Wednesday, December 31, 2008

A new unit of measure

The snow outside at the moment is 1 Lucky deep...with drifts as high as 2 Luckys.
There's what...3 of you that know what I am talking about?
You can only imagine how I found out about all of this.
Today is a good day to be thankful for indoor plumbing, thumbs and that you weren't born a little dog.
Here's pictures from a much warmer day.



Tuesday, December 30, 2008

I'm trying

Trying to do too many things today, so I am taking the easy way out with Youtube.
Now's as good a time as any to post what could be the best band of all time.
And swell guys to boot.
First, this public service announcement (stolen from their Myspace page):

And this....the sound gets screwed up but suffer through it...it's only for a second.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Blind Archer

Even a blind archer is bound to hit a bull's eye.
I've always kind of liked this picture.
I took it maybe in February of 2008?
I think I like the way the shadows formed on the building.
Anytime I take a decent picture it's pure accident.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

I really can't

I can't possibly be expected to form sentences after coming in at 3 in the morning can I?
I'm getting too old for this.
Here's more old pictures...you can write your own stories about them.




Saturday, December 27, 2008

I learned something last night.

Cain was nice enough to inform me last night that there's a book out there filled with nothing but X-Rays of things people have "somehow" managed to get stuck up their butt.
I've got to repeat that.
There's a book out there (which means someone has published this thing)filled with nothing but X-Rays of things people have stuck in their butts.
X-Rays, of things stuck up people's butts?!?!?!
A whole book of this?!?!
And I was going to go back to school for accounting?!?!?


Oh yeah...I'm sorry I'm not providing any links to this book....but if you're that interested I'm sure you'll be able to find it on your own.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Alright...that's IT!

I'm putting my foot down.
NO MORE CHRISTMAS!!!
My favorites ALWAYS die on Christmas.
Dean Martin, James Brown and sadly, Ertha Kitt.
January 17, 1927-December 25, 2008.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Joyus Commercial Spectacle

And Neutral Holidays to all......

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

It sure doesn't feel like

One of these days I am going to spill my guts about corporate radio....and I'm sure be taken away shortly after...but for now I'll just post a Christmas song you probably won't be hearing on any commercial station.
Seriously, how many times can you hear "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree?"
This was always on my answering machine at this time of year.
Mom sure is proud.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Hey music nerds?

Anyone have the track listing for "At the Party Too?"...that compilation that was out on...I wanna say Candy Cane records?
I lost all my track info for some reason....and I'm at least trying to find out who did the first song..."At the Zoo".
Thanks!
Please feel free to either post it here, or you can just e-mail me at rbarstis15@gmail.com.

88 Days

88 Days 'till spring.
88 Days to do what I have to to this:

Um...oh...and I wanted to do something about the fender on the Triumph.
And get the motor out of it?
And....uh...oh! I need one of those job things.
Yeah...plenty o'time.

Friday, December 19, 2008

For Cain

and six minutes of my life I will never get back.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Why?!??! Why?!?!?

No, that's not my Nancy Kerrigan impersonation.
Not this time.
Why can't you just walk in to what passes for a "record" store these days and buy an Eddie Cochran cd?
All the Cold Dust (or whatever) a guy could want....but Eddie Cochran?
Hell...I might as well be looking for Buddy Grecco.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

It all starts somewhere

This is the first bike I ever rode on.
My uncle's 76 FLH.
I remember the first time I was on it...I had just come home from seeing the first Star Wars movie.
1977 I guess?
Again, so many things happened at 4 that would dictate what I was "in" to.
This picture is from '85 I think, after the bike had gone through it's "Life change".
I have pictures from the "first ride" somewhere...when it was black & white, bags, fairing, & if I remember, some kind of pogo seat with chrome grab rails.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Despite

the attempts of these giant real estate "developers" and corporation's efforts to rid the world of anything with a touch of character, or even a speck of soul, there still are some cool buildings left.
The bath house on Nantasket Beach (Hull, MA..for the 2 of you that aren't Massholes)is one.
I suppose with minimal effort I could find out simple things like, when it was built, who designed it and even when it was renovated but let's face it, we all "read" blogs for the pictures.
And yes....someone has already brought up the fact that there was a time in my life, albeit 45 minutes, that I was hanging around a bath house taking pictures.
Let's not.
Don't even.
Can it.





So...

For continuity's sake, the post I want to show up here first, I have to post last...and the post that I want you to see last...I gotta do first.
What a backwards world we live in.
No wonder jobs that require actual, physical work, pay less than the ones that require a suit & a desk.
No wonder we're doomed.
Anyhow, glass brick always makes me feel better....especially curved glass.



Sprained angles





Sunday, December 14, 2008

Sunday morning comn' down

I don't even drink...I just usually feel like crap every morning.
These are here 'cause I am messing around with sizes...but by all means feel free to look.




Saturday, December 13, 2008

Braintree Auto Exchange

Any creative ideas as to where this was?
I've had this photo for a bunch of years & no one seems to remember where this place was.
I assume it was someplace in East Braintree & judging by the railroad tracks may have been somewhere along where Rt. 3 is now?
Perhaps by the Elm St. overpass?
Anyone?

Thursday, December 11, 2008

April 22, 1923-December 11, 2008

You can't give a 4 year old

a hand me down AMF Evel Knievel bicycle and not expect him to be in to motorcycles.
Me, 4, my second 2 wheeler....I'd love to have one now of course:

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

A couple more of that Sportster below

Mainly 'cause I don't have much to say at the moment...sorry for the crummy pics.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Known agreer

Would you let this man on your playground?
He's apt to agree with someone who didn't like something you like.
Unacceptable!
He MUST be stopped!
Ban him!
Ban the deviant!
Someone who would be so subversive as to voice an opinion should be silenced...

Monday, December 8, 2008

Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be musicians

A friend and I were talking not long ago about the pathetic state of live music in & around Boston & the city's "scene" in general.
We were saying that no one really goes out anymore, particularly not this "younger generation".
"Well, why should they?" we surmised.
It seems social circles are now all internet based.
(as well as every other confounded thing...you think I really wanted to buy a new computer?)
It all started when one of us mentioned the closing of a local bar that sort of catered to DIY bands.
Why should "kids these days" go see an actual band play, or even start one of their own, when they can just sit home and play Guitar Hero?
People, people, people.....
Knowing the programing schedule of your favorite motorcycle show does NOT make you a "Master Builder".
Tattoos and straight bangs certainly doesn't make you Bettie Page, The Reverend Horton Heat is NOT a rockabilly band and this:



Is not the same as this:

Sunday, December 7, 2008

December 7

Now, everyone who knows me knows I'm not some flag waving nationalist.
Far from it in fact.
Yet, even though I don't support this country's foreign policies (That could very well be the understatement of the year) I feel the need to comment on this day.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

General Gow...he's more than chicken

My brain is mush today.
Please go here instead.
Mark does some great art including these amazing lino cut posters.
Ever tried to do that?
I found it nearly impossible....I don't know how he does it but they're beautiful.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Meet the new boss.....same as the old boss

Well, that sucked.
I'm not even sure I want to hear the answer those jack-booted thugs at Microsoft would spew if I mentioned the coincidence between the arrival of the biggest "shopping weekend" of the year and the viral infection my now "old computer" caught.
You know the one...the one that manifests itself on the restore files of Windows XP rendering it totally useless.
"What's that? A virus that renders XP useless? Oh...we don't know anything about that. Hell, we're phasing XP out anyhow, why don't you just run along and pick up a copy of our new Windows Vista? Oh! Your machine won't exactly support a new operating system? Well then, have you priced new computers these days?"

I really think I should have bought a Mac.
Oh...and if anyone cares......I still need a job.

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Deadsville

Well...you won't see much here for awhile.
I...well...my computer caught some super mutant space virus.
It looks like it's done for.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Before and after of a 77 Sportster

I was going to post this on the Jockey Journal but....I dunno....that place lately.
That could be an entry all it's own.
Anyhow, here's some crummy scans of bad scans of not-so-good pictures.
If I had to guess the first 2 are early 80's?
The last one, which could easily be a "before" again (there's been talk of all black tins)is a bit more recent....I'll say 2005?
If this bike could talk......the first thing it might say is "I get treated like a dirt bike!"



Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Destiny?

All of these have been hot rods longer than they were "civilian" cars....and they're all local.