Category: 06 – Having Fun

I ride again!

Posted on by Adventurer

Honda Shadow VT750CS
I was sad when I had to sell my 2009 HONDA Shadow Aero before moving back to Germany. The plan was to buy another HONDA Shadow as soon as possible after getting the most important things organized.

I had greatly underestimated the amount of work “getting organized” took. Moving into my parents’ basement, organizing 24/7 care for them, starting a new job, finding a house of our own, moving there and getting the place furnished…. that all takes time.

To make things worse, I found out that HONDA stopped making the Shadow for Germany in 2016 because of stricter emission regulations. Apparently HONDA didn’t sell enough of those bikes in Europe to make engine modifications worth their while.

Now go search for a used one, preferrably somewhere close. I got lucky after a few weeks of online research: a beautiful 2014 HONDA Shadow VT750CS for sale, black, low mileage, and located in Munich. It didn’t have a windshield, no saddlebags either – but I found original parts online too and had them mounted.

So, today, even though it’s a bit late in the season – and a pretty chilly ride – I went and picked her up from the shop. With all the fixings.

Life is good!

Posted in 06 - Having Fun

Philip Oscar Dendron

Posted on by Adventurer

The first thing that went through my mind when I started my new job at Indiana Tech in 2007 was “this office needs a plant”. Dusty, grey, lifeless cubicle walls don’t exactly inspire creative thinking. Research shows that some plants can actually measurably improve indoor air quality. So I asked Google for recommendations. The plant needs to be very easy to care for, it needs to be able to survive with minimal attention from me, and not much ambient light available.

Given these limitations, my choice was clear: I need a philodendron.

I came home with the perfect specimen from my next trip to Meijer – the plant was on sale for $7.99, because it had obviously been neglected. Three strands of about 4 feet length each, wrapped around a wooden stick in the middle of a plastic pot. The dirt in the pot was dried out, some of the leaves where yellow. Phil didn’t look like he was going to make it.

Look at him now, though! The plant has surely broken several records. At least what I read from this website Plantopedia, about the Philodendron Houseplant Phil is already three times as long as is to be expected. Probably because I string him up high along the ceiling tiles, so he can grow all he wants.

philodendron in my office

Posted in 06 - Having Fun