I can't believe that I am almost halfway through the year on my Frizt365 poetry blog.
I wasn't really sure that I'd be able to maintain the interest required to do it every day for a year. But it's looking good so far.
I don't know if you've been reading them all, but occasionally, I think four times so far, I've inserted something old that I've done. For the halfway point, I'm putting in what I long considered to be my finest, my bestest.
Tumbleweed Addiction. It was my attempt back in 1990-ish, to write a Bob Dylanish thing. I even had a melody that I sung it to. Much to my friend's annoyance I think. For I had it memorized, and sang it often for a year or so.
I don't know if it is all that great, I think it is good still. It's actually the piece of writing I spent the most time on I think, all things considered. I tinkered with it on and off for a while, changing this, changing that. It's still not quite right. But I can't bring myself to change it anymore. I like the phrasing on most of it. Even if it doesn't make the most sense in the world.
So look for it in a few days: #183 Tumbleweed Addiction. From 1991. Fuck me, 20 years ago.
Cheers
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Spoiled Child Ahoy
I was a spoiled child. I don't know if it was because my parents couldn't have children of their own, and I was adopted, or what. But I do know I was spoiled.
How so? You ask? Well, lets start with the "Hobby" I had from 1976 until 1983 or so.
My father got me into Quarter Midgets. If you don't know what that is exactly, I will wait a minute while you Google it.
Ok, 1976, I was 5 years old. Naturally, my dad thought I should be in a race car. So he did it smart, mostly. Used an old snowmobile trailer we already had, bought a very old race car, and scrounged up an old basic engine from someone. The first year was just to see if we all liked to do this new thing. Needless to say, I did. So did my dad. I don't recall how I did that first year. I remember the car, it was an old '60's model Curtis car, painted with white primer, and red and blue number sevens on it. It was our country's bicentennial that year, after all.
The following years brought progressively better cars, engines, and accessories. I can't imagine all the money that was spent doing this. Using most of your time off, and vacation days to do your kid's activity. Seems outlandish to me. But that's what we did. In our Tri-state area of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. I remember tracks in Kokomo, Whites Town, Toledo, Indianapolis, Waterford, and our home track in the beginning, Lansing. there may have been a few more. Memory isn't my strong suit.
It sort of culminated when I was 14 or 15 years old, when my dad wanted to make a strong play for winning some big races. He came to me for my input, lord knows why, and asked, "If you could choose, would you rather have a great new car, or a great new engine??" Being a fool, I said, the car.
Foolish, because the car we had then, we had gotten new, albeit at a discount due to the people who ordered it backed out, but it was still new. A couple years old by then, and getting a little tight for me. I should have said "Engine please"
Because, the grand scheme he had was to get a new car and engine, and do some winning. But, he couldn't do both in one year. So, I got a brand new, custom built to my dimensions, Stanley car. It was super cool. We ran it with our old engine, in the Heavy B class. Didn't even paint it. Ran it with the black frame, and bare gel coated fiberglass all year. It was pretty darn cool.
We never got to see what was going to happen with a new car and engine, because that was the last year we did Quarter Midgets. I don't remember why exactly. Probably me, losing interest or something, or maybe it was partly due to the new High School things I had going, what with the month of August going to football practice.
So, that was that. Only one, of the many, spoiled activities that were bestowed upon me.
I think we can all agree, Me = Spoiled.
Cheers all
How so? You ask? Well, lets start with the "Hobby" I had from 1976 until 1983 or so.
My father got me into Quarter Midgets. If you don't know what that is exactly, I will wait a minute while you Google it.
Ok, 1976, I was 5 years old. Naturally, my dad thought I should be in a race car. So he did it smart, mostly. Used an old snowmobile trailer we already had, bought a very old race car, and scrounged up an old basic engine from someone. The first year was just to see if we all liked to do this new thing. Needless to say, I did. So did my dad. I don't recall how I did that first year. I remember the car, it was an old '60's model Curtis car, painted with white primer, and red and blue number sevens on it. It was our country's bicentennial that year, after all.
The following years brought progressively better cars, engines, and accessories. I can't imagine all the money that was spent doing this. Using most of your time off, and vacation days to do your kid's activity. Seems outlandish to me. But that's what we did. In our Tri-state area of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. I remember tracks in Kokomo, Whites Town, Toledo, Indianapolis, Waterford, and our home track in the beginning, Lansing. there may have been a few more. Memory isn't my strong suit.
It sort of culminated when I was 14 or 15 years old, when my dad wanted to make a strong play for winning some big races. He came to me for my input, lord knows why, and asked, "If you could choose, would you rather have a great new car, or a great new engine??" Being a fool, I said, the car.
Foolish, because the car we had then, we had gotten new, albeit at a discount due to the people who ordered it backed out, but it was still new. A couple years old by then, and getting a little tight for me. I should have said "Engine please"
Because, the grand scheme he had was to get a new car and engine, and do some winning. But, he couldn't do both in one year. So, I got a brand new, custom built to my dimensions, Stanley car. It was super cool. We ran it with our old engine, in the Heavy B class. Didn't even paint it. Ran it with the black frame, and bare gel coated fiberglass all year. It was pretty darn cool.
We never got to see what was going to happen with a new car and engine, because that was the last year we did Quarter Midgets. I don't remember why exactly. Probably me, losing interest or something, or maybe it was partly due to the new High School things I had going, what with the month of August going to football practice.
So, that was that. Only one, of the many, spoiled activities that were bestowed upon me.
I think we can all agree, Me = Spoiled.
Cheers all
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Failure!
Once again I have failed on some level. I was going to post one poem today, but wasn't at the right computer, so I just wrote a different one instead. I heartily apologize. Maybe tomorrow I'll post the one about the Post. Today's was about my toolbox. Why? Because I'm writing 365 of these, at least, and I need to vary my subject matter!
I did start cleaning part of my basement today. Only because I am embarassed of how it looks. If nobody ever saw it, I'd probably wait years longer to do it. But, this particular area is an issue, because we have a bathroom in the very back of the basement, the only one in the basement, and very soon my inlaws will be here for their annual camping trip, in my front yard. The bathroom basement is the one they use most often, so as to not dirty the toilet in the trailer.
But the point of all this is the mess.
We've been watching that Hoarders show on Netflix lately. And I am horrified at how those people live, and how it seems to become normal and acceptable for them. Then I do the introspective thing, and look around my own home. I see minor, or the beginnings of similarities.
I'll start with the animal feces. In the show, the subjects let animal crap and piss overrun their homes, or areas of their homes often. In my house, we have two little dogs, who are far from housebroken, to the point that they both wear diapers for their pee. They often poop in the house, usually I or the wife, see it and pick it up right away. But, sometimes they will go in an area we don't go to all the time. Or worse, they'll go in a place where only the kids go. Getting the kids to care is an issue. They will sit an play video games, with several little poops on the floor near the couch, and they simply will not care. Or, a dog may go in their bedroom, if they leave the door open, and usually unless I say something or pick it up, the boy will leave it there. It makes me shudder with yuckiness. :b
So I'm trying to get the dogs to stop it, and raise awareness with the children how unacceptable it is to leave it on the floor. It's getting better I have to say.
The other similarity I see with the Hoarders show, is the keeping of things that aren't really needed.
My dad growing up, did me no favors in this regard. He always kept the original box, receipt, and instructions for almost everything he ever bought it seems like. Also with papers of all kinds, he'd just file them away.
Myself, I'm not as organized as him, so I tend to keep all that stuff, but it's not put away in any organized way. Usually ends up in a pile, somewhere on the way to where it needs to be stored, but that's as far as it usually gets. Every now and then I do a purge, and keep what needs keeping, and throw away what does not.
Today was one of those times. Felt pretty damn good to take four bags of garbage to the dump on the way to work, I gotta tell you. And I'm not done.
Wish me luck!
Cheers
I did start cleaning part of my basement today. Only because I am embarassed of how it looks. If nobody ever saw it, I'd probably wait years longer to do it. But, this particular area is an issue, because we have a bathroom in the very back of the basement, the only one in the basement, and very soon my inlaws will be here for their annual camping trip, in my front yard. The bathroom basement is the one they use most often, so as to not dirty the toilet in the trailer.
But the point of all this is the mess.
We've been watching that Hoarders show on Netflix lately. And I am horrified at how those people live, and how it seems to become normal and acceptable for them. Then I do the introspective thing, and look around my own home. I see minor, or the beginnings of similarities.
I'll start with the animal feces. In the show, the subjects let animal crap and piss overrun their homes, or areas of their homes often. In my house, we have two little dogs, who are far from housebroken, to the point that they both wear diapers for their pee. They often poop in the house, usually I or the wife, see it and pick it up right away. But, sometimes they will go in an area we don't go to all the time. Or worse, they'll go in a place where only the kids go. Getting the kids to care is an issue. They will sit an play video games, with several little poops on the floor near the couch, and they simply will not care. Or, a dog may go in their bedroom, if they leave the door open, and usually unless I say something or pick it up, the boy will leave it there. It makes me shudder with yuckiness. :b
So I'm trying to get the dogs to stop it, and raise awareness with the children how unacceptable it is to leave it on the floor. It's getting better I have to say.
The other similarity I see with the Hoarders show, is the keeping of things that aren't really needed.
My dad growing up, did me no favors in this regard. He always kept the original box, receipt, and instructions for almost everything he ever bought it seems like. Also with papers of all kinds, he'd just file them away.
Myself, I'm not as organized as him, so I tend to keep all that stuff, but it's not put away in any organized way. Usually ends up in a pile, somewhere on the way to where it needs to be stored, but that's as far as it usually gets. Every now and then I do a purge, and keep what needs keeping, and throw away what does not.
Today was one of those times. Felt pretty damn good to take four bags of garbage to the dump on the way to work, I gotta tell you. And I'm not done.
Wish me luck!
Cheers
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Anger -> Self
I'm more than a little irritated at myself. I had two decent ideas for poems today. One on the way to work, and one while I was walking here at work. And both frickin' times, I didn't write it down. And now, they are gone. What the hell, eh?
I want to write about Land Shark I, but, I have failed to dig up any pictures of it. I know I have a few, and I can almost, almost picture where they are...... so dammit.
What's that all about? You'll have to wait. lol
I fixed my motorcycle's headlight last night, much to my joy. It was the starter button/switch. Doesn't sound like that would make the headlight not work, until I looked in the wiring manual. Duh, there are four staggered contacts in the starter switch assembly, and the button part has two sliders. So when the button is out, it contacts two points, and when pushed in, two different points. The idea is not to have the headlight and the starter on at the same time. Battery drainage and all that rot. There was a bunch of gooey, dirty slop in the switch, and the headlight contacts were not contacting. Cleaned it, and presto, headlight el worko.
Maybe I'll ride it some. My wife complains that the huge metal box I put on the back looks awful, but I don't mind it. It gives me a safe place to put my helmet and jacket when I go into work. No picture, once again, dammit. Picture a metal box big enough to deliver three or four pizzas in, and that's what it looks like, sort of. It's actually an old Air China aluminum catering box. I used to have it hanging off my toolbox for extra storage, but now, it's on the back of my motorcycle. I'm fine with it.
My wieght loss, diet thing, is going well. I've lost about 20 pounds in the last month, exact number unknown due to me not having a scale to weigh myself until I had been on the diet for a week. Regular scales do not read my massive weight. I think I was close to 380 lbs when I started. I'm at 359 now. yay me!
Not feeling jittery, or anything anymore from the medicine, which is good. I do have to remind myself to eat enough though. I only get hungry when I've forgotten to eat all day.
Check in tomorrow on the poetry blog for one about a post. A post? Yes, a post. Read it.
Cheers!
I want to write about Land Shark I, but, I have failed to dig up any pictures of it. I know I have a few, and I can almost, almost picture where they are...... so dammit.
What's that all about? You'll have to wait. lol
I fixed my motorcycle's headlight last night, much to my joy. It was the starter button/switch. Doesn't sound like that would make the headlight not work, until I looked in the wiring manual. Duh, there are four staggered contacts in the starter switch assembly, and the button part has two sliders. So when the button is out, it contacts two points, and when pushed in, two different points. The idea is not to have the headlight and the starter on at the same time. Battery drainage and all that rot. There was a bunch of gooey, dirty slop in the switch, and the headlight contacts were not contacting. Cleaned it, and presto, headlight el worko.
Maybe I'll ride it some. My wife complains that the huge metal box I put on the back looks awful, but I don't mind it. It gives me a safe place to put my helmet and jacket when I go into work. No picture, once again, dammit. Picture a metal box big enough to deliver three or four pizzas in, and that's what it looks like, sort of. It's actually an old Air China aluminum catering box. I used to have it hanging off my toolbox for extra storage, but now, it's on the back of my motorcycle. I'm fine with it.
My wieght loss, diet thing, is going well. I've lost about 20 pounds in the last month, exact number unknown due to me not having a scale to weigh myself until I had been on the diet for a week. Regular scales do not read my massive weight. I think I was close to 380 lbs when I started. I'm at 359 now. yay me!
Not feeling jittery, or anything anymore from the medicine, which is good. I do have to remind myself to eat enough though. I only get hungry when I've forgotten to eat all day.
Check in tomorrow on the poetry blog for one about a post. A post? Yes, a post. Read it.
Cheers!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
More Space = Faster Idiots
It's something in the human psyche, it just has to be.
I travel the same 35 mile stretch of US-23 in Michigan, twice a day. Once north, and once south. On this predominately two-lane highway, are two four-lane passing zones. In these two areas, the two-lane road opens up to four lanes, two going north, two going south, they are about 2 miles long.
The problem I have, is that sometimes, when following someone who can't seem to go faster than 45 or 50 mph in the two lane section; they speed up to 55 or 60 mph in the four lane passing area. This wouldn't be so bad, except that they slow right back down to their previous agonizingly slow speed as soon as they reach the end of the passing zone.
I could interpret this as someone intentionally being a jerk. And I have a few times. But too many different people do it for it to be that. I think it happens to people who aren't using their cruise control, and something in their head tells them the safe speed they should be going.
Their safe default speed for the more constricted two lane areas, becomes higher when suddenly presented with the open area of the four lane zones.
But it still aggravates me. To pull out to pass the person who was going 50 mph not 5 seconds ago, only to find them matching my passing speed of 60 mph. It's hard not to take it personally. Especially when I have to speed to 65 to get past them before the end of the zone, and I know full well that the state police like to stake out the exit area of the passing zones. Probably for this very reason.
This was more of a rant, than a worry. I'll try to stay more on topic.
Cheers
I travel the same 35 mile stretch of US-23 in Michigan, twice a day. Once north, and once south. On this predominately two-lane highway, are two four-lane passing zones. In these two areas, the two-lane road opens up to four lanes, two going north, two going south, they are about 2 miles long.
The problem I have, is that sometimes, when following someone who can't seem to go faster than 45 or 50 mph in the two lane section; they speed up to 55 or 60 mph in the four lane passing area. This wouldn't be so bad, except that they slow right back down to their previous agonizingly slow speed as soon as they reach the end of the passing zone.
I could interpret this as someone intentionally being a jerk. And I have a few times. But too many different people do it for it to be that. I think it happens to people who aren't using their cruise control, and something in their head tells them the safe speed they should be going.
Their safe default speed for the more constricted two lane areas, becomes higher when suddenly presented with the open area of the four lane zones.
But it still aggravates me. To pull out to pass the person who was going 50 mph not 5 seconds ago, only to find them matching my passing speed of 60 mph. It's hard not to take it personally. Especially when I have to speed to 65 to get past them before the end of the zone, and I know full well that the state police like to stake out the exit area of the passing zones. Probably for this very reason.
This was more of a rant, than a worry. I'll try to stay more on topic.
Cheers
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
1000 Lookie-Loos
Thank you, thank you. My adoring fans.
I've gotten 1,000 views on my Fritz365 poetry project blog as of today. Thank you, if you were one of those that took the time to look, and peruse something of mine. And if you haven't, give it a try. It only hurts for a minute or two.
I don't know where I'm going, but I do know where I've been. Here's to (roughly) another 6 1/2 months of bad poetry.
Cheers all.
I've gotten 1,000 views on my Fritz365 poetry project blog as of today. Thank you, if you were one of those that took the time to look, and peruse something of mine. And if you haven't, give it a try. It only hurts for a minute or two.
I don't know where I'm going, but I do know where I've been. Here's to (roughly) another 6 1/2 months of bad poetry.
Cheers all.
Friday, June 3, 2011
blur
I have a bit of a fever at this moment. Forgive the rambling.
My life of late has been a blur. Of going to and from work, working, and kids. Sometimes sitting and watching some Netflix too, of course. I sit down and write a poem or two every day, or every other day. Keeps me thinking. And need fodder for the poetry blog of course.
Chipmunks in my garage. I'm a little miffed about that. They've emptied four trays of D-con. I'm getting ready to try the chipmunk swimming pool (of death). I like chipmunks, so I hate doing it. But If they've wrecked anything of value in storage, I'll hear about it for years.
I know this, because mice chewed on my wife's leather jacket, when we lived in Greenbush. And I've not heard the end of it yet. 12 years later, lol. But, it was important to her, in her defense.
Off to the mines! Unremarkable times!
Cheers you people.
My life of late has been a blur. Of going to and from work, working, and kids. Sometimes sitting and watching some Netflix too, of course. I sit down and write a poem or two every day, or every other day. Keeps me thinking. And need fodder for the poetry blog of course.
Chipmunks in my garage. I'm a little miffed about that. They've emptied four trays of D-con. I'm getting ready to try the chipmunk swimming pool (of death). I like chipmunks, so I hate doing it. But If they've wrecked anything of value in storage, I'll hear about it for years.
I know this, because mice chewed on my wife's leather jacket, when we lived in Greenbush. And I've not heard the end of it yet. 12 years later, lol. But, it was important to her, in her defense.
Off to the mines! Unremarkable times!
Cheers you people.
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