Still have some mapping issues, so I need to take her back to the garage for more adjustments. Power loss around 3K can be a little annoying when you’re riding in city traffic. She rumbles, sputters and pops a bit when I decelerate but apparently that’s what “they do”, according to the service manager over at the dealership.

While I rode through the narrow streets downtown York on Saturday afternoon, I received many thumb’s-up but also some annoyed glares. We’ll see how long I can live with this obnoxious noise. I’m afraid I’m becoming a cop-magnet as well. Still no tickets though *furiously knocking on wood*

Clicky-click for close-up over-saturated p0rn

The next “upgrade” on the bike will be to remove the rather embarrassing “chicken strips” on my rear tire. Normally, that doesn’t cost anything (unless you hit gravel, oil and/or a meeting car). Just need to find me some good twisties without any traffic.

Ciao biatches !

So – last Friday, I picked up my new GT 1000 Sportclassic from the Ducati dealership in town. I got a great deal on a red “leftover” from last year. About $2K below the first quote I got late last fall (same dealer). I also ordered Termignoni exhaust system for a bit more power, a little less weight and perhaps the most important reason: The boooming SOUND of Bologna!

The GT1000 is a 100% pure & naked motorcycle – without any bling-bling. It is built to carve twisties. That’s it. It derives from the classic GT750 from back in the seventies. I think the picture below illustrates where the designers got their inspirations from. (Mine is red btw).

One is from ‘74 – the other from ‘06 – which is which ?

I’ll post some pictures later on, right now I’m busy breaking in the baby.

Oh btw, although if this may looks like an old bike, it doesn’t behave like one. I’m guessing it has around 100 Hp with the new pipes and it’s relatively light. And being a Desmo Twin, it delivers power from around 3500 RPMS and up… It has Brembo breaks installed, so it will stop … like RIGHT NOW … enough to send the rider flying.

And then it’s the handling: below 30 mph – in stop and go traffic – not that good. It’s very “on and off” if you know what I mean. Hard on the old man’s wrists. But take her out in the twisties – keep the RPMs over 4000 – and my God you’ll have oodles of fun. I’ve said it before: This is what motorcycles are all about. Lotsa power combine with nimble handling. Pure and simple. YEAH!

Oh and my old beanie helmet had to be replaced with a full-face. Partly because I want to keep my hearing and partly because a &#$% bee ended up behind my sunglasses the other day … and stung me! Jeezzz that hurt. Diane thought the the Joe Rocket Villain helmet looked cool, so I went for it.

The 2nd sign of mid-life crises: Skull graphics on you helmet

You see, to stop smoking isn’t really that difficult. All it takes is a bit of self discipline, a pack of Nicorettes or some broccoli stalks. Easy-peasy. Now, if you add a rather tough diet to the mix, things might get a bit tougher.

It’s a well known fact that quitting smoking can result in weight gain. I knew I couldn’t afford to gain any weight, so I countered that potential problem by putting myself on the South Beach (SB) diet. I’m now in my 3rd week of phase 1 and things are going great. You can look at Phase 1 in SB as a “detox” phase, where you’re trying to eliminate insulin resistance.

I’m not going to bore you guys with details or weigh-ins and shit like that, but my overall goal is to end up with a BMI that is considered healthy. For me, that means loosing a little over 100 lbs. My plan is to reach this goal within a year. Wish me luck.

Me before and after the South Bit ^h^h^h Beach diet project.

and let’s do it again – this time with young herbie hancock and ron carter among others …

• Buy or steal a couple of packs of Nicorette gum.  Store-brands works fine as well and can be cheaper.
• Leave one pack in a drawer at work and one at home – and then forget about it.
• Wait until a day you don’t feel 100%.  A slight cold or a soar throat is perfect.
• Say “F*ck it, I’m quitting” or something along those lines. Don’t announce it to anybody.
• Quit smoking &  start chewing
• The first few days, avoid beer, wine, pubs, restaurants, friends, sex or situations where you risk feeling creative and/or stressed out.   I’ve always had cravings when I feel overly creative (music production, etc).
• That’s it.  Works like a charm.

Forget about “Formulating Goals”, “Plan ahead”, “Change your habits”, etc.  As I see it, this only causes more stress and you don’t need that shit the first weeks anyway.  Just quit and chew and try not to kill anybody in the process.

I’ve done this one time before, and it worked great.  I stopped smoking for well over a year.  The mistake I made was that I thought I could become a “social smoker”.  I can’t.

… oh and don’t blog about it.

I’ll report back next week regarding this project, regardless of how it goes.

You can roll your own mix here:  muxtape.com

Or you can check out Joey’s tape here (testing pingback)

And for just $129 I got this red beauty.  Can’t beat that !

Now this is what I’m calling a manly-man’s power tool.  

My back is now officially out of commission, but hell, it was worth it.  I had a blast cutting up rather thick branches that the wind had ripped off the old Maples in our back yard.  I actually ended up searching for more stuff to cut down.  Great fun !

And yep – I was humming the old Python classic while I was at it.

I cut down trees. I skip and jump.
I like to press wild flowers.
I put on women’s clothing
And hang around in bars.

 I cut down trees. I wear high heels,
Suspendies, and a bra.
I wish I’d been a girlie,
Just like my dear Papa

kid: doyouwantsoftwaretoday?

me: I’m sorry ?

kid: wodzdadallsoftwarefotoday ?

me: huh ?

kid: WOULD-THAT-BE-ALL-FOR-TODAY ?

me: Ah, yes, I think that would be all.

Good heavens. Don’t they teach kids how to speak nowadays ? What’s up with all this mumbling ?

I’m getting old. *sigh*