I Drink Your Milkshake

So I better get back to blogging a bit more.
One of the things I thought I would do would be to share some goals I have for the future, and then as things progress we can revisit things and see how they go.

So before I start its worth remembering that I had some predictions, back in May, and we can already revisit them and see how they went.

Cubs did not win the world series. The Cubs did however win the NL central division and have the best record in the National League. They therefore made it to the playoffs (the last 8 teams) but got smacked around by the Dodgers.

The election is on Tuesday (today is the Saturday night before the big Tuesday). All indications are the Obama will win as I predicted but its by no means a slam dunk. In fact after all this I wouldnt be surprised if McCain pulls off an upset. The problem with an upset is that it will.... Upset a lot of people. That could get interesting.

Prices did fall (as predicted) but they fell a lot further than I predicted. I guess I wasnt counting on a recession to cease all global growth. So far the IEA report due in November is already leaking all over the place - some people are being bullish about it, other bearish so we will need to wait and see what it really says. My gut tells me that the economy will start bottoming soon, and once it starts climbing again we will see a return to the staircase we were on with oil prices. Its entirely possible that by 2010 we will see the dizzy numbers again, if the economy holds next time it could get really ugly so Im still counting on energy being expensive in a long term outlook.

SO anyway back to the goals.

1) Car
I do want to "finish" the mustang. Finished will look like this: Front disk brakes, front suspension upgraded with new perches, strut rods and bump steer correction. Rear end with a 3.55 or steeper gear, traction aid. Decent cylinder heads, engine making about 400hp. New mufflers - bit more tone. Bodywork, new paint, ducktail trunklid, maybe some side scoops, fiberglass hood.
Thats all going to take a lot of time and money. It might not ever come together so lets talk about more important stuff.

2) Bike
I do need to rejet, and Id also like to play with some headlight options and carbon fiber. but the jet kit is the top priority.

3) vacations
I REALLY like showing Tara around in Britain. We really want to do Scotland, but we also like to revisit some of the places we have been before. Id like to show her St Davids.

We also really badly want to go to Florence, Italy.

Ive always wanted to go out West, Nevada, California, National parks. Maybe travel in an RV. Ive also wanted to run down the 101 in a convertable or maybe on a bike.

Id like to do a real skiing trip, with real mountains.

Oh yes, Ive always wanted to see the Reno Air races too.

4) Sports/experiences.
Id really like to do some horseriding with Tara and Sophia. Actually if we get on with that OK, we could combine that with the trip out west and do some horse/camping. I like the idea of that - rather like the canoe trip I took years ago.

I still want to get my Bow straightened out. Its not right still, but I need to get it set up for less draw (and more weight). Maybe try a little hunting.

I think im ready for some firearms, mostly because im worried about what the future might bring. But its going to take time to get the right stuff together. So im thinking about a .45 ACP, but probably not a 1911, probably something cheaper in a polymer frame (glock or a springfield xD). I do want a shotgun though, and of course a rifle. Im trying to pick a rifle caliber that functions well as a medium game caliber, but is easy to shoot and has cheap and plentyful ammo. I think that means something that can run on 223/5.56 NATO rounds, some AR15s can hunt good.

5) Home.
The home, id like to make the home much more energy efficient. Id like to get a wood stove in the living room so we can use less (none?) gas. Id also like to improve the insulation. Id like to add a back porch that wraps around some. And of course the vegetable garden is a main goal. Perhaps a shed to store the garden tools in to free up space in the garage. Maybe add underfloor heating and tile in the bathroom and put more wood down in the living room.

Maybe be writing these goals out it will breath a little life into them?