Rebranding

It has been awhile since I have posted. In the beginning, this blog was about an outlet for my comics. I loved them, and I still draw some (albeit drunk) but I do not draw enough to post 5 comics a week. I had also posted an opinion article about motorcycles. That is closer to what I want to start posting about. I need an outlet for my work. I'm interested in a lot of things so this is me rebranding my blog into posting about whatever I want.

I have a lot of mechanical sort of projects going on. The Benelli will soon be done and I can post a super thread about it, but until then I have something that interests me: the Nintendo 64.

I just recently introduced my nephews to Mario Kart 64 and Super Smash Bros. and they loved it. There is one that talks a lot and he keeps asking me to play it. I am not sure what it is but I have always had a special affinity for the N64. My first exposure to it would be my older sister had a boyfriend (well now he is her husband and she has the nephews I mentioned before) that would bring his 64 over here or let my sister borrow it. I would play Mario Kart 64 endlessly. Then for a summer she moved back home from college with us and kept the N64 here and let us play MK64 whenever we wanted. It was great. I played it a lot. If it was up to me I would have played it endlessly. Then she moved away and the only chance I had to play MK64 was when I went to my best friends house. He lived 15 miles away so that was not terribly often. However, it did not get old when I got to play it. Then, I got an idea. I should get my OWN N64!

By this time it was around 2003. The Gamecube had been out for a year or two but I still only wanted one thing: an N64. So I went to a consignment chain and they had two of them on their shelves. One in the box (looking back I should have bought that one) and another one that had two controllers and "Super Mario 64". Well obviously 11 or 12 year old me wanted the one that had the same as the boxed one plus a controller plus a game. I put in on layaway and went to earning the money. The fall and winter before I had worked for my Dad helping install drainage tile for $2 an hour to buy a Game Boy Advanced. I needed more so I helped my Mom with stuff for $1 an hour and other work (like mowing the lawn I think) for $2/hr. In like a month and a half I raised enough money to buy my N64. It was great. I was pumped. I played Super Mario 64 and beat it, bought Lego Racing. It needed a memory card to save progress. The card I had was too small, so to beat it I had to play in one continuous session without turning the console off. I did it. Once. Never again have I been able to do that. That was a great summer.

The Christmas after that I asked for my beloved MK64. I got it, in a fashion I could not completely appreciate until years later. It was the Christmas of 2004 and I had a sealed copy of a game that came out in North America in 1997. I was shameless and ripped that factory plastic off and played the shit out of the game; I played it the way it was meant to be played. I would not take back a single minute of game time. I played it with my sister (a different one than the one who brought her boyfriends 64). We played it now and again for years. A year later I even bought a Gamecube and me and my sister still would play the last two circuits in MK64.

I guess everyone my age has a video game special to them, that brings a flood of memories at the mention of the game. MK64 would be mine. A sealed copy of the game brings a few hundred dollars today. I guess thinking back I wouldn't trade a stupid factory seal for the time I spent playing that fantastic game.




This all brings me to my current thoughts. I have been wanting to collect SOMETHING for a while, and I finally decided what it is going to be: N64 games. Fortunately I kept the box to my MK64 as well as all the paper work. So I have one game with a nice box (sadly not sealed). So now I've graduated college. I am going to be married and need to save my money. So, I'll spend my money on a cheaper hobby (the alternative is motorcycles and parts). Hopefully I wind a bid on "Banjo Kazooie" and "Banjo Twooie." Another game I always loved was "Rayman 2." However, the reason I love that game is another story.

This has been therapeutic. For whatever reason there are stories from my short life I want to share. You all will hear those stories. I'll keep you updated on my N64 collection. If I get a chance too I'll upload a few comics. Keep it real folks!

Driving

I had an interesting realization recently: I knew how to operate heavy machinery before I had my drivers license. My Dad taught me how to run a mini-backhoe when I was 8 or 9. He took it to the back of the property and had me knock down some really tall weeds in the corner of our property. After that he would have me drive it around the fields he was working in because it was so slow. I dug a few holes with it but I never dug junctions while we were tiling.

After that he taught me how to run a skid steer. Never ran that too much. Then when I was about 14 I learned how to run the bulldozer, which filling tile ditches is like a dance, if you want to do it at any sort of speed.

The only time I was in the divers seat of a car prior to 15 was when we were towing around dead cars at home. And, even though I had never driven a car, my dad thought I knew which one was the brake. I was pretty young when he had me steer. Should have broke, ran the car into something and broke the turn signal.

So it goes.

Failure

I, above all, hate failure. Probably more than anything else. I guess in a roundabout way everything that bothers me and frustrates me is a failure. Everything I know I shouldn't have done is a failure. Today I dropped the bucket from the skid loader because I didn't latch it correctly. Then I had to tell my boss why I was being slow. I didn't break anything, I just screwed it up a little. Or putting gas in a diesel tractor. That's a pretty big mess up. This screw ups stick with me far longer then my successes. Probably because a success is just me doing my job without failing. I do that much more than failing I guess.

But screwing up sucks.

They call me the working man, I guess that's what I am.

A few of my friends and a guy I work with are taking time off before school starts for time off. One girl is going on vacation and then just "sitting at her house before she has to come back." One guy that I work with just wants some time before school starts. I on the other hand am just working on through school.

In fact, I never even considered taking time off. I need the dough. Even if I did take time off I would go home and work anyway. Garden and work on motorcycles. I would spend very little time sitting and doing nothing. Which I'm pretty sure is a lot more than the other people would try to do.

But what can I say, I'll ever done is work. I don't know much else.

Shoes

Saw a commercial where this girl folded a mattress and magically turned it into shoe insoles. This is why I have trust issues.

Text and Talk

Talking to some one on the internet will never be worth talking to someone face to face. People lie face to face. But the potential for lying over the internet or over phone is FAR greater. Never take words over the internet at face value. It's so easy to be some one you are not.

Moral of the story, be friends with real people. Talking on the internet is fine, but it's easy to be a big man over the internet.

Memories of a young Ric

My father and I did not spend a lot of what I would say is "quality" time together. I mean he took me fishing a few times, we went boating, and there was always the trips to Wisconsin and the air show. We did some fun stuff, but honestly the most time I spent with my father we were working together, or more specifically I was helping him.

And for that reason, I feel like I'm much less like my father than some people think. No younger person wants to work in their free time, which is what I mostly did with my father. Help him tile, or fix stuff around the house. Or pick up sticks, or shingles, or any debris that was in the yard. That was hell for any of us kids. I remember having to sweep the shop with the super old vacuum we had. Just, the time I spent with my father in my free time not at school was working. And I almost resent it. I feel like I'm a better person for it, but I definitely always wished I was doing something other than  helping my Dad build our new addition.

I also always felt that whatever I did was either not good enough, or not right. I remember working on the tractors and the whole time I was just frustrated because I was always doing things wrong, or the way I wanted to go about things was never right.  And half the time we basically ended up doing the things the way I wanted to. I specifically remember welding the trailer I wanted to turn down the welding wire speed so not to burn through the metal. My Dad saw me turn it down and turned it right back up. A few days later he decided that maybe it should be turned down. I face palmed so hard.

But I suppose I came out better off for it. I do things the way he would, and normally he was right, although slow. That's where him and I are different. He has said that he feels fulfilled working a little bit on a bunch of projects. But that way he never gets anything done. And he really doesn't. I thought that it may be that he is old, but my mother says he has always been things way. Never completing any projects. I on the other hand have done two tractors, and 4.5 motorcycles. I have big plans for doing other broken down pieces we have. But I have to work on one thing at a time, and attack it and get it done.

I love my father, I really do. But I want to be the good parts of him, not the judgemental impossible to please stubborn parts. He is really smart and knows a lot of useful things. I want to be that.

Clearing My Mind

There is something about cruising down the road on your  motorcycle that just clears the mind, and after my ride this evening I think I know why. You have to concentrate on the road. Or even more than that, you get lost in the miles you put behind you.  Being on your bike in the open air is so liberating. It is almost an hypnosis. But not so much that you lose track of where you are going or that you need to be careful. I understand people who only ride just for fun. I hate driving my car. If I could I would ride a motorcycle everywhere. If I had the dollars I would ride different motorcycles like girls pick out different outfits. Just cruising around town? I'll put on my small displacement water cooled ride. Going on a highway cruise? Pick out my big bore cruiser. Wanting to look spiffy? Ride my new old schooled Triumph or Honda CB1100. If I could pick up every basket case and barn find I could off of craigslist and ebay, and fix them all up. Unlike my father who buys stuff and won't fix them up, but that is a whole other can of worms...

In any case, I love motorcycles. I love riding them, I love fixing them up. Here is my current ride: Ole' reliable  himself the Water Buffalo.

Jeans

If you know me you seldom see me wearing anything other than a pair of jeans, unless I'm running or relaxing. Even in the hottest day of summer I wear jeans. A lot of people call me crazy, but considering I mostly work outside in environments that may be hazardous to my legs I don't mind it much.

You know why? Because people complain about weed eating in their shorts. Or i'm often on the ground which is dirty, gross, oil, dirt, you know. I'm on the ground working on mowers or whatever and I don't want to have my legs or knees getting super dirty all the time. So I let my pants get dirty.

Also, things fall in my boots. If I wasn't wearing pants. With pants they cover the top of my boots so things can't fall in them. Also it irritates me when people put their pants into their boots. That's how you get junk in your boots. But that is a whole other can of beans.

Girls and Boys

I had an interesting encounter today. I went fishing with a couple friends and they got bored with it and started wading into the water. I was wearing pants to if I was to join them my only option would be to get into my skivies, but one of the friend is a girl and I found it sort of indecent. She however said it would be ok for me to take my jeans off because we are all in a relationship. What does that have to do with anything?

I think it's interesting that folks my age always have dating in the front of their mind. It affects every social interaction we have. Most girls won't even have a simple conversation with me at College parties because they know I'm in a committed relationship. Their goal in a social setting like that is always to date. Or at least some attention to how pretty they are. Why can't I just chat? Why must all social interactions deal with dating? People need to grow up.

In any case I got ice cream.

Books are evil

Rachel fell from stairs, lol.

Why Honda is greater than Harley

Sure, everyone thinks Harley Davidson is the ultimate in motorcycles. In fact, the Harley name is almost synonymous with motorcycles. Why? It's American made. Don't get me wrong, I love 'Merica as much as the next patriotic fellow. However, when it comes to motorcycles Japanese metal is far superior. Why, well for one Honda is number one in motorcycle sales. (see wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda). Two: they are cheap. The funny thing is normally cheap things in life are the worst. However, in the case of Honda motorcycles it is the exact opposite. Most old and new Honda bikes are cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, and will last FOREVER. In fact, on the Discovery channel's list of the best bikes ever was the Honda Cub 50. Which by most wouldn't even be considered a motorcycle. But the cub was dropped 20ft and it's regular engine oil was replaced with regular store bought vegetable oil. If that isn't a proper illustration of Honda longevity than the fact that most Gold Wing engines last longer than any car. I've heard of some engines going up to 600,000 miles. Probably just a legend but crazy nonetheless. I have a CX500, and those engines are famous for being indestructible. Especially for the small size.

On the other hand, older Harley engines are notoriously leaky and high maintenance, and in my opinion, boring. So very boring. Harley is famous for their V-Twins. Really? A V-Twin? Two cylinders. Don't get me wrong, the reason the V configuration is so popular is because the 45 degree twin can generate a good bit of power, and if the pistons are off set make a pretty neat thump. But every Harley bike is essentially the same. The aesthetic of each bike and the engine size is different (one of the three engine dispacements).

Honda has countless different engine configurations and was the first in many motorcycle innovations. They were first to use injectors on a motorcycle and first to use a turbo on a motorcycle. Then there is the famous CBX 1000. Which had an inline 6 engine. SIX CYLINDERS. Faster than shit and nimble as any Sportster.

I have not even mentioned the CB750, which is considered by all motorcycle historians as the first super bike.  At the time it was Honda's largest displacement bike. I have the 10th anniversary edition of the bike, pristine condition, and I ride it regularly just like it was built yesterday. That bike was an inline four. The CX500 was a longitudinal V-Twin (turned 90 degrees like what the Harley is), except the bike is shaft drive and liquid cooled. The Gold Wing was a horizontal four, and eventually they made it into a horizontal six. They even put a turbo on the CX500 engine. They never stopped innovating. 

In short, until I collect every Honda motorcycle I want, I will never even consider buying a Harley. I will start buying Yamaha RD's and Kawasaki Machs. People have died trying to ride those bikes.

Plants Vs Zombies

Considering that soon the new Plants vs Zombies will be released here soon I decided to play through the game once more. I am never disappointed with this game. Starting out is always a little irritating because I've played this game countless times and when you start it limits you to one lane, then three, then FINALLY you get all five lanes. Luckily those levels don't last long. However, no matter what, this game delivers. But why is that? What is it about this game that makes it an instant classic. I'll tell you: it's like watching a Looney Tunes Cartoon. Everything about it is cartoony. For one, there are Zombie fighting plants. They all have their own personality and by the end you feel like you know all of them. Second of all the Zombeis themselves are hilarious. They wear traffic cones. Traffic cones for heavens sake. That's outrageous. There is a zamboni zombie, a bob sled team zombie, and let us never forget the late and great Micheal Jackson. Thriller night. All in all this is a fantastic game that, depending how the sequel is, may out live its successor. No blog post about PvZ is complete without mention of the Tall Nut. He will stand there and allow the Zombies to munch on him, and show no sign of pain except for a single tear. A true trooper.

The weird mind of Eric

It's been a while since I have posted anything, and even longer since I've put any effort in a comic. So, this will become an outlet for my random thoughts. More to come folks.

Flight

Flight is also possible through cats and toast: http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Cat-Toast_Device

Motorcycles

I want these bikes!

Fate

It was fate ric found that brick.

Perspective II

Ric is eating toast.

Where did all the good shows go?

Time for homework.

Ipods

Sorry, for the sake of time I dew a few of the comics in pencil.