Ikari Scooterists

Here's a photo I've been trying to get for a while. Every now and then I pass by the Konami building here. Konami is known for some great games like Frogger, Castlevania, Yie Ar Kung Fu, Contra, Dance Dance Revolution, Metal Gear, and a lot more. I imagine that inside it's like Willy Wonka's factory but the Oompa Loompas are coding sprite loops.

You can tell that's my scooter in the shot because of the battle-damage. This also happens to be one of our rare rainy days. We've had about three this year so far.

Hunt for Red Stella

Lately, on my route home, if the timing is just right I will catch a glimpse of an elusive rare Atomic Fireball Stella commuting the opposite direction. This is the same scooter model I ride, but dipped in a custom Ferrara Pan paint job.

try to ride to live

Have I mentioned how much I hate traffic in the mornings? On my way back home this morning, after having breakfast/dinner with some friends, I encountered some construction work which was bringing 3 lanes down to 1. A few folks were turning around, and I decided to follow suit. I waited for a window from the yellow turn lane, and just as I was giving a bit of throttle to make my U-turn, a sedan came speeding around my left side crossing into the empty opposing traffic lane, and I squeezed the brakes as they came less than inches from my front fender. If I had decided to go any sooner, I could have been in one painful pickle. I didn't see or sense anything until it was right in front of me.

So here's a note. Look in as many directions as possible, even the ones you don't expect need to be looked into. The only truly patient humans are in the morgue.

ride to live, live to ride

Have I mentioned how much I enjoy the early morning ride home from work? It's a relatively calm, cool ride that still poses some traffic challenges. The road gets my heart pumping and the scenery keeps my awe enough to make the same route in a car pale in comparison. It's no woodsy lane, but it's a little bit of country and a little bit of rock n' roll.

zoom

As I was on my way home from work this morning, battling some strong wind, I was coming down a particular home stretch and found myself passing a semi-truck on the right. I had some traffic behind me and noticed a car that had been trying to accelerate to pass me before I got next to the semi-truck.

This car apparently had some place important to be because it cut through the turn/yellow lane on the left of the truck, in a particularly dangerous area. What's funny, is that this person lived in the same area I do and we got home at the same time. If I was in a car, I'd be going the same speed but I can imagine it's frustrating to be stuck behind a semi and a slow-looking scooter.