Walking in the dark and wet...

What time is it?

I woke this morning to the alarm cutting into my dreams, at 4:30, got up and walked across the room to the clock and shut it off. Turned around and felt it was Saturday, and I crawled back into bed and went back to my dreams. I woke to the nagging suspicion that it was time to get up, or else, 5:35 the clock laughed at me. I had twenty minutes to be out the door and on the road. Skip the shaving and I make it, eating my bowl of gruel in the Caravan, then washing it down with my microwaved last night's brew of coffee. Didn't want to fall too far behind, when I get old it is more difficult catching up to the young'ns. Work was fine, day just enough, and I come home to see the Snowcat lurking in the holes to the water meters, with just the head raised above their berm, looking for something to stalk and kill. When I return to try and get the picture the cat is coming out and I will be going in for more adventures in the morning, my supervisor is supposed to be there, and I have only one worker to man the counter - still it is Friday, we might make it.

Almost November and Washington Winter...

Have been a lot of dry days, but the Sun is slinking off to the South and taking the migrating birds with it. I leave in the darkness and return just before the Sun sinks in the Southwest, somewhere over Hawaii. As it has gotten colder the temptation to drive to work in the Caravan looms, but then I would have to scrape the frost off of the windshield and driving doesn't make me smile and I have troubling zooming around corners in a lean with the engine winding up higher. It just doesn't work in the front wheel drive - four wheels on the ground lumbering beast.

Still, the temptation is there, I didn't put my motorcycle boots on this morning, I thought I was late by ten minutes of the normal starting time, and I was - but I can wheel the motorcycle out of the garage, start it, pack my lunch in the back pack and grab helmet, kiss the wife good-bye and hit the garage door switch (don't ask why I don't carry a remote with me - I am traveling light). Before I had checked for frost on the van's windshield I was on the motorcycle and rolling down the driveway to another adventure. A few days back the fog was thick enough to cut and stack off to the side, the condensation on the face mask didn't help visibility either, crack that face shield and get some cold air on it and me. It is cold, leather jacket, good gauntlets, scarf and maybe ski mask - if the road is dry I am going on the motorcycle. Days in the gray fog are the ones where I wish I had that brighter or darker color for the bike, but that passes.

As I ride I feel the road and remember the first tentative times turning at some corners, I am glad that they have finished the short stretch has been sitting grooved waiting on the finishing asphalt layer, I don't like grooves in my direction of travel - constant riding on edges - and grooves perpendicular are just little bothering bumps-s-s-ss... But enough dry days and the promise of an election mean the road crew puts down that solid smooth surface to lean deep into and power on and around upon... Nicely done, thank you all very much, another place to play. I have been riding aggressively, only slowing down for future stop lights when I have to, if I see it red it should be green by the time I get there - I do look that far ahead. If I have to slow then I really slow, scoring extra points for not having to full stop and place a foot on the ground (only I keep score, but I watch the other riders - many count the same points for the same slow).

I pull into the parking lot, find my space and shut down until later. I put a ball cap on and start the walk to the dock, so I am late, still I must stop and buy the three Lotto tickets (only fools, those with faith in more than themselves and the ones certain the government hates them but wants their money buying Lotto tickets - think I fit all three of those). Then I swing into the stride and get down to the dock, the canopy of maple and oaks have changed color and it is getting light enough to enjoy the sunrise on the leaves as I wade through them, rustling them dryly. Washington will be the Evergreen State, but the flaming reds, orange and burnt yellow and browns make a magic memory of the glory of Summer with the Sunshine and Blue skies, catch it before the real grim gray grips in gloomily.

It really is Fall

Cold air settles and fog rolls in from the water and frost grays the green of the grass and ices the wind shield of the cars waiting for the morning Sun. Ducks rest, sleeping in the park or on the water, gathering strength for the continued flight to warmer climes. I know, there isn't any ice in the North, the glaciers are long gone and Mount Rainier has just bare rocks covering it, since the Earth is so warm, but I put my leather coat on, thick gloves and wrapped a scarf around my neck when I rode my motorcycle the last few mornings. The Child Care Center had a fire drill, and everyone went outside, got counted and chilled and now my wife has her first cold of the season.



I did some purchasing, upgraded my Quicken, and went for the HD on the cable since February is coming and there are more HD items available and WWE Smackdown went to a HD cable network. Our television is ready, but the Cable Company wants more money for the higher priced HD box. It does seem to be about the money. I had thought of dropping off of television altogether, instead of going with the herd of lemmings - I have lots of DVDs, VHS and FM stereo is relatively free - and I know where all the books I ever wanted to read are - in one of three library systems I seem to be a member of now. I can't, I am still responsible for providing a bit of entertainment for visitors and my wife. Funny, when we have visitors we seldom have the television on, isn't there a message there?

Being Saturday, I didn't get all I should have done today, but in the mail is my membership card in the Revolutionary War Veterans Association. I am also a Washington Arms Collector and a Life Member of the NRA - I am such a joiner! I did some shopping for blinds for our windows with my wife, and looked at garden stuff, and thought about the future. We did go out and walk around the park and check out the cool weather, (but sunny) and picnicking family groups. I still say that free parks are the best value for young families with young children that want to explore and play. They were out in force and having a great time.

Bitter and clinging to Bible and Guns...

I drove my wife to the wedding yesterday afternoon, she has been ill and shouldn't drive. The wedding was smaller and still a joyful ceremony and we wish the couple all the best, marriage is tougher than it needs to be now days. My wife was a bit better and had a good night's sleep but her illness struck again this morning, and then settled back and she was going for her goals, church and one of the ladies' group thing - I get to make my own lunch and take care of myself in the afternoon.

So after the morning jog, shave and shower, dress for church and put a couple rifles in the Caravan (problem with motorcycles, they just don't do rifles justice, maybe a Thompson in a leather holster?). So I go off to church, get to rehearse the Anthem with the choir, first performance of the new season. We robe up, go looking for coffee as the bells practice, and talk about things. My friend asks about my limp, I tell him I am old and it doesn't matter, and it doesn't -- everything wears out from here.
We proceed with the service and I stayed alert during the Sermon so I know how many times I am supposed to forgive, beyond count is the correct answer. A piece of cake and some banana bread with coffee after, more talking with my friend about whatever -- gosh, to think I went to church in my bitterness, or some folks would believe, but then if I were bitter I probably wouldn't go to church. More like hide in the shadows at home, terrified of coming into the light.

I drove off to the range on Fort Lewis, no pistol shooting today. I work on slinging up, sitting position and prone - I am locked on prone, shooting the hundred yard target, I thought I had lost some rounds on the sitting position, but I had miscounted and all bullets were in the target, so more practice on getting locked to tighten it up. I then treated myself to ten rounds of 30-06, and that deer is dead (if these old tired eyes could see him in the woods), I am much better on spotting humans than wildlife. Although two coyotes crossed the highway in front of me as I drove off base returning home, asphalt isn't the natural background for them. I am happy enough with the shooting. Now I have to worry about the wife that hasn't returned.

I broke ten thousand! but who is counting?

Well, the sky opened up and Sunlight blinded us for a bit, then the Blue warmed us and Friday ended so well, riding the trusty Triumph home through the busy roads with other cyclists and cars and cellphone addicts. On Saturday I went for my second social event of the week - aside from church I am a recluse and they hardly notice me there.

I met the other motorcyclists at Denny's, some I work with on McNeil Island but most I didn't know. Some girl friends, wives, one young son and bikers in leather and personal colors riding a Gold Wing, Harley's, Honda Shadows, and one trusty Triumph. Off we went around Mount Rainier. Until we got to the Eastside of the ride it was cool and gray but as we climbed the clouds burned off and lifted and that Sunlight hit us. We got into the snow line - yes, there is still snow up there. Actually, there are earlier seasons and the potential of Polar Bear habitat, don't even think about swimming in mountain water. The sights were awesome, the ride thunderous (some of the riders don't believe in quiet throbbing) and fast, and the roads really mean it when the sign says rough - was that a six inch or nine inch drop and where did those holes come from? When it freezes at night the roads crack so well under pressure, like the rock face the road was cut into.

The National Park has signs against carrying guns, the bars along the way had announcements against guns and under age people wandering inside. I wasn't drinking anything but coffee and wasn't interested in carrying guns to make someone nervous - but I watched to see what was going on. I got an oatmeal cookie with the coffee at a tourist stop, and later potato salad and a big hamburger in a tavern with service away from the liquor for minors. I had a root beer there. My luck in gambling hasn't changed, I had a pair of tens, a queen, a deuce, and a five, couldn't beat three of a kind by two other riders.

We ended the ride at the sponsor's home and a barbeque, it was my first group ride and aside from spending my time concentrating on keeping up and more or less (much less) in formation I really enjoyed it. On my own I would have gone slower, stopped more for beauty - both natural and enhanced female types, and taken more pictures of same. I do think I might drag my wife along on something like this again, or on solo jaunts into the great Northwest, on Sunny Days, because there is so much to see and do out there.

The ten thousand I broke? the mileage on my trusty Triumph, it was 10,235.4 miles when I parked it in the garage last evening. Need to clean and maintain it today, it has done a fine job.

Morning has broken

I check email, some blogs, and change my blog a bit. Yesterday went well at the presentation, we have permission to build the blog and will be open for business as soon as the new Communications Officers are on board. I went to lunch with the blog building crew and then rode fearlessly home along I-5, stopping at the Triumph dealer to see if my parts had come in and listen to the motorcycle lady talk about: what they had, she has done and that I wasn't old. Yes, she was good looking and checked for the status of my parts; so I can't hold it against her that she is too kind. The various models of my size motorcycle, 800 cc, call to me to try them out.

I have been thinking about spending the money the George in his goodness gave me. I could save it for gasoline, my shirts have frayed much from washing and ironing over the years, I lust for a powerful pocket pistol (those things I lust for are too often safe from me, procrastination piles await such). I am taking notice of the dew damp grass, will attack it later after drying, the edging out front could start after devotions, breakfast and exercising. My wife is still sleeping, she sleeps hardest in the morning and I sleep hardest immediately after going to bed. I wonder if it was a life full of get your rest while you can, for something wicked this way comes to wake you abruptly. Rockets and rackets, red glares.

Nice thing about today, the weather is warm and wonderful, most of my work is done or can be delayed, the Azaleas and pink dogwood are in color and bloom against the massive dark and light greens of the forest behind the fence. Birds are out and about, bumble bees have buzzed me as I lay on the ladder to get a shot from below, then set the ladder up to get a bird's view of the yard. The wooden shoes from Wisconsin via Holland slipped on easily and walked the yard collecting damp clippings, better them than my toes and then the kitchen. Second mug of Black Coffee, it is time for devotions and betterment, may our world be more beautiful and our time to appreciate it longer.