So it rained today. No bike riding. ::sniff:: But tomorrow looks better, only 20% chance of rain, and the storm that was just south east of us is gone, replaced with a storm just west of us and moving towards Toronto. I’ve never seen a storm move like that. . .though I’m not a meterologist so I’m not one to talk. I’m just glad it isn’t passing this way.

On Sunday I went out at 10:30 am and got back about 3:30 pm, a good long ride. Though I did stop to stretch for a while with a walk  through the mall – even stopping at the Newbury Comics therein to look at comics. I felt a tinge of that old feeling of seeing new comics that I wanted to read: Lenore #13 was on the new comics section. No shit, I thought to myself, he finally got #13 out. Good for him. And good for us: Lenore #13 had some delightfully sick humor that made me laugh.  I picked that up along with All Star Superman #8 or 7 or whatever. It was the one when Superman is stuck on the Bizzaroe’s world and trying to get off by the aid of  talking in backwards speak. It was a fun comic. I usually really enjoy Grant Morrison’s writing, and the art on these is amazing. The other comic I got was Buffy:TVS season 8 #1 (third printing!). I got #2 when it came out, and couldn’t get my hands on a #1 when I was last at a comic store (back at the Laughing Orge at SPACE in April). So I picked it up – being the big Buffy fan I am. The art is great, and the story was pretty entertaining too. Though it makes me think it’d be better served as a trade paperback. So while the temptation is there, I’ll resist and pick up the trade when it comes out. I also got the trade of Warren Ellis’ Fell, but haven’t read it yet. A pretty large comics haul for me.

After my little pit stop at the mall I continued my ride and realized I was starving. A quick stop for some yummy Mexican food and I was back on the road.

What a feeling that was: a full happy belly and riding on the bike. . .it was amazing. I would think such a little thing wouldn’t be much, but it was peaceful: a full belly satisfied and my mind satisfied riding the bike.

I have Verizon DSL – that I still have a “land line” is due to the DSL or else I’d just use my cell phone (ha!). So in the morning I’ll turn it on just to check email before I go to work, as all “internet email” is blocked there.  This morning when I check my email. . .make that I tried to check my email this morning, but no internet. Umm. So I check all my connections – everything is plugged in and has power. Then umm, FireFox installed 2.0.0.5 or some such so I thought, perhaps something with the new version of FireFox does not like my internet/OS/whatever.

So I uninstalled  FireFox and tried again. No such luck. It was time to go to work so I figured I’d take care of it when I got back.

After work, I indeed still had the same connection problems so I called the Verizon internet help line. I went through their voice activated menu and after two minutes got a message that there had been internet outages in a nearby town and they had steps to take if I thought I had been affected by the outage. I followed the steps (turn off power to the modem and/or router and then  reboot the computer).

Nothing. No internet.

So I redialed the help line. And talked to a woman with a thick accent, whom I asked several times to repeat what she said. She led me though some steps, and about a half hour later I had internet back up and going. The woman was very patient with me and I could hear her chuckle at me when I laughed at my own mistake (typing in a password wrong to access my modem).

I hung up the phone with her, and went to download FireFox again. About 2 minutes later FireFox was downloaded and running again. It even had all my previous add-ons and plug-ins. Sweet!

The Verizon tech never told me what had happened with my internet, but I’m glad it is working again. I felt so disconnected without it – as I don’t have teevee, the internet is my connection to the outside world.

I don’t know what else to call it. When I’m not riding, I get this urge . . .to be riding. Almost like an addiction, but yet not like it. When I walk past my window, I can see my motorcycle. . .it is like she is calling out to me with her pretty pearl white lines and her chrome finish. . .

***

Work has been. . .hectic is one word for it. I’m getting saddled with projects and tasks that I shouldn’t be doing. I don’t mind doing them, but I do mind not being given the information I need to do them properly.  Then having to deal with issues I shouldn’t even see in the first place. . . I’m constantly going, and it seems that my people are constantly going – so they fall behind on other issues and I don’t know how to allevate their workload so they can get on those issues that they are falling behind on. Arbitrary deadlines that don’t seem so process critical to me, but should be done sometime in a reasonable time.  Hard to help them do their job when I’m swamped with bullshit myself.

Gah!

It is irritating that I get asked about the same process for a part even though we’ve been making the part for years. I don’t know what irritates me most about it: that my “special instructions” aren’t good enough, aren’t clear enough for the line workers to understand; or that the line worker that previously did the job didn’t train the new operator good enough to do the job properly; or that the line worker doesn’t care enough to do the job right the first time. . .I don’t know.

For some of my parts, I’ve numerically outline the steps in a particular operation for what to do. Literally going 1. blahblahblah 2. yaddayaddayadda. etc. Even then I get questions. So I don’t know, other then training each line worker on a particularly difficult part, what to do. I shouldn’t be training them, their supervisor should be. . .

***

But no the motorcycle, all I think of is the shifter above my left toes, the clutch lever at my left hand and the throttle on my right hand.  Life is so much simpler on the bike, with just the road, the growl of the engine, and the wind on my face. It is very relaxing, and I think that is why I crave . . .I live to ride, ride to live as the say.

So  I managed to ride the bike to work all last week. Every day. And I went for a couple rides today also. In fact, since I’ve gotten the bike three weeks ago, I’ve put just over 1,000 miles on it.

Riding it to work this week, I rode in fog and a misty drizzle. And rain, but it was sunny out so the rain didn’t really get the road that wet.

The fog wasn’t that bad. I had to wipe my goggles off maybe twice on the way to work, and the sun came out and burnt the fog off later in the day. The misty drizzle was a little less fun. I had to wipe my goggles every mile or so as they got wet and droplets formed on them. The roads were dry and my cloths stayed dry the entire ride into work, but the mist on my goggles made seeing my path a bit harder then if it were sunny out.

The day it rained and was sunny out at the same time was a day of lots of sun, and big puffy white clouds. The forecast called for a 30% chance of thunderstorms, and I didn’t see that many patches of green on the radar map.  The ride into work was fine, nothing but sunshine, but the ride home is when I got a bit wet.

I decided to take the long way home, as I did all but one day this week. Up the road I went, and the sun kept hiding behind these big white / gray clouds. All I could think of was my thirst, as I was thinking of stopping  and getting a gatorade or something. Then as I was coming up to the last stop light that I could turn back down to take the “short” way home, thoughts of thirst left me, and a spattering of rain started. It was just small almost nothing – enough that I could feel it on my face as quick needle pinpricks, but the roads were dry and the sun was still up. I stopped at the stoplight and looked up – a dark cloud overhead, but sunny blue skies around me.

The light turned green and I went forward instead of turning back home – I figured it would be a quick shower, and I’d be best to keep heading north instead of south as I would pass though it quicker. I did. The rain was never that heavy – and as soon as it started it was over. I didn’t even wipe my goggles during the rain, as it wasn’t that much.

It just stung like pinpricks on my face. I finished the rest of the “long way home” ride without any incidences. Other then some silly four wheelers cutting me off and ignoring me, nothing different then usual.

So for the past couple weeks I’ve been either taking the long way home with the bike or riding a big loop with no particular destination: just enjoying the ride. Last night on the way home from work as I drove my car (it was raining, bah!) I thought why don’t I see how far Gillette Stadium is from my place? Yeah, why not check out the home of the New England Patriots? So I checked out GoogleMaps and it looked like to only be an hour trip at the most. And that is taking the back roads.

So I used GoogleMaps and plotted out my course. I love the “hybrid” function of GoogleMaps as it allows me to “previsualize” my route and get a feel for it. I saw that I couldn’t take route 140 right to route 1 (the road that Gillette Stadium is on) but had to take a left about 1/8″ of a mile from rt 1. I also saw that Rt 140 went though Foxboro’s central square: a rotary of sorts. So I printed out a couple maps, just in case, but I had the route in my head.

I headed out about 9:30am and even though I didn’t need gas, I still filled her up (she only took just over a gallon) so I could go 120 miles without refilling. Just in case the trip was longer then I planned. The route out to the stadium was a nice quiet 2 lane back road. The sun was out and it was just perfect with my coat on.

When I got to the stadium, all the entrances that I had wanted to go in where blocked with orange cones and signs that said construction traffic couldn’t enter from route 1. Traffic was only coming and out via the main gate, and they had signs for “ProShop Parking”. Parts of the parking lot were blocked off, and cars could only park in this small area by the ProShop. I pulled between cones and got a good picture of the bike with the Stadium behind it:

The ProShop is the little building right behind the rear tire of the bike on the other side of those orange cones. I looked down at my tripometer: 22.2 miles! What the? I only live 22.2 miles from the home of the New England Patriots? Any time I’ve gone someone else has driven and we either take 495 or 95 to route 1.  22.2 miles! I didn’t bother checking the time to see how long it took me, I was just astounded at the short distance.

When I went inside the ProShop, it had that unfinished feel to it: concrete walls and floors. . .It seemed as if it were waiting for something. The selection of stuff for sale was pretty nice: pretty much everything on their website, plus they had a small display case with some of the autographed goodies: a Troy Brown autographed football for $250 (if I remember correctly), a framed piece of various game worn jerseys signed by the players, signed helmets, etc. There were approximately 10 to 15 people browsing around inside. It didn’t look that busy, but then again, it was a Saturday morning.

On my way out, there is a parking lot right out past the entrance. They had it blocked off with big flower pots, but – haha! – the bike easily fit though. I turned around and got a nice shot of the entire stadium:

Stay in your lane: How any times when I’m riding does some jackass cross the yellow lines. The DOUBLE yellow lines.  From the Massachusett’s state driver’s manual (p. 119):

Double Yellow Lines: Both Solid:  two solid yellow lines prohibit vehicles moving either direction from crossing the lines to pass another vehicle. You may not cross these lines unless turning left when it is safe to do so.

It isn’t vehicles passing another vehicle illegally against double yellow lines, it is people swerving out of the way to avoid something: either a bicycle, walkers, car in break down lane, etc.  Just because I’m on a motorcycle doesn’t mean I will or can move over to let you hog my side of the road.

When I ride, I ride on the left hand side of the road. The lane of road is broken up into three “sections”: the left, which is closest to the yellow line, the center, and the right, which is the one closest to the white line on the shoulder of the road. I like to ride in the left hand section for a variety of reasons:

• I can see oncoming traffic better and they can see me better – so instead of them not seeing me and attempting to make a left hand turn in front of me, they’ll see me.
• It is also easier for the vehicle ahead of me to see me: in their rear view mirror and their driver’s side mirror.
• I avoid any crud that your car kicks up from the shoulder of the road. There is all kinds of debris along the edge of the road and there are times when it is kicked up by the vehicle ahead of me and into my face. I decrease my chances of getting hit by that debris when I ride in the left section.
• Riding in your vehicle’s “footprint” saves me the trouble of having to swerve out of the way of stuff in the middle of the road because usually that is where it ends up.  To include fluids that come out of cars.

If we’re on a long stretch of boring straight road, then chances are I can swerve out of your way as you come into my lane. But I might not be able to: perhaps there is a biker to my right or a piece of debris to the right and if I swerve over I’ll hit it.

And the fact is, I shouldn’t have to make that hasty swerve. It is MY lane, not yours. You wouldn’t swerve over into my lane if I was in a big 18 wheeler or even my Mustang would you? Hopefully your answer is No.  So don’t assume that I can get out of your way. So instead, slow down, let me pass you and then as long as there is no other on coming traffic, you can get around whatever obstacle is in your way.  Because if you don’t, one of these days you’ll hit a motorcyclist, and then you’ll be going to jail because it’ll be your fault for crossing the double yellow lines.

And one other request: look in your rear view mirror: If you see a motorcycle in your rear view mirror please do not squirt your windshield wiper fluid, ride in the shoulder of the road kicking up dirt and what not, and throw your shit outside your window. How many times do I get “misted” from windshield wiper fluid or a face full of gravel or a cigarette butt tossed my way? I don’t have a windshield like you do to protect me from the crap coming out of the back of your car.

Just a little common courtesy, will go a long way.

Yesterday was a day of meeting hell. It began with a meeting that started the same time as my morning break would’ve started and ended with a meeting that started at the same time as my afternoon break would’ve started. The first meeting was a 3 hour doozie that went straight thru lunch. A quick 20 minute lunch and I was back at work. People kept giving me grief for not answering their pages – well, I didn’t hear them. The one I did hear and could respond to gave me a busy signal when I called right back. Bah.

Meetings aren’t that bad. If you can accomplish something, they can actually be productive and useful. These meetings had bits and pieces that were useful, but there was 85% fluff. I couldn’t take the fluff. It was all I could do to bite my tongue and just sit there. I kept thinking, sure I have work to be doing. . .But then so do the other meeting participants.

That and one of the meetings was others getting their paws into my business and doing stuff that should’ve been taken care of before I even got involved. ::sigh::

I felt like I was living a Dilbert cartoon.

So my Honda Shadow’s owner’s manual arrived today via the slow donkey from across the way. The bike does have cool features that I didn’t think it had ’cause they are hidden, or I just didn’t know about them:

• Tripometer: The Kawa had one, and I thought something was up when the digital odometer says “ODO” on it. . .why did it just state the miles and nothing else? But I didn’t know where the button was to change it to the tripometer so I just figured it didn’t have one. Well, it does have one, there is a button on the side that you can push to set the tripometer. Cool.
• Helmet lock: This is a feature that the Kawa didn’t have. On the left hand side of the bike there is a small peg that comes out when you put the key in and turn it. Slip the helmet latch thru it and pop the small peg back in the hole. Presto! Helmet locked on the bike. I had just been putting my helmet on the rear footpeg. But when I get a new helmet and get rid of this freebie from Dad, I’ll be using this nifty feature on the bike.
• Storage space: Not really worth mentioning other then I bitched about the lack of apparent storage space on the bike. So one of the first things I checked when I got the manual was the storage space. One small area on the left hand side of the bike. You have to remove a side panel and then “unlock” the plastic box storage. I say “unlock” because any small key that fits into the “lock” will turn the knob and open it up. It was harder to remove the side panel. When I opened up the storage space, I found the old owner’s registration. Whoops! I guess the dealer didn’t even check this spot.
• Engine off: I thought there were only two ways to turn off the engine: the engine kill switch and the key.  Nope, one more: the kickstand. There is a switch on the kickstand that shuts off the engine when it is swung down. I guess they don’t want you riding around with your kickstand down. . .as far as I can figure this only goes if you’re in gear.  Ahh, yes here it is on page 35: If the clutch is pulled in or the bike in neutral, then the engine will stay on with the kickstand down.  A nice safety feature.
• Wheel lock: I have a thick chain bike lock to secure my bike. On the Honda there is a front wheel lock: put the key in it, turn the key and the wheel is locked so people can’t roll your bike away.

So a few goodies that weren’t on the Kawa, but I’m still disappointed with the lack and ease of getting to my storage space. Perhaps a back seat rest and a pack that fits on it to hold some things. . .

Can you believe it? In a statement today Bush had this to say on his pal Scooter’s time to be in the pokey:

I respect the jury’s verdict. But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby’s sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison.

But who is this Scooter Libby guy and what did he do? Well, Bush tells you in his statement:

Others point out that a jury of citizens weighed all the evidence and listened to all the testimony and found Mr. Libby guilty of perjury and obstructing justice. They argue, correctly, that our entire system of justice relies on people telling the truth. And if a person does not tell the truth, particularly if he serves in government and holds the public trust, he must be held accountable. They say that had Mr. Libby only told the truth, he would have never been indicted in the first place.

Perjury = lying under oath and obstructing justice is another way of saying he lied. Again.  He didn’t tell  the truth. He didn’t have to lie. He could of pled the fifth amendment. And as Bush so eloquently stated above, “if a person does not tell the truth, particularly if he serves in government and holds the public trust, he must be held accountable.”

Of course, that is, unless you work for Cheney as Scooter did, and lied to investigators to cover for your boss. Sure, the guy has to pay a fine and do probation. . .but the fine is not so much for a guy like him, and probation? Please, he’ll just have to mail in form every month with a check. Not too hard.

I doubt this will wake up Bush supporters, but hopefully it’ll wake up those on the fence, and convince them that Bush and his cronies are just out for themselves.

Ohhh, my poor tookus. Good lordy lou it is a bit sore. I went for a longish bike ride, well, long for me anyways, and when I got back, the only part of me that was sore was my bottom. Usually my hands would hurt on the Kawa too unless I was wearing gloves, as the shakes from the bike would wear out my hands. The Honda though? No shakes, so my hands are fine, even without gloves, but I need to get some extra padding on the seat as the extra padding on my bottom isn’t enough.And yesterday when I was out riding the bike hit 9,999 miles and then 10,000 miles, I had to take a picture:

The little green light is the neutral light, and yes, my odometer is a digital display. That is another thing I miss about the Kawasaki: it had a tripometer, the Honda doesn’t as far as I can tell at least. And now you can see what I mean about the speedometer being on the fuel tank and having to look down to see it.

A nice thing about the Honda that is different from the Kawasaki: the placement of the gas tank cap. You can see it right there on the right hand side of the tank. It is put there so I can get off the bike and put her up on her kickstand to refuel her. With the Kawasaki the gas cap was in the center of the gas tank – so if I put her on her kickstand I couldn’t fill her up all the way due to the tilt of the bike; I’d have to sit on her to keep her straight up and down to fill her up all the way.

And yes, the cover you see on the gas cap is the cover for the key – I have to unlock the gas cap to take it off.  Right now she is getting about 60 miles to the gallon. Over twice as good as the ‘Stang on a good day.