RAAM Documentary Trailer

Bicycle Dreams.




While I wouldn't mind trying to do a ride from coast to coast, I have no desire to try and get it done in 10 days.

Juggling Skills: The Flaming Torch

I went for a walk today and came across this guy juggling flaming torches.




I love walking Portland. You never know what interesting thing you will see.

The Basement Shop Is Open

My basement hidey hole is coming along pretty nicely. After a slow start I have finally got most of the major pieces in place.  The "L" shaped top is 1 1/2 inches thick, 3/4 inch plywood under 3/4 hardwood flooring left over from the work upstairs. 

The shelving was 10 bucks at a yard sale. I've had that for about 4 years now and Im glad it's finally on a wall.  The peg board was also 10$ at a different yard sale. I've only been sitting on that for a year or so. Some old white LED christmas lights provide under bench lighting while a fluorescent shop light (came with the house) is for the main illumination

I painted the concrete wall white, using that DryLok product. The manufacture claims it will hold back water up to 10psi. Ill believe that when I see it.  Regardless of those claims, the white color brightens it up nicely.  I dug out an old 3-disk CD changer for some tunes whilist I work and even managed to hook up an old 13-tv to a cable connection.  The dart board on the right side will provide a little fun and the woodstove (not pictured) will keep it pretty comfortable down there.  I even dragged over a recliner from my bachelor days into this general area.

All I am really missing is beer fridge. That I am SURE can be arranged.

First Post of the New Year

Greetings.  yep, its 2010 and we're off to another year.  What are my expectations for the new year? Well, at the homestead keeping engaged with the boy is the major priority; of course if I can get the rest of the trim on the house painted and gutters up all the way around Ill call it a good season. 

I definitely need to get several more trees down around the back yard, too much shade.  Plus, the oaks are a real pain to rake up after in the fall and the hemlocks just suck up space and sunlight. They've got to go.

I would love to get a new bike this year (here) but considering my VW golf has 272,000+ miles I think that a new (new to me) car is more likely.

At work I would like to really kick ass in honing project management skills and maybe learn some of the business operations. Also I need to submit my application for my state of Maine Geologist license.  I absolutely should have it by now.

Oh and my New Years resolution: MORE MUFFINS.

A Tale Of A Man Named Joe

It was a Tuesday afternoon the first time I met Joe.  The full white beard and hair with thin gold framed eyeglasses gave him a thin Santa Claus look that him appear older than his 61 years.  He was a helicopter pilot during Vietnam and the war scene had a profound affect.  At some point he had been declare ‘insane’ and had received full medical benefits.  Anyone who knew him though would just tell you he was interesting, unique or odd. 

He ran a small engine repair shop from his garage and lived next door in a 24 foot diameter geodesic home he built single handed.  The home was small but the craftsman ship and details were of a patient quality. I remember a stone fireplace centered in the house extending all the way to the peak of the dome, each of the shists, quartz and granite rocks were found nearby.  The bathroom on the second floor loft had a half moon cut in the saloon style door. 

 It just happened to be 4 pm when I arrived on that summer day and it was time for ‘Oinky’s’ beer. Oinky was Joes 400 pound pet pig. Oinky loved beer.  From the pen, we walked 20 paces over to the shop.  As I was overlooking a riding lawn mower, Joe was talking away, back to me, about the repairs from the work the bench.  I didn’t think much of it.

 When he turned to face me again he was sparking up a rather large joint with a plumbers torch.  He got the ‘j’ cherried within 4 puffs then proceeded to place it into some device that resembled a light bulb.

 I looked at him curiously:

‘It don’t waste smoke this way’ Joe says ‘do ya want some?’

‘No thanks Joe, it’s a long way home for me, but go right ahead.”

‘Oh don’t worry about that, I will!’  laughing loudly.

Shortly thereafter a woman with a snowblower arrives.  Joe walks out to talk with her, learn the problem and get her phone number to call her when the job is done.  While I was waiting, Russ, who occasionally works in the shop told me a story about how one day he came into the shop to find that Joe had just eaten a bag of mushrooms and was now standing in front of the mirror with hair clippers.  He had just finished shaving the whole left side only of his head and beard.  Russ told me he kept it like that until the next day when the ‘shrooms had finally worn off. 

I haven’t see Joe in quite a while.  Recently I learned that he decided it was time to plan an end. One day he went out back, shot Oinky, then himself.

R.I.P. Joe.

On the Road

I pulled on to I-95 at 5:30am driving north.  The oranges, purples, pinks and blues started to brighten in the pre-dawn sky as the sun rose.  Near Benton, in a field on the right, four deer were feeding in a cut hayfield.  Their breath visible in the cold morning air. 

After nearly 4 hours I arrived at the job site and the task of removing gasoline contaminated soil began.  At 4 pm the sky was dark again, the work day done and 930 yards of soil had been removed.

Based on the number of service vehicles and trucks in the parking lot, my hotel choice was a popular one among others working in the same area.  At 5:15pm I was unpacked and it was time for a shit, shower and shave before heading out into the cold dark to track down some dinner in this small eastern Maine border town.

After a burger and some beers I returned to my room to check email and send notes back to the office. The free wi-fi signal offered by the hotel was weak so I found my self sitting near the door with the laptop propped up on the sink.  The bleak florescent lighting and asylum white walls, all reflecting in the sink mirror, cast a depressing aurora. 

I quickly finished my work and moved into bed;  5:30am would come fast, lucky for me the bedside alarm clock was already set for the right wake up time and tomorrow was Friday.

Maine: We'll Let You Smoke Pot, Just Don't be Gay

One result from the election this past Tuesday is that 53% of Mainers are homophoes. I think a lot of things about this:  it sends a sad message, people are so disturbed by the gay sex part of the issue that they are overlooking the intent, marriage is the proof of commitment that two people love each other. The people who were for overturning the law that out legislatures passed to legalize gay marriage are frightened. Afraid of what? I’m not sure...that their kids will be taught about gay marriage in school, who the fuck is taught about marriage in school?; i certainly was not, were you?

And there is another point, why do we have Legislatures making and passing (or not) laws, if every time one goes through, it gets kicked back to the citizens for a re-vote? We could save a ton of money and time in this State if we axed the whole legislature system and turned every decision to the citizens for voting...*whatever*.

This whole post could become rantish, boring and get TLDR so Ill shorten this up and come at this from another angle. I think we missed a good opportunity to increase sections of the economy. The wedding planners, cake makers, function halls, suit rentals, wedding dresses....all that money spent in/on weddings will never be spent....travel accommodations, all of it. I'd venture to say millions per year in this state. Bye Bye. Then you have the divorce lawyers....they would likely have more work too.  I'm gonna guess this marriage issue will be back.

Now, the other vote issue that came up is the 59% of Mainers supported the medical marijuana proposal to expand availability...basically to create dispensaries.  Hummm...we'll let you smoke pot, but just don't be gay.   What a world.

October 27, 2009 Vblog

-Hi Ma

Video Blog October 20, 2009

Well, when your on a roll...keep rolling.