Road test tomorrow.

Today, it is snowing out. It should make it interesting for taking my road test tomorrow. It's been a long time since I drove last but I remember most of what I need to do. Most cars are pretty straight forward and the ones at that driving school near DMV are the easy to drive ones. If all goes well, as I think it will, I'll be completely legal to drive tomorrow afternoon.
   To my surprise last Thursday no reinstatement fee was required. Then again, maybe it shouldn't have surprised as all of the fines from being caught driving without insurance had been paid completely for a few years. Nicely enough the insurance on the scooter is rather cheap which I'll need it to be for a while.
   I still have to do the scooter registration which is coming up soon. Much more of the town will be within reach for me.

I have wheels

   As some of you know I lost my license a number of years ago due to getting caught driving without insurance. Since then I've relied on bicycles. The fines was $1500 and 16 days in jail was required. They are very serious about the issue here in Colorado. For a long time I had decided it might be better if I just didn't drive.
   Finally, I'm going to go get my drivers license and I decided to go the rather cheap route, a 49cc scooter which the trucking company delivered yesterday. This morning I got busy with getting it out of the crate it was shipped in. Once I got the large cardboard box off here's what it looked like.

   I had to dismantle part of that metal framework. The front wheel still had to be installed and handlebars attached properly. I will state there wasn't any assembly instructions so it's a good thing I have some mechanical aptitude.

   Here it is completely assembled on the driveway including the little trunk it came with.

The view of the scooter from the porch.

   So far I've tested it by trying to start it of which it kicks over. I'll have to get some gas later today when I'm out and about. It's a rather nicely balanced machine having sat astride it. At the least it's going to make my life a bit easier for getting to and from work.

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Now that I'm single

Sometimes during the last two months it’s been very difficult to get my life moving again now that I'm single. For me, in some ways, it would be easy to close myself off from the world and just hide away. I did set up a couple of profiles for a bit on a couple of online dating sites. I really didn’t like the whole process I soon removed them. It was proven to me rather quickly that it might not be worth the bother for some.

Even so I did meet one lady, Oksana, who has become my close friend and confident. Presently she’s planning on coming to be with me. I like her a lot. She’s really sweet J

One thing I've been doing is catching up on the movies I've missed of which there are many. I'm now very well acquainted with Netflix I have playing on my new smart TV. It's been fun even if a bit boring at times. Usually I have the laptop running too with at least one browser window open.

I’ve also managed to get out a little here and there with friends which have been a pleasant change for me. As soon as it gets a bit warmer I suppose I'll go on some hikes. The mountains are calling to me. I’m really wanting to get to the top of Pikes Peak for my birthday.

How my grandparents met

My grandparents are the ones who raised me. They were Raymond and Allene Bigelow. This is an interesting story of how they met at the end of WWII.

   Allene was working at PX at what's now McDill Air Force base. She was a short order cook at the time. Raymond was beginning out process from what was to become the Air Force. His unit had served in North Africa and Italy and their mission was completed.

   One day he was in the PX and was getting something to eat. While he standing in line he noticed the girl at the grill. Her pants had fallen down and she'd kicked them out of the way and was continuing to work. Just like most men it drew his interest.

   For a few days he went to the PX and waited until she got off of work. He'd follow her on the bus to see where she went. Finally he got up the gumption to actually talk to her. Soon after the she was living with him in what we would think of as a shanty. The cupboards and furniture were fruit crates.

   One day he took her for a walk. He didn't tell her where they were going but it was to a church. They went inside and he asked the preacher to marry them. Note that he hadn't asked her yet. She decided to go ahead with it and two church deacons witnessed.

   The marriage lasted from 1945 to 1999. I think it was July 4th when he passed away. It was almost 55 years. Love can last a lifetime.

Change

"The only constant is change." Heraclitis

We all go through various changes through time. Some are big, some are little. Regardless, changes will occur. This morning I was just thinking about the past.
   I'm now living alone for two months. It's been quite an experience. Twenty years ago if I'd had the same thing happen I probably would have packed a backpack and left everything else that wouldn't fit. I would have gone to the nearest interstate and stuck out my thumb. I'm not sure whether I was just running away or I was seeking something. There was never a final destination in mind as I was mainly a vagabond.
   Over the years I'd seen the Grand Canyon, both coasts, Mexico, all the lower 48 states. I have some good memories, I also have a lot of bad ones. It's one of the reasons I don't travel now as I've seen many different places. I've also slept under many bridges, stayed in many missions, and eaten at many soup kitchens. There are many different states I've worked in and have called home for short periods.
   In 1998 is when the biggest change occurred and I first settled down somewhat. It's quite a divergent life I've lived looking back. I don't know anyone who's lived the same way I have. It's also why I've spent most of my life alone. I've never had kids though I never really wanted any. It's not like they would have fit well in the lifestyle I chose. 

New smart TV

Today the new 24" Vizio TV was delivered. It was a really easy setup that only took a few minutes. It fits in the entertainment unit really easily. Right now I have "Defiance" on the TV via Netflix.

Here's a closer look at the TV. I think it has a good picture.

I believe I can get a maximum 32" in the unit if I wanted to but this TV was reasonably priced.

On to other things. 

Yesterday I made a batch of Shepherd's Pie, and later today I'll make spaghetti. I set up lunches for the coming week on my days off. Then all I have to do is grab a container to bring with me each day. It makes life easy.