My best May long yet....

So, you all read my "realization by chris" post, well I know have something to add to that. Kinda like a "Realizations by Chris... Part 2" only with something to add to it. So, my best friend Nathan read that post and he said that he had totally forgotten about it until I brought it up. Those were good days, and they were memorable days as well.

This weekend was no less memorable than any other cruise we've had, just that this one was done at the start of cruising season and my good first cruise in a little under 3 years I figure and after that first post... I was itching to get back in the saddle and head out back on Whyte, and get back with my riding partner. What made this cruise memorable? I gave Nathan a Mohawk. Damn, for my first Mohawk, it looks pretty damn good. And it made the cruise too, it made it a lot better and with more style than we could have hoped for.

The cruise was great, we stopped at a place called Dadeo's and had Catfish fingers with sweet potato fries, and for our final circuit on Whyte before we hit up 109th to get back over the river... we did what Nathan wanted to do... took up the outside lane for just us... we weren't too slow, not slow enough for people to pass us too quickly... And as per normal, we got the head turns from our bikes. That part I love... Both Nathan and I were surprised that, even though as out of riding condition I was, I was still able to keep up and I really wasn't all that sore the next day. My ass was though, but only 'cause it's gotten soft.

Your right Nathan, gonna have to keep riding, even if it is boring and only 20 min... gotta do it.

Later

~Chris

What to do, What to do...

So, here I sit wondering... what peaks my interest? What gets me moving, what puts a huge f*****n' smile on my face every time I do it? Well... women mostly, but I can't really classify that as a hobby for me... for some... yes. Me... no. What I'm really getting at here is... what can I do for a hobby???

I've tried to think of a couple of things, and have had some friends try to help me out with this but really... nothing has really grabbed me so to speak. I'll run a couple of ideas by you and let you know how they've failed in that respect other than that I've tried.

1. Singles Dog Walking: Well, for obvious reasons this one can't work. For one, you need a dog, of which I am lacking right off the bat. Can't have a dog so... yea.

2. R/C Car racing: Well, I did my research played with my R/C truck twice and found out how much work you had to do to it to keep it running good and if I even wanted to race it, how much MORE work I'd have to do to do. Plus, I put bad fuel in it once and blew the nitro motor. That was a $200 mistake. I've got, including the truck, $1200 wrapped up in it plus magazines that would go with it as well. I'll give it away for $600... I think if it were electric, I would have had a LOT more fun with it, but as it stands... seriously... $600... Any takers???

3. Computer geek: Ok, yea I enjoy playing around with my computer, enhancing it, having fun playing the odd game on it, turning it into the be-all-end-all media centre for my home needs, put movies on it, use it as my TV/recorder and everything. The only problem? It's not a very social hobby. I'm not bashing computer geeks or gamers or whatever else... but I like seeing the sunrise if I get up early, not playing a game all night deciding to go to bed at 7am. Sorry...

4. Guns: Yes, I said it and it's been in my rants before... I do enjoy playing around with guns and I go out about once a month with my buddy and put a bunch of rounds down range, the only problem, like #2, it's very expensive. For instance, my .303 English rounds for my Lee Enfield are $1 a round, and it takes longer to buy 20 rounds than it does to put them down range. My buddy told me that when he goes down range, he usually goes through $100... well, I gave him $40 that day and I do have a lot of fun when I do it... but I don't think it's something I could do ALL the time... ya know? If there was an out door range I could go to, that would be different... Plus I need a license, locks, lockers, permits, registrations... it all adds up.

These are just a few, and a few of the problems that I'm going through. I'm all ears at the moment for suggestions. One last one before I sign off for the evening... I do like my biking and manufacturing custom bicycles... I'm just lacking the place to do it, the people to do it with, and well.... money. All of the things above come with a price, some less than another but I'm trying to pay down some bills and well... it's tough to have fun when you can't afford some of the things you like to do.

Later

~Chris

Unfortunate Things...

My Aunt Daisey past May 7th, I learned today at a ripe old age of 102!! This is saddening as she was always close to us and held a special place in my heart for her and always will. She was a beautiful person and even though we never really got to chat much, her presence will be missed.

Until later

~Chris

A realization by Chris.

So, I was at Market Mall today in Calgarys north west sitting outside a clothing store for my girlfriend to buy and try stuff on looking at the people passing. What I realized was that I miss kickin' it with Nathan down on Whyte Ave sitting watching the world revolve by us. Seeing the short skirts, open toes, tight jeans, tight tops... seeing society walk past us. We sat for an hour that day on Whyte Ave on a bench outside the Baskin Robins (those of you who know Whyte, know where abouts I'm talking about), and I'll tell ya, it was just as good, if not better than watching TV. And then for a half hour at the Biker Tim's watchin' the world and the guys look at our pedal bikes and telling us stories when they played around with pedal bikes.

For those 5 to 10 min I sat there in the mall watching the people walk by me brought me back to that one evening in the latter stages of summer... forget the year. The only thing missing from Whyte Ave to Market Mall was, the homeless walking around, the cars, making sure no one walked off with our bikes... um... ok, so it was more than just one thing but I miss that day and the days that could have been more like it. The ride was fantastic, if not a little short but just hangin' out with my best friend... something we haven't done so much. It's something that I'd like to do again sometime. I need to get my cruiser out of my apartment for one, get my riding leggs back in shape and bring it up to Edm one day and just go for a ride.

Damn I miss those end of summer days.

~Chris

I should really update this thing more often...

OK, so, since the last time I was bored and cut off all my hair (got rave reviews by the way, except for mom... of course) I have gone to the doctor to get my back looked at. I've been progressively getting worse and worse back pain and it finally got toooo much about a month ago and finally saw a doctor about it. With countless liters of blood taken and over a dozen x-ray's they found..... um.... nothing. Other than the SLIGHT curvature of my spine... nothing was found. So... off to physio I go. Dreading the bill after 3 months of the recommended physio, I looked up my blue cross and found that after all claims are said and done... I'll end up $200 out of pocket. Fine by me, just so long as I get better SOON!! This back pain is killing me, but so far so good. Mostly strengthening exercise for my core area but still... it's needed.

On the other front... things have been quite boring. I'm getting out to the rifle range about once a month with a guy from work. I have a blast (pardon the pun.... you know what... don't pardon it... I meant every bit of it!!) and the usual saying afterwards is "another Sunday all shot to hell." I was going to take a picture and you'll see it below. Another thing to write about, my buddy at work brought in his son's little dirt bike one evening, learned how to ride a motorbike. Small yes... but a LOT of fun. Now I want to get my license. So many things, so much money and so little to spend. Oh well... I'll get there.

As for anything significant as of late... nuthin'. My mind turns on projects past and present, what I want to do, what I probably won't do, the toys I want... it never ends I tell ya. As of late?? I've got my mind workin' on a 2000/2002 Chevy Impala. Now, I know I'm going to get a bit of flack for buying an "old persons car" but ever since I saw it come out, I've wanted one. I've loved the looks and I figure, if Cops and cabs are driving it, it can't be all that bad of a car. I want a bigger car, something with better legs for the highways and easier on the back. It will be a little rougher on the fuel part, but I figure this is something that would work out well. I'm also thinking that since Valerie is going to be in Lake Louise for a bit more, as awesome as my little car is, it's very rough on the road.

Anyway, just thoughts for now... and for now... I'm out.

~Chris



Oh ya, as for that pic... Wasn't able to get one as we were just having fun putting bullets down rainge and playing with guns, so for now, I'll leave you with this: