Crazy Talk

Riding Naked

2011-02-21T13:16:00.000-08:00

Chicago, if you believe HD Theater and Cafe Racer TV seems to be the center of a renaissance

for stripped down, go fast motorcycles or simply, the naked bike.

Yes, I missed riding, but not enough to buy in to the overweight plastic laden "sport bikes" that screamed death defying 20 something rather than my I like riding but, don't want to break anything attitude.

Lacking that sense of lust, I had almost given up when Ducati introduced the Monster 796. Still a sport bike but only 400 pounds and you didn't have to lay across the gas tank to ride it.

I find a dealer, sit on the bike and think to myself, yeah this is cool, I can do this! Or, maybe not. While I am coaxing my courage to rise up, the sales manager begins to talk about other bikes I might try. I think he meant I was a little to old for what I had in mind.

Slightly annoyed, I crawl out of the show room, discouraged.

I make one last desperate effort via the BMW dealership about 20 minutes from my house. This time, I find solace for men of a certain age. I find the F800R. Europe had been riding this bike for 18 months and were either smitten or turned off.

I closed my eyes and order one of only four bikes that will make it to the dealership, with only 300 bikes to imported for 2011 to the good old U.S.A.

I took the motorcycle safety course, clumsily passed the riding test.
Now, as I wait for the northern hemisphere to defrost, I often wonder, have I done the right thing?

The bike is at the dealership, paid for, insured, and maybe ready to offer me what exactly I don't know. Should be interesting.

The Monkey Wrench Award

2010-11-09T07:28:00.000-08:00

Monkey Wrench Award

Recently,I was asked to review a particular business strategy. After pointing out some potentially fatal flaws in the approach, I was sent this pix as my thanks.

I may have splashed the cold water of reality on my fellow office drones, however, at the very least I have saved them the embarrassment of watching their idea sink faster than the Bismark.

Which brings me to my first post in ages.

An optimist sees the glass as half full, to the pessimist it is half empty. But, it is the realist who asks "what is in the glass?" which is the cynics way of saying it is not how much you have, but what it is worth.

In this post recession economy, it is not unbridled, and unfounded, optimism that will get us through this. What we need is a little reality.

Where we are now

2010-02-05T11:13:00.000-08:00

A note from an old friend goes like this. It been a long time, you should write/call/ visit etc. You know; where the hell you been and what is with the silent treatment? It does bring to mind a song I favor these days, about high school and where we are in our lives these days.

Friends come and go. Some stay and others are only connected by the temporary circumstances that give us common cause. Right now, friends are mostly gone as they pursue there own paths. One after a two year disagreement has returned. This time I will try harder to keep her. I will do better.

Men of a Certain Age

2010-02-05T07:39:00.000-08:00

Months have slipped by since my last post. My second trip to Vietnam in October 09 now behind me, I would consider myself somewhat of a veteran. My travels include Hanoi, Ha Long, Mui Ne, and of course generous doses of Ho Chi Minh City, along with numerous day trips including the city of Cu Chi, but not the tunnels thank you very much.

On my second trip I did expand my understanding of the star rating system for hotels and having stayed in two star to 5 star (often self proclaimed) hotels I would not judge where you stay by the number of stars, but rather focus on the comments left by your fellow travelers on the hotel websites. Also, have some one who is Viet make your reservations, it will be a lot cheaper for the same room.

Restaurants: like it or not, you are going to eat a lot of barbecue. Unless you are completely reckless, what you eat will not be a problem. Even street vendors can be relied on. But, you need to kind of check out your potential eating spot for well cooked grub and of course clean water to wash the dishes. Beyond that, don't ask what it is, just try it!

Yes, same GF which is "like" on the installment plan. Yes, I said like not love, and my arrangement is not all that unusual in VN. The local ladies know the deal, you send money, take them on trips and they are there johnny on the spot to be sure you are taken care of and don't wander off to another enterprising female. My last trip included several nights at Saloon 17 Saigon, a very popular hang out for both Viet and Westerners. Of my drinking colleagues, one had married his GF, while another was shopping for a potential mate.

I will pass on a common plea from westerner who enjoy this country. Behave, be generous, but not too generous, as you might spoil it for the next guy.

Letting Curiousity Chart My Destiny

2009-08-03T05:08:00.000-07:00

No, I had not planned to be away from my blog for so long. Much is happening in the world and for the moment, I will only be updating the movies portion of my side bar. The rest will just have to wait.

Just a few notes.

Second trip to VN coming up in October. A lot to do yet.
Yes, GF and I are still an item. "L" is probably miffed at me as I have been interested in living and working in VN. I just like the place, I do feel at home there.

"C" headed back for China this week as her BF did not like the idea of following her back to China to live and work. Chinese women are seem so practical and business like even with relationships.

New job is leaving me wide open to find new and creative ways to spend my time. That means I am working my ass off as we redefine our direction as the economy gets better.

Chow for now.

Statistics

2009-05-05T05:29:00.000-07:00

"I am 31, want a big family with lots of friends." ... Second conversation with C.

Did I just catch someone off guard here or, is someone in a bit of a hurry?

Yes, she is cute. And we do seem to get along, or at least I am entertaining and funny. We are just going to be friends of course. But, "C" did one thing I was a bit surprised at. She does the "hug" whenever I stop by to see her. It is warm and friendly but not overdone.

Today C is looking even more tempting, the dress hugs the curves nicely,4" heels and still she manages that little bit of sweetness that makes sexy a perfect 10.

After some small talk, "C" indicates she will be going back to China for awhile. Uh, okay, what happened to BF? Well working at Nordstrom's is not something little girls dream of, so she wants to move forward. I think this means family and children, but BF is not ready so he is being dismissed; for now.

Of course she might open a little Take Out restaurant with her parents. I mention it is 12 to 14 hour work days, that pretty much cools her enthusiasm for the restaurant business.

We get to talking about cars. She doesn't like Mini Cooper because they are "too bumpy". Putting the racing heritage of the Cooper aside I suppose she is right. I have a much bigger car so she is happy with that. My we do have a little princess in the making.

I end the chat with an offer to do lunch sometime. It may happen, and maybe not, but in small doses she is perfection. And what guy dosen't like that?

Going Gong Li

2009-04-27T05:46:00.000-07:00

Without realizing it, I have become a Gong Li fan. I suppose my interest started with "Memoirs of a Geisha". I was smitten by Ziyi Zhang, but I kept looking at that other woman in the film.

Finally, when "Miami Vice" was rolled out in 2006, I damn near fell out of my seat, Gong Li was absolutely the only thing worth looking at in the film. An I mean; Oh Baby!.

Being Ga Ga over an actress is not my style, but there was something I liked in her presentation that seems worth digging into.

I have noticed the film credits are at best incomplete. Whether or not I should be seeing her movies in a certain order is more about my being at the mercy of Blockbuster and definitions like "really long wait".

If 1987 and "Red Sorghum" is Li's film debut then I am still looking for a copy to rent or purchase. From there it is "Ju Dou" in 1990. I finally got frustrated and purchased a copy, which is crawling its way to me via UPS ground service. Is this Gong Li's "Lust Caution"?

"Farewell My Concubine" is a great example of why I believe Hollywood makes such crap. The film offers that distressing and perfectly brutal fatalism that is what real life is often about.

Raise the Red Lattern is a regular on late night TV so I have seen this several times. It is not my favorite and I am not sure I am convinced by Li's interpretation of crazy. She can play a mean bitch pretty well though.

The Story of Qiu Ju is something I have rented several times and always enjoy the dark humor in this one. Gong is perfect in this. The movie is critical of the Chinese government making you appreciate the challenges of producing films in China.

Shanghai Triad seems to require you to wait half the film for Li's character to develop. It is worth the wait as the end of film is brutally perfect. It is almost scary that life (then and now) can have so little to offer that you would be willing to trade longevity for a few years of material wealth.

I will have to rent Temptress Moon again as having seen it once, it did not stick in my head. Have to understand why. Chinese Box is full of romantic symbolism and can be a good date movie if the living room is as far as you plan to travel.

Skipping several films there is "Zhou Yu's Train", either you get this film or you don't. I was told by someone it was a bit weird. Once I pointed out the whole thing is about it being the journey not the destination, at least she was willing to give it another view before giving up.

Eros is three short films. But I rented it originally to see my favorite screw up. Yep, RDJr. (Robert Downey Jr.) In "The Hand" Gong is again that perfect and fatalistic character that slips into oblivion.

The one stinker to me is "Curse of the Golden Flower" if this was supposed to be for Gong Li, it is visually lush to the point of overdone and if there is a script, it was written on a napkin.

Oh, one final observation. If you find yourself attracted to a particular Chinese lady, this is an excellent conversation starter.

A Cup of Mojo to Go

2009-04-22T11:48:00.000-07:00

After a long dry spell, I feel I have found my groove and some free time to raise hell and cause chaos into the world that blogs, twitters and tweets.

There was a reference to finding your mojo or magic that made writing as easy as sucking down a good cold beer. I doubt if I have found that, but it is once and again business as usual.

One thing is certain, if I did not have a point of view I damn well do now. This last year has been a ball buster and not only did I survive, I got even. There is something liberating in that, and I am not done yet.

After a year with GF, I have discovered something that a lot of men already know. Asian women are the best. Adore them, worship them and you will die a very happy man. Piss them off and the police will be straining the sewers for your remains. It really is that simple. Does it always work this way, maybe not. I have a Cambodian friend who really looks like his lady has tortured him just to be sure he doesn't think of doing anything like leaving.

Yep that one is going to cost me.

Good sex is good for you, bad sex really is bad for you and no sex leads to very bad sex.

Apology Denied

2009-04-21T05:28:00.000-07:00

This is really about bad choices. I let a friendship that I was really uncomfortable with slip into silence. I was completely happy with this as I had nothing I wanted to say.

Of course, I was told I should make peace. I sent a quick e-mail that was done without thinking and it blew up in my face. After several escalations, I have created a mess.

If you decide to extend the flag of peace, my suggestion is say it in person. And of course you have to mean it.

Begin, Begin again, Repeat

2009-02-21T13:38:00.001-08:00

How many of you have already written off 2009 as a disaster in the making? Certainly I had done just that. My 2008 had positioned me as adrift without a plan. I had completely shelved my career as wreckage and lived only for my vacation in Vietnam.

Fast forward. My trip to Vietnam in 2008, conceived in madness becomes a business proposal in 2009 and from there inspiration to begin yet again.

If all goes well, I will be back in VN in October and then from that point we will see I guess.

Among the unexpected things, I have purchased something called a Honda "Lead" which I would guess is currently buzzing around HCM with 80 pounds of hair and bone attached.

Yes,along with other discoveries, the idea of a simple relationship has been added. For now, I send money and she sends little SMS messages. In fact, a deal I find quite reasonable.

So, this is now a story about an American male, built on beer, women, sex and movies. What else could we possibly want?