September 2008 – Moby Files: Blog

Yes?

After several inquires, I figured it was time to update le blog. Like I said, I’ve been extremely busy loafing on the sofa. It is Gay High Holy Day #3 ^[1]Folsom St Fair weekend and the city is awash with visitors. As mentioned, my buddy Frank arrived today. Rob & Chuck came over this evening to watch the Presidential debate with us (a whole other post unto itself). Afterwards, roblog, Adam & Brad, my neighbor Chuck, and myself all trekked down to the hood for some sushi for dinner. It was great to get out of the house and socialize.

Tomorrow is the Big Muscle party and random oggling of da menz. Sunday, of course, is the fair.

Several folks have asked how my shoulder is doing. So far so good. I’m healing up quite nicely so far. I’ve regained about 80-90% of my motion back. The wound itself is starting to lose most of the purpleness from the surgery. I still have some numbness around the edges but it is better every day. I go back to see the Ortho doctor on the 8th. I find out then if & when I can start working out again. ^[2]Cross your fingers for me.

I’ll try to get some pics in but you know how absent-minded I am. 😛

And what are your weekend plans?

References[+]

References
↑1	Folsom St Fair
↑2	Cross your fingers for me.

McCain Still a Hypocrit

McCain Never Returned Cash from former Manhunt Chairman

While I’m still on my high horse…

So not only did they not return the money but Crutchley is still working for MH even if he is no longer on the board. He still owns a significant share of the company and not being “on the board” was window dressing to appease us so we would blithely turn away and keep looking for our next hookup.

/rant

15 years to life in S.F. dog maul death

It only took 7 years for the verdict to be reached. This dog attack was beyond despicable. It was also one of the most horrific animal attacks I’ve ever been privy to. There are things I am bound not to reveal due to rules that govern my employment. I can say she (and her husband) got off lucky. I shudder to think how much easier it might have been for them both to get off scott-free in other parts of the country. I am personally glad this person will do extended prison time but I feel it is a slap on the wrist compared to what she (and her husband) should have received.

I grew up on a farm and I love animals. I currently don’t own pets because I am not home enough and I would never allow an animal to go neglected. Leaving an animal home alone for hours (sometimes days) at a time is cruel. But, I digress. I would never, and I say NEVER, own such an aggressive dog in a City environment. Dogs are not children but the effort and control involved is similar in many aspects. Large dogs, especially naturally aggressive ones, need a lot of love, attention, and control. If trained properly it is not an overly tasking skill. When left on their own or antagonized, they become even more aggressive. As an FYI, you are solely responsible if your animal attacks a human being. ^[1]Yes, there are exceptions based on circumstances.

The sad reality is many people who own animals do not take personal responsibility for their animals. And, it is the animal and other helpless victims who end up suffering.

/rant

References[+]

References
↑1	Yes, there are exceptions based on circumstances.

Weekend

Sorry for not updating much recently. I’m on vacation and have been extremely busy loafing on the sofa.

Because of the serious outlay of cash lately ^[1]And work screwing up my last paycheck, I’ve had to drastically scale back my vacation plans. Oh yes, yours truly has been forking over a butt-load of cash as of late. The most obvious reason is the accident. Unexpected expenses have definitely added up. Then there is the new bike and with that comes new gear. The latter was a necessity as my helmet and jacket were toast from the accident. The not so obvious, I finished paying off the lien my brothers had against our land. THAT little payout cut into my savings significantly. We still have to come up with money to get the land surveyed. This is the final hurdle before it gets separated into our individual names. So feeling the pinch right now, taking a frivolous vacation seems a bit selfish. Everyone keeps telling me to just put it on credit because I will be getting paid eventually. I don’t believe in doing that. I try to live within my means and don’t believe in using soft money ^[2]money that is not actually mine yet unless I have to. One has to only look at the current state of our stock market to discover the folly of that. I digress, if something were to happen or go wrong, I’d end up with even more debt. And, considering my shoulder isn’t 100% yet, it is probably better I’m not treking across the country.

Instead, TFA dropped in to see me which was a very welcome distraction. He knew I was a bit down and swung a last minute trip here. He only had a 24 hour layover but we made the best of it. Oh yes we did!

There will be other opportunities for vacation. I am hoping I’ll get some of the payment(s) within the next week. If I do, I’ll still try to make a long weekend in Fort Lauderdale before my vacation is over. If not, I’ll survive. Besides, I’ve had enough down time as of late. Of course, Gay High Holy Day #3 ^[3]Folsom St Fair is coming up this weekend. My buddy Frank is gonna be in town for the festivities. I’m sure I’ll run into Adam and Brad as well at some point. It promises to be a good weekend.

So now, I’m off to the gym to do dreaded cardio.

References[+]

References
↑1	And work screwing up my last paycheck
↑2	money that is not actually mine yet
↑3	Folsom St Fair

Off and Running

Well, I’m definitely on the mend. I had lunch w/roblog the other day and I don’t think I closed my trap once the whole time. lol I’ve been so cooped up lately, I think I was a little stir-crazy. Poor Rob, he was a trooper though. He listened attentively and managed to get in a few words between my short breaks to inhale.

*
The clan survived the hurricane. My younger brother was up in Topeka visiting my oldest brother so he missed the storm. Apparently, his trailer came thru the storm ok but his back porch is missing. My Mawmaw had a trailer parked on the land that wasn’t so lucky. ^[1]She doesn’t live in it, it was just there. Not one but two trees fell on it and it is completely demolished.

My other brother has been out to the land and he says there are more trees down than he has ever seen. Even as far inland as they were the wind was still pretty fierce. I can’t do anything from here obviously but I’ve canceled my trip home next week since no one is actually there. Ok, that isn’t exactly true. I’m still going to Houston.

Speaking of travel, I discovered the plate in my shoulder will set off metal detectors. This means I have to get a declaration card from my doctor. Even still, I’m a bit leery of traveling. I’m American born but having heard and read some of the horror stories surrounding the TSA, I am not looking forward to it. I’m hoping my karma will hold true and I’ll make it ok.

In completely unrelated news, I bought this 915 ^[2]homeless person some food at Taco Bell tonight. He kept arguing w/the clerk over the price. I finally said, “what do you care, I’m buying, what do you want?” He looked at me a little confused for a moment. I think he was slightly inebriated and had forgotten I was paying. Bless his heart.

References[+]

References
↑1	She doesn’t live in it, it was just there.
↑2	homeless person

Pick Me

Since my poll thingy isn’t working I thought I’d post a quick question.

What should I nickname the new bike? The beast or booboo?

Speaking of, I got the new bike today! Gawd! It is so hot. I kept thinking of the Men in Black movie, “old and busted..new hotness…old and busted…new hotness“. lolol Seeing it all buffed, cleaned and all sparkly, I think I dropped an egg right there in the dealership! hehehe

I do have a confession to make. I drove the bike home. I know what you are gonna say but hold on. I had every intention of letting my buddy drive it for me. That was until his truck got stolen last night. Since he was w/o a vehicle he rode his bike over ^[1]he has a new shiny black Yamaha R6 to the dealership. He is pretty much the only friend I had available who rides so my choices were limited. Because of limitations with the dealer holding property, I couldn’t wait. My buddy and I bantered about leaving his bike and coming back, blah blah blah. He followed me home on his bike and everything went fine.

The truth is I felt good enough to drive it the two short miles home so I did. I’d already tested myself at home a bit to see how the pressure would impact me. I was surprised how much it didn’t. Just leaning on the bike didn’t bother me at all. As long as I don’t put any torque on the shoulder, it seems to be doing remarkably well. That said, I could feel how sensitive it was and I didn’t push it. I drove straight home and put the bike away. I plan to give myself another good week before I try again. The bike is home safe in my garage now.

Ok, scold away. I know you want to. . .but don’t forget to vote first!

References[+]

References
↑1	he has a new shiny black Yamaha R6

Blog On Betches

And now for something not completely about me…

I’ve weighed in lately on several sights about the future/fate of blogging. Some still think blogging is the next best thing since sliced bread. Others think blogging has reached its peak and is slowly dying a painful agonizing death.

For my .02, I don’t really agree 100% with either camp. I do think like any medium, blogging is evolving and will continue to do so. The new blogs popping up every day have declined dramatically. No argument there. But, I don’t necessarily contribute that to a slow death. I think it has more to do with market saturation and the natural evolution of the medium. Blogging is not the “new thing” anymore. ^[1]One might argue micro-blogging is the new/old “thing” That said, it has managed to cross social, political, cultural, informative, and even entertainment boundaries to become an almost universal form of interaction. Even the traditional news/media outlets woke up and realized blogging was changing the very way we disseminate and gather news in general. And like any medium, I think in time blogging will settle into it’s niche market and continue to thrive and prosper. Whether it be for purely personal or profit, I absolutely think blogging is here to stay.

I don’t really care to delve into the political or profitable side of blogging. I think living in a capitalistic culture that speaks for itself. From the social side, we’ve seen blogs come and go. I’ll be the first to admit it is sad to see a favorite blog end. But if you think about it, how is that any different from life? People come and go in our lives every day. From the mundane and random to the profound and life-changing, we get a birds-eye view of the true characteristics of humanity, good and bad. We’ve also seen our share of fakes, flakes, and flashes. To me, the latter group (and the fallout surrounding) shows us how much we still need to grow as a species in general.

I firmly believe, like anything in life, you get out of blogging what you put into it. If you just randomly post or interact then you should probably expect the same in return. I often hear from many of my own commenters they are afraid to start blogging because they don’t feel their own lives are engaging or exciting enough. To that I say, who cares? If you find comfort or solace in being able to share your life and experiences however mundane, then I say go for it. You don’t need permission. You don’t need a rabid following. You don’t have to be a prolific writer or linguist. ^[2]Good lord, look at the mosh pit of grammatical errors my own blog represents. heehee From a purely social aspect, all you really need is an opinion, conviction to follow thru, and the ability to type. It really is that simple.

My own venture into blogging was originally a mechanism to deal with a painful breakup. Afterwards, it became an avenue of therapy and self-exploration. Having chronicled such a significant part of my life has been richly rewarding. I’ve always said I blog first and foremost for me. That is still true today. Yes, I know people read and comment and I appreciate that. ^[3]Being from the South and always having an opinion on practically everything has helped. lol Looking back over my own blog entries has shown me how much I have and am growing as a man. The very act of blogging has given me a sense of belonging that I never had before.

Will I always blog? I can’t really say. The future is a devious and every changing beast. I will say I have no immediate plans to stop, that is for sure. Do I think blogging in general will be around for years to come? Absolutely.

References[+]

References
↑1	One might argue micro-blogging is the new/old “thing”
↑2	Good lord, look at the mosh pit of grammatical errors my own blog represents. heehee
↑3	Being from the South and always having an opinion on practically everything has helped. lol

It’s Official!

I’m the proud owner of a GSX-R750! ^[1]I’m also another 10g’s in debt. lol I finished the loan and purchase paperwork yesterday. Now, I just need to get the bike home. Luckily, my buddy kristaki has generously agreed to help me (He rides too). He is gonna come by Friday on my off day. It will be at least a couple more weeks before I’m fit enough to drive again.

As excited as I am, my priorities are in order. I have no interest in getting hurt again from hopping back in the saddle too quickly, so to speak. I’ll bide my time till I know I can ride. I appreciate the worry and concern from everyone.

Speaking of healing, I survived my first round of rehabilitation yesterday. It was grueling but they seemed surprised at my range of motion. I’ll be honest, I had to come home and take a vicodin afterwards. They mostly just pushed and pulled my arm in different directions. I had planned to take a nap but I was so amped up about the bike I couldn’t sleep. By the end of the day, I was doing ok again. I am a still sore today though.

References[+]

References
↑1	I’m also another 10g’s in debt. lol

Good Spirits

scar

It’s been a good couple of days. Friday morning I woke up in a funk and was a bit down. Nothing really wrong per se. I think the being cooped up was getting to me. Anyway, Friday afternoon my buddy Frank totally surprised me by showing up at my door unannounced. It was just what the doctor ordered. I couldn’t have been more delighted and it immediately put me in a better mood. We hung out, caught up over sushi and spent the evening watching Tivo and movies. ^[1]He is a big fan of Jon Stewart too!

Today, we had breakfast (and lunch) with Adam. Afterwards, I hobbled over to Adam’s place with the group and we played MarioKart and Soul Caliber IV. It was so nice to feel like my old self again and just enjoy hanging out. I think it was just what the doctor ordered!

Afterwards, Frank tagged along to help me shop for a new bike. I’ve forged a strong relationship with a dealer here in the city. The same guys I bought my scooter and my last bike from. They happened to have 2 bikes I was interested in, a Yamaha R6 and a Suzuki GSXR. I was originally leaning toward the R6 only because they told me the GSXR was red. I do not care for red at all for a vehicle color.

Well, I got there and they had a surprised for me. They had 2 GSXR’s. One red and one blue! I think I pee’d a little I was so excited. Needless to say, I chose the Blue GSXR750. Wahoooo!

Here is a pic of the exact bike. Did you touch yourself yet? I know I did. I finish the paperwork this week and should be able to bring it home by Friday. Keep your fingers crossed all goes according to plan!

References[+]

References
↑1	He is a big fan of Jon Stewart too!

As The World Turns…

Life is slowly returning to normal (normal as can be expected considering). My shoulder is a mild discomfort for the most part. That is, as long as I don’t try to lift it over my head or stretch it too much.

I’m scheduled to go back to work this Sunday on modified duty. For clarity, I’m not rushing it. I’m more than able to type consistently again. Work is more than aware I am not 100% and has agreed to alter my schedule to accommodate me. For the most part, I’ll be on channel which requires significantly less typing. Of course, lots of Union drama has been going on since I left. Plenty of work in that regard waiting on me. But again, that involves my brain not my shoulder. lol

I got a little good news today. The insurance company is gonna give me $3800.00 for my old bike. I was surprised as that is slightly more than the blue book value. Apparently, they take the selling price of the same bike from dealers in the area and then average it out. I guess that puts the rate on my side as dealers always try to get as much as they can. I still owe about $1100 on the old bike. Minus that plus the deductible, fees, etc and I’m left with a little over $2000. That is a nice down payment for a new bike.

I’m going tomorrow to look at a R6 and and GSXR. I know for some of you this is all greek. lol I’m leaning toward the R6 only because it is the color I want. My old bike was only 500ccs The R6 is 600 and the GSXR is 750. I actually wanted a CBR but the only two I’ve found that I like aren’t the color I like and have too many miles on’em. There aren’t that many motorcycle dealers in SF so my options are a little limited.

The best news of all. I called around today and got a great rate from my credit union. I’m already pre-approved which gives me a little bargaining power when I show up. Wish me luck!