honda928

honda928
Originally uploaded by thepoemster.

Alright, so we know at some time or another it became undesirable to call this thing a snow "blower" but I'll tell you what.....This thing Blows with a capital B.(a good thing BTW) After some experience with other brands of motors I heartily recommend the Honda because it actually starts. Never did it take more than two pulls to start the machine even when it was ten below zero. Nice feature. I have not needed the electric start feature but it is nice to know it's there if I do.

So far to date I've used it on four occasions to clear the snow from my driveway and that averages out to about $600.00 per storm so it's no wonder the brochure says it leaves you pining for the next snowstorm. It'll be nice to dollar cost average this bitch to a reasonable rate per storm however I do not have any doubt that it will one day do this providing that I live that long and/or global warming doesn't start expediting itself exponentially that is. We'll wait and see.

Seriously though, I recommend enthusiastically anything Honda if.....

A: It involves a gas powered motor.

B: You wish to actually use it for it's intended use.


Let's see.....if I get four more storms......

R100S

R100S
Originally uploaded by thepoemster.

I used to be a Boy Scout and our motto was “A Scout is round”.

Back then it didn’t hold much meaning for me.

A reoccurring thought in my life has been that I feel so much is intertwined and connected. I know that it is only because of the nuances of the English language and the rest is contrived but still I have some fun with it and I’m a big symbolism fanatic sooo…

The R100S was a departure from the Japanese bikes that I had been riding prior in that it was more of a well-rounded machine. It did not excel at any one function be it speed or handling or long distance travelling. But it did everything well. It was light and maneuverable. I could ride it to the corner store with little fuss or pack up the snap on bags and take it on a trip to wherever. It ate up miles and miles of twisting back roads when I wanted do a little “sport riding”. It had plenty of power throughout the RPM range. As pictured it had just been rebuilt in 1983 because I was rather hard on it.

Back then I was hard on everything, even myself when I think of it. I’m still rebuilding me.

Like that bike, I also do not excel at any one thing. I do a number of things reasonably well when I have a love and an interest in them. By becoming well rounded in my own life I’ve found I can roll easier and my softened edges are less likely to snag or catch on an adjacent being. I have many interests I can turn to, I stay busy and challenged and can refine and redefine my goals as my life requires.

Whereas I am no longer a boy, I am still searching just as the word “scout” implies and the meaning of the motto, I understand well.

My van started fine this morning and was well warmed up for the ride to the library to return the audio books I borrowed weeks ago. Five miles from my home is the town library, a country store complete with gas pumps, a post office, a restaurant that is closed till May (every year it’s month later), the town offices, a few houses and that’s it. The library is adjacent to a field and located in a house that was built around two hundred years ago and the books are arranged on shelves against the wall as well as on free standing racks wherever space allows. I returned the tapes to the desk in the front. I walked to the room where the audio books were and started to spin the turnstile racks to find a couple of more tapes to go when I heard a child’s’ voice say:

“Hello”

My hand stopped the rack and I looked over to see a little blonde girl dressed in a green shirt and very baggy green corduroy pants and white shoes. She was smiling at me and I only later realized that the small amount of uncertainty she showed as she seemed to be waiting for my reaction to her greeting was well masked by her innocence and her outgoing nature. I of course had to return a smile and a hello. It’s quite rare that I see this level of trust by one so young to a total stranger.

Hello, as it turns out was little 15 month old Claire’s first and only word and she says it well. She reiterated the greeting several times during my stay and stood motionless in the doorway while I picked out a few new tapes. Her little hands hanging down around the pockets of her corduroys . Tiny little white shoes were also motionless. With my tapes in hand I walked her to the children’s section where her mom, the librarian was stocking the shelves with returned books. Judging by her careful steps she had not been long on the walking scene either. I thought how nice it was for her to be in this peaceful environment surrounded by the silence of the books and serenaded by the creaking pine floors. I thought that if all goes well for her it would give her an extra edge over and above the one I felt that she had already been given in having such a good nature.

Upon checking out the new tapes at the desk Claire walked up to me with a Sesame Street book in her outstretched arms. I knelt down beside her, opened to page one and began to read it to her. She alternated between looking at the pages and at me.

After that it seemed little Claire was off to grab another book so I took my leave and slipped out the door with my tapes.

And little Claire?

Well, she didn’t do too badly; she got an audio book of sorts too as read by the_poemster.

But she also taught me something today. That I can still recognize and appreciate the innocence that overflowed from her and have the good sense to sit and let it wash over me. That as I walked into the library admiring the setting of the field of pure white snow I also was fortunate to be touched by the purity in her little heart.

Thanks Little One

How was your day?

I really don’t much like this question when it comes down to it.
For a number of reasons that I suppose make no sense in going into. I mean like, what the hell does it matter anyway.

If something good happened chances are I’ll tell you and if something bad happened I’m probably still reconciling the thing and don’t want to talk about it anyway.

So, if I had my druthers, nobody would ask me “How was my day?”

Oh, I may have given the impression I just had a bad day, huh?
Well I didn’t.

I went to the principals’ office for a meeting with my son’s teacher and it went well and I got the impression that they are as on top of the situation as possible. It is a case of boys being boys as they say.
They are aware of the fact that my son is extremely sensitive and encouraging is the fact that we are in total agreement as to the causes and remedies involved in keeping things running smoothly.

They are both caring and professional people and I feel fortunate to have them in the positions that they are in.

Birthday party tomorrow for one of Tommy’s classmates, actually his girlfriend and we have a little hobby store up the road from us.
It’s out in the middle of nowhere set up of the people’s residence.

He sold “HO” style-racing cars and I figured as tonight is pizza night and my wife has to work we would make use of the racetrack I bought some years ago. I bought two NASCAR trucks and I was surprised to see Caroline at three do so well. She really liked it and was laughing a lot.
It soon turned out that we had a race fan amongst us. A four legged one at that. Our kitty cat found great sport in chasing down the cars like mice. We laughed; it was another great night.

How come nobody ever asks, “How was your night”?

Awhile ago on thepoemster blog I told of a bedtime story I was going to read to my kids. The book was “A Fly Went By”.

Tommy actually started to read the book and it went like this.

“A fly went by” and at that point Caroline then two years old blurted out “and kicked you in the ass”.

I used to think that too.

That pretty much ended that story. It was too funny she saying that in her squeaky little voice.

I got to think about the subject matter though and it really is a very relevant book.

The fly was being chased by a frog who was being chased by a cat who was being chased by a dog who was…all the way up to a hunter who was being chased by who knows what kind of evil was making such a clattering noise. It turned out that the “evil being” was a frightened lamb that had gotten her hoof caught in a tin can and was frightened herself.

Nobody was chasing anybody.

It’s easy to feel that everybody is out to get you or keeping you down but the reality most likely is that we all are just trying to do what it is we are trying to do.

It’s easy to feel like you are constantly getting kicked in the ass everytime you turn around.

But that's unproductive.

Mostly, as of late I’ve found that I have been the only one who has been holding me back in any meaningful way. Not intentionally mind you and I’ve yet to fully understand it however it most likely is the same reason as in the children’s story.

Since my spiel about an analogy of my life to a football game and the third quarter hullabaloo (every bit of which I meant) things have been going pretty well.

In the working world I have changed how I present myself to others. I take it upon myself to make the first effort in being amiable and friendly.

At the same time I had to establish that I was credible and capable of doing the job at hand. I knew I was and that was important in order to convey a level of confidence and trust from the people who where responsible for my workmanship. Mission accomplished.

Next up was to be able to get along with other workman and this is no small feat because of the politics and believe it or not because a lot of these guys are pussies. Here is where a little acting ability paid off. And a healthy amount biting my tongue. But the big payoff comes when they invariably talk to the bosses and the bosses realize that the workflow is smoother so they are benefiting from me being there instead of someone who goes against the grain and causes problems. I have become somewhat of the “chosen one” and I laugh all the way to the bank.

A side benefit of being amiable was that no one wants to bust my balls. They know if something is not right I will fix it in a heartbeat with no questions asked and no resistance whatsoever. Being resistant only serves to make them want to exercise their power over you and insist that you fix it. Hehe. I’m telling you this crap works. I call it my “Howdy Doody” approach.

Also, since these units are under a strict deadline working late hours and on weekends is required sometimes. Now it’s one thing to work hard but it is not enough. I watched this show on the life of Ben Franklin and he said this:

“You don’t want to only work hard but you want to be seen working hard”.

I wish I had said that. But it’s enough for me to know it’s true and put it to good use. The bosses know who is consistently working late and who works on weekends and this establishes your dedication and work ethic for the job. This garners their respect and when it's crunch time they come to you.

Back to the game, I’ve been throwing some quick strikes and I'm poised to throw some more touchdowns. I’m still behind but it’s getting interesting and I'm still in this thing.

Since that post I’ve almost doubled my income all because I changed the way I present myself and react to others and I have been having some fun doing it. In six more months maximum I intend to break through the six figure mark. Then I can pay more taxes and be right back where I started from.

All work and no play makes me not able to blog much but I do have some time tonight.

We finally have gotten a little snow I guess there is about six or seven inches out there and I did get to try out my new snowthrower. It worked well and not only did it not wake up the neighbors but it didn't wake me up either. Well, not until I hit on a snag and the handlebar jabbed me just above my groin. Damn. I gotta wear a cup and then some next time.

Last year we had a total of nine feet of snowfall where I live and so far this year it's been real light with only some measly flurries and above average temps. We'll see what happens from here on in.

Tommy got to stay home from school today and I'm always happy for him when this occurs.

I used to love it as a kid but it used to drive my mom nuts. I liked it especially when the city was "paralyzed" and nobody could go anywhere. No school,no work, maybe just walk around on the streets and see an occasional snowmobile or a cop chasing a snowmobile. Spoilsports.

Too many spoilsports in this world.

It's been really busy around here with the holiday's and guests and work and all.

I figured I would try the picture route for a number of reason's one of them being each pic is worth a thousand words give or take a few as you know and I have been pressed for time so.....

Caroline and I have been riding around alot lately and she has a particular cd with kids songs on it that we play in our travels. She likes "Puff the Magic Dragon" and I am kind of partial to "The Rainbow Connection" as sung by Sarah McLachlan.

"The Rainbow Connection"

written by Kenny Ascher and Paul Williams


Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it,
And look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.

All of us under its spell,
We know that it's probably magic...

... Have you been half asleep? And have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name.
... Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
It's something that I'm s'posed to be...
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.


I just found out now that it was sung also in the Muppet Movie.