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August 31, 2006
Loosing My Touch...No It's a Good Thing
I used to get in a lot of trouble in my younger days. Part of it was from lifting tires. Its pretty amazing how things change.
Of course on the surface it is a good thing that I have changed my ways, but at what price? The other day I decided to take the tiers off of the 64 Nova so I could get them replaced. If I had to calculate the total time it took for me just to take the tires off of the car it would be somewhere around 2 hrs. Thats pretty pathetic. Ohh well I guess that is the price you pay for going straight.
On a side note you may have noticed that there has been no post in the build or bust sections under the actual cars that I want to work on. However that now changes with this post for two reasons. First I have decided that the 64 will be butchered for the 71VW. I am still going to part out the 64 to try and get a little money.
The other big news for the build or bust is I finally got a little cash to buy the floor plans for the 71VW. They should be here in 7-10 days. I am pretty excited to move forward on the project. Paul has been complaining that he hasn't had anything to weld on - now he does:)
Here goes an example of what I am building-
August 25, 2006
Mind Games Wii
So most of you out there know that my company is working on a small video game project. It has great potential and we have gotten a little press. (For more on that you can check out Emerson's blog.) The work has gotten me pumped up a little on the video game wars. So when I came across this little video clip I had to share.
Enjoi
August 23, 2006
The Price Of High Miles
Everybody knows that I live far far away. You go out to the boonies then you keep going a little further. I put a lot of miles on my car and spend a lot of money on gas. If there is a silver lining to this sad driving stroy it is the fact that I get to apply for high mileage when I pay my car taxes. I cut my bill from $156 dollars to $122 just because I have about 80,000 miles on my 2003 Jetta. While this won't buy me a full tank of gas it will take my wife and I out to Radd Dews for some BBQ.
August 14, 2006
Heidi and I: YEAR 1
Just like the Batman book Year 1, the aptly named title for this post covers our first year together. Over the weekend Heidi and I got to experience our first anniversary. Not to say that Heidi and I don't share other small anniversaries, but this is the big one. I say it is the big one because everybody has told us that the first year is the toughest. I am unsure what they base this off of but for us it was not the case. Heidi and I got to experience many first together and look forward to many more over the years. May we both look back upon our first year together to see how it shaped us into a great couple many years from now.
But how do you really sum over a full year of first into one small day, especially when you are planning on a few more (big) first in the next coming months? I am not talking about kids or anything, but am merely looking at the finical responsibility of buying our first home and paying off debt.
Traditionalist say that a first years anniversary gift is "paper." Now what that means I am unsure but I think it leads itself to great interpretation. So interoperate it we did.
We took it to mean anything that involves the use of paper products aka "money." Since we are trying to save that paper we decided to forgo the gift giving and go in together on dinner and an adventure day.
For dinner we went to Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC and it was so much fun. We saw many kinds of birds, fish, monkeys and other crazy animals. It was such a great time Heidi and I became members. For a little over the price of admission for two we got a season pass plus six free guest passes and discounted admission to special events. It was a great deal and we look forward to going again real soon.
Heidi and I kept with tradition in giving each other paper for our first anniversary. One in the shape of dollars for dinner, the other in the form of a membership to the zoo. Everybody knows that her and I operate on different wave lengths from most other couples so it isn't' a stretch to see. We have one down and many, many more to go!
August 07, 2006
The Adventures Of Huck Finn
This weekend I finally got off te beaten path and headed out into the Waccamaw river. Mark Allison from Surf City Surf Shop just got in a few rental kayaks and I wanted to try them out. Also our new employee was feeling a little culture shock moving from DC to Conway so I wanted to show him some of the finer things that our beautiful area had to offer. So we loaded up the kayaks and headed for the river.
Our first outing on the Waccamaw was not fun at all. This is due to improper equipment. I got stuck with the home made short wave paddle. Being my first time in an open kayak I was unaware of what type of paddle was needed for a successful enjoyable venture on calmer flat waters. Being left far behind, but close to the noise and sight of the highway, I grew upset pretty fast. Ready to call it quits after just over 30 min Emerson and I started heading back.
Regrouping from the quick mourning outing Emerson and I came up with a new plan: Get a new paddle! A simple phone call to Jeff Cribb (master of random gear) and we scored a new paddle. Armed with a new paddle and a new plan we ventured into the Kingston Lake area of the Waccamaw river. However our plan was a little short sighted. Little did we know we had to pay a ramp launch fee of $2, but we only had $1. After getting that little situation taken care of (he let us in for only $1) we were off.
Like the Adventures OF Huckleberry Finn, Emerson and I were off on our "raft" ride up the river talking to river folks along the way. It was pretty amazing being on the water away from the hustle and bustle of "city life" and actually coming into contact with local fisherman enjoying the same tranquilness that we were. To add to the surreal scene we ran into one of my family's life long friends enjoying the fondest moments that I have come to know him by: fishing. I have know this individual in many different lights for some years including - but not limited to - middle school janitor, friend, fishing buddy, boat operator, father's coworker and self-esteem builder. My friend's name is Micey, (I am not sure if it is his real name but it is the only name I have ever know him by) and it seems as if I always bump into him in these nice peculiar ways.
After a pleasant little chat between boat captains talking about the daily catch, Emerson and I headed up the river into the Kingston lake area. Faraway from everything and close to it all the trip was great.
This little experience on our kayak trip made the whole trip worth while. I have been struggling with the notion that there are no new unexplored lands and I will never be the first to see something that hasn't already been captured remarkably well in picture, video or word form. With that being said I am glad to be able to relate present day experiences with dramatic passages I read and vividly imagined as a child. This is a new way at looking at life and being drawn into a world of make believe and fantasy. May I have many more new experiences in the future.
THE GEAR
2 Bic Sport - Ouassou Models
Length : 8'6 - 260.0 cm
Width : 31 - 78.0 cm
Weight : 18.0 kgs - 18.0 kgs
Max. Load : 242 lbs - 110 kgs
Material : Thermoformed polyethylene
Program : All waters
Capacity : 1 adult + 1 child
Paddles:
1 Bic Sport Take-down Paddle
* Asymmetrical
* Foam-filled
* Equipped with splash-guard
* Shaft ovalised to the right for better grip
* Black anodised
* Rigid shafts
* Can be adapted for left-handers and can be taken apart
1 Home Made Short Wave Paddle
The kayaks were fun. They were a little heavy so that one person could not carry one by themselves. Also there could be some little improvements with the kayak design such as a dry well and larger foot rests. The back support system was comfortable for a short trip but I would guess not so for an all day adventure.
Bic also makes other models that I am hopeful to try. I will keep you posted on them. For more info check out Bic Sports. (Yep, its the same guys who do the pens)
Re-cap The Blurry Days
Over the past few weeks I have been burning the midnight oil. At 803 we have a lot of irons in the fire and I have been turning them over and over tring to not to let it go out. One of the biggest irons has been Money & More Issue 2. It's all about education and I had to coridnate photoshots, artwork and editorial in time to hit our deadline. Needless to say it has been hetic but fun.
Apart from the hetic scheduel of the mag I have been traing a new employee, Emerson Brown. A life long friend has joined the 803 crew while another one has departed (so long Scott and goodluck). 803 Productions now has workers copmp insurance as well as health insurance threw Blue Cross/ Blue Sheild. It is a major step for our little company.
On other fronts 803 Productions signed a video game contract with Humongous/Atari to help complete Backyard Basketball before christmas. It is a hellous scheduel which Pretty much lies in Paul's court but while I am riding the pine I am ready to jump in the game at any time.
Also our other project has taken life. Theoria is an online proofing/ording system aimed at photographers. Keith has been working hard adding new features and making it readly available for clients to use.
So we have been buring it from both ends latley. I will try and keep you more informed.
Cheers.