Class

I will learn, in time, how to live my life well. Until then I guess I'll keep stumbling along as I do. I had my in-class session for my motorcycle license today, and although the class itself went smoothly, I made the day very difficult for myself. Without going into the torrid details, I can say that although I now have a helmet, it's not the one I want. We'll see how things turn out but what I'm really looking forward to (not to mention what I'm most anxious about) is the practical sessions coming up this weekend. I'm really looking forward to actually jumping on a bike for the first time. I'll be whipping along in second gear on that 125cc trainer very soon.

 If I were to take a few things from my experience today, it would be that rational decisions need to be made after a good night's sleep, and that instant gratification will not necessarily make you a happier person. But I'll forge ahead, continuing to make mistakes because like Calvin's father says...

Boots Follow-Up

There's a quote I dug up somewhere and saved for its relevance. 

"'Wabi-sabi' can be used to describe the aesthetically pleasing wear of an object as it decays over time. It’s a notion that embraces the transience of objects and celebrates the purity of the imperfect."

 That's why I find it so important to get a little obsessive about the things that I surround myself with. Here's a bit of an example; the (cheap) Chic-Choc boots I mentioned in the last post. There's wear and tear; the salt build-up from the winter's slush, the way the synthetic fabrics start to just fray and tear apart. There's a hole in the left toe from screefing, and a hole in the right insole from bringing it down on my shovel thousands of times. But there's also the warm smooth glow the leather on the tongue of the boot, the polish of brass showing under the lace hooks. You can see how the wear on my old boots dictated my choice of new ones.

Worn out MEC Chic-Chocs

These boots have been worn out, but my new ones will simply become worn in.

Boots

I mentioned boots in my last post, I figured I'd expound a little on mine. Last spring I spent a few months treeplanting in Northern Ontario. Treeplanting wears boots very hard, but it gave me some insight into what works for me footwear wise. Before heading out I bought two pairs of boots. one was a pair of steel toe British army surplus combat boots for $60 or so. These did not wear well. Although they were comfortable enough with extra insoles, after 2 weeks of work the sole started to detach from the subsole as dirt and debris was forced into the toe of the boot. I washed them out and reglued them with shoe goo, but even after letting the goo cure for 2 days under weight, they still tore right out from under me the first day I worked them again. My other boots were a pair of Mountain Equipment Co-op Chic-Choc hikers that ran me $50. I still have them, and although they are about worn out at this point, they were my only footwear through the fall and winter. These turned out to be much hardier than the combat boots and very light. Unfortunately they were technically disallowed for planting as they lacked a steel toe but I made do for a few weeks with these until, at the recommendation of a fellow planter, I picked up a pair of massive orange Viking chainsaw boots. Here both Suah and I are sporting those big fluorescent monsters.

Treeplant Crew

These were really great boots, and although much heavier than the other pairs, let me cruise through the bush with ease. They served me well, but really aren't the type of thing you can wear day-to-day. My crew boss (second from the right) put me on to Viberg boots as a possibility for something that I can walk and work in. Vibergs are made in Victoria, BC, and are custom fit and are made to last under harsh work conditions. They're also rather pricey, generally selling for more than $400. I can't justify that right now, especially as I'm not planting this spring, but I still needed something that would do a good job for general use and fit my no-frills aesthetic. My final choice was a pair of Doc Marten 1460s in waxed leather.

 My Doc Marten 1460s

 Leather is a great material for just about everything, as it wears so well. A pair of leather boots, given proper care, will last for many years and mold to the wearer's foot. Just as importantly, as it wears it acquires a patina that I really like. Well worn leather is very comfortable, and even comforting. Although Docs are only available in full sizes and fixed width, these fit me well and cost about $170. They're not as garish or heavy as combat boots, they're suitable for day-to day use, and they grow more pleasant to wear every day. My biggest issue with them is that they are made in Thailand. I'd prefer to wear a Canadian product. I'm happy with the purchase and might consider a pair of the pricier guaranteed-for-life Docs once these wear out.

Prospective Wheels

It's a long weekend! I spent my morning lazing around in bed, but now it's time to make it all happen. On the schedule for today is purchasing a motorcycle helmet. I'm taking a motorcycle course this week, and I need some gear for the practical course and test. Of course, as I am such a procrastinator I have spent much more time looking at bikes than helmets and jackets. I've often started looking at bikes without taking into account all the additional expenses that come with one, so this year I decided to start at the beginning. It's hard to admit that it's probably taken me three years to figure that out. So although I'm still browsing Kijiji and Ebay instead of actually spending real money on safety stuff I did drop by my local motorcycle shop to try some helmets on. Apparently my head is sufficiently average to fit a "Medium" sized helmet; to me it's always gratifying to find out that I'm normal in some aspect of myself. A basic DOT approved full-face helmet will run me around $140 or so, and the course itself is $425. This all adds up, especially on a budget like mine, but I'll be happy just to have the license and gear.

As to the bike I'd like, I'm mainly looking at older small to midsize Japanese standard motorcycles. Here's a 1977 Suzuki GS that is almost exactly what I'm looking for. Something in the 400cc-650cc might be more suitable, but who am I to say no to some extra pulling power?

I'm at a part of my life now where choosing a vehicle is becoming something that I need to do. I'd like to eventually move back out to the country and that calls for some sort of year-round transportation. What would really make me happy is a Mitsubishi Delica van, or something in a very similar style. Outfitted as a camper I could roam as I please and avoid the stifling burden of rent. In Canada these types of vans are not especially common as they're almost exclusively exported out of Japan into cities like Vancouver. Even then our import laws only allow older vehicles to be imported and there are other hoops to jump through to get these vans licensed. Still, for around $10,000 I could have a mobile bedroom that can drive just about anywhere in N. America and would only cost me fuel and insurance. Considering I'll have paid more than that in rent alone by the end of my lease, it's a desirable path to follow. Here's one that's for sale out West right now for $7000 or so. 

As for my transportation right now, I've got a bike and some boots. I've done well with that combination for the last few years, and there's something to be said for the situations it can put you into. I'm planning to do a few "gear" posts, and my boots will have their share of the limelight soon enough. Of course, I'd be happy to take advice when it comes to transport for the roaming Boy.

Morning Prep

I got up today mistakenly thinking I had a morning shift, but instead I'm not in until noon. I feel like a dope getting up so early, but it's my chance to talk about what really works for me to keep my morning routine efficient and quick. I'm currently using the Girl's cellphone as an alarm clock. In the past I used some different applications on my laptop as alarm clocks, but as I'm between computers it's not really an option. I could of course use my watch's alarm clock, but it's not quite loud enough to rouse me from a truly deep (or simply exhausted) slumber. Through these blog posts I hope to form a good idea of what kind of system I'd like to create for myself, so that will be my excuse to off on tangents once in a while. So the alarm is set for 7:00, and my shift begins at 7:45. It leaves things a little tight, but I'm the type of boy to get an extra 10 minutes of sleep and rush through the next 10, rather than a relaxed 20 minutes from the start. I stretch out and hop in the shower, more for a rinse than a proper scrub, and it helps get my hair respectable for the workday. I throw my briefs, trousers, socks and shirt on. The briefs are currently American Apparel boxer briefs, and although I'm not a fan of the brand, they're a good size and come in many bright colours. It's a good start to my day, and as a man who wears mostly whites, blacks, and greys, it's nice to step out in fuchsia pants, even if I'm the only one who knows they're there. The trousers are slim black denim, work appropriate and a good balance between hipster-skinny and trashy-loose. Wigwam merino wool hiking socks and a plain white t-shirt go on next, and a brown leather belt keeps it all on. In the coming pages I will no doubt extol the virtues of good brown leather, I love the stuff. The socks, I should note, are the best I've ever had, outlasted the rest of the outfit, and are still as warm and comfortable as can be. They never stink after a long day on the floor either, which makes them great for traveling. I fill my pockets from the bedside table, and strap on my said watch. My every-day carry is pretty boring; ID, debt card, house key, and a Leatherman Wave multitool that I find it hard to live without and that probably deserves a whole 'nother post. Once I'm dressed, I'll slip into my slippers and hit up the kitchen. The first thing I do is put on a pot of water In winter this water pulls double-duty as oatmeal and tea water, but now that we're into the warmer months I find myself eating more cold cereal in the mornings, but my vacuum flask of tea is still a necessity. I make my lunch as the water boils. A sandwich, piece of fruit, granola bar, and if I'm on the ball, carrot sticks ensure I won't go hungry through the workday. Today the sandwich is smoked meat, pickled peppers, salad mix and Dijon on whole wheat, but it's an on-the-fly affair and varies from day to day. I of course keep peanut-butter and jam on hand as a backup or for the days when I happen to be in a rush. The tea is a fairly new addition to my daily routine, but a very comforting one. It takes so little effort for the payoff of a warm invigorating beverage later in the day. I did at one point drink black teabags of some variety with sugar, premixed in the flask, but I've since moved to green teabags as I prefer my caffeine in smaller doses during the workday, and I'm concerned the black tea will yellow my teeth. My lunch fits nicely into my small daypack, along with anything else I might be ferrying around such as a jacket or notebook. I'll need to do a post for this daypack too, as it's a real favourite of mine. Once I'm packed up I'll spend as much time as I have scarfing down my cereal and brushing my teeth. At this point I'm almost always running a little late, so I lace up my boots (brown leather again) and wheel the bike out the front door and make the 5 minute commute to work. It's certainly not the best way to run my morning, but hopefully laying it all out in text like this will help me streamline my process and perhaps build a bit of a time buffer against the rush.

So that's my morning, more for my benefit than yours, but my intention is to take a close look at the basic things I do in a day and learn to do them better.