Venus · de · Anjou

Long time no write. I've moved to the mountains. I am in the sticks. No, really. Dirt road, gravel driveway. Lots of fun on the SV and the Mille (Ha, ha). Soon, however, the Mille will be gone, so it'll just be the SV and once I get off my ass and make it happen, the Beastie will rise again and become roadworthy. First things first, though, we need a garage. That's on the way. Right now the bikes are tented. Winter's coming, and I'm not really looking forward to Santa Cruz mountain weather. So be it. I'm finally online again, and that helps. Lots to do on this house. It's pretty much a bulldoze job, but since we don't have the capital to rebuild, it's as is for the present and, most likely, the future. I'm procrastinating on the painting big time because it really doesn't excite me. I also stopped riding for about a month. After the hour commute to work behind people who don't understand how slower traffic is suppose to get the hell out of the way and the neighbor's dog coming after me like I was her next meal, I really lost the urge. It's back, but not like it use to be. That may change after the challenges of winter take hold. We'll see. Everything about my life has shifted, except the job. I know you're suppose to like your first house, but that ain't happening. There are bad vibes here, which need to be exorcised. I'm working on that. I'm still breathing, don't think the roof leaks (yet), there's food in the frig, water on tap, and the toilets work. I figure I'm ahead of the game. May not be what I expected, but isn't that life? Finally got an MP3 player. Ahh, lifesaver! Feel like I'm conducting some sort of battle here. Want to run, but that really won't get me anywhere. Just wondering ... if this is just a battle, what the hell is the war gonna be like?

Holy crap. We're buying a house. Escrow closes in sixteen days. The gixxer is on the block, and when the Aprilia gets back from the shop she's going next. Spent the entire day, Wednesday, with all the inspectors. House, pest, well, and septic. Everything turned out good. Got some info about the well water today and it was also good. It's a go. Someone's coming to see the gixxer on Sat. Then, hopefully, the Mille will sell. Fingers crossed.

Yeah. So the husband and I are buying a house. We're waiting for the bank to okay the sale. Then escrow, which includes inspections and such. It's crazy. It's cool. It's terribly frightening. There is no garage on the property as of yet. That must be remedied, and it will be. I just never considered I'd be a home owner. Apparently I have to grow up some now. Damn. But, really, our own place... Wow.

Life is funny. It sneaks up on you. Suddenly you're old and wondering about retirement and how you're going to afford a mortgage. Your days are spent thinking about the groceries you need to buy, the clothes you need to wash, and when you're going to get the time to change the oil in one of the bikes. Okay, maybe that last one isn't so common, but I'm just saying... I use to be thinking about which club I was going to and when, and how I was going to get there. I use to peruse the paper to find out what bands were playing and where and when. I use to see Saturdays as ride day, with coffee afterward, and maybe then the library. I find myself actually missing the laundromat. What the hell is up with that? And when the hell did I become middle aged?? Ack! But then there was this New Year's. There I was, sitting out by the fire by myself with a bit of rum and coke and all was good. I mean, it was really good. I was tending the fire, hanging out, thinking about nothing much at all. And then someone happened by and we had a stellar conversation. Aided, of course, by the rum and coke. But I wasn't blitzed or stumbling by any stretch of the imagination. I was comfortable. That's something I rarely am. Comfortable. I realize that now. I'm always "on"; always thinking about what everyone else is thinking or feeling and how to alleviate, support, or satisfy. I am always aware. I was once told by a psychotherapist that drugs would do me no good, since I'm already way tuned in to everyone else's moods, feelings, and actions. Taking drugs would probably only make it worse. Uh, no thank you. So I have to do this on my own; stretch myself to make connections with people and put myself into uncomfortable situations that most others find normal until it becomes, at the very least, tolerable. Hopefully, however, it will become a second skin. I don't intend to lose the first skin though, oh no. I'm just looking to expand some. I like the fact that I can tell whose unhappy and why. I like the fact that I know when to shut my mouth and stay silent. I like the fact that I know when not to be silent and give someone support. It's my forte. Took me long enough to figure it out, eh? :)

The SV is running great after the fuel tank exchange. The F2 is down because I'm a slacker. The Mille is oh so sweet, as usual. The GSX-R is ready to roll 88,000 with no complaints thus far. Funny what joy a new wire harness can bring. The interesting thing is this ... I've noticed when I ride the gixxer or the Mille and split lanes up to the front at a stoplight, that no other motorcyclist will attempt to ride up and wedge themselves next to me. On the SV, it's like frickin' open season. WTF? I learned early on from hardcore biker guys that you give way to whoever is there first. You don't ride up alongside (unless invited) then take the lane from the other rider when the light changes. Seems Santa Cruz has a load of ass hat riders without a clue. And popping a wheelie afterwards is really over the top. Most of the time I find myself waiting for the a-hole to get it in gear and move so I can go, too. Next time I'm thinking kill switch.

Hey now. Yeah, it's been some time. Wish I could say it's because of some life-changing circumstance, but it's just life, really. Leuthur tried to burn himself up a few months ago, but I managed to squash his urge. He's back on the asphalt after I installed a new wire harness (rear), stator, and reg/rec. So far so good. The Beastie still needs a top end job, but for now I'm just going for a valve adjust and general tune-up. The new SV is doing great, even in the rain. The Mille got new fork seals and oil recently and she's good as gold, especially since I solved the oil in the airbox problem. Sometimes it really is as simple as switching a hose from one side to the other.

Been doing a lot of cooking lately. The Hubby doesn't seem to mind my experiments. Now I'm chomping at the bit to start planting so I can have something to can. Lots of stuff's been falling to the wayside, though. I want to pick up the writing again, and the weight lifting. It seems there isn't enough time in the day. I do sit at the piano every now and then and pick out a tune.

Work is usual, but I'm hoping that will change soon. I've decided, from recent events, that the Universe still wants me to do something concerning motorcycling. Now I just need to get off my ever so usual ass and attempt the spectacular. Mmmm, that's scary.

Been wanting to reconnect with old friends I haven't seen in a while. Don't know if it's some stupid attempt to recreate the past, or a real desire to keep ties current. I'd like to think I'm not so vacant and am willing to put forth some effort to socialize. I got caught up somewhere down the line and have hermitized myself. Didn't mean to, but there it is.

Just glad the bikes are relatively back to working order. For a while there I only had the SV and was dealing with anxiety issues. Now my mind is much more quiet and calm. I remember a time when I didn't feel right without drama. Glad that's over.

Took the SV to work today. Holy crap, that bike's gonna get me in trouble. I thought my speedo must be off by 6-10mph. Probably not. I call him Triskele, but Trouble would be a good nickname. The throttle is touchy, but that's good, because I'll get even better at throttle management and keeping my weight off the bars. Turn in on corners is very much like the FZR600 I had; think it, and suddenly it's happening. Even though the torque is nothing like the Mille, I'm surprised at how much damn fun the SV is. Can't wait to get the Metzlers on and really see what my little Suzi can do. WOOT!

Got the gixxer back together yesterday, but had this nagging feeling I'd forgotten something. No fasteners/parts left over, fairing bolts secure, cables adjusted. Hmmm. Well, this morning after just crossing the summit I downshifted, er, tried ..... hey, wait, where the fuck is the shifter?! Dangling helplessly it was. Why? I'd forgotten to tighten the shift rod. So there I was stuck in fourth gear. Made it to work and stopped at home on the way out in the delivery vehicle. Got some wire hanger, tape, safety wire, etc. The wire hanger wasn't strong enough for upshifting, but I got the bike into third and decided that was good enough (didn't want to slip it into neutral for fear of never getting it out). Don't think I caused the clutch too much grief, but it still made me cringe every time I had to start from a standstill. Damned stoplights.