Energy

1. Personal

2. Solar

3. And that derived from the earth, used by man.

1. Most days I'm pretty energetic. Maybe 1 down-day a week. If I get up the courage when I'm lazy to move around, I start feeling better. Late in the day like 6 pm I'm tired. Retirement can be hard. Get up anytime, do anything I want 7 days a week. 7 Saturdays a week can be rough. Too much to do to go back to the "W" thing. Even forgetting how to spell it.

2. Solar, been tough in that area too. Was 80 today, A/C in the car was on. 76 in the house due to non-draped windows. Sweat in the afternoon. Sweaters in the morning. In a few weeks will be turning on the house cooler. Tough life someone has to..!

3. Nat. gas, electric bills will be going down even more with daylight increasing and many clear days. Heat comes on a few times in the AM only. Using nothing but spiral fluorescent lights, turning off all non-essential power, electric bill will go down, not that it was bad before. Both were <$50 each last month.

4. Energy wasters. Few. Life is great, stress down. Now if the joints would moved pain free.

Photo is aerial view of Asian dust storm.

I was right!

Wed and Thur. were better.

Found just a blown fuse on the BMW radio.

Investor called back finally, talked for on hour about the market, rates, fees, investing. He was right but I was righter. Why keep money where the principle is declining and rates are not competitive? The stock market and economy are in a recession. I've sold everything and what is invested is going up, NOT down.

Went for a ride to Sierra Blanca, but before leaving found I had a flat on the Yamaha. One of my own Allen wrenches was sticking out. Charlie Card helped me fix it.

The BMW, was missing the inspection sticker so I could not take it either, back to the dealer tomorrow. Tomorrow the shed gets moved also.

Weather almost 80 today, and through the weekend. We are healthy but can't hardly sleep without pills. At least we aren't doing the "W" thing.

Yes, things are better.

Photo is open pit AZ mine.

There good days and some not so...

First thing I did was burn the heck out of my mouth this morning on way too long microwaved hot coffee. Went to Lowes and Home Depot and could not find all the electrical parts I wanted. I just wanted a 120v buzzer or bell. Simple item, they don't sell anymore. Nor at Radio Shack. Made up a electrical cord so my Amp meter will work. But it only does sometimes.

Then decided I wanted to adapt a backpack on the BMW so we can carry more for a trip. That didn't go tot bad. Have to modify a little more.

Linda couldn't make a deposit at her affiliate bank, so we decided to drive the BMW downtown to her bank. She went inside and saw they have CD's at 5.2%. Our investor only has them at 3.5%. Came home and called a VP and only got a message machine and no call back, asking them why they don't offer higher rates.

As we went by the Kawasaki dealer I remembered my newest bike still is not titled because they didn't do all the paperwork. I had to call them, they were suppose to call me. So for the 5th time I went back. Got there and their computer wasn't working right. Finally he entered the info. It would not take it because they gave me the wrong VIN. Reenter everything again. Service Manager hands me the paperwork like I'm suppose to go get it titled, but I've paid them $50 to do it. So I walk it up the the salesperson, so it gets done right. But they still will be another week.

Came home and called bike insurance co. because policy has wrong VIN # too.

Going to the bank I plugged in the intercom on the BMW. Again it does not work. I worked on it. After an hour I give up and threw it away. Then the radio on the bike won't work!!

Linda calls me in for dinner and a piece of chicken I picked has no meat on it. Threw it away.

I GIVE UP and went and took a shower.

Tomorrow has got to be better.

Photo is Isle Royale in Lake Superior

Warm but windy

Spring is here, the trees are budding. The weeds are coming up and back into to 60-70's. But so will the wind. Sat's seem to be the worst. Last weekend rain & cold (50's) and windy, this week 35mph winds.

Registered/titled the BMW. I need to say a lot of praying on this unreliable money pit. It's so top heavy I did not to take it in the wind today. Besides if it goes down it will be thousands to fix it versus a couple hundred for the Yamaha or Suzuki.

I helped Ken and Kay move out yesterday. They are moving to San Antonio. Ken said I could have his 9'W x 12'L, 9' inside, 6' high door metal shed. It has a floor and the top and sides are pinned together. Just got to knock it down and bring it here. But before that I have to knock our old shed down first. Giving it away. My old 8' x 9' shed is rusting cheap thin metal with a 5' high noisy door and only 6' on the middle inside. Can't tell you how many times it has hit my head. Even all the bike windshields I had to make so they will drop down to clear that low door. Another problem solved!

Look at the photo closely, especially the handlebars and front wheel.

California Trip

Left last Sunday, got there, 700 miles, in 10 hours. Returned on Sat., took 11 hours but we stopped for lunch. Averaging 70 mph going and 63 returning is good. Most speed limits are 70-75, so going 80 is easy. Saw very few cops. The Honda Accord runs great and a little better with 12,000 miles on it now. Need to work on the hard seats.

Well for the reason we went. To help Carolyn with her 2nd knee replacement. It is a female joint, didn't know there was a difference. She is walking a fair amount, but her strength limits how much she can do. Hope she can get off the pain medication soon. Saw Dorothy and Jim, but Dorothy left before Jim came, so Linda and I helped mostly with the transition.

Driving is a pain, too far, too much traffic, must have past several hundred semi's. They far out number the private vehicles. We left a day later then we wanted to, due to rain from Blythe to El Paso Friday. Had a tail wind going both directions and car got 29.7 mpg!

Had many very good meals and of course ate too much.

Got back and I had to go riding today and work on bikes. NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

Money Pit #1

Well after several conversions with other BMW owners the loud clunk occuring in the 1st few feet of travel was suppose to be there. The ABS system was doing a diagnostic check. But then today, no noise, MEANING the ABS is not working again! Not only is it a money pit but an unreliable one. When spring comes I'm probably going to try selling it again.

I've got 3 other more reliable bikes so to heck with it! Cheaper too.

Pic is my presents from my 60th birthday party. At least that was successful and fun.

NO MORE expensive vehicles. KISS is my motto. Less to break and repair. I like working on them but repeating the same exercise is ridiculous. Isn't that the definition of Insanity?

Weather to be in the 60's for the next few days. Feb. is usually when the trees start budding after lossing their leaves in Dec. Love short winters.

Off the see Carolyn, Bill, Dorothy and Jim soon.

Happy Birthday to me!

My 60th Birthday, How Come All Ready?

My party went very well today about 25 showed up and I got some great gag and decent gifts. 2 fine shirts, over $100 in coins, M/C cleaner, a Golf clock, Christain book, 2 fun T-shirts, cashews, chocolate, pecans, M/C book (in spanish!), and many funny and serious cards.

The mind's age and body's age don't agree with each other. But of all my friends I think I can around, get up and down better than most. Dispite my 48 aches, pains and minor physical defects 6 days out of 7 I feel pretty good. Too bad sleeping gets worse the older we get. I haven't been to a doctor (thank you, Lord) in a long time.

Linda is doing better this week, 95% over her bronchitis. It was 66 degrees here today, probably one of my warmest birthdays ever! I always wanted a summer birthday.

Tomorrow it's back to the Salt Mine. And the money pit. Riding the BMW Friday I found 3 more broken items. If I can ever get it running right I might register it.

Like the picture above onto a new decade for me.