Whetstone...

[Intheshop]

I grew up hearing my,self taught engineer dad pretty much colloquially call any sharpening stone a "whet rock".....

Me and shopdog just went up to the store to get some diesel for the tractor.... upon our return...

At the head of our driveway there's a rock wall that has taken 30+ years of adding a flat rock to,from time to time,creating one of the nicest entrances on this old rd. that honestly,is VERY well represented with these sorts of things(think ivy covered banks,hunting dogs,old houses).

So pulling in,I....we... noticed that the rock wall was,"wet" looking. It is a function of current weather conditions. No biggy there,happens every year this time....

But that is only a partial explanation for dad's "whet rock" euphonism. He grew up within a decent horse ride of,"whetstone" ridge....milepost 29 on the BRP. A place that,any sportbike d**k worth his salt in the pursuit of things,knee drag.... knows well. "Whetstone ridge","that's where we sorta chill and check out the scenery"?... "yeah,that's the place"(would be a typical homey response).

Just interesting,I've drug a knee through whetstone..... it just never hit "home" till today.

 

[Intheshop]

Whet like Mobile 1 spilled on a Doberman....

 

[Jeff H]

I know the difference between "whet" and "wet," but could use some help with "drug a knee."

What's that mean?

Not to be a smart aleck - I enjoy your posts even though (or especially when) I don't always follow. At times I read a little Sunflower Sutra in them. Not comparing you to Ginsberg - but sometimes ideas outpace even the limitations of how most of us make use of our language. In my case, I could be better.

If explaining ruins the moment, please ignore me.

 

[S Mac]

I think drug a knee is cornering on a motorcycle. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Intheshop]

Yes,S mac.... dragging a knee,and "better yet",an elbow is this right of passage akin to,gutting your first deer.

I guess what my posts "lose",and reckon is understandable....

Degree of difficulty..... be it,surviving pavement surfing on a sportbike,stretching cast bullet technology,trad bow pro 3D competition.... kinda hard to describe if you aren't "into it".

 

[Intheshop]

When you are on a first name basis with the judge/s (Madame Ginsburg) in,not only your county but......

Making headlines in adjoining states.... you might just be a "scratcher". Something I swear to baby jesus,was never a goal...

 

[Jeff H]

Ah, got it. Thanks.

I meant Allen Ginsberg, the writer.

It was in reference to the writing style, not the philosophy.

 

[Ian]

Is that the back end of an Aston Martin?

 

[Intheshop]

One of my dearest motorcycle buds stopped by on his way home to N.C. from Exeter N.H. yesterday..... a little weekend riding? and couldn't believe we hadn't,kilt that POS Buick yet..... he suggested a brick on the gas pedal.

 

[RBHarter]

I thought for sure this was going to be a tutorial on sharpening stuff .
While Oregon , Arkansas , and Carborundum stones are whet , if you spit on mine I'm gonna throw you out , mine are oil stones .

Never drug a knee , it's hard to do in the desert .

Funny the tiny little things that make home , home .

 

[Intheshop]

RB.... the ability to "read" conditions is a skill that comes,and goes? with experience.

Speaking of traction and whet/wet rocks...

If it looks slick.... it probably is.

 

[RBHarter]

Big sand and hard pack base , riding in the dirt with a Dunlop 624 on a XR650R that was set up pretty well for me on the top 3/4 of the tank and the bottom 1/4 , in between cold start I fought it , ok that's harsh but it was just a fluid extension full of gas and almost out and at a half it was almost like the slosh was a flat front tire .
I had a 2nd year GL1000 for a minute . Don't need a bike that'll 6 bits in 3rd gear with 2 left . That was an invitation for me to get hurt , a lot . One of those "got it , wanna use it" guys .

 

[Pistolero]

Those are called "donor cycles" around here. Not in a good way.

Bill

 

[Intheshop]

A "ton" (100 mph) in 1st is,or has been available off the showroom floor for 10 or more years.

The thread was about "little things" that at one point in life.... may get a pass but,later they get manifested in ways that possibly show us insights? Little things dad told me..... who was my hero growing up BTW..... now,mean more than they did then.

I'll never forget me and a pro archery bud were on a course one time. Cpl of my grown sons were with us..... my bud says something halfassed "profound" and I'm like,"that **** is gonna sail right over those boy's heads".

Dang if they not only "heard" what he said(it was a reference to my shooting) but actually recited some quasi intelligent juju I'd pressed into them?

 

[RBHarter]

I know the point . This point or that , being in the zen , etc .

I have a whole box full of little things that aren't anything especially , taken at face value they're about $100 worth maybe .
Mom's Dad's Case and Uncle Henry , my Dad's Old Timers (Imperial Shrade) but to the casual looker just worn knives . Many memories wrapped around those 5 knives .
There's a 1940 Liberty dollar and a 1921 half , the $1.50 Chucker call . Mom's parents were married in 1940 , Grandmother was born in 1921 . Granddaddy carried those 2 coins from they're 1st wedding anniversary in 1941 , he was an electrician so they were basically a wedding ring , until 12/14/1994 . He passed away 12/17/94 . Funny back to back they are almost unidentifiable .

My great grandfather's Lt bar and dog tag "Owen Hughes , Nashville TN" . But it came with a copy of his diary from November of 1918-Dec 1919 . Unfortunately half or so is in legal Phelps shorthand . Pretty boring stuff , you'd think Artillery in France would have been , more of something , "I got relieved in time to get hot coffee and warm eggs today . Saw another Lt going home today . Gunny says we're within a month of done here . The Generals disagree . "

 

[Intheshop]

My dad was born in '15... mom was '18. Both of their parents had them much later in life. Mom had me whilst in her 40's...

So,I'm several generations behind most folks..... not complaining,it's actually kind of interesting. Certain "conciousness" that comes with ongoing family generations just sails right the freak over my head? Didn't help one iota not finishing HS or being in historic preservation work..... to the point of pretty much "living" in the 18th and 19th centuries all day at work,then coming home to a federal period house?

 

[RBHarter]

I was once in a 16' Glaspar fishing off the Bia San Quintin My Grandfather , my Dad , my boys and myself . An amazing day . We have a most of 5 generation Thanksgiving picture some place . My grandmother was 92 , My Aunt 65 , me 47 , my kids 25,26,28 and grands 3, 6,7,8,9 . Granddaughter #4 was born on what would have been my great grandmothers 125th birthday . The youngest granddaughter missed both great birthdays by 9 hr , 113 & 102 ....... Who wants to be a Christmas baby anyway ? Babies in 88,21,44,66,88

So much of the family was so close to the spotlights , yet waiting in the wings that I've had a deep interest in history . Not the rote places dates part but more the where how who outcome angle .

 

[Intheshop]

A 16' Glaspar with a cpl of the boys and Gbabies sounds pretty good right now..... it's hot. How hot? Dang hot.