A Tree Falling in the Forest

This car makes me salivate... 1987 Buick

This car makes me sad... 1984 Buick

Same body... two very different cars.

Gas prices have pretty much leveled off for the last two weeks in the area. However, the Shell stations offer an additional 5 cents off on Thursdays. It just so happens I need to get gas today, so I will be paying $1.94.

According to my handy desktop calendar, today is United Nations Day.

I can't believe I almost missed it! Hip-hip-horay, its United Nations Day!

I think I will celebrate by getting a bunch of money from the ATM machine and setting it on fire.

Last night, I made a root beer float with Breyer's "Root Beer Float" flavor ice cream. The results were less than spectacular.

In the process of researching new computers for a possible purchase for the home, I was surprised to find a company located in Richmond, VA... "Velocity Micro"

The name sounds like something the Simpsons would use as satire. But otherwise, Velocity seems to have some good reviews and awards.

Mmmmmm, Microie.... http://www.velocitymicro.com/wizard.php?iid=29

As a NASCAR fan I am often asked who I cheer for on a weekly basis. Generally, I give a non-commital answer like "anyone but Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson."

This weekend is different. This weekend I will be rooting for Virginia native Ward Burton. Ward has been absent for a couple years, but he is returning to a Cup Car for the race at Martinsville, Virginia. Ward (brother of current points leader Jeff Burton) is an outspoken outdoorsman and advocate for conservation causes. Hailing from Southwest Virginia, He also has one of the best accents in NASCAR. You go Ward.

This morning on my way to work I saw a train with a caboose. I can't remember the last time I saw a working train pulling a real caboose. The nostalgic moment was spoiled a little by the massive amounts of graffiti on the side of the caboose. Oh well.

2006 will likely go down as the year I have spent the least amount of time on an ATV since I started riding 22 years ago.

New baby, new job, moving, and geographic limitations have limited my ability to enjoy one of my favorite pastimes. Not that I am complaining, all of these circumstances were of my own creation. And there is no comparing the blessings of a new baby with even the best riding experience. Besides, I did make my fifth trip to the Hatfield McCoy Trails in West Virginia with friends in the spring.

Having said that, riding is an important component of my mental health regiment. It's a stress reliever. Even a bad day of riding helps me to unwind my mind. The sound, the views, the outdoors, the exhilaration of acceleration, the freedom, the challenge of a race or a tough trail, and the camaraderie... I just love to ride. I am a nicer, more patient person if I can go for a ride every now and then.

Rest assured, the sun is not setting on my riding career. In fact, a new day is dawning as one of my best riding buddies is relocating from the Granite State to the Old Dominion. 2007 will definitely include more riding than 2006... and who knows, there may be a couple good weekend trips left before the ball drops.

Why is blogger down?

The kind friends that My Lovely Wife (MLW), Our Brilliant Baby (OBB), and our Emotionally Disturbed Dog (EDD) are staying with until the end of October have all the movie channels on cable and all the movie channels on Direct TV. Like most freeloaders that are too cheap for such luxuries, I feel compelled to watch a movie anytime I am near a TV. Even if I've already seen it, I have to watch because when we move to our own house we will be limited to the mere 70 or so channels available with a non-premium cable package. It's like I am going to be shipped off to a desert island and I am eating as much as possible from the Golden Corral buffet before it's too late.

I have used this blog as an opportunity to rave about the cafeteria at my workplace several times. It continues to be an excellent source of tasty goodness, but I have been trying to stay away from the carving station. My wife has been losing weight since our baby was born and I just can't afford all the calories everyday.

Anyways... today I went by the cafeteria in the morning to pick up a cup of coffee. As I approached the door, the memory of hundreds of meals came rushing back to me. The smell coming from the cafeteria was the unique and tasty smell of my grandmother's kitchen. I have never experienced that smell outside of my grandparent's house. I am not sure of the exact source of the aroma, but it brought back warm memories of overeating and napping on the couch.

Apparently when you apply the one-bolt theory to moving it morphs into the every-bolt theory. Things we didn't even think to worry about have gone wrong. So far we are managing to keep our heads above water, but it is getting very frustrating. Which brings to mind another principle of life... "when you are going through heck, keep going."

Me thinks God might have a bone to pick with the State of Maine.

After significant flooding in the spring, North Berwick was hit by a tornado this week. A tornado? In Maine? Isn't the ground about to freeze for winter?

Then yesterday an earthquake shook the Bangor area and well water levels are dropping. An earthquake? In Maine?

October's harvest moon might have a tinge of red. Watch out for locusts if you are in Vacationland.