I've re-read "Across The Outback", the zoo veterinarian's camel trek across Australia. That's the trip I planned by motorcycle back in 1998, had I not quit my fancy job. Actually, just before I quit, the company had made a new rule against banking more than 40 days off, right after I took that six months off in 1991 to go live in Los Angeles with my then actress girlfriend. Thus, I could not have made the trip as planned.
It was a beautiful weekend day which I spent outside drinking tea and eating licorice (mmm, my favorite). Pudding-Tat is definitely spending more long hours back here and often ventures inside the house again.
I rode my bicycle 8 miles just for the exerise. I talked to Alaine, who is still impressed I can do that. She remembers the week in early 2004 when I got out of Mt. Sinai and could barely sit up. I recall I had to eat soup with a plastic spoon when I could not lift a metal one.
Still, do not over-rate a bicycle, as it does not exercise muscle groups needed for reptitious work activity. I still can barely walk any distance without discomfort though I bike all over town. Today, I drove past all the for-sale places on my log of mobile homes. Who should I meet up with but old Enrique. He's still flogging his tiny two-bedroom for $4,000. He's only getting offers from the Panera types, all talk, no money. I waved cash under his knows. He knows about the unit over on 5th that sold for $500 (five hundred dollars) last month and he's getting nervous.
I also found a tiny but beautiful one bedroom. See photo. The same doctor has purchased all the mobile park land between Pembroke and Gulfsteam, including the place I'm at now. He's showing no inclination of moving on development, preferring to repossess the places that go into default. It's easy to tell how he is doing because he leaves them vacant.During my tour, I passed a 42 foot custom road bus. The owner came out, a French guy who recognized me as a "guitar player". That means he must know the couple from Seville who I used to jam with on the Broadwalk. The rig cost him $410,000 and it is beyond luxurious. I can't follow his words, but he owned a business in Quebec and sold out at the right time. He does the standard six months in each country and knows how real estate ties you down. He's proud he's wise enough not to own a real house.
I was also over to see the scooter people. I take photos and help them post on Craigslist. They were the right people to support and deal with, they buy up the inventory of bankrupt dealerships and sell to me for less than wholesale when they get 'em. They are taking in two trades next week and called for me to go look. I've been slowly fixing up my piece of junk, but now that I'm listening to my real estate lawyer, I may be wanting something newer or even new.
Finally, I spent $2.53 on parts and practiced soldering. I'm still ruining 25% of the joints. I'm soldering wire, not components. I've improved and many of my successful joints are starting to look like the textbook examples. Still, I saw a video of a guy blazing along doing a perfect job and that is my objective.
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