I can blame snow for lack of riding. Sort of. But not for not writing anything. Can I? I still have an essay on the Triumph Thunderbird I had a couple weeks ago. It’s almost ready but I can’t cross the goal line.
My hands are cold and I can’t type well. How’s that sound? Lame. I have been riding in the cold. One morning commute saw the temperature at 33 degrees Fahrenheit. I had to drag myself to the garage and put on the gear. My First Gear Kilimanjaro jacket lost it’s zipper so the sealing from the wind is not so good. The electric gloves are working fine. I’m just tired. Not so tired that I didn’t venture out in the recent snow to try and adjust my seasonal clock. I’m stuck in summer mode.
The dog. That’s why I haven’t been writing (or riding) more. I think. He sure does take a lot of energy. Both shoulders are sore from lofting tennis balls for this tireless beast. The Chuckit has helped propel the ball farther but so far my arms feel wrecked. Junior loves chasing those yellow balls.
The other morning I decided to end a ride short and just pulled into the Pump Station to relax and stare out the window. And have a breakfast sandwich. And tea. My body has been drained by too much exercise. I can barely type now. My lazy ass just wants to climb into bed. I suppose that’s a good thing. I can’t survive anymore on 3 or 4 hours sleep.
Gordon and I still get together once a week for the 3 Prints Project. Right now it should be the No Prints Project. I’ve shot some film but have not processed a thing in a month. Progress — I did by new chemicals yesterday. It is nice to sit at Saints and make excuses.
Lots of tree branches came down in the unexpectedly early snowfall. Kim eyed some Curly Willow branches that she wanted. I loaded them on the roof of my truck and crawled home. I should have tied them to the back of the Vespa. Would have made a better picture.
Every morning at 5am Junior stirs and tries to get me moving. He doesn’t flash me this sweet look because it’s still dark but he has other tricks. I made this photo at the park on Friday. He sure loves, I mean loves, chasing tennis balls. It shows in his face.
PHOTO BY PAUL RUBYMy friend Paul made this picture at Barnes and Noble last night. I looked at it on the camera after he shot it and asked him to send it to me. It’s a reminder that I don’t look as burned out as I feel. Maybe my expectations are skewed. Maybe it’s ok to feel drained taking care of a big puppy.
Despite my whining all is well. It’s good to get more exercise and the routine works for me. On Wednesday we begin dog college. Obedience Training. Owner Training. Opportunities to fail and look stupid. Junior is smarter than I am. I am here typing. He is lying at my feet sleeping.
Case closed.
I never do long for snow or cold or changing seasons. Winter has reached Key West with temperatures around 71 degrees (22C) in the middle of the night and while at work I wish I could ride the Bonneville further south and escape the remnants of frost and slush and dead brown leaves sweeping around outside.It’s all relative I suppose.
Barnes & Noble exposure makes you appear very mature. Now it all makes sense!
As for J.R., he is always mature and handsome to boot; which begs a question.
You bought him from a breeder, at 13 months? Isn’t he just a wee bit oldto be classified a puppy?
Conchscooter: While 71 degrees at night sounds pretty nice I do understand how the change in light and temperature, however moderate, seems to trigger some sort of dread of the colder season. Maybe it’s genetically imprinted.
Hope you find lots of fine weather still to keep the Bonneville on the road.
Bryce: Very mature. That’s a polite way of saying it. *grin*
On some days I feel much more mature than others.
The Belgian Sheepdog breed is slow to mature and is generally acknowledged to have an extended puppyhood from a psychological perspective. Experience is bearing that out even after only a couple weeks.
As I type this he is laying at the foot of the bed letting out intermittent loud sighs that signal, “Get your sorry ass away from that clicking thing and take me to the park to chase the ball.”.
It’s still dark though and cold. He’ll have to wait another 30 minutes until he can see the ball…
Steve,
I see a future for Junior as a “dog model.” He will have one world class portfolio to bring along with him.
Have you ever seen the Dog Whisperer program on TV? Simply amazing.
Tim
Steve, don’t be too hard on yourself for lower than normal motivation. Every field needs it’s fallow time.
I love your dog, and the photographs are just beautiful. I owned a Groenendael Belgian shepherd (named ‘Raven’) for many years, and thankfully, we had a horse farm for him to run around on, because I think I would have collapsed from exhaustion if I’d had him in the city.
I think, though, that the breed is one of the most beautiful dogs in existence. I’d love to have another one.
I enjoy your blog!
Steve:
You must have “end of summer” syndrome. I get it every year when the temps get cooler and the rain starts. It gets worse when we change to DST as then it will be dark on our commute home.
The other depressing thing is that our photos are going to start looking like Conch’s, all taken in the dark with little light, hard to see when you have to squint all the time.
I am glad that you have found a new companion to keep you company, or at least keep your feet warm while he is sleeping
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
Dear Steve:
From time to time I get the feeling that no one reads my stuff, that it is only important to me, and that my perspective is so limited that any kind of a personal production schedule is purely optional.
This is a trap (for me, at least). The longer I am away ffom something, the harder it becomes to return. And after a while, I begin to to think some stories have an expiration date, which in fact, they don’t.
Have fun with the dog. They are only puppies for 10 or 12 years.
Fondest regards,
Jsck • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
It looks like that dog is training you well. I am very happy that you seem to be having a great time with the dog. We have 3 dogs and each is special in their own different ways.
I had a brief encounter with a very nice dog on my recent trip. It was a special moment that I am sure I will never forget. If you care to read about it just check out my post entitled Kansas Flint Hills. And you do look pretty thoughtful in that picture.
Ok. How did the first night of obedience class go? Did you get trained? I used to train dogs. Motorcycle riders are more fun.
Katie has a way of showing me the opposing viewpoint. Now she has me doing it. What would you do if there wasn’t something like a big puppy to nudge you into action? Sit and stagnate?
Finally, I’m curious what lense you used for the photo of JR in the one under the Barnes and Noble photo. I know it’s a large aperature setting. I’ve finding I’m getting better close-up pictures with the 55-200mm lense zoomed in and up closer. Who would have thought?
Summer to Winter transition is hard on the body and the mind. And Junior seems to be adding to the difficulty. He is a beautiful hound, such a great face and full of expression. Your photos are all so wonderful. We forgive you for needing a break, we all do, and still admire all you do.
It’s fall. Granted, a great time to ride but I feel sometimes that I fall apart a wee bit, at least symbolically, like so many things other living things in nature. My discombobulation continues until I acclimate myself to the inevitability of the coming seasonal changes.
Junior is just too dang cute–those ears are special!
I hate snow because I can’t use my bike too. I love your dog! Don’t be too hard on yourself.
Tim: Junior will be an excellent model if I ever get myself organized. Soon, soon.
I’ve seen clips of the Dog Whisperer on youTube. I think I suffer the same problems as the people on the show—I don’t understand the dog clearly enough and end up creating more problems than I solve.
Chuck: I always think I should get more done and can get an unrealistic expectation of myself. Every now and again I step back and wonder what the heck I am doing…
Christine: Junior sure does want a lot of exercise. Until this weekend I was able to toss the ball for him in an unfenced park and he would retrieve perfectly. But then he must have wondered what was in the woods…
So for now, until he is better trained I will be left with really long walks or a drive to the fenced dog park.
My doctor always said I should get more exercise…
bobskoot: The change to Daylight Savings Time will mean I will have no chance to walk Junior in the light in the morning.
I need to finish fencing in the yard.
I’ve always wanted to do more night photography. Now’s my chance!
Jack Riepe: The optional aspect of Scooter in the Sticks is, as you say, problematic for me as well. Once I am away even responding to comments can feel overwhelming.
Thanks for your insight about expiration dates. I have tons of expired stories and photos. Maybe they aren’t trash afterall…
cpa3485: I read your Flint Hills post and it sounds like a great trip. The kind of ride that has been absent for me of late.
Junior is rather aloof when it comes to strangers. A trait of the breed—Belgian Sheepdogs do not warm up to people fast. He isn’t mean or anything but unnerves some people because of his wariness. Some of this will moderate as he matures and becomes more socialized but he will never be a tail wagging running up to people to get petted.
I suppose he is a lot like me….
irondad: The first night of obedience class went well. 12 dogs — 5 big adults and the rest under 6 month old pups. Junior was calm and attentive to things. We have been practicing Sit, down, stand and heel. He will heel fine with the training collar and most of the time with a regular collar (unless a squirrel or rabbit appears). But he has suddenly gone stupid with sit and down…
The dog has spurred me into action. I hope my mind and body acclimates sometime soon.
For the portrait of Junior in question, and all three in fact, I used a 70-200 zoom at the 200mm focal length. Junior was in the shadow of a white pine tree with a bright background. I intentionally overexposed by 1 stop. The lens aperture was wide open to give a very shallow depth of field. Same technique I apply to many of my scooter pictures— telephoto and big aperture.
I think you will find you pictures more simple and dynamic when you use a long focal length. Add the narrow depth of field and you can really focus on the subject.
And then there’s Photoshop….
Good luck!
Heinz N Frenchie: I’m sure once Junior is better trained and a bit older, and I sort out things time wise, that all will be right with the world.
I look forward to being able to go on walks with him where I can take pictures. Now it is all Junior, all the time!
Sojourner rides: I like fall so much that I can’t understand sometimes why I find it so hard to get out into it. I was on an assignment last week in one of our state forests and it was magic. But the next day I still had a hard time going out…
That dog is sleeping at my feet right now. I like him a lot when he is relaxed.
DMV locations: Snow. Groan. Sigh. I’m not ready…
“Some of this will moderate as he matures and becomes more socialized but he will never be a tail wagging running up to people to get petted.
I suppose he is a lot like me….”
Gee I don’t see any tail on you in the photos! Grin.
And am slowly getting used to the D700. Must admit it is far more camera that even my F100. And since I tend to like hardware, now also have a D90 in the stable. Price was very right. Thankfully have a full range of standard FX lenses, so the D700 wasn’t a problem, the D90 has
its own 18-135 which is just right, for it.
One thought about telephoto lenses and closeups, the shake factor at wide apertures. Prefer VR for that reason.
IN the meantime keep riding as and where you can. Soon enough, snow ice and winter shall arrives.
And Junior can run to his heart’s content in a fenced yard. When out on a lease a retro-reflective collar is good idea as well as for the leash. Maybe install a GPS tracking device on his collar for those times he does go wandering?
Enjoy your companion dog!
Now as to a sidecar on the Vespa for Junior…
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