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| October - December 2009 |
The Kitchen Counter Archives
October 5, 2009
Up until two days ago, "Connecticut" and "country" never crossed my mind in
the same instant, despite my good friend Jess describing her East Coast roots
as being somewhat rural. Now that I've visited her native land, I'm a believer.
Once you cross the Connecticut River on the other side of Hartford, the
population thins and the roads narrow. The village of Cobalt is so small that it's
actually part of another town called East Hampton.
The wedding of Jess and her now-husband Brian brought me to a beautiful little
church in a place I would have never otherwise visited. Example #2347 of the
smallness of our world was seated next to me in the church pew, a man with a
friend living just a few miles from me back in Illinois. At the reception, I sat with
a film maker from San Francisco, a law student from Stockholm, and a
Department of Homeland Security officer from Jersey. The film maker, when
asked why he'd traveled all the way from Frisco to attend the wedding in his
hometown, replied simply and elegantly: "I am who I am because of the people
here today. You gotta show up for this stuff."
Word.
the same instant, despite my good friend Jess describing her East Coast roots
as being somewhat rural. Now that I've visited her native land, I'm a believer.
Once you cross the Connecticut River on the other side of Hartford, the
population thins and the roads narrow. The village of Cobalt is so small that it's
actually part of another town called East Hampton.
The wedding of Jess and her now-husband Brian brought me to a beautiful little
church in a place I would have never otherwise visited. Example #2347 of the
smallness of our world was seated next to me in the church pew, a man with a
friend living just a few miles from me back in Illinois. At the reception, I sat with
a film maker from San Francisco, a law student from Stockholm, and a
Department of Homeland Security officer from Jersey. The film maker, when
asked why he'd traveled all the way from Frisco to attend the wedding in his
hometown, replied simply and elegantly: "I am who I am because of the people
here today. You gotta show up for this stuff."
Word.
October 25, 2009
The Forest City Riders M/C should have been hosting their annual enduro today
and I should have been helping them put it on, but Mother Nature blessed the
area with about 3 inches of rain during the week. Most of the creek crossings
would have required ferry service, so the club canceled the race. What to do on
an off weekend? How 'bout make the kitchen a little brighter. Or a lot brighter.
These are the projects that begin when the racing season comes to a close and
cool weather forces me inside (although today would have been excellent for
many things outdoors).
and I should have been helping them put it on, but Mother Nature blessed the
area with about 3 inches of rain during the week. Most of the creek crossings
would have required ferry service, so the club canceled the race. What to do on
an off weekend? How 'bout make the kitchen a little brighter. Or a lot brighter.
These are the projects that begin when the racing season comes to a close and
cool weather forces me inside (although today would have been excellent for
many things outdoors).
November 15, 2009
If the challenge of riding a motorcycle through the woods at high speeds ever
becomes unexciting, here's a new twist: try it at night. What we have here is a
headlight for my KTM 250XC, along with two LED lights. The headlight, powered
by halogen bulbs, doesn't do much except make the bike enduro-legal for
some events (although it is respectable light for 65 watts). The LED's are what
makes the night riding possible. One will be mounted to my helmet and the
other to my handlebars.
becomes unexciting, here's a new twist: try it at night. What we have here is a
headlight for my KTM 250XC, along with two LED lights. The headlight, powered
by halogen bulbs, doesn't do much except make the bike enduro-legal for
some events (although it is respectable light for 65 watts). The LED's are what
makes the night riding possible. One will be mounted to my helmet and the
other to my handlebars.
Cyclops Motosports supplied the lights, as well as enough hardware to make
these work in just about any possible situation. The helmet light will be
powered by a battery which is supposed to run the light for up to 6 hours. The
handlebar-mounted light plugs into the KTM's battery. It's all top quality stuff
and very well thought out.
these work in just about any possible situation. The helmet light will be
powered by a battery which is supposed to run the light for up to 6 hours. The
handlebar-mounted light plugs into the KTM's battery. It's all top quality stuff
and very well thought out.
As for the LED lights, I cannot believe how much light is emitted from 10 watts.
One of these will illuminate the empty house next door. From my front porch,
75 yards away. I can't wait to try them out on the motorcycle.
One of these will illuminate the empty house next door. From my front porch,
75 yards away. I can't wait to try them out on the motorcycle.
December 9, 2009
It is called a Yankee Swap, a type of gift exchange that is part of a holiday
party I was invited to recently. It was immortalized in an episode of The Office,
where Michael Scott outdoes his minions by buying an iPod intended for Ryan,
the object of his man-crush. The above is what I will contribute to the Swap,
and I am not ashamed to admit that, given the chance, I would take it for
myself (as Kevin did with his own gift in that same episode of The Office).
Can't say I was ever a fan of Mr. Potato Head, but the KISS version is way cool.
So stay tuned...couple weeks from now, you never know what interesting gift
might show up (or return) to the kitchen counter.
party I was invited to recently. It was immortalized in an episode of The Office,
where Michael Scott outdoes his minions by buying an iPod intended for Ryan,
the object of his man-crush. The above is what I will contribute to the Swap,
and I am not ashamed to admit that, given the chance, I would take it for
myself (as Kevin did with his own gift in that same episode of The Office).
Can't say I was ever a fan of Mr. Potato Head, but the KISS version is way cool.
So stay tuned...couple weeks from now, you never know what interesting gift
might show up (or return) to the kitchen counter.
December 21, 2009
Since I moved to Chicagoland, and now even further up into the Great White
North, most winters have been spent in hibernation. Each December the bikes
are parkedand winter maintenance performed, all the while waiting for the
ground to thaw sometime around March 1st.
This year will be different.
I ordered up a few items that should end my hibernation and have me out in
the elements on my two-wheeled machines. The first is a set of studded
knobby tires, hopefully arriving sometime this week. The other is what you
see here. "Elephant Ears" to block the cold wind from my fingers, and grip
heaters to keep my hands warm. The grip heaters wrap around the
handlebars, under the grips, and are wired into my bike's electrical system.
The elephant ears will look something like this:
North, most winters have been spent in hibernation. Each December the bikes
are parkedand winter maintenance performed, all the while waiting for the
ground to thaw sometime around March 1st.
This year will be different.
I ordered up a few items that should end my hibernation and have me out in
the elements on my two-wheeled machines. The first is a set of studded
knobby tires, hopefully arriving sometime this week. The other is what you
see here. "Elephant Ears" to block the cold wind from my fingers, and grip
heaters to keep my hands warm. The grip heaters wrap around the
handlebars, under the grips, and are wired into my bike's electrical system.
The elephant ears will look something like this:
| (thank you, Matt Weis and Miller Photographs) |
It remains to be seen how enthusiastic I'll be after my first ride in 25-degree
temperatures, but right now I am as excited as a kid the night before
Christmas. Watch out snowmobilers....the Austrian Queen (the bike, not me)
is coming out to play.
temperatures, but right now I am as excited as a kid the night before
Christmas. Watch out snowmobilers....the Austrian Queen (the bike, not me)
is coming out to play.