It works again, or a little cat and mouse.

I've resurrected that poor computer many times now. Turns out this time was not a big deal. Bad power cord.

So the deal with the cat is...
I'm at the computer, and the wife is nearby talking to me. I turn to look at her and the big fat brown cat jumps up on the desk. I don't mind cats but I won't let them monopolize my time by sitting in front of me at the computer. I pick up the cat. The cat's stern is facing the monitor. I put the cat on the floor and turn around to notice a smell... Shit. The smell and the expletive. Apparently the cat had an icky belly, as we say, and when I squeezed her... well you get the idea. I spent several hours cleaning. New keyboard. The mouse got away unscathed, ironically.

Computer died...

It's a funny story if you think squeezing a big brown cat and having shit spray out is funny... Uh anyway, doing some blogging is on the list of things to do. However, I'm limited to only the work computer which is not real practical with the current time constraints. That said, I'll be back when I get a new box or get mine fixed. I'll fill you in on the cat story then. It's kind of like the scene in Pulp Fiction when that pistol goes off in Vincent Vega's hand and... well you know the rest. Until then, keep your booger hook off the bang switch.

So Matt says "Maybe a list is what I need..."

We find Matt and Surly having a friendly conversation in the virtual garage that is Matt's brain. Matt has been trying to think of a way to fulfill his creative needs and also simplify his life. Surly is attempting to keep Matt from chasing his tail and making the same old mistakes. Let's have a listen, shall we?

Surly - BWAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAA..... yeah, right. A fuckin list. Then what are you gonna do with the list? Toss it on the dresser amongst the Chipotle receipts and memory cards and forget about it. Yeah, that's about right. A fuckin list...you crack me up.
Matt -Naw, naw...bear with me. Not just jot it down on paper and forget about it. Put some real thought into it and just try to stick to the list. Keep it simple, you know?
Surly - You're fuckin simple.
Matt - Fuck you, you know what I mean.
Surly - Yeah, I know. So what then? Milk, bread, eggs...that sort of shit?
Matt - I've got too much shit, right? I mean, too much clutter and not enough substance. I've got three motorcycles here that don't run and one that I don't have time to ride. Maybe I could start there. Limit it to two bikes, shit maybe even one. Then carefully consider what the bike should be. I've got the SV and maye the other bike should be a Dual-sport, say an XR650 or KLX650. Then, if I run across some piece of shit Honda for three-hundred bucks I can remind myself that it's not on the list.
Surly - O.K., I get that. Then what about a Harley? You know you want some piece of shit project Sportster that you'll never finish.
Matt - All that shit can be worked out. That's why you have a list. Put a little thought into it, you know? Yeah, I want something cool and old but I also want practical and reliable. Just gotta keep it to a minimum and have it fit into the plan. And no basket cases. Fuck that. I don't have time for that. Maybe when the kids are grown I can rethink that.
Surly - So what else?
Matt - Well, the stuff I'd like to have but have been complaining about not being able to afford or the "Someday I'll have one of those" type deals.
Surly - What about em?
Matt - Write em down, then look at what's important. Here's one, I have a lathe but it's not wired. Get a plan together to make that happen. Sell off some of the shit I'm tripping over and use that money to buy the supplies.
Surly - You start writing all that shit down and your little pin head will blow the fuck up.
Matt - Blow me....All I'm saying is I've got too much shit and a guy has to have a fucking plan so's he can stay focused on what's important.
Surly - O.K. I get it. Eyes on the prize, yeah?
Matt - You're such a dick. Let's go get a taco.

Here's an unrelated photo of the dragbike my Dad built sitting the yard of my boyhood home. Good shit there. Incidentally, I hit that tree with my Ninety-Eight once. Caved in the rear passenger door. Tree didn't flinch.

Renzo Effin' Pasolini

I will begin blogging again shortly. Until then enjoy this picture of Mr. Pasolini.

Photo nicked from LeContainer

A pair of zircon encrusted tweezers.

I never thought that this point in my life would be like it is. I'm not complaining. Well, not right now to you, dear Reader. Working lots of hours on a challenging project, training a couple of little boys to be men, trying to stay in shape, and just generally trying not to go koo-koo bananas is quite harrowing work. Never mind the marriage and the other family stuff. It's starting to get close to the end of the year and the reflections that come with all of that. I've been learning about things this year that I hadn't thought of in the past. Probably a post or two in that content if I try hard. Really, I just wanted to say I'm still here and will continue blogging but I just have to focus on higher priorities right now. Keep checking in, I'm not going away. "Steady by jerks" as Joey B. used to say.

I'm considering selling my two motorcycle projects, Gymi or Red if you guys are interested or know anyone hit me up. 75' CB400f and 66' HD Sprint 250. At least I think it's a 66, I'll have to look.

On the facial hair front, I had decided to let my hair and beard grow for the winter. I'm balding, or already bald or what ever you call it. A little hair does grow up there however. I thought I'd give it one last chance to see if I could eek out a proper haircut and not look like a blond George Costanza (not that there's anything wrong with that). Coincidentally, two friends from work decided to have a beard off. That is to day, see who could go the longest without trimming their beard. Loser has to wear a mustache for a full work day. Big deal, right? I figured I'd get in on this. It's not that big of a deal to walk around a machine shop looking like Ted Kaczynski. Unless you figure in talking to the women in the office who you need to help you with shipping and accounts payable. I'm pretty sure I was creeping them out. It's a good thing I'm one charismatic mother fucker. Another consideration is the vendors I have to meet with occasionally.  Of course, I need to talk to the owners from time to time. And the plant manager. Head of Engineering. My department head. Hmmm... Probably not all that professional considering some of the big projects going on. The kicker was the wife mentioned that I looked crappy. She never mentions that. Like never. Of course looking in the mirror was no picnic. So after some deliberation about what style of 'stache I was going to sport, it hit me.

Yeah, that'll work. So after my run this morning I broke out my new Wahl balding clippers and went to town. Just for kicks I left the beard and just shaved my head. Captain Spaulding. Not a good look, sorry Sid.
Actually now that I have the Zappa stache, it's kind of growing on me. Pun only sort of intended.

I lost six pounds of hair, and about twenty years off the way I look. In the immortal words of Prince... "Sexy mother fucker". (that link is decidedly NSFW) Perhaps I'm over stating it. Let your conscience be your guide. Anywhooo...I got rid of the homeless look and now I've got a Mr. Clean meets Sam Elliot thing going on. All this self deprecating has me exhausted. Have a nice Thanksgiving. Now I'm gong to go get a cup of coffee...and give my foot a push...just me and the pigmy pony over by the dental floss bush.  

A little Friday music to tighten up wit'

I've heard this song a million times and I've always loved it. Never saw this video until today. Pretty funny. The dichotomy between the mellowed out white guys in psychedelic shirts and the black dudes in the matching suits says a lot about the times. The drummer looks like he's fourteen. The dance moves those cats are doin' are pretty comical. It gets a little wobbly for at one point but hang in there as it only lasts a second or two. I could listen to this song all day. Enjoy.

Guest post with three time Vezina Trophy winner Tony Esposito!

O.k. Tony O is not really guest posting but I got a really cool Esposito Jersey for my birthday and I wanted to brag. Thanks Dad. Also, in this picture Tony looks just like my uncle Kenny.