Drizzle today, change tomorrow.

Drizzle all day today, warm but damp. We are getting to have more bad weather motorcyclists up here every year. Good for us. I don't ride in winter but will ride in rain and chill. Saves on the gas, teaches me to be cautious, and keeps my skills fresh. Trees are just beginning to turn and Wisconsin is entering another beautiful fall. As much as I dislike winter I really enjoy the other seasons up here.

My son left for San Francisco today. I am not sure of his plan. He is going out to check out some jobs and look for a place to live. I wish I could go with him but I depend on, and like, my job. My company is experiencing some setbacks lately and this job may end without notice but I am fairly well prepared if that happens. I can fix, finish and sell motorcycles for at least several months. I also have enough parts to sell to keep me busy evenings posting items.

As the election get closer I am amazed that there are still undecided voters. There is such a clear difference between the philosophies of the parties that I can't imagine not being decided at this date. The Reign of Error of the past 8 years has certainly been a disaster for America. I don't see either party or either candidate with enough clout to stop the corporations from continuing to establish an oligarchy of greed and corruption. Still I am an optimist and believe that a thousand years from now we will have solved many of the problems which plague us now. I get a chuckle from the people who think the world will end soon. That's wishful thinking from people who want cosmic vindication for their beliefs. We will probably go through some global crisis on a regular basis until we get things sorted and that scares me even though I won't be around to see most of it.

I am glad that I have been alive during the era of great mechanical toys. I also know that it must come to an end. I'd like to live to see what happens in the next hundred years. It will be interesting and different. A hundred years ago no one could have predicted the advances in technology and medicine. What we need now is advances in social philosophy. There is no real need for us to still be fighting battles over health care and basic services. We know how to make enough for everyone and how to deliver it. We need to learn how to share. Truly the love of money is the root of all evils. Any ideas for attacking that problem will be appreciated.
LN

September

After days of rain and gloom it is beautiful weather. The leaves are just beginning to turn. The sumac along the river road is bright blood red. I took the long way home, Microns booming desmo music.
It's important to be able to get away from the noise of the political bull**** and bluster this time of year. By the time it quiets the riding season will be over up here. I've heard more than enough political lies to last a life time. Riding takes my mind off the whole affair. Nature and the joy of a fine machine on a good road are a great philter. These fall days are precious, especially knowing that winter will follow.

I am better prepared for winter this year. I have walled off a small corner of the garage so that I will have a space I can heat cheaply. With fuel prices rising it is important to have a practical space for winter projects. That's the time of year to focus on all those projects that get put off when the air is warm and the sun shines. Summer I do the minimum of maintenance chores. Winter I enjoy working on next year's ride. This winter I have a transmission to replace and some other details to get my Moto Guzzi T3 cruiser ready. I also have a little more to do to finish the Ducati Monza 160. When those are done there is a Gold Wing that needs carb cleaning and a tune up. So it goes. The projects keep me busy until it is time to ride. I'm close enough to retirement it's about time to sell some of my completed projects. I'll miss them. Especially in the winter when all I can do is look and putter. LN