Road Test

... James Dalton: "pain don't hurt" ...

... Doc Clay: "most of my patients would disagree with you"...

                                                                    - Road House (1989)

... definitely an uneventful summer - lots of time spent tending a fractured knee since mid April... finally showing some significant improvement so we thought that we'd take it for a trial run up over the ridge this afternoon - not too rigorous - not too easy... we conjured up our old buddy Ghost Rider to partner along - hadn't seen 'em in a few years - don't matter - there's no such thing as time in the spirit realm...

... toted along the Olympus TG4 - a few images...

... ride'n the high ground...

... ridgetop pond...

... some nice purple late August wildflowers...

... the notorious root on the old 'Root Hill' hill climb - this image doesn't even come close to conveying the steep nor ruggedness of this f*k'd up climb - the root and line appears to be even more washed and loose than we recall from glory days... maybe not...

... we'll find out first thing in the morning as to how well today's therapy went (when we roll out of bed)...

You Would Think

... that a (little brown) bat could potentially carry rabies disease...

... You would think that if a (mottled gray) cat put out the lights of the (little brown) bat, the (mottled
gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat could potentially contract rabies disease should the (little brown) bat be infected...

... You would think that the guiding state wildlife authority would readily engage in testing the (little brown) bat that potentially infected the (mottled gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat for rabies contagion if the (little brown) bat that potentially infected the (mottled gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat was submitted for testing via an ordinary average guy concerned over rabies infection to the (mottled gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat that has potentially infected the (mottled gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat...

... You would think that this testing would be provided as a public service and not require an authorized veterinarian request and fee of $266 + veterinarian fees to the ordinary average guy concerned over rabies infection to the (mottled gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat that has potentially infected the (mottled gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat...

... You would think that the veterinarian clinic would convey a bit more concern for the (mottled gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat that potentially infected the (mottled gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat, other than, being a Friday afternoon, scheduling the (mottled gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat that potentially infected the (mottled gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat for inoculation the following Monday afternoon - especially considering the fact that the current rabies vaccination to the (mottled gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat that potentially infected the (mottle gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat was due for a booster shot a month ago (ordinary average guy at fault there)...

... lights out...

...the little brown bat that potentially infected the (mottled gray) cat that put out the lights of the (little brown) bat that potentially infected the (mottled gray) cat...

... You would think...

Fun And Games

... here we be - a bit beyond twenty years into the millennium and the world goin' to hell in a hand basket - pandemics - a bit just under half the population apparently embracing humorless bi*chers and moaners (pod people)... oh well, all beyond our control... screw it... lets have some 20th century fun...

...we were recently searching for an item on eBay when we stumbled across a collection of old 'Continental Classic' novels for sale - "literature" we'd long forgotten... a buddy of ours had acquired a handful of these tales sometime between 8th and 9th grades - 'Adult Only' paperbacks - "action packed" for sure (XXX) - other than the suggestive and often humorous titles and "author" they were all identical in cover art - an adorning graphic of the 'Eiffel Tower' emphasizing their "European" sensibility - each a bright balloon pastel to add some zest... we're sure that the closest these things had in relationship with originating from the "continent" was a little skinny Jersey guy typing away in the basement while his thrice-sized Italian mama was busy in the kitchen rolling pasta noodles, he's hurriedly trying to finish a page or two before she bursts in and discovers how he is actually earning that extra $25 per week, right before she puts a few dumplings on his lid with the rolling pin...

(Internet Image)

... a classic 'Classic'...

... we had a bit of fun with these back in school days - we'd approach a group of gals - there always had to be three or more for ultimate reaction - five was optimum... not drawing attention to, but volume openly in hand... the banter would usually proceed as thus...

... "what do you guys have there!"...

... "nothing''...

... "whats' that book?"...

... "nothing"...

.. "lets see it!"...

... "we can't show ya' this - no way"...

... "why not!? - what's wrong with it!!?"...

... "you gals are too innocent - you couldn't handle it"...

... "give us that book!!"...

... after a bit more back and forth we'd always "reluctantly" hand it over - open to a pre-selected, particularly saucy passage... the gals would always cluster tight - crowding shoulders - dead silence - eyes scanning print... give 'em thirty seconds and all eyes would bug out and jaws would drop before the book came hurtling back our direction...

... "you guys are sick!" (guilty)... "degenerates!!" (guilty)... "perverted!!!" (guilty)...

... worked every time...

... later...

... one or more of the gals would usually corner ya', always alone... after a short bit of small talk...

... "uhhh - do you mind if I (we) borrow that book?"...

... ya' get 'em to beg and plead a bit...

... "ok - but you make sure you give it back and don't let anything happen to it - and don't lend it to anyone else!!..."

... "I (we) won't and I(we) promise to give it right back... and don't you dare tell anyone!!!..."

... always got the book back and never told a soul...

... silence (usually) later had it's reward...