Random Thoughts

Hey! I haven’t been on this thing in a while. Quite frankly, I haven’t had much to say, so I haven’t. I popped out of bed at midnight tonight like it was 6 AM, all bright eyed and bushy tailed. My brain thinks its morning.

Got me a little road trip planned with the missus in 2 days, heading up to Santa Fe area to get out of the house, and I’m fairly fired up about it. With the exception of a few rides here and there, I haven’t gotten out much.

I honestly can’t stand this supposed Pandemic. I think the way we’ve reacted (and stayed this way) is the most insane thing I’ve ever seen in my 50 plus years on this planet. I see fear in people where they shouldn’t, and a lot of people are determined to hold onto it. It’s dumb as fuck.

Discretion? yeah, we should have that. But not fear. I don’t think I’ve ever made a good decision where fear was involved, and I think that holds true for society as well.

But anyway, I digress. For good and bad, here’s what the last 6 months has taught me:

• TV is a huge waste of time. Quite honestly, the media has gotten stupid. I’ve quit watching the news, especially the commentary. I already know what I want, what I think, and how I’m going to vote, and I don’t need to hear the pundits. It serves absolutely no purpose.
• Social Media – I’m pretty much done with that as well. I see people who spend so damn much time on it, posting 5 or 6 times a day and it’s like an endorphin drug to them. I have a lot to say about this one, and maybe I will later. The stupid comments and reviews — It’s like watching the Jerry Springer show back in the day, and I don’t care about the drama. Social media, as a whole is good in small doses, but I don’t need to have my head in it.
• I quit Drinking. I got hammered drunk a few months back, and the next days hangover was ass. I just realized how much I didn’t really need that. It’s counter productive, so I just stopped and haven’t missed it.
• Man, my family. It’s my most important asset. I have great kids and grandkids. Hell, grandkid #2 is on the way, and my daughter and her family live a few miles from us now which is fairly bad ass.
• Woodworking! Huge plus there. I’m not sure I would have jumped into it without working from home and axing the commute out of my day. I’m enjoying the hell out of it, and actually got my garage shop set up pretty well. I built a massive workbench with my table saw built into it, and and working on rounding out my router table. I’m improving what I’m able to build, and starting to become more and more proud of the pieces I’m starting to be able to produce. I dig this sport.

I should probably get back to bed, but my mind is thinking about this road trip. I’ve got a week off after today, and after the trip with the wife I should be able to get some good riding time in. The weather here has been around 100 and below, which means it’s starting to snow…. somewhere 🙂

I love my garage. To me, this is where shit happens. My bikes are in here, my quad, and my woodworking shit. I’ve got one of those portable swamp coolers that I have to fill with water every couple of hours to keep things cool in the Arizona heat, and a pretty decent computer setup out here. I dig it out here.

I took the day off today. I just needed a day off, to be honest.

I’m gonna rip some boards and finish a project that I’ve been working on. It’s a side table. Something that you’ll see when you first walk in the door. It’s a bit more challenging than I thought it would be, but I’ll figure it out, and make it presentable. Turns out, you can sand down your mistakes to a large degree. My wife will love it, at least that’s my hope. If she doesn’t, we can burn the thing.

That’s my day. I should probably get off this garage computer and rip those boards.

Buck Owens was a dust bowl kid, when the Okies moved across the nation, mostly west. Some went east, but most of them went west. They Settled in Arizona, Texas, and in this case, Bakersfield California. Buck was a staple in the Bakersfield sound. He solidified the sound, along with guys like Merle Haggard, and a lot of others.

They told stories.

Ever had a tiger by the tail?

I know I’ve posted this video, more than a few times on this blog.

But, who are you?

Plus, what a Jammin’ song.

Happy End of the Month Friday. Tomorrow, is August. We’re plowing through this year it seems to me, amid all the bullshit that surrounds us.

I gotta say, my desire to ride has waned a bit in all this shit. Plus its hotter than hell in the valley of the sun. I look up places I want to go, and they’re closed due to covid-19. Or Technically I’m supposed to quarantine for 14 days if I enter the state. It’s blown all my plans to hell, so maybe its time to change it up. I dunno yet.

I do know, that if I don’t feel like riding, that means I need to go riding.

Lately, I’ve been getting into this woodworking thing. I’m slowly amassing a good set of basic tools, and most of my spare time I’ve been reading up on types of wood, eating up what I can on YouTube, and figuring out what kinds of tools I need to try and tackle the types of projects I see in my bald little head:

Crown molding in the bedroom. A cheap way to improve the value of the house. if it works, then the whole house, and some baseboards we like.

Some shelves in the living room, with some bitchen shiplap behind it. I’ll get major points for this from the wife. That means, when it cools down at least 10 degrees, and the governor of new mexico decides she’s going to open up the state for commerce, I can go spend a dollar there.

A nightstand. I just need a good nightstand, and it’s a good chance to practice making drawers.

Then, a new kitchen Table. That one is going to be tricky; I’m shooting to be proud of it.

I’ll figure it out. I’m really close to having the right tools.

I Hope you all have a good weekend.

I can’t sleep. It’s just one of those mornings. I don’t get that very often, but here I am.

I’m thinking a good ride is in order. Today I listed the Tour pak off my old bike; trying to get 4 or 500 bucks from it. It’ll finance some tools I’d like to get. A table saw, or a table router. Stuff to improve the house, or make a thing I could be proud of. Maybe some new grips for the bike.

Got a trip planned next month to Texas. A little Austin, a little Waco and a little Round Top.

Ever been to Round Top? It’s fairly cool. I’ve been through there a couple of times, but never really stopped. It’s the place to get antiques. More stuff for the house. Or, at the very least some inspiration. Stuff to peruse through with the wife, and learn a thing.

I’d also like to get some pictures of the chicken ranch in La Grange. Its long gone, but there’s a few remnants of it left. I could get some pictures, and giggle a little. There’s some stories in there.

heh, La Grange.

Hey dumb motherfuckers: This is how you do it; It’s not that hard. People have been doing it for a long time.

This song, just kind of feels right tonight.

Never been a big cop guy, but these are different times. I’ve also never thought I’d be sincerely concerned that the US would become a socialist country. Things change, and anyone who defends the constitution is a friend of mine.

I got called “simple” the other day because of my support. heh, simple. It sorta made me laugh.

Anyway, this is my Sherriff, and it’s why he’s running undisputed. I love the guy. This attitude is largely why I live here.

Can I say a thing? I’m a business guy, and so I pay more attention to the numbers than I do the hype.

Do some research: Start, at the center of disease control: check my facts — tell me if I’m full of shit.

in 2010-2011 – up to 51,000 people died of the flu. We didn’t shut down for this, you didn’t even know.

in 2011-2012 – up to 23,000 died from the flu.

In 2012-2013 – up to 57,000 died from the flu.

In 2013-2014 – up to 38, 000 died from the flu.

in 2014-2015 – up to 51,100 people died from the flu.

in 2015-2016- up to 23,000 people died from the flu.

In 2016-2017 – up to 38,000 people died from the flu.

in 2017 – 2018 – The numbers almost doubled: up to 61,000 people died of the flu.

in 2018 – 2019 – up to 34,000 people died of the flu.

Then, we politicized it. Or did we?

So far, 135,000 people have died of the coronavirus. A little over twice what happened in 2018.

My brother in law owns several mortuaries in Northern Utah. He hasn’t buried anyone who has had it.

I have one friend on facebook, who has claimed to have it, and he said he didn’t even end up in bed for the 2 days he felt bad. It scared the shit out of him I think.

Seems like this virus is 3x worse than the average virus (at best) and none of those pandemics shut down the country, or send everyone into a mask wearing tailspin.

I won’t wear one, thats all I know. Fuckem. I know my rights.

Anyway, Just a thought. Aside from where you’re scared, tell me where I’m wrong.

Common sense: It’s a rare commodity.