I don’t know if you’re like me, but I’m messy. Oil changes exacerbate the problem. So as one who’s tired of waiting for oil to burn off of the headers, and cleaning up spill from my garage floor, I tried something new. For starters I put my rags down first under my oil collector. This is common sense, but I have little enough of that. 
The new part, though, came in a flash of insight — cover the headers to protect them from erl when removing the filter!
But how? I decided on aluminum foil. I wrapped them loosely and left a lip at the low end, to drive any flowing oil down into the collector. When the filter came off, the oil indeed channeled down into the pan. Sweet! And since I let is sit to drain for a while, there was no spilling when I removed the foil later. Nice!
No mess. And if I was feeling really green I guess I could save the foil to wrap up dinner.
This past weekend was the umpteenth-annual Cumberfest, and I brought Red along for the ride. Amazing, a whole weekend, and we didn’t kill each other or anything. My friends even liked her. Who knew? Pics are up here, if you’re interested. Warning, there are gratuitous bowling shots. And an operation. But it’s totally SFW.
Freakout moment of the weekend: three-year-old (soon to be 4!) Jamie climbing on my lap and calling me “Daddy”. Wowzers. Not a daddy. Not a daddy. Not a daddy.
New mantra: “Not a daddy”. =P
Apparently Peggy has lots of free time these days. That, plus some photos and a little site called JibJab, equals a recipe for hilarity. SFW.
I knew those line dancing lessons would come in handy!
Pics from the Tokyo Bar opening party (this past Saturday night in TriBeCa) are up! Sorry they’re a bit crappy, but this was using my cell phone, and my Native American name is Shakey Hands.
And oh yeah, a weekend update, I almost forgot. Another chill weekend — I’m sure I’m running out of these as the semester is ramping up — with some cooking (Roast Pork Loin Stuffed with Dried Fruit on Friday night, a passable eggs/potatoes/bacon fry-up on Saturday morning) … a restaurant opening Saturday night (pics to come!), at Tokyo Bar, Mits’ new place … and a relaxing PSVAC shift on Sunday. Good stuff.
The Food Network had a marathon of Feasting on Asphalt over the weekend … Red works for the FN and is friends with the host, Alton Brown, so I was doing some research. This show is awesome. It’s about this guy who rides across the States with his friends on some big BMW GS bikes, eating at all of the local joints along the way.
I am now absolutely salivating for a cross-country ride. And hole-in-the-wall off-interstate diner food. Sigh. Evil TV.
Misako just put up her pictures (and soon, hopefully, videos) from the team Vegas trip. Thanks, Misako!
Man, what a great weekend. I was with Red for darned near the whole thing, and, well, that was the best part. 
Friday night we went to an authentic bar (!), b flat. It’s owned by our very own More Luck Than Skill teammate, a real man of industry, and his bar is kick-@ss. Great specialty cocktails and some really innovative and yummy tapas dishes.
Saturday had some gorgeous weather, and we enjoyed it to and from brunch at the Roebling Tea Room in Willyburg. It’s true what they say, you know. Everything’s better with bacon.
Dinner was this pasta dish from Tyler’s Ultimate, and while good, it wasn’t everything we had hoped. I think we added too much oil and skimped on the mint — shame on us.
Sunday was a good PSVAC shift … I hadn’t been on the ambulance in far too long. We actually got a call for a raccoon bite in Prospect Park!
And then today … well, after a great afternoon working on the ol’ tan at Coney Island, we met up with some of my visiting friends and helped see Astroland off into the sunset. I have to admit, the “Top Spin” ride was the most insane ride I’ve ever been on. The “swinging” car on the Wonder Wheel was a new experience as well. It’s a shame the park is being bulldozered for some condos. Sigh.
UPDATE: Pictures from Astroland are up!
