Modern Vespa

Today was right at my limit without heated gloves (because the dingus that I am said "oh i'm not going far, I won't need them" ) but warmer temps next few days means happy times ahead. *MAY* yump on the scoot tomorrow for PT, we'll see.

My buddy loves to load up his scoot. He's a stout looking lumberjack to boot. Cracks me up seeing the saddlebags.

Pass him my kudos for using the Elite 250 as-intended. They're tanks and can tour all day, even on 10"s.

He wants to ride to Cabo on it!

Bruno is smarter than me, he stayed inside.

I just did a quick 130km to test something and the ambient temp on the dash of my Supertech reached 47C. Think it was really about 40C. The front tire reached 55C and the rear 68C (tpms/internal).

But now I have beer 🍺 (yes I drank half a glass before I could write this)

According to UPS, tomorrow is a NGD (New Guitar Day), first in a long time...

More please ...

Ok...you twisted my arm, so a little visual clue...

Man, that is beautiful.

Jet Screamer would totally rock that guitar. Nice work. And that color is amazing.

Thank you!

It IS a little...what..different?

It's one that I reluctantly missed on the first small production run Eastwood did of this deluxe variant of my standard model 100, and I didn't want to miss it again so I'm blowing a bunch of bucks to finally get an example of it. It differs from the standard model 100 by having block fretboard marker inlays, the Duesenberg tremolo, and the special metallic 'Burgundy Mist & Cream' two-tone finish.

Burgundy Mist is, I believe, an old General Motors color from the 1950's, and used on some Cadillac and Oldsmobile automobiles.

Spare stator cover arrives today, clutch cover arrives tomorrow. Spose i should get the compressor out and get working on blasting the parts I'll be cerakoting. (Tb covers, aforementioned stator and clutch covers, a set of cast--and therefore tubeless--wheels, sprocket cover).

But a few more boxes of stuff will be packed and stashed in storage first. Get some chores done then have fun

I'd never heard of these before - I admire the ingenuity!

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/jan/27/ice-stupas-of-the-ladakh-desert-an-ingenious-solution-to-water-scarcity-a-picture-essay

Very cool!

Edited to add: no pun intended!

There's some clever people out there. Very ingenious.

"Necessity is the mother of invention." - Plato

I bought a book on becoming fluent in languages -- not any specific language, just using better techniques that are suited to how our brains actually work.

The book is Forever Fluent by Gabriel Wyner.

On the first page of the introductory chapter, it includes this quote: And that is cheering me up today.

Thx Jess.
Ordered.
Need all the help, and this looks like a great read.

So that's cheering me up.

Oh boy. I'm excited.

It's about language and communication?

Yeah, no idea why yours is categorized like that.

The temps hit 50 degrees (F) here yesterday, with clear blue skies and low winds, so I managed my first Vespa ride of the new year.

Only a twenty mile ride on my local rural loop route, but a nice, winter blahs alleviating mood-booster.

The GTS started right up and ran perfectly.

Wednesday, the midday temps here will be close to 60 F, so a rematch will definitely be in order, and I will try to get three bikes out for a little run up and down the county roads.

We're getting snow flurries to an inch tomorrow. I'm getting just a tad jealous

Thirty-five degrees (Fahrenheit) this morning here in the San Fernando Valley. Frost on the roofs after yesterday's rains.

But it's bright and sunny outside with a beautiful view of the snow-capped San Gabriel mountains.

Highs in the mid-sixties later.

Typical Los Angeles winter day.

God, nobody needs that more than L.A.

I'm interested to hear your thoughts after reading. I spent my career learning various machine languages and found it easy. But I struggle with human languages. Maybe because there are so many "exceptions to the rules" in human languages, where with machine languages things are well defined and structured.

I bought the book (3$, woohoo), thanks. The kids and I have started learning greek and I need all the help I can get.

I speak Italian pretty well because I lived there for four years. The two languages I did not even attempt were Portuguese and Greek. I was respectful when visiting those two countries and attempted to speak - but it was to uphill and a dead end for me.

Good on you folks learning other languages. It obviously helps if you can actually go there practice and pick up the local uniqueness.

Bob Copeland

I can not help but share this Italian street expression in Naples and ask you if you know what it means. I am going cold turkey here with no context and asking you to guess.

The expression is "zoom, zoom, zoom".

Bob Copeland

I've just bought the kindle edition for £0.99, at 1/5th the price of a pint of beer, even if it doesn't help my French I can live with the expense!

Got an extension on my emissions test for the GTI, which is now not due until after we've moved out of MD for good so I never have to do another one ever.

(putting all our vehicles into an MT LLC later this year so we don't have to renew eventually--permanent registration once the vehicle is 11 yrs old)

Language learning can be such a blast and is so rewarding. Every time I try it gets a little better and easier.

For Coddy / znomit / jess, I'd also be interested in a follow-up on how you're progressing with learning and what you think of the book. How would you rate yourself now? (Bonus points for ACTCL or CEFRL ) What are your goals and how have you been working on them? jess, you have an actual test you're eventually heading for, right? I think CERFL A2?

My wife and I are currently in an intensive Portuguese class which includes A1 and A2 -- we are halfway through, so we've made it through A1. I am okay at reading simple Portuguese, and I can write basic sentences if I think about it hard enough. And my pronunciation has improved a lot, though it is still not perfect.

What I am an utter failure at is actually hearing (and comprehending) spoken Portuguese, and I'm not much better at actually speaking spontaneously. I know, practice practice practice!

The course we are taking is officially endorsed by the Portuguese government -- passing the course gives us a certificate that we can use in lieu of taking the CIPLE exam.

High of 56 tomorrow. I might put enough miles on the Bonneville it needs another fill-up (and a chain lube).

Also good news, my free seersucker robe (thanks to cashing in points with Haspel) arrived today and I'm now swathed in luxury and comfort while sipping an old fashioned and watching season 2 of The Grand Tour.

If this doesn't put a smile on your face then ...

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFHu1LZPuRB/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I should finish reading the book while waiting for the Duolingo adds to finish.

And why aren't the adds in Greek?

I just want to learn enough French to not embarrass myself when ordering food, drinks, fuel and checking in and out of Hotels.

I tend to stay in some pretty small towns and villages and I don't expect them to understand English.

Jess,

You are experiencing what almost everyone goes through. To become comfortable conversing, that comes out freely, may just take time on the street. Your advantage - you will be living there.

Hey, just ordering food is a big step.

Bob Copeland

Put about 75 miles on the Bonneville, and to let my inner midwestern boy out, "wouldn't be so bad without the wind." Along the way, stopped off at my local purveyor and she had some recent deliveries she'd set aside in case I wanted them.

Let her pop and try the 1924 (which I promptly tried as soon as I got home, it's magnificent) and the other two will likely get cracked to take a healthy contingent along in a couple weeks.

hmm have to go see if that 1924 is available around here.

Ferry booked to take the Vespa to Tasmania for 8 days 😃

Poor Bruno will have to survive 9 nights without me 😿

WOW; cool

Yesterday took the charming company to a prehistoric cave on the Primavera. Cheered me up big time.
The engine upgrade makes one smile, the cave is awesome and the gf was béaming.
The cave ís a tourist site but not very accessible. Very not accessible actually.* As such they have not bothered to put any gates or what.
It is pretty much as it was when heidelbergensis and then neandertal lived and roamed from there.

* should have taken a photo of the scoot on the rough track up to the cave
Getting back down safe was another cheer up