I noticed some goofs of mine at the job site today.  Better to catch them now than later, I suppose.

I also spent time talking with Jaybo while he worked on his boat.  Man, talk about a sweet floater.  Maybe I'll take him up on the offer he once made to go out in the lake.  That would be great.

Afterwards I went to the sports store.  I finally got the little bippy.  The craftsmanship is flawless.
Looking forward to practicing with it.

Rockin' Old Dudes

I haven't seen these dudes live since 2004.

May 22nd.  I am there!

Yeah, it's a Sunday.  But I'll manage.  I'm not missing a chance to see these rockers.

Long live the Tres Hombres!

Friday Night (And It Ain't Over Yet)

I left work pretty much on time for the first time in a long time.  Dave G. and I went out to some hole in the wall. Never been there, most of the people were missing teeth, and we kind of were the only two relatively sober in the joint.

But we enjoyed some of our conversations with the random people.

Some dude named Nate offered me the opportunity to poke him in his glass eye.  And yes, he was missing a lot of his teeth.  I respectfully declined, though I secretly wanted to give poking that eyeball a try.

Some random biker bought us drinks.  This guy was pretty ballsy...riding that thing in this cold weather.  No clue who he was, other than some badass in leather, but he was nice.  He seemed to have all his teeth, so I was....well I guess I was disappointed.

Then, I came home.  It was a nice time out.  But I have gone way past overdoing it many times, so calling it a night was a good thing.

It was a good thing for a bigger reason than simply not overdoing it.

I had a pretty nice conversation with one of my favorites on this planet.  Ms. Leslie Hall.  She's gotta be one of greatest people.

Thanks for the chat, dear.  You made me feel special!

Oh, and Salsa rocks like nobody's business.

Some Triumph Action

Classic Triumphs will always make a person smile!

(Taken when Awesome and I went to a bike and car exhibit earlier this month.)

Wonder if I'll ever get around to getting my Triumph inspected?

The clock's ticking away...

Years Ago Things Were Different.

How did it come to this?

Your eyes tell, that there is little left of what people once knew of you.

They once made a person feel at home.

Well, I'll write.

***

For Real? Holy Smokes

Puffing a stogie in the chill, and having a dip in, and....sipping some Beamer.....

While I was doing the above, somebody drove by REAL SLOW, pumping some "STOMP!".

Really?  I love the old school.

I remember when Brandi and I boogied to some shit by the Shagadelics on Fridays at the Quaker Steak and Lube.    And this old school shit is just like it.

Love it or hate. But it's the kind of thing that gets the Stickman boogying.
I dig the Brothers Johnson.

And I know Uncle Floyd would be proud.

Oh Yeah

Lovely Leslie Hall accepted my friend request on FB, and replied to my message with a very sweet response.

Thanks, Leslie.

You rock.

Fa' sho'.

Claypool Oldie

This is why Les Claypool is king.

Wynona's Big Brown Beaver

" Blame the Booty " MUSIC VIDEO --- HI-DEF VIDEO by Leslie and the LYs

"Blame my booty, yeah, Cos it's such a cutey."

And now I am sure you agree, that Ms. Hall is the queen of sexy.

I only see one of the Lys in the video though.  And of course, she is merely a prop....though cute in her little....outfit I guess you'd call it.

I'd marry Leslie Hall.  Anybody as odd and gutsy and her is a keeper, y'all.

HOW WE GO OUT VERSION 2

Leslie Hall is still the queen of sexy.

I always laugh my butt off.

No! This Is NOT Supposed To Happen.

If anybody who has ever read this useless blog remembers Fred, my former neighbor....

...his little girl has passed.  Only 24 years old.

Samantha. 

I simply can't believe it.  It is not right.  Not at all.

Look at that picture closely.  CLOSELY.

  That is an incredibly beautiful, intelligent, and....the word doesn't give her justice...but wonderful...young woman.  I seriously mean that.  

It isn't just the words of me, the silly ass "Stickman".

This lady made everyone around her realize that they were worth something.  She made you know how special you were.

And that made her special.  One of a kind.

Beautiful lady, rest well.  You brought beauty to this world.

Everyone, including myself, will always think of you.  I mean that.

***

Too much loss, everyone.

Anybody who stumbled across this blog...do me a sincere favor.

Pray.

Pray that the beauty left in this world stays for a while.

***

And pray for one of the most beautiful of all.

Pray for Pants.

Only Awesome ranks as high in my book.  That says a lot.  And Awesome agrees...Pants makes this world better.

***

Fred, Vicki, My Main Man John, Chris, The Mighty D.R., Pat, Lovely Katie, Bunny, Trooper,...and the most excellent...PANTS!!!!!!! and all the rest of that awesome family.....for what it's worth all my prayers are focused on y'all.  

Strength...I truly believe...comes in the form of sincere care.

Keep caring, all of you.

Please, keep caring.

***

A friend of mine would have said the following, and she did indeed say it:

(this is from one of her emails)

"I believe the beauty of this world is the same as its greatest strength.  I believe strength, as you put it, comes from caring.  This world is so beautiful.  And it's because of the caring that is left in it.  Please, always care.  And it will always have strength and beauty."

Chillin' with the Awesome.

i finally got the world's most annoying people off my back.

Wait For A While.

This world is less without you, darling.

...see you on the other side.

Bring the beam, baby.

And there better be them them "corn ships" and "skettie angels".

Or I'mma bring the ass whoopin'.

You kicked me ass like no other.

I miss you.

the boys are still at it

"Here’s the team that saved Warren Screw Machine $190,000 a year in a single retooling: (sitting) John Condoleon, Ingersoll’s Jeff Hogya, and Ron Jackson; (standing) Bill Southern and Craig Rossi."

Wild Bill Western is still leading the pack.  Go Bill!

good morning, jo

Warren Zevon - Werewolves Of London

why zevon was king.  cheesy 70's videos, lyrics with meaning that most people fail to understand, and a whiz on the ole ivories.  miss you, warren.

FaceFuzz

For oddball blokes like myself who have embraced the fuzzy face look:

http://www.beards.org/

And for blokes like John who have embraced the stoosher:

(and if he ever grew a fu manchu it would rock)

http://www.americanmustacheinstitute.org/

Holiday Wishes From The Dude

I walked by the Dude today, as he was putting on his helmet to walk out on the shop.
I asked if I could go with him, and he replied "absolutely".
We walked across the shop to get some pop together, and he remarked that I have been in a good mood lately.

As he was leaving, he stopped by my cubicle to wish me a happy holiday, and shook my hand.

If you're lucky enough to know the Dude, you know handshakes are rare.  The Dude has no equal.

The Season Nears

I just got my first 60 degree wedge!

***

Back in 2008 I bought my first golf clubs.

Reference Here.

I have been tearing it up on golf courses with that cheap set since then.  They've appeared in many pictures on this blog.

One thing they did not come with was more than one wedge, as is common with pre-made sets.  All I got was the pitching wedge.

But now with a lobber added to my set, shots close to the green might be easier.  I'm looking forward to it!

Philly will always be one of the most beautiful women on the planet.

Exacto.
Cotton balls.
Rubbing alcohol.
Beam.  Lots.
Rags.
Ace bandage.

Now that the shopping list is complete, I am going to remove some lumps.

I am praying every night for Pants.

I...

...continually remind myself to never forget.

The things that are important.

...have reached for the bottle too much far too many times.

...wake up early to watch at least one sunrise a month.

...stay up to watch at least one sunrise a month, if I didn't get to wake up in time during that month.

...still hide dishes in the oven when company comes over. Even if they know I am prone to doing it.

...sleep with a loaded .45.

...hope that all those who have been part of my life, regardless of their current status, is finding or has found happiness.

...notice more gray in my beard and on my head every week. Such is the way of life.

...will always think of Bree.

...am looking forward to another season of incredibly, almost-illegal golfing. We are absolute maniacs.

...still break out the old collection of Newsboys songs from time to time.

...still miss Rubina from the quickie mart. She and I had long conversations. Somewhere, wherever she is, I hope she smiles regularly.

...hope nobody tries to cash in on recent rumors. For their sake.

...count each day that Awesome is around as a gift.

...found the CD of “Home Of The Kiwi” videos. J Man, Derek, and the Stickman. We were classic. One of the best times of my life, even though I was so focused on trivial things during that time.

...know I am not cut out for what I do for a living. But as long as the paychecks keep rolling in, I won't argue. I must just have it like that. And so far I keep proving myself wrong.

...will always be distracted by trivial things.

...will always try fairly hard to NOT focus on trivial things.

...hope I make things right with the big boss above before it is all said and done.

...love the color orange still. Because it is the greatest color ever.

...still think farting is funny. And you know you do too.

...still wake up in the middle of the night to check on her. And usually I make it to the door before remembering reality.

...love to sleep on the couch with the TV on. The dreams are amazingly whacky.

...love junk food like a drowning man loves air.

...know I am more redneck than gangsta. But, I am still gangsta, fool!

...still think Warren Zevon is the greatest. Nobody has better lyrics.

...miss Mr. Taggart.

...still feel grateful for each motorcycle ride...to have enjoyed it, and to have lived through it.

...miss the Black Granny. Damned piece of junk.

...still have a ten speed I got when I was 11.

...try to write with my right hand to see if my writing has improved. It never does. I'm just a lefty.

...still think it's funny when people attempt to bully...and then give you the look of “uh, my bad” when they stare at my right hand.

...seem to have a thing for CNN. I am utterly addicted to biased news.

...still iron clothes just about every morning, even if they are wrinkle free.

...love Guinness. Rohn and I would both bathe in it.

...wonder who keeps ringing my doorbell at 11:00 at night.

...hate texting.

...never let my wall on facebook show anything.

...snore.  So I have been told.  Hey, never stopped me from sleeping through it.

...always hate the itching after a shower.

...still love the Cosby Show.

....have used the same mechanical pencil since I was 18 years old.

...have Mr. Smiley next to the bed. As a reminder.

...have eaten more tuna fish lately than I am comfortable with.

...still write the worst poetry.

...recall the first correspondence with a dear friend who recently passed. First line ever sent to me was “ Wake up dingleberry”. Touching, I know.  Well, more than you'll probably ever know.

...take a picture with my cell or digital camera of the old house in my home town when I go past it.

...make a point of driving past the place in Newton Falls once a year.

...have wondered why this silly blog has lasted so long.

...think I am going to bed.

A true masterpiece.

Jean is amazing through the entire plot.

finally the day is near.

it's a sad time, even though it's been a long time coming.

what once was a powerhouse town, is now just a collection of boarded up homes.

High Treason

Fly it if you choose.  You have a personal freedom of speech and opinion afforded to you by the constitution.

It's a symbol that has never bothered me for the common falsehood of it representing racism.

It bothered me because it is the battle flag of a nation that went to war with mine.

If you are from the South and fly this flag on your porch, I have respect for that.  Your heritage is strong.

Being proud of your heritage is the same as Greeks flying the Greek flag in their front lawns in my home town.

But if you are born and bred in a place on Lake Erie....you simply ain't Southern.

Wake up.

Still The Man

J Man is still doing his thang after all these years.

Long time no see, old man.

Been missing you.

Glad we connected again.

Double-U Tee Eff

I typically delete forwards and junk mail, but I opened one just about ten minutes ago.

Above is the picture that was attached to it.

I think it's one of the greatest, and wrongest pictures ever!

Hilarious.

This is what it has come to?
Yes.

How much more can my body take?
Let's find out.

Is there any pain left for me to inflict?
I would assume there is plenty.  So who's next?

classic

Michelle

Previous Reference Can Be Found Buried Here.

And Here.

(In keeping with a marginal tradition of this blog, Michelle is not her real name by the way.)

For quite some time I have had dear Michelle as part of the fringes of my life.
We once wrote to one another regularly.

Incredibly beautiful, graduate from an ivy league college, and pretty much down to earth.  I was always happy to receive a letter, email, IM, or anything from her.  It was a refreshing friendship.

Some time ago, we got to chatting through instant messenger about life, love, and relationships.  She spoke often about her daughter, who was only 6 at the time, and her family who was very supportive.

She also told me how much I meant to her.  She told me that I had always been there for her since first meeting her (though I never once met her in person), and that she was grateful to have "met" me.  I took it as a compliment, feeling that she was going to tell me that I was like a "brother" to her.

It did not go as expected.

She alluded to the fact that a guy like me would never want anything to do with her, to which I replied that I would never turn my back to her.

She hinted to the fact that her feelings took her past the friendship phase with me, to which I replied that I thought very highly of her, and that all things were possible.  After all, she was one of only four people at that time (I think) who knew some of my darkest secrets.  The kind that you keep in your closet.

Then, she told me she no longer wanted communication with me.

I was confused.  Then she floored me.

I was completely stunned with what followed.

Michelle told me that she had kept something from me.  

She had been in an accident about 5 years previously.  A very bad accident.  She was unconscious for about three days.  When she woke up, she was bombarded with questions by the doctors about her medical and sexual history. 

She had tested HIV positive.  Obviously, there is more to that story but I won't go into it.

I can't imagine what it is like to be told that.  I have zero perspective when it comes to anything like that.

But it really makes anything I have gone through pale in comparison.  I have kept that in mind through all recent events.

She was convinced that there was no way I would want anything to do with her after hearing that news, and enacted an embargo of sorts until about January.  

I got a random email from her about general things. 

She apologized at one point for ignoring my repeated emails and other messages.  

I told her I loved her.  I told her that I thought no different of her, and that all things were still possible.  

She meant a lot to me. 

We would correspond randomly through the next month.  In the last correspondence (beginning of February), she told me that she had a nasty cold that would not go away.

And tonight I got the news.

Goodnight, beautiful.  

I truly loved you and thought very highly of you.  You made many of my nights less sleepless.

Thank you.

I will always miss you.

1982-2011

Pizza Butt Kinda Stunk

Meep, Wildman, Dave, and myself went to Pizza Hut for the weekly Party Friday.
The place was packed.
I ended up incredibly thirsty.
We ended up late getting back after lunch, but with the big boss out of town I suppose it was alright.
We party hard.

We party like it's 1999, but that's mostly because we are old.

The Dude.

The Dude and I walked over to the snack machines.  He was in a talkative mood for some reason.
That is, until he tried getting his snack.
He put in the money, pushed the buttons, and the snack didn't come out.
He muttered "son of a bitch".
He didn't utter a word on the way back.
The Dude.
***
Last week the Dude went to the doctor, this time having the warning of the finger.
He was NOT looking forward to it.
Upon returning, he walked by and said "they could have warmed up the damned cream at least".
Everyone agreed.

Well, it's tough to be somebody 
And it's hard not to fall apart 
Up here on Rehab Mountain 
We gonna learn these things by heart


~Warren Zevon

Who Me?

A great love for the Beam...

...a Jeremiah Johnson Beard, and the love/hate of dippin'....

(hawk-tooey)

...a preference of cheap stogies...

...a desire to use duct tape on everything...

...and somehow, someway, there is this damned desire to listen to COUNTRY music.

It turns out I am more redneck than gangsta.

Yeehaw.

mr smiley

he just keeps on smiling

Last Night

First of all, it's probably a good idea to quit the dip completely.
I quite recently, and I am not sure why I randomly started it up again.

I had left my dip at work, and to avoid the headaches I went to the gas station to buy some more.  While backing out of the parking lot, a lady walked up to my car while it was still moving and tapped on the window.

I rolled it down a crack and she leaned forward to ask for a ride.  Her eyes were red, and it looked like she had been crying.  So I said sure, and checked myself to make sure I brought the pea shooter.  You know you can never be too careful.

After she got in I immediately realized that I was wrong about the crying.  Her eyes were bloodshot from drinking.  Whoa she was stanky.  When I asked "where to", she told me she needed to go to 18th and Myrtle.
I started off in that direction, and tried thinking of what was there for her to go to.

She told me she was going to work.  Nothing had clicked at this point.

Then she asked if I was a cop.  I told her no, and thought it was an odd question.  Still no clicking.

She asked how I was doing, and I told her I was doing fine.  She asked me if I was sure, and I replied that I was fine.

She then asked if there was anything she could do for me, and I told her that giving her a ride was free, and that I didn't need any gas money.

Yeah, still no clicking.

Then she propositioned me.  Uh oh.  Big warning signs right there.  Starting to click.

I just pulled over and stared at her.  I asked her why on earth would she offer a random guy something like that just because he gave her a ride.  She told me in return that she needed to make a few bucks.  Finally it clicked.  About freakin' time.

I asked if that was what she did for a living.

She replied that it was.

I asked her politely to get out of the vehicle, and she did.

I drove off.

I tell ya, I hope life isn't some sort of joke.  Because if it is, I am afraid I am not getting it.

Bright

Jo's got plenty of reasons to smile.

And it's a nice smile to see.

***

The sun was still up when I left.

Everything is finally coming together, hopefully.

2011 Riding Season Begins

Evening:
We rode out into Clymer.
The weather was absolutely perfect, the sights were memorable, and we discovered where Dave lived.  He has a pretty nice spread out there in the boonies.
I did a little too much hiking out in his woods, though.  Now I am a bit too whooped to consider going into work.  I still might, but....I'm fizzling out fast.

Anywho, it was a great first ride.

The Bonneville finally started running right.

I am looking forward to a nice season on the open road.

****
Afternoon:
Out of laziness, forgetfulness, and every other excuse I can think of...the Bonneville hadn't been fired up since the weekend I worked on it for hours and hours.
However, with the first push of the button it fired right up.  It didn't run well, but it was running.
I took it to the gas station, and then around town a bit.  Something like 8 miles total.
And now I am waiting for Wildman to be cleared for takeoff.  We are going to for a random ride.
The season has begun.

Chillaxin

After discussing projects and Put-In-Bay with big George at work, and getting tags for the Bonneville...

...there was a little bit of WWII style gaming...

...a little bit of guts and gore in the form of a decade old war movie...

...and pretty good grub at a greasy spoon.

Wildman's family rocks.

It was a really good day.

The Bonneville has tags today!

Master Yoder Party Friday

Badass Billy G, Dave D, Wildman, and myself more or less continued the tradition or Party Friday.

Master Yoder took us out to a chi-knees buffet.  The food was cold, the place was chilly, and the nerves were a tad wracked from the odd work day.  But the company was great.

At least the cheese won-tons were awesome.

The hardest workers party the hardest.  So Party Friday must continue!

Tuna!

I got a whole bunch of tuna fish and other goodies from Awesome Marsha recently.  Thanks Awesome!

Tuna fish has to be the stankinest stuff of the planet.  But supposedly it's good for you, so I'll just deal with the funk.

Tuna Facts

Oatmeal and tuna fish do not go well together.  So don't try it.

Tuna fish seems to go OK with pistachio nuts.  Not mixed necessarily, but tuna...nuts...tuna...nuts...that combo works.

If your mayo has mold in it, it is best to just eat the tuna plain.

Tuna fish makes your dip taste like tuna fish.

Tuna fish is cheap.  I think you can get 100 cans of it for thirty cents.

Canned tuna fish past its sell-by date is probably OK, but I am not sure if it will smell any better.

Tuna fish is not usable as an air freshener.

Tuna fish breath will probably not make you any more popular.  But it may be fun to try anyway.

The smell of tuna reminds me of an ex.  I'm glad she married a dude that likes tuna.

Dude-like Remarks

The Dude walked by my cubicle, and stopped.  He then said "you're naked!"

When I asked what he meant, he made a remark about me wearing short sleeves.

Later in the day, he smiled when I walked past him.  I turned around and asked what he was smiling at.

He said "you're in a good mood today".

The Dude.  There's nobody else like him.

I wish I was a cowboy.

Just without country music.

Oh, and I would need a horseshoe ring too, evidently.

it snowed today.
and wildman rode his bike to work.

Craig,
You crazy bastard!
Tonight is the night!
You can do it and I know you will!
Dude, I am so proud of you.
When it is all said and done, I can say I knew you when.
And believe me I will.

I'm so square!

So lemme get this straight...

...first my antenna...

...and then my damned cupcakes?

I mean, who the hell steals cupcakes?

Awe, hell.

Yo Rohn,
Thanks.
I appreciated it.

From 2009

Hallo Venn
Jeg har savnet deg så
Du har vakre øyne, og deres mangel på fornektelse.

Hjertet ditt slår så ensom,
og jeg har alltid lurt på hvorfor
Vennligst henge på for bare en stund.

Sonya, kjæreste
Jeg tenker på dere alltid,
Du alltid smile meg.
***

Ms. Gibson

I wish she would have lived longer.

Holiday

The Awesome Marsha birthday celebration was a blast.

Everyone had some drinks, Awesome got presents, everyone danced, and there was a lot of laughing.

Of course I danced with Awesome, because I wanted to make all the guys in the place jealous.

I also danced with little Diane, which was quite interesting.  I think she is only 4 FT. tall.  But Awesome said it was the most adorable thing she had seen, and I found her to be an excellent little boogier.

Happy Birthday, Awesome!

Getting out of this town for the weekend.
Going to enjoy it!

Awesome Birthday

Happy birthday, Awesome Marsha!

The big 5-5.  Whoa.  Hold the phone.  Stop the presses.  Wait just a midget minute, for crying out loud!

Seriously?

Yes.  Seriously.  Awesome Marsha is 55 today.

So if you are lucky enough to know her, wish her a happy one!