I love it!

As you know, I seek out the "characters" in life and genuinely enjoy the encounters with these people. People that fit in the mold of everyday life hold very little entertainment value. Heck, I might as well just look in the mirror if I seek a plain vanilla person.

One of the blogs I regularly read is "Randy and Diana" and Randy also loves eccentrics and often writes about them (hmmm, does that sound familiar?).

Here, Randy gets the story is his latest. Homeless doesn't seem so bad to this guy, because I am sure he doesn't consider himself "homeless" and I would have to agree with him.

Homeless

Saturday on my way to work as I exited the frontage road for my 3 mile use of the interstate, I noticed a bicyclist pulling a trailer I would have passed had I stayed on the frontage road. I pulled off the interstate and waited for him to reach me, expecting once more to talk to a touring biker.

"Steve" stopped and we talked a few minutes. I didn't ask his age but I would guess him to be at or near retirement (62years) age. He was riding an older mountain bike (its make hidden by what appeared to be several repaints) and pulling a modified child type two wheel trailer. I had a hard time reading him and his setup. Either he had been doing this for some time or had bought a used mountain bike with a few added features. All the extras were as used as the bike and I can only assume they were added when the bike was new.

The weather was just above freezing and Steve was wrapped up for it. He said he had spent Thursday night in a homeless shelter in Little Rock and headed south and spent Friday night in a church in Benton (20 miles southwest). The Benton police had told him that rain (maybe sleet) was forecast for the next 2 days so he had decided to head back to Little Rock.

I usually ask more questions but Steve seemed "homeless" and just had a bike to carry his possessions. The last thing I wanted to do was embarrass him. He could have been a traveling homeless person or from Little Rock, either way he was doing the best he could do. Several things did point to him as being a roadie. He was wearing a helmet and his trailer had a "caution, slow moving vehicle triangle" on it.

I wished I could have invited him into the nearby convenient store for a hot coffee and more conversation but I was running late (as usual). He said he was wanting to head south after the rains and I explained the best way out of town.

If indeed he were homeless and traveling, then he was rather ingenious because most police will not bother a touring bicyclist that is camping out except to tell them that camping is not permitted in their jurisdiction and ask them to move on. The public will offer to help where they would turn up their noses at a homeless person.

When I gave Steve some money I did not want it to look like a handout so I said, "Steve, I ride a bike and would someday like to hit the road for a trip, so please let me buy you a warm meal". He thanks me and we parted ways.

Homelessness in America is a big problem and just to get by on SS takes more creativeness, but I am not so naive as to think when I help someone it is about "them", helping strokes ones own ego and we all like be feel better about ourselves. I pick and choice and it does feel good to think you have helped someone that needs it as opposed to someone only there for a handout.

c2c

"c2c", what on earth could that stand for? Well, "c2c" stands for "Coast to Coast" or "Sea to Sea", meaning a trip across America. These are terms used by bicyclist (among others) to identify the epic adventure in terms of traveling across America.

This idea first became popular (due to media coverage) in 1976 because of the 4000 bicyclists that cycled across America to celebrate the bicentennial of America. From this event the Adventure Cycling Association was formed and the rest is cycling history.

Cyclist now just refer to the trip as "going across".

Adventure Cycling Association sells detailed maps of several routes including a map of the original bicentennial route,
















also the northern route,
















and southern tier.

















In the past I have written about John and Jerry
but Friday was the first cyclist I have met that was "going across".













Bryan was not using the bike maps but was playing it by ear and using a small road atlas for general directions. I met him on highway US64 that parallels I-40 across Arkansas, just to the south of I-40 from the western edge of the state until Conway (nearly in the center of the state) and then north of I-40 (moving farther north of the Interstate) for the remaining route to the eastern side of the state. Most of this road has a nice wide shoulder to ride on.

Bryan had been on the road about 45 days since leaving Oregon and mostly camping with a few motel nights mixed in, he was in no hurry and just heading east to the Atlantic Ocean. He works as a campground maintenance man and his campground was closed for the winter. He had plans to head south and hit US82 and follow it east. Again his bike was not the traditional touring bike but part of his equipment was top notch. Any bike in decent shape can be used for touring but a traditional touring bike is designed to carry the load and be comfortable mile after mile. His Ortlieb bags (panniers) are some of the most popular used by touring cyclist. His tire pump was another thing altogether. He was carrying a "floor type" tire pump.







While they do an excellent job, they are a little heavy compared to







this small and easily carried model.

Since Little Rock and crossing the Arkansas River can be a challenge, I helped him devise a plan to stay on US64 past Little Rock and showed him the route I thought (again, not always the same on a bike as in a car) would be best for him as he headed south to US82, mindful that crossing the Mississippi River can also be a challenge on a bike.

Bicycling across America would be physically challenging but the mental challenge would be even greater. As a teenager I hitchhiked all over the west and as a man I have taken many motorcycle trips but when on a bicycle you are hours away from changing what ever situation you find yourself in.

Bad Boy

Long before I was diagnosed with type II diabetes, I would have spells about once a year where I would be "mad at the whole world". It would build to a point that I could not stand myself. I would start taking a multi-vitamin and in a week or so realize my attitude had changed.

I now believe this was really early signs of diabetes. Now when my sugar gets a little high, I get depressed and mad at the world.

After being diagnosed with diabetes, I lost about 75 lbs. in 12 weeks, started riding a bicycle 45 to 70 miles a week. My sugar would be in the upper 70's in the morning and I felt better than I had in years (except for the fact that I no strength at 175 lbs).

Over the next year or so I let my weight ease up to 185 lbs., my sugar around 95, and my blood pressure about 110/70 and I gained my strength back. I would check it every day and it was always the same.

Slowly I rode the bike less, didn't watch my diet as closely, and checked my sugar only occasionally. The weight started easing up but it stayed below 200 lbs.

Fast forward and I haven't ridden my bike in two years, eat anything I want, weight on the wrong side of 225 lbs, and for the last month my depression and anger have returned. My blood sugar is too high @125 and something has to be done.

The world is not a pretty place when seen thru my miserable eyes. Blogger has been giving me fits, but the real truth is for the last month I have not had anything "good" to say about my life or the world.

Peggy Walters Lemons

This afternoon as I opened my e-mail I was shocked to find one of my "Gurdon High Class of 1966" had passed away. She was married to Huey Lemons.

Peggy was more than a classmate, she was the one that took my innocence (no, not that kind), she was the first girl to break my heart.

I moved to Gurdon my senior year but this story starts earlier than that. I knew Huey long before I knew Peggy. Huey moved to Bearden while I still lived there and we became friends. It has been so long ago but I think he only lived in Bearden a few months. Peggy has actually known Huey long before he moved to Bearden.

After moving to Gurdon and making a total ass out of myself for several months, I found myself seated next to Peggy in science class. After a few months I asked her out and she said she would have to get back to me on it. Later she broke the news, I had to meet her parents (things were different in 1966).

The Beatles were popular and I had "the hair" but was smart enough (with Peggy's
suggestion) to wet it down and comb it in a more traditional style when around her parents. Her mom seems to like me but I can't say the same for her dad, but dads never like the daughter's boyfriends. Mom won off and we were now a "couple".

We started dating and she was my date for "senior prom". We didn't actually go because I was having brake troubles with my 1957 Plymouth and found we were late to the prom and decided not to go in after arriving at Arkadelphia.

After graduation Peggy attended Ouachita Baptist College and moved back to Bearden and found a job. We dated for several more weeks but she finally dumped me (smart girl).

"Puppy Love" always holds a place in ones heart. I will always cherish her friendship and am truly saddened by her passing. My thoughts are with Huey and her family.

Bus Conversion

As a rver, I always notice rvs on the road. Most are "run of the mill" factory built units. When I see an unsual rv I take special notice.

I met Mel from Peoria, Il. at a rest area and struck up a conversation with him (image that!). He and his wife were headed to "the valley" in Texas for the winter. They spend their winters in the Brownville area and their summers at home in Peoria.

Their rv is a conversion on a 1962 GMC Greyhound bus. Not one of the "high dollar" factory rigs but an owner built unit with all the comforts of home. It was already converted when they purchased it 7 years ago but has been remodeled by Mel to better suit their needs.















The bus has apartment size appliances instead of the usual rv size units. Their Danby refrigerator (very energy efficient) runs off an inverter powered by six 6 volt golf car batteries when on the road and the inverter switches to a battery charger when hooked to shore power (regular electricity from a light pole) or plugged into their onboard generator.

I would have visited longer but I had over 400 miles to cover before my day could end.

Rainbows

Life thru the windshield has its moments.

After more than two weeks I get to publish this. It has to be short and sweet.

!@#%#%^$#$ Blogger

Blogger and I are still not on speaking terms. I just can't figure it out.

October Book Review

It's been awhile since I posted but I have been working 6 long days a week and just didn't feel like fighting with blogger.

"Quakertown" by Lee Martin was mentioned on a blog I read and it did indeed turned out to be a nice read.

Based on a true story about a black settlement in Denton, Texas (in the 1920's) called Quakertown. The town wanted the land for a city park and needed to move all the black folks out. To accomplish this they enlisted one of the most respected men in Quakertown. A gardener of immense talent and offered him the job of seeing after the new park.

I back dated this to the first of the month. I have been trying that long to get it posted.

Kermit

Small green tree frogs sometimes find their way into our trailers while riding on a wooden pallet. They seldom survive because once they get cold (our trailer in in the lower 30's) they can not move.

Yesterday I found one on the floor that could not move but was still alive. I put him outside on the ground to warm up. As I moved across the ramp from one trailer to another, I kept an eye on him. Slowly he began to warm and get some mobility. After a few minutes he started to hop around and a few minutes later he was out of site.

I knew I would need to find him and move him across the road to the tree line if he were to survive. After I finished loading my trailer I couldn't see him anywhere. I moved one of the trailers back to its parking place and came back to have a better look.

After searching I still couldn't locate him. As I turned to walk around the other trailer, I spotted him. He has moved to the shade under one of my tires and I had run over him. Sorry Kermit, I did my best.

Flashback Friday

France

Today I will post a few pictures and comments about my trip to France.











Milk is found on the shelf with the other groceries. No refrigeration is needed until it is opened. Can't say it really tastes that much like our milk, although it was not too bad.














There were jars with veggies stacked 2 and 3 high, very convenient.












This is an ATM for renting videos. It was on the outside wall of the video store and could be used 24 hours a day. Insert your video store card, select your movie (using a browse or search ), pay with cash or credit card and be on your way in about a minute. Movies could be returned the same way and could be rented for as little as 6 hours. Inside the movies were rented by the day just like back home. The same rates did not apply inside. Daily rentals were much cheaper inside the store, but if you just wanted to grab a movie and view it and come right back you couldn't beat the price.





























































































ff

Talk is Cheap

He passed me in his Ford F-250 with a temporary tax showing he had purchased the used truck that very day.

When I pulled into the rest area just east of Texarkana, I noticed him getting out of his truck. Before he could walk the 150 ft to the vending machines, he had turned to look at his truck no less than 4 times. He was obviously very proud of it.

As I headed to the restroom, he was coming back to his truck (never taking his eyes off of it). I stopped him and asked about his truck (knowing he would like to talk about it).

His father and brothers both had diesel pickups but this was his first. It was a 2000 model that he would use to drive to work and pull a small horse trailer. After I bragged on his purchase, he was off to show his wife.

Upon returning from the restroom, I noticed a small car pulling up with its gas cap dangling. As I approached the driver, he was rambling in the glove compartment. He noticed me and rolled down his window and said, "Good afternoon young man". Yes, he was older than me (getting harder to find every day).

When I told him about the gas cap and the fact that it would cause the "check engine" light to come on, he laughed and said, "Heck, I knew that but would you believe I was just looking for the phone number of the rental car agency because the "check engine" light had just came on". He thanked me for saving him an embarrassing phone call and we both had a good laugh.

I love to talk to people and "talk is cheap". Cheap, heck it's free.

Accident

As I was leaving Little Rock today I saw a fool on a silver motorcycle doing a wheelie coming down the interstate. He was not even smart enough to be wearing a helmet like the guy in this photo.











Coming in this afternoon, traffic was stopped for a accident that involved a silver motorcycle. I wondered if it was the same one from earlier in the day.

Flashback Friday

I will start using "Flashback Fridays" to finish stories I have started and failed to finish or just update past stories.



FRANCE,

Zac had his "crew" over for dinner at his apartment on my last night in Le Mans, France.



We had time between his early morning class and late afternoon class to hop on the city bus and ride to the edge of town to do our shopping. I can't remember the stores name but it was a "big box super store", very similar to aWalMart Super Center.



What I found very interesting was the meat selection. It was displayed not unlike a fresh open air meat market. A large portion of the meat (and all the sea food) was not wrapped and placed on a bed of shaved ice. This was not in glass cases as in the US but on open beds as vegetables are displayed in America.

One large display caught my eye as the cuts of meat were large and a light pink color. When I asked, Zac laughed and told me it was "horse meat". I guess that explains the large ribs.Meat is very expensive in France and really used to flavor dishes.



We were having a pasta casserole for main dish, with a large salad and a pie size raspberry tart for dessert. The wine would be furnished by our quests.















Left to right, Matt, Emily (the high school teacher), Emily, and of course Zachary.

The meal was a great success and the wine flowed freely (until we ran out after 3 bottles) and the conversation was splendid.

I commented on the 2 Emilies (both New Englanders) not having the Boston accent. They both ensured me that it was there but hidden.

When Zac and I started with the southern black mammy "hush your mouth" routine, they about fell out of their chairs laughing.

All to soon we had to say our goodbyes and I would not see them again. I am most appreciative of the hospitality they extended to me. A fine a group of young people as I have ever met.

PMSing

Things have not been going well in my little world and regular readers know I have been "on the rag" for some time.

There has been a big event looming for several weeks and yesterday "it hit the fan". I have two choices, take or quit.

Our company ( a division of a larger corp) has had a nice 401k package. With their match I have been saving over 20% of my pretax wages.

Yesterday we finally found out about our new retirement package from Prairie Farms (our parent corp). They have a "Thrift Plan" (similar to a profit sharing plan) that our 401k balances will be rolled into. We have no choice unless we quit.

Their plan is great for the younger workers (that they want) but terrible for older workers ( that they would rather not have [ and by the way, you will not see them hiring]).

Our 401k plan was with Fidelity and we had about a dozen choices where we could place our money. The money was placed once a month and "cost averaging" worked in our favor.

In the "Thrift Plan", one has to put in 2% of post tax dollars (can add up 6% more) to participate. That money will be sent to the plan manager once a month and once a year there may or may not be money added ( a percentage of your annual earning) by the company. You have no options as to how he will invest all monies in the plan ( your 401k money or the "Thrift Plan" money). It is put in one "blended vehicle" ( stocks and bonds). Even if you choose not to participate with new money, your old 401k money will be sent to the plan manager.

The 401k money (pretax) and "Thrift Plan" (post tax) will be separated within the plan as there will be no taxes due on the "Thrift Plan" money at time of withdrawal. You can specify which monies you want to withdraw at retirement age. You could use the two to minimize you taxes at retirement.

The problem (besides not having better control over you investments) for old workers and myself is that at only 8% maximum (and those being post tax dollars) and no guaranty of company money being added, it falls well short of my 20% retirement savings.

If company money is added, it will only be added once a year. Thus eliminating "monthly cost averaging". For younger workers or anyone saving a very small percentage it will be a winner for them. Plus you have to plan your retirement date after October 1 of your retirement year for fear of missing out on company contributions. One could retire several months earlier but it would be unwise to retire a month or two before a possible yearly windfall.

As for me, I will be screwed out of several thousand dollars a year, not to mention I have zero control of my retirement money.

I would like to work a while longer but don't like being boxed in a corner with my retirement savings.

A Taxing Matter

In Arkansas, one pays “sales tax” on every vehicle purchased until the purchase price falls below $2500. Years ago it was an advantage to buy a used vehicle ( assuming it had been titled in Arkansas at one time and the sales tax paid), because one didn’t have to pay sales tax on a used vehicle.

My 2006 Dodge was bought new 16 month ago and sales tax was paid by the original owner. I have just paid sales tax again when I titled the truck.. That amounts to over $4000 for the state in less than a year and a half. If this truck were sold a few more times in the next few years the state would receive more in taxes than the truck cost new.

Our city of Bryant, Ar. is one of fastest growing (if not the fastest ) towns in our state. In this small town there has been literally thousands of new homes built in the last 5 years and yet they are asking for a “millage increase”. Where does it all stop.

When I first started doing my mechanic work in the early 70’s there was no tax due on used parts or labor.

Our state is eliminating sales tax on groceries and immediately the price of groceries go up ( a coincident, I don‘t think so). People haven’t saved a dime but it just added more profit for grocery stores.

I guess I need to check my sugar as I can't seem to get off this soap box.

Unusual load

This picture does not really capture the image my eyes saw as I exited the interstate to drop a trailer at an Arkadelphia, Ar. truck stop.

From the distance of the interstate, my eyes could mainly see just the pipes on the trailer. It looked like several rows of pipe stacked vertically. Defiantly now the normal way to haul pipe. It made for a very unusual looking load.

The pipes were welded to sheets of expanded medal. I didn't see the driver , so I couldn't ask if he might know what they were going to be used for.

September book review

My September book review is a little late this month because, heck you don't want excuses.

"CASH OUT"
A novel by Paul Boray.

A bookie is robbed of $300,000 and his girlfriend badly beaten and raped by a Chinese gang that tells him he is going into early retirement or else. He contacts ex-cop John "Tomb" Tomie to help get even with the gang and recover his money (he offers "half" to Tomb). Tomb enlists a former cop on the Chinatown beat to help.

This novel has several twists and turn, some you see coming and some you don't. When I was thru with it, I had to recall some small details earlier in the book to see how the ending could be "the end".

The first person that shows an interest in this book will receive it free by e-mailing me their "snail mail" address. I will send it media mail to said address. Don't be bashful, I think you will enjoy this book and my book shelf is running over.

Mortgage bail out

The pres outlined plans for a mortgage bail out of some homeowners.

I don't think so!

There are exceptions to every rule but I don't see why the government (a.k.a. you and I) should bail out people that bought more house than they could afford on an adjustable mortgage just because the interest rates were at an all time low. Historical lows rates means it is a given that your payments WILL go up.

More importantly, we are bailing out the mortgage companies that made these inadvisable loans. I own some financial stocks so I am "cutting off my nose to spite my face". Decisions should be made by what is right, not what is beneficial to me. To me THIS is just not right for a government that can't pay it's own bills.

Your opinions you vary and I respect the fact that we can have different opinions.

OK, I will get off my soapbox for now.

I'm getting smarter

I really must be getting more intelligent in my old age. I know it must be so because my son asks me questions and seeks my opinion a lot more than he did 10 years ago.