Time for a rant! Part 1

It has been a while since I have merely ranted. I have not done a product review for a while either. Boy, do I have something to whine about now.

On a lark I went into a t-mobile store to see what they had to offer. The sales GIRL ( I use the term in the most derisive way possible)told me every thing I wanted to hear. She said I could have a plan that met all of my needs for less than $80.00 a month. I walked out of the store without getting anything right then yet the seed was planted.

I know the things I want on my phone are pretty “top shelf.” This is what I want:

1. A smart phone with all the bells and whistles.
2. A plan that is inexpensive

Specifically:

1. More than 900 minutes for talk
2. Texting, more than 200 per month
3. At least 2 gigs of data (meaning full internet abilities)
   1. Web surfing
   2. Assorted Google searching, including Mapping, and travel routing
   3. App downloading
   4. Internet Radio including IHEARTRADIO and NPR, etc., radio services
   5. And tethering to my laptop for when I want to use the computer              for real work

All for less than I was paying before. “Why of course we can do this for you Mr. Turner, for less than you are paying now!”

I asked the sale girl, her name was Ty, what to expect in extra fees. She said, “We do not work like that.”

I have since found out that statement may not be entirely true.

I let the idea settle for a few days and did a little research on other carriers. I found that this sounded like a pretty good deal. I would be saving almost $30.00 a month. So, even with the early termination fee from Sprint I would come out way ahead financially. The phone she sold me would be adequate to my needs, but that was almost secondary, most Androids have the abilities that I require. It is the service that really matters to me.

Having said that, the phone I got is the HTC Achieve. Ty told me that it has a new antenna and would be really good. When I went back to make the deal, I was a little skeptical about the phone, but the service I thought is was getting would be good.

I took the phone out during the weekend for a ride around the mountains to see what the reception was like. The phone did not have all the bars filled, but I was able to make calls and get internet well enough. Google maps and Navigation seemed to work to my satisfaction and in some places I actually got a 4G signal, in others it went down to 2G. All in all the phone passed its tests with flying colors. I can even use the phone in places that I did not get reception with Sprint.

Happiness! I have found a phone and carrier that works great  and I am paying less than before! The world is a good place, and I have everything I want.

So I settled down to personalizing the phone, adding apps, setting the various screens, and learning how to use the thing. I was happy with my new purchase, content knowing that I had soon a smart thing.

Until a week had gone by.

An Afternoon on the Bike

At first, we were to meet in a little town called Forest City, but honestly there is not too much to see. I told her that and we decided to go to Lake Lure instead. Lake Lure and Chimney Rock have the charm and unique beauty of some of the nicest place I have ever been to in all of my vast travels. (yeah right!)

However, she lives in Charlotte and I live in Asheville about 100 miles apart. And it just seemed silly for her to go that far for only a few minutes of companionship. So back to Forest City. Yet, I really don’t like that place. Finally I suggested Shelby.

I hopped on and got the bike going.  Got some gas and headed out to points east. The ride to Lake Lure on 74 A is always a diversion that commands my full attention, while allowing my brain to churn over the chattel that in constantly muddling my brain. When riding these roads, I am at ease with everything in my life. There is nothing but the moment and the next curve and how do I attack it.

I made my first way stop in Chimney Rock. Truthfully, I really wanted to spend a little time there. I walked around a bit and went to Heavenly Hogs and did the obligatory walk around. Just the smell of leather in that place is enough to get the endorphins popping. They have some patches that might work to hide the sweat holes that are developing on one sleeve.

I walked up to the to their other shop, this one has helmets and some ladies boots. I liked on of the helmets they had, granted it is a brain pan, but the image on it was interesting. I might get it later on this year before I go on the weekenders in the summer.

Finally I had to check out the new to me, Heavenly Hogs Bar & Grill. I had heard it was a place to look at. Its right on the river, with an outside bar. The bartenders are cute, but the beer cups are small. I did not order any food, nor did I see any food on in front of the patrons. But the bikes that were parked there were cool and the people sitting around the place ran the gambit from heavily tattooed, muscle shirted road warriors to weekend riders wanting to experience the road on two wheels for a change of pace.

It was time for me to move on and get to Shelby. The road one takes from Lake Lure to Shelby is 74 A again. Leaving Lake Lure is windy and fun. For the most part I was able to set my own pace and weaved in and out of the curves and twists at my own pace. There were farms and rural homes lining the road. A pretty ride heightened by the anticipation of seeing a special lady.

I finally got to our meeting place expecting to have a little wait. I could use it to adjust the idle of the Beast, I think it is too high right now. However, she showed up just as I was taking my helmet off. You gotta love it that she is on time, every time!

There is a Honda Dealer just up the road from where we met and she wanted to have a look at their used bikes. Who am I to say no to that?

The shop was closed due to Mother’s Day. Not sure how that works, but we got lucky when someone rode up at the same time. It turns out his family owns the shop. He let us in. She saw a bike, a white Honda Shadow VT 750  it looked nice. We will see. I did however, tell her that she should only get a Honda or Harley they are the only two bikes worth getting.

We rode around a bit. I dunno, but it is really special to have someone you like riding with me. And she knows how to ride back there! Pretty cool!

We found a place and talked a bit then walked around looking for a place to get some food. A burger place filled the bill. I had a bistro burger, yum. Brie cheese melted on a good hamburger.

When we got back to her car, we talked a bit however, it was getting late so, regretfully I went west and she went east. The day ends too soon sometimes and this was one of those times. We spent time talking and not teasing each other. There was a little innuendo, only enough to bring a smile when silence was too loud.

Silence is not a factor on the Beast from Milwaukee between the wind at 70 mph and the guttural screech of that engine, I was able to wash my psyche clean of my desire to stay and wallow in her arms and beautiful eyes.

It did not hurt that the sun was going down in an hour or so and there were no trees to break the glare overloading them my vision. 74 A in reverse is about the same only backwards. Once I finally broke out of the crush of cages, I was able to open up a little. This time I concentrated on the ride more than usual and did not wonder as much.

I let my eyes look over the landscape. While the mountains were a ways off, I looked at the farm land and smelled the oder of the world. My nose flared with the scent of fresh-cut grass and manure. Driving these roads, there are no paper plants to smell, nor stench of trucks on a late Saturday afternoon.

The bike flowed, gears shifted, my butt settled in the saddle. As I got closer to Lake Lure, the curves got steeper and sharper, I sat up straighter and rode the throttle and breaks a little more. I wonder what my eyes look like when I get into a groove like that.

I made it to Mom & Dad’s and got the Runtyun, we finally got home. It was a little after dark and I was a little road weary, but after a shower and a glass of… The Runtyun and I sat for a minute before she went to bed. It’s good to get back to my life as I know it, yet escaping to a friendship that no one else knows about is fun too.

 olc

Super Moon

A Daddy grows up has another fun and insightful post. Have a look! Check it out at  http://adadgrowsup.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/super-moon/

there are pictures too!

Sundays ride

it is really amazing how life gets i control and one needs to make a tremendous effort to accomplish a something that should only take a minute. I have worked on this post for a week now, but everything got in the way and seemed more pressing than finishing it. i made time tonight to post this one on A Daddy Grows Up, so please have a look at http://adadgrowsup.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/sundays-ride/ and leave a comment! i really want to know what people think!
Thanks!

Here is a link

A Daddy Grow Up, a fine blog that deals with the issues of a single parent his Runtyun and this ever changing world has a question, some reminisces and some time interesting issues. BTW it is written by me. I have just posted again there, so follow this link and have a read. Let me know what you think and please leave a comment.

http://adadgrowsup.wordpress.com/

 

olc

A little self indulgence

Life keeps throwing curves at me and sometimes I feel the need to share things that—maybe I shouldn’t. At night, when I try to sleep, my mind will wonder to places that should be left alone. Most of the time I use the radio to drown out the cacophony  rambling around the echo chamber rolling on my shoulders. Sometimes, I’ll let it wonder and bounce around the walls of my head even though at times, it can get out of control.

When I was younger, there was this beautiful woman who taught me the meaning of love and sex. We wallowed around in the euphoria that our bodies created. Sweat and exhaustion were our expression of love. I still have a friendship with her, even after so many years, I am a better person for it.

Many years later, I met and was enriched by someone with whom I loved and spent my heart. She was to be the only woman with whom I would share my name. Like most things though, our love flared and finally spluttered out. She was a flame that burned deeply and with great intensity. Like many wild fires, this one burned its fuel too soon and left only ash fueled with burning Embers. I understand she has lit a fire for another, it is a long burn for her, I hope.

I became inextricably involved with a person who would shake my world and cause such a profound redirection in my life that I would never look at the world the same. She gave me a daughter.  Our luv (?) lasted for a short time and quickly turned to a relationship of adversity. Her love burned in a Glass that Cracked my heart. After a time, for one reason or another, she gave us peace and left us alone. Yet there must have been and probably still is, a beautiful heart for the right person— I would not have been attracted to her other wise. I have never found another like her and hope I never will, I know for sure I will not look either.

After a while, my life was graced with a farm and a lady. We talked and loved for a bit, yet rebound love is a tool, we both found out, to get over the past. We rode and loved. Unfortunately that horse came up lame for us and I realized our lives could not be what we thought. I rode off on my steel stallion across  the Lonesome Mountain and she stayed with her mares. All things end, but I wish that ride could have lasted longer.

I found my spirit queen, a goddess of song. I wanted a friend and a lover. I thought I had grown out of my phase where the body would come first, then fulfillment of the mind. She saw it differently. We had passion, and she wanted more. I could not blend my life to hers. She was waking from a nightmare world to a world that was not what she expected and I was afraid she would see me when her eyes opened and think her life was an even worse night terror. I miss the world I fantasized with her, yet all fairy tales have a dark side. Our worlds still mingle, but she has her stage and I have mine.

So there it is, my self-indulgence. There are a few reasons for this, particularly now. Mostly though, I just needed to get this thing off my chest. Maybe I was hoping for a catharsis. I do know however, while writing about these important people in my life, of the these very profound people in my life there is only one that I wish would never return. More importantly, maybe I will be able to sleep tonight without the aid of the BBC.

olc

Racism and my rants and ramblings Part 1

First off, let me state that I am for racial equality and I just don’t understand how someone can be judged by the color if their skin, or spiritual belief they subscribe to, or any of the other artificial cliche’s we can come up with. Having said that though, I find myself constantly pigeonholing people. It is a constant battle with me to try to take each person I meet and see them as a clean slate. We will see what those who have the moral authority have to say about my open-mindedness.

Now let me relate a quick story.

I was driving through town, a fairly liberal place, I came to an intersection with a stop light, there was a bus stop with 2 people waiting. They were African-American. Also there was another man standing and he had a very puffy haircut that was not very neat. He was a big guy with a muscle shirt on and a menacing grin. While I was slowing down for the yellow light, he started to walk into the street diagonally away from me.

He was walking in the general direction of an older mini van. I have to admit my first thoughts were dark and I tried to stifle them and forced myself to look away. But the guy kept on walking toward the van with a kind of grin on his face. I know this ’cause he kept looking round. But of course he needed to keep track of the cars and other traffic around him because he was in the middle of the intersection.

I have to say that I was wondering just what was going on. Then I asked myself would I be thinking “carjacking” if the guy was white? I don’t know. However, I think I would have watched the guy more closely and with less self-conscious awareness if he was.

Any thoughts out there? Let’s talk it through a little.

olc

What an Amazing Place

I need to redo our food budget. I spend too much on food and so … New budget time.

I have been wondering about a local place called Amazing Savings. Well, it turns out, it is not really just local they seem to have a number of stores. I did not want to go there in the past because their location is in an old warehouse and snobby me felt …I don’t know. I did a little web research on it though, and figured why not. Plus their ads talked about good prices.

When I walked in it was a little cave like, the first thing I saw was the produce. Yep, it was a little dinged up, but the price… I rummaged through the bins and found apples and pears and other fruits that looked great! Some of the boxed stuff was dinged up a little, but the as long as the seal is still good, who cares?

They also seem to contract with local producers. There were honeys and various fruit jams and good prices. They have chicken at almost half what I pay at the other, major stores. They contract with a local poultry farm, the breasts were boneless, and frozen, but they looked really nice. The red meat looked good and, again the price was great!

I love Doritos. They did not have any, but their choice of chips was outstanding. At 3 11oz. bags for $5.00. At that price I will find a substitute.

Yeah the place is mostly about overstock and the location reminds me of a cave. However, the stuff they have is different from stuff I see at the local Ingles or other super markets and the prices make my wallet real happy. These are good things, right?

Let’s remember that bleu cheese comes from a cave and many people think it is the best!

olc

A late winter ride, not so cold

Got a new phone and wanted to see how it would work in the mountains. This seemed like a good excuse to burn some gas on the bike. So I broke some plans,  and got ready for a Saturday ride, ‘cause Sunday promised to be colder and rainy.

As usual the icon of Milwaukee steel started with a roar and calmed to an impatient rumble.   I got the stuff on I needed to stay warm and legal and the engine smoothed into the lopped sided hypnotic rumble so enticing to me.

My plan was to ride through Brevard and see if the phone signal was still good and then continue to Cashiers and on to Highlands. At all stops the phone was receiving a good signal, better than then last, so it passed my test. I guess I’ll keep it and cancel the Evo. It turns out that with T-mobile I can get lots of talk time and gads of texting and two gigs of internet for sick money. Almost half what I am paying with Sprint.

As usual the bike was like having smooth butter spread over cinnamon toast. It is such a pleasure to ride. The acceleration and handling on it are so smooth. The clutch pull is heavy yet just right. When I finally got to the twisty part of the road, I just fell into each turn and curve as naturally as a stone skipping across a smooth lake at sunset.

There is a BBQ restaurant just outside Highlands. It is called The Smokehouse. I found it making a beer delivery last summer. I liked the location and building, staff is easy to look at too. The inside is all wood, the floors are wide old planks. I was working, so I could not stay and taste the food that smelled so good, they were smoking something outback and my tongue was flooding my mouth. Later during the weekend I went back to try the food and some of the beer I had delivered. It was worth the trip. I have been back a couple of time since and have not been disappointed.

When I got there I circled the place to see what their business was like on this chilly March afternoon. There were a few cars parked. When I got off the bike I checked the signal on the phone. It was strong. I have not gotten a signal there before, or at the most one bar and no data with other phones. However, when I go inside the signal went to zero. Lead walls maybe? But I was able to find a WiFi signal the place had, so I was able to connect.

The Smokehouse has a great beer choice and a full liquor license. I was cold from the ride up, so I just wanted soup or chili to get the core going again. I ordered Brunswick stew. For a smoke/BBQ house, I think it is a good indicator of the kitchen. They have a great kitchen! The stew was thick with food; corn, tomatoes, potatoes that were not too soft, and their pulled pork. The broth was thick with flavor and golden. The pork had sunk to the bottom of the massive bowl and was delicious.

I ordered a beer, Levitation, I think. It was OK, but not to my taste. The brewer is trying out the new idea of making beer fruity in taste. I like the more traditional beers. Julia, the bartender, was gracious and asked me what I normally like in a beer. They had a brown ale that just needed me to try it. Glad I did.

It looked like there was only a waitress and the bartender and they both seemed busy. So I enjoyed the stew and finished my beer and left. The signal came back when I left the building. There was a text message waiting for me and I returned it with no problems. The phone had passed its test!

On the ride back I did not have any traffic to deal with but was in no hurry either. I let the bike take control and cruised along. The curves and twists flowed under the Dunlops. I would come to a sharp turn and lean into it then open the throttle. My mind wandered ahead if the bike to the next turn, or maybe something would wander around the catacombs between my ears. I did not settle any national issues. I did not even settle things that bug me on a daily basis. At times I realized my shoulders needed to relax and I would roll them and feel the cartilage crack. Yet I felt the release that only comes from a good ride.

The beer inside my tummy was beginning to need to be released. I could have made it home, but I did not want to think about peeing for the next hour or so. Brevard was coming up and there is a Sonic there…let’s just say the rest of the ride was a big relief. The open road between Brevard and home is long and bordered by farms. Ridding open farm country is uneventful and fast. Some may say boring, but to me it is OK. A nice run-down from the twisty mountain roads I had just been on.

When I finally made it home, I ran the carburetor dry and there was the Runtyun on the porch, “Hi Daddy!” I gave my daughter a big smiling hug.

 

Olc

 

O yeah, I’ll get something on the phone and service I got from T-Mobile in the next couple of days.

Got a Question

So I am listening to the radio and this guy comes on and tells a joke. My first reaction was to stifle a laugh, then I wondered if the joke was racist. Then, I tried to justify my reactions as hypersensitivity. So I want to know what others think of the joke.

Here it is

Question: What do you call a Mexican that likes Jeff Foxworthy and NASCAR?

Answer: A Red Nexican

Call me naive, silly or simply ignorant, but I don’t know how I feel about this. When we bring up somebodies nationality and use it for a seemingly harmless juxtaposition in thinking, does it imply racism? Is a start down a slippery slope ending in classifying people in negative ways, or can we merely play with words and not be labeled in a negative way?

What are your thoughts? Let’s have a discussion!

olc