Well, after getting all motivated about a new blog concerning all things mechanical and the bittersweet labor involved in keeping our old hunks of iron street-able, I have proceeded to neglect posting anything! My excuse is too many visitors staying at our house and that fact that I am currently on vacation...but even a busy vacation hasn't completely succeeded in keeping my hands free is grease...

I showed my little brother how to rebuild a carburetor over the weekend, and afterward struggled for a couple of hours in an attempt to revive a forlorn MG Midget---unfortunately we found out that the car won't run without the air pump, which went out in the trash a few weeks ago---oh well, it was no good anyways.

Later that day an old and dear friend showed up with his new bike (new to him anyway): a battered, flat black 1999 Kawasaki Ninja 600, the one with the hottest engine from that year, with a polished frame and rims and a fresh top end. He pushed me to take a ride, and I couldn't refuse. As soon as I got out on the open road I practically wept over selling my old bike. There is nothing like being astride a fast motorcycle at sunset with a straight, empty stretch of road yawning so welcoming in front of you. It wasn't even a question whether or not to redline it at every shift---which is 14,500, by the way---you don't get a chance to ride something like this often. I backed off at 140MPH; I do have a wife and baby on the way after all...

And that's it for now; when I get home, I will relate some of the woes surrounding the rebuild of my dad's '69 Nova, which I was supposed to drive North this trip to give back to him. That car is a pain, but my love for it endures...I just don't want to be responsible for it anymore!