"oh yes! England does swing like a pendulum do!"

Okaaaaaaay!
Let's talk about our cousins from over the big pond!
And I thought AMERICANS were materialistic!!
Woof!
This comes straight from the Britts mouth, y'all!
Had a few visitors from merry ol' England today. Seems "status" mandates whatever they ride needs to be shiny and new!  Than WHAT are you doing in a "Used" bike  shop?
I don't want to sound derivative...but sheesh!  Had a very sweet lady come in with a rich accent, looking at the Bickerton folding bike we have. She rode it, loved the feel, but because there wad a small dent in the aluminum fender...no go.  Ever try and remove a dent from a soft metal?  You just make it worse!
The other couple wanted identical bike.  Cure...but...used?  Unlikely! And they wanted new at used prices?  Um....dors it work that way over there?  If so...I'm packing now!
I don't mean to slam our European customers. TRULY.  Just that i find differences compelling....and confounding.
Anywho...
Angi did a dilligent job trying to fullfill their needs as I fought valuantly to get through four stubborn repairs before i needed to head out.
  We had a surprising amount of folks visiting for a raint Tuesday
 I'll let you know! As always, thanks for SO much trust! Two were "do whatever it needs!"  An open ended recipe for a HIGH repair bill....everywhere else!  Not with us though!
I'm a HUGE follower of karma mandates!
No newbies today, though, sadly, as I SO wanted to work on the new Trek we got in!  Maybe tommorow!
We had a good morning, until the rain came back...and even though tomorrow may suck as well...the rest of the week is supposed to be gorgeous!  Here's hoping!
Alrighty...off to the shower!
See ya soon!

even the immortal bard couldn't come up with this!

VERY excited to see new faces, and many returning ones today!
And the down side being, Shakespearean tragic comedies!
Anywho, starting from the beginning...
Today marked the first week I am no longer doing the bakery. Oh, they're good people, but the level of time commitment they were looking for just proved impossible, especially with the shop creeping ever more quickly to normalacy.  Cutting corners there proved counter productive, as the owner had a keener eye than me, and giving up the ghost, i admitted I just couldn't give them all they wanted, and still uphold my commitment to our own business.  So like my dad once told me "if you can't do something right, get the f@$# out of the way and let someone who can!"
So, as Angi had another appointment with Miranda today, (no, no worries, she isn't sick, we're just enrolling her in pre-k...but it's a PROCESS!)i headed into the shop, first thing, Suzanne in tow, to mind the fort, AND build up four newbies, as well as five repairs (thank you all so much for your trust!) (And it's funny how surprised folks get when they tell you "do whatever it needs", and they DON'T get screwed!  Either that, or i got a real trusty face!) all done before 3 PM mind you!  At that point...things got tight.  I have to leave no later than 3.30 if I'm going to make it on time to work, and by 3.25 Angi hadn't made it in. Reluctantly, i put a "back in 10 min" sign in the door and headed out, only to meet a very winded honey bombing down Patricia on her 10 pound Trek.  Seems the cab company dropped her call, TWICE and it took forever for her and a very irritated Miranda to get back.  As we were exchanging brief kisses and apologies for not having time, a gent who had bought one of the 24" mtbs we had, 20 mins earlier, came up, and revealed that the left pedal had fell off!  WHOOPS!  With no time, i regretfully told him I would take care of it first thing.  He followed Angi back to the shop, where she ended up just upgrading him to a better ride at no additional cost for the inconvenience.  Yes, that's my wife, the true matriarch of RE-Cycle!
I made it to work with four minutes to spare, thankfully.  A real feat, considering both the lights AND the wind were against me the WHOLE BLOODY TIME!  Exactly...how DOES the wind shift directions each time you take a freaking turn!?
Oh well...
Karma was smiling on Angi's generous "customer service" as shortly thereafter, she got real busy, and even sent the sweet Trek 820 to a new home!  Nice!
She even acquired a few more repairs for me to tinker with in the AM!
So, with that in mind, and as i am covered in glass beads from a poorly sealed sandblaster I I  desperately need a shower!
See y'all tomorrow!

why we don't focus on other things while building bikes!

Well, yesterday was almost a wash, very sad for a Friday, but THAT'S why I stay to the last minute!  Had a couple repairs come through the door in the last ten minutes that made the day!
The day was not a waste though, as after banging out a couple repairs waiting for pick up, in the AM, went on to another rebuild. Boy, golly Bob Howdy this one was a bear!  They seldom are as simple as you hope!  This one is a 29er MTB, so as we don't get many of those, i really needed to take care of her.  Though I'll tell you, more work than i would usually invest in what otherwise be a parts bike! The end result, though, was worth it.  Even more surprising, was being in the charitable mood of "saving at all costs" i approached the next project, a simple 24" MTB, with the same gusto.  Befire i knew it, this $45.00 bike had its wheels, crank, bottom bracket, shifters, cables and headset replaced!  WHAT WAS I THINKING?!"
OH Well!  Someone is going to get a great deal.
Today, once I put the finishing touches on the underpriced ride, i'm going to go on to a somewhat rough looking "banger" road bike.  Full mechanical rebuild, but no paint.  We're gonna give someone a good starter road ride.
After that, time permitting, gonna dig through the back and see what there is to see!
Allright, so back at it!
See y'all soon!

Someone Get This Monkey Off My. Back!

Oy vey!
So...ugh of a week. Not business mind you, that's been getting steadily better.  No, it's the traditional annual ickies that the kids bring home. Laid momma out, but she still pushed, persevered and kept the shop running.  Of course, i haven't learned not to give Angi sympathy kisses and caught the bug myself. Yuck.  Was fighting it for four days, then wendsday around two pm it hit me like a Mack truck!  Regrettably, i had to csll out at the plant, and go home and sleep for...well, a long bloody time!  But, i hauled my carcass in to the shop Thursday anyway, as i REALLY wanted to put out that SWEET Bianchi road bike. Although, being somewhat out of it I had to wrap the bars NOT twice but THREE times!  First time I forgot to put the bloody brake levers on...second time I didn't pay attention to the fact they we bottom feeds!  ARRGH!!
Oh...angi got an earful of DADDY. language before putting her earbuds in and drowning me out!  LOL!
But, in the end, the ride was SO worth it!  Check out the pics of this throw away rebuuld!  Yea, someone actually chucked this beauty in the trash!  Thank Heavens one of our scrappers got to ot before the city!  Oh, and while we're on the subject, all our prayers go out to John, who is recovering from a stroke, but still out scouring for scrap.  Just take it easy, my friend, we want you around for a long time!
So, we have added a total of four GORGEOUS newbies to the line up this week, with more to come!  Angi is out for the morning tomorrow, taking Miranda to an appointment, so I'll be in first thing (in about six hours)  and right to work on more!
Oh, and check out the fine looking Schwinn hybrid another regular brought in.  This one is CHERRY!
Allright, i best get a shower and some sack time, as 8 am will be rolling around right quick!
Come visit me tomorrow, I'll be there all day!
Don't forget to tip your waiter!

Simply put; "What a GREAT Freakin' Weekend!"

Please forgive my delay in the Monday post, but this weekend was a hullaballoo, and didn't end until late Sunday night, than right back into the thick of things come Monday. Monday is my busiest day, i work all three jobs so that's 8 AM to 2.30 AM and blissfully, i was to busy at my scant few hours at the shop to sit at the 'puter!  Angi had six repairs lined up, and she got in a slew of donated newbies in on Sunday, so I had my work cut out for me. Kaleb already had most tore down and ready, and we also picked up a soon to be SAH-WEET Bianchi road bike, today as well!
So, things are picking up!  Seeing more of our beloved snowbirds swinging in to say hello, and check out the wares, and Angi sent the mens Fuji home with one on Sunday. Uea, Sunday is becoming a regular thing, and as soon as Angi and I have a spare few minutes to actually talk, wr need to revamp the posted hours.  Saturday was no slouch either! Sent home to grown ups and three kids!  Not to mention a whole DAY of repairs!  Oh...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TRUST!
Sunday has become my unofficial day off. Angi and Elijah run the show, and I do the house thing.  Normally, mow the yard, clean, and pick up the house.  This Sunday though...was different!  All the boys had gone to the shop with mom, so it was me and the girls in the day. After getting the lawn done, i surprised them by stating "we're going out for ice cream!"
You'd think I declared a holiday!
We ended up at the old plaza, grabbed a few things for the house, and ended up further treating them each to a special toy. I wad definitely the hero of the day!  Once we got home, the little girls played in the plastic pool I got on sale for 2 bucks, and had a blast.
One of the boys friends, Cowboy, was doing some yard work for Ango (he reportedly thinks Abgi is a "sexy mom") as she had plans to some re-cycled materials to build a fire pit for the encroaching winter months. And she did a BEAUTIFUL job!!!
Now, Sunday night, was even more AWESOME!!  Another friend of the boys (a now adopted son! LOL!) told us of an abandoned village just off the Pinellas trail in Ozona.  I was intrigued, and mentioned I'd like to see it.  Well, Sunday was the day we did a little adventurous "tresspassing".  We took off around four, and about a half an hour ride away, sure brought, RIGHT off the trail was an abandoned development of about a dozen houses, storage sheds, and a huge garage.  The place us surreal!  Some of them are partially furnished, with clothes still on the hangers but CLEARLY. haven't been lived in for years!!  It was really a unique feeling after dark!  Ride out of some apocalyptic novel!
Once we got hungry wr took off for Subway at the Causrway, then headed home.  And tgats where the REAL fun started!  These young men found out what happens when Daddies endorphins kick in!  We started racing each other from Palm Harbor down the trail, and by downtown Dunedin, they were getting...fatigued.  Once we hit Patricia,,,i could barely see their lights behind me!  They took three short cuts to cut me off and get ahead, only to find i was already ahead of them!  HA, HA!  They passed out shortly after getting home, but i stayed up ro enjoy the awesome new fire pit with Angi.  Very relaxing!
Well, thats it for now, best get some rest.
Angi caught the creping crud from the schoolagers, so I'm goung to TRY and get up in the AM and do the school, openning the shop thing.
We'll see...
Love ya all!

The Ten Minutes Are BACK!!!

Boy howdy, I'll tell you, we SO love compliments like this! Had a wonderful lady come in the other day and exclaim; "I FINALLY FOUND YOU!"  Turns out, she was an original customer from the garage days, had bought a couple rides from us, had even come into the old shop a few times for service, than left the state for a couple years.  Upon returning a few months back, was left a Schwinn mtb by her son and wanted it serviced so as to keep for company.  Who's the first people she thought of?  You guessed it!  Thing was, she was having a hard time locating us.  As it happens, a few nights back she went bowling across the street, got out of her car and happened to look over and see the sign, and rushing over, peeked in and KNEW it was us by the family photo on the wall!  By her joy you'd think she found Nirvana (no...the real place, not the band).
And not just that, but the several other folks who have been coming in with praise, good wishes and freebies!  Yea, we've accumulated a LOT of gimmies from great folks who "want to make SURE we stick around!"
Wow!  We are a blush with humility.  Yes, we're still plugging, and not willing to give up the dream!  Granted, angi has had to get REAL creative with Ramen noodles, but, the kids like it!
The hopeful news is, we have already seen a few regular snowbirds come in, making their annual trek to our doors plus some new referrals landing on our shores.  It's what we have been waiting for!
Of course...still in the dark!  Even after paying what has been paid, had it down to just under a hundred, and excitedly we made that and then some yesterday.  I called the power mongers last night to get a final dollar figure, only to find out we have to pay a honking big deposit....AGAIN...before the lights will be back on!
Sigh.
BACK TO FORMULA!!!
oh well...at least i have plenty to build!
Speaking of new builds!  Check out the SWEET Fuji three speed we picked up the other day! Don't see many of these anymore!
Last night was supposed to be family movie night, but instead we were dealing with the latest struggle in young adult male defiance.  Angi and i, while wanting the same outcome, don't quite agree on tactics. Surprisingly we seem to have switched roles. I use to be the "soft touch" and she was "stand firm", now..I've become "zero tolerance ".  After reaching a datante, we relaxed and enjoyed the night air. The only trouble was, the mosquitoes were making a feast of Angi (they NEVER bite me) so we made a smudge pot out of an old planter and some tinder and seed pods.  Those seed pods REALLY smoke!  Upon waking this morning we could both barely breath!
Oh yea!  Its been so long, but yesterday...we had a TEN MINUTE RULE!!
Had a couple people come in and check out things, settle their attention on the Sun cycle cruiser, test ride it and LOVE it, but then talk themselves into "thinking about it "  After the last gent left, i turned to Angi and said "this one is selling today!"  You cant begrudge her incredulity when she grinned a "yea...right!"  Given how slow bike have been to sell the last few months, but sure enough, no more than ten minutes later, a gent rode up, and with no preamble asked; "how much in trade for this one for that one?" pointing to the Sun.
Nice!  Thank you sir!
We need more impulses like that today!
Ok, now i gotta git and build you folks some more rudes!
See ya!

Caveat Emptor...As Mr. Brady Would Say

OKAY!
So yea, touched on it briefly yesterday, and I understand my advice might seem somewhat jaded, suspect and self serving but I have to stress that a deal is NOT always a deal!  Unfortunately, we have had two separate examples today alone!  Both Schwinn's as a matter of point.  The first one was bad enough! Bought at a local Pawn Shop, for $80.00, compared to the price of a new one (about 150.00)  seemed like a good deal...until you take into consideration the rear derailleur was bent beyond repair, the frame mount was bent, the rear wheel needed to be replaced as it was too far out of whack AND the axel was broken in two!  All total $60.00 to fix (anywhere else, that would have been triple!) so....$140.00 into a 5 year old Ranger!?  Folks....these places DO NOT service their bikes, and in most cases have a "No Return" policy with NO Warranty!!
The next one was by FAR worse!  Bought at a thrift store, they paid $69.99 for a 24" "Bottom of the rung" Wal-Mart Schwinn.  Now this one sold New for about $99.00.  Sad thing is, we hear far too often, that folks didn't find out the true scope of damage the bike they bought had, as many places, several bike shops included, DO NOT allow you to test ride them!? WHAT!?!  How are you going to know if the bike works or feels right?  Anywho.  They got it home, took it out for a ride and in the first ten minuets the rear wheel started popping spokes.  Badly corroded, they just didn't hold up!  Initially, that's what she brought it in for, but by the time we did the full assessment she requested, we found that not only did she need the rear wheel replaced, but the front as well, as it had the same signs of erosion, as well as a bent and fused rear AND front derailleur, The chain had nine fused links, the shifters didn't work at all, the rear brake pads were down to metal, the front forks were bent, and the rear tire was separated from the bead seat in three places.  SHEESH!!!  She was looking at $104.00 to fix it all which we STRONGLY urged her NOT to do!  We told her she could buy TWO new ones for the total investment!
So, here's a few tips for buying a used bike, ESPECIALLY when they won't let you ride it, and for the sake of time, I'm just covering the costly fixes!
WHEELS;  Lift the bike, front and back, and spin.  Any wobble left to right or more importantly up and down...gonna need replacing if it's bent up or down.  Then wiggle the wheels, any play?  Bad bearings.
CRANK ASSEMBLY;  Grab a hold of a pedal arm and give it a wiggle.  Any play?  Bad bearings, which could lead to bottom bracket assembly replacement. 
SHIFTERS:  Make sure the derailleurs go into each change smooth, with no clicking or grinding or clunk.  You hear anything bad...it could mean SEVERAL bad things!
BRAKES:  Make sure they grab evenly when engaged, and open evenly when released, and they have good rubber!
Hope that helps keep you from getting shtupt!
OKEY DOKEY!
Now I've done my civil service bit...back to work!

Monday Morning Update!

Okey dokey!  It's another Monday, which, regardless of how one day just rolls into the next, we're here, with bells on, hoping for a fresh great start to the week!
Oy...my teeth hurt being that upbeat! Ah-waka-waka!
Last week was a head scratcher.  Syeady on repairs, but only sent a total of four to nee homes, all....week....long?  VERY perplexing!  Oh, we definitely thank all the folks seeking us out for their repairs, always ready to help!  But, it's like folks have just given up on riding!  SHUDDER!
Well...maybe it's that money is so tight for a lot of folks, but they're still snagging "deals" off craigslist.  Trouble is...the few that have come in here for a look over, have been anything BUT deals.  Even at our low repair prices, the collection of defects on them, surpassed the cost of buying a new one!  If you get the opportunity to pick up a "bargain" we offer a free service, just bring the bike in, we'll inspect it, and let you know if it really is a good deal!  Save yourself a possible loss, and we'd love to help!
As i said on Saturday, we banged out two sweet BMX'ERS then....ran out of stuff to do!  So, just sat and got my butt whooped repeatedly at Mafic by Logan.  Sheesh! I created a monster when i taught him hiw to play!
Anywho!  We gots LOADS of rides ledt, so ifn yer lookin ta ride?
Come see us!

SO....how does he keep finding a sawed off shotgun?

"It's the last of the V8 Interceptors!"
Yea, they should have found a way to incorporate that famous catch phrase in the new edition of the Mad Max franchise!
Last night was "Family Movie Night" and after the wee ones were treated to the latest Lego Movie (which I didn't get to see much of, as Miranda had curled up next to me on the couch, prompting us to almost immediately fall asleep!) then they were carried off to bed and we popped in the latest intense car chase into the Blue Ray and treat us older kids to two hours of mayhem. 
So, Okay....I'm a Road Warrior traditionalist, having devoured the originals many times over (although not all that impressed with "Beyond Thunderdome") but this one was not all that bad an addition.  Not a huge  Tom Hardy fan, he was a somewhat suitable descendent to be the brooding countenance of Mad Max.  At least he got the crazy, quiet part right.  Although, I don't know what constitutes crazy in a world literally gone insane!  The driving scenes (which takes up about 93% of the movie) are no doubt, EPIC, not to mention the depiction of ecological disaster resultant of the Nuclear holocaust (remember WAY back when, when the driving force of almost EVERY post apocalyptic movie was due to Nuclear war?  Odd...how we don't even think about that reality anymore!) The massive dust storm and fiery dust devils are quite impressive.  The plot, well, what little there is, is not far removed from it's predecessors.  Mad Max, reluctantly, helping to save some group of hapless refugees trying to make it safely to some imagined paradise.  Although Charlize Theron's character is anything BUT hapless!  Well, now that you mention it, the female characters are not at all depicted as week and helpless, quite the contrary, the "Mothers" really kicked some butt!  But in the end, you really don't watch the movies for the complexity of the characters and the cohesion of the plot.  No, you're pretty much there for the carnage and chaos!  And that was ah PLENTY!!  And the scope of vehicles were eye candy delight for those of us with a fetish for such creative use of scrap!  (OH...some day I have GOT to build a Road Warrior bike!) The double decker "Monster Truck" 57 Cadillac was my FAVE!!
The "After Party" was fun, though.  That's where we go out to the porch and debate over the merits of what we just watched, and it was funny to listen to the comparative debate between the older boys over how much they "ripped off" from movies such as "Fast and the Furious" and "Need for Speed" and the like.  I couldn't help but chuckle, than chime in and inform them that "Mad Max" did it all FIRST!  Long before there was CGI, Mel Gibson donned the riding leathers and ripped a path through the Australian wastes, and all the intense action, destruction and fast passed mayhem was done with real vehicles and real stunt men.  Odd thing is...they have never even SEEN the originals!
BOY!  Have I been derelict in my duties!!!  I think if Angi is willing, I'll pop a copy of Road Warrior in tonight (the best of the three!) and show them that creativity extends beyond the computer imagery!
OKAY, so on to work!  It's still a promising sign that we are getting in repairs each day, as folks are clearly readying themselves for what will HOPEFULLY be a quickly approaching riding season!  I am SOOOOO looking forward to the end of humidity, heat and rain!!!  GAWD!  SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO READY!!!
The weird thing is, aside from one kiddo bike a couple days ago, we haven't sent any new rides to new homes in quite sometime!  And we are definitely stocked!  With so many donations, and leftovers we have amassed quite a selection of choice rides...but to no avail.  We REALLY don't understand it!  *Sad Face*!
Today, Kaleb and I are banging out two SAH-WEET BMX'ers!  An old school Mongoose and a really sharp looking "Dave Mera" Haro!  They'll be ready soon, so keep an eye on Craigslist for those!  Also, I'll update the blog here in a second to show off all we have!
All right, with that, going to "keep positive" and "Build it, so they may come"
See ya soon!

Bill....what hath thou wrought?

Well...I've been there, where the heck is everyone else!?
So, the last couple mornings I've been schlepping in earlier and earlier to get stuff done around the hip joint (quoting a customers assessment of our little spot) but I'll tell you, a corpse has more life in it!  SHEESH!  I was even there to open This morning, with Suzanne in tow (she's starting to get pudgy like her old man) and set about going through some donations Angi picked up the day before. She had to take izabella to the doctor AGAIN, to get one more bloody shot that the school forgot to ask for as she was sent home from the school the day before, not to return until it was done!  Poor thing was SO upset for missing two days, she was in tears,  and when that little angel cries...breaks your heart!  So, anywho, i got the bay and shop in order, then went about tearing down a 24" Jeep MTB that is really sharp looking!  Will have it done and out in the AM.  We also got in a couple nice looking classic BMX frames that'll be a hoot!  But aside from a couple looky loos and two minor repairs, the place was like a bloody ghost town.  At this point all conjecture has gone out the window!  We've had three days of GORGEOUS weather, but I've seen nary a bike on the road.  What gives!?  I know gas is cheap but C'MON!  Riding a bike ain't all about cheap transportation, ya know?  It's a lifestyle not to be swayed by the manipulative machinations of the oil tycoons!  Just cause you'll only save $10.00 as opposed to $30.00?  It's still freaking ten bucks!  AND...you get to see the world from a totally different angle!
Allright.....allright, I'll stop preaching.

While I'm on the subject of preaching though...i want to chime in on an ongoing controversy ripping up the headlines of tabloids across the world...
Bill Cosby.
Yea...touchy subject.
Ok...so....heres the deal...
I am a FIRM believer in the old addage; "where there's smoke...there's fire".  This belief has served me VERY well as a parent and i cling to it each time we're trying to find out "who done it?".  Now, if we were talkinf about a sports figure...I'd say yea...i can believe it.  I have no love for jocks and if it's depraved...they probably did it.  Politicians for that matter....equally guilty...no doubt.  Anyone invested in the accumulation of power....nothing is taboo!  But....Bill freakin' Cosby!?
So....yea...im jaded AND bias!   I SOOOO DO NOT want to believe it!  Not a day if my life has passed for the last thirty odd years when i havent woven in at least one quote from that mans standup routines into a conversation!  And ever since I became a parent his assesment of children's "brain damage " has not resounded in my head, and repeated fire than a thousand times!  But to think he could be capable of the heinous acts?  Wekl, this possibility has forced me to shove my VHS copy of "Bill Cosbt;Himself" into the back of my video cabinet, unsure if i should ever enjoy it again.  It was surreal though...the other day the kids popped in a copy of the live action movie "Fat Albert"  and I couldn't help but think, during the scene where Albert visits Bill at his Philly mansion...wS THAT the sofa the most recent allegation took place on!?
Oy...
It's all just SO demoralizing!  Anyone of my generation was in some way touched or shaped by this man, not to mention brudging the gap between races and bringing a small taste of the "black experience " into suburban white middle class living rooms every Thursday night.  I'm not ashamed to say, it curbed some of my own false impressions!  To think that a hideous monster lurked behind the fatherly guise of the home spun, practical thinking "fatherly" figure?  Well...."shattered" is not a word suitable to describe the ponderings I've been going through!
The skeptical side of me has to wonder though...after all this time...why are all these women coming out know?  The realization that more than a few of them have secured book deals forces me to question; "pay day?"  Color me synical, but he was already the victim of one extortion attempt....i'm just sayin'!
Yes, I'm bias, and i dont want decadez of fond memories destroyed, but...if he did it, then judge, don't hold back!
Okey dokey!
Now, Mongo need shower...
See y'all soon!

Fluffanuttah!

So, okay, y'all missed our Sunday morning sidewalk sale! Yea...our fault we didn't mention it before.  Truth is, with that hurricane swirling around, the weather was WHACKED!  One minute clear and cool, sun shiny, than torrential rain.  We managed to get to meet a slew of folk though, out trying and capture some enjoyment out of the blessed milder weather.
We did manage to bang out several more repr, though and we thank you all so very much for your trust!
Sunday though, was not without injury, though!  Proof positive i'm just getting to old to horse around.  Angi and i were messing about in the hallway leading to our bedroom, and upon bum rushing her, slipped on wet tile and sent us both crashing to the hard floor, me on top.  Needless to say, she's a tad sore and in no shortage of pain.  I still haven't stopped apologizing!
Saturday started out strong, filling me with hope, as a young family came in and grabbed the FS ELITE ladies bike, and i got to have an interesting conversation with a wee lad of three who described, in great detail, about the planet he owns and the helicopter he uses to get there.  So bloody cute! Angi stuck home and put the kiddos to work with her giving the house it's traditional top to bottom scrub down.  About the only time she has to do it, more than it's nightly "fluff and stuff"!
We put out a total of five more goodies this weekend amidst the repairs, one of them a FAT TIRE 20" 7 speed BMX!  SAH-WEEET!!
Check them out below!
Today has already been swimming in repairs, so a continuation of good signs that folks are slowly coming back out, relieved from the heat in anticipation for the new riding season.  Odd, that we haven't sent a lot of rides to new homes.  But
But, at least folks ARE getting out and riding!  And as long as they come here to keep them rolling?  We're good with that! Angi has been telling me, on the plus side, that we have had several happy folks giving us some seriously great compliments, so we are thrilled with that!  Personally, i think its her shiny countenance bringing them about.  But I'm bias!
Ok, so now, gonna get back on a customer refurb Kaleb has roughed out for ne,  trying to get that done before i gotta head to my next port of call!
We hope ta see ya soon!

Cats and Dogs....BIG cats and dogs!

OKay!!
Not unlike so many other compromises we must endure to live in Florida, this morning we were treated to a blessed break in the heat and humidity upon awaking, with a pleasant temp of 72 and the most glorious of breezes to enjoy our morning coffee...however... by the time Suzanne and I were headed to the shop, the puffy clouds with gray underbellies snuck in!  So, all my fellow Veloists...PRAY they just drift on by so we can enjoy what could be one of the BEST riding weekends we have been given in over five bloody months! 
And we KNOW you have been wishing for it as well!  The last couple days of this past week were FILLED with folks coming in for tune-ups, make readies and repairs as many of you are tenaciously striving to just "get out and ride!" (and we are so thankful to all our regulars who have been coming in and keeping is crawling along, not to mention several new faces giving us a shot at taking care of their "pretties"!)   Oh I am SOOOOOO with you on that!  Yea, we ride every day, rain or shine, but are only inspired to do so as far as we need to get to work.  The thought of taking time to head out on a leisure trek to points unknown is always trumped by the exclamation..."IT'S TOO FREAKIN HOT!!!" (accentuated by a pronounced whine on the word "hot"!) Hopefully...not this weekend!  Oh, I have woken each morning with an anticipation of that first heady breath of fall air!  Yes, it's a smell not unlike that you will get while taking a walk through the woods of New England as the leaves change.  Can't give it a name, but you know it when you smell it!  Not as of yet...but I am so looking forward to that affirmation that this Gawd Awful summer will be coming to a close!
And yes, it has been a few days since we last updated our stock list to the left of this column...I'll be taking care of that briefly!   It has been a busy week, well, with more the rudimentary survival necessities than anything else, but soon...hopefully very soon...we will busy with the demands of a busy, busy biking season!  We are eeking closer and closer to being all the way caught up with everything, and hope we can keep the forward momentum!
We've managed to put out at least one new ride each day.  Kaleb is now on staff permanently, until he finds a full time job of his own.  Next Monday he is going into the Plant and applying there.  I talked with the boss there, and they happen to be looking for an entry level sheet metal laborer.  It's a great company to seek a future with, and if he applies himself he should eventually be making some good money.  Oddly enough, Elijah has also expressed interest in applying for something there, possibly welding.  That would be...interesting, all I can say is...thank Heavens my department is as far away from the welding equipment as possible! 
Today, we are going to bust through the last few remaining goodies we have out back and process through the parts we have been stripping off and absent mindedly throwing into a "we'll get to it later" bucket!  WAY to many of those tripping about! 
OH!  Spooky story time!  Last week, on the way home from work, I was on the stretch of Sunset Point Road between Hercules and Keene, headed West, at around 2.40 AM.  Now, I've told a story of two about Florida's predators, and our run in with a coyote, but as I was riding the barren, quite road, I ride in front of a heavily wooded area of about a block, with thick underbrush, and in the quite of the wee hours, as I approached the beginning of the short stretch of thick woods, I heard a "heavy" rustling in the underbrush.  Now, I don't ride all that fast, especially after 18 hours of working, but that sound put some "giddy Up" in my go, and I started to increase my speed.  As I did so...that heavy rustle became the crunching foot falls of something matching my progression under the concealment of the underbrush, keeping up pace with me.  I'd almost reach the end of the forest, and once breaking free of it, I heard that same heavy crouch and crunch at the end of the woods...and nothing happened!  What the HELL was that!  I exclaimed as I shot through the intersection, all the while looking back to make sure I was not being followed!
SHEESH!
Okay...now...gotta get going!
Hope to see y'all soon!

two for the price of one!

Ok...so to family who have inquired as to the long absense from the Blog...check your texts from this morning....to our friends?  Well, we posted a new saying in the shop.."i don't have issues..i have epic novels!"
Suffice to say, we paid off a HUGE electric bill at the house, Thursday last, and wirked out things with our landlord at the same this morning.  The shop is still dark, but will have to wait until household water is up to date!  We are scratching and clawing our way out of the hell of this summer, best we can, but feeling the strain...BIG TIME!
Angi brought up a REAL good point the other day, not only is it the weather hurting us, but the fact that gas is under 2 bucks a gallon!
We can understand why folks don't want to bother riding a bike, risking getting wet when they can drive so relatively cheap.
Sucks though...they lure them in with cheap gas, get them dependant, then hike up the price!  Watch for it folks!  By November...mark my words!
Today, being somewhat coiler, marked Suzannes first trip back to the shop!  We SOOOO Need her back on schedule!  Tired of cleaning up "accidents" in the mud room!
(On to next day...I pooped out)
Well, Suzanne went up today too, but as it was hot and humid yet again, i brought her home early to the AC...she's so spoiled!
Well. Today was pne of blessings!  My family pitched in and we got the water up to date AND the shop electric ALMOST there!!! Yay! Thanks alot folks, we REALLY appreciate the assist!  BIG TIME!  LOVE YOU!
We are now SO close to getting out of the woods we can almost taste fresh air!
Amongst it all, we even managed to get another couple rides out as well before i had to head out, a nice older ladies FS elite, and a kent 7 speed comfort bike.  We are really starting to fill up again, thank God!
I'd post pics...but I'm doing this entry on my phone, and I...don't know how to do that!  Maybe tommorow, time willing!  I have to go to the bakery in a few hours to finish the clean, then to shop...then to the plant...ugh.
Well, today marks Kalebs BIG 18TH BIRTHDAY!!  Or, as we call it around here....D-Day..as in "Decision"  day!  Will it be school....or work? I'm hoping he picks school...but....well, there's a little skeptic in me saying if he does, he'll just keep blowing it off, so he can live rent free for as long as he can push it.  What he doesn't understand is...we have portal!  We'll. KNOW. If he skips!  I've already lined up a spot at the plant....just in case!
Angi got a little busy towards close and sent one ride to a new home...the older Pacific i believe...but I'll check tommorow, that was a nice cheap banger to boot, someone lucked out cause she gave them a good deal.
Well...for now, i'm going to punch out, grab a shower and hit the sack!
G'night folks!

Whoops...out of date!!

So...Okay.
Sat down this morning to get our ducks in a row and realized how woefully out of date everything was!  SHEESH!  Craigslist was littered with listings long since sold, and the blog pic's of what we had available were, like, MONTHS out of date.
I have shirked, and am duly chastised! 
SOOOO, I updated the listings with the newbies we have built up over the last couple days (and we have a bevy more were working on as well!) and will list them below, as we were building fools yesterday! 
I must say, I wish the weather we are blessed with each morning would continue throughout the day, as once nine or ten hits, the persistent heat prevails.  Yesterday was met with gray, threatening skies, so was inevitably, a slow plodding day.  BUT, we kept our spirits up on rebuilds! 
That's not to say we don't get visitors, but as expected, they are holding off until the climate is more predictable and conducive to riding.  Alas, some folks just don't have the opportunity to get out in the early AM and enjoy the cool weather ride! 
Opps, looks like I'm running out of time, I know, sort entry, but here's hoping I have more to write about Monday!
See ya soon!!

WAIT! WHAT? HOW LONG?

Whoa!
I think that's the longest pause between posts for me in a LONG time!
Nine days...
Wow!
So, okay, trippy part is, not a lot has changed!  Still working in the summer heat and darkness (yes, September, is STILL summer in Florida), the reality is, misery loves company.  We have heard from many folks telling us similar tales of woe.  The summer here has been SOOOOO bad for so many people.  Trickle down economics. Basically that means the little guy gets "trickled"on!  Sadest story we heard was from a VERY sweet retiree (well...of age for such, but still needing to work) her family owns a Cadillac dealership and are so hard up, they can't afford lights OR water at their house!  For over three months!
Oh...i yell you...it's the "NEW" America folks!
Well, anyway, harkening back to the old garage days, we have still been building all along, and have added several sweet rebuilds.  Got in a hard to find Hercules "nepal" low step over urban.  These suckers are German "over-engineered" but SAH-WEEEET!!!  Also, most recently, put together a scratch build "big boy" six speed cruiser today, VERY nice, and Kaleb has roughed out two DBS MTB'S ASAP that aren't FUBAR'D! Gonna try and finish them up tomorrow.  Angi and Kaleb have been doing their damndest to hold down the fort as my attendance is not as stringent as i had hoped.  What can I say?  I'm not a young man anymore, and ten hours a day in a non climate controlled warehouse? It takes its toll! Not to mention drinking rot-gut cofee until 2 in the morning, i sit out here on the porch for three hours trying to mellow out so i CAN sleep!  Then up again at 7am?  I don't think so!  Heh!  Wendsday of last week, Elijah didn't realize i was still in bed, came in at three in the afternoon, found me there and woke me with a "hey! Don't you have to work?" Oh ye,,,THAT tired!
But, i have since left instructions to not let me sleep past ten...so more is getting done.
Poor Angi, though, she's getting real hard on herself when the shop doesn't do much, but I try and reassure her, it's not anything she's not doing...just that time of year!
The morning and evening weather is getting a lot better though, so it's just a matter of time!
Today..or yesterday, was our son's Logan's birthday. He's now fourteen...wow!  He's almost as tall as his dad!  Unfortunately, we couldn't afford a celebration, so it was a simple Happy Birthday from everyone.  Yes, over the last few months we've had to indefinitely post pone thre birthdays, but thankfully, they understand.  Bills and survival come first.  Sucks though.  Real shaft for them, but, unfortunately, beats being homeless...again!
Sorry, hate to lament so much...maybe thats why, unconsciously i haven't posted in a bit!  HA!
Every night, i pray it will get better, as we are holding on for dear life to not let this go.  And I'll tell you, its for reasons such as the following, we do...
Got a call from a gent who had brought in a Schwinn hybrid that was given to him with a badly damaged front fork he wanted to see if we could fix.  Unfortunately, the frame itself was badly tweaked, so a total loss.  He understood, but was disappointed.  However, he did go on to explain that the reason he broughr it in, was because we were the ONLY. bike shop he would ever use! He explained, we fixed his Giant last year, after two other bike shops refused  to even consider it, and he should just buy a NEW one, and two other places were looking for a kings ransom to fix it.  Then he found us!  Not only did we do it for a third of the lowest quote he got from the OTHER GUYS but that it had never ran so good!  And as that was his sole way to get to work, it was a Godsend!
THAT'S WHY WE DO IT FOLKS!!!
That conversation made a LOT of our troubles melt away!  Lot's of folks get it, and I thank that wonderful gentleman for making me walk on air for the day!
On the homefront...
Oy.
The "Banging our heads on a brick wall" has only mildly abated, but I'm still dealing with the arrogant prick I was at eighteen, and have come to the sad conclusion that had my mother, in fact, chosen to kill me in my sleep, when all the facts came out at her trial, it would have been ruled a "Justifiable Homicide "!
Ugh!
How i survived....I'll never know!
Kaleb turns eighteen in a week, and is under the same delusion that somehow his life will become a magical whirlwind of freedom and unbridled joy...
Criminelly!!!!
Has he been LIVING in the same house!?!?
Had to spend this morning having ANOTHER. "Coming to Jesus" talk this morning.  In one ear, out 'tother!
Oh well....we have five more ro pin our hopes too!
Allright, i best get cleaned up and hit the sack...long day tomorrow!
Love ya folks, see ya soon!
God Bless!

Our Own Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers!

 WELL!  That's the way to start a Monday!
Went out to have my morning coffee as the kiddos got ready for school and was delighted to feel a slight chill in the air!  There was even actual dew! Oh, I'm so having hopes fall is on it's way! We felt the cold shift last night after dinner, but thought it was more wishful thinking than anything else.  Saturday showed a littke promise as well, as several folks were coming in to get their rides in working order.  A sure sign that others are cautiously optimistic as well.  Although, a sure sign of the still refraining financial strain of this season, was the sheer volume of folks desperate to sell stuff. Sad, truly, as i had to be very selective given our cash crunch.  We did, however pick up a couple goodies, in the way of a girls 20" that looks brand new (as that was a donation from our good friend, John) and a ladies DBS that is also in excellent condition.  I'll have pics of them tomorrow as i forgot to charge the computer. Sorry!
Saturday, we just chilled. Friday night , usually reserved for movie night, was instead utilized for "discussion" time with the older boys, as the younger ones watched the pic.  Oh...Elijah was of the mind, Thursday night to try and convince me of the way life really works.  Convinced that happiness trumps everything, regardless of morality, legality, common sense or the pain and suffering one persons happiness inflicts on others.  Not to mention a genuinely sincere diatribe of how certain laws, make NO sense, therefore, he is not oblidged to adhere to them.
Oy.
He went on for sometime informing me that my outdated mode of obeying the rules put forth by society was senseless, and i was patient (to a point) to listen to his well worn, often repeated, reasons why certain things shouldn't be outlawed.
Yawn.
Somehow, he was under the impression his arguments were original.  Honestly, there were people in my parents generation saying the same bloody things, verbatim.
Once we got to the point of him asking me "so why is it illegal" i gave him the only answer that really matters "because it is."
I think he was looking for more, but given the fact I don't make the laws, doesn't matter what my opinions are, just that its my obligation to follow the law, and keep my family safe.
Yes, this went on for sometime, so in the end, Angi and I missed the movie, but watched it again with them on Saturday.
The final agreement with the boys was simple, in our house, should i even get a whiff of anything illegal I would be the one to have the police haul them away. And if, in fact, that was the lifestyle they would choose, they best start looking for another place to lay their heads....yesterday!
So, onto happier tidings! A belated SHOUT OUT to our friend, and frequent regular, Tim.  He buys and sells road bikes, and brings his booty in for work, and last week had a couple needing tweaks.  Knowing our current predicament, and the heat wave we (we'll, Angi more than me) have been under, he went out and found a couple battery operated fans to keep her cool!  Thank you SO much young sir!
Today, as it is cooler in the shop, I'm going to start stripping down some of the rides we've picked up that needed more work than we could endure the heat for (ok...I'm a whimp ) and bring them to the plant tonight and finally get to test them out on the sandblaster.
So, with that, best get a move on!
See ya soon!

Work Time Is No Time For Nap Time!

Yea, bit of a break there, but it's only been due to chaos. LOL! 
Things have gotten a smidge better.  We're at least seeing a few more faces come in, and more folks are starting to get out on two wheels again as the mornings and evenings have been slightly milder (rain not withstanding!) and of course, months of inactivity breed the need for tweaks here and there.  We've even managed to send a couple rides to new homes as well. 
This weekend was...well...not sure what the heck went on!  I was a little under the weather dealing with nausea and a persistent headache, but still trying to "Press On!" so I tried to keep up the schedule.  However, on Saturday, sitting in the back of the shop, having done everything I needed to do, I was just trying to rest my head, and, dangerously, kept nodding off!  Oh yea!  NOT good!  Trouble is, I have a "condition" (low grade narcolepsy) that allows me to function, walk, talk and interact when I'm sleeping!  Especially in times of heightened stress!  What? Stress? Around HERE!?  Yea, surprise, surprise!  Now, I have splintered memories of the interactions, but vague at best.  Here's the kicker!  I had been waiting for a young lady to come in and pick up an old Schwinn three speed, that we refurbed for her in exchange for a bike she brought in a while back.  She had bought a Townie "GiGi" a few years back, wanting vintage, but it only looked that way, and wanted the real thing. Now...I'd called and spoke with her earlier, and she informed me she would be in, in a little bit, than, having nothing else to do and my temples throbbing, I went out back and plopped in my wicker...and apparently passed out.  Next thing I remember, was Angi and Rozy, having come back from the library, rousing me when they came in.  We talked for a little bit about their adventures, than they left, and as I stood in the shop, alone, I looked around...and realized the Schwinn was no longer where I left it! 
Then....that creeping, fog enshrouded semi-awareness that accompanies the remembrance of any interaction I've ever had while "sleeping" slowly crept in.
OY!
I can remember greeting her, giving her the bike...but I cannot remember what....I.....said.
OY!
See, the trouble is, in that almost trancelike state, the conversation can go one of two ways, either I am completely coherent in my speech OR it will start out that way, and than degrade into incomprehensible ramblings (not unlike this blog HA, HA!) Oh...I can only hope it was the former!  (for example, one time, a friend of mine, who's house I had crashed at one night, told a story of how I shot awake in the middle of the night, got up, made myself a bowl of soup (cold from the can) and grabbed a box of pop tarts, sat at the end of his bed, and just started to talk pleasantly about the events of the day.  It was when he spoke and responded, he stated my eyes went wide, I jumped off the bed (dropping my snack) and looking forward, I apparently started stabbing my finger towards a corner of the celling shouting "Blood Money, Blood Money!! Rate a Penny! Rate a Penny!!"  I, to this day, have NO idea what the hell I was talking about! (and was never invited to sleep over again!) )
So, you see my concern for what, if anything I might have said!
Anywho, as no formal charges have been made (ha, ha!) I can only hope it went well!
So...anyway...
Yesterday was a bit of a SNAFU.  Angi came in to open the shop, as I was on my way to clean the bakery (was not up to it on Sunday) and to also check and see if the plant was in operation on the Holiday (it wasn't! YAY!) Trouble is, that morning, when my ultra rude alarm on my phone awoke me for the third time, I apparently shut off all the volumes.  Ugh!  Angi came in, shop phone in hand, only to not know when and if anyone called!  Until of course, several hours later, I came in and told her.  Needless to say, we missed a lot of calls.  Thankfully, I managed to reach a few folks, and they were looking to come in and check out the wares.  Here's where it got comical! 
For some unknown reason, three of the calls were looking for a 24" ride for a young girl. 
We had one left.
Oh...don't get ahead of me...
The first family to come in, gave it a test ride, liked it, and were more than happy with the meager price.  Actually, they were quite thrilled.  As it was raining, and they only had their family car they stated they were going to run home so they could grab the work van and come back and snag it.  Now, he left without paying for it, and while technically that meant it was still up for grabs, they were so smitten with it, I decided to consider it on hold.  Angi brought up the question "what about the others who wanted it?" A good point, but I still wanted to keep my word. 
Now it get's really interesting...
As Angi and I sat outside playing cards, two vehicles arrived, simultaneously in front of the shop...I mean, their tires bumped the curb at identical times!  The Indy Speed Way would have been studying the photos for HOURS to determine the winner!  We both looked at each other and chuckled a nervous laugh, chiming in unison "Ohhhhhh boy!"   Sure enough, it was the gent returning with the van AND the lady from California who had called first.
Oy....
Everything turned out okay in the end.  The gent was happy with the ride, and the young lady understood the timing, and even took the time to have her daughter try out the sweet 20" Mongoose we had ,which truthfully, fit her daughter a lot better than the 24", which would have been too big.  They decided to look around a little more, and that's cool.
Then, going back to our game of war, another two fathers came in with their daughters....looking for a 24"!
Sheesh!
Okey Dokey!  Now, I'm going to look desperately for something to keep me busy!
See ya soon! 

Back to the stone age, WILMA!!!

Oy.
Another slow night! This time around I only had about an hours work!  Sheesh!  I actually went out to the back work area with a bucket, and spent three hours hand picking all the little left over bits of metal off the ground. I was THAT bored!
Seems things are slow, all over, as there was no call from Angi that anything needed my attention at the shop, so I ended up sleeping until almost one pm!  She did, however, manage to pick up a couple rides, that while a tad bit outdated, were prime candidates for "AS-IS SPECIALS!!!  Requiring little more than a couple tweaks, they went out super cheap!  We pass the savings on to YOU!!  Yea... we're swell that way!
Hopefully, providence will step in, the weather will be nice, and we can have a busy day.  We did get in a couple more repairs and FINALLY found a source fir 26" presta valve tubes, so I can finish working on a customers Cannondale!  This thing has been sitting fir two weeksin the summer doldrums for us to licate sone!
One thing I DID accomplish the other night, was to build "DADDY'S BLACK BOX" out of scrap wood!  What this is, is a locking control box for the power stick where all the TV and whatnot cords are plugged in.  Once installed, I and Angi will have total control of when any of the entertainment is utilized.  From now on, this family is going "techno cold turkey!"  TV, video games, ETC. are a reward for school achievement, and completion ofchores and the like.  No more zombies droning out all of existence and reality for "feed me" instant gratification!  No, they'll be reading, playing games, going outside, clumbing trees, riding bikes, the things kids SHOULD do!  And just wait until Sunday!  Thats when i unceremoniously collect ALL the cell phones, hand helds, adaptorsand power cords and lock them away in my tool box, come monday, at the plant.  The mandate being, they won't be released until the end of the school year and ONLY if they pass with a B average or better! As far as the older boys?  Only, when they get a job, can pay for the setvice AND towards the electric consumption to charge them!
Oh, and I'm getting a lick box for the thermostat, setting it at 80 and leaving it there!  Oh heck yea!  I'm going all militant!  I'll be damned if I'm paying another $600.00 light bill so the kids can keep the house at 65 every damn day!
Samuel L Jackson eat your heart out! Im the TRUE medieval!!!
And to put one final nail in the coffin, I'm going to have a landline put in the house, and scour second hand shops for a wall mounted roatary phone for the kitchen, in case of emergencies.
Daddy is SO freaking serious!
Alright, about time for a shower and bed, then up again in three hours. Yahoo!
Make it worth my time!  Ha Ha!

I swear...that clock is going BACKWARDS!

Lord, what a SLOW nighr!  Sheesh! Got into the plant this afternoon and my to-do list was only four items! About two hours worth of work i had to stretch to ten! Seriously, by eleven i was SO BORED i contemplated climbing into one of the machines and taking a nap. Turns out it was already packed up inside with the extra equipment...no place to lay down.
+Sigh÷
Turns out they are training new people in first stage, so production is very slow. All the other departments were just as bored, but better than me at looking busy.  But, with no supervision around to give me something else to do, i wandered about, seeing if I could help.  Not so much...they were all trying to look busy as well!
I only popped my head in briefly at the shop this afternoon, did a couple assessments for repIrs, and checked out a little Mongoose BMX Angi picked up.  Didn't need much work, and hopefully Kaleb got it taken care of.  One of the repairs we ended up getting for parts, as i unfortunately had to let her know the repairs far exceeded the value of the bike.  She bought it from us about a year ago, lent it out, and they left it outside, after beating it to death.  Hate to write off a bike, but don't want them to waste their money either.  No worries, though, we'll get her hooked up with something better!
Angi also sent the ladies giant hybrid to a new home this AM.  We'd had a LOT of calls and texts on that one, but it sat for almost two weeks!  Then, without fail
, no sooner do we sell it, do three more people come in expecting to pick it up!  LOL!
So uea even with this opressive heat, starting to get busier! Fingers crossed!
lmost have enough to pay taxes, then on to lights!
If nothing else, Suzanne is getting fat and lazy wothpit her daily jaunt to the shop.  Oh, i can't have her come up now!  No AC and the poor girl is miserable! You would be too wearing a fur coat in Florida summers!
I spent the remainder of the afternoon cleaning and organizing my bay, not to mention finding all my tools the boys keep leaving lying around!
Hoping tomorrow brings more folks out, just avoid the afternoon sun.  Ugh! Thats a killer!
Okeu dokey, shower and bed. See ya soon!

Mr Roboto!

Well, early night tonight! Things have slowed this week at the warehouse, lots of folks taking vacation days for the time being. I had a short list, which was good as i felt like tital doggy poo when i went in. I think it's stress mashed up with forcing myself to consume some carbs for the long nighr. Not a good thing in the heat. On top of that a headache, so once i was done with the list, i requested an early departure. Chilling on the porch now before i hit the shower.
Today we had a couple(or few)repairs, and srnt the Specialized to a new home. Haven't touched base with Angi yet as if there was anything else after I left, as she's passed out asleep right now. Hopefully I'll get the full scoop when she wakes up. Still not anything new to report, funny how you grow dependent on power tools! But, nothing new coming in, anyway. Oh, i am praying so hard for the Snowbirds to come SOON!
Oh, I've been meaning to rant on this one thing i heard in the odd moment of actually listening to news a few nights back (swung past NPR while trying to escape the incessantly repeating 20 songs on all of Floridas radio stations!) They had an interview about this "Hacker dump" of all the personal information of ALL the people who had patroned a "cheating site". Now, forgive my bluntness, but i think any who comits adultery should be branded on the forehead with a BIG A, but thats me. Seems that some pious hackers thought it would be a good idea to post everyones info for the world to see. Hmmmmm? Ok, the righteous side of my brain, at first, shouted "HELL YEA!" but then the calmer side said..."wait..." lets face it, people can do some dumb sh...tuff, and many of these folks may never have actually "hooked up". But what i find REALLY disturbing is...how does ANYONE know if the people listed ACTUALLY are who they SAY they are!? Talk about a good way to frame someone! I mean REALLY, do you TRULY think all those people you chat with and divulge your life too on Facebook are Really real?  Well, i guess of you enough of a knuckle knob to give out a lot of personal info to a total stranger? Well, you deserve to get screwed every way to Subday! I mean, do you KNOW how easy it is to post a fake bio to any of these things?  Here's a hint, go to yahoo, make a fake Email  adress, go online, type in the kind of person you want to be, hit photos, and youll have a tsunami of pics to choose from! You have now changed from a 49 year old, slightly overweight white male, into a buxom 22 latin girl (pictures courtesy of adds for spandex!).  Then, get creative, write up a backstory, and get friended ALOT!
Yes folks, the numbers are in, 87% of all responces online are NOT real people!
So no wonder my incredulity!
Allright, i best get some shut eye!
See ya soon!