The Random Musings of a Man

Thursday, June 30, 2005

1 more Day

I might be on tomorrow afternoon to update this thing, but at the moment I'm less than 24 hours from returning to my home state of Colorado tomorrow! I can't wait especially after being away from there and all my friends for 7 months. Sure I'll miss out on the fun stuff I do on here with you guys, but I know that I'm gonna have a blast back home. I'll see all you guys on Tuesday!

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Counting the hours

Ever counted Sheep, to fall asleep? I haven't but I'm counting the hours until my flight leaves for home on Friday. Maybe its because I haven't seen home in nearly 7 months, or that I need to get out of Cornelius. I cannot wait until I get the chance to go home. Only 2 full days but I know I'm gonna try to pack as much as humanly possible into those two days as possible. Can't wait to hang out with my friends and do stuff I haven't done since I left for school 9 months ago.

Decided agaisnt the digital camera, only because my money could be spent better in other places right now. Got me a nice disposable camera last night which should do me good over the weekend. I hope that this one gets used up unlike the last disposable I got, which took 9 months to take 28 pictures. 47 Hours 6 Minutes at the time of this post until I leave for home! Whoohoo!

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

The Duldrums

My life has fallen upon a rut for which nothing can easily shake it apart. I feel little reason for school other than the school itself, and work is seen as only a place where I get a paycheck. Maybe things will be better once I go home and see family, get away and be out and about. For now however its kinda annoying at how boring and predictable my life has become. Time to spice things up, just what to do is the issue. I'm gonna buy a digital Camera this week though, which will be cool so I should have some really neat pictures of Home which I'll probably share next week. Only three more Days!

Monday, June 27, 2005

Road Course Reflections.

The twisting turns of Sonoma California didn't provide fireworks that many NASCAR fans are used too, but it did have its bright spots to the day. My reflections on an event that even with its lackluster entertainment still provided a reason to get on the edge of your seat every now and then.

Major Props to Tony Stewart for capturing his first win in 30 races, he finally pulled one out when he had the car to beat. Oh and by the way Daytona is this week where he dominated in February. look out, seems that Smoke is on his way back to the front. Even more props however go to Ricky Rudd, who with Fatback McSwain gambled on fuel and won in the closing laps. Finishing second with a single car team today is a miracle and for the Woods its always great to see them running up towards the front.

Whoever likes playing around with where the Shifters are located on these Cup cars should be taken out and run through the ringer. I could understand one Transmission issue, but 4? All on cars that run very well usually at roadcourses.

Road Course ringers still have yet to pull off the feat of beating the big boys at their own game, which still suprises me. I would have figured that put into the right equipment, like Boris Said and Ron Fellows have the past few years they would have finally broken through. Maybe these Cup guys are really as good as the media portrays them. Or maybe they just have too good of teachers.

A good event overall, not my cup of tea. But still a race to watch and enjoy. Definitely looking forward to Daytona this weekend, even with being home with Family.

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Road Courses..

I've never been a big fan of road courses, but I've slowly become a fan over the past year. Does that mean that I'm looking forward to todays race at Infineon raceway...absolutely now. Road Courses aren't what NASCAR Nextel Cup cars grew up on and feeding them even the two race diet every year seems very out of place. There is something that is awesome about watching light quick and agile cars run through the twisting turns of a road course that is exciting and awe inspiring. Yet watching a 3400 pound stock car struggle and slide and bounce its way around doesn't bring me much joy in watching. There are sights which can be cool, watching all 43 cars come down through turn 11 here at Infineon, or navigate the uphill esses at Watkins Glen is a sight to see, but it still doesn't provide the excitement that other roadcourse racing has provided. Does it mean I won't watch today? Absolutely not, I just don't expect much out of todays race. Watch me be suprised tomorrow.

Saturday, June 25, 2005

Running out of things to say..

not really, I just don't have much happening today. Still want to get a new computer, cause NASCAR Racing 2003 isn't being used enough. Washed my car, so now its all pretty. Now I don't have any clue what I'm going to do tonight. I feel like going out and buying a digital camera, and a deep fryer to make myself feel all fat. Need to lose some weight, but I don't want to go out and do anything about it. I'm being bad about that, and it isn't good. Road course racing tomorrow, and I think I'll rant about that. Something to look forward to isn't it.

Friday, June 24, 2005

Test Time!

I had 4 minutes to take this test today, do it that quick and see how many you get right. I was suprised.

1. Take 2 apples from 5 apples. How many apples do you have?

2. Do they have the fourth of July in England?

3. If you had only one match and entered a dark room containing an oil lamp, a newspaper and some kindling wood which would you light first?

4. A farmer had 17 sheep. All but 9 died. How many did he have left?

5. If you drive a bus with 42 people on board from Boston to Washington D.C., drop off 3 people at each of six stops and pick up 4 at half of the stops, when you arrive at Washington D.C., what is the drivers name?

6. What do you sleep on, sit on, and brush your teeth with?

7. Is it legal to marry your widow's sister?

8. if Folk is spelled FOLK and joke is spelled JOKE then how is the white of an egg spelled?

9. What could you be sure to find in the middle of Toronto?

10. A daddy bull drinks 10 gallons of water an hour and a baby bill drinks 4 gallons per hour, (approximate) how much does a mommy bull drink?

11. Some months have 30 days, some months have 31 days. How many months have 28 days?

12. A rope ladder over the side if a ship has rungs which are 1 foot apart. Exactly 11 rungs are showing at water level. The tide rose 8 feet; how many rungs are now showing?

If you want the answers please feel free to Email me at BWalter99@gmail.com

btw, 7 days til I go home, and another phase of school down with another A. Three weeks closer to graduation baby!

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Road Trip!

Okay so its not a road trip..per se. but I'm finally after being away for 6 months going to go back and visit home again. its only going to be for two full days, but atleast this time I won't feel like I have a bunch of commitments to do. I can spend time with my friends catching up in their lives and hanging out where we all used to hang out. I'm really excited. The tickets havent' been bought yet, but they are as good as gold to being mine. I'm so excited! Whoohoo for Colorado! Can't wait for next week!

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Parents....

I dunno where to begin here. Everybody who reads this knows that I've been planning to go to Canada to meet a good friend of mine, who happens to be female. Evidently I'm a crazed maniac according to my parents because of that.

Its not like I've said that I want to go and there isn't anything that can change my mind about what you are saying, but I wish that they would think things through from my side and see where I was coming from. I thought that parents were supposed to support you in everything that you do, no matter how insane or crazy that it may be. They won't like it, but they'll still support you. All I've gotten is negative vibes from the day I've told them about what I want to do, and its really frustrating. It doesn't help the fact that there are only 10 days before I'm supposed to go, and there is something that I need in order to go.

Maybe I'm in the wrong, but seeing a person that you talk to everyday, and see everyday doesn't seem so wrong to me. They were the ones telling me to get out and go do things, so why are they so upset now that I want to go do something...Maybe I'm blind with love or something, but I don't see much that can go bad by going and meeting a person you really like.

I'll just go out and buy the thing I need from them and go anyway, because they can't tell me how to run my life. I know where they come from, but they need to let me make the mistakes if it is one on my own. I know the situation a little better than they do..and they talk like they know exactly what is going on. Damnit this is all pissing me off.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

A lil history for today...

Ever wonder how come there are 360 degree's in a circle? I got an answer today, not that I asked the question, but it was still kinda cool. The reason (its all speculative) is that its based on that the Sumerians based their years off 360 days and that one day could be called 1 degree on a circle. As to how this has to apply to the Automotive Industry and what I did at school today I have no clue. looking up aerial views of where you live, just isn't all that cool. oh and going out and using GPS to locate crap around the school.

Although I did impress everybody who didn't know where Columbine Highschool was by finding it on the map of where my house is. Today was boring, work dragged on for the three hours I was there. But I get to work all week, which is a plus! Only three more days of this stuff...18 hours of school....I can handle it.

Monday, June 20, 2005

Mondays

Mondays, are the longest days of the week. Don't ask why, don't ask how. They just are. I've come to terms with the phenomena. Just wake me up when its tuesday, cause I'm tired of this Monday crap. Bill's Count Down clock has taken on more important dates this week for some reason. Nearly three weeks closer to graduation. 12 Days Til Bill's road trip Adventure, and only 4 more days of the hellish class I have to survive through. Then it should be off to three weeks of learning stuff I learned 12 weeks ago and was too dumb to stay in class, which will be more fun than a box of rocks at Christmas!

Still mulling over various crazy thoughts in my head, which is driving me crazy, and wondering why I come up with these thoughts. Today I decided I needed to rebuild the Shocks on our car as if we were going to Pikes Peak, which we aren't. I came up with some cool Ideas that I want to try however. Still need to build that High Downforce Airbox that I came up with a lil while ago, and work on frame and body height adjustments, on a car that's 1600 miles away. I must be crazy.

Sunday, June 19, 2005

History...

They say that when important things happen you always remember where and when they happen. Like The JFK assassination, 9/11, Challenger, and Columbia. Today is one of those kinda days. The world standard for Motorsports Excellence, known as Formula 1, held their event at the Indianapolis Motorspeedway this afternoon. Unfortunately, a Series with 22 regular competitors is running a race with 6 competitors at the moment. Six freaking competitors.

The strangest sight I have ever seen as every single car that held Michelin tires pulled down pitroad before the beginning of the race and entered the paddock. Considering how the sanctioning body was working on building a fan base, and building support for the series here. This has all been destroyed in one fell swoop of a race that was called the United States Grand Prix.

Congrats however to Micheal Schumacher...wait....he just got to race a parade race against his teammate and two cars that nearly fill the field and never run towards the front anyway. This has to be a dream race for them. Too bad its a nightmare for fans.

Saturday, June 18, 2005

Crazy Ideas

I seem to manage to get crazy ideas way way too much. First it was to come out here, which seems to have worked out well. But I seem to always have these Ideas which sound good and then I have to act upon them. Like buying my car, I wanted it for the longest time but I just basically went out and said I want that and thats all I need. I've had Ideas of signing up into a business where you make money buying food for yourself, which sounds really cool, but is kinda hard to really put into practice. Now I want to start a fantasy racing website, which would be cool, but to put it into practice and making it work and possibly making a little money would be hard to do. I'm still thinking about it. Its just a hard thing to justify doing and how I would do it is really hard at the moment. I hate it when I have these thoughts because they drive me crazy!!!

Friday, June 17, 2005

Meeting people from the internet

This is pretty exciting. You talk to these people nearly every day, you have bunches in common with them but yet you live so far away from most of em. I've kinda decided that I need to atleast meet a few of the people that live close to me or are just really cool people. I've got two really cool people that I'm gonna meet up with in the next couple of weeks.

First of I get to meet Whit, who is the closest person to me that I know from the net. A cool girl who has wanted to meet me for a little while. I'm really excited not just to meet somebody, but to just have somebody to hang out with once and a while hopefully.

Secondly is Amanda! The coolest person I know from the internet. I know she'll hate me for saying that but its true! Its going to be a nice road trip up to Canada, and I can't wait! I'm so looking forward to meeting both people. Whoohoo!

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Car Accidents

ever notice how people seem to be drawn to a car wreck? People seem to get an insane thrill of watching carnage, I hate to say but I know there are fans who like NASCAR just for the carnage. But today was weird. Everybody in our class loves going out to lab and working on the halfcars and all that. And considering we were working on Air Suspensions we get to play with real cars. :D But everybody got done really early from lab and we went back to class. Why? Because everybody wanted to see cars crashing. And its a little better when you are talking about it as a subject. But damn, it was like they had never seen a car run into a wall before!

Today was nice and mellow. I decided against trying to get the job with the Hooter's Pro Cup Series since it would mean I'd be missing school and I can't do that. But there are bigger and better things that can be coming soon.

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Work sucks!

I'm a little pissed right now. I think I have a good reason too. I build Foam and Air Mattresses for a little company, who ships them out across the country and to Canada. Supposedly, the foam in these beds can shift during transit. Now we changed the way we bagged the beds before we boxed them to try to stop that. Even though before then there were no concerns about foam shifting and all that. Today I get chastised because I was doing my job! Evidently I can't even pick up the bed before it leaves the warehouse and is on its way to its home.

Now when you consider the hands that this thing has to go through before it gets to the home of the person who bought it. And the person getting it isn't gonna keep the thing perfectly upright before it ends up on a bed. I think that its a BS excuse to blame a person returning a bed on the foam shifting during shipping. And its not like these beds are vacuum sealed and nobody can even look into the mattress!

It woulda been alright until I got my job threatened over that reason, that it was my fault that these things were happening, and that it was my fault that business was leaving. I guess I have to go out and sell the beds too. Too bad I actually liked the work I was doing before today. Its put a sour taste in my mouth. They are nice people but today wasn't something that I needed.

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Washing your Car

Its the best thing in the world isn't it? Washing your car, making it shine, knowing that you have put effort into your baby. Mine's all pretty now and I'm so happy. I could go out and drive around in it all day now. :D

Got the day off work, and I'm gonna get thursday off too, so I'm thinking that I should go out and about Mooresville either tonight or Thursday. I wanna go visit Penske's new shop, my family went last Monday and they told me I should go. Life is kinda boring right now, sept for the tire changing deal. I just hope that that all works out.

Monday, June 13, 2005

Immaturity...and some good news

I'm not always the one to talk on this subject, but today really pushed me over the edge. Freaking people pay 26,000 dollars to attend the NASCAR Technical Institute for Automotive studies and what do they do while they are there? They act like freaking two year olds! Throwing shit, shooting coins, tossing markers around the classroom was seen allaround me today, all out of the view of the teacher. Which when he returns ofcourse everything stops but the debris still remains.

I don't know if its the fact that I know I can't leave school without getting downgraded for leaving early, and missing out on lab points today, but thats what pisses me off the most. If I'm supposed to be an adult and be there ontime and do what I need to do, then damnit there should be more control over what happens in the classrooms. It seems that teachers have the ability to threaten kids with stuff, but rarely does it happen and even more rarely does it really affect someone.

I mean I don't know about you, but when all a teacher can do is say I'm lowering a grade that doesn't figure into your GPA by 4% and you can get this grade lowered 7 times before you have to retake a class. It sure seems that the kids have all the power in that situation.

On a side note today, less ranting. Bill might...key word might have a job changing rear tires for a Hooter's Pro Cup team. This is all open and very subject to change. Hopefully by the end of this weekend I'll know where I stand. I could sure use the extra cash for going out and playing.

Sunday, June 12, 2005

Headaches

Ever get a headache and not know why? Ever have a headache that you cannot get rid of? I've gotten both today, and they are starting to upset me. I don't know why, but I've had a headache for most of the day. I kinda wish that it would all just go away, but I know it won't.

Big congrats go out to in order of their running today: Kimi Raikkonen for winning the F1 Canadian Grand Prix. Clint Bowyer (Who I've had the pleasure of racing against in the Midwest Series) for winning the Busch race from Nashville. As well as Carl Edwards for winning the Cup race from Pocono.

Saturday, June 11, 2005

$%@&@^& Internet

I am so pissed at how my network is working right now, every so often it just decides that I'm not connected to the internet! And I have no clue why it says so. I've traced it to the router, but its not mine so I can't go buy a new one! This sucks bigtime! I like being able to IM and chat with friends and this just messes this whole deal up Argh!

Btw Way to go Mikey Waltrip for winning the Pole to the Cup race, and to Travis Kvapil for winning the Arca race at Pocono.

Friday, June 10, 2005

Hmm I'm bored

Its Friday night and I'm bored, shows everybody how much I get out and about. I should do something, but I feel like saving my money. Makes me glad to have friends like Joey, Dan, Rob, Amanda, Sarah, and Alex; who put up with me everyday over the internet when I'm bored. Hopefully something new and exciting will come along in the next couple of days and I can get some excitement back into my life.

Thursday, June 09, 2005

Racing and you.

I dunno about most of you, but racing consumes my life. It has for years and will continue to do so. This phenomenon called NASCAR, has seemingly pulled my into its vortex, swirling me around on a rollercoaster of highs and lows, from the best of the best to the worst of the worst. Racing is the reason I'm in North Carolina, 1600 miles away from my family.

How many other people can say that they have moved and started a brand new career in attempts to chase their dreams? or How many people can say they are close to achieving one of their life's goals at the age of 20? The Answer to those questions is Me and I'm just finding these things out for myself. It doesn't hit you for a long time that you are doing something special, it just does. I'm hoping in the end that this little thing will be looked back upon by the people who know me and one day can say that they knew him while he was on the fast track to sucess.

Maybe this is why the School calls us the best of the Best, but I'm feeling confident that I could go out today and get any job with any raceteam I wanted, but choose not to. And I'm so glad that I have the choice in that matter.

Today's happiness brought to you by Amanda, who makes me smile everyday.

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

a 5 day work week!

Well I learned that I get to work tomorrow and Friday, which means a 5 day work week, which means more money for Bill! whooohoo!

I'm on a quest for videos and movies that are funny and or hilarious, and I'd like some of you guy's help cause I'm always wanting new stuff to watch and all that. Here's a video for everybody to watch today Anti boredom!

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Thunderstorms

They seem to come from out of nowhere to ruin your plans for a day. Today is the second day in a row that I've had to dodge downpours from freak Thunderstorms. Its not good enough that its humid and 90 degrees out. No It has to rain and make it even more humid! I know the rain is good, I just wish I could send some of it back home where they really need the moisture.

Back to the realm of Bill, School was horrible, because eeverybody and their brother had to realise that cars make noise when you smash the throttle. I just wanna get my work done, not see how fast you can get the front wheels turning. Why the hell can't you get that through your thick skull!!!!!! I'm paying 26 grand to go to a school that needs babysitters for some of these guys! I coulda sworn I was in 4th grade today it was that bad. I just wish that some people would get some sense in their heads. dumbasses.

Monday, June 06, 2005

Freaking Hot!

Okay today was the first day that I have been here that the temp has reached above 90 degrees, and it was freaking hot! Man I'm hoping these next two months get over with and the weather will cool down just enough to be comfortable again.

School was alright, aside from being totally boring. Met up with my parents while they were on a tour of the school today which was really cool. Mom gave me a hundred dollars before she left too! I wish they'd come out here more often.

Work was long and painful, but thats what you get when there are three people trying to do the work of 5. I think I got some major whiplash from yesterday too cause my neck is killing me today. I'll survive though. Hopefully tomorrow will be a lil more exciting.

Sunday, June 05, 2005

Family rocks!

Today and yesterday have been awesome! Its so nice being back with family after being apart for 6 months. So much that I did and so little space to tell everything.

Saturday in Richmond I spent part of the day in Jamestown and Williamsburg looking at all the colonial sights and scenery, then came back at the end of the day to Richmond International Raceway and went a couple of laps around the place in the Van that my dad was using to teach people how to drive racecars.

Today I spent showing my sister around the area while refamiliarizing myself with the area. I showed my parents my work. We followed that up with a trip to the Lake Norman State Park, and showed em all around the lake. We then drove over to Roger Penske's new race shop, which is immaculate. We followed that up with a trip past DEI on our way to Concord, and to Concord Mills, where we went shopping and Go-Karting. Finished our day up with Dinner at Outback and now I'm back here ready and waiting for a new day of school!

The coolest part of today was the Go-Karts, which were really fun, atleast until I stopped or attempted to stop. My Kart was really really quick, and I held the highline to let my sister and dad race infront of me for a while after I led early. We ended our race three wide at fullspeed with less than a carlength separating the three of us.

Everything there was really fun, me and my dad raced really hard while we let my sister lead, but I never used the brakes. Well sure enough time comes that I'm supposed to stop the Kart, it wouldn't stop. slowing down.... not slowing down...not slowing down.....NOT SLOWING DOWN....BAM!!! I think I hit my sister at about 20 and she was at a dead stop. I made sure that it was a glancing blow, but it was still a nasty hit. But all in all it was an awesome weekend, I just wish they'd happen more often.

Thursday, June 02, 2005

Finally an update

Its been one heck of a week so far and it isn't over yet. First off I think I'm pretty sure that I'll be working full(part) time at work again, as there hasn't been any conversations of when I need to be there anymore.

School has kicked major butt, mostly cause I've kicked major butt. The class is easy, Advanced Electronics, and for the first time I'm actually in the running for Student of the Phase which would be a pretty cool thing to get. I took a major step there today by getting 20 out of 20 on the Lab portion of Lab end Phase. Whoohoo for me!

This weekend will be crazy, cause I'm going to Richmond to meet up with my parents and sister, and then they are coming down here on Sunday and Monday. I'm really looking forward to it!

Hopefully I'll have time to update this on what has and hasn't happened in the world, but for now I'm pretty psyched about the weekend. If only my room stayed as clean as it is now all the time.

Wish me luck tomorrow, I hope to kick the written test's ass!