9/30/09

16,025 nights without... OK, I'm bored with that bit already. [ So are we... - SM ] Suffices to say, I'm still not dead. I never got around to talking to y'all yesterday because a) I didn't have anything to say and 2) I couldn't be bothered with trying to fake it. I figured I ought to make the effort today since Spiderman is going to be out of town tomorrow through Sunday so there will not be any rants until next Monday. Of course if the internot connection at the house keeps pissing me off, I might drop out of the computer world altogether. I so wish I'd never started direct payment and paperless billing on so many accounts. If it wasn't for that, and porn of course, I would have ditched computers years ago. Have I mentioned just how much I hate computers? Hell, my blood pressure would probably return to normal if I could get away from these damned things. I need to find that Face Buick “Top Five” list of things everyone else seems to love but I hate. Computers, Tiny and Flaccid (Microsoft), coffee, Gubment Motors, and automatic transmissions would be the list right now. OK, so what else is there to talk about? I guess I need to suck it up and take Shichi for another drive to see if it is running to an acceptable level. I'm hesitant to get into that valve train stuff until I'm satisfied with how it is running. Then again, if it is going to be living in the 5,000 to 7,000 RPM range, I really ought to have the top end battened down. Of course by that I mean the rocker spacers and double valve springs. I just ordered a set of 6” long velocity stacks for the carburetors. Yes, 6” might be a bit ridiculously long, but what the hell, I've got the room. I'm trying to decide what I want to do about air filtration now. When it was just a junkyard engine I didn't mind having minimal filtration with just the mesh screens. Now I feel like a set of trumpet socks might be in order. Again, especially if it is to live in the 5,000 to 7,000 RPM range. Well, we’ll see. I'm really trying to not go into hyper-sensitive-to-any-little-noise-shake-or-shimmy mode. I need to drive it, assess its condition, decide if the level of tune is acceptable, and move on to the next project. Unfortunately, the next project is one which has me pretty beat down right now: George. Hopefully, with it in the main bay where I can get to things better, I'll have better luck staying motivated. I've intentionally been ignoring the “George To Do List” elsewhere in this computer because, well, it beats me down to be honest. They say that the last 20% of a project takes 80% of the time, and I'm beginning to believe them. Whoever the hell “They” are. [ Black people? - SM ] I know, that last bit was a tad cliché, so sue me. I just finished off a 20oz Mountain Dew. Dang, I like that stuff. What? Was that too random of a non-sequitur? I don't care. Well, feh. I'm tired of talking to y'all for now. OK, I've been to lunch and now am back. I'm a bit relieved that I don't have to take Spiderman to the airport in the morning. I was willing to do it with no complaints, or very few at least, and if his other ride falls through between now and then I'll still do it, but it is always nice to NOT have to fight traffic to and from DFW (Da Fort Worth International Airport). I spoke to John a little while ago and we may be going to the shop tonight after all. I'm not holding my breath for it, but it is possible. I imagine we’ll each take a hoon in Shichi and give our assessment of its state of tune. I think that unless it really runs like crap when I hoon it, I've convinced myself it is fine and we can concentrate on making the hood look right. I'm still leaning towards a mesh screen over the top of the hole, but we’ll just have to wait and see. Of course a screen will necessitate trimming the linkage to clear, but that shouldn't be too difficult. Again, we’ll see. Well, I guess I've rambled enough for today. I'll talk to y'all again on Monday. (Spiderman, going out of town, remember?)