Three yards of black fabric enshroud my computer terminal. I am mourning the passing of an old friend by the name of Common Sense. His obituary reads as follows: Common Sense, aka C.S., lived a long life, but died from heart failure at the brink of the millennium. No one really knows how old he was, his birth records were long ago entangled in miles and miles of bureaucratic red tape. Known affectionately to close friends as Horse Sense and Sound Thinking, he selflessly devoted himself to a life of service in homes, schools, hospitals and offices, helping folks get jobs done without a lot of fanfare, whooping and hollering.

Rules and regulations and petty, frivolous lawsuits held no power over C.S. A most reliable sage, he was credited with cultivating the ability to know when to come in out of the rain, the discovery that the early bird gets the worm and how to take the bitter with the sweet.

C.S. also developed sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adult is in charge, not the kid) and prudent dietary plans (offset eggs and bacon with a little fiber and orange juice).

A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, the Technological Revolution and the Smoking Crusades, C.S. survived sundry cultural and educational trends including disco, the men’s movement, body piercing, whole language and new math. C.S.’s health began declining in the late 1960s when he became infected with the If-It-Feels-Good, Do-It virus.

In the following decades, his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of overbearing federal and state rules and regulations and an oppressive tax code. C.S. was sapped of strength and the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, criminals received better treatment than victims and judges stuck their noses in everything from Boy Scouts to professional baseball and golf.

His deterioration accelerated as schools implemented zero-tolerance policies. Reports of 6-year-old boys charged with sexual harassment for kissing classmates, a teen suspended for taking a swig of Scope mouthwash after lunch, girls suspended for possessing Midol and an honor student expelled for having a table knife in her school lunch were more than his heart could endure.

As the end neared, doctors say C.S. drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developments regarding regulations on low-flow toilets and mandatory air bags. Finally, upon hearing about a government plan to ban inhalers from 14 million asthmatics due to a trace of a pollutant that may be harmful to the environment, C.S. breathed his last.

Services will be at Whispering Pines Cemetery. C.S. was preceded in death by his wife, Discretion; one daughter, Responsibility; and one son, Reason. He is survived by two step-brothers, Half-Wit and Dim-Wit.

Memorial Contributions may be sent to the Institute for Rational Thought. Farewell, Common Sense. May you rest in peace

Just as I turned onto Hunt Club I noticed 4 deer just on the side of the road and proved to myself that loud pipes save lives…. I pulled in the clutch and gave it gas and them little fuckers took off like the wind! LOL…. Simple things that amuse while riding seeing as I don’t have a radio : ( yet!

Cigar night was at Jeff’s and it ended early for me just because I was freezing…. See no one has smoke removal devices like in my garage meaning in order to stay alive we have to keep the garage door open and umm freeze. At 9:30 my body had had enough and off I went home to warm up and get some much needed rest.
Tues morning was much more like I was hoping for as far as riding…. Halfy helmet and open face to the wind… a little cool but non the less… awesome!
Wed morning I told myself that I would get my ass to my Uncle’s at lunch and get my heated vest working again. Not really needing it yet… it sure is nice to have.
Having not left the house in a great mood everything seemed to compound for me because everywhere I turned… there was traffic… ahhh just what I need… more crap.

Basically hid in my office for the rest of the day but did make it out to my Uncle’s at lunch to get a new fuse for the vest… now I am ready for more riding : )

Thurs. there was no riding… had some shit to do at lunch and needed the van for that.

Saturday morning rolls around and my back is killing me, I can’t lie in bed any longer and all I wanted to do was over sleep!!!! Since that didn’t happen we got our asses in order and headed out to Steve’s music store to pick up my new Hi-Hat stand : ) I have only been playing with a hand me down 1970’s something Pearl which has done me well… I can’t complain but having to band aid it constantly is just no my cup of tea. In and out of Steve’s and off to our next stop… a very good friends house where we had some things to do, well Penny did… I played games on my laptop

I cooked some really nice steaks on the barbee followed by a trip out to get a DVD player followed by watching the stupidest movie ever… well that all depends on who you are…. Classic shock thriller… rent Drag Me To Hell…

Other movie notes from the weekend… We rented Jackass – The lost tapes…. Funny shit and also Year One… laughed my ass off…. Do it!