Give to a good cause

Now I remember why I never had a new truck. Now I want "stuff" for it! I'm sittin in the waiting room at Newport Ford this morning while I had my tires put on, and I'm looking though all the "accessories" I can add to my truck through aftermarket....running boards, off road lights, stainless steel grill, pushbar...oh my my there was no end to it...Anyone want to lend me $2000...It's for a good cause...HONEST!

Lived thru skiing

Took the boy up to Hermon Mountain for some snowboard action. I actually skied while he snowboarded. I was surprised that the conditions where so good!! The snow conditions where mostly packed powder with some loose powder along the edges, making them just about perfect. I rented some shaped skis for this afternoon of fun. Shaped skis basically look the same on both ends and allow me to ski backwards so I can be there to catch Cal if need be. They also turn really easy. Once again Calvin did a fantastic job and other than 3 bad falls onto his rear-end things went well for him. My only injury came from trying to get the skis off. Without poles, (didn’t want to chance whacking Cal with one) it’s hard for me to get down there and push the release. I pulled a muscle in my shoulder trying to stretch myself around there-gittin old.

Topo programs

I have Delormes Hunt n Map program and have used it for scouting with the GPS with great success. I've also looked into the Topo USA program and it looks much more detailed with elevation in 20ft intervals so you get a lot more detail....Someday maybe! My old computer would overload when I downloaded the software.

Here is the Topo one. Thought it went with the other?
Muddah

These are from the USAphotomaps program. I'm sure these are to small to see good but you get the idea.
Muddah

GPS Units and FREE Software

Went shopping for a GPS unit that could be carried while riding or hiking to record the trip. The Garmin eTrex looks to be the winner. It’s small runs on 2 AA batteries with a 20-hour life and will interface with the PC. The Garmin eTrex costs about $99. http://www.thegpsstore.com/ But you’ll spend another $100 for topo mapping software. Or not, found a wonderful program on the net, which seems to be working fine for FREE. I strongly urge anyone who likes topo maps and aerial photos to go and download this program. http://www.jdmcox.com/ With the USAPhotoMaps software you can download all the maps you want seamlessly for free and then can mark waypoints and upload them to your GPS. You can also download stored points from your GPS unit onto a topo map that you can print, showing your route, deer rubs or whatever else you marked with your GPS while in the field. Heck I'd get the software and maps even if I didn't get the GPS.

Guess this is bird weekend I'll post a nuthatch that landed on my hand. A bit fuzzy because I wasn't ready to snap a shot but it landed so I clicked.
Muddah

Another squirtle.
Muddah

McKenna calls these squirtles.
Muddah

Unless Chips wife "goes"

Jack wins the weekend contest. Jack is heading up to camp in Jackman with his father-inlaw and brother-inlaw. Couple of snowmobiles, couple pair of snowshoes, some beer, food and woodstove, what could be better? I'm riding my bike around here and karin mentioned something about dragging me to Portland........I may cry.

Purple Fiches Male/Female
Posted by Muddah

If the weather cooperates

I’ll be hitting the trails some on the bike this weekend. The old bike is sporting a new crank, front derailleur, and peddles. The replacement parts are nothing all that special but should do the trick to keep me going. The derailleur and crank-set are Shimano Deore . Took a little step back with the peddles, I had Shimano PD-M545’s which have the metal platform and the clippless peddles, ended up with Shimano PD-M424 which have a plastic platform. The good news is that the cages look to be identical other than 1 is aluminum and the other plastic, so I think I can swap some parts if the plastic breaks. All we need now is a good sound thrashing so I can test it. PD-M545 Dual-sided engagement, dual-sided tension adjustment Platform SPD® pedal with patented easy engagement "pop-up" feature Aluminum body with aluminum cage Uses SM-SH51 (stock) or SM-SH55 multi-release cleat PD-M424 Dual sided engagement, dual sided tension adjustment and float Platform SPD pedal with patented "pop-up" feature Aluminum body with high strenght resin cage Cartridge style axle / cro-moxy axle Not much left original on the bike now. I've owned this since 2002 and other than the frame and front rim everything else has been changed at least once.

Once again My kidss prove they are smarter

Ok, I’m not sure but I either live with the descendant of Mr.Owl or Gandi During supper I was having a conversation with Calvin about The Civil Rights Movement; in particular Rosa Parks, (famous for not giving up her seat in Montgomery, Al). http://teacher.scholastic.com/rosa/ After a time he asked if I was prejudice…answer:”Hummm, I guess a little. I have had some black friends but I don’t particularly feel comfortable enough to want to live in an all black neighborhood. I don’t know, just the culture is different, the walk and talk is different…I guess” At this point Cal gets up from the table and begins walking heal/toe and waddling a bit around the table looking like Charlie Chaplin. Me “Cal! What the hell are you doing? Go finish your supper”. Cal “I’m a penguin” Me “That’s nice, now go eat” Cal ”I may walk funny but I’m still a bird” Me “Huh?” Cal “I don’t fly either, I swim”. Me I said nothing, starting to catch on to where this is going. Cal “I may not look or act like a bird to you but I’m still a bird” Does anyone else’s kids do this to them?

So "maybe", it was the alcohol after all

I got ta thinking about all those stupid situations that I used to get in. I also got ta thinking how I never seem to get in those predicaments any more. I don’t think I’m any smarter, at least no one has ever said anything to me to indicate that they thought I’m any smarter. The only real thing I can think of that has changed is the amount of alcohol consumed, hmmm. I haven’t had to run out of anyone’s house at 4:30am because a madman wanted to kill me. Trashing a van driving over snow-banks to escape, only to grab a gun and low-crawl back into his house 20 minutes later because I’d forgotten a pile of cash. I haven’t been asked to steal the “said” van and drive it across 12 states to dump it. I haven’t stayed up all night building a catapult to try and launch a friend onto a roof. I haven’t asked any waitresses to marry me. I haven’t dropped my pants in any old couples living room, while I was waiting for the cops to show up because of an accident. I haven’t driven any jeeps up any straight inclines at 40mph, hurtling me thru the air and landing on the nose with the back full of plate glass shelves. –The whole engine fell out on that one. I haven’t tried to shoot anyone with a potato gun. I haven’t been shot by a potato gun. I haven’t stripped anyone naked because they said I couldn’t. I haven’t been in any hot tubs with old fat chicks. I haven’t gone camping with any hallucinating drug addicts. I haven’t leaped out of any fast moving boats. I haven’t spent any time in jail because of a bar fight. I haven’t “remodeled” any hotel rooms. We thought adjoining rooms would be better. I haven't had a transvestite try and rub my ass. That’s a partial list of things that I just don’t get the opportunity to do any more. I’m to busy making supper, which I have to do now. Or possibly it’s because I have grown and I’m now an adult-Think? No wait! It wasn’t the alcohol at all!! I wasn’t married, yet. It’s Karin she is the one who stopped the madness. She's the new brains in the operation- Iam smarter!!.... via proxy. Come to think of it, I haven’t stopped drinking at all. Thank goodness it’s not the booze…..

Cameron's latest sculpture. I might say this is better than my Valentine gift he made me. It's called Sea Wish, we will test it for sea worthiness tonight.
Posted by Hello

Trek Update

Ok, I'm not overwelmed with new team riders..... There have been a few of you on the fence and I want to urge you to take the plunge. Once we fillout the team we can begin brainstorming on fund raising ideas. You do not have to be a cyclist to do this. Any one can do this with a few training rides to get your legs under you. 4 registered riders to Team Fighting Chickadees before March 31st,(other than myself) and I'll ride with a shaved head!!!...Wait since my hair is already pretty "close", I'll say this if enough riders sign up and someone finds me a chicken suit...I'd wear it on the first day of the Trek. That's 60 miles in a chicken suit.

Went Bowling yesterday..
Posted by Hello

Glad to see some of the Trail still intact

But I think I woke somebody up...

I think I rode with Lance Armstrong

Anyone else catch Lance on Oprah yesterday? I set my trainer up facing the big screen and rode thru the show. So, this does mean I rode with Lance?...right? Lance said he is going for 1 more Tour de France. As much as I love cycling the idea of staying in a flat in Spain with Sheryl Crow is very appealing….(sex weakens legs,Rocky).

Dweeb..Dweebster...Dweeb-o-rama

What a dweeb I am, a time wasting dweeb. I watched a Little Foot movie with the kids about tiny dinosaurs living amongst the larger ones, (I’m sure there was a message in the movie but I missed it.) Then I went online checked my mail, read a few article about Blogs, ended up at dooce.com and spent another 20 mins looking for a pic of the author’s boobs before finally giving up. Went into the kitchen dug out the fixins to make a cake-figure that would keep the kids busy for a spell this afternoon. So, here I am, I’ve missed the H&R Block appointment because I didn’t want to risk packing all 3 kids into my truck and getting stuck somewhere in the snow. Thinking about H&R Block…..Hmmm..Oh, shit I started my truck hours ago because I was planning on giving it a try. F$%K I’m now down to less than 1/8 tank of gas, luckily I didn’t run out. I can’t imagine running out of gas in my own drive. What a F$%K UP I am !! I’ll try and gear up for a better second half. Will work on getting the kiddies out side and make a snow fort or two. Put little helmets on them and throw snowballs at them as they run around the yard-that’s always a fun winter activity.

Movie quote you might like

<<<<<>>>>>From: Jeremiah Johnson How bout it?

Snow Girl
Posted by Hello

Need to teach Cam about operation ride share.
Posted by Hello

A book called FISH

Karin came home from work with a motivational management book called Fish. The basic principle is creating a fun and exciting work environment and you’ll have a creative and productive work force. The idea sprang from the management style of a fish market tucked inside Pikes Place Market on the waterfront in Seattle, WA. To many the job of filling fish orders would be a cold, smelly, and boring career, but when you see the workers in action your drawn in by the electricity and enthusiasm they produce while fulfilling orders. The idea is to learn how to re-create that worker enthusiasm in your corporate office. I’ve actually visited Pike Place Market. Did I say visited? A more accurate way to say it is, I lived at Pike Place Market. I actually did – for about 2 weeks. I traveled to Seattle and ended up waiting there for my job for the North Slope Bureau to start up in Point Barrow Alaska. My first dorm was my uncle’s art studio up near the University. If you’ve ever lived with an artist you’d know right off this wasn’t a lasting situation, and sleeping in a bag on the studio floor amid wood shavings and paint fumes surely wasn’t my idea or his I’m sure of a convenient spot. We did have some fun however, he’d paint and I’d practice my guitar and drive him nuts. Some nights we’d head down to the gallery and I even got invited to a few “openings”- which I found out are not my “thing”. Did you know they really serve cheese and wine at those things? And all those corduroy jackets….. After a few weeks it was best that we separate a bit so I began to spend my days down in the market with the street musicians more and more. I’d help the piano player wheel his piano down the street and into position for his days concert and toss the bait buck into a guitar case of another friend. A few solid weeks of this and I became part of the family of people living on the fringe of norm and no longer felt that I stood out. I had found a home even if only for a while. I remember spending the nights on the park bench nearby drinking from a bottle passed to me by a homeless Indian. Waking up the next day as anyone else would and heading to work, only at my work I didn’t receive any pay. The only regular money came from me going to the blood bank and letting them spin my blood to get the platelets before pumping the unneeded blood back into me. After reading the book Karin brought home I found myself missing the wet streets, the music, the bustle, the early mornings as shop owners geared up for another day and the quiet hours spent drinking coffee watching the boats slip in and out of the Sound. I wonder if anyone else from MBNA who read the book is left with the same wistful thoughts of a youth well spent.

A pic from Kitty Hawk Kites
Posted by Hello

Anyone Snowkite

Snow Kiting looks like a lot of fun. I received some information on this a few months ago from Flexifoil and have a price list for all kinds of kites and karts if anyone is interested. We, (the famdamily) are heading to VA in April and I would like to stop in and take a training class. That and to have the chance to ride my mountain bike on some new trails is what it takes to get me to travel below Augusta. If anyone knows about this sport give me a shout. Generally a 5 meter kite seems good for 10-18 mph winds. You can use that with a board and scoot along the lake and jump and flip and kill yourself in short order on the snow. Basing that on a person at 220lbs.In the summer you’d have to have a larger kite and from what I’ve been told you’d need more practice too.

Chip sent this one to me. Looks a little fuzzy because the pic was taken through his kitchen window.
Posted by Hello

Does your house have these ???This one is from the summer but once in awhile I even see them in the winter. I thought they hibernated.
Posted by Hello

Hanging out Under I-95...a bit dim ..1 light
Posted by Hello

Dreaded Peck Trail

The Fat Boy, (Angus) and I took a quick spin on the Dreaded Peck Trail yesterday morning. The Peck Trail is what I have named the trail outback of Newport Industrial Fabrication, (NIF). Dreaded part because in the spring and summer the beginning is very muddy with plenty of 4 wheeler ruts and deep deep puddles. Actually the trail yesterday morning was perfect. Angus hasn’t been out in awhile so I cut the ride a bit shorter than planned. Instead of coming out on the other side of the highway and coming home Rt 7 we just went to the Interstate and Back. No good pics because one of my lights died along the way. That’s why I bring at least 2.

Why Night Hunting is Best Done Alone..if at all

The plan is simple yet affective, almost fool proof. Low crawl into the middle of the field and then pop-up at the exact time your cohort snaps on the spotlight. The idea is to catch the deer in total surprise and bag your self that buck! What if your partner in crime is not as criminally minded as you? What if your partner isn’t paying as close attention to the surroundings as a good criminal should? What happens if that partner is your wife? Your positioned almost perfectly into the middle of the field ready to spring into action with gun a blazing….wait… a car, grab some earth and hang tight, your heart starts pounding as the thought crosses your beer soaked mind that, this isn’t such a good idea. Then suddenly the plan falls totally apart. As the car is approaching the light snaps on. Yes, I mean THE LIGHT, the 1 million-candle power watt light. The beam? You guessed it directly on you as you lay in the field hugging your .06. Your mind awhirl you spring to your feet and begin to sprint for the edge of the field trying frantically to wave off the light. It follows you across the open ground as you hop, wave and yell to your partner to cut the light. Your partner thinks this is all part of the plan and believes all is going well and does a fantastic job of keeping you well lit as you dodge this way and that.

Luckily the night ended with nothing more than a hard lesson learned, that night hunting is illegal and shouldn’t be done at all but if it is going to be done, go it alone

Ricky Turner hard at work- as usual.
Posted by Hello

Just another warm February day in Maine

I recently heard someone saying that we live in a time devoid of color. Well, who ever said that has never been to a snowmobile ride-in in Newport. Hundreds of people turned out for the drag racing event held on Sebasticook lake over by the old armory. All where wearing so many bright colors it would have made any lycra clad mountain biker proud. The sleds themselves come in more colors than my kids Crayola crayons. To my surprise the riders seem to make every effort to “match”. Not only match rider to machine but spouses, kids and team mates all matched machines. With some of the modified class reaching top speeds of over 138 mph the riders colors are morphed into a tubular mosiac. Newport Fire dept had an early start. By 9:30 am the first wave of chicken was sprawled out across an immense charcoaled filled fire pit. Dinner was served at 11am in the armory, unfortunate for Calvin the price was $6- I had $3. Oh well, sorry Cal. It is too warm to play outside today. Is that a sentence you can say in Maine in February? That just about sums up how the rest of the day went. Plowed off a large portion of the lake over in East Cove with the four-wheeler. Cal had me make not only a square skating area but also interconnecting trails. I had no real reason to plow this because I had already made calls to organize a skating party for tonight up at the farmhouse. So after we finished plowing we drove up to look at the pond- near 50 F temps had ruined the ice- party is off plain and simple. We went back to the lake and put on our skates around 2:30 and by 2:45 decided the ice was just to soft and had a zero fun factor. So here we are 3:00pm waiting inside for a night of bowling-shoot me now-shoot me now.

Picture of Jack on our ride this morning on the snowmobile trail from NIF to outer Grove St.
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Fighting Chickadees Needs Logo

Looking for input on finding a long awaited logo for the aging Fighting Chickadees. So far the best idea has come from Jack. He pictures a chickadee with a Patten hat with a raised brow biting a sunflower seed.

I have asked Jim and Linda Miller to help create a look for the Team.

Fighting Chickadees Need Riders

For the annual Trek Across Maine. This annual 3 day event raises money for the Maine Chapter of the American Lung Association.

The goal is 2200 riders at present there are 1350 registered riders. To join you can go here http://www.mrsnv.com/evt/e01/team.jsp?id=396&tid=1083