Treasures

No, this is not about pirate treasures...

The knife does not have anything to do with that.

This is one of the few things I have from my grandfather...

Derald.

I really don't know too much about this knife.

It is from the cabinet that held the old double barrel shot gun I am fond of polishing directly after ordering delivery pizza.

The pizza guys have not yet encountered me cleaning up this knife.

Not like the double barrel...

There are few things that carry history in my bag of tricks.

Ironic, with my interest in old things, no?

But I have this here knife...

My grandfather was much more of a pocket knife kind of guy.

Pocket knives are an old time thing.

Men carried them to do things.

Open mail, loosen screws, cut twine...

Do things.

This knife was anomaly, amongst the things left behind by Derald.

Likely, the reason I have it.

The hilt says KABAR, which could imply the involvement of my uncle.

He was a Marine, who may have more familiarity with the Corps chosen cutlery than any of us care to thing about.

Perhaps a gift to my grandfather from his son?

This knife is one of the things I treasure.

It bears the marks of my grandfather's hands...

I can see the grooves left in it's blade, from his sharpening.

There is dirt and grime on it's hilt that are his.

I just maintain it.

Brush off the dust and oil the blade.

A blade which will, to this day, slice a sheet of paper...

And reveal the touch of a man who did things.

A man who helped shape me like the edge of a blade...

Sunday Drive

It'll be fun, I promise.

OK, Stop

I think this is a nice antidote for the recent OK GO video.

I mean, that video is neat and all...

What with the wacky contraptions and such.

Cute.

If you have no idea what I am talking about, somebody is probably forwarding you a link right now.

Not me, though...

I am going to suggest that you melt your face off with some motherfuckin' Joan Jett rawk.

You are welcome.

War Paint

Four Wheels Friday

Well, Four Wheel Friday until one of the wheels falls off.

You Steer

Yeah, really!

Just for a few minutes!

I just want to get something outta my pocket!

Change for that toll booth, up ahead!

I'll just sorta stand up here!

On the tank!

You just kinda slide forward and grab the throttle!

Don't move around so much!

This will totally work!

What!

Happiness

It has been some time since we talked about books around here.

You have probably figured that I had given up literacy, in some feckless attempt to find happiness in other media.

No, well maybe.

For a while...

But I picked up Will Ferguson's book Happiness some time back.

It is one of those books that I buy because of the cover. The cover is no piece of work mind you, but I picked it up anyway.

It is the story of a self-loathing, self help book editor who puts out the best self help book ever.

That great book, an obvious collection of quips and quotes from a thousand other self help books, nearly leads to the end of the world.

Sort of...

Folks read it, stop going to work, start wearing sweat pants and smile a lot.

Kind of like how I remember college, now that I think about it.

Anyway, lets stay on track here...

People give up being grumpy, stop caring about crap and deify the books author.

Industries collapse, mean spirits and bad habits are forced underground.

Things start to resemble a global Rainbow Gathering.

Yeah, shit gets real bad...

The protagonist editor journeys forth to attempt to save the world from the pandemic of glib indifference, in a manner that bears resemblance to a Harold and Kumar movie, and learns stuff about life, love and happiness.

You know, the usual...

There is, of course, an ironic turn.

It has been a couple of months since I put this one down.

The fact that I am just now writing about it must mean that I liked it.

I guess I did, in the same way that some nights call for watching a stupid situation-comedy - sometimes a clunky, silly novel is good for a smile.

WWHRD

Taco Truck Tuesday

My Delicate Side

You may have the impression that building a hot-rod is a process that is all welding, sparks flying action.

Yes, that is part of it...

But sometimes there is a call for a more sensitive interaction between man and machine.

Sometimes it takes love and kisses...

March

Well, it is March.

Which means it is time to put on the crazy elephant costume, throw the gal on a donkey and go shake down college students for spare change.

You know, for charity.

By which I mean me...

That elephant costume don't pay for itself, you know.