Mayday IS coming

Sprague Lake Cup

Well, it's happened. I just experienced the happiest day of my life!
Without even knowing it, I won the Sprague Lake Cup for best costume!
Seems that I win a lot of prizes like this.. Just last week I won the award for the best "try-er" at the under-privileged children's spelling bee.

Its earthy tones really make this a nice piece for the mantle.

The biggest surprise was when I found, upon filling the cup, that there was candy inside!

The award was presented by the Morgans. The award ceremony consisted of 400 jugglers, 600 lions and tigers on chains, 400 dancers, and a trapeze artist! Though my acceptance speech was cut short (from one hour down to 50 minutes), all in all, it went well.

Popular Demand

Due to popular demand, I have taken pictures of the spiral staircase that leads up to the roof.
It was used in the 1600's to smuggle Indians to safety. Because the spiral staircase hadn't been invented yet, no one knew how to use it.


At the start of the eighteenth century, the Brazilian law enforcement agency used the staircase to get on the roof to spot illegal hang gliders. In the 1900's the staircase was used to reach a deck that was built on the roof.
Current day, the beloved staircase is used by all in the family to "reach higher ground"

Time for new tires!

What does that mean, you ask? It means BURNOUT!
I had to get new tires, so it seemed a shame to let the rest of the old ones to go to waste.

My older brother filmed and I was on the bike.



If you can't watch the vid, you can download here

Here the bike hangs without wheels from the rafters of our garage.

Here's a horrid camera phone picture of the wheels.

It's Gone!

Well, it finally happened, I sold one of my first cars.. I have had this car for almost 7 years, and I must say that its been a "love hate relationship" I love to hate it.




I must say that it is nice to have it gone, it's no longer leaking oil on my dad's driveway, it no longer begs to have me fix it, it no longer is my problem, and, oh yeah, did I mention? IT'S GONE! woo hoo!




A nice fellow from GB (and no, I don't mean Green Bay) that just moved to the U.S. purchased the car. We finished loading it up in the snow, and he hauled it away!


This was definitely an answered prayer.

Helmet

Yes, I actually do have one. I bought it from RPM Motorsports. These things are too expensive.

After I bought it, I was informed that bright colors are much better, so you are better seen on a motorcycle.

I started with a solid black helmet, as seen on the right.

Then I added reflective tape.

I used my brothers sweet x-acto knife set to cut out the designs.

I somehow ended up with a few goldfish type stickers.

As pictured here, the reflective tape really helps.

JURY DUTY take 2

Well, it’s all over, I now can say I’ve been part of the judicial system. My take is, I’d rather be part of jury selection, any day, rather than being one of the that is in need of a jury.
Having said that, I still could have thought of about a thousand other things I could have done instead of sitting in a room with at least eight hundred other people.


Here, we get to watch a short video explaining that we are doing our country service. The video was very patriotic. It was also really boring.


Young and old, we were all trapped in a small room for four hours.
All in all a good day, I got to go downtown, and that's always fun. I think I have learned a very important lesson though. Don't vote, do your taxes, or have a social security number, and that way they can't find you for jury duty!

ABATE and MOST

I just finished my motorcycle training done by ABATE Colorado. (A Brotherhood Active Towards Education (Motorcycle Operator Safety Training (MOST)))

It was a 3 day program designed to allow the participant to learn how to ride their motorcycle safely on the street. Riding a motorcycle has more risk associated with it, but with proper training and skills, the risks diminish. The course was very well administrated. The two days of riding is physically straining, but the strain is all worth it.

I would highly suggest this class to anyone that wants to ride a motorcycle, but I would also suggest it to drivers. The reason I would suggest to drivers, is, now that I have taken the course I have seen an improvement in my driving skills and accident avoidance ability. I know, I can hear it now, "dude, any improvement would, at the most, bump you up to a bad driver"

CLEAR THE SIDEWALK!

Dangerous Gun? In more ways than one.

I bought this gun a few years ago, thinking that it would be a good one for my mom or sister.
This gun has taught me a few good lessons.

1st. Guns are safest when pointed in a safe direction.
2st. Cheap guns are not worth buying.
3rd. Don't buy anything made in Mexico that shoots bullets.



It was a fine summer day at the shooting range.
We were testing out some new guns we had bought, and one of them was the Jimenez Arms .380.
I picked up the gun and loaded the magazine, upon putting the mag in, BANG!
Pieces of the gun when flying! I looked at the parts flying through the air, and I didn't even realize what had happened till minutes later. What had happened, was, upon putting the magazine in the gun, the slide slid forward and the firing pin struck the bullet because of a faulty spring and lock back mechanism. BANG! I never expected it. I didn't even see it coming.
Because of training and safety precautions, I did have the gun pointed down range. Thankfully, by the grace of God, the gun never had the chance to wound the user.

This gun is now out of service, and stands to remind me, guns are never safe, treat them accordingly.

Midlife crisis

Looks like I'm going to be buying a motorcycle.
I figured since I'm 24, and almost halfway through my life, I better get a move on.
This is a picture of the bike and style I've been looking at.

I have to say too, that the 55+ Miles Per Gallon, was enticing too