...Knees in the Wind...

I Run Against the Wind

2012-01-28T15:01:00.001-05:00

Advice for Anything

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday everybody!
Start at :32sec and the advice applies to any situation-

Two Simple Rules

2012-01-07T03:49:00.003-05:00

Happy Holidays Everybody!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Nice Guys

2011-12-23T21:30:00.002-05:00

Just a Little Rain

2011-12-19T01:48:00.000-05:00

I Despise the Holidays

2011-12-12T23:09:00.000-05:00

Sincere Futility

2011-12-10T16:39:00.001-05:00

I need to come to terms with the fact that my marriage is over. I'm 3 months away from 27, yet I feel like I'm too old to start over. I miss being married. The comfort of knowing someone has chosen to spend their lives with you makes everything easier. Life becomes a safe bet. Everything is simpler when there is someone you love waiting for you at home. What I refuse to acknowledge is that my marriage has been over for quite some time. Its been over 2 years since she left. We made a half assed attempt at a reconciliation a few months in, but I think we both knew it was a no go. I was in a dreadful place. Resentful, angry, just looking to assert my own place in the world. Of course I took it out on her. I used every excuse to keep her at arms length no matter how hard she tried. Life is probably easier when you can get passed your own foolish pride. 'Wish I knew then...' and all that. 2011 was my first year as a single guy since high school. 11.5 months in and I'm still not sure what that means. I spent the summer using my credit cards as disposable income, trying to eat drink and celebrate my way out of a sure to be crippling depression. At this point, I'm teetering on the edge. $35k on a spiffy new muscle car, a $3k jamaican vacation, tailored suits, more clothes than I can wear and enough booze to kill an elephant. So far I feel about the same as when she left. I've learned to hate the holidays. I avoid family obligations and get togethers at all costs. When my grandmother died I lost it. I held it together for a few hours when I found out but eventually I had to leave work and I just couldn't control myself. I went to the most calming place I could think of to try and clear my head. A few hours in the monastery and I had regained some if not close to all of my composure. It didn't last for long. Coming home to an empty apartment brought it all back to the surface. It was all I could do to sit quietly and not die. There is a serious difference between being lonely and being alone. At that moment I learned how lonely I had become. Spending a few days in florida with my family only made it worse. No one brought up my 'situation' but I could see it in my grandfather's eyes. Before we left for the airport he told me to go home and win her back. How simple that would be. If only we could go back in time and do it all over. Would we make the same choices? Texas, the air force, the 2 bedroom with her brother and his gf? Would I say the same things? Would she? Knowing the outcome, would you save yourself the trouble of heartbreak or enjoy the smiles and laughter that came to you. Knowing the price would you still go through with it. It saddens me to say no, I don't believe I would. Its no ones fault but my own. I'm stuck in a place where I feel as if the last ten years of my life have gone nowhere. I have a decent job for someone who blew off college in search of adventure and a manly pursuit of working with my hands. Bust. What I wouldn't give to go back in time and kick my own ass for not staying in basic. I've made too many decisions for the immediate and none for the future. I type away at this rambling because I want to get it all out of my head. I'm tired of the sleepless nights wondering where I'm headed. I have never been the existential type but what am I doing with my life? What am I supposed to want? I have always felt lost. The problem is I've just stopped burying the thought. I've practically let it consume me. Work is a simple distraction, drinking takes the pain away, albeit for a few hours at a time. I hate even the idea of dating. Sharing my life with someone again is quite the scary thought. I haven't even figured out how to go it alone yet and people think I should be out trying to meet someone. Someone to fill the void. The void in my life cannot be a single person. It feels to large, too overwhelming to be filled by a passing fancy. But how can you explain that to a girl on a first date? Or a second. A month in? At what point does it become necessary to share the fact that all I want is to be married, in a house, with children. And a dog. She has my dog. How can you replace a dog. How can you replace a wife. How can you replace the plan you had for your entire life? I have to believe that one day when I least expect it I will come across happiness. Believing is not enough. I have to KNOW that it will happen. Then one day I will realize everything is alright. I'm smiling again. I'm happy again. Someone feels better when I am around. Life has gone forward without asking my permission and good thing it did. One day I will look back on this moment with a fond sadness. Knowing that as bad as things got I forced myself to think about today instead of tomorrow. To smile now and not cry about yesterday. Hope for the future that may only be a few hours away, has to be what keeps me going. Life is strange. You must be content to roll with what the universe brings you. I must learn to be content. No. Content is not enough. I must learn to be happy without a crutch. Happy with myself. I must be happy with myself before I will be happy with anything else, or more importantly before I will be happy with anyone else. This was a sincere exercise in futility.

Not a Negatron

2011-12-09T16:43:00.000-05:00

Id rather be an optimist and wrong, than a pessimist and correct.

Tired

2011-12-04T02:30:00.000-05:00

I'm tired but I can't sleep. 

I turn on some music to help me fade out. 

I start singing along to songs I like. 

It keeps me awake. 

I'm tired. 

  ... But I can't sleep.

I Was an Ant Hill god

2011-11-25T15:14:00.001-05:00

My Mom Didn't Find it Funny Either

2011-11-24T23:17:00.001-05:00

IM SOOO EXCITED!

2011-11-22T21:28:00.000-05:00

..AND I JUST CANT HIDE IT! I think Im about to lose control and I THINK I LIKE IT!!

Tired of This

2011-11-13T18:21:00.001-05:00

Damn, Another One?

2011-10-19T23:36:00.000-04:00

Hell yes another one!

Better Late Than Never

2011-10-19T23:34:00.004-04:00

Let's celebrate NEW JEEP DAY!!

This makes me feel safe...

Some Say I'm a Dreamer

2011-08-07T23:52:00.001-04:00

Such a Way with Words

2011-07-17T00:07:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I was Drunk

2011-07-06T18:42:00.004-04:00

Headed for Laconia

2011-06-17T17:00:00.001-04:00

On my way to Weirs Beach, be back in a couple of days. Hopefully with a few pictures and some stories too.

The Life you Could Lead

2011-06-13T23:51:00.000-04:00

road to paloma | trailer from Pride of Gypsies on Vimeo.

One day you could be as lost as me

2011-06-06T21:25:00.004-04:00

Gonna put the the world away for a minute
Pretend I don't live in it
Sunshine gonna wash my blues away

Well, Are You?

2011-06-06T21:12:00.000-04:00

I am a Contradiction

2011-05-17T02:08:00.000-04:00

Tweet, tweet

2011-05-02T17:44:00.003-04:00

Im not on twitter, but if I was, i'd wish I was as on top of my shit as this guy:

@neiltyson
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Two American goals that took a decade, and more than $100 billion to achieve: 1) Walk on the Moon 2) Find Bin Laden
17 hours ago via web

Neil deGrasse Tyson

edit: wow upon further review, he's done even better than that one;

Cost to build Endeavour orbiter: $1.7B. Net cost to British economy for day off, allowing everybody to watch RoyalWedding:$8B -apr 29

Yes, I think Blue in "BluesClues" should speak. Salt & Pepper speak. So does Paprika. They're not even mammals. -apr 25

April 22: Happy Earth Day. Hatched in late 1960s after the Apollo landing. By going to Moon we noticed Earth for first time. -apr 22

For some people, space is irrelevant. But when the asteroid comes, I bet they'll think differently. -apr 13

and so on and so forth. Well, cmon Im not gunna just give them all to you...

Just an Act

2011-05-02T17:08:00.001-04:00

My Vote, Showing Them How Its Done

2011-05-01T13:50:00.001-04:00

Tradition

2011-04-11T00:17:00.003-04:00

The irezumi does not hide the skin, the tattoo reveals the nature of the man and illuminates the four noble professions in the Book of Five Rings: the Warrior, the Artist, the Merchant, and the farmer.

If there is a conflict between the needle and the skin, between the mark and the man, then perhaps the path you have chosen is not the path for which you are suited.

NPH Tells the Truth

2011-04-08T22:00:00.013-04:00

Today is new suit day. I now own 7 suits, the 2 newest are obviously the nicest. I can finally scratch "Own a tailored 3-piece suit" off my list. Now I've never actually seen this show but I heard the song was funny (which is true) I dont even wear suits. I should start. I look good in a suit. (The singing starts around 21 seconds)

Pale Blue Dot

2011-03-26T20:51:00.002-04:00

From this distant vantage point, the Earth might not seem of particular interest. But for us, it's different. Look again at that dot. That's here, that's home, that's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.

Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.

The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.

It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.

-Carl Sagan

Space Flight Might Not be Safe

2011-03-18T18:16:00.018-04:00

I don't think anyone of my generation would believe that there was ever any doubt that NASA knew they were going to make it to the moon. As a kid, I've always heard that Kennedy said we were goin, and then we went. American ingenuity, hardwork and all that. Here's a little proof even rocket scientists and die-hard American politicians from the good ole' days knew how to hedge their bets-

And of course, as is the whole point of my blog, here's where I return your faith in humanity and leave you with a smile- Michael Collins (pilot of Gemini 10) made the following suggestion as to what Armstrong should say upon stepping onto the lunar surface: "If you had any balls, you'd say 'Oh, my God, what is that thing?' then scream and cut your mic." And obviously we all know that Neil Armstrong has no balls.

RHCP

2011-02-21T22:46:00.003-05:00

Innocent until manipulated into being guilty.

2011-02-21T18:06:00.002-05:00

Insignificant

2011-02-21T16:12:00.001-05:00

Ways to Be Cool

2011-02-21T13:43:00.002-05:00

8 out of 23... I dunno....

Happy Bday Geordi

2011-02-16T23:20:00.005-05:00

Guy's got a pretty good sense of humor. Keep on keepin on pal.

Faith means not wanting to know what is true

2011-02-15T21:25:00.005-05:00

And like, this is why we're ranked like, 29th in the world in science.

I would feel pity for those that will come after me, but maybe the Mayans were right and none of it will matter...

Washington Post
CS Monitor

We must question the story logic of having an all-knowing all-powerful God, who creates faulty Humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes. – Gene Roddenberry

More Truth.

2011-02-15T21:10:00.004-05:00

Im starting to become a real fan of the people of Iowa.

Happy shallow, fake love day

2011-02-14T10:36:00.004-05:00

According to some records, Valentine’s Day is actually a celebration of Death; the day St Valentine was brutally beaten and killed in 296 AD for continuing to marry couples against Roman law.

Somethings not quite right...

2011-02-12T19:41:00.002-05:00

Follow the Rules...

2011-02-12T13:22:00.007-05:00

...get shit done.

Here's the whole video, ::warning its almost an hour long:: showing Rep ANthony Weiner of NY calling out the GOP for creating new rules and then arbitrarily deciding whether or not to follow them.

Time to Start Paying Attention huh?

2011-02-09T20:16:00.004-05:00

Back in the winter of 2007, on a cold January morning in a Washington, DC Metro Station, a man, with a violin, played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approximately 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes, a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes later:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes later:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children... Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly...

After 45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

At the end of One Hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

The questions raised:

In a common place, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

Do we stop to appreciate it?

Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

We are so busy that we don't have even a moment to spare to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.

In our haste, how many other things are we missing?

'Wanted' on Cable

2011-02-09T20:13:00.002-05:00

Not exactly the same but, ok i guess.

Follow-Ups are Important Too

2011-02-05T00:10:00.007-05:00

I wasnt sure where to post this follow up. As an edit or addendum to the video below or in it's own seperate post. Ive decided to give this link its own heading and hopefully it will help some of you pay a little more attention to it.

READ ME READ ME

This is an article following up on Zach Wahls speach at the Iowa public hearing event. People are turning his profound and direct apppeal for civil rights into anything but. The anti-same sex marriage groups are claiming that because it is a heart felt plea for equality it is obviously a flawed argument. That he is simply tugging at your heart strings in order to sway you opinion. I raise the bullshit flag folks.

When those on the side of denying your basic human rights is backed into a corner, once they realize theyve been dealt a crushing blow in the debate, and they are now proven wrong, they will ramp up the excuses and look for anything to sway you back to their side. The usual first option; completely disqualify you and your ideas. No matter how simple and fair they may seem.

There's a reason people call the ones on the outskirts "wing nuts". Its because they're fucking stupid and they're fucking wrong.

We need to get more people to stand up and speak like this kid- eloquent, direct, with purpose, and from the heart.

Truth.

2011-02-02T21:22:00.003-05:00

This is the way a debate is handled. No screaming, no crazies, no bullshit rhetoric and bible thumping. Truth.

Still Dont Like the Slogan

2011-02-02T10:56:00.001-05:00

Here You Go, Create Another Fable

2011-01-25T17:14:00.003-05:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Best Fortune EVER!

2011-01-23T00:35:00.002-05:00

Close, But No...

2011-01-22T01:23:00.009-05:00

The creepiest thing Ive seen on the internet? Close, but no.

And just to help you get over that, here's Marilyn-

...Makes me wanna get back to the gym.

It Will Blow Your Mind

2011-01-20T18:14:00.000-05:00

Too Young. Thank God.

2011-01-17T09:19:00.005-05:00

Oh the '70s. how just plain wrong you were.

PS- anybody catch the Die Hard reference? "Im agent Johnson, this is agent Johnson." "No Relation."

Cant Sleep? Share Random Music

2011-01-11T00:38:00.002-05:00

This is NOT What I Had Planned

2010-12-31T19:12:00.001-05:00

Happy Same Year.

2010-12-31T18:31:00.002-05:00

Less than 6 hours to go before everyone realizes tomorrow will be exactly the same as yesterday, but they will celebrate anyway. Say what you will, and write what you want because it will probably make the time go by faster or some such nonsense.

I really have no use for the holidays. People try and pretend its all about family and giving and blah blah blah, but in reality they just want gifts and excuses to get drunk. Im not really one who needs an excuse to have a few cocktails but the holidays just kind of annoy me at this stage in life. There are probably a few dozen reasons I could share but who cares, I'd rather just blurt it out and leave you wondering why. That'll make it easier for me (haha).

I've never understood why people belive that a new year will give them a clean slate, or a better reason to go out and buy new clothes, or really suck it up and hit the gym. Then comes the 2nd week in March or even all the way to April for some of the stronger ones, and bam. Back to sitting on the couch and doing exactly what they did a few months ago, eating cheez-its and feeling fat. It sucks but its reality. Someone once told me the best advice I've ever heard; "Life's hard. Get a helmet." Yup, thats it. Real life is just that, no shiny ball or stupid fucking countdown is going to fundamentally change you or your attitude.

You are still going to hang out with the same people, still gunna hang out at the same places and still work the same stupid fucking no-where, dead-end job you've had for all of the previous year. Unless obviously, the universe wants to laugh at you and you get laid off. Well, at least that'll shake things up a bit for you. (Lol)

Well that's really all I've got in this edition of turn everybody else's happy day into crap. If You enjoy the holidays don't worry about my ranting. Have your champagne and blow your whistles or whatever. Enjoy it and start your new gym membership tomorrow with all the vigor you can muster.

I'll be sleeping in.

Merry Christmas Everybody!

2010-12-25T23:45:00.006-05:00

Wouldn't You Buy This Stuff?

2010-12-18T18:48:00.005-05:00

Wow, they really used to be able to get away with a lot more huh...?

Respectfully stolen from somewhere else ...

That'll Do Boots. That'll Do...

2010-11-29T17:32:00.006-05:00

Out with the old, In with the new...

These are my 3rd pair of these Timberlands in probably about 10 years. My first pair I owned around the end of high school, and when I left for Houston. The second pair I think I purchased around '05 or so, and I've been abusing the crap out of them since then. I love these boots. They're waterproof, warm and comfortable. They were worth it when I paid $130 for the first two pairs(each), and they were worth it the third time when I found them at a steal of $80. Apparently they are no longer produced, and I just got damn lucky finding this pair.

Today is a happy day.

New Tattoo, Session # 1 of ...

2010-11-26T21:37:00.003-05:00

Im sure this is going to take at least 4 or 5 sessions before its actually complete, but heres the end of the first one. I love tattoos.
Outline

Giving up for the night.

So fresh and so clean, clean.

Laundry Room Girl

2010-11-21T12:53:00.000-05:00

Hahaha Whos comes up with this stuff?

Stolen from somewhere else...

Headed To DC for the Weekend...

2010-10-29T17:30:00.001-04:00

Down With Automatics!

2010-10-29T09:05:00.008-04:00

Like me, you may have noticed an alarming paucity of vehicles offering fully manual transmissions. Even sports-car stalwart Ferrari, of gated-shifter fame, isn’t providing a three-pedal option on the new 458 Italia. Equally distressing, I read in the Washington Post that our nation’s hard-texting youth have pronounced driving seriously lame, with only about 30 percent of 16-year-olds having acquired driving licenses as of 2008. I can’t help but think these things are related.

If folks learned to operate the entire car, not just the steering wheel and occasionally the brakes, I’d bet they’d like driving better. If they knew the sense of control imparted by that third pedal, I’d bet they would strive for its mastery. If they knew the excitement that accompanied a perfectly timed heel-toe downshift, I can guarantee they’d be hooked.

You know what we need? We need a crusade. We need to save the manuals! Not only are manual transmissions often more fuel-efficient than their two-pedal counterparts, you also can’t text while operating one. So let’s lobby carmakers to produce more of these things because they’re safer and more frugal, and let’s not tell them that they’re way more fun. Let’s train our offspring in the ancient ways of the stick shift. Let all of us knights of the clutch pedal drive our manual-equipped cars to Washington and pop ’em in front of Barry O’s house.

Won’t you join the cause? —Eddie Alterman

Contact Your Local Representative

Send an impassioned, respectful message to your local Senator or Representative, or even to the President. Visit usa.gov for contact information or, to keep it even more grassroots, hit your state’s website to contact your state government. Will it make a difference? Uh, maybe?

Train the Uninitiated

Grab an automatic-afflicted friend and show them the ropes. Or use tools such as Meetup.com, Facebook, and Twitter—even Blingee.com if you’re into sparkly e-cards—to plan a manual-transmission training session in your area. Spread the knowledge and you’ll spread the love.

--Stolen, with Thanks... from Car&Driver.com

Frank the Millionaire

2010-10-28T17:25:00.004-04:00

This guy is officially a hero of mine. I hate trailer queens and people who buy things just to show off how much money they have, then lock them away. Buying a supercar and trucking it to shows, parking it outside your house and having it shown off in music videos is offensive to people who truly love automobiles.

I say drive em, race em, smoke out the rubber and burn through brake pads. Enjoy them for what they are. Some, a piece of art- maybe. All, somebodies passion on wheels.

Holy Mother of FUCK

2010-10-20T22:55:00.002-04:00

Z28 Spotted at Nurburgring

2010-10-06T21:11:00.003-04:00

First video of the 2012 Z28 racing around Germany

God I want this guys job.

It's Probably True

2010-10-01T19:22:00.002-04:00

Comparisons

2010-10-01T19:18:00.000-04:00

A Few Quick Shots

2010-09-15T17:14:00.010-04:00

I need to go out and buy a legit digital camera. Heres a couple quick ones from my BB.

Just to reiterate, It's a 2010 Camaro SS/RS. Black on black (with cyber gray rally stripes) with the 6 speed trans, leather, HIDs, AM/FM/XM w CD, and Onstar. It's got 20's front and rear with Brembo discs all around. Ive got the painted engine cover that was a pre-installed dealer option, and I ordered my LS3 Trac-pak exhuast, black-out grille, and a motorized hidden plate mount, that should all be here in the next few days.

First Snapshot

2010-09-13T21:19:00.005-04:00

Taken by my friend Brandi outside her house... Ill post more when I get a chance i'm just having too much fun in the driver's seat right now haha :D

Look Ma, No Sunroof

2010-09-12T18:34:00.016-04:00

I was stuck on it. I couldnt think of anything else in the world for those few days. Everytime I opened google i had to see a picture of it. Different colors, configurations, any little bit of information I could find on it had to be assimalated. 0-60 times, 1/4 mile, horsepower vs torque. I can tell you all of it. I drove it, I took pictures of it, I sat in it on every occasion I could. Three different dealerships were convinced I was buying one from them. But I needed an edge. I had gotten them to an acceptable price but I needed more. I needed to prove that I was the better salesmen, I could convince them they had to sell it to me for even less and that they should love me for it.

And that's when I drove the competion. I fell for that even harder.

The 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS. The 2SS to be precise, add to that the Rally Sport package and you have such a beautiful, powerfull machine I doubt anyone with the means could turn it down. Finnally, this having a job thing is going to pay off.

The first of the retro muscle cars I was dying to have was the 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T. They call it the J package, I called it fantastic. A 5.7 lt Hemi V8 that produces 376 hp, with 404lb-ft of torque. Leather bucket seats, sunroof, satellite radio and seating for five, this car was perfect. Black with red hood-to-fender stripes. I was in love. Or so I thought.

After a few days of haggling between two local Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep dealerships, I had them down to a decent price; $35,107. But as an old car salesmen myself I knew I could get them lower. Or alienate both of them trying. My first thought was to start calling dealers from out of state, I worked for Dodge when I lived in Houston and low and behold the place was still there. My plan backfired though, Mac Haik in TX wanted a thousand dollars more than the local dealerships here in NY. I was amazed. Everything costs more up north, that's just the way things are. Isn't it?

Plan B was a little more complicated, but simple in its own right. Find a compareable 'retro muscle car' and get it for less, then take that number back to Dodge. Now to choose- Ford's redesigned Mustang GT or the brand new, first year Camaro SS. I chose the SS. It's not that I dislike the Ford. I just could't see myself drive it. They are everywhere. That V6 is just so cheap, housewifes and highschoolers have them all over the road. And the price points just don't match up to haggle well with the Dodge guys. In comes the Chevy.

The 2SS includes many of the same options as the Challenger R/T, but I was looking at the J package, in order to stack up to the Camaro I had to move up in ranks to the Classic model. Which came in at a staggering $39k. A few too many sheckels for my taste. But now I could make up the advantage. You see, the 2SS comes with HIDs, steering wheel mounted audio controls, an iPod/USB hookup and most importantly; a 6.2 lt 426hp monster under the hood. More powerful, and with more options I set out for battle.

Marchese Chevrolet in Fort Montgomery, near West Point, NY is the closest Chevrolet Dealership to my house, since the shakeup of GM earlier this year. I hopped on the bike (for the first time since my ride to FL/SC) and headed over the bridge. I talked to a couple of really decent guys, played with the boxer that runs the showroom and I was set. I decided not to test drive it that night. I remember how aggrivating it was when an 'UP' came in and we had to take a car out of the showroom and I realized he had no intention of buying. All that work for bupkiss. I wasn't gunna do that to the poor guy. I left with a number that I was comfortable using in my negotiations with Dodge and that was that.

And then it started. I couldnt get that car out of my head. Up all night researching, comparing photos, track times, any information I could find to hold the two against each other. Everytime I put them head to head the Camaro came out in front. More HP, more options, more awesome.

I called up the GM at Marchese and explained the deal, $35,1 for the Dodge, with 1.9% financing. What can you do for me? He made me an offer I couldn't refuse. That was it. I made my decision. 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS/RS in Black with gray stripes and leather seats.

I made my down payment on thursday and I am picking it up after work on monday. I am so damn excited. Are'n't you?

Almost Forgot to Post

2010-09-12T17:00:00.001-04:00

My new Cherry Blossom Tree. Once again, work by Nick @ Skinscapes North

Vodka in a Scotch Glass

2010-08-28T20:02:00.005-04:00

1. Pregaming:
Getting drunk or generally intoxicated before a party or social event regardless if there will be alcohol or other substances available at said event.

Never had Vat69. Ive had Stoli O & Sprite though. Getting ready for some shenanigans...

Cleaning Out My Phone

2010-08-22T20:00:00.000-04:00

I am so tired of the rain...

I hit 170,000. Seemed like something to take a snapshot of

I am a talented motherfucker. Some old pipe, steel, padding and an idea- wala, a new tattoo stand for Nick. I mean, I bought a welder for a reason...

I took this at the air races a cpl months ago. Haven't been able to find out who she is, some german/euro MTV type network host I think

Damn Straight

White Plains at night, from the roof of 140 Grand St

Who thought that up? I never noticed it before, I wonder when it changed...

Ha, somebody had to carry all these damn rocks up here? I'll never complain about my job again

Yea, I'm going back this Thursday for another tattoo. I'm excited, aren't you?

I've always wanted to be in an MC. For real.

Sounds like a party...

Last Minute Awesomeness

2010-08-22T19:49:00.011-04:00

Drowning Pool, Hyngd, American Bang, Nonpoint. Fantastic show.
We missed the first band, but no big deal. I guess we missed Selfish Needy Creatures, cuz I got to see the rest of the bands on the list. Nonpoint fucking rocked. American Bang was great, the guys even hung out in the crowd and at the bar after their set.
I actually saw Drowning Pool about 9 years ago at The Chance, with their original singer. They opened for Sevendust back then. It was the second concert I had ever been to and it rocked. Just like Friday night did.

Green Day Photos

2010-08-22T19:32:00.008-04:00

I have realized that my Blackberry sucks at photos. I choose to take them anyway because I really dont want to carry a camera everywhere I go. These are photos from the Green Day Concert I saw with my sister and her friend, as well as my friend Tony.In case your wondering, this is what the Comcast Theater in Hartford Ct looks like. I couldnt find a single picture of the lawn before the show.

Should've put them up earlier but I'm lazy. sue me.

I Wanna Be Your SuperHero

2010-08-22T19:02:00.003-04:00

New Episodes have been on for a few weeks now, and I just wanted to remind people of the website I found to stream them- Enjoy...

Entourage

Defender Sighting

2010-08-22T18:57:00.003-04:00

Thats a nice Series I in the center and a really clean International on the left. Im not sure what the greenish one is though...

Seriously?

2010-08-22T18:55:00.002-04:00

Don't take the fine print too seriously

2010-08-17T00:21:00.002-04:00

"Louder than DC, I'll give you that"

2010-08-14T13:52:00.010-04:00

Thursday night I took my little sister and her friend to their first concert. I had the time of my life, hopefully they did too. She's just 13 and asked me to get her a couple of tickets to see Green Day for christmas. Now maybe it took a little while, but eventually I always come through. So I cut outta work early, and picked up my friend Tony, we shot out to Southbury to pick them up and then another 45 mins to Hartford.

The show started at 7 with AFI opening, we had lawn seats but the rain held off for the most part. I never realized I had heard them before, but they did a pretty good job. Honestly anything could have opened I mean it was Green Day, everyone was just psyked to be there for them. GD took the stage a little after 9 and it was a madhouse. They put on a full 3 hour set, playing everything from the new album (21st Century Breakdown), American Idiot, Nimrod and all the way back to dookie. Their First (technically 2nd) album was actually the first album I had ever bought on for myself. I was pretty excited to see them live, and they put on a show that was worth 10 times what I paid for.

I've only been to a handful of live shows but this was probably my favorite to date. Billie Joe pulled a kid, couldn't have been more than 12, onto the stage right out of the crowd and had him do a full running stage dive into the crowd. That was just the beginning. He had a crowd of people on stage at one point, another song he let a girl come up and sing almost the whole thing herself. The best though, was when the band started Longview, He found a guy who swore he could play the whole song perfect. He did. This kid got to jam out with Green Day in front of an amphitheater packed to the rafters, and he nailed it. After the song he went into a little guitar solo of his own, it was sweet. The band was impressed enough to let him keep the guitar. That is going to be something that kid will never forget.

I really enoyed the change ups though, it wasn't like any other concert I've seen, They played a little metallica, AC/DC, the doors, even the beatles. Bille Joe and Tre Cool switched instruments for a few songs, I mean they just enjoyed what they were doing and it really showed. It truly looked like the band was just having fun on stage, even after more than a decade of playing.

I'm glad that I got to bring my sister and show her how much fun live music can be. I'm sure she had as much fun as I did (at least I hope) I selfishly hope she remembers how awesome her older brother is too.

RideMap

2010-08-05T18:21:00.004-04:00

In case any of you hadn't noticed, I've updated my RideMap! Last week I rode down to Florida. I stopped in DC along the way, and after a few days I made my way north to spend the end of the week in South Carolina with some friends. Ill share the details and some pictures soon.

10,000 miles. Thats an Accomplishment.

2010-07-17T22:24:00.014-04:00

Wow. So I took a ride out to Southbury CT, to visit my little brother and not so little sister and on the way home I realised I had gone past 10,000 miles. Damn. I almost didn't even notice it. I have to consider that some kind of a special event, seeing as how I bought the bike brand new from the dealership.

I'm excited about it. I'm also excited about the fact that I am leaving for a thousand mile trip next weekend. I will be riding straight through to Florida, trying to get into the Iron Butt club (1K miles in 24hrs), I'll be spending a few days with my Grandparents, aunt and uncle and a couple of cousins. After that I'll head up to Myrtle Beach to meet up with the guys for a little vacation. Hopefully all goes well and I can post some cool pics when I get back. Wish me luck...

Defender Sighting

2010-07-07T21:28:00.003-04:00

A red soft top on 287, headed towards White Plains. Probably a dangerous photo to take...

Life is a Highway...

2010-07-07T21:17:00.002-04:00

and I wanna ride it all night long...

8 More Flowers

2010-06-27T13:56:00.009-04:00

and two more bubbles.

I got another tattoo on friday night. Once again, I enlisted the help and talent of my friend Nick at Skinscapes North. I finally got my Koi, I went with a design I found a few months ago. Originally I had planned on a large orange koi with some red in it, which would have come up over the crest of my elbow and taken up a lot of space. Just scowering the interwebs one day I came across a beautiful piece with a white fish and a dark blue background that I fell in love with. I made my appointment and just a few weeks later here we are!

Here's the original artwork-

Here's the linework done, and the finished product;

What do you think?

Defender Sighting

2010-06-02T22:24:00.004-04:00

Here I have what appears to be a Series I in Croton. Its gotta be about 40 years old or more, but still in excellent shape. Green with a white hard top, and a Road Knights tag on the back.

G.A. & Rich Lost Their Virginity...

2010-06-02T22:05:00.011-04:00

...Together! lol. The boys went under the needle today, each for their first time. George went first and got a sick, marble-shaded cross on his right arm and Rich got a really detailed letter/stenciling on his left wrist.

G.A.'s is somewhat similar to his sister's but completely unique in it's own right.

Rich's took some real imagination, he came up with an idea and with a little effort found a really cool way to pull it off. It was done in an outline form to make it look like a real stamp; with the broken edges and worn letters on purpose.

I think Nick pulled off another fantastic job with them both.

Skinscapes North

2010-05-18T20:59:00.003-04:00

Just sharing a photo of the place, and a little contact info-
559 Route 6, Mahopac NY 10541- 845.621.1021

Tattoo # 2

2010-05-16T20:14:00.015-04:00

I went under the needle again this weekend, and I'm already planning the rest of my forearm. I can't get enough of it! Here's a shot of Nick from Skinscapes North at it again.

Here's a terrible shot from my blackberry of the finished product- once again, the kid does fantastic work, and I recommend all of you to go see him. But not before I get another appointment of course...

Yea, I got a blackberry a couple of weeks ago. Its a Curve 8530, pretty badass if I do say so myself. I really do not know how I've survived this long without a smart phone, or at least without having an internet capable one. More of a review will probably follow shortly.

10 Points

2010-05-13T18:02:00.008-04:00

While I'm driving, I hate pedestrians.
When I'm a pedestrian, I hate drivers.

No matter what I'm doing, I always hate cyclists. Always.

Words To Live By

2010-05-10T19:10:00.000-04:00

Where the hell have i been?

2010-05-04T20:31:00.002-04:00

ok so its been a month-ish since ive posted and I neeeed to get back to it. I have a whole bunch of stuff in the pipeline but i think im gunna just type up one huge one that covers the last couple of weeks. Ill get on it asap for you guys i promise.

thanks for the patience

I am a Drunken Fool

2010-03-27T14:08:00.003-04:00

I Love the Colour of it All

2010-03-23T17:18:00.003-04:00

BellX1, The Great Defector

Atlantic City baby !

2010-03-21T19:04:00.002-04:00

(R->L) Mike, Rich, Me, Pawel, George

First Giving, Then Plane Pulling

2010-03-18T20:57:00.014-04:00

Who wants to help out a good cause? On May 2nd, 2010 I am participating in a Ronald McDonald House charity thing for the city of Philadelphia. It's the 2nd annual SouthWest Airlines Plane Pull- That's right folks, I'm gunna pull a friggin plane. AND it's for a good cause. Awesome.

The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families whose children are receiving medical treatment for serious illness. We provide the comfort, care, and support families need to help get them through such stressful times.

So I've added a little widget on the right side of the blog for all you people out there to help out, drop a dollar if you can, nobody ever missed a dollar. Seriously $1 dollar? Just do it.

My Donation Page

It'll help kids and their families and earn you some good karma points. That way you don't have to come back as a toilet brush.

Erin Express 2010

2010-03-16T22:24:00.014-04:00

I tried to put up all the photos I could find, between my friends FaceBook, the blurry messes from my cell and the 2 I found on the UpcomingEvents.com website. Check em out, hopefully I'll have more after Wednesday- Im heading into the city after work to meet up with some friends who are going down for the parade...

Photos include; Myself, Rich, G.A., some rain, Mike, Katie, Vic, some more rain, a bus full of drunks, Chunko, Katie's brother, 13 people stuffed in a Honda Odyssey, a Redhead from Jersey and 2 blondes from Pa.

Pay Attention...

2010-03-16T21:59:00.009-04:00

This is an actual article posted on the regional news website LoHud. It serves the Lower Hudson valley, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties, here in NY.
This robbery happened in the middle of the day today (Tuesday, March 16th, 2010), in front of a bar in Mahopac, NY. A bar that I frequent a little too often for my own health. The whole situation seemed pretty nuts before I read the article. Then I realized somebody needs to check the photo again...

Man robs Mahopac bank; manhunt on
By Terence Corcoran • tcorcora@lohud.com • March 16, 2010
* Comments (36) * Recommend (2)* Print this page * Share

MAHOPAC — Police are searching for a man who robbed the TD Bank on South Lake Boulevard around 12:30 p.m. today.

The robber is described as a 5-foot-6, 150-pound black man wearing a navy-blue baseball cap, green fatigues and blue jeans.

The man entered the bank at 915 S. Lake Blvd., and stole an undetermined amount of money.

No weapon was displayed.

He fled on foot, although he may have gotten into a dark-green sport utility vehicle, possibly driven by a black man with dreadlocks in his hair.

Carmel police, Putnam deputies and state police are searching for the suspect.

Nothing to do, Nowhere to go-o...

2010-03-15T23:17:00.007-04:00

Im getting kinda sick of NY again. I really just don't enjoy living here anymore. Everytime I leave town, I realize how much more awesome it is, to be ANYWHERE else.

I spent the weekend in Philly, attending the super-fantastic Erin Express celebration. It's basically an all day pub crawl throughout Philly, with no cover-charges and sweet drink specials. I'm talking 2(two) Captain & cokes, and a beer for $11 bucks sweet. If you're from NY, you understand how crazy that sounds. If you're from anywhere else, well then you are just a lucky bastard and need to stop rubbing it in my face.

Ill post the pics from my cell and any that show up online, if I feel like sharing the awesomeness with the world. I might just keep it to myself.

..To Remember Me ..

2010-03-11T19:56:00.001-05:00

I found this a few years ago, it was actually cut out of a newspaper and under a magnet on a cousin's refrigerator, but I looked up the author, and held onto the idea since then. It is something that I really agree with and as morbid as it may seem, I have told people this is exactly what I want in the end. I just renewed my driver's license and the first thing I did was check the organ donor box. Did you?

By Robert Noel Test (1926-1994)

The day will come when my body will lie upon a white sheet neatly tucked under four corners of a mattress located in a hospital busily occupied with the living and the dying. At a certain moment a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function and that, for all intents and purposes, my life has stopped.
When that happens, do not attempt to instill artificial life into my body by the use of a machine. And don't call this my deathbed. Let it be called the Bed of Life, and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives.

Give my sight to a man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby's face or love in the eyes of a woman.
Give my heart to a person whose own heart has pain.
Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car, so that he might live to see his grandchildren play.
Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week.
Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk.
Explore every corner of my brain.
Take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow so that, someday, a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against her windows.
Burn what is left of me and scatter the ashes to the winds to help the flowers grow.
If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses and all my prejudice against my fellow man.
If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you.

If you do all I have asked, I will live forever.

Robert N. Test was one of the pioneers in promoting organ and tissue donations. In 1976, he wrote an essay titled "To Remember Me." It was first published in The Cincinnati Post and later in Ann Landers' column, as well as in Reader's Digest.

Did you know?

There are currently over 105,000 people waiting for an organ donation
The largest group waiting is from 18-49 years of age
Last year more than 7,000 people died due to the lack of organs
An average of 18 people die each day while on the waiting list for an organ donation
Last year, more than 28,000 people began new lives thanks to an organ transplant
Organs and tissues from a single non-living donor can be used to benefit more than 50 people
Living donors can donate a kidney and parts of their liver, lung, pancreas, or intestine
Living donors can be evaluated to help a friend, family member or even donate anonymously to patients on the wait list

Free Stuff

2010-03-03T17:44:00.000-05:00

Look what came in the mail today!
All the other motorcycle blog guys share photos of when they get free stickers in the mail. So here I am just following along with the crowd...

...Knees in the Wind...

I Run Against the Wind

Advice for Anything

Two Simple Rules

Happy Holidays Everybody!

Nice Guys

Just a Little Rain

I Despise the Holidays

Sincere Futility

Not a Negatron

Tired

I Was an Ant Hill god

My Mom Didn't Find it Funny Either

IM SOOO EXCITED!

Tired of This

Damn, Another One?

Better Late Than Never

Some Say I'm a Dreamer

Such a Way with Words

Yesterday, I was Drunk

Headed for Laconia

The Life you Could Lead

One day you could be as lost as me

Well, Are You?

I am a Contradiction

Tweet, tweet

Just an Act

My Vote, Showing Them How Its Done

Tradition

NPH Tells the Truth

Pale Blue Dot

Space Flight Might Not be Safe

RHCP

Innocent until manipulated into being﻿ guilty.

Insignificant

Ways to Be Cool

Happy Bday Geordi

Faith means not wanting to know what is true

More Truth.

Happy shallow, fake love day

Somethings not quite right...

Follow the Rules...

Time to Start Paying Attention huh?

'Wanted' on Cable

Follow-Ups are Important Too

Truth.

Still Dont Like the Slogan

Here You Go, Create Another Fable

Best Fortune EVER!

Close, But No...

It Will Blow Your Mind

Too Young. Thank God.

Cant Sleep? Share Random Music

This is NOT What I Had Planned

Happy Same Year.

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Wouldn't You Buy This Stuff?

That'll Do Boots. That'll Do...

New Tattoo, Session # 1 of ...

Laundry Room Girl

Headed To DC for the Weekend...

Down With Automatics!

Frank the Millionaire

Holy Mother of FUCK

Z28 Spotted at Nurburgring

It's Probably True

Comparisons

A Few Quick Shots

First Snapshot

Look Ma, No Sunroof

Almost Forgot to Post

Vodka in a Scotch Glass

Cleaning Out My Phone

Last Minute Awesomeness

Green Day Photos

I Wanna Be Your SuperHero

Defender Sighting

Seriously?

Don't take the fine print too seriously

"Louder than DC, I'll give you that"

Innocent until manipulated into being guilty.