A Few Shots From My New Nikon

Winter Storm Watch and a new Camera

I'm really ecstatic. I got my early Christmas and Birthday present today. A brandy wine new Nikon D3000.
Right now, the battery is charging. It won't be ready for me to play with it till tomorrow. Just in time for the predicted four inches of snow we should be getting tomorrow...with more snow predicted on Sat.  We live in an area that is rather protected from snow.  Everyone around us from Abbington to Boone will be getting from seven inches right up to eleven inches!  WOW...

All the same, I'm sure I will be finding some great winter photo OPs around my house here...
Well, hang in there...I'll be coming back with some photos of the snow...maybe I'll get the crane who comes and hangs out in our creek in the back yard?  That would be cool, he's kinda a steel blue color, and if the snow is around it will be a cool contrast... I wonder if he will stand around long nuff for me to capture him? 

OK thanks for coming around y'all...I'll be up and running again soon.

Take Me Home West Virginia

I'm telling you no lie, without my camera, I feel as though I have lost my creativity.  

I have been surfing through the internet, looking for an item to write about...something to hold my interest.  It's not happening.  I haven't found anything to write about.

So a friend has suggested I write about West Virginia.  Yes, I think I will.  I loved my time in West Virginia.  I do expect to return to W.V.  I found the things I saw, things I did in West Virginia this past summer were some very fine and good things.   

One thing I experienced for the first time was ATV riding.  I can remember how my smile was constant. I also remember thinking, and later stateing..."I don't think I've ever had so much fun on four wheels!"  







Right up until I back ended Big Rick from Gieco and sent the man flying down the hill....yikes...I wasn't paying attention to the people in front of me, but rather the trail. I mean it Rick...I'm really sorry...I do hope your back is feeling not lasting problems from our mishap ....




There was another part of the tour that impressed me...it was the riding.  Yeah OK...the places we RODE to were cool too, but if you guys have been reading me for very long, then your not going to be surprised how much I loved riding through the countryside of West Virginia.  



Scenic Byway...wish I knew what road we were on....






Here's a sight I can never tire of...I sure wish I was important enough for a private tour of this place...just me and about a 100 of my most fun friends....this is such a cool place!





On many of the secondary roads, we passed under these covered coal movers...it was fascinating...to me at least!





One place we visited...and it was quite a memorable visit, was the Governor's Mansion.  We had breakfast with the Governor's Chief of Staff...but hey, check out this place setting.  No, it's not the setting they used for us...but what the hell...it still wasn't a shabby way to start our day!




This is the table we all sat at...





Now here, in front of the Governor's Mansion is the circular drive...and we all parked our bikes right in front of the mansion...yes I loved this too!




It's time now to look at the antique motorcycles we saw along the way...
















OK...I guess this is all for now...most of these pictures have never been posted anywhere before...I hope you enjoy.


























 

In loving memory of Cy, 11-15-2009

It is with great sadness that I tell you I lost my best furry friend in the whole world on 11-15-09.

My wife and I were grocery shopping, and gone for only about 1 1/2 hours and returned to my beloved "Puppy Cy" passed away on the family room floor. Cause of death unknown , but we can assume a heart attack. He was diagnosed with a heart murmur, his only medical flaw.

I don't want to go into saying much more, because as I write this my heart is breaking. My wife wrote a beautiful tribute to him on the RAGOM (Retrieve A Golden Of Minnesota) Website on their Rainbow Bridge Memorials.

Here is the link to: Cy's Memorial

The first part is his story, which goes through 12-07-08, the day we adopted him.

12-09-09 is where the memorial starts.

He was the best dog. I miss him dearly.

Guys, please consider the following and remember this piece of wisdom.

If after a long day, you are tired and looking forward to seeing your woman.

No matter how beautiful she is.....

No matter how sexy she is...

No matter how seductive she is...

No matter how cute and sweet she is...

No matter how huge her melons are......................

Shit, I forgot what I was going to say.

Sons Of Anarchy Season 2 episode 12 review

Episode 12 starts out a little something like this....

The Son's, friends, and family of the Son's are all packing up and heading to the Clubhouse to take shelter. Looks like there is some serious shit going to be happening soon. They lock the gates and have armed guards on the rooftops.

The Club talks about protecting Chib's family. They say they will protect Keri-ann, and that he should reach out to Fiona and try to get her in as a precaution.

They talk about convincing Jimmy that Cameron and Edmund have been under the ATF's thumb, it should be enough to convince the IRA the betrayal is in house. They are going to pull the old bait and switch to get their guns. (Later on in the episode, they successfully pull it off too. This REALLY pisses off the Feds., especially Stahl.) They discuss patching in Half Sack. Clay says, "Half a sack, Shitload of Balls".

Jax, Opie and Juice pay a visit to A.J. Weston. Jax tells him "Seems your great white hope only gives a shit about one color.... Green. Zobel is dealing heroine with the Myans." Opie tells him, "Those A.K.'s that you took from us, He gave em to brown. Control the street." A.J. says, "You're talking out of your ass." Jax tells him, "I followed Zobel and one of his guys. They met with Alvarez. Left with a duffle full of heroine." Juice jumps in and says, "Guess they ben keeping you outa the loop. Lotsa private meetings A.J." Jax says, "You being the true believer and all.

Chib's and Fiona have a private meeting in a bathroom. Chibs informs her that the Feds will be closing in on Jimmy, and it may blow back. Fiona asks him if he ratted, and he says no. They makeout and the scene cuts. We never know for sure if they do it or not, you are just left wonderin.

Polly Zobelle pays a visit to Edmund Hayes. They of course get it on. She leaves. The Feds are watching the place and come in to pay a visit to Edmund after she is gone.

Gemma and Tara are talking in the clubhouse. A chick comes up to fill her coffe. Tara said she could get it herself. Gemma said she needs to take that respect. She's earned it. She is not just some CROW eater. She is Jax Teller's Ol' Lady. That means something in this town and this clubhouse, and you don't take shit from anyone.

SAMCRO has a meeting with Henri Lin (Chineese Triad) and Laroy (One-Niners) to make a deal that they all work together; not a partnership but an understanding. They stop Zobelle, then the Myan's loose their guns and their power. Zobelle's been running on the hard earned drug money of theirs, so they will all work together to take back what's theirs, with a little extra. Take out the Myan's and split up their territory. Triad gets everything south of Ghost Town and One-Niners get everything North. Friendly borders means they can focus on business, instead of staying alive. "Agreed".

A.J. Weston walks into the warehouse. See's guns in a crate open, with a bunch missing. Walks around the corner to see a couple of Mexican women bagging heroin and blows the two of them away. Sees one of his own guys, Ule from the League Of American Nationalists (L.O.A.N.) and points the gun at him. Ule says, "This is sanctioned. Zobelle knows all about this I swear." A.J. says, "Where are the guns?", and Ule replies, "The Mexicans. Don't be...." (KAPOW! Shot to the head).....Game over!

Good O'l Chuckie is still around. He tells thee club that he could identify Weston as one of the perps involved in the Arson of Cara Cara.

A.J. Storms in on the Cigar shop while Ethan Zobelle and his daughter Polly Zobelle are talking. A.J.'s pointing his gun at Ethan and confronts him. They argue about the cause, and the big picture, and being a trader. Eventually A.J. and gang leave. Ethan tells Polly to call Hale for protection as someone has threatened their lives. Ethan is going to secure new protection. He kisses Polly godbye. It was really GROSS! Like lover's kiss. Eew.

Cliffy and Duke, A.J. Weston's two boys are being taken away from A.J. for now because they were home alone unsupervised with the guns. This was set up by Jax to piss off A.J. Jax and A.J. have a stand down in the street about this and this is when Jax sets up the fight between Son's and the L.O.A.N.

Chuckie talks to the Charming P.D. and tells them about A.J. Weston being involved in the Cara Cara Arson case.

Gemma and Tara talk. Gemma is a little more at peace now. She knows what her job here on earth is. God want's her to be a fierce mother; that's her path. She tells Tara her job is medicine, to be a healer; and nothing should ever stop her from doing that. Wait'll you get a load of what Tara does with that piece of information after she chews on it for a while.

Tara is sitting at a desk completing her charts and explaining this to the administrator, Margaret Murphy. Margaret tells her she should have had them done already. Tara says she knows. The bitch says that she may not have to worry about paperwork after next week. Tara says some shit to her and verbally nails her. After Margaret retorts with a comment about Tara's true colors and "her biker whore (Gemma) that she ......." Then Tara snaps, and gets up to choke her. She say's, "You don't know her, You don't know any of them." and releases the choke hold. Margaret says, "Oh, my gosh! You hit me. You are finished. I'm calling security. This is assault."

Tara shoves her backwards slamming her into a wall shelf unit, and proceeds to say, "No... (PUNCH TO THE FACE), That's assault". Then Tara proceeds to tell her that SAMCRO has Charming PD on payroll and she knows where she lives. If she doesn't drop this bogus charge on her she is gonna come after her and her family. (Holly shit was I pumped after that. I think I have rewound that seen at least 6 times now. Can't get enough. Go Tara!)

The club goes out and has their fight. This was supposed to be an unarmed fight. Of course as expected, The L.O.A.N show up armed. The Son's have Backup too. The Triad and the One-Niners are both backing them fully armed. They agree to fight no guns. The cops show up. People scootin every which way trying to get out.

A.J. gets arrested for Arson. The rest leave.

Unser relieves the other two cops who were watching Impeccable Smokes. SAMCRO shows up too. They have Ethan Zobelle at gunpoint when Hale shows up. Unser is about to let what happens happen, but Hale isn't about to let it be that way. Ethan saves his own ass with his daughter by admitting that they have heroine behind the counter. The cops find it and Ethan demands that they be arrested. Charming P.D. abide to the arrest request. On the way out, Jax tells Ethan, "We're gonna kill you."

The show fades out to the music "If someday never comes......"

Wow, oh Fucking Wow!

Season 2, Episode 13 Season Finale review coming up next!

TOOLS EXPLAINED

At lot of bikers, biker's spouses, significant others are handy, or know someone who is, or at least thinks they are, therefore we can all relate to some of these. Some of us maybe more than others. (You know who you are.) Enjoy!

DRILL PRESS:
A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.

WIRE WHEEL:
Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, "Oh, shit!"

SKILL SAW:
A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short.

PLIERS:
Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.

BELT SANDER:
An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.

HACKSAW:
One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle... It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.

VISE-GRIPS:
Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.

OXYACETYLENE TORCH:
Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub out of which you want to remove a bearing race.

TABLE SAW:
A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity.

HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK:
Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper.

BAND SAW:
A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge.

TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST:
A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.

PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER:
Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.

STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER:
A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms.

PRY BAR:
A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.

HOSE CUTTER:
A tool used to make hoses too short.

HAMMER: That BMF
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

UTILITY KNIFE:
Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use.

Son of a bitch TOOL:
Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling "Son of a bitch" at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.

Author unknown

Who is Ethan Zobel's Daughter you ask?

Photo above was obviously borrowed from LIFE Magazine.

I've gotten a lot of questions from readers as to who is Ethan Zobel's daughter Polly Zobel played by?

For those of you who want to know, she is Sara Jones.

Now stop gawking and get back to work!

B.T.W. Proper spelling is Zobelle., but most questions have come with spelling of Zobel, so that's how I posted this one.

Sons Of Anarchy Season 2 episode 11 (proper) review

Back by request.... (Thank you Marie), I am doing a proper review on Episode 11 from Season 2, and will get to the remaining episodes of the season after this one.

We start off the show with Tara and Jax talking while Jax is sittin at the table sewing his Redwood Original charter patches back on to his cut. Tara apologizes to Jax for not saying anything to him about what happened to Gemma. Jax tells her that she did the right thing.

Clay stops by Jax and Tara's place. Clay apologizes to Jax, and Jax returns the apology. Clay tells Jax that he can't do this on his own. Jax tells him that he ain't going anywhere. Clay asks Jax, "How do you want to handle it?" and Jax replies, "We Kill em all."

In the Clubhouse, the crew talks about Jax not going Nomad, and then talk about what happened to Gemma. The club instantly starts talking about getting bloody and cutting off heads. Jax interrupts this violent revenge talk and says that they got to find a weakness and unravel them. Clay orders the club to swallow the urge to kill Zobel or any of his crew if they see them on the streets until they come up with a proper plan.

Gemma confesses to Tara that she is worried that Clay won't want her anymore after the rape since she has been "violated".

Tara comes clean about her suspension at the hospital and the hearing coming up. Jax supports her and tells her that they'll get through it. She then unloads on Jax that she couldn't handle it if he was sleeping with anyone else and that she needs to know that this relationship is going somewhere more than just playing house. She wants a baby, maybe two. Jax assures her the relationship is going somewhere. That what ever it is, he wouldn't have told her what he has if it wasn't.

With Gemma feeling sorry for herself, thinking Clay won't want her anymore, she kind of leads Tig on. They almost get it on...but not. Tig gets his head on straight and stops. He says, "What are we doing?, What are we doing?"

In a round about way, Tig confesses to Opie in the club parking lot what happened to Donna. He tells him Donna wasn't supposed to be in the truck, and that Agent Stahl was the one who really killed Donna due to the set up. Opie beats the shit out of Tig, and he takes it like a man. Then Opie takes off after Stahl. All the while the club is watching this unravel, and is shocked at what they have just heard and witnessed. Oh boy, If looks could kill, Piney and Bobby would have killed Clay with the looks they gave him.

Opie finds FBI Agent Stahl, and threatens her; makes her feel what he is feeling; pretty much makes he whimper into a little puddle quivering and sobbing crouched down low by her car. He doesn't shoot her, but tells her(not exact words)... that she needs to remember, the outlaw showed mercy, and she needs to remember that the next time she tries to set someone up.

Because Unser is planning on helping the Son's, he tells Hale to consider himself acting Chief.

The Club agrees to keep Donna's cause of death a secret.

Half Sack shows his incredibly infected nut to a few, including Tara. She tells him he needs to go to the E.R. immediately.

A.J. Weston get shut out of a "meeting" that Zobel is leading. Hmmmm, Wonder what they are holding back on him? Maybe the fact that they are dealing guns to brown?

Because the Chinese connection isn't happening, The Son's are too short on A.K.'s for getting revenge on Zobel and crew, so they gather up all of their own personal stock in guns, only to realize they haven't got a chance with the small amount they have and with lack of automatics. Thus, Clay feels they will all have to swallow their pride (mostly Chibs), for the sake of Gemma's revenge, and repair their relationship with the Irish. And they do.

Opie spots Chibs with the FBI while he was out earlier trying to locate Agent Stahl.

Zobel makes a deal with Myans leader Alvarez to deal his heroine in prison for a 50/50 proffit cut.

Opie and Jax talk about what to do about Opie staying in the club and sharing a patch with Clay and Tig, the two Brothers who killed his wife. Jax tells Opie that burden falls on the Club, not them. He said that Clay is who he is because the club made him. Opie asks Jax, "How do we undo him?" Jax says, "I been trying to figure that out, but can't do it on my own. I need you Bro." Opie replies, "I'm here man." Then they embrace each other in a Brotherly hug. Then Jax tells Opie he has something he wants him to read. Its John Teller's book, which we later on see Opie reading on the rooftop.

Opie decides he is going to stay in the Club and the truth about Donna dies here. He also tells the club about him seeing Chibs with the FBI, and that he will have to tell his side of the story and that the club needs to hear him out and trust what he has to say.

The Club has another meeting. Jax says, "Zobel's in bed with the Myans. Alvarez's only commodity is heroine." Juice asks. "What would Zobel want with heroine?" To which Jax replies, "It's the missing piece. This was never about a race war. Guns are about controlling the H traffic. Feed the Myans weapons so white can control the heroine trade." Bobby asks, "Hows that work? Weston and his guys are hardcore color haters." Jax says, "That's why Weston wasn't at the heroine deal." Clay says in question, "So, Zobel's doing all this behind his lieutenant's back?" Jax says, "Judas." Clay says, "Sounds like something we can unravel."

Just then Chibs walks into the meeting; tells about his meeting with the FBI, but says he didn't make the deal. Then Piney bursts into the meeting and tries to blow Clay's skull off his shoulders. He misses, and is taken control of. Opie ultimately gets them all to make peace.

Tig tells Clay that Gemma is worried that Clay won't want her anymore since she has been violated. Clay and Gemma get it on at the end the episode.

Till next time. See you soon.........

Art Deco???

Just messin around with some computer art.....

I love me a NICE RACK! Warning this ain't about deer!

A perfect rack is always nice to look at!

Adding Biker shit to the mix just makes it sweeter.

Harley Davidson has got Balls!

US 17 From GA. to FL. Coastal Highway.

A couple of weeks ago, I drove my Mom to Florida.  I started out on I-26, but if any of you have been reading about me for very long...you also know these inter-state routes bore me.  By the time we got to the SC-GA boarder...I knew I had to leave I-95 and get on another southerly US road to Florida or go crazy.  I've traveled I-95 so many times, I can drive most of it's stretches with it's details burned into my memory. The only thing that perhaps changes, is the amount of trash found on the roadsides of these Inter-state roads.  


View Larger Map

I didn't ride my motorcycle on this trip, but you have to know, this is a great motorcycle road!  My next trip to Florida, I will be be taking this highway!  It has excellent views, wonderful history...great old and small towns to visit as well as explore...I'm coming back this way...it's too cool to miss.

Here are some of the pictures I was able to stop in the car to capture...there were so many more, I was unable to grab with my lens.  No places for a large luxury auto to pull of much less turn around in...so I can get my pictures...but these are are too cool to miss...check em out!

Here is the first place I was able to pull over at...Butler Island. This picture is of the Butler Plantation...a 19th century rice plantation created by a famous couple, Fanny Kemble and Pierce Butler.  Fanny was an accomplished stage actress, and Pierce was due to become the richest man in America. Their story is an amazing one.  History is some good stuff, please click here for more information on Fanny and Pierce!




This is a picture of a dock that I believe, was the landing and loading area for the plantation. This waterway lead to the ocean.






This picture, is of an island next to the plantation, just beautiful how the reflection comes back at the lens. Don't you agree?  There is an old cement bridge here, now used by fishermen and shutter bugs like me...it also boasts a picnic table...It's a wonderful place to stop for a breather...








I snapped this fishing boat leaving the area...I am still standing on the cement bridge as I snap this picture:





Climbing back in Mom's car, we continue our trek south on US 17/25.  This area is so full of history...I would of liked to have been alone on my bike so I could stay for hours, stopping where ever I felt the need to...but ...ah well...this is the next place I found...another bridge that has been replaced...this one looks over the shipping channels for Savannah and beyond:











This is an image of the bridge that has replaced the bridge I was standing on...what a beautiful bridge.  You know I think GA. has the most beautiful styled bridges...





Check this out!  This ship is a car carrier....








In Historic Woodbine GA. Mom spotted this sign...she still talks about it...yeah, I guess it's got it's funny associations to it. 





We didn't tour this place, but as an antique shop and a museum...it will most certainly hold some curious items!





Now, in White Oak GA. I found this great old store. It's no longer in business...but...ahhh I love the wood.





And tell...ya don't like the Spanish Moss hanging from the trees....





The tin roof....





The brick Chimney:





Where else but small town America, do you find these little country churches that hold so much love and respect?  








A mural of a proud heritage of this little town in GA.  It no longer boasts the trade of the waterways...not like this, but I've been told these days...it's a great little place to go fishing.











The old and the new...I really like this shot:





My parting shot...a long closed motel.  This is on US 17/25 near the FL GA state line.  I guess back before I-95, this was a bustling rest stop for the traveling public....shame it's gone....





Now for a little post script.  While visiting my brother in Florida, my camera has stopped operating.  I am in the process of looking into cameras I can afford.   It will be my Christmas present from my MR. and my Mom...so it maybe a while before you see any new pictures from me here.  


It's coming on winter...less riding...so I will be writing about things that catch my eye in the news of motorcycling...so don't forget to keep stopping in!