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.

Happy New Year

It's the first of the year again. I hope you are all doing well after the big party or staying home with the kids. We went the party route and the kids were with Grandma. I good time was had by all. The party we went to had an ugly sweater theme so that made for some embarrassing photos of me and my friends. I've been thinking about last New Years Resolution. I was going to try to make a few bucks with the camera. Mission accomplished. The other was make two cool things. Other than photographs, I didn't make much of anything tangible this year. Today I was reflecting on how much photography gear I have and how few photographs I have displayed in the house. All the gear in the world does not make one a photographer. I guess that's just an observation because I've done more with photography this year than most any other year. I bought my DSLR last December and I'm on to my second camera body now. Quite a bit has changed in a year and I am so grateful for the opportunities I've had in 2010 and I'm looking forward to 2011. I learned quite a bit this past year as well. I hope I can continue to learn and keep working. The more I learn, the more I find out how much I don't know. That's pretty humbling but humble is a pretty good trait I think. As for the blog here, I'm not all that sure what is going to change if anything. I would like to thank all the folks that read my blog. I know I don't have that many readers but I'm certainly greateful for each of you that do. Thanks. Have a great 2011 and stop by often. Rock on.