disco monkey

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Reading Woes

All of my life I have been a pretty "Geeky" guy. I love "tech" stuff, anime, cartoons, video games, etc. There is a whole list of things that would classify me as a "geek" to most people. This list includs reading fantasy books, like "Lord of the Rings" and "The Wheel of Time". (This doesn't mean that I don't really enjoy other styles of writing, Jack Kerouac is one of my all-time favorite authors). But lately the fantasy books just haven't been able to hold my attention the way that they used to. I still like them, but I used to stay up all night reading just to find out what happened next in my favorite books. Maybe I'm just getting old (but I'm not even 26 yet). Or maybe I just can't focus the way that I used to in my younger days. Whatever it is I don't know, but it would be nice to be able to get so deep into these books again that I lose all track of time then realize that its 5 am, but keep on reading anyway.

Friday, April 06, 2007

MyGeekNotes.com

So I just joined in on a group blog this past week. It's called My Geek Notes. It was started by one of the programers that my company works with. So far pretty much everyone in the office is getting in on it. It seems like a really cool idea. Everyone that is involved with the admin of the blog can log on and post about whatever kind of "geeky" stuff they want to. Plus as it grows there will be "notes" sections where post about different tutorials, instruction, etc. will be put to help other geeks out.

If you have a free minute go check it out. My first post went up today (username monkeyx)

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

VW Bus

The VW Bus was, in my opinion, an automotive icon of the late 60s thru the 70s. The design was great inside and out. The rounded front end and roof created great lines that no van since has been able to live up to. And all the options inside were amazing. Not only was it spacious, but most came with a built in sink and fridge. Not to mention the rear bench that folded down into a bed. The interior alone made it one of the most versatile vehicles of its day. In other words it was built for the classic roadtrip.

Ever since I was a little tike I have dreamed of owning one of these classic rides. I have wanted one ever since I saw one for the first time.

On a trip this last Saturday I happened to see one at a car dealership in Syracuse. I didn't have time to stop and look, but I was so excited that I made a promise to myself to go back and check it out as soon as I had the time. The rest of the weekend was spent daydreaming about that Bus I saw. I thought how cool it would be to go in and purchase it, then head out to Cali, park it at the beach, and camp out for a couple of days. I could already see myself driving around in the sweet brown and white Bus everywhere I went.

Last night I had a little time to spare so I headed back over to the dealership. I was so excited the whole way there thinking that I might finally have an opportunity to own somthing that I had dreamed of since I was young. On arriving at the lot, I quickly walked over to the van. On first glance things were looking good, my hopes rose higher. I started looking through the windows thinking how cool I would look driving it around. But then I noticed the bottom of the drivers side. There was a big rust hole glaring back at me. I started to look closer around the entire vehicle, noticing more and more rust holes and spots. With every new spot my hopes fell farther and farther. I started to realize that my hope of finally finding a Bus for sale had clouded my vision of this once great automobile. The entire Bus was in really bad shape from years of neglect. This wouldn't have been a problem if I owned my own house, a plasma cutter, welder, sheet metal tools, a lot of body repair know-how. But I don't have any of this and I'm sure it would cost more than the Bus was worth to have someone else fix it up.

As I took my last stroll around the Bus I slowly walked away without even finding out how much the dealership wanted. I felt a little sad that I hadn't found the car of my childhood dreams lying in the brown and white bus.

I still want a VW Bus. If anyone ever happens to see one for sale, jot down the number to call or the dealer to visit and let me know. I still might go back and have another look at the one I found.