Neanderpundit

Only ONE job to do this week. And the motorcycle class is OVER WHOO HOOO! Man, was I ever burning the candle at both ends last week. Be good to get back to just a twelve hour day.

I have held a lot of jobs during my life. I took and completed a machinist’s apprenticeship and worked as a machinist. I took and completed an electricians apprenticeship and worked as an electrician. I have done frame and finish carpentry, and cabinetmaking.I have designed industrial automation systems for the past ten years, and my systems do everything from make doors to package donuts. I have operated heavy equipment, run cranes the size of buildings. I have my ASE certification for most common auto repairs. I ran an advertising agency for a year and a half, and took them from the red to the black. I have done just about everything from soup to nuts.

Today I celebrate the job title which is my magnum opus. The task for which I was trained by the unequalled master. The job I will keep no matter how many career changes I have.

Thanks, Dad.

Seriously: Everyone who drives should take this class. I have the greatest respect for the instructors, and for the course; you learn things you should already know, and you become instantly more aware of your surroundings.

First thing: Target vision. Everyone who knows how to shoot, knows that you can’t hit what you can’t see. The converse is true, the better you can see something, the more liklihood you’ll hit it; and riding has a parallel: You go where you’re looking. In your car you don’t spend time looking at the ground, and you can’t on a bike. If you look into a turn, your eyes will literally drag you through the turn, I swear to god. You don’t believe it, but it’s true- you go where you look. Your body knows better than you how and where you will go, and it will do what it needs to do to get that bike where it needs to go.

Second thing: A good helmet (if you’re going to wear one) is ESSENTIAL. An uncomfortable helmet sucks river water.

Third thing: Practice. What kept me from a perfect score was only being able to practice each exercise two or three times. You should do this shit a thousand times. And I’m going to.

Take the course. Even if you don’t intend to ride. It’s good knowledge, it’s a good course, and the incrased awareness will improve your driving skills 100%. Guarantreed.