relative per individual.
Dad's been wanting to get to Knoxville for a week or so now so he can get some fish for his fish tank. I have been asking him if we can go pick up another beer kit, since the first batch has been all bottled and my fermenters are now empty and awaiting some flavored liquid.
When we head to Knoxville, we typically hit a couple other places as well. Woodcraft is a near definite everytime we head over. Not that we need something from there, but is always fun (for me, anyway) to look. This may be the one place, that I understand what window shopping is about.
So anyway, we head over that way. Northern Equipment (another neat store) is on the docket today as well. Dad wants to look at a wood stove for the new addition (a screened-in jacuzzi room). They didn't have what Dad was looking for, so we headed off to the homebrew supply store.
In the same shopping center where the brew supply store is, there is a neat little international delicatessen with all types of good meats and cheeses and jams, and ... and ... and .... Man! could spend *all* kinds of money in there! We picked up some kielbasa, cheese, mustard, and a couple different types of sausages.
From there, we head over next door to the homebrew store! I had seen an IPA kit on their website that looked like it was a great candidate to be my next brew. However, upon perusal of their shelves, they didn't have an IPA kit in stock. BUMMER!
So I show the man (whom turns out to be the co-owner, and all around cool guy) a recipe I got off the internet that is a clone recipe for Fat Tire (a New Belgium red ale which is pretty tasty). After looking over the ingredients he informs me it's an all-grain recipe and after hearing what equipment I have and my (lack of) brewing experience goes about discouraging me.
He tells me 'I am supposed to sell you whatever you want, but, while you *could* do it with the equipment you have, it would be a real headache to attempt' and suggests I stick with a kit for a few more times until I get comfortable with it.
He further told me 'that he is a better enthusiast than a businessman' and that he doesn't want me discouraged by selling me something to make the process more difficult and labor-intensive. I spent over an hour in the store and learned a LOT from the man. Good stuff!
Next stop was to go to Woodcraft. They had marblewood on sale and I have never worked it before and of course the flyer makes it look really pretty ... and being 25% off, I was curious. Additionally, I was in need of a Jacob's chuck (basically a drill arbor that fits into the tailstock of a lathe). We get there to find that neither were in stock (but they were unloading this week's shipment from the truck). After another hour, they still hadn't turned up either, but by then we wandered around long enough to see a couple other things that caught interest.
Dad was intrigued by a duplicator jig that attaches to the lathe bed and allows you to duplicate a piece you have turned. I want one ... but someday when I am better experienced and can put it to good use.
Dad sees it, thinks it's a neat toy, and tells the salesman to get one and put on the counter. I tried to talk him down to something that would be more useful in the immediate future ... and about 1/3 the cost.
Dad shows no interest in this, so I put it back, yet we are still waiting on them to finish unloading the new stock. While they are stocking, I keep poking around this "toy store" window shopping. Dad tells one of the salesman to get that duplicator for me.
I again, tell him 'I'm not ready for it' trying to talk him out of it -- into something cheaper and more (immediately) useful. I'm not sure if he bought it for me .... or bought it to boast about having in his garage (which he refuses to use).
So anyway, we leave there and head over to the place that was the only impetus for *him* going to Knoxville, the fish store. They have an awesome assortment of fresh and salt water fish and he gets five neon tetras (one of which would die once in the tank), three sword fish (a male and two female), two cherry barbs, and two golden gourramis as well as plants to stock his tank.
His 29 gallon tank now looks full of life and he is happy, so I guess that is all that matters!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Was watching "The Rifleman" today. I'm not big on TV, but it is a great show. I'm always glad when Dad puts that one on. Anyway, there was a scene that struck a chord ...
Lucas: "Looks like you're growing up!"
Mark: "How do you mean?"
Lucas: "Well, son, the older you get, the more questions that don't have answers"
Wow! how profound! and powerfully true!
Life is full of hard questions. We go through the motions day in, day out, but that is all it is. In reality we are only floundering.
It's kind of odd how you can look at another person's life through your eyes and think they got things figured out so much better than you do. In actuality, we all stumble through life.
The complexity of the stumbling may vary from person to person, but there is no denying that we all have more questions we have answers for. The biggest thing is, how much do those unanswered questions impact your life?
Lucas: "Looks like you're growing up!"
Mark: "How do you mean?"
Lucas: "Well, son, the older you get, the more questions that don't have answers"
Wow! how profound! and powerfully true!
Life is full of hard questions. We go through the motions day in, day out, but that is all it is. In reality we are only floundering.
It's kind of odd how you can look at another person's life through your eyes and think they got things figured out so much better than you do. In actuality, we all stumble through life.
The complexity of the stumbling may vary from person to person, but there is no denying that we all have more questions we have answers for. The biggest thing is, how much do those unanswered questions impact your life?
playin' in the snow
We had a white Christmas this year and the snow hasn't really stopped falling. While we haven't gotten hammered, we have gotten a significant accumulation relative to what we normally would. I went out this morning to take some pictures and out of curiosity took a tape measure and found we have had 5 1/2" over the past day and a half.
Shiner absolutely *loves* the snow. She runs through the snow wide open. It's almost as if she is trying to find a spot to land that isn't cold on her toe pads. The snow even gets ol' Dott dog a-hoppin'.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so this blog will be short, yet here are a few thousand words ...
Shiner absolutely *loves* the snow. She runs through the snow wide open. It's almost as if she is trying to find a spot to land that isn't cold on her toe pads. The snow even gets ol' Dott dog a-hoppin'.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so this blog will be short, yet here are a few thousand words ...
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Puttin' a cap on this batch ...
It has been well over a week now since I had racked my beer into the secondary fermenter and was now time to bottle it up. With all the reading and research I have done about brewing, I had dreaded this part. It looked to be the most labor-intensive and boring phase of the process.
I didn't really want to clean 48 bottles so I used the dishwasher on a heated rinse which was an option according to some of the stuff I had read. I then sterilized the caps, bottling bucket and valve, racking cane, hose, and bottling cane with iodophor.
I transferred the beer from the secondary carboy to the bottling bucket. It looked really clear as it flowed through the tube which made me quite happy. As it was filling the bottling bucket, I put my head down close enough to sneak a sniff of the aroma of the beer. Not only did it smell like beer, but it was rather pleasant. Cool!
I didn't get any of the trub from the bottom of the fermenter during transfer, so I must be starting to get the hang of this. ; ) Next up, was to take a gravity reading, and of course to sample the beer as well. YAAAYY!!
EXCEPT -- that I forgot to make up the priming sugar. DOH! You are supposed to make up the priming sugar (this helps carbonate your beer while it is in the bottle) and put that in the bottling bucket THEN add the beer. Oh well, just did that out of order, but should be okay so long as I mix it well.
The final gravity showed to be 1.014, which is what it was when I transferred to the secondary fermenter. Then I tasted the sample. Last time it seemed weak on flavor and punch. It was more of a pilsner style and this is supposed to be an ale.
This time, it sure had the character of an ale and the taste was a bit more complex. There were various flavors that danced on the tongue. I think this is going to be a good beer.
Once the priming sugar had been added and mixed into the beer, it was a matter of filling the bottles. I have heard of people's beer that had blown it's top, so to speak due to not filling the beer to the right level. It's my understanding that if it is too low, then the carbonation builds and basically blows the cap creating a nasty mess and wasting potentially good beer. Well, I definitely don't want this to happen!
The DVD that came with the kit we got, said to fill it right up to the very top and once you remove the bottling cane the level should be right -- roughly one inch down from the top of the bottle. Well, it didn't work that way. Once I removed the bottling cane, it was nearly two inches below the top, so I added and brought it up to about an inch from the top and capped it.
This process went fairly quickly and wasn't near the headache I had anticipated. Now it's just a matter of waiting 2-3 weeks to see if we have carbonated, good-tasting beer.
Now it's time to get started on the second batch. However, the local brew supplier doesn't open until Tuesday though.
I didn't really want to clean 48 bottles so I used the dishwasher on a heated rinse which was an option according to some of the stuff I had read. I then sterilized the caps, bottling bucket and valve, racking cane, hose, and bottling cane with iodophor.
I transferred the beer from the secondary carboy to the bottling bucket. It looked really clear as it flowed through the tube which made me quite happy. As it was filling the bottling bucket, I put my head down close enough to sneak a sniff of the aroma of the beer. Not only did it smell like beer, but it was rather pleasant. Cool!
I didn't get any of the trub from the bottom of the fermenter during transfer, so I must be starting to get the hang of this. ; ) Next up, was to take a gravity reading, and of course to sample the beer as well. YAAAYY!!
EXCEPT -- that I forgot to make up the priming sugar. DOH! You are supposed to make up the priming sugar (this helps carbonate your beer while it is in the bottle) and put that in the bottling bucket THEN add the beer. Oh well, just did that out of order, but should be okay so long as I mix it well.
The final gravity showed to be 1.014, which is what it was when I transferred to the secondary fermenter. Then I tasted the sample. Last time it seemed weak on flavor and punch. It was more of a pilsner style and this is supposed to be an ale.
This time, it sure had the character of an ale and the taste was a bit more complex. There were various flavors that danced on the tongue. I think this is going to be a good beer.
Once the priming sugar had been added and mixed into the beer, it was a matter of filling the bottles. I have heard of people's beer that had blown it's top, so to speak due to not filling the beer to the right level. It's my understanding that if it is too low, then the carbonation builds and basically blows the cap creating a nasty mess and wasting potentially good beer. Well, I definitely don't want this to happen!
The DVD that came with the kit we got, said to fill it right up to the very top and once you remove the bottling cane the level should be right -- roughly one inch down from the top of the bottle. Well, it didn't work that way. Once I removed the bottling cane, it was nearly two inches below the top, so I added and brought it up to about an inch from the top and capped it.
This process went fairly quickly and wasn't near the headache I had anticipated. Now it's just a matter of waiting 2-3 weeks to see if we have carbonated, good-tasting beer.
Now it's time to get started on the second batch. However, the local brew supplier doesn't open until Tuesday though.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
descention ....
Well here we are on the dawn of yet another Christmas, and here I am again, just not feeling it. I think this is the third time out of the last five, that it comes down to Christmas day and I am just not in the spirit of it.
I know, respect, and appreciate the real 'reason for the season', yet I just am not into it once again. I don't know why it is, just -that- it is.
It is neat to watch Melissa. She is a true kid -- in a good way. She is one of those rare adults that never lost the magic. You know -- as a child you can easily believe things that as an adult you have been "trained" not to or broken and can no longer accept.
I am not saying she is simple-minded (although, in a way, she is), but she has been able to embrace and hold on to that child-like fun side that most grown-ups lose. God bless her for that! for I am jealous!
Anyway, it's fun to watch her around this time of year. She is, and has been, the biggest kid in the house. *SHE* is the first one up Christmas day, not the kids. *SHE* is the one most wanting to open up the presents. It's funny over the years, the kids have picked up on this and we make it a game to see how long we can stretch it before opening presents just to watch her squirm (I'm not exaggerating).
Yet, I cannot get into it -- or at least not lately. It is the total opposite of the way my soulmate approaches things. I wish this was not the case.
I'm not alone here, though. I've heard a bunch of folks talk about how they are "not feeling it". Christmas used to be such a special time.
It was a time when you would not just smile and nod at a complete stranger, but wish them a "Merry Christmas" as you passed one another in the street. It used to be a time where one would do something a little 'extra' because it was Christmas 'season'.
It used to be a special time of year. Now it's a rush to "get this done" type of thing.
Dad and I went to WallyWorld the other day to get groceries (he likes going there because it's one-stop shopping -- get everything from hardware to groceries). Most of the folks there were Christmas shopping, yet only a few even engaged in eye contact, let alone speech -- and, again, most of these folks were likely Christmas shopping.
What happened? I am not much of a socialist, but there is a point as Karl Marx pointed out that Capitalism really robs the 'common man'. I think that has happened in our culture and, apparently, there is no better barometer than Christmas time itself.
We have gotten so caught up in having to buy this for someone and that for another and this and that for him, her, them, and everyone else ... that it has us running around as if this was another "must-do" part of our lives rather than a "let's do".
There was a time when people spread around more Christmas cheer and goodwill than they did presents. Its been so drastic a change that I have noticed it in *my* lifetime.
I don't know that my "not feeling it" with respect to Christmas is tied into this, but it certainly is something I have noticed and really hate to see. I think my problems stem from much deeper psychological issues that I still need to work out, but sadly, there is a -part- of me that can't help but think if I had money to go 'play' and buy presents for people, would that help me "feel it"? It has worked out that way in the past.
It's truly sad, that we have lost our way. We now go through Christmas getting things for people because we feel we have to. It's rare anymore about what the day was set up to observe.
Jesus didn't demand gifts, yet three kings set out on a journey to show their appreciation for His coming. Ever since it seems to have become a slippery downhill slope.
I wish I still held onto that childlike magic!
I know, respect, and appreciate the real 'reason for the season', yet I just am not into it once again.
It is neat to watch Melissa. She is a true kid -- in a good way. She is one of those rare adults that never lost the magic. You know -- as a child you can easily believe things that as an adult you have been "trained" not to or broken and can no longer accept.
I am not saying she is simple-minded (although, in a way, she is), but she has been able to embrace and hold on to that child-like fun side that most grown-ups lose. God bless her for that! for I am jealous!
Anyway, it's fun to watch her around this time of year. She is, and has been, the biggest kid in the house. *SHE* is the first one up Christmas day, not the kids. *SHE* is the one most wanting to open up the presents. It's funny over the years, the kids have picked up on this and we make it a game to see how long we can stretch it before opening presents just to watch her squirm (I'm not exaggerating).
Yet, I cannot get into it -- or at least not lately. It is the total opposite of the way my soulmate approaches things. I wish this was not the case.
I'm not alone here, though. I've heard a bunch of folks talk about how they are "not feeling it". Christmas used to be such a special time.
It was a time when you would not just smile and nod at a complete stranger, but wish them a "Merry Christmas" as you passed one another in the street. It used to be a time where one would do something a little 'extra' because it was Christmas 'season'.
It used to be a special time of year. Now it's a rush to "get this done" type of thing.
Dad and I went to WallyWorld the other day to get groceries (he likes going there because it's one-stop shopping -- get everything from hardware to groceries). Most of the folks there were Christmas shopping, yet only a few even engaged in eye contact, let alone speech -- and, again, most of these folks were likely Christmas shopping.
What happened? I am not much of a socialist, but there is a point as Karl Marx pointed out that Capitalism really robs the 'common man'. I think that has happened in our culture and, apparently, there is no better barometer than Christmas time itself.
We have gotten so caught up in having to buy this for someone and that for another and this and that for him, her, them, and everyone else ... that it has us running around as if this was another "must-do" part of our lives rather than a "let's do".
There was a time when people spread around more Christmas cheer and goodwill than they did presents. Its been so drastic a change that I have noticed it in *my* lifetime.
I don't know that my "not feeling it" with respect to Christmas is tied into this, but it certainly is something I have noticed and really hate to see. I think my problems stem from much deeper psychological issues that I still need to work out, but sadly, there is a -part- of me that can't help but think if I had money to go 'play' and buy presents for people, would that help me "feel it"? It has worked out that way in the past.
It's truly sad, that we have lost our way. We now go through Christmas getting things for people because we feel we have to. It's rare anymore about what the day was set up to observe.
Jesus didn't demand gifts, yet three kings set out on a journey to show their appreciation for His coming. Ever since it seems to have become a slippery downhill slope.
I wish I still held onto that childlike magic!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
all nestled in their "beds"
The new building has sat empty for nearly a week now allowing it to settle since the ground was so wet when initially set up. So, I checked the building for level to see if it would need to be re-plumbed and it was right where it needed to be. Super!
I figured on loading the Sabre next. This is the only one in my stable that runs. I put the key in and hit the starter button and it wouldn't go. I kept at it but the battery started draining. Dammit!
So the *job* of getting bikes moved into the shed commenced. I enlisted Isaac's help since some of them have not been moved in a *while* and only one of them actually runs right now -- or so I thought.
I looked at the spacing and tried to figure out how I was going to place them (four in all) in there and still leave enough room for the hacked Goldwing.
We set Dad's wheelchair ramp up in the doorway (since the ground isn't leveled up to the entry yet) to make the job easier. The first bike in was Pearl, my baby bandit. I straddled the bike and instantly thought 'Man! I miss riding this bike'.
I tried backing it up from where it has been in the garage since February, only to find that it wasn't budging. Okay check neutral -- shift it down into first and lift it back up to set into neutral. Grunt, pull, grunt, pull -- no go! Isaac starts yanking with me and it starts moving, sort of.
The front wheel is locked. I put it up on the center stand and sprayed some lube around the axle and start working it. It took a few minutes and a lot more grunting, but it finally freed up. We rolled it into place and went after the next one.
Bah! okay, let's get the Magna which has been setting outside under a tarp. I dreaded this because last time I attempted to move it both wheels were not moving. However, it was due to brakes, not the wheels. I had forgotten, and was pleasantly surprised, to see that I had removed the brakes from the discs. Sweet! it nicely rolled into place.
Went back to the Sabre and tried it again. It is now a little bit warmer outside, so maybe ... hit the starter and it started, then immediately died. I kept at it and it finally got up enough idle to stay running. Whew! Good ol' Jitterbug! one less to push! Made some VROOM VROOM noises and rode it into place.
Next we got the Interceptor to put it in it's place. This one had a flat rear tire, so we lug it back to where the airline hose would reach, air it up and roll it into the shed ... almost. We lost momentum halfway up the ramp. Instead of rolling it back uphill, I have Isaac get his sister so she can give us the extra 'ooomph!' needed to crest the ramp.
Now all the bikes are nestled in their new "beds". Well, except for the 'wing which will have to wait until we level up the ground to make a ramp as the wheelchair ramp wasn't wide enough for the land yacht.
Here is what it looks like with a spot reserved for the 'wing ....
I gathered up the various bike parts and the two extra compressors of Dad's and move them all over to the shed and WOOO HOOOO! there is room in the garage again. Color me happy!
So much so that I celebrated by turning a pieced of wood. It was so great to get back in the garage again.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
shoot the moon ...
or in this case the damned clouds that once again obscured viewing a celestial event *this* year!!!
Normally, I like clouds. I like to marvel at the wondrous Rorsharckian-ink blot shapes that form against the grey or blue background. It is but another beauty of Nature.
However, this is the third time this year I have been prevented from witnessing a celestial event. This time it was the last lunar eclipse that we will see in North America until 2012. I just wanted to go out and play with the camera and try to capture a "red" moon.
The clouds started rolling in about 7:00. We had watched the news earlier in the day and their hour-by-hour forecast indicated we were going to be socked in.
I refused to believe it and was hopeful that maybe a stray wind(s) or some other force(s) would diverge the system enough to allow us a window to see it. Yeah, I'm a fool, but oh well.
I went out at 1:00 about a half hour before the edge of the Earth's shadow was supposed to start "blocking" the Moon. A quick look only confirmed that the weather prognosticators were correct and my hopes for stray winds or other outside help were futile.
There was a faint glimmer of where the moon's location was beyond the clouds, and that was it. The sky was completely covered in clouds and I opted to go to bed out of frustration because I no longer had hope that it would clear up to offer me so much as a glimpse. All I wanted was a few pictures.
I guess that gives me time to hone my photography "skills" and maybe by 2012 I will be able to snap a decent shot of it ... that is, if the damned clouds don't interfere ... AGAIN!
Normally, I like clouds. I like to marvel at the wondrous Rorsharckian-ink blot shapes that form against the grey or blue background. It is but another beauty of Nature.
However, this is the third time this year I have been prevented from witnessing a celestial event. This time it was the last lunar eclipse that we will see in North America until 2012. I just wanted to go out and play with the camera and try to capture a "red" moon.
The clouds started rolling in about 7:00. We had watched the news earlier in the day and their hour-by-hour forecast indicated we were going to be socked in.
I refused to believe it and was hopeful that maybe a stray wind(s) or some other force(s) would diverge the system enough to allow us a window to see it. Yeah, I'm a fool, but oh well.
I went out at 1:00 about a half hour before the edge of the Earth's shadow was supposed to start "blocking" the Moon. A quick look only confirmed that the weather prognosticators were correct and my hopes for stray winds or other outside help were futile.
There was a faint glimmer of where the moon's location was beyond the clouds, and that was it. The sky was completely covered in clouds and I opted to go to bed out of frustration because I no longer had hope that it would clear up to offer me so much as a glimpse. All I wanted was a few pictures.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
steadfastly stupid ....
what do you get when a ram runs full steam into a brick wall?
you get my dad and i being stupidly stubborn and neither giving in!
you get my dad and i being stupidly stubborn and neither giving in!
Friday, December 17, 2010
spacing out ...
Woo Hooo! The new building arrived today. This is the place that will house the bikes and (hopefully) free up some room in the garage.
Here it is in its new home ....
It is a 12' X 16' shed. This will easily house my 3 Honda V4s, the Bandit, and Dad's hacked Goldwing. I can't wait to get them in there so I can actually move around a little in the garage when it comes time to do some work out there.
I would've already had them in there, but with all the snow, ice, and rain we have gotten this week the ground is soft. I mean *really* soft! I will need to wait until the ground settles before putting any weight in there.
It was so soft [yeesh there's always one, isn't there?], that the guy who dropped it off had a tough time getting it unloaded as there was only one load point and the weight of the shed just pushed the stacked blocks into the ground. He finally had to set it up so that there were three instead of a single load bearing stack so that he could remove it from the trailer without the shed sinking into the ground.
Then it was just a matter of creating more load supports. Jack it up, place blocks, lower, check level, repeat (sounds like showering instructions).
There are 11 places under it that are supported by block and the front left corner is supported directly by the ground. It took well over an hour to get it set due to the soft ground and the fact the grade had a definite slope to it, as can be seen.
When grading it, I did the best I could but ran out of material to build up the back corner. We brought in 10 ton of fill dirt and 10 ton of gravel, but as you can see the back side was still low. Part of that was due to lack of material, but also due to the fact that I couldn't get the tractor's box blade to pull the dirt as far as I wanted due to the treeline being in the way.
Hopefully it will settle in the next few days and I can free up some space in the garage.
Here it is in its new home ....
It is a 12' X 16' shed. This will easily house my 3 Honda V4s, the Bandit, and Dad's hacked Goldwing. I can't wait to get them in there so I can actually move around a little in the garage when it comes time to do some work out there.
I would've already had them in there, but with all the snow, ice, and rain we have gotten this week the ground is soft. I mean *really* soft! I will need to wait until the ground settles before putting any weight in there.
It was so soft
Then it was just a matter of creating more load supports. Jack it up, place blocks, lower, check level, repeat (sounds like showering instructions).
There are 11 places under it that are supported by block and the front left corner is supported directly by the ground. It took well over an hour to get it set due to the soft ground and the fact the grade had a definite slope to it, as can be seen.
When grading it, I did the best I could but ran out of material to build up the back corner. We brought in 10 ton of fill dirt and 10 ton of gravel, but as you can see the back side was still low. Part of that was due to lack of material, but also due to the fact that I couldn't get the tractor's box blade to pull the dirt as far as I wanted due to the treeline being in the way.
Hopefully it will settle in the next few days and I can free up some space in the garage.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
right on (t)RACK
Earlier this week I was in a bit of a panic as I thought my fermentation had stalled. It just quit bubbling, after a mere four days. I have seen some reports on some brews that state their beer fermented for over a week and on some styles even up to two weeks.
When mine quit at four days I got concerned that I didn't pitch enough yeast. Or that a temperature fluctuation flucked up my process. Or ... or .... or ..... Being new at this, I just don't know what to expect so when things happen contrary to what I've read, my mind starts running wild with all kind of scenarios.
It's been dormant for four days now, so I decided to rack (transfer the liquid) it into a secondary fermenter. This process basically extracts all the "beer" (it's still not yet beer) from the sediment (spent yeast and byproducts) which remains in the bottom of the primary fermenter. This allows the beer to become more "clear" and lessens the chance of off-flavors tarnishing the beer.
I took a gravity reading which tells the basic alcohol content if you take an original reading, which I forgot to (need both to go into a formula to figure out the ABV content), and also gives you an idea if fermenting is indeed (mostly) done. My reading came in at 1.014 and the kit says it should settle at 1.010 to 1.015 -- sweet!
After finishing the racking and gravity test, came the fun part. I got to taste it.
There was some carbonation present, so I was pleased. However, the beer didn't have as prominent a flavorful taste as I had hoped. It wasn't bad, there were some undertones, but they were very "hidden". When I added the coffee beans and roasted pecans, I expected it to be more evident than my initial test showed.
Also the character of the beer was a bit off. It is supposed to be a brown ale, but it tasted more like a pilsner.
Maybe it will become more prominent as it ages some more. Time will tell.
Even though, it wasn't as tasty as I had hoped, it *was* carbonated, and it didn't have any overwhelming off-flavors that many folks on the brew boards say can occur with bad procedure. So overall, I am pretty satisfied (so far) with my first attempt. At least I didn't immediately have the urge to spit it out upon it hitting my tongue. ; )
When mine quit at four days I got concerned that I didn't pitch enough yeast. Or that a temperature fluctuation flucked up my process. Or ... or .... or ..... Being new at this, I just don't know what to expect so when things happen contrary to what I've read, my mind starts running wild with all kind of scenarios.
It's been dormant for four days now, so I decided to rack (transfer the liquid) it into a secondary fermenter. This process basically extracts all the "beer" (it's still not yet beer) from the sediment (spent yeast and byproducts) which remains in the bottom of the primary fermenter. This allows the beer to become more "clear" and lessens the chance of off-flavors tarnishing the beer.
I took a gravity reading which tells the basic alcohol content if you take an original reading, which I forgot to (need both to go into a formula to figure out the ABV content), and also gives you an idea if fermenting is indeed (mostly) done. My reading came in at 1.014 and the kit says it should settle at 1.010 to 1.015 -- sweet!
After finishing the racking and gravity test, came the fun part. I got to taste it.
There was some carbonation present, so I was pleased. However, the beer didn't have as prominent a flavorful taste as I had hoped. It wasn't bad, there were some undertones, but they were very "hidden". When I added the coffee beans and roasted pecans, I expected it to be more evident than my initial test showed.
Also the character of the beer was a bit off. It is supposed to be a brown ale, but it tasted more like a pilsner.
Maybe it will become more prominent as it ages some more. Time will tell.
Even though, it wasn't as tasty as I had hoped, it *was* carbonated, and it didn't have any overwhelming off-flavors that many folks on the brew boards say can occur with bad procedure. So overall, I am pretty satisfied (so far) with my first attempt. At least I didn't immediately have the urge to spit it out upon it hitting my tongue. ; )
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
obscured by clouds ...
AGAIN! When it was time for the annual Perseid meteor shower, I went outside to watch some meteorites streak across the black sky. However, the peak period for these streaking "stars" was marred by an overabundance of clouds blocking any chance of seeing them.
Last night was the peak time for the (also) annual Geminids. This year the Geminids were supposed to be very active on the order of nearly 120 an hour possible at peak. I was looking forward to this one and would've endured the low-teen temperatures to get a glimpse of the light trails dancing across the sky. Yet, once again, clouds (snow clouds this time) prevented any chance of enjoying the show. The two biggest meteor showers of the year and both were hidden.
Ah well, there is always next year, I suppose.
Last night was the peak time for the (also) annual Geminids. This year the Geminids were supposed to be very active on the order of nearly 120 an hour possible at peak. I was looking forward to this one and would've endured the low-teen temperatures to get a glimpse of the light trails dancing across the sky. Yet, once again, clouds (snow clouds this time) prevented any chance of enjoying the show.
Ah well, there is always next year, I suppose.
Monday, December 13, 2010
without belief ... we have nothing
... that was a line from the movie I seen earlier today. That's right *I* went to the movies.
I *hate* going to the theater. Not so much the prices (which are outrageous) but the rudeness of those around you as you try to enjoy a movie you just paid "way too much" for.
I have always had a fancy for fantasy films. I don't know why, but for whatever reason, I still haven't outgrown it. ;j
Going to see ths was bittersweet, since her and I never (okay hardly ever) get to have just "us" time, but it was the first time this series would be viewed when all four of us were not present. Granted, when Dad took his stroke, we all knew our lives had changed, but had no idea to the extent they had. It's sobering sometimes!
The movie? the latest installment of the Narnia series ("Voyage of the Dawn Treader") by C.S. Lewis. Megan is an avid reader and a *big* fan of C.S. Lewis' novels. (not at all saying I am *not* a fan, just haven't read it, since I am not much of a reader)
Soooo .. when her and I saw the advertisement for the preview of this movie, I looked at her with an anxious smile and said "Let's go to that" and she, without hesitation, said "Yes, let's". So it was a date ... SWEET!
As mentioned, I have never been much for seeing a movie at a theater, especially as much as they charge to do so anymore. This was even more escalated when Megan found out that the 3-D version of the movie cost $3 more than the 2-D version.
.
WTF?!?! There never used to be any difference between watching 2-D and 3-D flicks. sunuva .........
Well, neither Megan nor I are so caught up in effects to merit the extra $3 (bless her heart) to watch the technology that was already (fuggin') filmed! So we both decide the 2-D version is good enough since we are both in it for the story and plot ... not so much the special effects (again, bless her heart!)
We get to the theater about 10 minutes prior to filming to see .. commercials! Really? I see enough advertisements on *TV* that I try to IGNORE!! Commericals? Really? yeesh!
Anyway, the movie finally starts and I am not sure if I enjoyed the movie more .... or Megan's reactions to the movie. I could tell when moments of the movie did not follow the C.S. Lewis' intent; I could tell when all of a sudden Megan was scared, enthused, or shocked by a scene; it was almost as fun to watch her react. Don't get me wrong ... the movie was good, but it was priceless to watch Megan.
Again, it was bittersweet, since it was just her and I watching it, not all four of us! But then again, as previously mentioned, her and I get few "dates" .... the last occurred so long ago neither of us could recall the date, but knew what we had done together. However, as sweet as it was, it was still awkward since, Melissa and Isaac had not joined us.
The movie was great, and if you had watched the previous two, the third didn't disappoint, and that is all I am going to say in hopes that I don't want to spoil it for those that would be wanting to see it. I will say, though, there was one scene that reminded me of the silliness of Monty Python's "The Holy Grail" scene where the knights that say "ni" asked for a "shrubbery" (it is the monopods scene for those familiar with the novels).
Once the movie ended, the directors/producers/ whomever incorporated the actual artwork of C.S. Lewis' works in the credits. Of all the 12 people that were in attendance, Megan and I were the last to leave, as we enjoyed every bit of the artwork offered.
We closed our "date", with some sundaes at Sonic. Ordinarily, that would be no big deal, but this time, it was around 25*F so I imagine we tripped out the people working there when we ordered. LOL
Sadly, Megan had to head back to the dorms shortly after getting home as the winter storm coming had intimidated her, and she had finals in the morning. Good luck Kiddo .... and thanks for a good (albeit rare) afternoon date! ;j
I *hate* going to the theater. Not so much the prices (which are outrageous) but the rudeness of those around you as you try to enjoy a movie you just paid "way too much" for.
I have always had a fancy for fantasy films. I don't know why, but for whatever reason, I still haven't outgrown it. ;j
Going to see ths was bittersweet, since her and I never (okay hardly ever) get to have just "us" time, but it was the first time this series would be viewed when all four of us were not present. Granted, when Dad took his stroke, we all knew our lives had changed, but had no idea to the extent they had. It's sobering sometimes!
The movie? the latest installment of the Narnia series ("Voyage of the Dawn Treader") by C.S. Lewis. Megan is an avid reader and a *big* fan of C.S. Lewis' novels. (not at all saying I am *not* a fan, just haven't read it, since I am not much of a reader)
Soooo .. when her and I saw the advertisement for the preview of this movie, I looked at her with an anxious smile and said "Let's go to that" and she, without hesitation, said "Yes, let's". So it was a date ... SWEET!
As mentioned, I have never been much for seeing a movie at a theater, especially as much as they charge to do so anymore. This was even more escalated when Megan found out that the 3-D version of the movie cost $3 more than the 2-D version.
.
WTF?!?! There never used to be any difference between watching 2-D and 3-D flicks. sunuva .........
Well, neither Megan nor I are so caught up in effects to merit the extra $3 (bless her heart) to watch the technology that was already (fuggin') filmed! So we both decide the 2-D version is good enough since we are both in it for the story and plot ... not so much the special effects (again, bless her heart!)
We get to the theater about 10 minutes prior to filming to see .. commercials! Really? I see enough advertisements on *TV* that I try to IGNORE!! Commericals? Really? yeesh!
Anyway, the movie finally starts and I am not sure if I enjoyed the movie more .... or Megan's reactions to the movie. I could tell when moments of the movie did not follow the C.S. Lewis' intent; I could tell when all of a sudden Megan was scared, enthused, or shocked by a scene; it was almost as fun to watch her react. Don't get me wrong ... the movie was good, but it was priceless to watch Megan.
Again, it was bittersweet, since it was just her and I watching it, not all four of us! But then again, as previously mentioned, her and I get few "dates" .... the last occurred so long ago neither of us could recall the date, but knew what we had done together. However, as sweet as it was, it was still awkward since, Melissa and Isaac had not joined us.
The movie was great, and if you had watched the previous two, the third didn't disappoint, and that is all I am going to say in hopes that I don't want to spoil it for those that would be wanting to see it. I will say, though, there was one scene that reminded me of the silliness of Monty Python's "The Holy Grail" scene where the knights that say "ni" asked for a "shrubbery" (it is the monopods scene for those familiar with the novels).
Once the movie ended, the directors/producers/ whomever incorporated the actual artwork of C.S. Lewis' works in the credits. Of all the 12 people that were in attendance, Megan and I were the last to leave, as we enjoyed every bit of the artwork offered.
We closed our "date", with some sundaes at Sonic. Ordinarily, that would be no big deal, but this time, it was around 25*F so I imagine we tripped out the people working there when we ordered. LOL
Sadly, Megan had to head back to the dorms shortly after getting home as the winter storm coming had intimidated her, and she had finals in the morning. Good luck Kiddo .... and thanks for a good (albeit rare) afternoon date! ;j
Saturday, December 11, 2010
if at first you don't succeed?
Tonight I made my first attempt at brewing some beer. It was from a Brewer's Best English Brown Ale kit. I have read and read and read until I was sick of reading just trying to get the process of brewing engrained (no pun intended) in my head, so that when the time came to do it, I could do it without having to think about it.
I had a perfectly good kit, that if I followed directions, should produce a good beer. But me, being me, that wasn't good enough. This is my first run, yet I had to play with it. I decided I wanted a nut brown, but was unable to find a nut brown kit at the homebrew supplier.
I decided to add some roasted pecans to get a nutty flavor and some crushed chocolate-flavored coffee beans (to add to the complexity of flavors) to the steeping bag. This could either be really good or introduce oils and tannins that will not work with the beer. We'll find out in a month or so.
Out of all the reading I've done, if there is *one* thing I've learned, it is clean, clean, clean. Then, when you think you have cleaned everything, clean some more. I spent an hour and a half cleaning and sanitizing, not just the equipment but countertops, stove top, and the deep freeze, next to the oven.
Upon finishing the sanitizing process, I put 2 1/2 gallons water (as per directions) in my brewpot and brought it up to 160* F. I put all my grains, coffee beans, and nuts in the steeping bag and boiled for 20 minutes.
About 10 minutes into the process, I already am questioning this decision. The smell of coffee is ... overwhelming. Okay, I'm worried that I just brewed a $30 batch of carbonated coffee.
Then I removed the bag and added the dry malt extract, the liquid malt extract (which was thicker than molasses), and the first round of hops, called the bittering hops. This needed to boil for 45 minutes. Luckily, the coffee smell had subsided by now, and some confidence is coming back.
The second thing I have taken from my reading is that you really want to avoid boilover. I stood at the oven and watched to make sure it didn't.
Stir, Stir, Stir, Stir. Monotonous! yet, it's certainly a labor of love.
After the 45 minutes was up, things would happen much quicker. The next round of hops, called the flavoring hops, were added and boiled for 10 minutes. Then the last round of hops, called the aroma hops, were added and would boil for another 5 minutes.
Then, you remove the wort (that's what the beer is called at this point) and put it in an ice bath to bring the temperature down to the temperature of the yeast that will be used to ferment it. I have read this typically can take about an hour without a wort chiller (which I don't yet have).
I filled a plastic tub with ice, put the brewpot in it, and kept stirring the wort. I figured if I took it outside it would cool quicker since it was about 30* outside, so that is what I did.
Within 20 minutes (TWENTY!) it had cooled close to what the yeast require. I called a buddy of mine whom has brewed before and asked him if I had done something wrong or something right. He seemed to think I was okay.
I spent about 30 minutes trying to catch up and chat with him, all the while my wort is getting cooler and cooler in that ice bath. When I got off the phone I checked the temperature again, only to find that it was down to 60*F. Uh-oh! I needed it to be 70*. DOH!
I brought it back inside and let it come up to room temperature. This took .... forever! I actually passed out on the couch waiting.
Upon awakening, however, the wort was room temperature and I was able to "rack" the beer into the carboy that it would ferment in. Once the beer was added, I added the yeast and enough water to bring it to 5 gallons and shook the hell out of it. All that remained now, was to put on the airlock and hope it ferments over the next couple weeks.
Now, it's just wait, wait, wait, and hope, hope, hope that I didn't fuck it up! That's what I am doing.
I had a perfectly good kit, that if I followed directions, should produce a good beer. But me, being me, that wasn't good enough. This is my first run, yet I had to play with it. I decided I wanted a nut brown, but was unable to find a nut brown kit at the homebrew supplier.
I decided to add some roasted pecans to get a nutty flavor and some crushed chocolate-flavored coffee beans (to add to the complexity of flavors) to the steeping bag. This could either be really good or introduce oils and tannins that will not work with the beer. We'll find out in a month or so.
Out of all the reading I've done, if there is *one* thing I've learned, it is clean, clean, clean. Then, when you think you have cleaned everything, clean some more. I spent an hour and a half cleaning and sanitizing, not just the equipment but countertops, stove top, and the deep freeze, next to the oven.
Upon finishing the sanitizing process, I put 2 1/2 gallons water (as per directions) in my brewpot and brought it up to 160* F. I put all my grains, coffee beans, and nuts in the steeping bag and boiled for 20 minutes.
About 10 minutes into the process, I already am questioning this decision. The smell of coffee is ... overwhelming. Okay, I'm worried that I just brewed a $30 batch of carbonated coffee.
Then I removed the bag and added the dry malt extract, the liquid malt extract (which was thicker than molasses), and the first round of hops, called the bittering hops. This needed to boil for 45 minutes. Luckily, the coffee smell had subsided by now, and some confidence is coming back.
The second thing I have taken from my reading is that you really want to avoid boilover. I stood at the oven and watched to make sure it didn't.
Stir, Stir, Stir, Stir. Monotonous! yet, it's certainly a labor of love.
After the 45 minutes was up, things would happen much quicker. The next round of hops, called the flavoring hops, were added and boiled for 10 minutes. Then the last round of hops, called the aroma hops, were added and would boil for another 5 minutes.
Then, you remove the wort (that's what the beer is called at this point) and put it in an ice bath to bring the temperature down to the temperature of the yeast that will be used to ferment it. I have read this typically can take about an hour without a wort chiller (which I don't yet have).
I filled a plastic tub with ice, put the brewpot in it, and kept stirring the wort. I figured if I took it outside it would cool quicker since it was about 30* outside, so that is what I did.
Within 20 minutes (TWENTY!) it had cooled close to what the yeast require. I called a buddy of mine whom has brewed before and asked him if I had done something wrong or something right. He seemed to think I was okay.
I spent about 30 minutes trying to catch up and chat with him, all the while my wort is getting cooler and cooler in that ice bath. When I got off the phone I checked the temperature again, only to find that it was down to 60*F. Uh-oh! I needed it to be 70*. DOH!
I brought it back inside and let it come up to room temperature. This took .... forever! I actually passed out on the couch waiting.
Upon awakening, however, the wort was room temperature and I was able to "rack" the beer into the carboy that it would ferment in. Once the beer was added, I added the yeast and enough water to bring it to 5 gallons and shook the hell out of it. All that remained now, was to put on the airlock and hope it ferments over the next couple weeks.
Now, it's just wait, wait, wait, and hope, hope, hope that I didn't fuck it up! That's what I am doing.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
the waiting is the hardest part ....
Headed over to Knoxville today to get the rest of what I needed for my first attempt at brewing. I didn't need much, but had no bottles, no ingredients, nor sanitizer. Yes, you can use bleach, but the sanitizer is tasteless and isn't toxic and you needn't worry as much about rinsing the equipment.
Dad is trying to sell his Mustang and is interested in trading it off for another old classic. While perusing Craigslist the other day I noticed a 66 Galaxie convertible. He was interested and it was just a half hour further, so we included that on the agenda as well as a trip to Sam's Club to further justify the trip over and back.
Well, the Galaxie wasn't what Dad was looking for, so we loaded back up and headed over to the homebrew supply store to pick up the last of what I needed to brew with. Upon pulling into the parking lot, Melissa and I spied an International specialty store. What caught my attention (and Dad's) was the word "sausages" painted on the window.
We went in and were pleasantly surprised at the selection of meats and cheeses, jams, and other condiments available. We left with some Polish cheese (cannot remember the name nor will I attempt to pronounce it), Knockwurst, Kielbasa, and Bratwurst, as well as some mustard, a couple of teas, and jam.
From there we went into the brew supply store. We got the stuff needed to get me up and brewing. The brewkit we got was a European brown ale. Sweet! I am soo stoked. I cannot wait to get home and get started.
The last stop was Sam's and we headed that way, but were again sidetracked when Dad noticed this store that sells those "as seen on TV" items. He had seen a couple things he wanted to pick up as Christmas gifts so we stopped there. He got everything he was wanting and to be further sidetracked in the same plaza/strip mall, was an "Oak Factory" furniture store.
He wanted to check that out, too. It was on the opposite end of the strip mall, and as we were headed there, there was a neon sign that said "Fat Tire" so I curiously checked in the window and saw quite the selection of beers. We wheel in there and were able to make a variety six for me and one for him as well. I got quite a few beers I have never tried and cannot wait until tomorrow to try them (as they were not cold).
Oddly, when we got to the Oak Factory, it had since closed. Alright, load up get to Sam's and get on home. Upon arriving home, I asked Isaac if we got a package delivered today. When I ordered my brewkit last week, I ordered a 5 gallon brewpot at the same time. For whatever reason it still hadn't arrived.
So now that I have everything (else) that I need, i asked Isaac if we had that delivery ... "Nope, no one came by today" GAAAAHHHHH!!!! sooo aggravated! I was psyched to start brewing, but now have to wait.
I so wanted to be sippin' on some homebrew for New Year's Eve, but it isn't looking likely.
Dad is trying to sell his Mustang and is interested in trading it off for another old classic. While perusing Craigslist the other day I noticed a 66 Galaxie convertible. He was interested and it was just a half hour further, so we included that on the agenda as well as a trip to Sam's Club to further justify the trip over and back.
Well, the Galaxie wasn't what Dad was looking for, so we loaded back up and headed over to the homebrew supply store to pick up the last of what I needed to brew with. Upon pulling into the parking lot, Melissa and I spied an International specialty store. What caught my attention (and Dad's) was the word "sausages" painted on the window.
We went in and were pleasantly surprised at the selection of meats and cheeses, jams, and other condiments available. We left with some Polish cheese (cannot remember the name nor will I attempt to pronounce it), Knockwurst, Kielbasa, and Bratwurst, as well as some mustard, a couple of teas, and jam.
From there we went into the brew supply store. We got the stuff needed to get me up and brewing. The brewkit we got was a European brown ale. Sweet! I am soo stoked. I cannot wait to get home and get started.
The last stop was Sam's and we headed that way, but were again sidetracked when Dad noticed this store that sells those "as seen on TV" items. He had seen a couple things he wanted to pick up as Christmas gifts so we stopped there. He got everything he was wanting and to be further sidetracked in the same plaza/strip mall, was an "Oak Factory" furniture store.
He wanted to check that out, too. It was on the opposite end of the strip mall, and as we were headed there, there was a neon sign that said "Fat Tire" so I curiously checked in the window and saw quite the selection of beers. We wheel in there and were able to make a variety six for me and one for him as well. I got quite a few beers I have never tried and cannot wait until tomorrow to try them (as they were not cold).
Oddly, when we got to the Oak Factory, it had since closed. Alright, load up get to Sam's and get on home. Upon arriving home, I asked Isaac if we got a package delivered today. When I ordered my brewkit last week, I ordered a 5 gallon brewpot at the same time. For whatever reason it still hadn't arrived.
So now that I have everything (else) that I need, i asked Isaac if we had that delivery ... "Nope, no one came by today" GAAAAHHHHH!!!! sooo aggravated! I was psyched to start brewing, but now have to wait.
I so wanted to be sippin' on some homebrew for New Year's Eve, but it isn't looking likely.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
yeesh! it's just a game!
Hi, my name is Ed and I am a college football junkie. I love the game. I love the pageantry, the rivalries, the tradition, the intensity (that gets lost most times in the NFL -- money ruins everything), just about everything about it (well with the exception of the BCS structuring -- again money! but that's another rant!).
I could happily set my ass down in front of the idiot box on Fall Saturdays and watch 12 hours of games. It's a disease, I know, but we all have our vices. ; )
I am a big-time loyally devout University of Tennessee Vols fan. I watch every game I can, and those I cannot watch, I listen to Bob Kesling on the Vol Radio Network. Winning or losing, whether or not the game is competitive, I am tuned in. When they do well I cheer, when they don't, I jeer. Yet, I still watch and faithfully support them week in, week out.
I have been to many games at Neyland Stadium and have had interactions with fans from nearly every single SEC school. There is always banter and smack-talk going on between the fans, and it is usually done in a light-hearted fun spirit.
The Florida Gators are a much-hated rival. Well for us at least, since it's been such a long time that we have beat them. Additionally, more often than not, the winner of that game has gone on to represent the SEC east in the SEC championship game, so it's always a big game. I have been to two UT-UF matchups and have had a pleasant interaction with Gator fans, even though they are on the wrong side. ; )
Alabama is another hated rival. Our team could theoretically go 1-11 for the year and the coach wouldn't get fired, so long as that lone win was over the Crimson Tide (okay that's a bit exaggerated, but you get the idea). Again, I have been to two UT-UA matchups and have had no problems with the opposing fans.
Football is a big deal in the south. These folks take it seriously. Fridays in the fall in many small towns are spent at the local High School stadium watching the boys play. Saturdays are typically spent either watching the game on TV or going to campus to tailgate on the strip and, if fortunate, watch the game. It's just a rite of passage!
Yesterday, prior to the game between USC (southern Cal.) and UCLA there was a brawl involving over 50 fans. As a result, two folks got stabbed. STABBED! over what? an argument about "my team is better than yours"? WTF?!?!
There is a quote by Mark Twain I like (actually I enjoy most of his witticisms) that is especially pertinent to this situation ... ""We need not worry so much about what man descends from-it's what he descends to that shames the human race." Too true!
I mean, really! What has become of "civilization"? I can understand that tempers flare, but this all started over a game!
Yes, I am aware violence occurs with some regularity at some World Cup events, but again, it's just a game! I love sports, am a bit of a fanatic, but not crazed enough to cause harm to another, that's ridiculous! and as Mr. Twain said .... SHAMEFUL!
(as a side note, cops arrested the two they believed to have been responsible for the stabbing and the two that were stabbed were taken to the hospital and were in stable condition)
Friday, December 3, 2010
"alien" life
Yesterday NASA announced it had found a new lifeform that defies "life as we know it". This lifeform is an adaptive form of bacteria that has managed to thrive in what we refer to as a poisonous environment. It is immersed in and feeds off of arsenic. Adaptive, indeed!
Arsenic is poisonous to "life as we know it". It is the only lifeform to date that has been found living in such conditions. Originally this bacteria lived in a phosphoric environment which is not outside the accepted boundaries of basic life requirements.
It managed to adapt to arsenic-based life when it depleted its phosphoric medium. Quite an accomplishment, to be sure, but, then, life is not static. As Darwin implied it will adapt, or die off.
These scientists that claim "life cannot exist unless ...." are clueless. These bateria cannot exist because "life as we know it" cannot do anything but perish in an arsenic environment.
The finding of life in an unexpected environment is not a new premise. There were lifeforms found thriving in an extremely hot hydrogen sulfide climate near the ocean floor. Hydrothermal vents are basically cracks in the Earth's crust that force super-heated gases through the surface.
The hydrothermal vents I am referring to exist on the ocean floor and the water surrounding is extremely hot and would likely boil the blood in an organisms vessels should they get close to it. Furthermore, the water around these vents is primarily a Hydrogen Sulfide concentration, which is not very habitable as far as the experts claim.
Yet, there is a whole ecosystem that has learned to adapt to living in such volatile, non-life-supporting conditions (as we know it). There are a host of adaptive invertebrates including tubeworms, clams, shrimp, and mussels that all survive in this harsh environment.
How can this be? How do the baterial lifeform announced yesterday thrive? When you look at the requirements for "life as we know it" there is no way these organisms can survive.
Sooo ... how is it that these experts can claim that there is only ____________ planets in the entire solar system that can support life. We keep finding things that defy explanation and those blanket statements are not universally true.
The more we know, the more we learn what we don't know.
Arsenic is poisonous to "life as we know it". It is the only lifeform to date that has been found living in such conditions. Originally this bacteria lived in a phosphoric environment which is not outside the accepted boundaries of basic life requirements.
It managed to adapt to arsenic-based life when it depleted its phosphoric medium. Quite an accomplishment, to be sure, but, then, life is not static. As Darwin implied it will adapt, or die off.
These scientists that claim "life cannot exist unless ...." are clueless. These bateria cannot exist because "life as we know it" cannot do anything but perish in an arsenic environment.
The finding of life in an unexpected environment is not a new premise. There were lifeforms found thriving in an extremely hot hydrogen sulfide climate near the ocean floor. Hydrothermal vents are basically cracks in the Earth's crust that force super-heated gases through the surface.
The hydrothermal vents I am referring to exist on the ocean floor and the water surrounding is extremely hot and would likely boil the blood in an organisms vessels should they get close to it. Furthermore, the water around these vents is primarily a Hydrogen Sulfide concentration, which is not very habitable as far as the experts claim.
Yet, there is a whole ecosystem that has learned to adapt to living in such volatile, non-life-supporting conditions (as we know it). There are a host of adaptive invertebrates including tubeworms, clams, shrimp, and mussels that all survive in this harsh environment.
How can this be? How do the baterial lifeform announced yesterday thrive? When you look at the requirements for "life as we know it" there is no way these organisms can survive.
Sooo ... how is it that these experts can claim that there is only ____________ planets in the entire solar system that can support life. We keep finding things that defy explanation and those blanket statements are not universally true.
The more we know, the more we learn what we don't know.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
space is at a premium ...
at least with Dad it is.
Yesterday he and I went out to order a storage building that would be large enough to house the bikes and free up some room in our garage. As it is now, everytime I go into the garage, I have to perform aerobic exercises to get beyond the door.
Dad likes toys! Actually, I think he makes it his mission to fill up every available square inch of room available, and then get *just* a little more. He sure does like a full garage, but then he doesn't have to navigate his way through it. ; )
When we moved up here, the first thing Dad did on the property was to get a 20 X 26 two-bay garage built. This is much larger than the one he had down in Florida.
Of course, it didn't take long for him to acquire enough toys to fill it. First, it was the Tyrex (basically a 4x4 golf cart on steroids), which he had in Florida, along with his Harley and my Sabre and Bandit.
Then he bought a tractor. So now both bays are full as well as the middle with bikes.
He then traded his bike off for a 66 Mustang. Now the tractor has to be kept outside, so I built him a lean-to along the side of the garage so the tractor wouldn't be in the weather.
About 6 months ago, he bought a 2010 Challenger R/T, which also has to sit outside, but we do have a car cover for it. Back in September he picked up a Goldwing with a sidecar, now the Tyrex sits outside so the 'wing won't have to. His toys sitting outside drives him crazy.
So we came up with the idea of getting another building that we could keep all the bikes in and hopefully (at least briefly) free up some space in the garage. I can hear the wheels in his head spinning "what can I get next to fill that area back in?" LOL
As I mentioned at the start of this blog, we went and ordered a building yesterday. It is due here two Wednesdays from now. It will be 12 X 16 with one 90" door, which is just barely wide enough to drive the rig into.
Problem is, the space where it is going to be placed, is not very level. So I scooped the top layer of dirt I dragged off for Melissa's garden a couple weeks ago and began using it to fill in the low spots. Where I had this pile of dirt was on the lower part of the property.
After a few trips across it with the tractor, it was getting rather slippery due to all the rain we had in the past two days. I damn near got that tractor stuck and I had it in four wheel drive. I was backing up and just sliding sideways further downhill.
All the while, I kept playing with the gas and the wheel trying to regain traction, but it was pretty futile. I finally grabbed enough traction to get out of there and decided that was all the dirt I needed to get today so I wouldn't risk getting the tractor stuck!
Yesterday he and I went out to order a storage building that would be large enough to house the bikes and free up some room in our garage. As it is now, everytime I go into the garage, I have to perform aerobic exercises to get beyond the door.
Dad likes toys! Actually, I think he makes it his mission to fill up every available square inch of room available, and then get *just* a little more. He sure does like a full garage, but then he doesn't have to navigate his way through it. ; )
When we moved up here, the first thing Dad did on the property was to get a 20 X 26 two-bay garage built. This is much larger than the one he had down in Florida.
Of course, it didn't take long for him to acquire enough toys to fill it. First, it was the Tyrex (basically a 4x4 golf cart on steroids), which he had in Florida, along with his Harley and my Sabre and Bandit.
Then he bought a tractor. So now both bays are full as well as the middle with bikes.
He then traded his bike off for a 66 Mustang. Now the tractor has to be kept outside, so I built him a lean-to along the side of the garage so the tractor wouldn't be in the weather.
About 6 months ago, he bought a 2010 Challenger R/T, which also has to sit outside, but we do have a car cover for it. Back in September he picked up a Goldwing with a sidecar, now the Tyrex sits outside so the 'wing won't have to. His toys sitting outside drives him crazy.
So we came up with the idea of getting another building that we could keep all the bikes in and hopefully (at least briefly) free up some space in the garage. I can hear the wheels in his head spinning "what can I get next to fill that area back in?" LOL
As I mentioned at the start of this blog, we went and ordered a building yesterday. It is due here two Wednesdays from now. It will be 12 X 16 with one 90" door, which is just barely wide enough to drive the rig into.
Problem is, the space where it is going to be placed, is not very level. So I scooped the top layer of dirt I dragged off for Melissa's garden a couple weeks ago and began using it to fill in the low spots. Where I had this pile of dirt was on the lower part of the property.
After a few trips across it with the tractor, it was getting rather slippery due to all the rain we had in the past two days. I damn near got that tractor stuck and I had it in four wheel drive. I was backing up and just sliding sideways further downhill.
All the while, I kept playing with the gas and the wheel trying to regain traction, but it was pretty futile. I finally grabbed enough traction to get out of there and decided that was all the dirt I needed to get today so I wouldn't risk getting the tractor stuck!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
it was 20 years ago today ...
okay so it was 55, but I was just looking for an excuse to use the song. Anyway, it was a very significant moment in our nation's history. Mrs. Rosa Parks refused to take it ... anymore!
In the waning heights of racial inequality in the southern, redneck-dominant, KKK-influenced Alabama, a black woman said "No" to, not one, but MANY whites, and their silly "ideals". Back then, in the "sawth", as a black you had to give up your seat to whites when the bus got crowded and whites no longer had a place to sit.
After one long, stressed day at work a certain black woman said "NO". It was a voice (and ideology) that would resound across a nation. Sometimes, media coverage is not such a bad thing.
It wasn't so much that she was tired from a long day at work as much as she was just ... tired! Tired of racial inequality, tired of being treated inferior (for no legitimate reason), tired of rolling over or being pushed around ... just tired!
Her defiance influenced a young minister that we have come to know as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He went on to further Rosa's stand. I am not saying that MLK lacked that ambition to start with, but maybe Rosa's stand helped be the spark that lit the fire that ignited the movement, that was long overdue.
God bless her for standing up (or for not standing, as it were)! This was supposed to be a land of equality and freedom; for so long, it wasn't. At least not for the people that didn't bear the "ever-precious white skin"! Everyone else was inferior in this country of opportunity.
A quarter century ago, a little minority woman in Alabama said "No", and it made our nation better, stronger. She suffered for her decision, as did her family. Yet, her action sparked a revolution of sorts that needed to be waged. Never give up what you believe in!
In the waning heights of racial inequality in the southern, redneck-dominant, KKK-influenced Alabama, a black woman said "No" to, not one, but MANY whites, and their silly "ideals". Back then, in the "sawth", as a black you had to give up your seat to whites when the bus got crowded and whites no longer had a place to sit.
After one long, stressed day at work a certain black woman said "NO". It was a voice (and ideology) that would resound across a nation. Sometimes, media coverage is not such a bad thing.
It wasn't so much that she was tired from a long day at work as much as she was just ... tired! Tired of racial inequality, tired of being treated inferior (for no legitimate reason), tired of rolling over or being pushed around ... just tired!
Her defiance influenced a young minister that we have come to know as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He went on to further Rosa's stand. I am not saying that MLK lacked that ambition to start with, but maybe Rosa's stand helped be the spark that lit the fire that ignited the movement, that was long overdue.
God bless her for standing up (or for not standing, as it were)! This was supposed to be a land of equality and freedom; for so long, it wasn't. At least not for the people that didn't bear the "ever-precious white skin"! Everyone else was inferior in this country of opportunity.
A quarter century ago, a little minority woman in Alabama said "No", and it made our nation better, stronger. She suffered for her decision, as did her family. Yet, her action sparked a revolution of sorts that needed to be waged. Never give up what you believe in!
"I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free... so other people would be also free. "
- Rosa Parks
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, Monday
So apparently TV got so bad today that Dad turned it off. No, seriously, he did! He promptly asked me "do you want to go to Knoxville?" Well as lame as it is to get out of the house BECAUSE of TV, at *least* he got out of the house! We rode over to Knoxville and had no issues getting there.
We had been planning to go for a while now. Partially because, we have held onto a coupon from Woodcraft for $10 off when purchasing $25 worth of stuff. We didn't really *need* anything from there, but a free $10? from Woodcraft? Why not? I sure ain't gonna argue!
We also have been discussing going over to Knoxville to the homebrew store to see their stock and what they had, since my Christmas present from him is a homebrew kit. So we were going to find out options while there.
I have been to Woodcraft enough times I can get there in my sleep. We got there and I figured I could get a container of Tung Oil (a finish). Last time we were there, they had it, but it was $20 and I wasn't hitting Dad up for that! I figured this time we could get it and drop another $5 and get that $10 rebate.
WRONG! they didn't have it! Gah!
Okay, another "high dollar" item they have i had been wanting but wouldn't ask Dad for was Abralon sanding pads. These are supposed more effective than normal sandpaper. However, since there is a discount involved, seems worth trying.
I pick up an assorted pack of them for $17. With the $10 discount that's $7 ... but still ouch! We still need to find $8 worth of merchandise to qualify for that rebate.
At one of the woodturner meetings I attended, there was a guy who adapted to the piece he was working and formed a lighthouse because things didn't work out as he planned. Dad was uber-impressed!
Knowing we needed another $7 to finish out that rebate thingy, I suggested to him we find a blank large enough for me to turn him a lamp in the shape of said lighthouse. He was onboard with that!
So I tell him to find a piece of wood that he would like me to turn for him. This man, post-stroke, is NOT the same man he was previous to it! He cannot/WILL not make a decision. He tells me twice to pick out something, I persist, that this is NOT for *me* to decide and that he will have to make that call himself.
He finally comes up with a piece of rosewood, but that was only after looking at the selection, knowing I WASN'T going to decide, and saying (at least he DID decide on something) he didn't want to spend that much cash. He would not have chosen that had I not made a stand and forced him to decide. I don't get it, is indecision a common post-stroke behavior?
Okay we finally finish up there and head over to the homebrew supplier. Or so I thought! I have no luck finding it, so I stop at a liquor store thinking maybe there is someone there that knows where it is. Again, no luck!
While I am looking through the phone book ... AGAIN no luck! the guy working the counter looks on the internet and it turns out I wrote the wrong address down. DOH!
Well, okay, while here, Dad wants a bottle of Andre Dry champagne. Nope ... sold out! yeesh! 0 for 2!
So anyway we head towards the RIGHT address to find the Ferment Station which is the homebrew supplier. Once found, we are dismayed (well *I* am) that it's fuggin' closed on Mondays! Damn this ain't our day!
With total dismay I turn the truck back to Newport. I decide to stop at (one of) the local liquor stores as we are still searching for Dad's Andre. Nope .... UNBELIEVABLE! now 0 for 3! Can you say Tuesday? or Wednesdday? or ANY day ending in day so long as the prefix is not MON? ;)
(as a footnote, we DID find Dad's Andre at one of the stores and we picked up a 12 of Fat Tire for me, not a total loss!)
We had been planning to go for a while now. Partially because, we have held onto a coupon from Woodcraft for $10 off when purchasing $25 worth of stuff. We didn't really *need* anything from there, but a free $10? from Woodcraft? Why not? I sure ain't gonna argue!
We also have been discussing going over to Knoxville to the homebrew store to see their stock and what they had, since my Christmas present from him is a homebrew kit. So we were going to find out options while there.
I have been to Woodcraft enough times I can get there in my sleep. We got there and I figured I could get a container of Tung Oil (a finish). Last time we were there, they had it, but it was $20 and I wasn't hitting Dad up for that! I figured this time we could get it and drop another $5 and get that $10 rebate.
WRONG! they didn't have it! Gah!
Okay, another "high dollar" item they have i had been wanting but wouldn't ask Dad for was Abralon sanding pads. These are supposed more effective than normal sandpaper. However, since there is a discount involved, seems worth trying.
I pick up an assorted pack of them for $17. With the $10 discount that's $7 ... but still ouch! We still need to find $8 worth of merchandise to qualify for that rebate.
At one of the woodturner meetings I attended, there was a guy who adapted to the piece he was working and formed a lighthouse because things didn't work out as he planned. Dad was uber-impressed!
Knowing we needed another $7 to finish out that rebate thingy, I suggested to him we find a blank large enough for me to turn him a lamp in the shape of said lighthouse. He was onboard with that!
So I tell him to find a piece of wood that he would like me to turn for him. This man, post-stroke, is NOT the same man he was previous to it! He cannot/WILL not make a decision. He tells me twice to pick out something, I persist, that this is NOT for *me* to decide and that he will have to make that call himself.
He finally comes up with a piece of rosewood, but that was only after looking at the selection, knowing I WASN'T going to decide, and saying (at least he DID decide on something) he didn't want to spend that much cash. He would not have chosen that had I not made a stand and forced him to decide. I don't get it, is indecision a common post-stroke behavior?
Okay we finally finish up there and head over to the homebrew supplier. Or so I thought! I have no luck finding it, so I stop at a liquor store thinking maybe there is someone there that knows where it is. Again, no luck!
While I am looking through the phone book ... AGAIN no luck! the guy working the counter looks on the internet and it turns out I wrote the wrong address down. DOH!
Well, okay, while here, Dad wants a bottle of Andre Dry champagne. Nope ... sold out! yeesh! 0 for 2!
So anyway we head towards the RIGHT address to find the Ferment Station which is the homebrew supplier. Once found, we are dismayed (well *I* am) that it's fuggin' closed on Mondays! Damn this ain't our day!
With total dismay I turn the truck back to Newport. I decide to stop at (one of) the local liquor stores as we are still searching for Dad's Andre. Nope .... UNBELIEVABLE! now 0 for 3! Can you say Tuesday? or Wednesdday? or ANY day ending in day so long as the prefix is not MON? ;)
(as a footnote, we DID find Dad's Andre at one of the stores and we picked up a 12 of Fat Tire for me, not a total loss!)
Saturday, November 27, 2010
gettin' hoppy!
Earlier this week Dad told me to go online and find a homebrew beer making setup and he would get that for me for my Christmas present. I don't rush into anything and like to take the time to research things before purchasing.
I have been doing a LOT of reading about the processes involved in brewing, techniques, equipment ... all of it! I must admit that even though it looks to be quite a meticulous and laborious task, I am getting pretty psyched!
The sad thing is, it will likely be another week before I settle on any equipment. I am still researching and weighing out options.
Worse still, is that it will likely be a month after the purchase before the beer will be ready to drink due to the time it takes for fermentation. I guess that will make it a true Christmas present then as I will have to wait until about then to enjoy it.
Maybe we can enjoy a few glasses of some Ed-brewed beer on New Year's Eve.
I have been doing a LOT of reading about the processes involved in brewing, techniques, equipment ... all of it! I must admit that even though it looks to be quite a meticulous and laborious task, I am getting pretty psyched!
The sad thing is, it will likely be another week before I settle on any equipment. I am still researching and weighing out options.
Worse still, is that it will likely be a month after the purchase before the beer will be ready to drink due to the time it takes for fermentation. I guess that will make it a true Christmas present then as I will have to wait until about then to enjoy it.
Maybe we can enjoy a few glasses of some Ed-brewed beer on New Year's Eve.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
feeling nostalgic ...
I don't know why, but I am. I suppose the holiday has a LOT to do with it. Melissa and I are quite used to not being able to spend holidays together (due to the jobs she has held over the years mostly), but I am a bit melancholy this day.
We held *our* Thanksgiving on Tuesday, and I was totally fine with that! It was a great day to be sure.
All day, I been a bit down. However, it's not been Melissa I been thinking about, but Mom. I haven't spent a Thanksgiving with her in the past couple decades. Sad, how life flows in that direction sometimes, but that is the course it has taken all of us.
I was fortunate enough to spend last Christmas with her. It was such a simple, but treasured, get-together and was the last time I have seen her. We have fallen out of contact, badly. It's as much my fault as hers, but for whatever reason we just have not made efforts to keep in touch.
This is a recurring theme with me. I am very poor at communicating with EVERYone-- or at least at *initiating* communication. I reply pretty well, but don't start things effectively.
This longing for Mom, whatever it is, has got me to thinking of the past, as it were. How simple life used to be. How special those days were (of course, I was a child then)!
This feeling may be perpetuated by the whole "black Friday" spend-money craze. It's nuts! Stores opening at 4 in the morning and people camping out in line to be first to trample through the store and "cash" in on deals. It's all a bit sickening.
The magic of the holidays is gone. No, this is not news to me! This time of year serves as a reminder how much has been robbed from us (the consumer) by corporate America.
So is the simplicity I remember a by-product of my youth or capitalism running rampant? (I am sure it's a bit of both)
We held *our* Thanksgiving on Tuesday, and I was totally fine with that! It was a great day to be sure.
All day, I been a bit down. However, it's not been Melissa I been thinking about, but Mom. I haven't spent a Thanksgiving with her in the past couple decades. Sad, how life flows in that direction sometimes, but that is the course it has taken all of us.
I was fortunate enough to spend last Christmas with her. It was such a simple, but treasured, get-together and was the last time I have seen her. We have fallen out of contact, badly. It's as much my fault as hers, but for whatever reason we just have not made efforts to keep in touch.
This is a recurring theme with me. I am very poor at communicating with EVERYone-- or at least at *initiating* communication. I reply pretty well, but don't start things effectively.
This longing for Mom, whatever it is, has got me to thinking of the past, as it were. How simple life used to be. How special those days were (of course, I was a child then)!
This feeling may be perpetuated by the whole "black Friday" spend-money craze. It's nuts! Stores opening at 4 in the morning and people camping out in line to be first to trample through the store and "cash" in on deals. It's all a bit sickening.
The magic of the holidays is gone. No, this is not news to me! This time of year serves as a reminder how much has been robbed from us (the consumer) by corporate America.
So is the simplicity I remember a by-product of my youth or capitalism running rampant? (I am sure it's a bit of both)
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
thankful
Melissa was off Sunday, yesterday, and today, but has to work on Thursday, so our Thanksgiving was going to need to be held some day other than Thursday. Half of her Sunday is taken up with church, so that wasn't a good option. Monday would've worked, but Megan would have had to head back to the dorm as soon as dinner was over and likely would have lost crucial study time, so that wasn't a good option either. Damn, it's near impossible anymore for us to all be able to find time that is convenient for all of us anymore! ; ( However, today was Megan's last day of classes before the break, so it was decided that today would be our Thanksgiving.
Melissa had a "scaled back" menu, of which I really talked her down from, but was still enough to feed an army. Dad doesn't eat poultry ("they're such filthy animals" -- but pigs aren't? ... anyway), so we had turkey and Dad ate liver and onions for the main course. Then there were the many side dishes consisting of the traditional green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes, cornbread casserole, yam biscuits, cranberry relish, spiced apple jell-o, cookies, brownies, and, of course, pumpkin pie -- and this was SCALED back -- yeesh! there were only five of us eating!
I filled my plate and tried sampling a bit of everything (except the liver and onions of course -- blech! I never have developed a taste for that) but there was only so much room on the plate. Ironically, I couldn't fit the cranberry jelly/sauce/whatever (you know the can stuff) that I love and demanded to have. I did make a point to go back and get some on the second round, though.
I stuffed myself. So much so, that although I *wanted* a piece of pumpkin pie, there was no way! It would have to wait until things .... settled.
While Dad was searching around on the idiot box for something to watch and having little luck, I suggested we put a movie in. It has just about become tradition for us to pop in "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" every Thanksgiving, and since we were all here and Dad likes the movie, we kept that "tradition" alive for another year. We all laughed off a couple calories.
He soon headed off to bed, and Megan suggested we top off the evening with what may well be the best audio/visual collaborative effort ever. For about a month now her and I been wanting to watch "Labyrinth" featuring the collective talents of David Bowie and Jim Henson. If you have never seen this and like the Muppets do yourself a favor and watch it!
Isaac had also headed off to bed and Melissa was going to, but decided to stay instead and laugh off a few more calories with us. By now, I finally had room for that piece of pie. ; )
What a great family night! Man I miss those. It sure is a rare thing these days. It's not anyone's fault, just that now that the kids are "grown" they have their own things to do and now we work around that as well as whatever we may have going on. It sure does make you appreciate the time you do get to share as a group. I am thankful they tolerate me.
Melissa had a "scaled back" menu, of which I really talked her down from, but was still enough to feed an army. Dad doesn't eat poultry ("they're such filthy animals" -- but pigs aren't? ... anyway), so we had turkey and Dad ate liver and onions for the main course. Then there were the many side dishes consisting of the traditional green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes, cornbread casserole, yam biscuits, cranberry relish, spiced apple jell-o, cookies, brownies, and, of course, pumpkin pie -- and this was SCALED back -- yeesh! there were only five of us eating!
I filled my plate and tried sampling a bit of everything (except the liver and onions of course -- blech! I never have developed a taste for that) but there was only so much room on the plate. Ironically, I couldn't fit the cranberry jelly/sauce/whatever (you know the can stuff) that I love and demanded to have. I did make a point to go back and get some on the second round, though.
I stuffed myself. So much so, that although I *wanted* a piece of pumpkin pie, there was no way! It would have to wait until things .... settled.
While Dad was searching around on the idiot box for something to watch and having little luck, I suggested we put a movie in. It has just about become tradition for us to pop in "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" every Thanksgiving, and since we were all here and Dad likes the movie, we kept that "tradition" alive for another year. We all laughed off a couple calories.
He soon headed off to bed, and Megan suggested we top off the evening with what may well be the best audio/visual collaborative effort ever. For about a month now her and I been wanting to watch "Labyrinth" featuring the collective talents of David Bowie and Jim Henson. If you have never seen this and like the Muppets do yourself a favor and watch it!
Isaac had also headed off to bed and Melissa was going to, but decided to stay instead and laugh off a few more calories with us. By now, I finally had room for that piece of pie. ; )
What a great family night! Man I miss those. It sure is a rare thing these days. It's not anyone's fault, just that now that the kids are "grown" they have their own things to do and now we work around that as well as whatever we may have going on. It sure does make you appreciate the time you do get to share as a group. I am thankful they tolerate me.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Last night I waited until the moon set, in anticipation of catching the annual Leonid light show. As it was the moon didn't hit the horizon until about 3 AM.
The Leonids are a series of rock, dust, and ice particles that are debris left from a comet. As Earth nears this debris field, it's gravitational pull draws these particles into the atmosphere. As the force of gravity increases, these particles pick up speed, melt, and leave the trails commonly known as "shooting stars".
I had intended to take some long exposure pictures and figured at the very least, I could get some star trails streaking across the blackened background of the sky. So I grabbed, the tripod and the DSLR and headed out.
I bundled up expecting it to be cold and knowing I was going to be out there for a while, but found it be a mild 40-something degrees rather than the bone-numbing chill I had expected. Super! I can work with this.
I figured I would assemble the tripod outside since Dad was snoring and I didn't wish to wake him. Once I got it out of the bag, I noticed the baseplate that screws into the camera body was missing. Great!
I ask Melissa where it is, since I have never used this tripod. She goes searching for it with no success. Damn, I really wanted to play with the camera some and was hopeful for a meteor shot.
Oh well, I put the tripod back, but keep the camera in case I can find someplace to set it up that it would be stable enough to take a long exposure shot. I looked in the area the Leonids were supposed to emanate from, but didn't notice any action in the 10 minutes I stood there.
I would've stayed longer and likely would have seen SOMEthing before headed back in, but there was significant cloud cover moving in from the west, which drives our weather patterns. There was no break visible on the horizon, so I reluctantly gave up and headed to bed without my picture(s). Maybe next year.
The Leonids are a series of rock, dust, and ice particles that are debris left from a comet. As Earth nears this debris field, it's gravitational pull draws these particles into the atmosphere. As the force of gravity increases, these particles pick up speed, melt, and leave the trails commonly known as "shooting stars".
I had intended to take some long exposure pictures and figured at the very least, I could get some star trails streaking across the blackened background of the sky. So I grabbed, the tripod and the DSLR and headed out.
I bundled up expecting it to be cold and knowing I was going to be out there for a while, but found it be a mild 40-something degrees rather than the bone-numbing chill I had expected. Super! I can work with this.
I figured I would assemble the tripod outside since Dad was snoring and I didn't wish to wake him. Once I got it out of the bag, I noticed the baseplate that screws into the camera body was missing. Great!
I ask Melissa where it is, since I have never used this tripod. She goes searching for it with no success. Damn, I really wanted to play with the camera some and was hopeful for a meteor shot.
Oh well, I put the tripod back, but keep the camera in case I can find someplace to set it up that it would be stable enough to take a long exposure shot. I looked in the area the Leonids were supposed to emanate from, but didn't notice any action in the 10 minutes I stood there.
I would've stayed longer and likely would have seen SOMEthing before headed back in, but there was significant cloud cover moving in from the west, which drives our weather patterns. There was no break visible on the horizon, so I reluctantly gave up and headed to bed without my picture(s).
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
'tis the season i guess
Dad's preferred taste in movies is typically testosterone-filled, shoot-em-up, plotless "guy flick" mindlessness. If it stars Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Steven Segal, etc. it's a given he will watch it. If it is just ... plain ... weird ... he will watch it. If there was a lot of money spent on special effects, he will watch it.
The other night, I was in the bedroom listening to some tunes, and Melissa came in shaking her head "if there is a dumb program on TV, that man [Dad] will find it". It kills me, he typically doesn't watch something that requires an attention level to follow it or has wholesome programming of *any* sort.
However, every year, he watches Christmas movies. These are wholesome, plot-driven, feel-good stories. What a departure from the norm and totally out of character for him. Yet, it is a welcome change as many of them are pretty well done, and I don't mind watching them, and more importantly, it's not the same old stupid shit he usually watches.
However, a few days ago, the Hallmark channel started in on the holiday season by playing Christmas-themed movies 24/7 -- ALREADY! They do this every year, but good Lord, can't we at least get past Thanksgiving before being subjected to it? Don't get me wrong I have no problem with Christmas -- at least the premise of what it supposed to represent and did before commercialization tarnished the occasion.
The other night, I was in the bedroom listening to some tunes, and Melissa came in shaking her head "if there is a dumb program on TV, that man [Dad] will find it". It kills me, he typically doesn't watch something that requires an attention level to follow it or has wholesome programming of *any* sort.
However, every year, he watches Christmas movies. These are wholesome, plot-driven, feel-good stories. What a departure from the norm and totally out of character for him. Yet, it is a welcome change as many of them are pretty well done, and I don't mind watching them, and more importantly, it's not the same old stupid shit he usually watches.
However, a few days ago, the Hallmark channel started in on the holiday season by playing Christmas-themed movies 24/7 -- ALREADY! They do this every year, but good Lord, can't we at least get past Thanksgiving before being subjected to it? Don't get me wrong I have no problem with Christmas -- at least the premise of what it supposed to represent and did before commercialization tarnished the occasion.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
So Melissa and I finally talked last night. For a couple months now, we have done little more than bicker and fuss. Not really sure how long, just that it has persisted *too* long. I admit, were I able to exhibit a little more tolerance, these hostilities would be minimized, if not eliminated.
So apparently, her and I had a nice long conversation last night. I say "apparently", because I was drinking. I didn't drink anymore than I usually do, but for whatever reason it impacted me more.
I got pretty damned drunk! Enough so, that I awoke with a hangover. I NEVER get hangovers (or at least it is pretty rare these days)!
Melissa wanted to show me something this afternoon and said it was in reference to what we spoke of last night. I couldn't muster anything more than a deer-in-the-headlights look. I was totally clueless (more so than usual).
I typically remember the substance of a conversation, even if getting drunk. I may not remember all the nuance details, but usually remember the underlying point(s).
Not this time! Yeesh! we -finally- talk, and I have no memory of it. NONE!
I ate a pretty good sized plate (knowing I was drinking), I drank the amount I normally do when drinking and at the same pace, so most of the variables are constant, yet, for some reason, the effect of alcohol was pretty severe last night.
So apparently, her and I had a nice long conversation last night. I say "apparently", because I was drinking. I didn't drink anymore than I usually do, but for whatever reason it impacted me more.
I got pretty damned drunk! Enough so, that I awoke with a hangover. I NEVER get hangovers (or at least it is pretty rare these days)!
Melissa wanted to show me something this afternoon and said it was in reference to what we spoke of last night. I couldn't muster anything more than a deer-in-the-headlights look. I was totally clueless (more so than usual).
I typically remember the substance of a conversation, even if getting drunk. I may not remember all the nuance details, but usually remember the underlying point(s).
Not this time! Yeesh! we -finally- talk, and I have no memory of it. NONE!
I ate a pretty good sized plate (knowing I was drinking), I drank the amount I normally do when drinking and at the same pace, so most of the variables are constant, yet, for some reason, the effect of alcohol was pretty severe last night.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
writing to write ain't right ...
for me!
They say a good writer writes, everyday. Well, I guess a good writer, I shall never be. I set this blog up to do exactly that -- write, EVERYday! Obviously, I haven't done that too well.
It's odd. In high school, my 11th grade English teacher suggested that I take Creative Writing and told me she would send the required teacher's recommendation, since I was not in an advanced English class (which was a pre-requisite). I always hated composing papers and detested the reading assignments even more.
I fought her on the suggestion, initially, but she kept working at me and convinced me to try it. Apparently, I must have done pretty well with the papers I had to write.
One of the requirements we were graded on in that class was to keep a daily journal. It didn't have to be good. We were never graded on quality or quantity, just that we wrote ... SOMEthing.
If I recall, she checked our journals every two weeks. Every thirteenth day, guess what I was doing? Yup, writing journals (usually 14 of them). ; )
She would let you know the ones she liked by inserting comments and would correct errors as well but the grade was solely based on having 14 compositons of some sort. It helped refine my writing, but still it was something I never really got into. Sadly, I guess I was too busy partying to be bothered.
I was way out of my league as the other students in the class were writing stuff far better than anything I could summon. I made a request to the teacher to allow me to opt out of the class. She was pretty understanding and did make arrangements for me to do just that.
For years, I didn't write. When I re-enrolled in college, of course, that changed, but as for writing to write, not so much. My first semester I took a writer's composition class and the instructor told us to do what is called "free writing".
Free writing is just writing whatever comes to mind. It doesn't need to have sentence structure, or grammar, or substance, or even make sense, just write. Write whatever comes to mind.
This concept was so foreign to me. I struggled to write anything.
After the assigned 15 minutes, I think I had two or three sentences. I couldn't bring myself to just write "jibberish". Others in the class had a page either front or both front and back.
This is the basic problem I have. I don't bother to speak unless I feel I have something good to contribute. I struggle to write because I feel I have nothing to say. Much like this whole damn blog. LOL
They say a good writer writes, everyday. Well, I guess a good writer, I shall never be. I set this blog up to do exactly that -- write, EVERYday! Obviously, I haven't done that too well.
It's odd. In high school, my 11th grade English teacher suggested that I take Creative Writing and told me she would send the required teacher's recommendation, since I was not in an advanced English class (which was a pre-requisite). I always hated composing papers and detested the reading assignments even more.
I fought her on the suggestion, initially, but she kept working at me and convinced me to try it. Apparently, I must have done pretty well with the papers I had to write.
One of the requirements we were graded on in that class was to keep a daily journal. It didn't have to be good. We were never graded on quality or quantity, just that we wrote ... SOMEthing.
If I recall, she checked our journals every two weeks. Every thirteenth day, guess what I was doing? Yup, writing journals (usually 14 of them). ; )
She would let you know the ones she liked by inserting comments and would correct errors as well but the grade was solely based on having 14 compositons of some sort. It helped refine my writing, but still it was something I never really got into. Sadly, I guess I was too busy partying to be bothered.
I was way out of my league as the other students in the class were writing stuff far better than anything I could summon. I made a request to the teacher to allow me to opt out of the class. She was pretty understanding and did make arrangements for me to do just that.
For years, I didn't write. When I re-enrolled in college, of course, that changed, but as for writing to write, not so much. My first semester I took a writer's composition class and the instructor told us to do what is called "free writing".
Free writing is just writing whatever comes to mind. It doesn't need to have sentence structure, or grammar, or substance, or even make sense, just write. Write whatever comes to mind.
This concept was so foreign to me. I struggled to write anything.
After the assigned 15 minutes, I think I had two or three sentences. I couldn't bring myself to just write "jibberish". Others in the class had a page either front or both front and back.
This is the basic problem I have. I don't bother to speak unless I feel I have something good to contribute. I struggle to write because I feel I have nothing to say. Much like this whole damn blog. LOL
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
went for a dam ride ;j
Well, Melissa had the day off, the skies were clear of ANY chance of precipitation, the mercury was predicted to hit the 70s today (nice! especially for fall), and I need more seat time in Dad's hack'd wing. We headed out about noon with no plan in mind short of going to a parking lot and riding in circles, until I felt comfortable.
The parking lot exercise was short lived as I quickly found a comfort zone so her and I conferred on where to go and what to do with the day. She suggests a ride up to nearby Norris Dam and with a lack of any other ideas, that is where we went.
I came up with a route in my head that would put me on some twistier sections and provide the test I need. It wasn't "Dragon"-technical, but there were some tight bits involved.
I have done a LOT of reading about how to ride a hack since first getting on the thing and having it scare the crap outta me. ; ) It is funny (ironic funny, not HaHa funny), that just about everything I have read has basically been a manual of 'what not to do' as opposed to preferred practices. I am not totally useless, I can serve as a bad example. ; )
According to the 'experts', riding a sidecar rig with the sidecar empty is a big no-no. I have only been doing so to be able to establish some ideas what the rig wants to do and how to make it do what I want it to do without compromising others' safety.
I have also since learned the proper way to use the brakes and how to shift my weight to assist in steering. These new-found techniques have helped me overcome the apprehension I have had since I first got on the thing and it tried to pitch me off the road.
After about 120 miles of riding, I have finally found enough of a comfort zone that I was ready for a passenger. Melissa was my first guinea pig ... errrm ... passenger.
So anyway, we head out on US 411 over to TN-92 headed into Dandridge. The last time I mounted a motorcycle without full gear was one October morning a few years back.
It was the last time I had gotten on a bike without full gear because I had hit a deer on TN-92. Here I am some years later, wearing the same gear I had wore that morning (leather jacket, helmet, and gloves) and rode right past the same spot I hit that buck, albeit in the opposite direction. Luckily, this time no deer were involved.
I have totally gotten a rhythm down as to when to lean which way with each turn -- and more importantly, am reacting and doing so without thinking do I lean right or to the back and left? Do I apply rear brake or front brake? Should I be accelerating or decelerating? as I maneuver through the turns. Sweet! I am getting the hang of this sh*t!
We get to Norris Dam and spend at least an hour and a half there. The path out to the dam from the parking area was easily a half mile, maybe more. I snapped some pics while there ...
(I hate that a stitching programs warp the foreground of pictures to make the horizon fit together)
After a while, it's time to Motor-vate again! Melissa suggests stopping somewhere to get lunch. I am not really hungry, but a piece of pie and some sweet tea sounds like an *excellent* idea!
There is this little ol' country cookin' mom-n-pop style restaurant up the road from here that has ALWAYS got a full parking lot EVERY time I have passed it, so I suggest that. She is game, so that is where we go.
We get there and the lunch crowd has vacated, and honestly, this is the very first time I have EVER seen the place this empty when open. I am not hungry, but as soon as removing my helmet, I can smell their food. The olfactory senses tickled the pallet and stomach enough that now a piece of pie alone will not do. Man, it smelled good!
Melissa ordered a smoked turkey plate with two sides and I ordered a smoked ham plate with two sides with intent on sharing the meat. As soon as my plate arrived Melissa dipped into my sweet potato casserole. Damn , ya gotta watch that woman! The other side I ordered she didn't touch because she ordered some of her own -- fried mac-n-cheese (gotta love the south! we fry EVERYthing down Heah!).
Every thing was excellent, but while waiting on food, I still had a craving for pie so I had to spy the dessert menu to see what pies they offered. As I read the menu, I felt my eyebrow raise, and Melissa must've seen it as she giggled at me.
Orange Dreamsicle Cheesecake! Oh yeah baby! You KNOW I am ordering me some of that!
I somehow managed to finish my plate. The meat had a great smoky flavor to it, and the fried mac-n-cheese was pretty damned good, but the star of my plate was the sweet potato casserole.
There were chunks of brown sugar and cinnamon mixed amongst the creamy sweet potatoes. It was a textural sensation that just had the taste buds dancing.
I wasn't hungry before entering the restaurant, and I have eaten MUCH more than intended already, but the allure of the dessert menu made me gorge myself. I must say that even after eating it, it wasn't regretted, just decided that I ate lunch and supper at one sitting. ; )
We waddled out to the bike and are headed back home, or so I thought. Again, no maps, no plan, I head south figuring to pick up TN-139 east towards home. While on 139, I come across US 25W/70 and cross the road, but somehow lose 139 and it dumped us on I-40 at the 407 mile marker.
Okay, no problem. I get on 40 east and head to the next exit and turn south to get back on 139 when I see the sign for Douglas Dam. I hadn't been there in a while so I head that way, instead of homewards.
We make it to Douglas Dam and take some more pictures ...
after that, THIS time, we head towards the house. What a great day!
Not only because I got to spend it with my wife, which is far too rare these days, but also that I gained a LOT of confidence on Dad's bike. I told him upon returning I have no problem putting him in that sidecar and taking him. Up until now, there has some apprehension, nervousness, and outright fear that I would kill him, me, or someone else .... not anymore.
I am quite pleased that I have gotten to this comfort level with a mere 200 miles under my belt since first mounting this sidecar-ring. It is sooo different than motorcycling.
However, there are still some habits I would like to break. The hack is conducive to a totally different posture than a motorcycle is.
I find myself flat footing the pegs, rather than using the balls of my toes like I am accustomed to on a motorcycle. I have found that I have gotten lazy about not putting my feet down (no need on a 3 wheeled rig). I just hope that once I get back on a real motorcycle that I will be able to differentiate between them and not keep these habits that I have been adopting since riding the "land yacht". ; )
here is a link to more pics ...
http://picasaweb.google.com/edsrockin/WentOnADamRide#
The parking lot exercise was short lived as I quickly found a comfort zone so her and I conferred on where to go and what to do with the day. She suggests a ride up to nearby Norris Dam and with a lack of any other ideas, that is where we went.
I came up with a route in my head that would put me on some twistier sections and provide the test I need. It wasn't "Dragon"-technical, but there were some tight bits involved.
I have done a LOT of reading about how to ride a hack since first getting on the thing and having it scare the crap outta me. ; ) It is funny (ironic funny, not HaHa funny), that just about everything I have read has basically been a manual of 'what not to do' as opposed to preferred practices. I am not totally useless, I can serve as a bad example. ; )
According to the 'experts', riding a sidecar rig with the sidecar empty is a big no-no. I have only been doing so to be able to establish some ideas what the rig wants to do and how to make it do what I want it to do without compromising others' safety.
I have also since learned the proper way to use the brakes and how to shift my weight to assist in steering. These new-found techniques have helped me overcome the apprehension I have had since I first got on the thing and it tried to pitch me off the road.
After about 120 miles of riding, I have finally found enough of a comfort zone that I was ready for a passenger. Melissa was my first guinea pig ... errrm ... passenger.
So anyway, we head out on US 411 over to TN-92 headed into Dandridge. The last time I mounted a motorcycle without full gear was one October morning a few years back.
It was the last time I had gotten on a bike without full gear because I had hit a deer on TN-92. Here I am some years later, wearing the same gear I had wore that morning (leather jacket, helmet, and gloves) and rode right past the same spot I hit that buck, albeit in the opposite direction. Luckily, this time no deer were involved.
I have totally gotten a rhythm down as to when to lean which way with each turn -- and more importantly, am reacting and doing so without thinking do I lean right or to the back and left? Do I apply rear brake or front brake? Should I be accelerating or decelerating? as I maneuver through the turns. Sweet! I am getting the hang of this sh*t!
We get to Norris Dam and spend at least an hour and a half there. The path out to the dam from the parking area was easily a half mile, maybe more. I snapped some pics while there ...
left click on this for a larger view of the classic piece of history .....
After a while, it's time to Motor-vate again! Melissa suggests stopping somewhere to get lunch. I am not really hungry, but a piece of pie and some sweet tea sounds like an *excellent* idea!
There is this little ol' country cookin' mom-n-pop style restaurant up the road from here that has ALWAYS got a full parking lot EVERY time I have passed it, so I suggest that. She is game, so that is where we go.
We get there and the lunch crowd has vacated, and honestly, this is the very first time I have EVER seen the place this empty when open. I am not hungry, but as soon as removing my helmet, I can smell their food. The olfactory senses tickled the pallet and stomach enough that now a piece of pie alone will not do. Man, it smelled good!
Melissa ordered a smoked turkey plate with two sides and I ordered a smoked ham plate with two sides with intent on sharing the meat. As soon as my plate arrived Melissa dipped into my sweet potato casserole. Damn , ya gotta watch that woman! The other side I ordered she didn't touch because she ordered some of her own -- fried mac-n-cheese (gotta love the south! we fry EVERYthing down Heah!).
Every thing was excellent, but while waiting on food, I still had a craving for pie so I had to spy the dessert menu to see what pies they offered. As I read the menu, I felt my eyebrow raise, and Melissa must've seen it as she giggled at me.
Orange Dreamsicle Cheesecake! Oh yeah baby! You KNOW I am ordering me some of that!
I somehow managed to finish my plate. The meat had a great smoky flavor to it, and the fried mac-n-cheese was pretty damned good, but the star of my plate was the sweet potato casserole.
There were chunks of brown sugar and cinnamon mixed amongst the creamy sweet potatoes. It was a textural sensation that just had the taste buds dancing.
I wasn't hungry before entering the restaurant, and I have eaten MUCH more than intended already, but the allure of the dessert menu made me gorge myself. I must say that even after eating it, it wasn't regretted, just decided that I ate lunch and supper at one sitting. ; )
We waddled out to the bike and are headed back home, or so I thought. Again, no maps, no plan, I head south figuring to pick up TN-139 east towards home. While on 139, I come across US 25W/70 and cross the road, but somehow lose 139 and it dumped us on I-40 at the 407 mile marker.
Okay, no problem. I get on 40 east and head to the next exit and turn south to get back on 139 when I see the sign for Douglas Dam. I hadn't been there in a while so I head that way, instead of homewards.
We make it to Douglas Dam and take some more pictures ...
after that, THIS time, we head towards the house. What a great day!
Not only because I got to spend it with my wife, which is far too rare these days, but also that I gained a LOT of confidence on Dad's bike. I told him upon returning I have no problem putting him in that sidecar and taking him. Up until now, there has some apprehension, nervousness, and outright fear that I would kill him, me, or someone else .... not anymore.
I am quite pleased that I have gotten to this comfort level with a mere 200 miles under my belt since first mounting this sidecar-ring. It is sooo different than motorcycling.
However, there are still some habits I would like to break. The hack is conducive to a totally different posture than a motorcycle is.
I find myself flat footing the pegs, rather than using the balls of my toes like I am accustomed to on a motorcycle. I have found that I have gotten lazy about not putting my feet down (no need on a 3 wheeled rig). I just hope that once I get back on a real motorcycle that I will be able to differentiate between them and not keep these habits that I have been adopting since riding the "land yacht". ; )
here is a link to more pics ...
http://picasaweb.google.com/edsrockin/WentOnADamRide#
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
nights in white satin? days of future passed? ...or ..... something like that
While headed to the fridge this evening, I happened to peak out the door and noticed a cloudless, abundantly star-filled sky. It was too beautiful to ignore; even the Milky Way was visible.
(this picture does not do the sky justice. I did feel like dragging out the DSLR and just used the Fuji which has a max of 3 second exposure)
It has been a while since I just went out and stared at the stars. The temperature was rather mild, so why not?
As I sat there being serenaded by the happier crickets and listening to the warming, southwestern-driven breeze rustling through what leaves still remain on the branches, I got a bit nostalgic.
I began thinking of all the times I used to spend at the observatory at the local college on Friday nights. I was fortunate enough to have one of the most awesome astronomy professors at a school that was the beneficiary of an overwhelmingly generous contribution -- a 16" Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.
Our awesome professor allowed anyone that was interested to take a "test" to prove they could operate the 'scope without damaging it. Once cleared, you were given unsupervised, free reign to use it anytime you wished.
I spent many, many, many hours and nights in the observatory enjoying all the things that could be seen from an earthbound 'scope. Some really late into the night/morning -- and many were coooooollldd.
The only thing that was requested was that you would donate your time when you could on Friday evenings since we opened the telescope to the public so everyone who wanted could also enjoy the many celestial wonders that exist beyond our atmosphere. There were about four of us that were there on a regular basis over the course of the two years I was a student there. Over that time, we all developed a camaraderie and become pretty good friends.
It is an experience that I treasure to this day. Those were good times, and I will likely never get my hands on such a piece of equipment as that again nor see any of those objects with such clarity.
We have all seen pictures of the craters on the moon. It's different when you are looking at a "live" picture with awesome clarity. Likewise, with Saturn's rings, the storm on Jupiter, various nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters.
It is quite humbling to stare at all these wondrous objects. It sure makes you feel small when you consider the scale and the fact that this light you are looking at (unless they were planets in our solar system) is millions of years old.
It has been a while since I just went out and stared at the stars. The temperature was rather mild, so why not?
As I sat there being serenaded by the happier crickets and listening to the warming, southwestern-driven breeze rustling through what leaves still remain on the branches, I got a bit nostalgic.
I began thinking of all the times I used to spend at the observatory at the local college on Friday nights. I was fortunate enough to have one of the most awesome astronomy professors at a school that was the beneficiary of an overwhelmingly generous contribution -- a 16" Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.
Our awesome professor allowed anyone that was interested to take a "test" to prove they could operate the 'scope without damaging it. Once cleared, you were given unsupervised, free reign to use it anytime you wished.
I spent many, many, many hours and nights in the observatory enjoying all the things that could be seen from an earthbound 'scope. Some really late into the night/morning -- and many were coooooollldd.
The only thing that was requested was that you would donate your time when you could on Friday evenings since we opened the telescope to the public so everyone who wanted could also enjoy the many celestial wonders that exist beyond our atmosphere. There were about four of us that were there on a regular basis over the course of the two years I was a student there. Over that time, we all developed a camaraderie and become pretty good friends.
It is an experience that I treasure to this day. Those were good times, and I will likely never get my hands on such a piece of equipment as that again nor see any of those objects with such clarity.
We have all seen pictures of the craters on the moon. It's different when you are looking at a "live" picture with awesome clarity. Likewise, with Saturn's rings, the storm on Jupiter, various nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters.
It is quite humbling to stare at all these wondrous objects. It sure makes you feel small when you consider the scale and the fact that this light you are looking at (unless they were planets in our solar system) is millions of years old.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
horse sense ...
Dad is a big fan of horse racing. He watches it almost daily since he has TVG as part of his DirecTV package.
Today was a big day for horse racing fans with the running of the Breeder's Cup in Louisville, KY. He spent the day shuffling between college football and his horse races.
Apparently, my dog, Shiner
It was comical. That dog was totally captivated.
I have never seen her have an interest in TV, but there was no denying that she was watching it today. I sure would love to know what she was thinking as she intently watched the horses running.
Once the race was over, she went back to her own little world. Dad was curious how many bones that Shiner bet, and on which horse she bet on. ; )
Friday, November 5, 2010
I love these moments ...
Heh. Here we are, Dad and I, just being *totally* stupid and horse-laughing at (mostly) nothing. It is pretty sweet!
Of course alcohol has been involved, but it's all good. I treasure these moments. Not so much when Dad and I have been drinking, but the simplicity of just the two of us being .... us. It is far too rare these days!
We don't need alcohol but it helps 'break the ice' so to speak. Tonight both he and I are drinking. Again, not that it's necessary but somehow the drinking breaks down barriers/walls he and I have already built over the years.
Sure, there have been times this has turned ugly, but that is mostly due to his bitterness with being "less" than what he expected and me being every bit as stubborn and hard-headed as he has taught me to be over the years. Yeah, it gets ugly. Perspective, damn I need to hold on to perspective.
These rare moments that ain't always going to be at my disposal. I can recall many days that I used to regret sharing my bedroom with my snowbird grandfather, Lyle. Great guy, but as annoying as the day is long. When he was with us, I, sadly, didn't appreciate his company as much as I have since his passing. (okay for context, I used to have to share my teenager bedroom with the man -- roll away bed, and guess who got the roll-away?)
I am lucky in that respect with Dad. I don't regret him nearly as much as I did with Lyle. Lyle was a character, don't get me wrong. Dad is too, but somehow in my ignorant youth I found Lyle to be more annoying than Dad, as much as Dad can be annoying (and for those not 'in the know' ... Dad is quite annoying at times).
It's all good. I am just happy that this night doesn't bring near the aggravation last Friday night did.
Of course alcohol has been involved, but it's all good. I treasure these moments. Not so much when Dad and I have been drinking, but the simplicity of just the two of us being .... us. It is far too rare these days!
We don't need alcohol but it helps 'break the ice' so to speak. Tonight both he and I are drinking. Again, not that it's necessary but somehow the drinking breaks down barriers/walls he and I have already built over the years.
Sure, there have been times this has turned ugly, but that is mostly due to his bitterness with being "less" than what he expected and me being every bit as stubborn and hard-headed as he has taught me to be over the years. Yeah, it gets ugly. Perspective, damn I need to hold on to perspective.
These rare moments that ain't always going to be at my disposal. I can recall many days that I used to regret sharing my bedroom with my snowbird grandfather, Lyle. Great guy, but as annoying as the day is long. When he was with us, I, sadly, didn't appreciate his company as much as I have since his passing. (okay for context, I used to have to share my teenager bedroom with the man -- roll away bed, and guess who got the roll-away?)
I am lucky in that respect with Dad. I don't regret him nearly as much as I did with Lyle. Lyle was a character, don't get me wrong. Dad is too, but somehow in my ignorant youth I found Lyle to be more annoying than Dad, as much as Dad can be annoying (and for those not 'in the know' ... Dad is quite annoying at times).
It's all good. I am just happy that this night doesn't bring near the aggravation last Friday night did.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
wasted days ...
With Dad's physical state, someone needs to be here with him 24/7. Isaac is headed off for college come January and Dad's lack of trust in Melissa to lift him doesn't allow for me to get a (paying) job.
As much as people complain about having to work everyday, at least when I was working, not only did I have a paycheck to help pay the monthly bills (as well as have some pocket money of my own), at the end of the day, I felt like I did something productive -- I had some self-respect.
Dad sits here day in, day out in front of his idiot box and is content with it. We sit here day after day after day.
The days keep slipping away. I feel like life is a waste these days. We never do anything, just sit here. Hours pass, days pass, months pass.
Dad's routine is going from his bed to his TV and then back. That's it. He's convinced he cannot do anything. I wish he was more of a "I can" instead of focusing on the "I can only do" kind of guy, but he has always seen the negative rather than the positive.
I tell him I am here for his benefit. I will take him wherever he wants, we can do whatever he wants, but he doesn't ever want to do anything but watch TV. Personally, I hate TV, but it's not about me.
So why bother typing up a blog about nothing? What is this a Seinfeld blog? ;j
About a couple months ago, he suggested getting an old 30s model Ford project to work on. Cool!
I told him that would be great, but it would be something he would have to have a hand in. This would mean him actually going out to the garage and working on it WITH me.
He seemed to be excited ... briefly. It is always fleeting with him. He has since found reasons that this isn't going to happen.
He bought a Goldwing with a sidecar and was all excited and talked about road trips for about a week or so. He still has yet to get in it. Granted, I was spooked the first couple of times on it, but I have since gotten a bit more comfortable with it.
Earlier this year, he dropped $30+ K on a new Challenger R/T and it sits in the driveway almost all the time. It only has about 400 miles on it, 250 of which were put on that first weekend. He also has an old mustang that sits in the garage collecting dust. Oh sure, these cars get out periodically to keep fluids flowing, but really it's a rare thing.
He talks about going to a bar one of these days. We never do. He talks about going to Florida again to see old friends one of these days. We never do. "One of these days" ... damn, I wish I had a dollar for every time I have heard him say that phrase!
The past three days we were supposed to go do the weekly chore of shopping. Basically, it's the only time he ever gets out of the house anymore. Two days ago, he was sick, yesterday I was. Today was nasty and rainy, so again, we ... just .... sit ... here! I guess we are waiting on "one of these days".
Total waste! I don't want him to go out all the time and spend money. However, I can't stand to see him sit here and constantly do NOTHING! It's pathetic!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
choices choices .... choice? maybe?
I don't typically engage in discussions about politics. I am more prone to discuss religion because at least there is a basic knowledge and motive there for me (but to be honest I rarely even engage in those discussions either).
However, since this is election day, I guess I will make a stab at it. This is not about politicians in general, but about the landscape of politics. Two hundred plus years ago when this system we have was set up, it worked. There weren't as many people in the United States, and it surely wasn't as controlled by outside forces (lobbyists) as what Washington has become today.
I will confess that I have never voted. That is because I have never seen anyone that made it worth my time or that I identified with enough with to take the time. I am sure this sounds like a cop-out, but bear with me.
If I were ever to vote, voting at the local level is really all that appeals to me until we get rid of this cursed two-party-lesser-of-two-evils system. It's ridiculous!
America is waaaaayyy too eclectic to have a mere two "choices" to work with. W. only got elected to President because his first term he ran against Al Gore. He only got re-elected because he ran against John Kerry. I am not saying W. was the lesser of two evils in either instance, but the fact that there were two (realistic) options (not choices), allowed him to score the majority of the vote. Both elections were close ... probably the closest ever.
To further (and hopefully not belabor) the point, we have two people running to represent TN right now for a seat in Washington. The democratic candidate is Scott Desjerlais, the doctor (that is how he represents himself ... Scott Desjerlais, the doctor)
HTF is he qualified to fill a seat in Congress? I mean, really!
His opponent, Lincoln Davis, has engaged in smear attacks (another turnoff for me) and contends that Desjerlais has been accused of striking his wife and held a gun to his head in a standoff with the police at some point in his past. Desjerlais' smear capaign has gone after Davis saying he is hardly helpful to our times as he has sided with Pelosi and Obama during his tenure and voting Davis isn't any change ('more of the same' ... now where have I heard that before)?
So now the political landscape is so bad that we in TN are reduced to voting for a doctor (with a possibly sketchy past?) just "to achieve change". I am sure this is not an isolated incident, but since I don't have ny nose in the political realm, I cannot say.
Voting for someone just because they are not an incumbent is not a good policy. Sure it may cause change, but throwing someone in because they are not the one who has been there regardless of their qualifications? Just sounds like a recipe for disaster. Again, we need more than TWO choic.... errrr .... options!
Good luck to all that vote and I hope you find someone that you can relate with and that it will work out for you in the next six years.
However, since this is election day, I guess I will make a stab at it. This is not about politicians in general, but about the landscape of politics. Two hundred plus years ago when this system we have was set up, it worked. There weren't as many people in the United States, and it surely wasn't as controlled by outside forces (lobbyists) as what Washington has become today.
I will confess that I have never voted. That is because I have never seen anyone that made it worth my time or that I identified with enough with to take the time. I am sure this sounds like a cop-out, but bear with me.
If I were ever to vote, voting at the local level is really all that appeals to me until we get rid of this cursed two-party-lesser-of-two-evils system. It's ridiculous!
America is waaaaayyy too eclectic to have a mere two "choices" to work with. W. only got elected to President because his first term he ran against Al Gore. He only got re-elected because he ran against John Kerry. I am not saying W. was the lesser of two evils in either instance, but the fact that there were two (realistic) options (not choices), allowed him to score the majority of the vote. Both elections were close ... probably the closest ever.
To further (and hopefully not belabor) the point, we have two people running to represent TN right now for a seat in Washington. The democratic candidate is Scott Desjerlais, the doctor (that is how he represents himself ... Scott Desjerlais, the doctor)
HTF is he qualified to fill a seat in Congress? I mean, really!
His opponent, Lincoln Davis, has engaged in smear attacks (another turnoff for me) and contends that Desjerlais has been accused of striking his wife and held a gun to his head in a standoff with the police at some point in his past. Desjerlais' smear capaign has gone after Davis saying he is hardly helpful to our times as he has sided with Pelosi and Obama during his tenure and voting Davis isn't any change ('more of the same' ... now where have I heard that before)?
So now the political landscape is so bad that we in TN are reduced to voting for a doctor (with a possibly sketchy past?) just "to achieve change". I am sure this is not an isolated incident, but since I don't have ny nose in the political realm, I cannot say.
Voting for someone just because they are not an incumbent is not a good policy. Sure it may cause change, but throwing someone in because they are not the one who has been there regardless of their qualifications? Just sounds like a recipe for disaster. Again, we need more than TWO choic.... errrr .... options!
Good luck to all that vote and I hope you find someone that you can relate with and that it will work out for you in the next six years.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
short and sweet .....
no, not the blog. The title refers to the ride I took today on Dad's ( '07 'wing with a sidecar), which I affectionately call the land yacht, due to its behemoth size.
The previous two times I have been on this bike have been ... interesting. The first time was the ride home from first picking it up in Knoxville (about 40 miles) and the second was just a 3 mile run up to the nearest vacant parking lot to practice.
Both times the rig had lifted as I entered into a right hand turn. Both times, this freaked me out and I hit the brakes. And, both times, I have been pushed hard to the left and have not had enough strength to counter it. Luckily, both times I have been fortunate enough not to get hurt, or do any damage to anyone or anyone's property.
I have since been able to figure out that if I shift my weight closer to the sidecar when entering a right turn, it doesn't have the tendency to tilt. I also figured that the front brake seemed to be my biggest issue. When I clamp down on that, the bike pushes to the left. I have learned to shift my weight and use less front brake (which is so opposite of how I handle a normal motorcycle).
Still, to say I am a bit intimidated by this machine, is putting it mildly. I have easily logged about a quarter of a million miles on a two-wheeled motorcycle and feel I am quite proficient at it. I expected that the hack'd 'wing would be different, however, I guess I just didn't realize *how* different it would be.
Isaac was able to tend to Dad for a couple hours today which freed me up to go acquaint myself with this beast. I planned out a route that would entail about 80 miles of four-lane type U.S. highways that should limit the amount of hard right turns I would encounter. That was the plan, anyway.
This area is abundant with nice twisty mountain roads that are perfect for motorcycles. That is one of the many reasons I love this area. However, until I get into a comfort zone with the land yacht, I have no inclination to hit those just yet.
I set out to the same vacant parking lot I practiced at before (again, it's only a few miles away) and did some more circles. This time, however, I played with the suspension settings, both on the bike and on the sidecar. I have read that a good practice for learning control of a hack is to "fly the car" -- this means to ride the bike on two wheels with the sidecar in the air.
I tried that with some success and once I felt a bit comfortable with the car lifting, headed out for the road to do my little 80 mile run. The weather was absolutely perfect for riding. The skies were a beautiful blue and without a cloud to be seen anywhere and the temperature was in the mid-70s. Just perfect!
I am riding along US 321, which had recently been repaved and was smooth as a baby's bottom. Everything is going along fine. It seems the suspension settings I picked in the parking lot are really working out.
Left turns are no problem. However, every single right turn I approach has me nervous. None of the rights I faced were hard rights, but just the same, my nerves are wracked.
I am on 321 for about 25 miles. By now, I am settled in, and even the right handers I face are not as bothersome. Cool! I am starting to settle in.
So much so that when I come across a state road (that I have been on before and know it is not very straight, but not real technical either), that I decide to take it. This road is nearly empty, and I am just tickled for that fact!
The road does have some moderately tight turns and sequences. There were a few warning signs with the squiggly S indicating a series of turns with some labeled as 25 MPH and others as 20 MPH. Ordinarily, these signs bring a smile to my face when I am on a bike, but on the hack, not so much. However, this is just what I need to get over my fear/intimidation.
I did fine. I am still cringing as I enter the rights, but I never once crossed the yellow line. I certainly need more time on it, but I seem to be gaining.
It was only 80 miles, but every muscle in my upper torso is sore from muscling that heavy pig around. However, it's a happy kind of sore. I gained some confidence on that bike today and feel that a couple more outings like that and I will be able to set Dad in the sidecar and get him back 'in the wind'. ; )
The previous two times I have been on this bike have been ... interesting. The first time was the ride home from first picking it up in Knoxville (about 40 miles) and the second was just a 3 mile run up to the nearest vacant parking lot to practice.
Both times the rig had lifted as I entered into a right hand turn. Both times, this freaked me out and I hit the brakes. And, both times, I have been pushed hard to the left and have not had enough strength to counter it. Luckily, both times I have been fortunate enough not to get hurt, or do any damage to anyone or anyone's property.
I have since been able to figure out that if I shift my weight closer to the sidecar when entering a right turn, it doesn't have the tendency to tilt. I also figured that the front brake seemed to be my biggest issue. When I clamp down on that, the bike pushes to the left. I have learned to shift my weight and use less front brake (which is so opposite of how I handle a normal motorcycle).
Still, to say I am a bit intimidated by this machine, is putting it mildly. I have easily logged about a quarter of a million miles on a two-wheeled motorcycle and feel I am quite proficient at it. I expected that the hack'd 'wing would be different, however, I guess I just didn't realize *how* different it would be.
Isaac was able to tend to Dad for a couple hours today which freed me up to go acquaint myself with this beast. I planned out a route that would entail about 80 miles of four-lane type U.S. highways that should limit the amount of hard right turns I would encounter. That was the plan, anyway.
This area is abundant with nice twisty mountain roads that are perfect for motorcycles. That is one of the many reasons I love this area. However, until I get into a comfort zone with the land yacht, I have no inclination to hit those just yet.
I set out to the same vacant parking lot I practiced at before (again, it's only a few miles away) and did some more circles. This time, however, I played with the suspension settings, both on the bike and on the sidecar. I have read that a good practice for learning control of a hack is to "fly the car" -- this means to ride the bike on two wheels with the sidecar in the air.
I tried that with some success and once I felt a bit comfortable with the car lifting, headed out for the road to do my little 80 mile run. The weather was absolutely perfect for riding. The skies were a beautiful blue and without a cloud to be seen anywhere and the temperature was in the mid-70s. Just perfect!
I am riding along US 321, which had recently been repaved and was smooth as a baby's bottom. Everything is going along fine. It seems the suspension settings I picked in the parking lot are really working out.
Left turns are no problem. However, every single right turn I approach has me nervous. None of the rights I faced were hard rights, but just the same, my nerves are wracked.
I am on 321 for about 25 miles. By now, I am settled in, and even the right handers I face are not as bothersome. Cool! I am starting to settle in.
So much so that when I come across a state road (that I have been on before and know it is not very straight, but not real technical either), that I decide to take it. This road is nearly empty, and I am just tickled for that fact!
The road does have some moderately tight turns and sequences. There were a few warning signs with the squiggly S indicating a series of turns with some labeled as 25 MPH and others as 20 MPH. Ordinarily, these signs bring a smile to my face when I am on a bike, but on the hack, not so much. However, this is just what I need to get over my fear/intimidation.
I did fine. I am still cringing as I enter the rights, but I never once crossed the yellow line. I certainly need more time on it, but I seem to be gaining.
It was only 80 miles, but every muscle in my upper torso is sore from muscling that heavy pig around. However, it's a happy kind of sore. I gained some confidence on that bike today and feel that a couple more outings like that and I will be able to set Dad in the sidecar and get him back 'in the wind'. ; )
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