there broken,terminally I fear (we think,based on evidence that it "jumped time" and warped the head and every valve in it),so I had to later sell the KIA to help finance the purchase of our current and only drivable car,the Dodge Neon (henceforth referef to as the Mini-Mopar),which has turned out to be "the little car that could". It gets unexpected and flat awesome mileage (30-36.9 city/hwy),performs better than many a new car in the same class (rarely gets beat stop light to stop light),is comfy,and has been dead-dependable so far. I would love to find an '03 or newer (with the newer grille) SXT (sportier version) with a 5 speed,add a few boltons and nice set of wheels,though I doubt that would fit the budget. Anyways,a second car/truck needs be found and bought out of the refund,it's just too difficult living this far out in the boonies to have 2 kids and one car,not even bringing up my frequent health issues.

This has me laying awake at night,wondering what to look for. Since the days of more money than sense are long gone,I have bought with primary concerns being economy,practicality,and/or utility,meaning a mini-truck or econobox (Neon's performance not-withstanding,it was chosen for the above reasons).

If I look for another econobox,I'll want another Neon,based on fun-to-drive ratios,and I'll always wish for the $ to blow on it to make it...more fun to drive,heh heh. If I bought another mini-truck,I'd most likely lower it beyond it's usefulness to haul anything,ruining it's ride characteristics as well,and making it difficult for me to enter/exit most days (in all honesty,our Neon sits low enough at stock height to make it challenging some days).

But I find myself thinking "What if I just picked something I want/like this time?",realising SSDI OR returning to work should happen this year,it's not like we couldn't buy something else later,right? Of course,a large and lengthy monthly payment is out of the equation,so that means older vehicles. I thought all last night,"Wow...has it really been that long ago that I owned a Fox bodied Mustang or that old Camaro IROC Z?" (insert evil scientist laughing here). I mean,with a rumbly V8 (still capable of mid 20 MPG's BTW),and a trailer hitch installed,either would have no problems pulling a loaded with garbage utility trailer (I have one),so I wouldn't have to have a truck,now would I?

My budget will be between $2,500 and 3,500,depending on the size of the refund. So I pedal'd down to the convenient store today and bought a local auto trader,scoured eBay motors,and a couple other online "find me a car" sites,and found several Mustang GT's in decent shape in that price range. I prefer a manual 5 speed (for improved gas mileage ;)....yeah right!),but Tina being shiftless,I noticed several were automatics,which she could drive as well (there was one '95 GT ragtop automatic I KNOW she'd love...).

Sigh...no real point to this post,just what's been on my mind increasingly-so as tax season draws ever closer. Its begun...that laying-awake-at-night-thinking,that scouring of the i-net for examples and information on certain models (realistically,having been a car crazy 16 year old in '89,there isn't much I don't know/remember about the breed anyways,LOL!),the day dreaming of bolt-ons,trips to the drag strip every other weekend...LOL! Yeah,I may be pro-cycle,but I'm a car guy too,just also a "Not so dang many cars" car guy ;)

Sensibility will most likely kick in before the "Big Day" to buy comes,and I know I'd be just as happy with said Neon SXT with a set of rims as a rattly old Mustang (and probably better off too),but the planning sure is fun,LOL! Any thoughts or ideas?

So it's 2011....

2011-01-03T13:20:00.000-05:00

As 2010 is but a bad memory now,should I delve into that whole resolution thing many people do? Should I pledge to lose 20 LBS,hit the gym more often,go to church every Sunday,blah blah blah? Nah,that ain't me,LOL! I guess I have been thinking lots these last few days on hopes for the new year though,so here's a few.

I hope to be a better person in 2011 than ever before. More laughter,more love,more compassion and/or understanding for others.

I hope to fix things here,things that have been,or were nearly broken,be a better husband and father,right many wrongs.

I hope to ride more,and accept that there are more road miles in my future then my beloved trail riding,and deal with the changes in my old injuries that are causing this change a bit...less emotional.

I hope to delve even more into,and raise the caliber of my model kit building,and share it more with my kids,as they love it too.

I hope to either finally get SSDI approval,or heal up enough and get released to go back to work-though I'd be surprised at the latter.

I hope to learn things I never knew before.

I hope to gain more wisdom,because I'm dang sure growing another year older in 2011,LOL!

I hope to make new friends,online,in person,long distance and short,and I hope to be a better friend.

Ok,enough daydreaming,this Mr. Mom has house-chores to try and get done while the wife's at work and the kids are (finally) back in school (aside from 2 days,between Christmas Vacation and snow days,they've been home over a month,LOL). I hope all of y'alls New Years was happy,and above all safe. Here's a raise of the icy Mtn Dew can to 2011.

It's 12:15 ETS,1-1-11!

2011-01-01T00:14:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish every one a very blessed,safe,memorbale and happy new year,all of 2011,may it kick 2010's butt!!!