Lori also got all Betty Crocker up in here and made some Gingersnap Cherry Cheesecake and Mixed Salted Nuts for some friends.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Show me that fat yule log
We got our Christmas tree up this weekend. Hopefully it's the last year we put up this scraggily $15 fire hazard. We had to move some things around to make room, but it really helps get us in the holiday spirit.
Lori also got all Betty Crocker up in here and made some Gingersnap Cherry Cheesecake and Mixed Salted Nuts for some friends.
Lori also got all Betty Crocker up in here and made some Gingersnap Cherry Cheesecake and Mixed Salted Nuts for some friends.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
I'm with CoCo
Lori surprised me yesterday with Conan tickets! She requested them 2 months ago and won them in a lottery! How awesome is that? I made this image to make iron-ons for tshirts to wear to the show. Yes, I'm that guy.
Work related
I designed these simple looking yet ridiculously complicated lit tables. They just got installed in stores.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Dreamdawg
My brosef Kevin started a new blog. It's his Dream. And his dog Gus. You're the man now Dreamdawg!
http://dreamdawg.blogspot.com/
http://dreamdawg.blogspot.com/
Exhaust Manifold Repair - Stage 3: Shoot me, it's over
Wow, what a lesson in tedious work this project has been. And a lesson in doing things the wrong way multiple times. I need to not assume ANYTHING anymore.
1. I assumed the replacement manifold was exactly the same. I learned it wasn't once it was already on. The connection of the heat riser to the manifold on the original has a lip that fit inside the manifold. The new manifold didn't have an allowance for the lip so I had to grind the heat riser lip down to make it fit.
2. I painted the manifold with high temp engine enamel. I thought I picked up a 1500 degree paint, no, it was a 500 degree paint. The red manifold, after running it for 30 minutes, is now a nice shiny black, and still smoking as the paint burns off.
3. By far the biggest wrong assumption were the manifold studs. What a nightmare that whole thing turned out to be. They were the same length as the originals, but the coarse and fine threads were drastically different in lengths. I thought it would be a good thing until I had the studs in and tried to get the manifold on. No deal. I couldn't slip it past the frame. I had to take out and cut and then reinsert and torque the studs 4 times. And there's 7 of them.
Here's 2 videos I made of inserting and removing the studs. I just want you to experience the banal, repetitive wrist movements I got to enjoy for a few hours.
But you know what? She purrs like a kitten. I'll retorque the nuts again soon and she should be all set. And thank Jeebus I can go back to working on my bikes. I'm very thankful I had a place inside I could work on it. That makes a world of difference.
1. I assumed the replacement manifold was exactly the same. I learned it wasn't once it was already on. The connection of the heat riser to the manifold on the original has a lip that fit inside the manifold. The new manifold didn't have an allowance for the lip so I had to grind the heat riser lip down to make it fit.
2. I painted the manifold with high temp engine enamel. I thought I picked up a 1500 degree paint, no, it was a 500 degree paint. The red manifold, after running it for 30 minutes, is now a nice shiny black, and still smoking as the paint burns off.
3. By far the biggest wrong assumption were the manifold studs. What a nightmare that whole thing turned out to be. They were the same length as the originals, but the coarse and fine threads were drastically different in lengths. I thought it would be a good thing until I had the studs in and tried to get the manifold on. No deal. I couldn't slip it past the frame. I had to take out and cut and then reinsert and torque the studs 4 times. And there's 7 of them.
Here's 2 videos I made of inserting and removing the studs. I just want you to experience the banal, repetitive wrist movements I got to enjoy for a few hours.
But you know what? She purrs like a kitten. I'll retorque the nuts again soon and she should be all set. And thank Jeebus I can go back to working on my bikes. I'm very thankful I had a place inside I could work on it. That makes a world of difference.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Lane Splitting: A Southern California Motorcycle Experience
Freeway lane-splitting is a part of my daily work life. Traffic going 35 mph, I'm going 50. Traffic is going 65, I'm, going 75. It's always an interesting topic to me. Everyone has a certain level of experience, courage, philosophy, and their own limits.
Lane Splitting: A Southern California Motorcycle Experience from Brian Leahy on Vimeo.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Black Friday Rule
We weren't as nutty as some of the other Black Friday shoppers, but we went to the city to try to find a new mattress at Macy's. Honestly, I don't really think we got any sort of amazing deal, but I think we actually got a nice mattress, possibly the nicest I've ever owned, a Sterns & Foster "Monet's Garden" plush. I know, a nailbiter of a blog topic.
We then bought a few ornaments and a hula girl night light for our bathroom. No more falling in!
We headed to the mall for some food. There was no where to sit, so everyone was sitting on the floor and be hassled by the mall cops about fire safety. That was an enjoyable meal.
But later that night we headed back to the city to Cafe Du Nord to see Lori's friend from Arizona and to watch some bluegrass bands. To use Troop's label, a bunch of "hicksters." But I was really surprised at the low level of hicksters there, just people really. Bluegrass style music has really gotten popular again which just mystifies me. Once again, I'm ahead of the curve!
The bands to me were nothing special except the last band "The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit." Imagine a more bluegrassy version of Lucero. I really liked these guys. We hung out with the mandolin player most of the night, and he was wailing on stage. The other lead guitar was kickass. Banjo, flying V Gibson, and a pedal steel! I kind of sat there day dreaming about having my own style of band. Check those guys out for SURE.
We then bought a few ornaments and a hula girl night light for our bathroom. No more falling in!
We headed to the mall for some food. There was no where to sit, so everyone was sitting on the floor and be hassled by the mall cops about fire safety. That was an enjoyable meal.
But later that night we headed back to the city to Cafe Du Nord to see Lori's friend from Arizona and to watch some bluegrass bands. To use Troop's label, a bunch of "hicksters." But I was really surprised at the low level of hicksters there, just people really. Bluegrass style music has really gotten popular again which just mystifies me. Once again, I'm ahead of the curve!
The bands to me were nothing special except the last band "The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit." Imagine a more bluegrassy version of Lucero. I really liked these guys. We hung out with the mandolin player most of the night, and he was wailing on stage. The other lead guitar was kickass. Banjo, flying V Gibson, and a pedal steel! I kind of sat there day dreaming about having my own style of band. Check those guys out for SURE.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Not a finga!
Our first Thanksgiving in our new house. Just us, we were missing the rents, but we had Christmas music blasting all day and topped it off with A Christmas Story. Bacon wrapped pork loin, baked macaroni and cheese, yellow cake & chocolate frosting, pumpkin pie, Hawaiian rolls, mashed potatoes, and a few glasses of whiskey & ginger.
Gallery
Gallery
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
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