2022 Year in Review

 

Things improved in '22 from the previous two years. I did manage to leave the homestead a few times - a couple of tag-a-long trips with Cuzzin Ricky and the trip to Tulsa for the Golden Gloves Nationals. Also made it to a couple of other boxing matches. Finally made it to a sprint car race this year. Been a long dry spell on the races.

Exercise picked back up - about 300 miles on the bicycle and quite a few walking miles this year. I quit recording my mileage about August for some reason, but I did at least five 5K events and I started going back to the gym on a regular basis the past couple of months. I've got my weight down under 170 for the first time in at least 40 years. Not as strong as I used to be but I'm working on that a little. I was probably in my peak condition mid to late seventies. I was about 172-4 lbs. with very little fat - doubt if I'll ever be in that shape again but no reason not to do what I can. The Missus got her port removed not too long ago. Good sign that the cancer's in remission. That's probably the best news of the year.

Got quite a few things accomplished this past year on the project front. I made good progress on the jitney up until the latter part of the year. Same for the vintage trials bike. Lost my momentum on that project when I sent the motor out. I'm putting the finishing touches on the old boat trailer. It's at the point where it's useable now and looks pretty good. I did several jobs for others - nothing major, but that's the way I like it. The owner of the business I worked for occasionally sold the business, so that will probably be the end of any work there. Lots of odds and ends taken care of around the shack but always plenty to do when you're a homeowner - especially when you've got a bit of acreage and the house is over 100 years old. 

Book count came back up this year - not back up to 50 which was the goal my buddy Kevin and I set for ourselves about ten years ago, but 40 is not bad. In addition to my reading, I've got some DVD courses I need to make time for in '23. 

Nothing major on the agenda for next year other than getting back out again - races primarily - some more boxing matches, and hopefully, a trip to Hawaii. I need to get that last state under my belt to complete my quest of visiting all 50. I'd like to visit my brothers, one in Kansas, one in Ohio. None of us have been traveling the last couple of years. Time for that to change.

Not making too many other plans for next year other than travel and working on the projects, of course. With the way things are going, who the hell knows what the year is going to bring. I'll keep plugging away at the projects, try to be prepared for whatever comes my way and remember to take time to count my many blessings.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Mustang Sally & Some Boxing Stuff

 

When you think of The Rascals, this one is probably not the first song that comes to mind. It plays out slower than the more commonly known version by Wilson Pickett, but I really like the funk beat that drives it along. Four minutes of the stuff I was diggin' when I was 16.

And now for something completely different, a one-hour podcast on the subject of who were the best fighters, current fighters or ones from the past. It's rare that I'll watch any You Tube video other than a tune I want to hear, but I really got interested in this one and made it all the way through. I might have to listen to a few more of Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcasts, in fact. I came across this here, BTW.

The podcast was based on the above book and the author answered some questions that were posed to him. The general consensus seems to be that the fighters of today would be no match for those of the old days. I bought a copy of the book - I want to dig a little deeper into the subject. As a boxing coach, I'd like to know more about what specifically made the fighters like Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson and Tony Zale better than today's champion fighters of the same weight class. I'll do a book report later. 

I picked up the plywood for the trailer sides yesterday. I need to make some pieces for the stakes and get those welded on before I can bolt the plywood on. I won't get much done today, though. One of our former boxers - a state Golden Glove champ and a Marine Boxing Hall of Famer - will be at the gym this morning, so I'm going to stop in and see him. Oil change on the truck in the afternoon. 

Saw Stop

 

I bought a couple of the cheapie wheel chocks to put on the green trailer that came in yesterday. Surly just bought a small dirt bike for the grandson, so he wants to be able to haul a pair of them at a time. I'm going to make a couple of back-up angles to put under the floor with nuts welded on so it'll be easy on, easy off.

I needed to cut several pieces for the Missus' table project that were all the same length. I decided it was finally time to make a new stop for the saw. I don't know what happened to the old one, but yesterday was as good a day as any to knock out a quick replacement. In the photo the piece of flat appears to be leaning out at the top. It's actually leaning inward, the reason being, when you cut off a piece you want it to drop out easily and not get wedged between the saw blade and the stop. 

Made a bit of progress on the table afterwards - cut the flats, drilled the holes and tacked the top and bottom stretchers together. I need to tack the ends on and finish weld it after that. Might be a little tricky holding things in place to get them tacked. That's one of the disadvantages of TIG welding - you need both hands for welding. Times like this is about the only time I miss teaching welding. Always had plenty of free hands for holding things there.

Doing breakfast with my buddy Kevin this morning and then off to Menards for plywood.

1st Place

Burned up most of yesterday running around the county. Had to get a blood test to start the day off, returned some books to the library, dropped off the recyclables, got a haircut, went to my running buddy's house and picked up my medal from the 5K at Thanksgiving, did lunch, checked out a photography exhibit, picked up some lunch for the Missus, and bought some mower blades. Pretty full day. Hardest part of the day was trying to take the photo of the medal while dealing with the cat. 

Back in the shop today. 

 

Header Installation

It was quite a bit warmer yesterday, so after I did my Monday chores I went out to the shop and installed the header and the intake manifold. When I was doing the fitting while making the header, I used my other intake, but I wanted to get the carb on so I can see what it's going to take to hook up a throttle and choke cable. I might have to put a little bump-out in the hood to clear the air cleaner as well. 

I've got some more running around to do today, so probably won't get anything done in the shop, but tomorrow's supposed to be warmer still. Definitely need to get out there and get some more progress on the wife's table and the jitney.

Buon Natale

 

Just like Elvis, we'll be home for Christmas. The weather is just too cold to be taking the Missus out.  Other than going out to take care of the chickens, Shop Teacher Bob's been hunkered down in the shack trying to keep warm. When it's snot-freezing cold, I see no reason to travel unless it's a dire emergency.

However, I'd hoped to get out, especially after our Thanksgiving was cancelled again - third year in a row for celebrating at home. The Missus and I do have tentative plans for our Anniversary this year, not Hawaii, but a nice weekend with a dinner show and a night out. Just a couple more details to be worked out and then we'll get it booked. Looking forward to it - it's been way too long since we've had a night on the town.

But now, I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. It's been a tough year for most all of us, one way or another. 

Peace to you and yours. 

Blizzard & Boxing

 

High noon view of the front field Friday when the temperature was - 3 degrees and the wind was blowing about 20 mph with gusts 10 to 20 mph higher. The horizontal band of white along the center of the photo is not snow on the ground, but rather, snow swirling around due to the gusting winds. We received a phone call from the county about an hour later telling us they were pulling all the plows off the roads at 2:00 pm, so keep your ass home. 

We, meaning me, were prepared for this. When you grow up in the country back in the days before all of the technology, you realize the importance of self-sufficiency. If you want to see how dangerous these conditions can be, read The Children's Blizzard. We had a quick drop of temperature Thursday, but nothing like Cheyenne, Wyoming. It dropped 42 degrees in one hour. Remember the Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared.

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From an e-mail to the membership of USA Boxing:

“The future of boxing as an Olympic sport is in doubt, and the IOC has made it clear that unless significant changes are made, it will not be included in the program for the Paris 2024 Olympics and beyond. This represents a critical threat to the future of the sport, both at the elite level and grassroots. We have a responsibility and a duty to everyone connected with the sport to explore all possibilities and do everything we can to ensure boxing’s continued inclusion in the Olympic games, thereby providing opportunities and inspiration for boxers across the world and for all future generations.” 

I just renewed my coaching license with USA Boxing for another year, so this affects me as a member and as a fan of amateur boxing at the international level. As a coach at a small gym in a rural area, I'm pretty far removed from the politics of this, but I was aware of some of what was going on. It would be a shame to lose boxing as an Olympic sport - been an Olympic sport since 1904, I believe. 

The young man we took to Tulsa last year for the National Golden Gloves is dreaming of competing in the Olympics and actually has a realistic chance. He mentioned the other night about an event in March that might get him close if he were to win his weight division. I don't know much about the event, but it does warrant some investigation. We've been working on some things to improve his skills - in-fighting, jabs to the body, lateral movement, all the things necessary to be a more complete boxer. He needs to get more quality sparring but that's always an issue with a small club.