Learning from Moto-Bloggers

Can you see how I've changed as a result of meeting three Canadian moto-bloggers at the beginning of August?  (Answer at the bottom of the page)

Meeting people whose skills and experience stretch far beyond my own is always a pleasure and I mark my good fortune at having the opportunity to talk with them.  I've met a handful of moto-bloggers since Scooter in the Sticks was born in 2005 and the lessons learned continue to inform what I do today.

In March of 2011 I had the opportunity to meet Dom Chang (Charlie6), author of Redleg's Rides, while at a conference in Denver, Colorado.  I came away from that encounter with a better understanding of what commitment meant, drive, focus, passion and dogged persistence in the riding world can mean.  When I find myself stuck, unmotivated or generally floundering I'll often say to myself, "What would Dom do?".  No small gift from a moto-blogger.

And one other example -- meeting Jack Riepe, author of Twisted Roads by Jack Riepe, at the BMW International Rally in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.  Riepe (officially pronounced "reep -- eeee") was presenting conducting a writing workshop at the event for less competent, capable or inventive moto-bloggers which pretty much means anyone currently writing in that genre. I left the event knowing how far my writing exists from real storytelling.  Always good for me to get a clear picture of where I sit.  And since that time I've come to call Mr. Riepe a friend. 

So on to the arrival of David Masse from Montreal, author of Life on Two Wheels, the Scoot Commute; Bob Leong (aka bobskoot) from Vancouver, author of Riding the Wet Coast; and Karen (aka V Star Lady) from Ontario, author of Motorcycle Touring - Riding on my V Star. 

The pink Crocs on the sidewalk next to a BMW motorcycle are a dead giveaway to the presence of bobskoot.  Those shoes thread through many pictures on his blog and represent a sort of emblematic representation of him for me.

The three converged on State College, Pennsylvania to meet me and I had hoped to show them some of the more exotic riding routes that a rider wouldn't find without some assistance.  Unfortunately, unforeseen circumstances meant I was only able to spend a few hours with them over the two days they were in town.

Breakfast at the Corner Room in State College.  Bob, Paul, David and Karen posed for a quick portrait before I had to leave town.  Thankfully Paul Ruby was able to serve as host and show them around the area.  Bob and David had appointments with Kissell Motorsports to have some things serviced on their machines so the days were full.

But on to the lessons learned from these three riders.

Let's start with David who is standing here with his Vespa at the KOA Campground in Bellefonte.

He probably doesn't realize how strongly his attitude towards safety and care of his Vespa affected me.  When I rode out to visit with them before they departed for Maine my focus on the mechanical state of the Vespa and personal protection in terms of gear was in a state of flux.  Looking at the improvements and upgrades to lighting, horn, and other aspects of the scooter along with his steady commitment to riding with all the protective gear in place (ATGATT) affected me strongly.  Since then I have returned to riding with ALL the gear AND I have had all the outstanding service completed on my scooter, actually washed the Vespa, and have been investigating some of the safety upgrades he has implemented.

Thank you David for the example you've set.

I didn't really know Karen but she mirrored David's commitment to safety and the machine and it was obvious she paid careful attention to detail.  Here she is checking tire pressure utilizing a little battery powered air pump that bobskoot developed.  I chuckled at the time but his focus on gadgets influenced me to spend some money.

Bob showed me some incredible photographic tools that would make my photographic life on the road simpler -- namely a useful, carbon fiber tripod and a wireless shutter release device that will open a new realm of possible photos.  I'll post in the future more specific information about these items but suffice to say that I learned a lot from Bob in the short time we spent together.

All three riders are serious and pile up miles.  Bob has just returned home to Vancouver after looping through North America from Pacific to Atlantic and back.  You can see his route on SpotWalla to get a better idea of the epic ride he made.

I want to say thank you to Bob, David and Karen for sharing their experience and wish there would have been more time available so we could have taken a ride through some of the beautiful landscape of central Pennsylvania.

ANSWER: I'm wearing armored pants again.  Rather than letting the summer heat force my only pair -- ones designed for winter riding -- off, I purchased a vented pair for summer.  And the self portrait was made with the camera on a nifty new carbon fiber portable tripod (no more searching for the perfect tree stump or fence post) and using a great wireless shutter release.  Stay tuned for specific details on a future post.

Junior the Birthday Boy

Junior is five years old today.  Kim and I have had the pleasure of sharing life with him for almost four of those years and look forward to many more.  This picture, made on one of our morning walks in the hills near our house, shows Junior resting after miles of running up and down the hillside chasing his beloved tennis ball.  On some days as I make my way up the hill and the view of the valley sweeps away to the west and north,  I feel as if I'm walking through a scene from the Sound of Music.

Life with a good dog...


One many mornings during those walks Junior decides to go for a swim -- a newly acquired taste on his part.  Made this video a little over a month ago when he finally decided to go after the tennis ball in the water.  He was still tentative then.  He's an expert now.  Not sure how Belgian Sheepdogs generally react to water but Junior has become a swimmer.

Happy birthday Junior.  What will it be -- Outback Steakhouse or Texas Roadhouse for dinner?  Or just a big bowl of Fromm's?

Piston and Pints -- the August 1, 2013 version

With the next episode of Piston and Pints arriving tomorrow evening at I thought I should share the images I made from the last event.  I could only stay a short time so the variety of pictures isn't what it could be.

Members get younger all the time. Mario is learning how to ride on Ken's 90cc dirt bike.

For those of you who've not attended I'll share Ken's email invitation:
=======

Greetings Moto Enthusiasts!

This Thursday August 15th, is Moto Hang Thursday! We'll start early this week at 5:30pm to allow for Wing Fest. Everyone is welcome to hang at The Shack and then head to Tussey later if they want. This week they're featuring Ted and the Hi-Fi's! In my opinion, one of the best bands around! But I'm not sure if I'll be going - as your host, I don't really like cutting out.

I'm excited to host our wonderful event again this week and hope you're excited to come! Spread the word, and let's see if we can break the record for attendance! I believe the record stands at 42 bikes!

See you at Ken's Moto Shack & Lounge!

MAP TO THE SHACK

Ride On!
Ken

=======

And now the rest of the photos...

Encounters on the Road (or Path)

 Deer, groundhogs, dogs and squirrels are what I expect to encounter on the road. An aggressive ram -- that's another story. I've had a run in with a Rambouillet ram while on a photo assignment and I think I know what I'd do in this situation. How would you handle this encounter?

Canadian Riders

On the way to work a couple weeks ago...

Crossed paths with two riders from Canada-- John and Doug.  Had a nice chat about riding, their trip and the Can-am Spyder Touring machine.  Definitely an interesting ride.  John refers to it as "an open-air sportscar".  After sitting on it a bit I could see his point.  His third Can-am I seem to remember and he's loving them.  For those times he needs the motorcycle experience there's a Suzuki VStrom in the stable.

Both rode down from Ontario and where making a big loop through New York and Pennsylvania.  When asked how they liked riding in Pennsylvania they indicated a love for the twisting, winding roads we have -- a remarkable difference from the North-South-East-West road grids where they're from.

I'm sure they're home by now.  Hope they had a fine trip.

Surrendering to the Experts

After some gentle but direct nudging from an bass fishing expert on the West coast I rode my Vespa to Kissell Motorsports in State College, Pennsylvania and surrendered it into the care of the capable service staff to replace the broken centerstand.

This bass fishing expert (who never posts here) sent me an email reminding me of the obvious — that I ride, not repair.  He's right of course but I got the idea into my head that I wanted to do all the work.  I have no doubt I could do it but history indicates I would take my good old time getting around to it.  At the end of the day I'm more interested in riding.

So here's the GTS leaning against a shed with a bungee cord holding up the center stand which now prefers to drag on the ground.

While there I had the chance to covet this yellow and black (a favorite combination) BMW R1200 GS parked outside of Kissell Motorsports.  The thought occurred to me that it would be nice to have two machines so that if one was in for repair I would still have something to ride.  I had some plans for this weekend but those are out the window now.  No Vespa, no ride.  My dog Junior will try and pencil something into my schedule.

Parts will have to be ordered but I should see the Vespa again next week.  In addition to all the other things outlined in the previous post I also suggested they do the valve lash adjustment.  So things should be in pretty good shape by next week.

Vespa Ugliness

Ugly.

The toll of too many winters of salt and slush?  Whatever happened I need to replace the center stand on the Vespa GTS and there will be no further riding until I do. For now I'll let WD40 perform its magic.

The scooter seemed a little wobbly when I pushed it off the center stand this morning but it wasn't until I arrived at work and pulled the scooter onto the stand that I realized something was terribly wrong. A quick look and I saw the break.

Checked the damage more closely this evening with a flashlight — reminds me of some of the old copper pipes in the house when they break — rotten from the inside out. I'll make a closer evaluation when I remove it.

Vespa maintenance suddenly has moved to the top of the to do list and it contains a lot of stuff.  Now is the chance to expand my mechanical prowess:


1. Replace center stand
2. Replace drivebelt, rollers and sliders
3. Service clutch assembly
4. Replace brake fluid
5. Replace coolant
6. Change engine oil, filter and screen
7. Replace hub oil

That should consume 30 minutes or so.

I'm hesitating to add one more thing -- check the valve lash.  We'll see...

I suppose if I want to be the complete rider I should have a little understanding of how the things works right?

Lesson in Acceptance

7am.  Sitting in the driveway ready to ride a few miles down the road for breakfast.  The plan was for my daughter and I to take a Sunday morning ride — her on the Yamaha Vino and me on the steady Vespa. My friend Gordon inquired the previous evening about Sunday morning plans and I invited him along.

Three scooters on the road.  A good plan. And like all plans subject to change.

At around 4am I received a text message from Aleta that she would probably not make the launch. Another from Gordon indicating a short delay. An unforeseen opportunity to sort through the stuff under the seat of the Vespa.

Making our way through the scenic farmlands of Penns Valley, past a dozen or more Amish buggys, families on their way to Sunday services.

Acceptance.  At this point we're riding towards our second choice of eating establishments — the Inglebean Coffee House in Millheim, Pennsylvania.  Our first breakfast target, The Whistle Stop in Centre Hall, was closed.

Arriving in Millheim only to find the Inglebean closed.  Not a problem; I know of a restaurant about 15 miles farther up the road near Hartleton.

No luck, the place had burned down.

Mifflinburg is only 8 miles away: We can have breakfast at the Scarlet D.

Closed.  As is the Carriage House restaurant.  Lewisburg is only 10 miles away where we finally find food.  Leave it to a college town (Bucknell University) to have a place open on Sunday.

Can't remember the name of the place we ate but the food was good and the parking excellent. What started as a five mile ride to breakfast turned into a 50 mile journey.

Acceptance.

After a few pictures of the Vespas (scooter porn) it was time to head home.  One great thing about central Pennsylvania is the endless routes to get somewhere.  No north-south-east-west grids for us.

The two scooters with Gordon and I aboard wandered through the mountains and forests that consume most of this area.  For anyone wondering about how these scooters perform — a Vespa GTS250ie and a GTS300 Super — well, they move through these roads effortlessly up and down the mountains.  Speed is limited more by the skill of the rider than displacement.

Weather was perfect and traffic light to non-existent.  If only we had more time...

Not wanting to pass up an opportunity to utilize fuel fit for NASCAR and test performance we made the pit stop.  Can't speak for Gordon but I sensed both increased power and respect from other drivers.

What kind of gas was that?  Sunoco maybe???

And that's how things shook out.  Change in plans, more changes, etc.  Forgot to invite Paul Ruby who inquired about a ride.  Damn.  Wonder what else I forgot.  I think I fed Junior.  Washed behind my ears.  Forgot to shave.

Damn great fun regardless.  Just need a bit of acceptance...

The Common Sense of Morning

Regardless of how hectic or chaotic an hour, day or week might be, a morning ride on the Vespa wipes away the noise.  Road, wind and motion, that quiet meditation where all the world seems exactly as it should be.  Or so it seems.

State College, Pennsylvania last Sunday morning, oddly empty, as if all the world was still asleep.

Why does the dawn come at such an inconvenient time of day?

Dog Interruptus

Please excuse the absence of a riding related post.  Junior has no patience for such nonsense as writing, editing, processing images or blogging in general.  First things always come first he says, "Take me up on the mountain and let me swim, run and be a damn dog!"

Junior now returns your attention to browsing the web...

The Only Journey is the One Within

"The only journey is the one within.”
― Rainer Maria Rilke

And so a new day begins, a short journey from home to work save for the meandering divergence from the precise, economical, predictable route.  Birds chuckle and the faint scent of grass lingers in the air; a few wandering steps following the camera's eye.  Meetings today, one, two, three I think.  And then the thought is gone, wiped away by the sharp, crackling of boot on gravel.

And the journey continues, short, small, significant in mind and memory.

The world when observed with a Vespa...

Heart of the Sunrise

Magic moments -- sunrise and sunset -- the time of day where the world is a painting.  Flying through the colored light on a Vespa, breathing in the glow of the world, my god how sweet life is.  And for a few moments I can hear Jon Anderson whispering,  "Dream on, on to the heart of the sunrise..."

Showing my age.

Rain

This morning I decided to ride in the rain to Saint's Cafe in State College, Pennsylvania.  Watching the Weather.com radar map on my iPhone I postulated that I could make it into town before the orange and red blobs arrived.

I was wrong.

By the time I was on the road the rain started falling faster.  By the traffic light at the end of the street my gloves were soaked and water was pouring through my vented riding pants.

A half mile farther and I could see rivers of water pouring down the right side of the road with occasional tributaries crossing my path.  Another mile and the rain begins to slow slightly as I pull off the road to make this photograph.  The stream snaking through the pasture isn't a stream.  It' one of those ephemeral waterways only coming to life during particularly hard, fast, heavy downpours.

Probably not the best day to ride.

An hour later the sky was blue and the sun was shining.  I was mostly dry save for my gloves and I was thinking I really need to get a rainsuit for riding.  The foul weather sailing gear I use just isn't designed to deal with a helmet.

It was a great ride though rain and all...

Do You Want a Scooter or Motorcycle?

Ducati Men. My friends Ken Hull and Paul Ruby posing this morning on the way to Way Fruit Farm in Stormstown, Pennsylvania for breakfast.  A few miles down the road we'd run into a rural traffic jam -- three turkeys in the middle of the road resisting being herded off the pavement by a guy on an ATV and another on a bicycle.  Should of stopped to make a picture but, well, I've seen turkeys on the road before.

The ride this morning reminded me of a question I hear a lot -- should I get a scooter or a motorcycle?  A few days ago I was talking with a woman about her choice of motorcycles and she explained that friends told her she wouldn't be able to keep up on a 650cc bike she was considering and ended up choosing a Honda 1100cc Shadow instead.  I was tempted to ask how fast her friends rode but remained silent.

Riding this morning my mind worked over the scooter vs. motorcycle question.

For me the answer depends on needs and choices in these three areas:

1.  Form -- the physical being of the machine.  Size, shape, looks, chrome, power, wheel size, lights, seat height, etc.  Choices in this area are guided by all sorts of real and imagined desires and needs.  It often comes down to "I like the looks of that.".

2.  Function -- how the machine performs.  Speed, handling, comfort, maintenance.  All the on the road riding stuff that gets you where you're going, handles the route you've chosen, and keeps you safe and comfortable.  As straightforward as this seems there is a lot of denial and delusion at work about all of this stuff.

3.  Ego -- what an individual requires to feel "ok" in the world.  Just like clothes, hairstyle, and a million other little things, a person can be driven or influenced by what they think others think of them.  Or how they brand themselves.  Of the three areas I believe this is the decider.  No matter how much sense a choice makes in area one or two, it has no chance at all if the ego says no.

So what about a scooter vs. a motorcycle?  I can't speak for anyone but me.  Here's what I know:

1. My 250cc Vespa can keep up with any motorcycle riding legally and safely.  With a top speed of 75mph it's a not issue on backroads or the freeway.  Certainly more work to ride a light scooter at high speeds but it is possible.

2.  A scooter isn't as rugged.  Speaking about my Vespa I can say it has been pretty reliable save for things I overlooked.  As 23K miles nears on the odometer I feel comfortable it can go another 23K without issue.  I've read of riders surpassing the 50K mark without needing any rebuilds or reworking.

3.  A scooter isn't good offroad.  Well, depends what you are doing.  I've ridden offroad with mine but would want more aggressive tires if I was going to do a lot of it.  And it absolutely can't handle water crossings of any depth beyond a couple inches deep.  The air intake is low and will suck in water and make you sad.

My gut feeling about why people shy away from scooters are feelings that they aren't serious vehicles, they're too light weight and underpowered, and they just don't fit a lot of rider's idea of who they are as a rider.  And that's fine.  Choosing a machine is personal and you should choose something you like and feel comfortable with.

But don't let anyone tell you that you can't keep up or that you'll be worn out after a day on a Vespa.

Horse apples.

Besides, a Vespa is far easier to negotiate practically anything over a Harley, BMW, Ducati, or any motorcycle.  In my humble opinion and based on a lot of miles on a lot of different motorcycles.

And it is far easier to use in the winter when you may run into snow or ice.  A LOT easier.

Paul and Ken get pretty animated after spending some time astride their Ducati's.  When they ride their BMW and Harley respectively they're quiet, almost somber, lost in thought and worrying about what people think about them on the road.

Maybe I'm projecting.

Anyways, it was a great way to start a Saturday morning, good ride to breakfast, had to deal with rain on the way home but that's just part of the riding experience.

Break the Gossamer Web of Some Dream

Fog and a gray white morning seeps into my body before I'm fully awake, drawing me from bed, whispering abandonment of all things save to be on the road.  Riding towards work a line from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum" -- Break the Gossamer Web of Some Dream swept through my head.  I'd read that story just a few days earlier and now here it was again.  Riding like a dream.

Those rides, dreamlike and dripping with excited expectation that world will be different, the view over the next will will be completely unknown and I'll enter a world so foreign that I may lose my way.

Those possibilities are why I have no Garmin on the scooter and seldom have a map.  How can that knowledge ever match the power of a dream?

Across the northern wilderness and for a precious moment I am lost in a world where providence still lives.  And then the web dissolves and I know exactly where I am and where all roads lead -- another Vespa ride to work.

Still, how promising a start to a day.

Radical Acceptance

Early this morning, on my way to meet Aleta and ride with her to her first riding day of the MSF course -- five hours of focused training on a riding range.  Moments like these are quiet, serene and the weight of the world evaporates like smoke.

Too bad a person can't ride all the time.

I need to do something -- life seems like it's spinning out of control. Or maybe I'm just plain stupid and getting worse as time marches on. I've always enjoyed repeating one of my dad's favorite retorts to many of life's crappy situations -- "It's hell to get old." but lately the evidence seems to be gathering to direct support that theorem. All roads lead to the reclining chair in the living room of late, the weight of my ass dragging me down and my brain with it.

That sounded odd.

Kim is on the phone laughing at something Jack Riepe, renowned author, BMW rider, humorist and sage, is telling her. Seems as if they're talking about Cher….

Radical Acceptance.

The title of a book Kim shared with me by Tara Brach, a clinical psychologist and Buddhist teacher, that might help. Help with some of the telltale signs of things going wrong in that strange way that you feel for each step forward you've taken three backwards. The book promises some help in sorting things out.

We'll see.

A few hours ago while doing some last minute trimming on a Forsythia I managed to cut the phone line coming into the house. Nice clean cut. No phone, no DSL, no Netflix, no nothing.

Shit. Damn it. I just want to sit in the reclining chair.

So off I go, tools in hand and a never say die attitude to fix things. That's what I do, it's programmed genetically, I fix things. I'm just not that good at it. So I make an ugly repair using lots of electrical tape and a few sharp instruments and was only shocked once when that 90 volt DC charge appeared as someone was calling the house.

Just the tip of the iceberg.

A couple weeks ago I changed the rear tire on the Vespa and almost immediately it began losing air pressure. Pump it up to 32 psi and two hours later it drops to 20psi. So multiple times a day I'm putting air in the tire.

Relentless. Over and over I'm pushing the boulder up the hill. Until today.

Right after I fixed the phone line I pulled the rear tire off the scooter. Just what I wanted to do, roll around on the driveway, pull the exhaust, the shock, the tire. Ugh.

I deduced the problem had to be a leaky tire valve. My lazy ass didn't install a new one when I put the new tire on. Or the seal around the wheel was faulty because I didn't clean it well and some dirt or grit was letting air escape. Never occurred to me to look for punctures though. After 15 minutes of soapy water exploring and finding nothing I look at the tread and there it is -- a big nail, now all nicely ground down from the 500 or so miles I've ridden in 10 mile increments. That nail must have gone in the tire during the first few miles of riding.  So close to the tire change that I had to think it was my fault.

It's always my fault.

I'm not changing that tire myself. I'm paying someone to do it.

Life hasn't been limited to boneheaded maneuvers. Some of it is just part of a wave of regular responsibilities that at times flood my ability to deal with them.

Like the new toilet project I embarked on -- installed the new one but never managed to get the old one beyond the driveway.

When Kim and I determined it might look a little too avant garde for the neighbor hood we dismantled it and have it in the garden as a potential planter. Won't say how long that took.

Add all that up and the old body isn't responding too well. The Psoriatic Arthritis I battle is worse when stress levels rise. But I shouldn't worry. Last time I saw my rheumatologist I inquired how the disease would affect my life span. "Not at all," he says. "The disease won't shorten your life. But the drugs may kill you." Nice to get a straight answer from a medical professional.

And last week I was in the middle of a "cardiac event" for lack of a better term. One of those moments where you actually weigh "If I ignore this it will probably go away," with "I probably should be smart and go to the hospital before I drop dead.".  Preliminary tests show no heart attack or obvious structural problems with the heart.  But all the test results aren't in yet. My money is on stress. Too many multiple nights of three hours of sleep followed by meals of hot dogs, chocolate donuts and ice cream.

I'm not 25 anymore.

It's hell to get old.

So I'm ready to read this Radical Acceptance book. And trying to push the Vespa back into the daily flow of things. Regardless of what is going on a ride has a calming effect.

Geez...

Vespalogy: Animated Retrospective of the Vespa

Received an email this morning from Don Barletta with a link to this animated film produced by the French graphic design studio NOMOON. It's a labor of love on their part and a visual love affair with Vespa for anyone like me who has it in their veins.

Yes, despite the many and varied motorcycles I have ridden, I remain a committed Vespa rider.  

For more on this video and the Vespa story you can check the link at motorcycle.com where Don directed me.

Challenges for New Rider

Aleta is working her way towards becoming a hardcore scooter rider -- this picture taken over the weekend during a lull in the rain during a 100 mile ride.  Her first long trip had a little of everything -- weather, traffic, distance and winding roads.  Soon she'll graduate from my guidance to the professional training offered through the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program.  

I told her a little rain wouldn't hurt her.

Aleta is riding her Yamaha Vino while I lead the way on the Vespa.  Trying out the Camera Bag 2 app for processing the rainy image.  It says I'm a Hipster...

Technorati Tags: motorcycles, MSF, scooters, Vespa, Camera Bag

Pass the Keys

On evenings like this nothing matters but the sky and the road...

Hectic Week -- The Vespa Prescription

A long week, the kind thick with action and thought, wrapped in speed and seasoned with perplexing ideas and behavior.  The kind of week that can make a person scream just to release a bit of the tension built up in gut, spine and eyes.  At least that's where it gets me.  A nice evening ride into town is the perfect restorative prescription to herd life back toward a gentle landscape, one where the world feels full of wonder and opportunity.  Seeing this mural painted on the front of Uncle Eli's art supply store in State College, Pennsylvania seemed the perfect icon then and now.

Have I said it's been a hectic week?

 

Evening rides are luscious.  An encompassing warmth that makes it difficult to determine where your skins stops and the universe begins.  Air dripping with summer fragrances, honeysuckle and warm asphalt topped with streams of cut grass and automobile exhaust.  Standing in the grocery store parking lot I'm content to close my eyes and breath in the world.  I've beaten this theme to death -- I would never have these experiences in a car.  Engineers surely have programmed the contraption to appeal to a genetic predilecton to be methodical and business like when in a cage.  Get from point A to point B as quickly and efficiently as possible.  Perhaps it might be different if I was driving a 1968 Sunbeam Alpine.  

Right now I am alive and in the world with a Vespa.  Another 60 miles today.  Perhaps more over the weekend.

Oh, what fun.  A colleague referred to cranky old white men today.  I asked for the parameters of that assessment.  Whatever it is, the Vespa is an effective medicine for that and other maladies.  

As Nina Simone might say, "Feeling good!"

Memorial Day Weekend

 

Hope everyone had a fine weekend and Memorial Day (for those of you in the USA).  This picture pretty much says it all in terms of riding.  Clear, bright and teasing of summer.  And now, late in the evening, my thoughts turn towards another week at work...