Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Not Feeling It
So the Government has shut down. Now what? As some of you know I work for the G'mint. I'm considered essential and what this means is if the budget thing isn't settled by the next pay period I'm working for an IOU from Uncle Sam. That's reassuring. I'm also not allowed to take leave which is convenient since we were leaving for Ohio this Saturday (or I should say we were leaving for Ohio). Every day in every way I can't believe people want more government involvement in their lives. And to the people that voted for Obama again, I would like to say thanks.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
The Week!
I thought I would write a separate entry for the rest of the week, I don't want to end it on a sad note. The rest of the week has been pretty good. I've been riding the new bike all week and it's been a blast. It's got 444 miles on the odometer now. I'm looking forward to taking a ride tomorrow up to Deckers. It's suppose to be 67 and rainy so we'll have to see. Might be worth going just to get some pictures. The day we picked up the bike I rode it over Monarch Pass. They were filming some scenes for the new Fast and Furious movie on the pass. All we saw was a black bus with the rear end blown out and a bunch of camera cars and booms. I did get a thumbs up from one of the crew for the bike which was neat.
We're watching Sons of Anarchy these days. We've been watching since the first season. It's kind of going down hill the last few seasons and it's becoming a parody of itself. Hell on Wheels is starting to lose Lisa, I'm hanging on and the last couple of episodes are getting better. Lisa is upset that Cullen Bohannon hasn't shot anyone in the last three or so episodes.
Everyone is waiting to see if Congress will actually shut government down or not. Kerry signed the U.N. Gun Treaty and is stirring everyone up. I don't discuss politics too much on here anymore because I tend to get worked up. I'm reading Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg. It's pretty chilling to read the comparisons of the Wilson administration, Mussolini's Italy and Nazi Germany as compared to today. If you judge the book by the title you would be led to believe that it's an inflammatory criticism based along the same lines as all the name calling in the press these days. It actually lays out the history of fascism which is probably the most misunderstood and political movement and most abused insult of all times.
And then there's Obamacare. I guess we'll see.
I've been rediscovering Flickr. I also started hanging out on the FZ1 forums (US and International) again and found the Adventure Rider forum which is chock full of great photos and riding stories. I am getting some great ideas for the Mid-Life Crisis Tour (as it's unofficially come to be known). I'm looking at camping gear now. The idea of sleeping in a tent during large parts of the trip appeals to me.
So that's a small part of the week. Oh almost forgot, the new bike...
We're watching Sons of Anarchy these days. We've been watching since the first season. It's kind of going down hill the last few seasons and it's becoming a parody of itself. Hell on Wheels is starting to lose Lisa, I'm hanging on and the last couple of episodes are getting better. Lisa is upset that Cullen Bohannon hasn't shot anyone in the last three or so episodes.
Everyone is waiting to see if Congress will actually shut government down or not. Kerry signed the U.N. Gun Treaty and is stirring everyone up. I don't discuss politics too much on here anymore because I tend to get worked up. I'm reading Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg. It's pretty chilling to read the comparisons of the Wilson administration, Mussolini's Italy and Nazi Germany as compared to today. If you judge the book by the title you would be led to believe that it's an inflammatory criticism based along the same lines as all the name calling in the press these days. It actually lays out the history of fascism which is probably the most misunderstood and political movement and most abused insult of all times.
And then there's Obamacare. I guess we'll see.
I've been rediscovering Flickr. I also started hanging out on the FZ1 forums (US and International) again and found the Adventure Rider forum which is chock full of great photos and riding stories. I am getting some great ideas for the Mid-Life Crisis Tour (as it's unofficially come to be known). I'm looking at camping gear now. The idea of sleeping in a tent during large parts of the trip appeals to me.
So that's a small part of the week. Oh almost forgot, the new bike...
 |
| Monarch Pass sign and most awkward photo participant ever! |
The Memorial
A co-worker passed away late last week from a heart attack. He was a pretty good guy. He always went out of his way to help me and did it in a timely fashion. Most everyone else you have to beg for help.
They had his memorial service today and I went. It was a pretty rough one. He was obviously loved by his family. I am however doomed to be a social misfit. I thought I had outgrown that urge to sit by myself at lunch back in high school but apparently not. I just do not know what to say or do in these situations. The youngest of the three of us brothers is pretty good in those situations. The middle brother is more like me although he handles it better. He just doesn't talk, where as I have some irritating need to comment like a huge nerd with tourrettes.
I don't like memorial services as I know most don't but this one was particularly difficult because of the level of emotion displayed. I felt almost voyeuristic being there. As uncomfortable as it was I'm glad I went to pay my respects. They had a pretty touching slideshow playing and at first it was a shock to walk in and see Robin's face and realizing that was it. It was nice to see how much he was loved.
They had his memorial service today and I went. It was a pretty rough one. He was obviously loved by his family. I am however doomed to be a social misfit. I thought I had outgrown that urge to sit by myself at lunch back in high school but apparently not. I just do not know what to say or do in these situations. The youngest of the three of us brothers is pretty good in those situations. The middle brother is more like me although he handles it better. He just doesn't talk, where as I have some irritating need to comment like a huge nerd with tourrettes.
I don't like memorial services as I know most don't but this one was particularly difficult because of the level of emotion displayed. I felt almost voyeuristic being there. As uncomfortable as it was I'm glad I went to pay my respects. They had a pretty touching slideshow playing and at first it was a shock to walk in and see Robin's face and realizing that was it. It was nice to see how much he was loved.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Ole Blue
Tomorrow Lisa and I are headed to Gunnison to pick up a (almost) new Yamaha FZ1. If you've been paying attention (I won't hold it against you if not) you'll know that I love to ride my '02 FZ1. Just a little. I'm looking forward to getting the new bike. I took a spin on a co-worker's '08 model which is similar to the '12. It was more comfortable on the tailbone and had better wind protection all around. The decision to get it is what has made me think this huge mid-life crisis tour is possible. We'll see how I feel after riding it for awhile but I think I can go much further on the new bike.
As excited as I am to be getting the new ride, I was feeling a little misty eyed while washing Ole Blue (the name I gave the old bike just now). Almost everywhere I've been that bike has been. I know guys like motorcycle journalist Pete Egan go through bikes like a lot of us go through t.p. but I'm one of those people that holds on to something for ever.
Just for my own benefit a list of the places I've rode the bike include a cross country trip from San Diego to Zanesville Ohio when I bought the bike back in 2003. That was a long almost crippling ride but a lot of fun. Some things I remember about that trip were almost getting lost somewhere in southern California around Death Valley. Freezing my tookus off in the early morning hours through Flagstaff. And a particularly painful conversation I had with a woman working at a gas station about my mesh Joe Rocket jacket. She seemed unable to grasp that the jacket was for protection while keeping the rider cool. Of course the fact that it was about 50 degrees and raining didn't help my cause.
I also remember kicking myself ever since that ride for staying a day in Terra Haute Indiana. Of all the places I could have spent an extra day in why I picked Terra Haute I'll never know.
Back in 2004 I had the bike with me when I met Lisa, my wife. I rode all over Colorado that summer and that's really the year I took my riding abilities to the next level. Riding the roads through the Rockies was an experience I'll never forget. A buddy liked my FZ1 so much he got the black and yellow model. Another buddy was so inspired by the fun we were having riding, he took the MSF course and bought a Harley. After Colorado we all went to California and rode the Pacific Coast Highway and around central California together. I usually don't like to ride with people but that was the best year of riding ever.
There have just been some many wonderful rides I can't begin to list them all. Actually that's not true, I just listed two of them a minute ago. Truth is I could list them all but you would get bored awful quick.
To conclude I'll just post some pictures of past beautiful rides.
Now I'm really sad.
As excited as I am to be getting the new ride, I was feeling a little misty eyed while washing Ole Blue (the name I gave the old bike just now). Almost everywhere I've been that bike has been. I know guys like motorcycle journalist Pete Egan go through bikes like a lot of us go through t.p. but I'm one of those people that holds on to something for ever.
Just for my own benefit a list of the places I've rode the bike include a cross country trip from San Diego to Zanesville Ohio when I bought the bike back in 2003. That was a long almost crippling ride but a lot of fun. Some things I remember about that trip were almost getting lost somewhere in southern California around Death Valley. Freezing my tookus off in the early morning hours through Flagstaff. And a particularly painful conversation I had with a woman working at a gas station about my mesh Joe Rocket jacket. She seemed unable to grasp that the jacket was for protection while keeping the rider cool. Of course the fact that it was about 50 degrees and raining didn't help my cause.
I also remember kicking myself ever since that ride for staying a day in Terra Haute Indiana. Of all the places I could have spent an extra day in why I picked Terra Haute I'll never know.
 |
| Brian, Bud and me, Durango CO 2004 |
There have just been some many wonderful rides I can't begin to list them all. Actually that's not true, I just listed two of them a minute ago. Truth is I could list them all but you would get bored awful quick.
To conclude I'll just post some pictures of past beautiful rides.
 |
| Somewhere in California headed toward Lick Observatory |
 |
| Watching snow come in on top of Mt Evans at 14,000 ft |
 |
| The beautiful Pacific Coast Highway |
 |
| The Tetons in Wyoming (but you knew that) |
 |
| Clarksdale Mississippi, home of the blues |
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
A Change Of Plans (ALREADY!)
I was looking at the intended route for the ride and discovered that the mileage for a trip around the perimeter of the United States is about 10,000 miles. I'm not so much worried about the distance as the time. I have a pretty generous vacation plan but I think three weeks will be the maximum I care to be away from home. I was looking at the map of the U.S. and noticing how much vast emptiness there is in a lot of it. I got to thinking that maybe I should try a little more focus. I've always wanted to ride my bike down to Key West so I decided to aim for there. I started calculating in times and distances and thought I would throw in some spots I haven't been but always wanted to go and some spots I have been to but wanted to revisit.
View Larger Map
The plan is to stick to back roads and State routes as much as possible. I want to go through the swamps and backwaters. I'll still be making use of the guide books and AAA but I don't want anything to do with the interstates.
I've also already been tweaking this plan. I originally had the Memphis/Savannah leg of the trip as the starting route. The more I thought about it the more I don't relish going through Kansas at the end of a trip, gotta get that stretch of dullness out of the way early.
Well stay tuned for more changes, coming soon I'm sure.
View Larger Map
The plan is to stick to back roads and State routes as much as possible. I want to go through the swamps and backwaters. I'll still be making use of the guide books and AAA but I don't want anything to do with the interstates.
I've also already been tweaking this plan. I originally had the Memphis/Savannah leg of the trip as the starting route. The more I thought about it the more I don't relish going through Kansas at the end of a trip, gotta get that stretch of dullness out of the way early.
Well stay tuned for more changes, coming soon I'm sure.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Trip Prep
I spent some more time thinking about the trip today. A few more things I would like to do:
I did decide that I might save as much leave time as possible and go longer than the two or three weeks I had initially planned on. Man, I'm excited!
- Get my DSLR camera cleaned professionally. It might even be time for a new lens. Along with that a waterproof camera bag might be handy.
- Get a GPS. This one is a maybe. I've wanted one for a long time. The Garmin zumo 350LM looks pretty sweet. I don't understand why a motorcycle GPS is so much more than a straight auto one. The GPS is not a necessity although it would be way handy since I plan on taking as many back roads as I can.
- Serious planning. I've got Insight Guide United States: On The Road, which I have used very little since I bought it. I'm sure it will get more use in the coming months. I'm also going to be spending a great deal of time on the Adventure Rider Motorcycle forum. These guys are hard core.
- I think I'm good on riding gear. I have a one piece rain suit that gets awful hot but it's serviceable and riding gear is freaking expensive. All I need is a pair of waterproof boots.
I did decide that I might save as much leave time as possible and go longer than the two or three weeks I had initially planned on. Man, I'm excited!
Monday, September 16, 2013
A Plan
I'm not much of one for mid-life crises but I'll be turning 50 in a few years and while driving in to work I got to thinking about that. What I consider a brilliant idea hit my like a bolt of lightning. I am also not one for grand gestures but this one seems appropriate. In 2015 I plan on taking a three week motorcycle ride around the outer perimeter of the US. That strikes me as a worthy gesture if not grand. I'll be planning and preparing for the next two two years and updating periodically as I go.
Some things I've already thought about:
It would be nice to have an iPad or a smart phone of some kind. I've survived up until now without either but I think it might be nice to put updates on Facebook and this blog and Riding Stories.
I'm particularly excited to get a photo of me and the bike at the furthest point south in the US.
And finally, how much money can I save up in two years.
Looking forward to daydreaming about this one for awhile.
Some things I've already thought about:
It would be nice to have an iPad or a smart phone of some kind. I've survived up until now without either but I think it might be nice to put updates on Facebook and this blog and Riding Stories.
I'm particularly excited to get a photo of me and the bike at the furthest point south in the US.
And finally, how much money can I save up in two years.
Looking forward to daydreaming about this one for awhile.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Gotta Write Something
I was on a roll for awhile so I thought I better get to posting, the month is already half over. So, some random things:
I'm reading The Sword of Shannara. It's a book I read when I was 12 or so. It was 1977 and it was a good time to be a young boy in central Indiana. Star Wars, The Sword of Shannara, Action Comics with Curt Swan illustrating, Hot Wheels cars, camping and the beach were what was occuping my mind that summer.
I loved The Sword of Shannara then. I remember it took me all summer to read the 700 something page book. I have always been a fast reader and at the time I blamed those other summertime distractions for the time it took me to finish the book. After re-reading it for the first time since then I realize that I was probably just bored. It's funny how you remember things. I always thought The Sword... the greatest fantasy book ever written. I now believe it's one of the worst. Well, maybe that's a little harsh, it is definitely one of the blandest. I think at the time I was smitten with the concept of the story. I had been reading Have Spacesuit Will Travel by Robert Heinlein and the Warlord of Mars series and desperately wanted to be swept off to another planet for a grand adventure. The idea of a young man finding out he's destined to save the world was very appealing to a prepubescent boy struggling with preteen angst. Of course it still holds a certain appeal to a middle-aged guy struggling with a mortgage and crappy job. It didn't hurt that it had illustrations by the Brothers Hilderbrandt. Coming off of the Star Wars movie poster they were the hot ticket for a little geek like me. It was guaranteed I would love anything they were involved in.
The problem is as a 12 year old boy I did not have as sophisticated a taste in literature as I like to think. The writing is repetitive and the descriptions are bland and boring. Reading the book again has been an exercise in boredom.
Aside from that Colorado is currently in the middle of washing away. The rain has been really great this summer but you know it's too much of a good thing when whole towns are evacuated and people die. We're on high ground and so far the only real affect I've experienced is that I didn't ride the bike to work today. Hydroplaning on a motorcycle is about as much fun as reading The Sword of Shannara.
I'm reading The Sword of Shannara. It's a book I read when I was 12 or so. It was 1977 and it was a good time to be a young boy in central Indiana. Star Wars, The Sword of Shannara, Action Comics with Curt Swan illustrating, Hot Wheels cars, camping and the beach were what was occuping my mind that summer.
I loved The Sword of Shannara then. I remember it took me all summer to read the 700 something page book. I have always been a fast reader and at the time I blamed those other summertime distractions for the time it took me to finish the book. After re-reading it for the first time since then I realize that I was probably just bored. It's funny how you remember things. I always thought The Sword... the greatest fantasy book ever written. I now believe it's one of the worst. Well, maybe that's a little harsh, it is definitely one of the blandest. I think at the time I was smitten with the concept of the story. I had been reading Have Spacesuit Will Travel by Robert Heinlein and the Warlord of Mars series and desperately wanted to be swept off to another planet for a grand adventure. The idea of a young man finding out he's destined to save the world was very appealing to a prepubescent boy struggling with preteen angst. Of course it still holds a certain appeal to a middle-aged guy struggling with a mortgage and crappy job. It didn't hurt that it had illustrations by the Brothers Hilderbrandt. Coming off of the Star Wars movie poster they were the hot ticket for a little geek like me. It was guaranteed I would love anything they were involved in.
The problem is as a 12 year old boy I did not have as sophisticated a taste in literature as I like to think. The writing is repetitive and the descriptions are bland and boring. Reading the book again has been an exercise in boredom.
Aside from that Colorado is currently in the middle of washing away. The rain has been really great this summer but you know it's too much of a good thing when whole towns are evacuated and people die. We're on high ground and so far the only real affect I've experienced is that I didn't ride the bike to work today. Hydroplaning on a motorcycle is about as much fun as reading The Sword of Shannara.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Gunnison Ride
I took a Labor Day ride with my brother-in-law this weekend. I left the Springs yesterday morning at 0930, met Chris in Buena Vista and arrived in Gunnison at 1500 or so after 201 miles. We stayed at the Inn at Tomichi Village over night. It is a pretty nice motel. I like staying at motels on motorcycle rides better than hotels. Hotels might be more secure but I like being able to open the door and see the bike parked right out front. If it's raining and I have a couple of beers to drink that's all the better.
The motel was the cheapest listed on Hotels.com. It had a two out of five star rating but a 4.1 of 5 on the number scale. Not sure what the difference is but it is definitely a 4.5 out of 5 in my book. So once we got settled in we headed 30 minutes north on Colorado Route 135 to Crested Butte for dinner. We got there in the middle of a festival and the downtown was blocked off to traffic. The last time Lisa and I were there there was also a festival and the street was blocked. It made me wonder if the street is blocked off every weekend. So we walked around looking for a steak house and found a pub that served steak, close enough. The West End Public House has a great 12 oz. New York strip. Chris had chicken and waffles which made me envious but it's not in my diet plan.
Afterward we rode a few miles up to the ski resort and took some photos. In a state lousy with scenery this was some of the most scenic. We got there at an optimal photo time. It was sunset and thunderstorms had just passed through. Everything was fresh and pinkish-orange.
It was just turning dark on the way back to the hotel and it was getting a little chilly. We made a stop for a 6 pack of my favorite beer, Paulaner Hefe-Weizen and got back to the room for some local news. I was out by 9 o'clock with a well earned sleep.
I got up at seven the next morning and realized that I had forgotten my toothbrush so it was off to the local Walmart for that and toothpaste. This was one of the older Walmarts like you don't see anymore. It was very small with a little electronics section in the middle of the store. Anyone remember that lay out?
We rode west to the Blue Mesa Reservoir for a few more scenic shots then turned the bikes back east. While stopped at a rest stop an older guy on a V-Strom pulled in and said hello. I noticed the Oregon plates and talked to him for a little bit. He had just come through Grand Junction visiting his son and was on his way to Texas to visit his other son. I thought "There's one lucky guy" but then so am I.
We made one last stop in Gunnison on the way back through for gas. I got to talking with a guy on a Harley with New Mexico plates. The bike had the same dirty look form rain that our had. The guy had rode up Saturday from Albuquerque and was on his way home. On the way to Monarch Pass I questioned why I love to ride so much. I mean it's really nothing more than a mode of transportation, one in which you're exposed to the elements and vulnerable to careless drivers and wild animals. I couldn't come up with an answer that satisfied. All I know is that I spend a lot of time laughing or singing out loud when I ride. I know the guy on the Harley, the older gentleman on the V-Strom and Chris could identify.
Chris and I made it up over Monarch and got rained on (again) briefly. Traffic was light Sunday afternoon going west but was pretty busy on Labor Day headed back east. I drove way to fast up the mountain but took it slow down the other side. Chris and I parted ways at Poncha Springs (I love these old west town names). He headed for Silverthorn via Beuna Vista and Leadville and I decided to try a different way than I had come and headed for Salida and on to Canon City. It's a great ride through a twisty canyon. The road runs alongside the Arkansas River. The headwaters for the river are just north of Leadville and the river is still narrow enough to walk across in spots in Colorado.
The traffic was heavier through here but a lot better than it would have been had I come through Woodland Park and across route 24. I stopped for a little water break in Canon City. Canon City's chief industry appears to be prisons by the way.
I finally pulled in around 4 o'clock. I got in and was met with the greeting I always look forward to from Moon, Dash and Ruby the three wonder dogs. The wife was still at work unfortunately. It was a great ride.
The motel was the cheapest listed on Hotels.com. It had a two out of five star rating but a 4.1 of 5 on the number scale. Not sure what the difference is but it is definitely a 4.5 out of 5 in my book. So once we got settled in we headed 30 minutes north on Colorado Route 135 to Crested Butte for dinner. We got there in the middle of a festival and the downtown was blocked off to traffic. The last time Lisa and I were there there was also a festival and the street was blocked. It made me wonder if the street is blocked off every weekend. So we walked around looking for a steak house and found a pub that served steak, close enough. The West End Public House has a great 12 oz. New York strip. Chris had chicken and waffles which made me envious but it's not in my diet plan.
 |
| West End Public House |
 |
| From the collection I call "My bike in front of scenic shit" |
I got up at seven the next morning and realized that I had forgotten my toothbrush so it was off to the local Walmart for that and toothpaste. This was one of the older Walmarts like you don't see anymore. It was very small with a little electronics section in the middle of the store. Anyone remember that lay out?
We rode west to the Blue Mesa Reservoir for a few more scenic shots then turned the bikes back east. While stopped at a rest stop an older guy on a V-Strom pulled in and said hello. I noticed the Oregon plates and talked to him for a little bit. He had just come through Grand Junction visiting his son and was on his way to Texas to visit his other son. I thought "There's one lucky guy" but then so am I.
We made one last stop in Gunnison on the way back through for gas. I got to talking with a guy on a Harley with New Mexico plates. The bike had the same dirty look form rain that our had. The guy had rode up Saturday from Albuquerque and was on his way home. On the way to Monarch Pass I questioned why I love to ride so much. I mean it's really nothing more than a mode of transportation, one in which you're exposed to the elements and vulnerable to careless drivers and wild animals. I couldn't come up with an answer that satisfied. All I know is that I spend a lot of time laughing or singing out loud when I ride. I know the guy on the Harley, the older gentleman on the V-Strom and Chris could identify.
 |
| Poor Man's GPS |
The traffic was heavier through here but a lot better than it would have been had I come through Woodland Park and across route 24. I stopped for a little water break in Canon City. Canon City's chief industry appears to be prisons by the way.
I finally pulled in around 4 o'clock. I got in and was met with the greeting I always look forward to from Moon, Dash and Ruby the three wonder dogs. The wife was still at work unfortunately. It was a great ride.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Songs
I love doing this, I haven't done it in awhile so it's about time for a new one.
iTunes shuffle
When Doves Cry - Prince. Even when I was too cool for Michael Jackson and pretty much anything not Van Halen I knew Prince was the Man.
My Love Is A Rock - REO Speedwagon. Honestly I probably loved REO much longer than I should have, this is from the first album without Gary Richrath. Kevin's voice always moves me but this is where I should have stopped.
Hug You, Squeeze You - Stevie Ray Vaughn. This is off of one of the thousand compilations that have come out after his death. I don't know how old it is but it seems from early times, more simple and pure than later stuff.
Sittin' On Top Of The World - Van Morrison and Carl Perkins. Man I don't pay enough respect to Van Morrison's voice.
More Than I Can Do - Steve Earle. Used to love him until he went bat shit crazy and decided Al Qaeda were really decent blokes but misundertood. I always thought this peppy little tune about an obsessed stalker was creepy and clever.
I Wanna Be Your Lover - Prince. What did I do to deserve two Prince songs in one sitting? This is old, old school. I remember this came out around the same time as Off the Wall and like I said earlier, I knew Prince was cooler. I have a very distinct memory of walking around the department store in Martinsville Indiana as a young boy looking at the cover for this 45 and wishing I had the money for it.
Ask The Lonely - Journey. Not one of my favorite Journey songs but come on, it's Steve Perry and I think we all know how I feel about Steve Perry.
You Know My Name - Chris Cornell. A little newer than most of my stuff. One of my favorite rock voices. I've always liked him better than any band he's been in.
Over You - ZZ Top. Really new for me but it's ZZ Top. From the 2012 EP Texicali. Like their old stuff before the videos but bluesier and better. Makes me wish I wasn't on a diet, I'd be drinking whiskey right now.
Hunt You Down - The Yayhoos. I can literally see Dan Baird pointing at his chest with his thumbs on the line "You can't get away from this guy".
Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing - Chris Isaak. God that stupid video robbed me of the pleasure of Chris Isaak's voice for a decade. Stupid supermodels.
Need A Man Blues - Donna Summers. Where the hell did this come from?
Don't Look Back - Robert Plant. A "bonus" tune from the digital download of Manic Nirvana not included on the original album with good reason.
Tumbling Dice - Rolling Stones. I really have to be in the mood for the Stones. Right now I am.
Body Talk - Ratt. What? It's off a compilation disc.
Poncho and Lefty - Townes Van Zandt. I don't know. Townes wasn't my thing back in the day but I guess when you get old he's the kind of guy whose name you drop when you want to sound hip. Plus I like the song.
Does Your Mother Know - Abba. You know when I was young this was the only Abba song I liked because in my little, young mind I thought it rocked. Just seems creepy now.
Up For Breakfast - Van Halen. Like REO Speedwagon I just didn't know when to stop while I was ahead.
Learning To Fly - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. My second favorite song titled "Learning To Fly" right after Pink Floyd's song.
Winning - Santana. I think this is the only Santana song I like. I don't know who's singing but I like him a lot better than Rob Thomas.
I'm The Slime - Frank Zappa. I don't know that I can add anything. Frank was weird in the same way George Carlin was.
Shake It Up - The Cars. Can you not feel good when you hear this song?
Since You Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson. I just realized the women are woefully under-represented (as usual). I know she's probably a symbol of all that's wrong with corporate music but I think she's cute and has a pretty voice. I'm an old man, I can have bad taste in music now.
Just Got Paid - ZZ Top. Let's go out on a classic.
iTunes shuffle
When Doves Cry - Prince. Even when I was too cool for Michael Jackson and pretty much anything not Van Halen I knew Prince was the Man.
My Love Is A Rock - REO Speedwagon. Honestly I probably loved REO much longer than I should have, this is from the first album without Gary Richrath. Kevin's voice always moves me but this is where I should have stopped.
Hug You, Squeeze You - Stevie Ray Vaughn. This is off of one of the thousand compilations that have come out after his death. I don't know how old it is but it seems from early times, more simple and pure than later stuff.
Sittin' On Top Of The World - Van Morrison and Carl Perkins. Man I don't pay enough respect to Van Morrison's voice.
More Than I Can Do - Steve Earle. Used to love him until he went bat shit crazy and decided Al Qaeda were really decent blokes but misundertood. I always thought this peppy little tune about an obsessed stalker was creepy and clever.
I Wanna Be Your Lover - Prince. What did I do to deserve two Prince songs in one sitting? This is old, old school. I remember this came out around the same time as Off the Wall and like I said earlier, I knew Prince was cooler. I have a very distinct memory of walking around the department store in Martinsville Indiana as a young boy looking at the cover for this 45 and wishing I had the money for it.
Ask The Lonely - Journey. Not one of my favorite Journey songs but come on, it's Steve Perry and I think we all know how I feel about Steve Perry.
You Know My Name - Chris Cornell. A little newer than most of my stuff. One of my favorite rock voices. I've always liked him better than any band he's been in.
Over You - ZZ Top. Really new for me but it's ZZ Top. From the 2012 EP Texicali. Like their old stuff before the videos but bluesier and better. Makes me wish I wasn't on a diet, I'd be drinking whiskey right now.
Hunt You Down - The Yayhoos. I can literally see Dan Baird pointing at his chest with his thumbs on the line "You can't get away from this guy".
Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing - Chris Isaak. God that stupid video robbed me of the pleasure of Chris Isaak's voice for a decade. Stupid supermodels.
Need A Man Blues - Donna Summers. Where the hell did this come from?
Don't Look Back - Robert Plant. A "bonus" tune from the digital download of Manic Nirvana not included on the original album with good reason.
Tumbling Dice - Rolling Stones. I really have to be in the mood for the Stones. Right now I am.
Body Talk - Ratt. What? It's off a compilation disc.
Poncho and Lefty - Townes Van Zandt. I don't know. Townes wasn't my thing back in the day but I guess when you get old he's the kind of guy whose name you drop when you want to sound hip. Plus I like the song.
Does Your Mother Know - Abba. You know when I was young this was the only Abba song I liked because in my little, young mind I thought it rocked. Just seems creepy now.
Up For Breakfast - Van Halen. Like REO Speedwagon I just didn't know when to stop while I was ahead.
Learning To Fly - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. My second favorite song titled "Learning To Fly" right after Pink Floyd's song.
Winning - Santana. I think this is the only Santana song I like. I don't know who's singing but I like him a lot better than Rob Thomas.
I'm The Slime - Frank Zappa. I don't know that I can add anything. Frank was weird in the same way George Carlin was.
Shake It Up - The Cars. Can you not feel good when you hear this song?
Since You Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson. I just realized the women are woefully under-represented (as usual). I know she's probably a symbol of all that's wrong with corporate music but I think she's cute and has a pretty voice. I'm an old man, I can have bad taste in music now.
Just Got Paid - ZZ Top. Let's go out on a classic.
The Viddesos Cycle
I've been re-reading a series of books I read back in the late eighties or early nineties by Harry Turtledove called The Videssos Cycle. It's about a legion of Roman soldiers and a single Gaul soldier flung into a fantasy world where magic exists while not being common place. It's an interesting concept. The story doesn't spend a lot of time exploring the hows of what brought the Romans to Videsso. I like that on the one hand, I just let it go and accept the premise on face value. On the other hand it leaves a lot of questions that I think would be interesting if they were more deeply explored. Turtledove might go into it deeper later on but if it sticks to the style of the books so far I doubt it. I'm half-way through the third book and it doesn't show any sign of becoming more than what it is. I'll get to that in a minute.
I originally loved the first two books, for some reason I never got around to the last two. Reading them now it's interesting to see how my reading sophistication has been refined. Or maybe how I've grown more jaded. The big thing I remember about these stories was the political intrigue. The story is based on events taken from Rome's actual history, something Harry has been marketing for decades. I remember thinking at the time how twisted and deep the plot line was and while it still is, it isn't what my memory had it built up as.
I would liken the book to a frozen lake, the thin sheet of ice being what we see and the water below being what we could have seen. The characters are flat with not much personality. Even the most colorful character (Viridovix, the Gaul) is only interesting because of his funny lines and behavior, it's a superficial type of interesting. The people only seem to be there to further the plot, not to engage the reader. This is fine for the most part, I like more character driven stories usually but this isn't a deal breaker.
The pacing of the stories is another troubled area. At times it plods along with not much happening, at other times I can't stop reading. The entire quality of these books could be described as very uneven. Book two and three have two major battle scenes that are almost exactly the same scenario. The army falls to defeat with the collapse of the left flank through an act of cowardice and an act of betrayal. The Romans march back defeated looking for refuge and picking up remnants of the Emperor's crushed army. I got very agitated by this point for several reasons. The continual attempted over throws of the Emperor may be based on historic events but history doesn't always make for compelling story telling. The writing in general tends to be repetitive but no more so than some lesser books I've read. To me the third book didn't progress the plot from the second.
Don't misunderstand though. While not the miraculous masterpiece of the written word I originally thought it was it is a very good piece of fiction. The world Harry Turtledove builds is fascinating and fully realized. I think I would recommend it to friends that enjoy fantasy.
I originally loved the first two books, for some reason I never got around to the last two. Reading them now it's interesting to see how my reading sophistication has been refined. Or maybe how I've grown more jaded. The big thing I remember about these stories was the political intrigue. The story is based on events taken from Rome's actual history, something Harry has been marketing for decades. I remember thinking at the time how twisted and deep the plot line was and while it still is, it isn't what my memory had it built up as.
I would liken the book to a frozen lake, the thin sheet of ice being what we see and the water below being what we could have seen. The characters are flat with not much personality. Even the most colorful character (Viridovix, the Gaul) is only interesting because of his funny lines and behavior, it's a superficial type of interesting. The people only seem to be there to further the plot, not to engage the reader. This is fine for the most part, I like more character driven stories usually but this isn't a deal breaker.
The pacing of the stories is another troubled area. At times it plods along with not much happening, at other times I can't stop reading. The entire quality of these books could be described as very uneven. Book two and three have two major battle scenes that are almost exactly the same scenario. The army falls to defeat with the collapse of the left flank through an act of cowardice and an act of betrayal. The Romans march back defeated looking for refuge and picking up remnants of the Emperor's crushed army. I got very agitated by this point for several reasons. The continual attempted over throws of the Emperor may be based on historic events but history doesn't always make for compelling story telling. The writing in general tends to be repetitive but no more so than some lesser books I've read. To me the third book didn't progress the plot from the second.
Don't misunderstand though. While not the miraculous masterpiece of the written word I originally thought it was it is a very good piece of fiction. The world Harry Turtledove builds is fascinating and fully realized. I think I would recommend it to friends that enjoy fantasy.
Language Is A Funny Thing
I just read an "interesting" article this morning. If you're one of those people that prefers his news from a more "neutral" source than "Faux News" here are the articles Fox got the story from; "'Brown bag' and 'citizen' too offensive for use in Seattle", and "City officials urge ban on 'potentionally offensive' language". Sorry for all the quotation marks. Anyway. I see these stories so much I tend to get a little fit of righteous indignation and forget about it in ten minutes. But think about it. This is a ridiculous, time wasting effort by a group of people that should be managing this cities finances and attending to the running of utilities and maintenance of the city's roads. This is a prime of example of government waste writ small. They have created a rule for the employees to follow that is inconsequential to all but a hand full of people with nothing better to get worked up over than the term "brown bag". I had never, ever heard of this as a racial term until this article (and I thought I knew them all). If I didn't know better I would say a couple of smart-ass teens thought it up and tried to prank Seattle to see how far it would go. Apparently it is a real concern to some, although I think I'm using the phrase loosely. I will also confess that I can't eat a saltine without getting my feelings hurt. So there we are, a city government will now have someone check every written document produced for the term "brown bag" and the word citizen. Another confession, even though I read the article I'm kind of confused why citizen is taboo. Oh, I think I just got it, the whole legal versus illegal thing. Oh God, I'm tired.
For your further reading enjoyment here is a list of things that will soon need to be renamed so as to avoid hurting Spike Lee's feelings - Brown Bag
For your further reading enjoyment here is a list of things that will soon need to be renamed so as to avoid hurting Spike Lee's feelings - Brown Bag
Friday, July 19, 2013
A Night Out & More Motorcycle Contemplations
Yesterday I rode the bike up to Denver to meet Lisa for a night out at Cirque De Soleil Amaluna. It's a touring show with a big tent set up in the Pepsi Center parking lot. The show was good. I know that's not a ringing endorsement and I feel like I should be more enthusiastic than I am. There were some moments of stunning amazement. There were moments that I couldn't believe a human being could do what I was seeing. Two girls did stuff on a unicycle I couldn't do on foot. One guy climbed what was probably a 20 foot pole with nothing more than his hands, while holding himself at arm's length from the pole. It was astonishing. It was like watching that old Spiderman T.V. show from the seventies except this guy didn't have a line around his waist pulling him up. The music was a rock concert and every bit as entertaining as the acrobatics, kind of loud for this old guy at first but I got use to it. The music was so good I actually decided to find out who the composer/s is/are. It is two guys who go by the name Bob and Bill. An odd coincidence, they composed the sound track to one of my favorite video games, Splinter Cell - Pandora Tomorrow. Lisa and I spent a while deciding if we wanted to go or not, she had to work early the next day and I was dreading the drive up to Denver. I'm glad we decided to go, she got the tickets for free through work and a co-worker told her they were $100.00 tickets. I almost did a spit take when I heard that. We didn't get much sleep but I don't think either of us cared.
Like I said earlier I was not thrilled to have to drive up to Denver. The truck was almost on empty and construction on I-25 in northern Colorado Springs has made what is generally a terrible drive into a teeth gnashing nightmare. My reservations were soothed a little bit when I decided to ride the bike up. Riding in traffic is always better than driving. That's especially true on I-25 between Denver and Colorado Springs. The road is mostly two lane and even more than most places I've been, drivers get in the left lane and stay there. Most times travel is easier in the right lane because there isn't anyone in it. It's even easier on a bike because with a little twist to the throttle I can slip right in where the Tundra wouldn't fit. The ride up was pretty uneventful. I got to Denver and played a game I call "Guess the Lane". This is easier on a bike to. You know what I'm talking about. It's stop and go traffic and you try to figure out which lane will move and for how long. People play it all the time, usually to no good effect. In the truck I can't get over fast enough to make my move and it usually turns out like it does for all the other poor saps. I watch helplessly as a car I passed five minutes ago cruises by in the lane I just vacated. Last night's game of Guess the Lane was a successful one for the most part. The only problem is it doesn't work if none of the lanes is moving which was the case for most of the last part of the trip.
I finally got parked at the Pepsi Center lot ($10.00, no discount for motorcycles) and made my way to Brooklyn's to meet Lisa for dinner. Brooklyn's is a two restaurant/bar chain in Denver. One is right in front of the Pepsi Center, the other is just down the street from Sports Authority at Mile High Feild or as I like to call it a mouth full. The food was okay. I ordered while waiting on Lisa to arrive. Due to the diet we're on it was Cesar salad with no Parmesan cheese or croutons. The salads arrived with Parmesan cheese and croutons. It wasn't that bad though. I forgot to order the salmon on Lisa's salad well done so the waiter gave us a discount even though it was my fault. I think it was because we were nice when asking to have it cooked longer.
While the waiter was a delight the boor next to us was not. She was talking to an older gentleman who she obviously thought was deaf. If talking at the top of her lungs wasn't bad enough her conversation was also just the worst kind of pretentious (not that there is a best kind).
All in all the night was a mixed bag but we were definitely glad we decided to make the effort to go.
Like I said earlier I was not thrilled to have to drive up to Denver. The truck was almost on empty and construction on I-25 in northern Colorado Springs has made what is generally a terrible drive into a teeth gnashing nightmare. My reservations were soothed a little bit when I decided to ride the bike up. Riding in traffic is always better than driving. That's especially true on I-25 between Denver and Colorado Springs. The road is mostly two lane and even more than most places I've been, drivers get in the left lane and stay there. Most times travel is easier in the right lane because there isn't anyone in it. It's even easier on a bike because with a little twist to the throttle I can slip right in where the Tundra wouldn't fit. The ride up was pretty uneventful. I got to Denver and played a game I call "Guess the Lane". This is easier on a bike to. You know what I'm talking about. It's stop and go traffic and you try to figure out which lane will move and for how long. People play it all the time, usually to no good effect. In the truck I can't get over fast enough to make my move and it usually turns out like it does for all the other poor saps. I watch helplessly as a car I passed five minutes ago cruises by in the lane I just vacated. Last night's game of Guess the Lane was a successful one for the most part. The only problem is it doesn't work if none of the lanes is moving which was the case for most of the last part of the trip.
I finally got parked at the Pepsi Center lot ($10.00, no discount for motorcycles) and made my way to Brooklyn's to meet Lisa for dinner. Brooklyn's is a two restaurant/bar chain in Denver. One is right in front of the Pepsi Center, the other is just down the street from Sports Authority at Mile High Feild or as I like to call it a mouth full. The food was okay. I ordered while waiting on Lisa to arrive. Due to the diet we're on it was Cesar salad with no Parmesan cheese or croutons. The salads arrived with Parmesan cheese and croutons. It wasn't that bad though. I forgot to order the salmon on Lisa's salad well done so the waiter gave us a discount even though it was my fault. I think it was because we were nice when asking to have it cooked longer.
While the waiter was a delight the boor next to us was not. She was talking to an older gentleman who she obviously thought was deaf. If talking at the top of her lungs wasn't bad enough her conversation was also just the worst kind of pretentious (not that there is a best kind).
All in all the night was a mixed bag but we were definitely glad we decided to make the effort to go.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Vacation
I took a week off to get some things done around the house. So far I performed a half ass clean up of the garage. Mostly I've enjoyed going to Starbucks in the morning and reading for an hour. I'm reading The Videssos Cycle by Harry Turtledove. I read it years (actually a decade) ago and loved it. It's as good as I remember. I know the sitting and reading at Starbucks is cliched, please don't bother pointing out Starbucks is a big heartless chain. Lisa and I like to go to small coffee places too but let's face it a soy latte tastes pretty much the same the world 'round, at least to my untrained palate. I figured I would have the place to myself on a week day morning, turns out the place is even busier in during the weekdays than when Lisa and I go on the weekend. Apparently people that telecommute like to do it from Starbucks. I haven't seen that many laptops since...well, nothing clever comes to mind.
Anyway, I've got to get going, I've got a whining dog that needs to be let out and some chores to do.
Anyway, I've got to get going, I've got a whining dog that needs to be let out and some chores to do.
Monday, July 15, 2013
First Ride Of 2013
My God, July 15th and I'm just getting the bike out. What's happened to me? The last couple of years I've not been riding much. I blamed the new job, new house and other things for being too busy but I think part of it is I got fat. I was kind of embarrassed to be seen on my little sporty motorcycle. I've seen other fat guys on FZ1s also and they aren't doing themselves any favors. Being seen fat on a bike shouldn't and really isn't reason enough to keep me from riding. The truth is it was uncomfortable as hell.
Well yesterday was the first ride since I've lost 50 pounds (I'm still loosing too). I felt considerably better than I have in years on the bike. I still got the same stiffness in the back and aches in the wrists but it took longer. I actually lost feeling in my throttle hand which is odd but I write that off as too much Play Station.
So some sights from the ride;
I stopped at a pull off on a long straight stretch of road to put my rain gear on. An older man on a three wheeled Honda Goldwing pulled off at the same spot. I looked over to see an old dachshund with a sweet grey face in a carrier. She was riding in the passenger seat, looking for a way to get off and explore. The rider said she loves to ride but every time they stop she wants to wander. It made me wish I could take Ruby, our chihuahua, with me. I think two hours a night laying on me while we watch T.V. is probably sufficient bonding time and she would be dead of fright in about a mile.
It started raining on me in Hartsel, it wasn't as unpleasant as it could have been. I love riding in the rain almost everywhere but the interstate. I used to be petrified of it when I first started riding. My fear of it made me much more dangerous to myself than the actual act of riding in the rain.
So I got to Fairplay and met up with my brother-in-law on his Aprillia. It's a beautiful bike with a custom paint job he did himself. We took off across CO 285 for Denver and again it started pouring on us. This is one of the few times I didn't mind being stuck behind the endless string of fifth wheel campers and 4x4s with ATV trailers. Traffic was going a decent speed and I felt safer going 55mph in the rain. Plus it's so gorgeous on 285 I had time to look around. For some reason I haven't learned the trick of slowing down and enjoying the ride by myself. Maybe I should get a Harley so I have to go slow.
After my brother-in-law and I split up in Morrison (he lives in Silverthorne) I headed home the back way. One thing I don't like about Colorado is there aren't many alternative routes, it's pretty much I-25 or CO 85 or 83 south from Denver. The worst part of the trip was at a stop light in Castle Rock. I wasn't paying attention when the light changed and got on the throttle. Nothing extreme, just a normal take and the back tire started spinning and heading to the right. I let off the throttle and looked back to see that I had been sitting in what looked like a little puddle of motor oil. That could have been ugly and I was reminded again that riding a bike is nothing like driving a car.
I got home and the trip meter read 230 miles even. The bike also turned over 30,000 miles on the odometer. It should have passed that years ago were it not for my fat lazy ass. I plan on making up the mileage form now on.
Well yesterday was the first ride since I've lost 50 pounds (I'm still loosing too). I felt considerably better than I have in years on the bike. I still got the same stiffness in the back and aches in the wrists but it took longer. I actually lost feeling in my throttle hand which is odd but I write that off as too much Play Station.
So some sights from the ride;
I stopped at a pull off on a long straight stretch of road to put my rain gear on. An older man on a three wheeled Honda Goldwing pulled off at the same spot. I looked over to see an old dachshund with a sweet grey face in a carrier. She was riding in the passenger seat, looking for a way to get off and explore. The rider said she loves to ride but every time they stop she wants to wander. It made me wish I could take Ruby, our chihuahua, with me. I think two hours a night laying on me while we watch T.V. is probably sufficient bonding time and she would be dead of fright in about a mile.
It started raining on me in Hartsel, it wasn't as unpleasant as it could have been. I love riding in the rain almost everywhere but the interstate. I used to be petrified of it when I first started riding. My fear of it made me much more dangerous to myself than the actual act of riding in the rain.
So I got to Fairplay and met up with my brother-in-law on his Aprillia. It's a beautiful bike with a custom paint job he did himself. We took off across CO 285 for Denver and again it started pouring on us. This is one of the few times I didn't mind being stuck behind the endless string of fifth wheel campers and 4x4s with ATV trailers. Traffic was going a decent speed and I felt safer going 55mph in the rain. Plus it's so gorgeous on 285 I had time to look around. For some reason I haven't learned the trick of slowing down and enjoying the ride by myself. Maybe I should get a Harley so I have to go slow.
After my brother-in-law and I split up in Morrison (he lives in Silverthorne) I headed home the back way. One thing I don't like about Colorado is there aren't many alternative routes, it's pretty much I-25 or CO 85 or 83 south from Denver. The worst part of the trip was at a stop light in Castle Rock. I wasn't paying attention when the light changed and got on the throttle. Nothing extreme, just a normal take and the back tire started spinning and heading to the right. I let off the throttle and looked back to see that I had been sitting in what looked like a little puddle of motor oil. That could have been ugly and I was reminded again that riding a bike is nothing like driving a car.
I got home and the trip meter read 230 miles even. The bike also turned over 30,000 miles on the odometer. It should have passed that years ago were it not for my fat lazy ass. I plan on making up the mileage form now on.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Books
I've been reading a lot lately. I got a Nook last year. That model is mine by the way. Nothing fancy, no apps or movie capabilities, just a small device that's easy to carry. I used it for awhile then it set collecting dust for another while. I picked up a book I had been wanting to read for a some time now and started it. Turns out it was a terrible, terrible book. The Ghosts of Manhattan. I do not recommend it. So even though I never finished the book, I decided to start reading some more. I had a few books on the Nook and viola I was hooked (again). I used to be one of those people that wanted to hold a book in my hand, smell it, thumb through the pages and gaze at the cover art. For the longest time I was against eReaders. Boy was I silly. As much as I love to collect my favorite books and look at them I realized I was turning into a hoarder. I would read a book but couldn't bring myself to get rid of it when I was done.. My wife has been mocking me for years about the boxes full of books I have been dragging around the country. The Nook is great because I can store hundreds of books in a tiny package.
I do still like to go to the book store a lot. I go, browse, take a photo of a book that looks interesting then come home and buy it through the wi-fi. My last trip to the store though I noticed some trends I hadn't before. First I noticed the sad state of affairs for fantasy and science fiction (mainly fantasy). There are dozens of sub-genres, most I don't know the name of. Urban fantasy is one, post-apocalyptic and steam punk are a few more. I think the reason this annoys me is it tells me there are so many of these types of stories being written that they have their own catagory. That's a lot of unoriginality. I suppose there are a lot of good stories being told but it's generally my experience that the bad out weigh the good and I'm too lazy to weed through them. Steam punk in particular seems to be full of bad, cliche ridden titles.
There are also currently more books based on video games than there are video games. If this isn't true it certainly seems true. There is a paperback book for everything including strategy board games. I'm sure some of these are probably good and I'm assuming there is a large fan base to make this lucrative. If you've ever read a book based on a franchise you were unfamiliar with you know that they tend to be hard to follow.
My last word on fantasy is the womanizing of the genre. I'm not talking in a Conan the Barbarian, drinking and wenching kind of way. I'm talking about this...
I think I'm going to puke. Thanks Twilight, thanks a lot. Something I found interesting was the number of middle-aged women browsing the fantasy section these days. I eaves dropped on two a couple of months ago and boy they were into the series they were following. It was cute. I really missed Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard at that moment though. This is how you end up with that guy in the picture above.
The womanizing of fantasy may have led to the increase in historical fiction, there seems to be a run on hairy chested Vikings and Gladiators these days. No dudes named Tristan here.
I'm not a fan of an author that is bigger than his or her book either.
I like Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club anyway), but come on. I guess when there are people that read anything a favorite author puts out it makes it easy to find on the shelf but shouldn't you at least have the title of the book on the spine? Call me old fashioned.
Sure I'm bitching, what else is new, but really it's a great time to be a reader. I've read quite a few good books the last couple of months, including the new adventures of my old favorite super hero from when I was a kid, Doc Savage. I've also discovered the westerns of my favorite author Elmore Leonard, who also has a huge name on the cover. And I've found a good political book from one of my favorite writers at the National Review, Jonah Goldberg. So I'll do what I always advise others to do when they see something they don't like, I'll ignore the frosty haired choade.
And finally, one last image to leave you with...
I do still like to go to the book store a lot. I go, browse, take a photo of a book that looks interesting then come home and buy it through the wi-fi. My last trip to the store though I noticed some trends I hadn't before. First I noticed the sad state of affairs for fantasy and science fiction (mainly fantasy). There are dozens of sub-genres, most I don't know the name of. Urban fantasy is one, post-apocalyptic and steam punk are a few more. I think the reason this annoys me is it tells me there are so many of these types of stories being written that they have their own catagory. That's a lot of unoriginality. I suppose there are a lot of good stories being told but it's generally my experience that the bad out weigh the good and I'm too lazy to weed through them. Steam punk in particular seems to be full of bad, cliche ridden titles.
There are also currently more books based on video games than there are video games. If this isn't true it certainly seems true. There is a paperback book for everything including strategy board games. I'm sure some of these are probably good and I'm assuming there is a large fan base to make this lucrative. If you've ever read a book based on a franchise you were unfamiliar with you know that they tend to be hard to follow.
My last word on fantasy is the womanizing of the genre. I'm not talking in a Conan the Barbarian, drinking and wenching kind of way. I'm talking about this...
 |
| Hi, I'm a frosty haired choade. |
The womanizing of fantasy may have led to the increase in historical fiction, there seems to be a run on hairy chested Vikings and Gladiators these days. No dudes named Tristan here.
 |
| Both figuratively and literally. |
Sure I'm bitching, what else is new, but really it's a great time to be a reader. I've read quite a few good books the last couple of months, including the new adventures of my old favorite super hero from when I was a kid, Doc Savage. I've also discovered the westerns of my favorite author Elmore Leonard, who also has a huge name on the cover. And I've found a good political book from one of my favorite writers at the National Review, Jonah Goldberg. So I'll do what I always advise others to do when they see something they don't like, I'll ignore the frosty haired choade.
And finally, one last image to leave you with...
 |
| In case you can't see because of the glare, that is 1000! |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)