Squashed Dreams or UPS SUCKS

You know - as shippers go - I think UPS is all about BROWN because it's a perfect color match for POO. Every time I really need something to arrive they either lose it half-way or smash it to pieces. Now they smashed my visors before I even got my grubby hands of them and the end result is they refund the awesome price I paid or them, and not the price it will cost me to get them elsewhere. It's really disappointing to have to wait 3 weeks for them to decide it's really lost too. Looks like my luck changes like the weather in South Louisiana. I do know now that UPS is way more then postal shipping and in the future I will look for eBay shippers that offer USPS as an option - I've come to really love the price and speed of their priority mail service. UPS just sucks, and fedex ground is even more pitiful. How the can be more expensive with crappier service and still be here is beyond me.

Missing Person

You know recently I've found myself pining for the good old days. Some of the happiest times I can remember were right before they opened up my head, inserted a piece of stainless steel, and made the vorpal blade go snicker-snack! That did it for most of my memory - but even as my body rotted on that cold steel table and the life ebbed out of me I was already swinging my leg over the saddle of a piece of gasoline powered crack. In a deep coma I rode forever on sunny highways with beautiful yet surreal scenery in an eclectic dance with the thrumming machine. OK - well back to the point - I really miss Brother Crash - my life is missing that spark he always put into it. Maybe I'm just wallowing in self-pity and that maybe is more of a probably, but I never realized how much I would miss him when he left. You know it's actually fun to plan a day trip to Baton Rouge the long way and take 4 hours to cover 100 miles, or get woken up at 5am to ride to McDonald's for Bacon, Egg, and Cheese McGriddles - Just because they're tasty and because he just thought we needed to go for a ride. I remember thinking how much better I liked myself (at times) when he was around as he seemed to bring out a side fo me that was actually appealing. Of course I could be wrong about that, but then again I'm wrong about a lot of things. I keep hoping that maybe - Just maybe - he will eventually get away from his 7-9 office job and move home to teach at Tulane or UNO. Yes I said TEACH at a COLLEGE? I'm sure his classes are terribly interesting - with the class paying rapt attention as he lectures in chaps and a thong. - Oh that's a jpg I did not need. But I am finding myself wondering if the return of my other brother John from Denmark will culminate in his purchasing and revitalizing his own rat-like motley assemblage he will license as a motorcycle. But I'd settle for Brother Crash finding a house in Slidell and leaving the PRP (People's Republic of Pennsylvania). Especially, since when he comes down all he has to ride here is Deb's bike and he looks like a buffoon on it. I also want to see him back on a cruiser and putting "bitchpork" (his NightHawk 750) to the back of the garage. Oh well, I'm off to bed to try to think happy thoughts... It's like having a happy little puppy wanting to play all the time and yipping in such a way that you just can't refuse. It would be a bad thing if he wasn't a like a cheer grenade - Even my Krewe who won't allow anyone not completely straight let Crash in free and ask me to bring him because he makes the party fun. I think in a lot of ways he reminds me of the Cat in the Hat - and beware because he can quote Dr. Seuss better than his 5 year old niece...

Headlight and Turn Signal Visors

Well I learned a lesson about getting what you pay for regarding chrome. Seems that cool visor for the headlight I had from JC Whitney finally just rusted to pieces. It was cool but cheap, too cheap to survive some realistic use. I was feeling bummed about this and had been wanting a whole set when I ran into a deal on eBay and picked up and ENTIRE SET for the VStar 1100 Custom from Yamaha for only 15$ including shipping! I think they will add a really nice touch and I've found the factory chrome is really much better than alot of the stuff being passed off as "good" or "show quality" chrome.

Saddlebags Acquired - Updated

I think my current Willie and Max "Mechanic" Saddlebags have been awesome - make no mistakes about it. They could haul 2 cases of soda or beer on each side, and had the space to stow all kinds of gear like jackets and such. Hower such storage can also mean that you can end up toting around the whole crew's beach implements and such.I found this husband and wife team on the internet that makes these things for horses up in rural Washington State - but you know they're pretty good size and look really beautifully handmade and finished. I decided immediately that I had to have them for the bike. To make the deal all the sweeter they cost me just under $40 including the shipping. Look for 56Bullwhip on eBay if you think you need a pair too.

Seat Rail

I know eveyone will think I lost it - but this seat rail is awsome. I'll have to take some pics once it is mounted and it fits just fine around the Cobra sissybar, luggage rack, and passenger backrest. This isn't a Yamaha part, but it's made of chomed stainless and it just fits beautifully into the tubularness of the luggage rack and such. I have not decided whether or not to wrap the handholds in leather or not yet. That will be a decision for a later time - as I'm still thinking of all the cool things to do with that distressed cowskin. I'm also considering manufacturing some leather inserts from the stock handgrips which currently have "pleather" inserts. I have been wondering what kind of damage I could do with the leather tooling book and kit I bought at Hobby Lobby which would make the grips sick beyond all reason.

Time for New Leather

OK - if I can't ride it maybe I will play dress up and wipe it with a diaper. But seriously there were always a few things I wanted to change about the bike, I may be straight but I still hate the black leather - so we started by getting some new upholstery leather in the "Distressed Cow" I have been unable to find before. We'll be using this to make a driver and passenger seat and backrest pad as well as making a new Tank Bib - even plainer than the last one. Of course, I'll probably have to wrap the grips in this beautiful hide too - and lord only knows what other uses I will think of for the remnants of this 18sq/ft of gorgeous leather.

Whining about riding

It's been awhile since I've been able to get out an about on the beast. However, the thought of getting out to ride has kept me going most of the last year. Recently it dawned on me just how much I have been looking forward to being able to ride regularly again. I keep telling myself that things will get better soon, and if I'm being delusional - who am I hurting? Overall, the bike is in good shape and aside from the battery being a little low on the charge, she should be ready to go as soon as I am.