Modern Vespa

They hate that turtle.

Just the top one?

All of them. All the way down.

I'm cheered up today by being back at work after being out for 6 days.

I'd planned on taking Friday, Sept 20th off to do a few things:
• I got a haircut at a new barber
• Went to DFW FiberFest, specifically to see a friend whom I haven't seen in 13+ years. He and his wife have a flock of 100+ sheep, and had a booth at the event to sell some of the yarn from their flock. We chatted for an hour or so, and I bought two skeins of undyed yarn.
• Stopped by my wife's job and chatted with her a bit, took a tour, met some of her coworkers, and chatted with a few of my former coworkers.
• Took her iPhone XS with me when I left, and headed to the Apple Store. I arrived about 30 minutes early for my pickup appointment, but they still let me in early. I picked up our two iPhone 16 Pros, and traded in our old iPhone XSs. The new phones are soooo much better than the old ones we had.

I think I caught something at FiberFest, or at the Apple Store, because Sunday evening I had a raw feeling at the back of my throat, and it was painful to swallow. Monday morning I awoke with a slight fever, and called in sick to work. I took a home COVID test, which came back negative. I stayed home the rest of the week, too. I took a second home COVID test on Wednesday evening, and was still negative. Friday I finally went in and saw the Nurse Practicioner at my doctor's office. She tested me for COVID, the Flu, and Strep. All came back negative. She said that there is a virus going around, but it usually clears up within 5 days. She prescribed an antibiotic in case it is a bacterial sinus infection. This morning I'm on day 8, and still coughing up green stuff, so I figure it's a bacterial infection. I'm feeling much better, and am back at work, so that's great.

Getting my car back. It was over 3 WEEKS for new rims and tires after a pothole strike, the vast majority of that time spent waiting for the insurance company to OK the repair. But they were paying for the rental car, so that's not too bad.

After almost 3 years of driving an electric car, I really didn't enjoy going back to an ICE vehicle for three weeks. I missed the power and the quiet of my electric Kona, and hated paying for gas again. It did cut almost 4 hours out of the 1200km road trip we took while we had the rental though, so it wasn't all bad.

Unemployed.

As in retired, too? If so, congratulations!

Equally happy for the milestone and my remembering to catch it!

So, on that topic, we took the Corolla Cross on our trip to Traverse City. We took the scenic route so it was just over 200 miles there on Friday. Then driving around Traverse Friday and Saturday. When I gassed up for the return trip Sunday morning, this was the mileage we were getting with the Corolla. No, it is not the hybrid. For an AWD SUV with a CVT, I'll take that MPG.

I attribute it - in part - to driving the 500e for the last 2 1/2 years. It has really helped me train my foot better for mileage.

Those pesky tenacious Spaniards called back. The plan is back on. They found a way to do a build in Miami at their growing operation there.

Hehehe.

W00t! Congrats!

I guess that makes you an International Man of Leisure?

Celebrating 20 years of marriage today. Also 25 years to the day from our first date. I still can't believe I convinced her to marry me. I'm a lucky man. She tolerates my riding habit and all my other annoying features. This cheers me up!

Ah, one of those guys that clearly married out of his league.

Congrats, man. Quite an accomplishment. Great pics. Here's to 20 more.

you're clearly punching..

congrats to you both

So it took 5 years of begging and pleading for a marriage to happen? Kidding of course, Congratulations! My wife and I just celebrated our 40th year of marriage. Every year on our anniversary I tell her that I can't believe she settled for me - and hasn't gotten rid of me!

Congratulations! 20 years can slip by on you pretty fast, at least in hindsight!
Here's to 20 more!

Riding the same scoot, but a few days early...

On Saturday, Jen and I will be 45 years married.
3 Wonderful children - my greatest gift of her love.
She doesn't ride at all, but she has never stopped me from enjoying the freedom of 2 wheels.

There is nothing like a good woman to bring out the best in a man.


(Sadly, the inverse is also true - but I didn't wed one of the bad ones.)

She once asked me what my answer would be if she told me to choose between motorcycling and her.
I said:
"That is a question that neither of us wishes to know the answer, so it is better left unasked...!"
When I left on my next trip, I said to her:
"Motorcycling will always take me away from my home and my family...
but there is one reason why I keep coming back - and that reason is YOU!"

That was some 25 years ago... and the question has still not been asked.

Probably wrong thread but anyway ...

some will be interested

"fruit snack" and a sippy cup.

"Kaos" has convinced me that I want a Cerberus. I just have to figure out where to find one.

Your local shelter?
Better, do you want it to speak English or Portuguese?

That might go well with a burger
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wellington-on-a-plate-burger-censored-over-name-inspired-by-colombian-drug-lord-pablo-escobar/AIYSDBLRJBFGRI7BYCZFFDXHRI/

Pinching another Aussi idea.

That one time!

Plenty more than one, you just can't count higher

Printed/signed/sent contract back to Tamarit.

It begins. 🥰

Well this should be interesting to watch. From a safe distance.

It's been a very surreal month and it's only the 6th.

Still kinda weird being retired this young (i'm sure i'll probably sell feet pictures or whatever in the short-term) and to just have the stars align and have the ability to lock into a Tamarit build--and not a production bike, full build--in such short order is fairly nutty.

Should be done right about the time we get back from Carnevale di Venezia next year....

Sounds like your transition into retirement is a bit more interesting than mine. I retired in the middle of the pandemic, though, and really spent the first year just decompressing from 30 years worth of high-grade distilled stress. And waiting for a visa from Portugal.

I am almost 3 years in now, and I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to be doing.

I couldn't decide if this went in "Weird shit" or "cheering me up". I opted for cheering me up, but you could make the case for either, really.

Meanwhile, in Dallas there's a bar named Lee Harvey's that was named the Best Dive Bar in Dallas.

Dallas? Lee Harvey's? Really?

I've spent 44 years with no idea what I'm supposed to be doing; just learned at 39 it's because of ADHD that good ol uncle sugar refused to medicate me for. That didnt irk me as much as them lying about nonexistent "dangerous" side effects to dissuade me because it pops as amphetamines on a UA.

Adventure time though (you can tell because Indiana Jones' boots are on my feets).

I'm 59 and I still don't know what I'm doing.

Don't worry about it.

I'm taking things one day at a time. That's challenging enough for me.

Happy Wedding Anniversary:

Fudmucker 45 years
tierney 40 years
Caschnd1 20 Years

You guys are the best. It is sad that a measure of folks do not seem to be able to stay together. You have found the secret.

My blushing bride and I will celebrate 43 years in October. She jokes that there were whole years she didn't even like me. Yet, we carry on.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota USA

Happy wedding anniversaries y'all.

Mrs. mpfrank and I celebrated our 50th in March.

Congrats to you all! It took me about 50 years to find the right one, but she's a keeper! I kinda doubt I'll be around for a 50th, though.

If you ask where the restrooms are, they tell you the're "back, and to the left."

They have nightly shot specials.

j/k, neither of those are true.

But the bar does exist, and it really is a great bar, with a great kitchen (their burgers are awesome).

It's about 3/4 of a mile from where I work.