2005.10.07October is here with its requisite all day grey – don't know if it's 10am or 4pm. Was in Phoenix a few weeks ago staying at the Frank Lloyd Wright inspired/designed Biltmore Hotel – lovely sitting by the pool in the perfect desert weather – it's all a faded memory now. So, with the grey and the drizzle in mind, I'm selling my motorcycle and looking forward to buying a new car. I've listed the Laverda at Craig's List and built a seperate web page for it with a bunch of high-res pic's. I believe I have prepared myself and managed the separation anxiety well. I'm looking forward to turning her over to an enthusiastic buyer.
2005.09.18
My nephew Nickolas is the 2005, W WA Fair Lego build-off second place winner for his fabulous abstract representation of a giraffe. Congratulations! It's obvious he's psyched. Trevor and Sadie seem to be enjoying the celebrity as well. I'm psyched.
2005.08.29
Greg and Brooks report back from the Arctic. From the looks of the pictures, it seems they and the mosquitos are enjoying themselves. They've raised over $20,000 for the American Diabetes Association.
2005.08.19
It was a day of extracting the little bugger, rebuilding it, installing, re-extracting (it was running backwards!), re-rebuilding (I had reversed the magnet body), re-installing and assembling whole bike. Yes, an intimate day with my motorcyle. I am now one of the few experts in the world at "Zane Era" Laverda starter extraction.
My starter is now running better than ever. I just had to access and re-solder a 50 cent, commutator brush. Total cost: 1/8" piece of solder, insect poop-sized dollop of flux, five shop rags, one broken allen key tip, three sets of nitrile gloves, 1 pint of oil, and for the generous Nate (for the use of the Troll Motors shop and expert coaching), a late dinner sandwich at Smarty Pants ($9.50).
Ah the satisfaction... Click - VRROOOOOOOOOMMMMMM, VRROOOOOOOOMMMMMM.
2005.08.15
We spent another Sunday dirt-karting at Renton Motorcycles. This time Kate got to go and experience her first taste of high speed motoring. The karts are getting a bit old and tired, but it was fun none the less. The track was the most challenging configuration of the three times I've raced.
Coincidentally, friend and Sunday dirt-kart racer, Paul Killebrew just released his movie Crash Fans on DVD. From the fan website pictures it looks as if they even captured some of the wheat harvester, demolition derby in Eastern Washington.
"We'll meet Monty Neumeister, a paraplegic for the last 20 years, he's overcome his handicap to become one of the best derby drivers on the track."Don't you want to meet Monty too?
2005.08.08
Just returned from Orcas Island. Kate and I sailed up last week with Terry, Christy, Emma and Fin. We celebrated Nate and Michelle's wedding. Likely we'll post some pics in a few days.
2005.07.17
Finished v1 of the Smart Portfolios website this week. Glad to be done – at least with this first stage.
Summer is still arriving. I don't believe the temperature has exceeded eighty degrees yet. I went kart racing on a dirt track yesterday morning. Outstanding fun – seven of us skidded and bumped our way around the Wide Open Sports Arena on 6.5 HP, Honda powered go karts – thirty miles an hour indoors, power-sliding through a sweeping turn and getting completely sideways in the hairpins.
We spent the dinner hour and rest of the evening sailing on LK Washington. A classic Seattle summer sunset beamed onto MT Rainier, framed by a sculpted clouds hovering in echelon over the Cascades... nature's salute to a day well spent.
I discovered a Japanese manhole cover gallery online this weekend. Interesting that I never noticed a single decorated manhole cover during my five days in Tokyo. Likely I was spending most of my time watching and wading through oceans of people – too preoccupied to look down.
2005.07.28
Lance has won the tour. Summer is in full swing. I've been cycling to work in honor of the feat. My buddy Gregg called yesterday from Anchorage. He is finally beginning his year-long tour from Arctic Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. He was excited. I was excited for him. He reminded me of the thrill I had climbing onto the plane to begin a three month bike tour of Europe in 1982. I'd left college – citing indifference – and decided that I was going to tour Europe with my friend Shane. We did – on eight dollars a day. On that budget, we had to count on the kindness of friends, family and strangers to sport us a few beers every now and then. We ate everything put in our path and more.
