I'm Somebody!

Remember Steve Martin from the movie "The Jerk"?  When the new phone book comes out and he finds Johnson, David R on page 73, his charactor gets all excited because his name is in print and he is finally "SOMEBODY!"  (See the video link below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7aIf1YnbbU

(Spoiler Alert)  Well I have my name in print now!

So here's the story:  Maureen and I are driving to Sylva to visit with Liam and there is road work ahead.  I know in one of my previous blogs I've complained about the propensity for North Carolina drivers to merge immediately upon seeing a "lane closed ahead" sign.  It might be three miles ahead but that doesn't matter.  Everyone feels obligated to merge immediately.  And it's not uncommon to be forced to comply by drivers straddling the line or even driving in the otherwise open lane to block cars and drivers not choosing to be lemmings.  So we catch up with the merged line and there are THREE semi-trucks with trailers lined up in an otherwise comletely open lane driving at the same speed as the already merged traffic.  The merged traffic and adjacent open lane extend as far as the eye can see.  I'm Pissed!  As I approach an offramp, where I intend to exit and get back on in front of this crawing road block, I notice the shoulder widens for quit a distance.  So I break the law and make a mad dash past the three semi's (I didn't get caught) and go on about my merry way.  What could have been a twenty minute delay took me about five minutes to get through.  But this has happened one too many times for me.

Did you ever have some thought bouncing around in your mind and you knew you would not be able to sleep if you didn't get it out.  I wanted so badly to write and OP-ED, it didn't even matter if it were published or not.  I just had to get it down on paper and submit somewhere, where was not important, before I could rest.  So I did just that.  I hammered out my opinion piece and submitted my first draft to the Asheville Citizen Times.  I didn't even put any effort into the bio and picture requested because it wasn't going to be published anyway, right? (As it turns out I should have proof read it because I did find a typo after it was published.)

Two days later, here is the email I received from Casey Blake, the Editor of the Asheville Citizen Times:

"Hi Richard, thank you for this unusual submission - I don't know that we've ever run a full-length driver-rant but this one reads really well to me so you may be our first on Sunday.  I know this is an issue we hear from readers about a lot so I'm sure you'll have many fans."

Although I submitted this as an "Opinion" piece, it did not make the Opinion Section.  If you will look closely at the By Line it reads:  Richard Brooks, Guest Columnist!  See, I am somebody!

I haven't found the web page link to my article yet.  I think there might be a delay to encourge people to buy the paper.  So here is my "Column" below: 

NC Drivers:  You have a choice.  Behold, the zipper merge

You have a choice to make it through 35% faster, you have a choice to be safe and courteous, you have a choice to comply with NCDOT recommendations and the law, and all that is required of each and every one of us to use all available lanes up to the necessary merging point.

That's right, NCDOT recommends that when interstates and major highways are reduced to a single lane (or fewer lanes than normally provided) for any reason, that drivers utilize ALL available lanes until it becomes necessary to merge.  NCDOT.gov describes their formal program using new sensor technology as the "Dynamic Zipper Merge."  The Dynamic Zipper Merge includes sensors that detect traffic flow and adjusts message boards to read; "Use Both Lanes/To Merge Point." At the start of the work zone, the signs will display “Merge Here/Take Turns."

The zipper method works just like it sounds.  Everyone uses all available lanes up to the merge point, and then we all courteously take turns merging into the single available lane.  And the great thing about this method is it really does not require any sensor technology or message boards.  All that is required is for everyone to use the lanes available, pay attention to the road and vehicles around us, and take turns.

What about forced compliance by the "Get In Line" crowd?  You know, those passenger vehicles and large trucks that straddle the line or drive full in the open lane at the same speed as the already merged traffic.  Below is an excerpt from North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 20. Motor Vehicles § 20-141. Speed restrictions.  I don't know if I'm applying this correctly, but in most states, if not all, obstructing the free flow of interstate traffic is a violation of traffic laws.

North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 20. Motor Vehicles § 20-141.

(h)  No person shall operate a motor vehicle on the highway at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law;  provided, this provision shall not apply to farm tractors and other motor vehicles operating at reasonable speeds for the type and nature of such vehicles. 

Blocking other vehicles from using an open lane would not be justified as "reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.”  It's not safe, it is certainly not courteous, and it just doesn't make sense!  And here is the rub.  I can't tell you how many times since I moved to North Carolina that I have seen a sign for "Right/Left lane closed ahead", and I've driven ahead two or three miles only to find that there was no requirement to merge.  For weather, scheduling, whatever... there was no roadwork underway that day and there was a single line of slow traffic for literally no reason.

Full disclosure:  you may have noticed I indicated a relocation to North Carolina.  I was born and raised in Virginia but spent the thirty-five years prior to my 2015 move to North Carolina in Southern California.  So you can imagine I have an decidedly different view of traffic than most native or long term North Carolinians.  In Southern California when there is a traffic accident on a six or eight lane freeway requiring traffic to merge to get by, there is no choice.  You use all available lanes and courteously take turns to get by the choke (merge) point.  And the reason everyone automatically does that is that it works.  Otherwise the resulting back up for six lanes merging to one or two lanes would result in a back up of 10's of miles.  Using the 35% faster statistic.  An hour long backup in North Carolina where everyone merges as soon as they see the merge sign becomes 40 minutes or less using all available lanes and the zipper method.  A more likely half hour back up becomes 20 minutes or less.  And if everyone participates we all get there 10, 20, 30 minutes or more, sooner.

And remember, it is a choice.  A choice to be smart about how we use the interstate space available to us.  A choice to acknowledge the expertise and experience of the NCDOT traffic engineers and follow their recommendations.  And an opportunity for all of us to choose to get where we are going a little bit faster, safer, and even a little more courteously.

So I'm published, and as a "columnist" no less.  I'm temped to hammer out another column on "Gun Control".  I'll give you a hint.  I think both sides are doing it wrong!

Until next time!

R-

Another Year Winding Down!

I hope everyone is doing great as we're diving head first into the holiday season. Maureen, Liam and I are well into our fifth year here in Western North Carolina. We will be hosting a few friends for Thanksgiving this year which of course means Maureen and I are scrambling to put everything in order in time for dinner Thursday. I'm sure everything will come out fine, it always does. One potential inconvenience that didn't materialize, we're in the process of having the exterior doors, windows, trim and decks painted. The work was supposed to be started at the beginning of November and be finished by now. Best laid plans huh! As luck would have it our contractor was delayed getting started due to weather and delays on his previous job. However, he has also been delayed on our house due to rain so he didn't have an opportunity to mask everything off before the holiday week, so we won't be ducking under plastic to get in and out of the house thank goodness.

I took another drawing class and I've been producing the odd piece here and there. I had migrated to just pencil (gray scale), then did a few ink and pencil (still gray scale), and now I'm trying my hand at just pen and ink (black & white).

The Point Lookout Maryland Lighthouse (above) was a first effort. It's a bit more challenging than using pencil but I think I might like using just pen and ink. I've posted a few of my more recent efforts on my drawings page (select link). 

I've also been playing a bit more golf, at least while the weather was cooperating. I took a series of five one-hour golf lessons and I loved them. Joe was patient and persistent and although I was a bit stubborn, I think I got quite a bit out of the lessons. Having said that, I'm still on a bit of a learning curve but at least now I have something definitive to work on and I'm not just out there flailing around grooving bad habits. We'll see for sure this coming spring if it was worth the effort.

I've given up on the whole "Kayak Experiment!" I mentioned before that Maureen is just not interested in the whole "down in the waves, whitewater experience." And I couldn't get anyone from our new social group to take the plunge, figuratively speaking. So I just sold the Torrent. I did manage to make a profit with that transaction.

What is seeming to take off is my bowling alley drinking group. My text notification group is up to eleven. We're going almost once a week and getting a decent turnout. And, as I've always said, "you get good at what you do", and my bowling is improving as well!

213 is my second best score ever. When I bowled in a league with John O'Doherty I had a 214 once.

Speaking of bowling leagues, quite by accident, I just joined one. I was at the lanes waiting for my group and an over 55 league was in progress. I saw the league director hard at work on her books so I queried whether they could use a substitute bowler occasionally with the possibility of joining a team if they came up short sometime in the middle of their season. As it turned out a vacancy had just opened recently (read on to find out just how recently). I said fine, gave her my name and number so the team leader could call if he were interested. In short order I was tracked down by Harold and offered the spot (he didn't even ask about my bowling skills). 

After filling out the paperwork and signing up for the league I moseyed on down to meet the rest of the team. That is when I learned that the vacancy had been created that morning. Their teammate had passed away just after midnight. I'm just a little leery about the implications of that and I'm cautioning my drinking/bowling cohorts not to replace me in the league if something happens. I'm not usually superstitious but just in case!

I finally did it. I broke down and bought myself a backpack leaf blower. Short of cutting down a half acre of trees I'm never going to get ahead of the leaves that cover my yard all fall long. I've blown leaves and dragged piles of them into the surrounding woods twice so far this fall. I'll need to accomplish that task at least once more this year but at least I have the tool for the job now. I'll be dragging my new blower, and hopefully Liam to help, down to Richmond in early December to tackle mom's yard as well. 

I've managed to regain first place in my poker group and I'm clear by about eighteen points. There are about eleven more opportunities for someone to catch me this year and that's if we play on Christmas and New Year's eves.

Maureen is keeping herself busy. She claims to not have any trips planned for the next few months but I'm not so sure.  She spends a lot of time researching travel sites "just in case!"  Liam is doing what Liam does, which is mostly not communicating with us about what he's doing.  Liam has been working quite a bit and I'm due to pay his spring tuition.  Other than that we anticipate seeing him for Thanksgiving and Christmas but otherwise he usually has to have an excessive amount of dirty laundry before he is motivated to make the drive home.

As you can see I didn't have a great deal to share, I just wanted to take this opportunity to drop a note and wish all of our friends a wonderful holiday season!

They're predicting a more severe winter for us this year.  This might be me in a month or so.  

Thank goodness for my kindle and fireplace!

Best wishes to everyone and enjoy your holiday season!

Rick

In My Own Defense, I Was Left Unsupervised!

So the question is; Did I really get into any trouble while Maureen was on her trip?

I'm afraid I have to confess to a "missed opportunity!" The potential for trouble was there but I don't actually think I reached my potential. If you read my last blog entry then you know about my "Piedra" kayaking adventure. Well I sold the Piedra for exactly what I paid for it so no harm no foul. What I decided I needed was one of the rare sit-on-top kayaks designed for whitewater. I arranged to rent a Dagger Torrent 10.0 to try before I buy, but the trip with my meetup group that weekend canceled. Did I mention my new meetup group? It's titled; "Asheville Old Farts Whitewater Canoeing Meetup." I also just joined the "WNC Kayaking Meetup." Anyway, I was not able to demo the Torrent, not that it mattered that much because there just aren't that many sit-on-tops designed for whitewater and apparently the experienced (used) ones out there just don't come up for sale on Craigslist or the other resale markets out there. And when they do they are snapped up almost right away every time if their condition is decent at all. 

But wait! As luck would have it, in the middle of the week a Dagger Torrent 10 popped up on the WNC Gear Swap Facebook page.   And this is where being retired has it's advantages. The kayak was located in southern Kentucky. The owner agreed to meet me part way, and because I could travel any time, even with all the posted interest in this kayak, I was able to stake my claim and meet them early during a weekday around their work schedule. So now I'm the proud owner of an "Experienced" Dagger Torrent 10. 

I'm still trying to workout an opportunity to try it out. Neither of my Meetup groups have an event pending. 

The ten days I spent in Richmond while Maureen was on her trip, aside from my minor kayak adventure (see my last blog entry for details) was primarily to have some quality time with my mom on and around Mother's Day. So how much trouble could I get in with my mom? You might be surprised. Of all my immediate family, my mom is the most likely to be involved in a "Pub Crawl" with me. Seriously! But once again, a potential missed opportunity. I spent Mother's Day weekend working a craft show with my mother and sister. My mother, sisters, and sister-in-law, have a "Craft Show Enterprise" for lack of a better description. On any given weekend they might be found at a local craft show or farmers market peddling their wares. Their stated goal: The primary objective of Hootie Mama & Company is to ensure that none of our respective craft rooms are featured on an episode of "Hoarding: Buried Alive"! (A link to the Hootie Mama Facebook Page) If you are interested in where the name "Hootie Mama" came from, on the Facebook page choose "About" and then "Who We Are." Anyway, while I was in Richmond I completed a number of pencil drawings about Virginia landmarks for the show that are now posted on my drawings page. I even sold my colored pencil drawing of the sea turtle.

Other than that, everything else was fairly routine. There are a group of us that bowl once or twice a month. That originated out of our wives getting together regularly and leaving us behind. We needed an excuse to get together for a beer without them (turnabout is fair play) every once in a while. If I can plagiarize a bit; We're beer drinkers with a bowling problem! I've also used Maureen's time away to work on my golf game. I was an 18 handicap "BL" (before Liam). It turns out golf is a perishable skill, definitely not like riding a bike. However my short game wasn't bad when I started up again and that's improving along with my full swing. My scores are headed in the right direction and last time out I was nailing my irons, even the 4 and 5 irons (I've been struggling with my longer irons a little). 

I'm taking a couple of Poker themed classes at the OLLI Center this summer. I slipped into second place with my poker group, worked myself back into the lead, then missed a couple of tournaments so I'm a few points back in second again. But it's only June and the December final tally is a ways off.

I almost forgot to mention, I did spend a few days modifying the back of my truck.  Just a simple storage solution to a perceived problem (along with too many shop tools and material laying around and too much time on my hands).

I think Maureen will admit that the house was not a complete disaster when she returned.  Just to illustrate that everything I learned from My Uncle John was not always a great idea, if not brilliant.  Uncle John pointed out that instead of vaccuming your car, if you have a good air compressor with a high volumn air nozzle, you can blow out the interior of your vehicle with the compressor.  And of course he encouraged me to explore whether that little cleaning hack would work on the house as well.  It turns out using the air compressor was quite effective.  And my electric leaf blower did a great job cleaning off flat surfaces and clearing out behind furniture (just kidding)!  I never quite got around to dusting while Maureen was gone but everything else got straightened, cleaned, vaccumed, etc... at least once. All-in-all, it might be that I don't need the same level of supervision that I used to.

Na, you're right, that can't be it!

That's all for this update! Until next time... Try to be as good as me (like that's possible)!

😉

R

PS  I do a lot of cutting and pasting when writing my blog.  I mistyped "Hootie Mama" once, then copied and pasted it a couple of times.  Imagine how much fun we would have had if I left it as............."Hottie Mama"!

Stand By For Another: "Hold My Beer And Watch This" Entry!

First things first.  I recently had the opportunity to visit my friends back in Southern California.  Maureen has taken a couple of "Camino" trips without me and has a trip to Ireland with her sisters planned for July on which I'm also not going.  I believe she was feeling guilty and so when, on a lark, I brought up traveling to SoCal for our Corona Host Lions Poker Tournament fundraiser she jumped at the chance to relieve her conscience and almost became insistent that I go.  Turns out I was able to practically steal the airplane ticket and if you read my previous blog entry, my "couch surfing" plan went pretty much as described.  Only once did I sleep in the same bed two nights in a row and only one other time did I stay more than one night with someone (not in a row).  I spent very little on food and only occasionally had to buy my own beer.  I took the MetroLink a few times to get back and forth between Anaheim and Corona and I had no agenda and only had to be at a place certain a couple of times so I was pretty free to roam the town.  I had a great day riding along with a few of the inspection staff from Corona, now the inspection staff of Jurupa Valley.  I had several opportunities to have quiet intimate discussions with old friends.  And I played poker in the tournament; badly.  Maybe I didn't get cards when I needed them but I played a few "second best hands" too far I'm sure.  All-in-all it was a great trip and I'll have to look for an excuse to do it again before too long.

For those of you not following Maureen's Facebook entries, she is on Day 14 (as of 5/6) of her Portuguese Camino walk.  Maureen and her friend Barb have made it to Cortica Portugal.  Below is a map of her route.  Cortica is not shown but it is between Tomar and Alvaiazere.  They plan on a relatively easy day today and should end up spending the evening/night in Ansiao.

I think the entire trip is planned for 44 days (including travel and off days) so Maureen is a little better than 1/4 the way through.

Now, "Hold my beer and watch this!"

So early on with our move I'd described our trips kayaking down the French Broad and how much I wanted my own kayak so I could go any time the mood struck.  Those were sit-on-top flat water river runners.  I also gave a synopsis of my "raft guide school dropout" experience.  One of the things I was able to do during my raft guide course was take a "Ducky" (inflatable kayak) through the rapids on the French Broad a couple of times.  Sitting down in a small personal boat is a very different experience from sitting up on the edge of a 6 or 8 person raft.  That experience planted the seed that I just might like kayaking the rapids even more.  You just can't get any closer to the water than riding a wave train in a kayak.  You are usually being doused with every wave and the tips of the waves in an active wave train are frequently over your head when you are in a kayak.  So with Maureen out of the country I got the bright idea that this would be a good time to dip my toe in so to speak.

Being the analytic that I am I looked at all of the kayaks on CraigsList and researched the descriptions and reviews for all of the available craft in my price range.  I bought a nice little used Dagger, Piedra with a little wear on the bottom but otherwise in good shape.  I signed up for a two day Intro to Kayaking class on the James River with RVA Paddlesports.  I'm in Richmond visiting my mom for Mother's Day and found this course kind of by accident, it was half the price of the NOC course southwest of Asheville, and I was able to leave Buddy at mom's house so dog sitting was handled.  The class was Saturday and Sunday 8-12.  

I show up Saturday and there are seven students.  I could spend half my blog describing how none of the other six even remotely appeared to have the disposition to spend anytime upside down in a kayak.  As you will see soon, I spent quite a bit more of my time than I wanted in just that orientation.  I was the oldest there and I'm sure they had a similar assessment about me.  Before we got on the river, in order to be able to use a skirt with your kayak, which is essential to keeping water out of your boat in the rapids, each participant was required to demonstrate a "wet exit" from their kayak.  Of the seven of us only two agreed to even make the attempt, the youngest (a thirteen year old boy) and the oldest, myself.  A wet exit is simple.  You are in your kayak, legs wedged under braces, and a skirt tightly secured around a rim with a bungee cord about a size and a half too small.  The instructor rolls the boat over so you are upside down in the water.  You then have to free your legs and pull/release the bungee, exit the kayak under water and come to the surface.  The kid goes first.  The instructor flips the kayak and the kid panics and taps out without even trying to exit the kayak.  My turn.  The instructor Loren, a cute young woman, early twenties if that, maybe 98 lbs soaking wet, holding the front of my kayak looks into this 170 lbs old man's eyes with cautious concern and asks, "are you ready?"  I'm like; "let's rock-n-roll" (I actually said that) and then I flipped the kayak myself.  Less than 3 seconds later I popped up beside the kayak as the only participant allowed to use a skirt (bet you never thought you'd here me say I was happy about wearing a skirt).  

It turns out, despite all of the reviews and Dagger's declaration that the Piedra is suited for beginners, it's one of the most difficult kayaks to learn on.  Loren informed me that "if you can learn on that boat, you'll be an expert on any other kayak you get in."  I said; "yes, it's just like my frog theory."  (Huh?)  My frog theory is; "if you eat a frog first thing in the morning, nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day!"  That was my experience with my Dagger.  It was like trying to stay on top of a 55 gallon drum in the middle of the river.  Like one of the lumber jacks on a log but you don't even have the advantage of running on the barrel as it rotates under you.  You just sit on top and take what you get.  Actually, the kayak worked great in the rapids.  It's nimbleness, round bottom, and tapered stern were designed for just that.  Where I had problems was after exiting the rapids.  Imagine riding a motorcycle at 50 mph.  With the forward momentum the motorcycle practically keeps itself upright.  Now try riding it at 5 mph.  The motorcycle is very unstable and at the slow speeds you have to be more concerned with loosing control and toppling over.  That was how I felt in the Piedra.

On the first day I only rolled upside down once on the river. It was a little embarrassing because I had just navigated the rapids fine and was just paddling around waiting when all of a sudden, for no apparent reason, I'm tipping beyond the point of no return.  I executed my "wet exit" perfectly. However, I was the second one through the rapid and both of the instructors were still up top with the rest of the group. I had the presence of mind to hold onto my paddle when I exited and when I came to the surface I was only about 5 feet from my boat. The shore on the other hand was roughly 40 yards away. So in one hand I had the paddle and using the same hand grabbed the front handle on the boat which was still upside down. With my feet and other arm I started my lifeguard side swim to the shore across the current. I'm a reasonably strong swimmer but I have to admit, with the drag of the paddle and boat, that was a tough swim. The rest of the morning was uneventful (which means I managed to stay in the boat). We ran a few more rapids and Loren began the process of showing me how to execute a roll (when you tip over there is a method for recovering, righting yourself and your boat without having to exit and climb back in).

Day two:  Only three of the initial seven signed up for the two day course.  And of the three only two of us showed on day two.  And of course, I'm the only one they can begin showing the neat kayak maneuvers to because I'm the only one with the skirt to keep the water out of my kayak.  Because of overnight rain the river had swollen a bit and even though we were to run the same stretch of river it turned out to be a different run.  One of the things we worked on was aggressively entering an eddy behind obstacles (rocks, bridge supports, etc...) after a rapid.  With almost every attempt, my 55 gallon barrel of a kayak rolled me off.  I was in the river at least four, maybe five times.  That may not sound like much but swimming a swift moving river is a lot different from swimming laps in a pool.  By that last time out of the boat I was exhausted.  Again, my kayak ran all of the rapids like a champ.  But every time I tried to cross an eddy current to enter calm water over I went.  Day two our instructor was Jacob.  He was patient with my repeated dunkings, helping me retrieve my kayak and getting me situated for the next run.  Jacob also spent a good deal of time helping me progress through the rolling routine although I'll need considerable more practice before I can take that skill to the river.  

I still like running the rapids best down close in the water (but while still in the boat).  However, I'm better suited for a floating brick, not a 55 gallon barrel.  Not aircraft carrier stable but maybe more destroyer class stable.  Something that can take a near miss from a shore battery and remain upright.  I think my Dagger Piedra is going back on CraigsList to be replaced with something more suitable for my age and skills.  For now, I'll take back that beer and start my research again a little wiser for the wear.

Yeah, that's not me, just a stock photo from RVA Paddlesports website. Maybe next time!

Until next time, I hope everyone is having as much fun as I am.

Rick

WANTED: Couch Surfing Opportunities

Well this year I'm going to do it!  Every year since I moved to Western North Carolina, John Dalzell calls and invites me to the Corona Host Lions Poker tournament and then within a week or so Leroy Fleming calls and tries to sell me a ticket to the event.  And of course being 2,500 miles away, practically with my toes in the Atlantic, I can't just drop everything and travel all that way to play poker with my friends for an afternoon.  However, this year I didn't get the call!  No invitation to the tournament, no attempt to sell me a ticket that I can't use.  I've even stopped receiving the Corona Host Lions meeting notices and recaps and I am still an Associate member of that club.  Talk about being forgotten and feeling irrelevant.  

I'll show them!

I have my airline flight booked and my poker entry ticket reserved.  Now I need to fuss with all of those other pesky details like where to stay and how to get around.  I figure my best opportunity to remind all my friends that I'm still out here is to mooch off everyone.  Not too much that would wear out my welcome but just enough to remind them all that I'm still kicking.  I know I still have a couple of friends left in California because I've already received an offer or two for a place to stay for the night. I'm arriving Tuesday evening, April 9th, and flying out Tuesday, April 16th.  My goal is to see if enough people remember me so I don't have to impose on anyone more than a night at a time.  The phone (text) lines are open.

This falls into the "Be Careful What You Wish For" category.  I've still yet to play anyone on the Racquetball Challenge Ladder at the Y, however I started a Racquetball Meet-Up group on-line and I have my phone number posted all over the antechamber outside the racquetball courts.  I've received a number of calls and requests to play and the number of players that have beat me is up to 3, although I did win 1 of 3 from one of those players.  John O'Doherty asked me to be ready to play when I arrive in SoCal.  I replied that I'm traveling light and could not bring my racquetball gear, but I may have to find a way!

As it turns out, the "heavier than average snow fall this winter" was just about all done as of my last posting.  We got a couple of dustings after that but it's been all rain all winter for us this year.  I understand it's been about the same in SoCal.  We have a friend who's house has an addition that blocks the drainage down one side of her yard.  With all the rain we've had her back yard literally had 4 to 6 inches of standing water almost all the time.  Liam was getting short of spending money for the year so he and I took on the project.  The ground was so wet it was relatively easy digging but it was still about 160 feet of trench to dig to get the water out to the front.  Liam and I started at opposite ends and worked to the middle.  When we got about 6 or 7 feet apart I stopped and said to Liam; "You know, my dad had his first heart attack in the winter digging a trench to drain water away from his house.  My dad was 59 at the time.  Thank goodness I'm only 58!"

Maureen had expressed to me a number of times in the past that she was interested in taking up archery.  Two Christmases ago I gave her a nice appropriately sized compound bow.  However, with all the changes in our lives going on at the time and chasing Liam around the southeast every weekend, we never got the opportunity to actually pursue the sport.  So for our anniversary this year I gave us both an archery lesson.  And for Valentines' Day I built an archery range in our back yard.  It's nice to have an acre to move around in back there.

My backstop is straw bails wrapped with a couple of heavy duty tarps and tied off.

It's far enough back that we can shoot out to 40+ yards if we want.

While we were waiting for an opportunity to actually use the range with all the rain we've been having I went a little nuts with some PVC pipe and camouflage duct tape.

Above is an archery shooting station and right is a target stand.  They are both still on the porch because when I took these pictures it was still raining like mad.  

Here's how stir crazy I was getting with all the rain.  

I had some 1" PVC left over so I purchased some extra fittings and made a "Buddy Tree", for lack of a better description, to hold all of the dog stuff always laying about near the door.

And last, I'm working on a new (for me) art form.  My mom needed something to comply with the theme of a craft show she is entering in April.  The craft show is called the "Daffodil Festival."  

I'm attempting to carve Daffodils into a linoleum block and produce a series of block prints with water color that she can display and sell.  I started late and I'm not sure how well they will come out since this is my first foray into this particular form of "mixed-media", but if it turns out at all I'll share some of the finished product in a future posting.

But let's not get distracted.  The whole purpose of my blog this time is to advertise my intent to impose of any friends I may have remaining in SoCal. 

Hope to see you soon!  😉

Rick

Happy Holidays Everyone!

I know it has been quite a while since my last update.  And, although things around here generally tend to be interesting they are not always exciting, at least not without some embellishment.  Having acknowledged that, if this entry is a little long, I'm going to try and catch you all up.  This is actually a number of drafts I put together during the year and did not publish along with some more recent updates.

First, Maureen, Liam and I hope this finds everyone happy, doing well, and enjoying the holidays!

Maureen had an opportunity to walk with a friend a portion of the "El camino de Santiago", an ancient walking pilgrimage through Spain.  They completed the portion from Santiago to the sea.  If you've ever seen "The Way" (2010) with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, it's the section Martin Sheen walked at the very end of the movie after the main pilgrimage was finished.  It was over 100 kilometers and it took them a little less than a week.  Maureen had such a good time she wants to do the main camino that starts in France and crosses most of Spain.  It's over 800 kilometers (500 miles) and takes 4 to 5 weeks.

We have some very good friends that we've met and Maureen was explaining how she was preparing for this more than month long trek through Spain and how I was not interested in the least in going.  Our friends did not quite know how to express their concern that there might be some issue between Maureen and I that she would consider spending that much time away and that I would be OK with it.  I would like to assure them and anyone else concerned that the only potential for marital discord would be if Maureen and I vacation across Spain and she makes me walk the whole way (well, unless there are a number of golf courses laid end-to-end involved).  I'm a "get there and enjoy" kind of vacationer.  I will fly, go by rail or bus, and possibly even bicycle, anything but walk every day all day.

Abs Are Made In The Kitchen.  At least that's the theory promoted by one of Maureen's skinny friends.  My Abs? They were made at the microbrewery!  I do an hour on the recumbent bike 5 or 6 days a week and lift weights at least two days a week.  I've really made an effort to eat right most of the time.  I cut about a half acre of lawn every week with a push mower and have started walking 18 at the Asheville Municipal Golf Course (the back 9 is truly a mountainous course) hopefully at least once a week.  And, I'm back into Racquetball, playing about twice a week.  You would think with all that exercise and conscientious eating I would be sporting a bikini figure to die for.  Not so much!  I still maintain a 32" waist but I'm not a "flat belly" by any stretch of the imagination.  I appear to be a victim of my environment.  The only six-pack that I'm sporting is the Sierra Nevada Kellerwies (pronounced "keller-vice") in our fridge.   Maureen and I are out at least every Friday night as well as multiple special events during the summer months.  One of our favorites is the "Main Street Music" festival in downtown Weaverville.  And of course I always make a point of supporting our local businesses, especially Blue Mountain Pizza who sponsors the beer concession.  After years in Corona and the inland empire which always seemed to be devoid of readily accessible entertainment opportunities we now have to prioritize what events we want to attend.  And although Asheville and the surrounding areas are a "resort" destination and tend to get crowded especially during the summer months it's nothing like the sparse events in southern California.  I suppose I could just drink more water?  Yea, like that's going to happen!

I hit another bench mark with my weight lifting.   Although I've always been somewhat active; playing, coaching, and refereeing soccer; playing racquetball, running, golf, etc... Most of that just required good conditioning and some leg strength.  I've never had great upper body strength.  I purchased a set of Bowflex 1090 dumbbells with my retirement gift.  When I started my latest exercise craze in earnest I had three goals:

1. Bench press 150 lbs (not just once, but multiple times as part of my workout.)
2. Bench press my weight (an important part of that was getting my weight below the 2-90 lbs dumbbells weight set which I was able to do early on.)
3. Bench press the entire 180 lbs set (not just once, but multiple times as part of my workout.)

A couple of months ago I hit the first goal.  If any of you that don't or haven't lifted weights for strength training and don't think 150 lbs is that much, try it (but don't hurt yourself).  You'll be surprised.  Anyway, I told Maureen instead of washboard abs she's going to have to settle for the nice guns (biceps) I'm working on.  On to the next goal.

I mentioned I'm starting to play some golf too.  I've rationalized that I spent the last 15 years or so chasing Liam around to all of his event venues.  Now that he's not competing anymore I can start doing some of my old recreational hobbies again for myself.  Back in the day I was able to maintain an 18 handicap (bogie golf).  I've learned a stark lessen in the past couple of months.  Golf is a perishable skill.  It's been ugly!  The "I couldn't hit water if I fell out of a boat" analogy wouldn't be too far off the mark.  I joined the MGA (Mediocre Golf Association) Tour.  On the back of my membership card it give me permission to practice because; "It's not going to matter anyway!"  That's how I feel after my last couple of attempts.  I console myself with the fact that I started out a hundred years ago shooting over 100 and over time managed to become an 18 handicap.  My last time out I hit 100 on the number, which is an improvement.

"If it's true it ain't bragging!"  Dick Haley

I looked up the definition:

 brag·ging/noun
1. excessively proud and boastful talk about one's achievements or possessions.

So Dick, even though the following is true, the next few paragraphs are, in fact, bragging!

My renewed interest in Racquetball shows much more promise than my golf game.  In Southern California, the mecca of racquetball, I was just mediocre.  I learned from some very good players early on but never achieved their level of play.  Here in Western North Carolina (not a mecca for racquetball), as of this writing, at the local YMCA, I've yet to play anyone who even holds the racket correctly and about 6 is the most points scored against me so far in any one game.  There is a "Challenge Ladder" posted outside the racquetball courts which I'm working my way up but I've had issues scheduling matches during the holidays.  I'll keep at it and let you know how I do.

PS I got a new racquetball racket for Christmas!

In the past I've also shared my involvement with a poker group here in Asheville.  Through PokerStars.net's "Home Game" feature we play weekly for points.  Season 6 (2017) I joined the group late at the end of February and had a few bad months while learning the ropes but still managed to finish 4th for the year.  The goal is always to be number one, right?  

This year, Season 7, I'm killing it.  With two scheduled poker tournaments to go (you can earn 3 to 6 points per tournament for a win depending on the number of entrants) I'm first with a commanding lead.  (Scarecrow111 is my moniker.)

I'm clear of the second place player by over 60 points.  I've averaged almost 1.5 points per game, am in the money 47% of the time, have knocked out over 180 opponents, and have won 20% of the tournaments I've entered, all group bests for the year.  I'm looking forward to a snowy 2019 winter (there are always more tournaments scheduled during bad weather) and Season 8!

It is predicted that we will have a heavier than average snow fall this winter.  We've already had a couple of snow falls, one was 8 inches of "heart attack snow."  For the Southern Californians who've never heard that phrase, that's snow where the bottom two inches or so is wet, heavy, slushy snow covered by the nice white stuff.  Heart attack snow got it's name because old guys like me would get heart attacks from trying to shovel the heavy, immobile stuff.  Once I figured out what it was I had no trouble letting it sit for a few days and let the sun do the heavy lifting.  

If you didn't already know, Liam changed his major last year to computer sciences.  Pretty much all of his general ed classes are done so he is having a challenge scheduling his major courses with the prerequisites and availability so his graduation date will be stretched out a bit.  No worries.  Liam's grades are great and Western Carolina lowered their tuition starting January 2018, to $500 per semester.  Liam and I are bowling almost once a week and he's even allowing me to show him how to play racquetball (sort of).  With his reach, athletic ability, youth and stamina Liam should be able to give me a game if not beat me in short order.  Of course that would require that he listen to me and focus a bit so I'm probably safe for a while.  

Liam finally got an opportunity to see a professional football game live.  The Riley's treated him to the Cleveland vs Cincinnati game when we were visiting with an all day tailgate party and a Cleveland win!   We did our traditional Thanksgiving with my family in Richmond and Christmas with Maureen's family in Cleveland again this year.  They were very nice visits and everyone is doing well and enjoying the holidays!

That should catch everyone up from between April and now.  Again, Maureen, Liam and I would like to wish everyone a joyous holiday season, we hope you all had a very merry Christmas, and we wish everyone the very best New Year!


Rick

  

"Every Child Is An Artist. The Problem Is How To Remain An Artist Once We Grow Up." - Pablo Picasso

Back in early February I shared that I was taking an oil painting class.  I used to paint in oils when I was a teenager and did a number of paintings back in the day.  I completed my project for my current class but what I learned was I was not as interested in getting back into oil painting as I thought I might.

My project came out OK, I just didn't enjoy the process of painting with oils.

Currently I'm taking two drawing classes and I am enjoying those classes much better.  One class is titled; "Anyone Can Draw."  The other is titled; "Drawing Wildlife."  The first class is your basic drawing instruction in shapes, tones, shading, detailing, etc...  In the second class, "Drawing Wildlife", the instructor is having us draw using a grid method in order to help us with perspective and spacial relationships.  I actually was taught that method in a high school art class many decades ago, so I was somewhat familiar. 

I have to say I'm having a considerable amount of success using this method and am really enjoying completing my projects in this class. 

The "Drawing Wildlife"

instructor has forbidden us using pictures of our pets as subjects in his class but I got a picture of Buddy romping with the neighbor's dog Basker, and couldn't resist sketching it.

The rest of this blog entry I'm going to describe and show the process of drawing with a grid system.  It is so easy it may encourage the child artist in each of you to give it a shot.

First, you need to draw a grid very lightly (you will be erasing the grid at a later time) on your drawing paper.

  (If you zoom in you can barely see my light pencil grid lines on the drawing paper.) 

I like using 1" squares.  The blue painters tape on the borders is to contain your drawing and coloring, either with colored pencils or water colors at the end.  Next, draw the same number of squares on a copy of the picture that you will be drawing.  If the picture is smaller you can scan and enlarge it to your target size or just draw smaller squares on the image so the number of squares on your image matches the number of squares on your drawing paper.

If you are using a computer image you can use Word to apply a grid (I insert a table with 1" squares over the image) and print the picture with the grid already in place.  Then, start drawing.

Draw the image in pencil lightly either by transferring the images in each of the individual squares or by using the squares to identify points where the image crosses the horizontal and vertical lines of your grid and then connect the dots. 

The next step is to ink in all of your pencil lines.  Once you have the image inked in you erase all of the grid lines and stray pencil marks not covered with ink.

At this point, if you have any shaded areas or thicker black lines that need to be filled in like the example drawing I'm using, ink those larger/thicker areas in at this time.

To color my drawings I'm currently using colored pencils but if you prefer, water color paint works just as well.  One thing I learned in this class that is producing good results is to layer my colored pencils, light to dark.  For this cactus, I colored the whole thing yellow.  Then I started highlighting with orange followed by a lighter shade of brown and then a darker shade of brown.  I think the cactus came out the best in this picture.  For the background in the example above I just have the lightest shade for each of the areas.

Finally I use multiple colored pencils to layer in the background, light to dark in each of the areas, followed by highlights using the darkest colors for each area and shade of color.  Color the background all the way to the painters tape.  Carefully remove the painters tape and you have defined boundaries for your picture. 

I'm not as happy with the background as I am with the cactus but the cactus is the focus of the drawing. Here are a few of my other pictures all done using this method.  (If you zoom in you can see my light pencil grid lines on the drawings before they are erased and the picture is colored in.)

  

For any of you that draw, used to draw, or would like to take up drawing, I hope this information is useful and maybe even inspires that inner child artist lurking inside somewhere. 

This link is to a page where I have all my drawings from both of my drawing classes to date saved if you are interested.  (The drawings on the linked page are in chronological order from the first of each class to the present in order to represent my progress over time.)

About overlooked talent, my dad was always a big fan of the Roadrunner Cartoons and I would like to leave you with this last thought!

Have a great day!

Rick