Vicksburg Battlefield Park ride

Rode the Battlefield National Park today.  Here are pics:

At the Visitor's Center

First Stop - Cannons pointed at the original Visitor's Center

In front of the USS Cairo - a steam powered "Ironsides" battleship

Closeup at the Cairo

Some may notice that I now have a tail bag.  That is a drink holder on the back (blue).

Overlooking tributaries of the Mississippi River - they are VERY low.

The Trip odometer - from my driveway and home again.

Lay my motorcycle down...

They said it was inevitable.  I didn't believe them.  It just happened.

I was pulling into my local country convenience store when the loose gravel and a careless lean or something caused a slide and down the bike went.

The first things through my mind were, "What the hell? What's going on?"

"Oh, shit!"  "Is the bike hurt? Did I scratch it up? Will it run?!?!"

"Roll with it.  I really need an armoured jacket.  Is the bike hurt?!?"

"What is that white thing sticking out of my jacket at the elbow?"  --  just kidding, elbow hurts, but only bruised.

"Oh, by the gods! Don't let the bike be hurt!  ... ow... good thing I had gloves on!"

Then there was lots of cursing and dread before picking the motorcycle up.  All 760.7 lbs.of her.  Which, was much easier than I had thought it would be... almost no effort at all.

The right side (brake) foot rest was bent up to where it was touching the brake pedal.  Heart sinking moment there.

Fortunately,  all I had to do was step on it and it sprung right back into place.  Its a fold-up apparently. Whew!!

Then starting the bike... it wouldn't start in gear, wanted to surge forward, even with the clutch fully pulled in.  I put it in neutral.  Started right up.  I pulled the clutch in and put it in 1st - killed.  I finally got it started in first.  Then I rode the few yards to park in front of the store, got my stuff and back out.

I started it up in first, kind of wanted to jump even with the clutch fully engaged, but settled down.  Then I rode it back home.

Other than a scuff on a cover, it appears all I did was have to readjust the mirror and flex the clutch a few times.

I am now washing it to apologize.

Mod-bug

Okay, so I have the motorcycle.  I've joined a forum.  The mod-bug has hit.

Modifying your ride to be more like you (me...).

So, first one I am thinking of - after the sissy bar...

 Going from this :

 

To this:

 

I think I'd like it a lot...  I just did a quick and dirty GIMP'd up version, but the pipes would, I'd hope be the gloss black of the tank... or the black of the frame... ... tank?  frame?

Motorcycle

I recently acquired a new motorcycle on 11/24/2012.  It is a 2009 model Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Classic that had never been sold before.  Sweet!!

Even though the model didn't come with one, I got a Windshield free too.

This is a pic of the bike at the Overlook on the Natchez Trace around Jackson, MS.

I am over 500 miles of riding in just two weeks and a couple days.  To say "Loving It" is an understatement.  I will repeat what I said after getting the scooter - Any day on two wheels is just better.

I need some luggage - tank bag, tail bag at least.  Having to use a backpack to take my rain gear with me (just in case today).  Would love somewhere to stash a drink or snack for long Trace rides.  I don't want a bagger - just some carrying capacity.

Some more Pics :

I also couldn't help :

Doctor Who

Episode idea...

... okay, not a whole episode, but something cool to happen.  Maybe a mid-season thing...

Doctor drops off his companion to go on a mission, do something silly or some other reason...

Moments later, the TARDIS rematerializes and out steps someone completely different.  The Next Doctor!

Has to say something like "Well, I had to come now."  Companion says, "Why?"  Doctor says, "You told me that I did - its already happened.  But you can't tell me what happens next.  Spoilers."

They go on an adventure and he drops the companion back off at the same place, minutes later. 

Next episode, the current Doctor comes back and picks up the Companion.

Tough thing to do is make sure the "Next Doctor" plays the Next Doctor.

Also, while I'm on the Doctor... the Doctor's Daughter needs to show up again soon!  She went off planet-saving, so I want her to return to the show.

What is a Progressive?

screwliberalism • 20 hours ago 

Why don't you define and outline just exactly what you mean when you use the term "progressive." I'm honestly interested. So far, I've not found one person who understands the term for THEMSELVES. Only that they can repeat someone else's rhetoric.

BobbyKearan • 19 hours ago • parent 

 

@screwliberalism: For me, a Progressive is someone who wants to move Forward with Improvements, Freedoms and Innovation, someone who wants to find Solutions that actually Work instead of insisting on staying in comfortable, but ineffectual frameworks.

For example, to anyone who actually studies the subject, "Trickle Down" economics, which is what we have been practicing since 1980, has been a miserable failure for 90% of our Citizens and our overall economy. We must change if we are to flourish. "Conservatives" seem to prefer to keep trying the same thing over and over and hope for different results.

"No man has a right to infringe upon the equal rights of another, and that is all from which the law should restrain him." - Thomas Jefferson.

Government exists to prevent the powerful from abusing the weak, prevent the majority from oppressing the minority and maintain Freedom, Liberty and Justice for All. Yes, business and corporations require regulation to keep them from becoming abusive. Yes, we need laws to prevent and punish violations of rights (such as murder, theft, rape, abuse, etc). No, government has no business defining what people do in their personal lives. People can worship who/what they want, love whom they want, marry whom they want, think what they want and do what they want - right up to the point where they start infringing upon or denying anyone else the same rights.

Taxes are the price we pay for Freedom, Convenience and Civilization. People and businesses must contribute their fair share to maintaining out great country. Those who want to avoid doing their part, I can not count as Patriots. People who benefit more should pay more, not less. Giving a hungry child a meal is a lot more important than giving a rich man another yacht.

Policy should, at all times, be guided by Reality, Honesty and Integrity.
Financial assistance should be tied to Financial Education. If you need assistance, we need to teach you how to get out of that situation and earn your own way. At the same time, realizing that some people just can't.

..... hope that is enough.

Dealing and Coping with Noise

I am overly sensitive to noise and I find it hard or impossible to block it out.  It has been an issue for a very, very long time.  It is only now that I've been working in an office cubicle environment that I am having a lot of trouble dealing with it.  In the past I've been able to go off on my own and work in isolation pretty much.  I can't do that any more.

I've received "Extreme Isolation" noise blocking headphones, which by themselves don't do much to help my problem.  I am wearing silicone ear plugs with the headphones and the combination doesn't block out enough.  I swear its like I hear through my nose or something.  I have been playing popular music, but that is also distracting.  I've tried white noise and that is annoying.

Some days I don't have to use the noise blocking very much, if at all.  But some days, even the slightest thing sends me into a freak-out.  Like today.  Its not like a panic attack, I don't think.  Its just that the noise level and different conversations and sounds all crash in at once and create an overload I suppose.  Like kicking a nest of hornets in my head.  I can't concentrate, I can't think and all I want to do is yell, "Shut Up!" over and over and over again.  I don't... very often, but I want to really bad.  When I put on the headphones and play music and I can still hear people talking its like, "What the #&*@** are you doing? Why the &*#& do you have to talk that &@#&# loud?? I have on noise blocking headphones and loud music and I can STILL hear you! WTF!?!?"  Turns out, its just me.

I have found a couple solutions that I am enjoying.  What I am doing now is I have the silicone earplugs, the noise cancelling headphones and listening to some calming music from http://www.purple-planet.com/#/royalty-free-music-calm and listening to http://www.rainymood.com/ at the same time.  This is helping to drown out most conversation.... yes, still not all.  I am concerned that turning the music up any more will hurt my hearing, LOL!!

I am going to get evaluated on the 8th to find out WHY I am like this.  It think that I am about to be diagnosed with Asperger's or CAPD or something like that.  In fact, some people have told me that I have to be 'on the autism spectrum' somewhere - people who have autistic kids or siblings.

Update: I never did get tested.  Insurance doesn't cover the testing, so I am fairly screwed.  Dealing with whatever this is that makes me so different from most other people really, really sucks sometimes.