Another Crazy Suburban Saturday Night

I just filled my second caff. free Super Gulp.  Man, I roll crazy on saturday nights.  Look out.

I am about 4 mins from starting Fight Club.

Just done

... putting anopther coat of spackle on some drywall. It would have
been done earlier today but a 5 year old wanted to see what happened
when she stuck her finger in the center of a patch job this
afternoon. Shoot.

It wasn't malicious, really more of her own little science project
and she fessed up to it as soon as I asked in a booming kinda voice.
I guess I could have done without the voice, but it was more like my
reaction and the question all rolled into the same 3 seconds. Oh
well, we are learning here in the Sprague house.

The ultimate fishing emblem

Here is the final plug that is being used by the machines in China.


1800 in Chrome anodized (much shinier than what you see here in clear
anodized) and 200 in a gold anodized.

Here is the front and back of the blister packaging card.

Finder's FEE!- I am selling my truck

I am selling the truck. It is solid enough that I would sell it to a
friend- but none of my friends really need it. Maybe you know someone
else who might.

I am willing to deal - especially to a friend of a friend of a ...
your finder's fee may end up being a 12-pack of Michelob by the end
of a lengthy negotiation, though.

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/car/240927579.html

Peace and grease,
ES

1997 Ford F150 Kelley Blue Book Value

Click the picture to enlarge.
I plugged in the options and stuff and this is what the private party value is of my truck according to KBB.com

SportsCar personality test

I'm a Honda S2000

You live on the edge, and you live for the adrenaline rush.
You don't need luxuries, snob appeal, or superfluous gadgets. You put
your top down, get your motor revving, and take all the curves that
life throws at you at full speed. So what if you spin out
occasionally?

Take the Which Sports
Car Are You? quiz.

My Eyes are Broken

I was putting Avery down for a nap, and after a good long talk and some snuggle time, I went and got my eye drops. She asked if I will have to use them for the rest of my life. I explained that after the eye surgery it takes some people up to a year to get their tears working again.
Have you ever seen Daddy cry?
Right, my eyes are broken.

New Order

So I am realigning the original goal of this blogspace. It was intended to be a place to put some old spiral notebooks full of ramblings into electronic form. I have since taken those original entries and given them another address.

I have learned alot from Richard and John and Mike., but there is something about my dad that is easy to grab onto.- he just has a nice demeanor and relaxed way of interracting with others. When I am around him it easy to personify his traits myself. Wish he was around more it sure would make it easier on everyone else.

Check out this jeweler...

I found them by way of a motorcycle company.

What the heck is going on in Ketchum, ID that I dont know about.

My one hope before I go to Heaven

in light of the fact that I will spend forever worshipping God in
eternity I pray that by the time I die Christian music will have
improved greatly.

Maybe Thom Yorke will become a Believer.

Right now the best we can hope for is that they put Johnny Cash and the Carter Sisters
on repeat...


Four Religious Truths

During these serious times people of all faiths should remember these 4 religious truths:

1. Muslims do not recognize Jews as God's chosen people.

2. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

3. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world.

4. Baptists do not recognize each other at Hooters or the liquor store.

Tunnel Canvas: The Moveable feast for the Eyes

On a recent Amtrak trip to the Warhols show in Seattle we went
through a mountain for about 3 minutes and as I sat there in the
dark, missing the scenery that I was enjoying, I thought how cool it
would be to have a contract to put up a rope-light artshow through
the tunnel. It would move and blend into other colors or something
and be an attraction for the train trip. Like the one "lazer" show
you get at the Chicago o'Hare airport on that one moving walkway. Of
course no one takes a trip to O'Hare just to get on the catwalk
there... but you get my point.

I bet there are federal funds set up to finance art in train
stations. this could be a full-time job for the right artist and
electrician duo.

Anyone have an electrical contractors license in Washington?

PaPa Bear Adventures

http://www.pbadventures.com/fishing.html

un-guided fishing and hunting in Alaska.

Build a Tiki Bar

Everyone's home is improved by adding a tiki bar

War-on-Terror-themed photo spread in Vogue Italia

http://www.voguevanity.it/cont/010fas/photo/default.asp

"State of Emergency," a most disturbing fashion pictorial shot by Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia, September 2006. Models: Hilary Rhoda & Iselin Steiro.

Link to scanned pages on a livejournal, Flash slideshow with sound at the official Vogue Italia website, here's where you can buy copies of Vogue Italia if you are so inclined.

10,000 Foot Hunger

If I had a Christian Rock band that is the name for it.

Eye Contact

A great article about Eye Contact

He mentions a sawzall in it so you know its right on.

Water Powered Car

on the tech blog I read it says the "First" water powered car... but
that isnt true. if you think if the steam engine runabouts at the
turn of the century...

But this one actually goes freeway speeds:

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/first-water-powered-car

Most amazing dialogue in a Screenplay

Margot: Dudley, where is he?

Dudley: Who?

Royal Tenenbaum's

Just watch it again

Aside from the entire film being pure genius, be aware that Danny Glover's performance is probably one of the finest that has never gotten mentioned.

The FinChasers Contingent

The guys who call us about a driftboat trailer, boat, etc. are all
about having the coolest stuff- they just don't have the money right
now. the thing is, 5 years from the time they originally see that
the boat of their dreams is available through our company and they
finally get the money together, i mention the first time they
contacted us, and they are genuinely impressed that I recognize their
name.

2002 SV650 - Professionally Upgraded, Black and Flawless

The joy of starting a new business is not the sacrifices one has to make in the beginning. ... can't I get rid of the Caravan? I know that years from now, when the business can afford to buy me a new bike, that I will just be kicking myself for getting rid of this one.


What a stance- Nice tires, eh?

How we see our children years from now

I could see Avery as the Corporate type- but fun, and Regan as a 10 yr bachelor degree student. - Eliot

Talking Heads Club Mix

my brain + talking heads + GarageBand = Sin Syn Skull

Single Synthesized Skull

Maybe the best all purpose Buggy Bugger

Thanks FishSpawn

Biggest Trout in Met?

Who knows where it ranks, who really cares? What an amazing rainbow. The saddest part is that we didn't realize she was dropping eggs until she was lifted quickly out of the water for the one picture of a lifetime. Shoot. Everyone of those eggs is a small chance that she could pass on her stellar genetics. They've got to be in the redd to do any good though. She took the fly about 4 inches below the surface. She shot through 7 ft over overcurrents to get that little Golden buttery bite of Rib Eye.
I am sitting in front of a fire tonight. The firepit on my deck. If I can't be on a riverbank tonight it sure does feel good to at least stare into a flame for a bit in silence. Those are the best parts of a fishing trip. Sure a picture like this could bring back memories, but even if ther wasn't the fish of a lifetime caught, there is usually a conversation with a friend that is lifechanging everytime.
I have the house to myself save for my two sleeping beauty pre-schoolers. They are so cool. But I should have planned ahead and invited Scott over or something. I hardly ever plan ahead for hanging with a dude for no real reason other than to chew the breezy fat. And it's not like I can call a 30-something hotshot in the pearl district away from Saturday Night Fever in PDX.

It's Been a Good Night...

...to gather my thoughts and whatnot. The bike tank that I could be welding on is at the shop with the bike so they can get a feel for where the extra-low race bars are going to hit the tank and be able to put a stopper in my front fork.
-but what is important is an obligation to a friend:
Magnuson- remind me to get you some Fischerspooner and Reverend Horton Heat.

Band Art dot com

I am sure that domain is taken. But I think there is a market for nicely framing the art of rock. I'll have my wife take pics in concert as well as going into their lives and studios, et al. From these pics I will capture a poignant verse of song and put the quote into the picture in an unobtrusive way. Offer the poster-sized pieces in natural and then also have a "shopped" version or two
with wacky colors, or manipulate the picture in a myriad of ways- whatever goes with the quote,
whatever seems right to me. My site could just be links to buy the merch through the band's homepage. But maybe to maintain more control the band's home page would be a link
to my site and back to their cart or something. Who knows?- not me.

Amendment:
wallrock dot com is for sale.
But I should come up with more names for the printing industry before I settle on one.

iPod on Random- but not so random

It's that time of night when I don't know where my mind will want to go. I made a playlist for when I am riding my motorcycle. I called it Theme Music. That sums up my personality - I have always considered myself worthy of my own theme music. Ramones and then Fischerspooner (I throw the link in for those that don't know yet- The Ramones are a no brainer and a link would just give the impression that I want to empower my blog on the search engines).
I think I am going to lease an Epson 9800. I want to be able to display my digital art in my home, and I could earn twice the lease payment just by getting jobs from my buddy Kevin. On top of that I'll get the digipics of dudes with their fish and turn it into a watercolor and be able to print it on canvas. I'll have Kevin frame them up with a fly or something.
We recieved our two tax returns this week and we'll give a sum to The Berean Way, put most in savings and take a bit and see if we can't earn more. What can I say- we are in the Land of Opportunity and Lisa and I love it.

It'll be Cool

It'll be cool to compare this before pic to the two-wheeled rig I am about to pick up from the shop this week. You can see that the tank was an issue. there was nothing hidden there. but since it was rusted I knew there were small particles that have been clogging the carb's jets and leaving the exhaust pipes with burned remnants of the inside of that tank.
I yarded the dunstall stock mufflers in lieu of some reverse cone blasters. and pulled the stock airbox off and installed individual pods. Because of these changes to the in and out of it's breathing, I had to rejet the carbs and let the increased air-flow mix with more fuel. Well, why not? The carbs were going to need to be cleaned anyway- lets give it 7 more horses.
Man I love spoked rims- mags just aren't that cool. The only great thing I see is that you can paint them in a thick color scheme that goes with the rest of your bike to really make it your own.

Amespi

I am so blessed. Lisa came home from her girls night out. Responsibly she was dropped off. I am so glad we can trust each other to make good decisions. After hanging out and talking with her I rolled out to the deck and lit up the new fire pit. I wish I knew where our cameras were. I'd like to take a few night pics of the perfect flame and see what the camera can do with fire.
Whiskey and coke, ipod playing BJM and my fire pit. I am so blessed.
The bike is at the shop getting the new clubman bars put on. I probably could have made teh controls work in the transfer, but I really want the brakes and throttle to work perfectly. I think it's important to not wreck and stuff.
Anyway, Hyperventilation is playing and it's one of those brilliant songs that makes you turn up the volume by starting off at a recorded volume that is real low for a long time. And once you have cranked it up, then it gets into the song at the correct volume- way too loud. What a perfect album Methodrone is.
Anyway, even though I have it cranked I hear what seems to be a jet engine flying overhead. Interestingly, there are no lights and it sounds louder and lower than anything that I have ever gotten on at PDX. So it is some sort of sortie mission from a local base. I am so blessed. I live in a country that is able to prepare itself when people start hijacking planes and running them into our buildings. It is really sad that someone wanted to do that to our buildings in the first place. Maybe there is something we could have done differently. Befriending Israel isn't wrong, but it certainly did have some consequences, eh?
Shoot.
Literally, I guess.

We have reached the Metal Age

So I haven't sat down and chilled in quite a while. Ever since I bought the bike I have caught the tinkering bug that I have never built an immunity to. But this time tinkering has turned into TIG welding. No I have never welded before- might as well practice a bit and chop into the fuel tank for modification. CRIPES!! What am I thinking? I hear there are combustibles in those fuel tanks.
Oh well. Still alive to type-
I had to chop the rust out of the old tank I was given. But since my welding pretty much blows still I bought a stock tank that can just be painted and away we'll go.
I'll continue to work on the tank and turn it into a 50's cafe classic... until then I'll use one that doesn't leak at the seams:-)

Slow Down!

My buddy is off to the D for trout opener this weekend. The river is raging! and worse it has changed about 500 CFS in the last 48 hours. The fishing may be totally blown by the change. Pretty lame of the operator's of the dams on the billy C and that wacky-long reservation reservoir. Hopefully they slow the flow and let it just settle at one place for a while.
Buckskin Mary Rapid will be a frickin blast. It could eat a few careless boaters just as easily as give the floater one of the coolest set of roller rides around. Big warnings came in the online forums today about the D running at 7000 or something. But the BLM had already sold 60 boater passes just for the Mecca day float. I remember going through that rapid with Rob last Novemeber.
I happened to be rowing when we went through Buckskin and it was at the perfect level where the backside of the rollers wouldn't catch your stern and crash over into your boat. I was going to take it straight down the tongue and get the most unbeleivable skate-park ride. But of course, Rob says something real subtle and soft (but since he can never say anything critical, it seemed really loud and clear). "You're gonna slow it down a bit...?..."
Man what a good guy he is. Not a risk taker at all. If I did plan on slowing it down, I bet I could've surfed that 16' glass boat and given it a moment of freedom it never even dreamed possible. Instead I wanted to jump that heavy Clacka-bucket. But mid-speed between the two we just kinda rolled through the rapid uneventfully. What a waste. I should have known that he wasn't going to want to take it fast. I should have just tried surfing it. After all, when Buckskin Mary is just right, it is quite possibly the perfect place in our aquaeous nation for just such a move. And the level was perfect.
This weekend it is raging. I hope everyone stays real safe.

How cool is my wife?

So Cool.

I bought a new bike since it was just a good deal. The guy delivered it tonight and his wife took him home... that in itself makes the deal all the more sweet.

After watching "24", Lisa and I went out and sat on it and fired it up and stuff. Her words to me before she went back inside were. "good job... have fun with your new toy tonight". If that isn't a supportive wife I dont know what is.

Nirvana's "Black Album"- and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Review

To many of us, Nirvana's "Black Album" is hard to stomach. I guess it seems disingenuous to release a "Greatest Hits" album without calling it such. In today's modern digital era (of thievery), we can just as easily import these previously released tracks from the other albums and create a playlist entitled Nirvana's Radio Favorites. This title alone would almost make it unplayable on my iPod. I don't listen to the radio- it pains me. Along with advertisers blaring incessantly about the super-sale of subaru's on Saturday, I am just not that fond of the formulaic composition of a rock song that lasts exactly 3 minutes, has one bridge and a catchy pop riff. All of this being said, however, on my way to watch BRMC perform last night at the Wonder Ballroom, I have found a home in my heart for Nirvana's Black Album.

I usually don't go out of my way to put in a CD of songs that have been overplayed through radio, and young-teen mall shops, but I feel most all music has it's place in the world at one time or another. I received a free copy of this CD from a friend-of-a-friend at a major label. It just happened to be one of my 6 discs in the changer last Saturday night on my way to see Black Rebel. As soon as Grohl started huffing on his set to introduce You Know You're Right I knew that this was the perfect CD to get ready for a live concert. Midway through that first song I was ready for rock. If I had listened to an actual BRMC album on the way to the show my own expectations would redirect the experience that the band was going to provide for me that night. But these overplayed radio hits from Nirvana were just right for setting the mood. These songs won't ask one to change their personal tone for the evening. Instead, the album was the perfect appetizer for Black Rebel's 5-Star meal. And I think it may just be the perfect starter for anyone before they dig into the unique experience that only a live show can bring.

(Our Neighborhood) Dogs of War

Scientists find no genetic difference between dog breeds. If one
studied the gene sequencing of a British Curly-Coat Retriever with
that of a Chinese Chow-Chow there is interestingly no striking
dissimilarities. They are all classified as Canis Lupus, or wolf, at
the core.
The dog packs in the most remote reaches of wilderness like the
jungle of Central America need very little "bark" to communicate.
A softly spoken, but high-pitched, "whistle" breaks the silence of
the rainforest as these dogs hunt in packs. There is very little
competing noise when one removes man's presence from the landscape.
Because of this, these dogs aren't exhausting themselves just to be
heard by others. They communicate only what is necessary to get the
desired result. Canis Lupus has been domesticated now, but to keep
his bark from becoming a constant annoyance in your home and yard,
make sure he doesnt feel the need to "compete" for just basic
attention from you and your family.

The Simpsons Live Opening Titles

Makers of the hit cartoon The Simpsons have filmed the show's opening titles using real actors.

Pray for strength

The whole last decade I prayed for direction. Now I just need to pray for strength. That is my personality in a nutshell. Once someone asks me to do something I just do it. I persevere through it. The task of building these boats, or producing some worthwhile video footage, both at quality levels far exceeding anything that is being done, is more than I can do on my own. But I forget to ask anyone for help, or guidance. I don't ask God because I am supposed to toil in the feilds picking weeds the rest of my days. That is what He told me so I figure He won't have any sympathy for how difficult the task is. Tonight, I prayed anyway.

Remember that trip down the D with Lance...

Fisher's

Air-Flos new Ridgeline: Precursor to a Product Review

http://www.fishwest.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?
Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AF30RXP&Category_Code=006flylines

So it has ridges, but as I look close and think about it I think it is too much gimmick. They just created more surface area to attach itself to the water, which would make it more difficult to pull the line off for another cast. I don't mean to go spouting off about this when I have never slung the new goods, but it seems the product is the antithesis to the company's name.

EndLight

Fishing yesterday turned out to be the start of a whole new world for me. I can't explain it now. The river was an old friend, the fishing scene was the same as it was in years past. Water was perfect. Fish were hunted. But I learned something new this season... it just isn't a numbers game. This place is meant to be quietly explored.

I Killed My Last Bear

So it's Friday night and I am gearing up for fishing tomorrow. We leave at 4:45am and blogging is the last thing I really should be doing right now. In a way it is my new approach, I am trying to slow myself down and relax everything about me more, starting with something like this so it will eventually slow down my casting. Anymore I am frantically trying to cover water in an effort to make up for lost time. I used to fish 300+ days a year during college. Now I have a wonderful family and beautiful mortgage. I'll admit, I don't fish as much as I used to.

Anyway, my Beulah demo rod broke two weeks ago on a fish at the Berry. I paid a little in an upgrade fee with it's "lifetime warranty" for replacement. They said that rod had a particular flaw in the wrap on the lowest piece at the male ferrule, and that is exactly where it broke . It was effortless to cast... until those first fateful seconds of hook-up with a real fish. Today, I received a remarkable set-up in return from them. We'll see how it fishes tomorrow but it sure looks amazing.

As I was gearing up I ran across an older can of smokeless tobacco with just a pinch left. I spent over a decade being heavily addicted and now in my later years I want to quit. With the help of the patch (and a secret weapon) I have been getting better. This last old can was thrown away empty tonight. Tomorrow is a new day, but tonight I have killed my last bear for quite awhile.

It's 15 minutes later and I just went through every bag, small medium and large- from Alice pak in OD Geen to my fancy fishing sling dealio (I removed myself from the fly-fishing vest of our grandfather's long ago). I found another can. I scraped it and threw it away empty. I think I have gathered every big leechy and roe-esque thing I have in my arsenal. The older flies are soaking in garlic... (ahem, just to remove any rusty hook smell).

The handheld CB's are charging. I grabbed the power inverter for charging waterproof digital camera's battery. The charger is at Todd's and my battery is dead. Although I have so much crap I think I am only fishing with a small Columbia chestpack, the
mini and a flask. And, of course I'll take my secret weapon.

I tend to recall that gearing up was simpler back in the day when I fished more. It was a combination of being more ready (because I just went days, or even hours, before) as well as having a lot less gear- I just had the basics back then. And, it definitely seems like I caught more fish back then- but maybe my fish tales have just come to life in the present. I'll let you know how the secret weapon fares for me. I am always
excited about experimenting. That is the true joy I find in Winter Steelhead.

Moe's Quote (he owns a bar in Springfield)

They think they're so high and mighty, just because they never got caught driving without pants.

Thoreau

One piece of good sense would be more memorable than a monument as high as the moon.

Reader's Digest

I bought a book last week at a farmhouse that I pass on the way to work. She has this little business out of her barn where she resells odd items. Books are always a dollar. I am a sucker for books. And I crack about all of them that I purchase.

Even so-called geniuses are largely geniuses because they are willing to use the time that others throw away. It was Michelangelo who said: "if people only knew how hard I work to gain my mastery it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all." And Alexander Dumas confessed: "Infatuated, half through conceit, half through love of my art, I achieve the impossible working as none else ever works..."

Write Better, Speak Better The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
This book originally caught my eye because it was about 3 inches thick and bound really well in a canvased hardcover. It is actually kind of a home text book with little tests and word power worksheets and stuff. I have oly glanced cursorily through some sections, (i.e. writing complaint letters). Fortunately I snagged the little quip above. What a jewel of thoughts. But it only allows my nights to become more sleeplessly insane while I continue working on pipe-dreams well into the dark morning of each following day.

cake fly

The Cake Fly from WestFly
It's kind of a break from my usual fly for winter steelhead (read: biggest blackest leechy thing I can get on my tippet)

Here's to the Crazy Ones (from Apple Computers)

Here's to the crazy ones.

The misfits.

The rebels.

The troublemakers.

The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.
They're not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them, disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them.
Because they change things.

They invent. They imagine. They heal.
They explore. They create. They inspire.
They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?
Or sit in silence and hear a song that's never been written?
Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?
We make tools for these kinds of people.

While some see them as the crazy ones. we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.

(From Apple Computer)

OK This Biz Blog has Pics and a brilliant stance

Passionate

I have got to come back to this... a lot. Not real sure about the name.

another good business blog

I have focused so much on making a cool product, but I haven't given the business side much more thought other than "go slow enough that I don't put my personal finances in jeopardy". That is kinda defensive thinking. I need to incorporate more active business ideas. Last night I started contacting potential resellers of the trailer.

PicoBusiness

A cool business blog for young entrepreneurs

http://www.businesspundit.com/archives/002514.html

(Excerpt):

Go it alone. - If you can start without a partner or investor, it will most likely save you some heartache. They will have different goals than you do.

Be ready to accept failure. It has a really bad stigma, but the bark is worse than the bite. Make sure you enjoy it. You will spend a lot of time working, so don't do something you hate.

I think Bob Sled is my speed sport

I make crazy mistakes when I push the edge... but bobsledding might
just be the perfect deal for my personality. Working on redesigning
the sled for speed... fabricating improvements.... and then just
going for it down an icy track. That'll be my next project after I
sell a few trailers and boats