…in case you haven’t seen it…

Here’s a pic of my bike.

…at least I know I can always pedal the melancholy away… (forced half grin)

Oh, other changes I eluded to in the last post? I’m still persuing my degree. Finished a couple more classes. C++ and Technical Writing. I have two classes left. General Chemistry and Calculus II. Then I’ll have my BSAST. Pretty cool. Don’t know when I’m going to take the CalcII, but it will be this year. My Chemistry class starts next week.

Still haven’t fixed my truck transmission. I like riding the bike too much. I am aware of my laziness and if I fix the truck, I likely will drive the truck. Still haven’t sold it either. Hmmmm. Spent a little money fixing up my Jeep. It is still not running either, but it is closer than it was. It’s been a three year project (so far).

I got into HAM radio at the start of the year. I took and passed my Technician class exam in January, then the General class exam in February. With the code requirements removed, I am now a General Class HAM radio operator. Got a cheap handheld, a Yaesu FT-60R. Works pretty good.

Haven’t played much poker. I have noticed that the less I play, the worse I play when I do play.

Other than that, check out my new blog over at back2dabike to see what I’ve been up to.

http://back2dabike.wordpress.com

Mahalo.

…there’s got to be a name for this…

…so what is it called when someone goes to start a project, and you offer your advice (since you're helping) on how you'd do it, the other person says ok or nothing at all, you go on with the project, then at the end, the other person is insanely mad at you for changing the plan?

Let's swap shirts:  I'm going to make a dinner and am going to cook something in a certain pan.  Someone has volunteered to help and recommends a different pan, and they even get it out.  Hmmm… if I behave as in the first scenario, I'd let them do what they want and get mad at them afterwards for changing the plan.

What I'd really do is say "no, that's ok, I'm going to use this pan" get the pan, and continue on… because anything else is getting mad at someone for letting them control my actions, which is really just getting mad that I'm weak willed… right?

Please tell me if I'm screwed up on this viewpoint of mine!… Please…

As it is, I think I'm sleeping alone tonight because I didn't wash 2 cars at once…

…nevermind, this suddenly seems silly and I'm letting someone else control my emotions about a silly issue… let them be mad…

"…the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…"

…karmic incidents…

…so, I was writing about my day and I forgot 2 karmic incidents that I wanted to share.

I was on my way back from picking up breakfast – eggs benedict, my wife's favorite (I made them for her birthday and they were sooooo good, but I just wasn't ready to do the hollandaise sauce yesterday).  At the last major corner before my house there was a bum standing there with a sign, as there often is.  Normally I'm against handing out cash to the homeless, but I almost couldn't stop myself as I reached in my pocket, pulled out a $1, and gave it to him.  He said "God bless you", and I drove home shaking my head mumbling that I'd have to shell out a lot more than a dollar before God's gonna pay any attention to me.

Then near the end of out drive, between Kailua and the park by the zoo, I was admiring a red 67ish mustang when it stalled out.  We were stopped at the light a couple lanes over from it as he kept trying to restart it with no success.  I drove down to the next light, U'd around, parked, and offered him a push.  I pushed him through the light and into the marina parking.  He said thanks.  I got back in the Jeep with my family and drove off.  Just as we were pulling away, I looked at my wife and said "that was karma's punishment for me eating some of that chocolate".  We joked and decided it wasn't the chocolate, it was the custard pie we had after breakfast.  Then she points out the bumper sticker on the car in front of us…

"Be an angel – practice random acts of kindness"

…so, that was kind of spooky weird coincidence thing – right?…

…beautiful day…

…so it was a totally beautiful day.  Went for a drive.  Went up to Pali, then down to Sandy beach and through Kailua.  We brought apples, cheese and croussants with us (sounds snooty, huh).  It made for nice picnic snacking.  Hadn't really had my camera out much, but I found some inspiration out in the activities of a Hawaiian Sunday.

I'll try and upload a couple of the better ones.  Of course I'm still new to this and am learning.  I definitely had a calm and relaxed feeling throughout the day that I hadn't felt in a long time.

My oldest daughter even went with us!  You may not understand why that is surprising, but she hates me.  Completely and totally hates me.  She's 12.  But today, things were pleasant.  She even let me snag a couple pics of her.

So, I think we're going to watch a movie-on-demand and chill for the rest of the evening.  What a nice day…

… driving in Hawaii : P130857ZMAY06

…so I'm getting back on the H1 coming from Honolulu heading toward Ewa, and this HUGE truck – not a semi, but a big Ford pickup with a lift and monster tires —anyway, he went aaallllll the way to the end of the road in the right lane (cause no one else was in it cause they were all in my lane cause we were all trying to get on the freeway) and then tries to merge by just nosing his truck into my lane! not in front of my, but right next to me…

 I was straight up so mad.  Still tense.  Didn't let him in and HE got mad at ME!  I had a case of road rage after that.  I so want a drink…

 But, I'm home now and better.  Went to watch Ghost Whisperer and it wasn't on the DVR.  Turns out the episode last week where they revealed that Andrea was dead was the season finale…

Atleast I'm looking forward to LOST next Wednesday.  Hopefully they don't leave that one hanging with the discovery of the new hatch until next season.  There's got to be a better season ending for that one…