Random Thoughts

I’m not a huge Grateful dead fan but much respect for what they did.   Friend of the Devil, Ripple, Uncle johns band and some of the stuff they made in the early 70s was spot on brilliant.    Much Respect.

And this song:

A casual Sunday is a great way to round out a fucking great weekend.    We’re having one around here today.    There’s not a whole lot of ambition around this house today.

Yesterday the wife and I went to an outdoor Punk Rock concert with some old favorites and enjoyed each others company.    One of the nice things about living in a larger city is you can pick out a good show or two.    We were the old guys in the back.     I had a blast.

Today, the wife is out looking for pokemon with the kids, the football game is set to record on the DVR (go Steelers), and I’m just sitting here checking out roads on google maps that I’d like to ride.    You gotta love a good Sunday.

Today was a helluva good day.     My son in law got sworn into the army and headed off to basic training.     We’ll see him around Christmas time and then off to Texas where my daughter will re-join him and go off on the crazy ride of life in the military.

At first, we weren’t all that excited about the  decision, but it wasn’t my decision to make.   They’ll go off on a whole other path thats going to lead to places Mrs Zip and I can’t even probably comprehend.    Shit like that, is a good thing.    He knows what he’s doing.

I don’t have a son, but I love my SIL like he was:   he’s a good man.  A principled man — honest and his priorities are right.    He’s doing this to take care of his family, get an education and I think there’s also a part of him that wants to know what he’s capable of.   I get that.   I think any man worth his salt can understand that.

My father was a marine, but other than his stories,  I’ve had very little exposure to the military.   I’m excited to hear his stories when he gets back.   I was completely proud when he got sworn in to defend the constitution of the united states, and I know he was too.    Effing cool.

It wasn’t a choice I’d ever make  (Even though I’ve always wished I could have gone through basic training).    I looked around the room and saw a bunch of scared kids who we’re going to become men over the next couple of years, and my son in law who is going to become even more of one.   Yeah, we were all pretty proud.

Kick some ass out there Jordan, we’ll hold down the fort and see you when you get back…

Just saying.

I’ve been wading through politics all year it seems.   The NFL and the national anthem.   Gender neutral bathrooms.    Trump tweets.   Racism.  Revolution.  That crazy fucker in North Korea who figured out how to make a nuke.   Earthquakes in mexico, hurricanes in Florida.    Someone will spin them all into politics, somehow.

I’ve had a gut full of all of it.

I’m not burying my head in the sand.   Truth is, I’m paying attention.  but there are more important things to concern yourself with.

The Question is, who are you?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdLIerfXuZ4

Cool video about the builder of the most famous motorcycle in history.

I’ve been running around most of my life as an 18 year old.      In most ways, I still am 18.   30 never bothered me,  neither did 40.      I gotta admit, I stopped and noticed 50.    Fucking fifty.    I paused at that one.    Thats half a century — Half a century I wouldn’t trade for anything.

I work with mostly young guys, who like to joke about my age.   When they bust out the daily sales results, I’m still at the top end of that list, and it sorta makes me giggle.    I can still out-ride anyone on a long ride, and can more than likely fix your bike when you break down because you did something stupid.      They value youth because its all they know, and I value experience because you fuck up less.     We balance each other out.

I stopped chewing Copenhagen Saturday morning.   that’s what I’m laying on the altar of 50.     That’s all you’re getting from me.   Its been 3 days, and its easier than I thought it would be.   Maybe I’m just ready.   I won’t do it again:  I’m pretty determined to be done with it.

Anyway, just another random Thought….

I gotta think next to my family and Riding, making BBQ is *maybe* my next favorite thing.

I’ve owned several smokers, and have put some time in trying to learn the art of low and slow cooking of meats.    I don’t know why.   something about it just appeals to me.   I tend to lean toward Texas style BBQ, which lets the meat speak for itself, and the bbq sauce is on the table if you don’t like what the meat is saying.    Less Rub and Injections, more quality time on steady, low heat.   The lower and the slower the better.

BBQ is like golf: no matter how many times you think you have your swing down or have practiced at the range, some days you still end up swinging from the red tees with your pants around your ankles.    You never actually win, its just an endless pursuit of perfection.

Making a pork butt today:  Shooting for pulled pork.     We’ll know in a few hours, but I think I got this one…

Here’s a good song…