When Buying parts for your truck.

When you want to start buying new part for your truck there are many things to consider like whether you want to build the engine first or start with the look of the truck. When I started working on my Ram 2500 Cummins I started with small things around the body of it because I didn't really have a lot of money. So I did things like paint the bumper and spray tinted my headlights and stupid little stuff like that. When I started to get a bit of money I started buying tinted headlight and tail lights I also put a Rough Country light bar on it and bought a new tool box. I also put a train horn on it I had to get the tool box for the air compressor for the horn it's a really cool setup. I then bought some green underglow for it. When I wanted some new rims I went with the Rockstar second generation they are all black and look great. I then moved on to looking for bumpers for the truck I looked around for a long time but I finally found the one I want. The brand is Iron Bull they build every bumper to fit your specific truck so this bumper wasn't cheap plus it had to be driven on a tractor trailer all the way from Texas to Fairview NC. I also hot a 12,000 pound Warn winch to go in it. That's about all i've done to the outside of the truck know the engine is a beast to i've had to upgrade the injectors as well as the turbo. I've also put a bigger clutch in it and it also has a smarty chip that helps the programing of the truck so it can produce more power. I also had to put gages in the truck so I can see my exhaust temperature and my boost from my turbo.  I've had to redo the exhaust on the truck to make it be able to handle the heat coming out it needed a bigger down pipe and I also made the pipe running from the turbo back into a 5 inch instead of a 4 inch I also put a rbp tip on the end of it. But if I could do it all over again I would probably do it a bit different I might start with the engine first instead of the looks just so I can have the money for that first because that's probably the most expensive part of the process in my opinion.    

When buying a four wheeler.

One of the first things you need to consider when buying a 4 wheeler is your price range because they can be anywhere from $7,000 to $18,000. You also need to consider how fast and how much power you want and you need to consider if you are going to be going in the woods or just going to the dirt track. If your looking to go mudding and you have a good amount of money to spend you should look into a Polaris or maybe a Grizzly both of these brand and very well know and they both do great in the mud and on the trails. They both also have great four wheel drive so it will be pretty hard to get stuck plus you can also buy a winch to put on the front of either one that can pull you out if you get stuck. If you still want a 4 wheeler to take on the trails and in the mud but you don't have to much to spend I would look into getting a Honda they are very tough 4 wheelers and also do very well on the trails and mud. They will also have four wheel drive like the other two it might cost a bit more but it's worth it. If you're looking for speed and lots of power you might consider a raptor or a TRX 450 Honda both of these are very fast and have lots of power. But neither of theses four wheelers have four wheel drive so if you want to go in the mud I would consider one of the other one’s. They would do very well on the race track.  

Synesthesia - A Poetic Nugget

I often have ideas that never develop farther than a phrase.  I call these “Poetic Nuggets”.  Sometimes I’ll begin writing a story or poem and stop after a single line because I simply don’t know what to write next.  I’ll try and turn some into haikus or shape them into another style, but I find I am never pleased with the finished product.  So I leave them as nuggets.

Here is a nugget I wrote recently.  I had originally planned on writing a long, descriptive poem about the senses, but I stopped after four lines and added it to my Poetic Nugget collection.

Synesthesia

I don't have synesthesia,

but strangely moonlight tastes

of Earl Grey tea

and smells of lavender.

Killer Poems: Alucard

Alucard the vampire

He looks afar

Good ol’ London's on fire

He looks down, flesh scarred

He raises his head

Feels his body, filled with lead

He screams into midnight air

Screaming to remind the world he’s there

He raises his arms

Weapons, one of ivory and one that’s black

He grins at the moon with his demonic charms

He’s been holding back

He leaps from the boat into ol’ London town

Like a bird he hits the ground

He’s surrounded by the undead

The streets are all blood red

Bodies of men, women, and children scattered all around

The screams in the city are a delicious sound

But he knows the fun has to end

These lapdogs, these abominations, these disgraces have sinned

So, while breathing in sweet blood mist

He says at his normal volume, with a slight hiss

“The bird of hermes is my name

I’ve eaten my wings to keep myself tame

But now I set myself free

So that I may purge thee”

How It Feels

How it feels

It feels unlike anything I know.

It brings upon an extraordinary glow.

When it happens, I want the moments to stay.

A euphoric feeling that makes me weak,

that makes me sway.

In the moment, there is nothing that remains.

Feeling as though my heart has been freed from chains.

When it happens, it feels as though

Time is standing still.

Though the moments, at times, may be brief,

They are the greatest thrill.

Things like his hair, his smile, and his style.

These are some of the small things that make it even

More worth the while.

When it happens, there is only him and I.

When it happens, it’s as though nothing can go awry.

It causes sparks, like that of fireworks in the night sky.

It causes the beat of my heart to grow louder, to amplify.

The feeling of just us, being there together, being absorbed in each other,

Makes me fall head over heels.

That..That is how his kiss feels.   

Killer Poems: Jack the Ripper

I travel the night

Stench always in the air

I see a woman, turning darkness to light

Blonde, beautiful, silky hair

Luscious skin, pale and white

Like snows from my childhood

Filling with cold and joy

Though, I've always preferred crimson.

That skin

So perfect

It's unnerving

I can't handle it

I wait till no one is around

Then gag her so she won't make a sound

I take her to my place of blood and gore

I throw her to the floor

She cant react

The binds are latched

I get a scalpel

Prepare to slash.

Oh crimson

Such a pretty color

One of passion

Better than any other.

I will tatter the beautiful white

And do so with such delight

I prepare the knife

If she didn't look like art to prepare I'd make her my wife.

My wife didn't like my art

She complained that there was too much red

And overall, it looked dreary and dead

But I loved her

Enough to sever her head

And what lead

She became my masterpiece

Until I was reintroduced to my niece.

Now I have met this woman

Beauty incomparable

The wait is unbearable

I drive the blade into her stomach

Her life begins to plummet

I take the paint

And rub it on her skin

Warmth and happiness appears within

Hours of work

I'm done

I need to leave

No time to grieve

I hear their footsteps outside

I have to run and hide.

I escape

They were far too late

I walk for a short time

I feel sublime

My heart throbbing with pleasure

It is beyond measure

I continue to walk

Until I hear people talk

I spot a whore

I have something in store

She decides it's late and begins to walk home

Not realizing it will soon be her tomb

I follow her

I'm the infamous, anonymous, Jack the Ripper.

Traveler

Traveler

Long ago I was wandering,

No direction, no compass nor map,

Then I found what I was missing,

And I have been following this path.

I have stumbled, tripped and fallen since,

But the path remains unchanged

Winding, straight and narrow.

I am no more than a traveler

Slowly working my way home.

I count the stars as I drift to sleep

And watch as the sky is painted

Pink at dawn, then orange at dusk,

Sun gives sky to the moon.

I play a harp for Him,

As I worship along with the song birds,

and the otters swim by my side,

The stag lie with me in the grass,

and I converse with the ravens.

I have seen mountains on this earth,

Seas and fields of green too,

But I am convinced my home,

Is far more beautiful than those.

III

Perhaps racism is a simple misunderstanding?

Possibly skin color is actually more likely related to any particular ethnicity's geographical location in relation to the equator. The closer to the equator, consequently, the closer to the sun any particular group of people may reside, over generations develop a darker skin tone. The nomadic who migrate away from the equator develop a lighter skin tone.

I didn't know if this was obvious, but uh..

Science!
(^.^)

(I'm also sure the way the earth is on a tilt might contribute to this dark/light skin color ratio. I'm sure a graph could be made expressing this very phenomenon.)

The Bakery

My most recent poem. Enjoy!

The Bakery

He was a painter.

His sketchbooks were filled,

With that same sly smile.

He never had blue paint,

He used it all in her eyes.

His brushes were worn,

And his paints drying,

That day in the bakery window.

She was poet.

Her journals were filled,

With phrases of greeting.

Words were her company,

And pens her consult.

Her journal was torn,

and her pencil dull,

That day in the bakery window.

Had he known that sweet phrase,

He'd have said it sooner.

And had she known he loved blue,

She'd have looked at him quicker.

But today in the bakery window,

she turns and smiles,

as he tells her hello.

The Quintessential Meringue

Meringues are, quite possibly, my favorite thing in the world. Amidst the
     heavy cakes, pies, and cookies in everyone's family reunions, meringues
     will always stand out as a little cloud of perfection. They have a delicate,
     sweet flavor that's sure to make you feel like you've been kissed by an
     angel. Don't believe me? Then you haven't tried them.

Try saying it out loud a few times. Really, say it with me. "Meringue,
     meringue, meringue". Fun, right? It's also fun to type, take my word on
     that one. In essence, they're little drops of egg whites and sugar. That
     doesn't sound nearly as nice as anything in French though. On top of that,
     they're incredibly easy to make, but incredibly impressive to look at, too.
     Really, they're adorable, and eating them gives you another sense of
     wonder. Partially with the thought of  how someone could get that texture
     and partially wondering how they all disappeared so quickly.

Even after them being one of my favorite recipes for years, I'm still shocked
     by how much I enjoy them. My first time making meringues, I remember
     thinking that it would be an incredibly daunting task. After all, if you're
     mainly used to baking cookies or cakes, this is very different. On top of
     that, meringues are rather finicky. For instance, if it's raining outside, you
     have approximately halved your chance of making them work. Seems to
     me as though all french desserts are extra finicky compared to their counter-
     parts. Meringues don't like the rain. Madeleines have to have a specific pan.
     And don't even get me started on a croquembouche, I have yet to get that right
     to this day. All in all, anything French is bound to be difficult.

.....Except this! Of the difficulties given to us by the French, Meringues are quite
     possibly the very easiest to master, given that it isn't too humid and it isn't
     raining. And all of this is exactly why Meringues are the recipe I'm choosing to
     rattle off. And with that, good luck!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 egg whites 
• 2/3c sugar
• 1/4tsp cream of tartar
• Approximately 1tsp vanilla extract
• Food dye (optional)

PROCESS

• In a stand mixer using the whisk attachment, or using an electric mixer (it's possible to just whisk it by hand, but that'd be a pain in the you know what), begin to whisk your egg whites until they're foamy. While you wait, prepare a piping bag with your tip of choice. TIP: you can also just cut off one corner of a plastic bag, if you don't have a piping bag or frosting tips. See example below.
• At this point, pour in your cream of tartar and vanilla, whisking again until it's mixed in. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit,
• Start to slowly pour in your sugar in small increments while the egg whites whisk. Once all of your sugar is added, leave them to keep mixing on high until stiff, glossy peaks form. At this point, you can also add in your food dye (I used blue). I've found that gel food coloring works best, but liquid can work as well. To see what exact consistency you're looking for, see below where I'll have some pictures.
• Once you've gotten the correct consistency, transfer the mixture into your bag and pipe small dots onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. There's more mixture than you think, trust me, I used two large sheets.
• Place the pans in the oven and set the oven to turn off after forty five minutes. Don't open the oven, leave the meringues in there for another hour with the oven OFF. This is essential to the baking process and what makes them, well, cook. You can take them out after the hour, they'll be cool and ready to transfer. If you aren't eating them all then or using them for some function that day, store at room temperature in an air tight container.

As the French say, Voila!

This is not a stiff peak,
this is a soft peak

This, my friends, is the desired
consistency. 

 

Here's what a DIY piping bag
looks like: a cheap plastic tip
and a ziploc baggie.

xoxo, Gossip Girl

II

A as in Apple.
B as in Boy.
C as in Call.
D as in Door.
E as in Elevator.
F as in Fun.
G as in Good.
H as in Hall.
I as in Ivory.
J as in Jump.
K as in Kale.
L as in Lama.
M as in Mom.
N as in Nope.
O as in Oscar.
P as in Pass.
Q as in Queen.
R as in Rat.
S as in Sorry.
T as in Talk.
U as in Under.
V as in Vault.
W as in What.
X as in Xena.
Y as in Yonder.
Z as in Zebra.

With just 26 letters we have many, many words.
I heard that somewhere and find it quite fascinating.
 

Uncle Jeff's Cookies

Recently, my family passed the anniversary of my uncle Jeff's death. It's
     always been a hard day for me, and though this marks eleven years,
     it hasn't gotten any easier over time. Jeff was always an inspiration to
     me, even before I was born. I often have to explain my middle name
     (it's Macklin. Weird, I know, but it's important), and while it's not
     something I mind tremendously, it gets a bit annoying over time. So no
     one else has to ask, it was my uncle's last name.

He was an amazing man. Jeff Macklin was in the military. Jeff Macklin
     had a beautiful wife and an amazing son. Jeff Macklin was an amazing
     younger brother to my father. And Jeff Macklin would not in a million
     years let someone have the last cookie when my mother made them.
     Those are the things I want him to be remembered for, not what I have
     to give usually as my main description: he died of brain cancer. Something
     many people are surprised at is that he didn't die before I was born. Why
     was I named after him if he was alive? Because my parents loved and
     cared about him enough to name their dang child after him, and because
     Jeffery didn't seem like a great name for their baby girl. Can I blame them
     for that? Nope.

In Jeff's final year or so, he lived with us. Daniella, his wife, is Italian (they
     met while he was stationed in Naples, how romantic is that?). She had
     remained in Italy for some time while he continued to work in the military,
     however, she hastily moved to America upon learning that Jeff had been
     honorably discharged on account that he'd grown a brain tumor. Daniella,
     at the time,was also pregnant, so it was fair to say that it wasn't the best of
     timing. They lived with us for a while out of necessity, but we enjoyed them
     immensely.

Now, I won't bore you with all of the ins and outs of everything I as a three (and
     briefly four) year old remembered about their time with us, but I will let you
     in on some of the happier moments.

First: I remember Christmas. Christmas is without a doubt one of my favorite times
     of the year for plenty of reasons. For one, who doesn't like presents, Christmas
     trees, lights, stockings and all of the other festivities? Even as a teenager, there is
     not much that I enjoy more than riding around with my parents to look at Christmas
     lights, and that's one thing I shared with Jeff. Three year olds don't remember much,
     but I remember that.

Second: I remember his smile. It seems like such a cheesy, minute thing to say, but his
     smile was quite possibly one of my favorite sights. I realize now that I'm older just
     how terrified he must have been, knowing that he would die and that his wife and
     child would be left without him, and it shocks me so much more knowing how often
     he smiled. He smiled when he was sad and in pain just to make me happy, because
     he hated seeing other people sad. His smile was so full of joy that it inspires me to
     this day, and I've had countless nights where I've just wished that I could see it one
     more time.

Third: I remember cookies. I know, an odd transition, but trust me, I'm finally getting
     to the good stuff. Let me say right off the bat that my mother has the very best
     chocolate chip cookie recipe. This isn't me speaking from a bias, it really is the best.
     I'll make sure to bring some, actually. You'll see. Jeff, however, loved them more than
     anyone else, I'm pretty sure. It seems like such a derisory story I realize as I write it
     down, but whatever, I like getting it down so that I can finally let it go. Nearly every
     Saturday night while he lived with us, Jeff would leave my mother and I to our own
     devices to make them (I was likely not much of a help, but little kids love "helping"
     out), and he'd watch television with his wife, their son, and my Dad.

I always, thinking I got away with something special, snuck the first cookie. My mother
     knew I did this, of course, but she promised it was our secret, so I had something to
     giggle about when Jeff happily took the highest cookie on the plate. I never told him
     that I always took that cookie. Not to this day. Just as that was my tradition, it was his
     tradition to always take the very last cookie on the plate. None of us ever argued it. In
     fact, if we did, I'm sure he might have bit our hands off. What do they say— an eye for
     an eye and a tooth for a tooth?

To this day, we make the cookies on occasion, but always on his birthday and on the
     anniversary of his death. Because really, how can you be sad when you have cookies
     and fond memories?

Here's to Jeffery Macklin, the best uncle to ever live. I hope you enjoy these cookies.

UNCLE JEFF'S COOKIES

INGREDIENTS: 

• 2 sticks of softened butter
• 3/4c white sugar
• 3/4c brown sugar
• 2 1/4c flour // tip: this is three of a 3/4c measurement. Just use the one measuring cup!
• 2 eggs
• 1tbs vanilla extract
• 1tsp baking soda

PROCESS:

• In a stand mixer (or normal, but a stand mixer will make it loads easier), cream the butter and both sugars together, add the vanilla and eggs as you go. Also, preheat your oven to 350F.
• Using a sifter (very important), slowly sift in your flour and baking soda, being careful to pause and mix in what you've got occasionally so that flour doesn't end up going everywhere, which is a nightmare. 
• Once you've got that all in, let it mix for a while. There is NO SUCH THING as over mixing when it comes to this, trust me. Here's where the stand mixer comes in. You want to let it mix and mix and mix, this makes for a chewy cookie. 
• Later, once it's mixed for a while, pour in your chocolate chips. If you don't have a five year old helper like us, you may end up with more chips in the end result, but we meant to use one bag. Mix those in by hand with a spatula to give your mixer a break and to let your little helper think she's doing more.
• Scoop them out onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. They WILL spread, take that into consideration while placing them. Wax paper will work too, but not as well in my humble opinion.
• Place them into the oven for ten (10) minutes, but keep a close eye on them, it'll change a bit depending on your oven. A bit before you think they're done (two minutes or so before you'd take them out), take the pan and hit it against the corner of the oven a few times before setting them back in and letting them finish baking. 

An example for spacing purposes: we did three
across, which is a good go-to for most pans

And there we have it: a family recipe! Now, feel free to enjoy some photos I have of my sweet, sweet sister while making them, she really is one of my absolute favorite people. 

On a final note, those last two were her making fun of me, the first being that I was taking a selfie, and the second was her mocking me for calling out on it. 

xoxo, Gossip Girl

Finally ! Math ! Bummer !

My nerves are always tore up when it comes to taking a test/exam. I just passed my final math exam about a hr ago and I passed ! I don't have to complete anymore math class for the rest of my years in college. Exciting ! I was never a fan of the DMA classes , math classes have changed a lot over the years. You used to be able to attend a class with a instructor teaching you step by step on how to solve the math problem. This day and time , you have class in a computer lab and do all your work on the computer. The teacher is there to help if you have a problem but the computer teaches you. The thing I don't understand is how you do all this work to get to the next assignment and none of that counts. Whenever you are able to take the math exam , you must pass that with a 80 or above in order to pass the class. The math exam is the only grade that counts , like ugh ! I did all this work and none of it to go into concentration if i pass the class or not. I passed so no need for me to complain anymore . . . I'm sure all my fellow classmates already went through the math process of college.
- rant over

Want to make a $70 Native American Flute for under $20?

Materials and tools:

• Dust mask
• Guitar tuner
• Handsaw
• High-speed drill or rotary tool such as a dremel or drill
• Set of drills bits, the smallest being 1/8". Graduations of 1/16's are best.
• Flat and rounded needle files (1/4-inch or less width)
• Standard flat file and half-round file
• 55 cm (21.6535 in.) of a 3/4-inch or 1-inch diameter PVC pipe
• 3/4-inch or 1-inch PVC pipe coupler (whichever size pipe you get)
• Standard and metric ruler
• Pencil

Measurements:

Placement of air and sound holes, measuring from head (blowing end) to hole center. Make initial hole no larger than 1/8-inch:
• air hole 12.2 cm
• sound hole 14 cm

Placement of finger holes, measuring from flute foot (opposite head) to hole center. Make initial hole no larger than 1/8-inch:

Hole #      Measurements

  5     -     12.8 cm
  4     -     15.8 cm
  3     -     18.7 cm
  2     -     24.85 cm
  1     -     27.7 cm

Rather than inserting a thousand pictures to this post, I've linked the text below to the album that has all of the pictures (and some videos) in it.

Flute Making Album

I will put one here, though, because it'll help.

Steps:

1. Cut the PVC pipe to 55 cm.
2. Using the half-round file, smooth the edges where you made the cut, removing all of the . . . . "fluffs" of plastic left behind
3. With a pencil, mark a straight line from end to end of the PVC
4. Using a metric ruler, mark where the holes will go, labeling each
5. Drill the air and sound holes
6. Using the flat needle file, make the air hole (second one from the head (where you'll blow)) square
7. Holding the pipe with the head toward you, insert the needle file into the sound hole and bevel it at, roughly, a 45° angle. It doesn't need very much of a bevel.
8. Taking one of the corks, measure the distance between the insides of the holes' edges and cut the cork so it fits in between them without blocking them. If the cork does not fit very tightly within the pipe, wrap just the outside edge of the cork with duct tape, electrical tape, whatever. This is simply to make the cork wider so it does fit snugly within the pipe.
9. Using the bigger flat file, file the area around the air and sound holes flat. The main part that needs to be flat is the area between the holes and about two inches down from the sound hole.
10. File the inside ring of the coupler away. The inside of the ring should be completely smooth.
11. Cut the ring using the handsaw. It should fit about half and inch above the air hole and go until the sound hole just starts.
12. Push the cork into the space in between the air and sound holes. Put the coupler over the pipe.
13. Blow. If it is not producing a sound, adjust the position of the coupler. If the sound is very breathy, put a bit more of a bevel on the fipple.
14. Once you get the root note clear, now you tune it. You tune the root note by sawing off the bottom of the pipe in very small increments. If you take too much of the bottom off, the note will go sharp and there is no way to get it back down to the correct note. This is when you use the tuner to get it to get it right.
15. Once this is finished, drill the first hole (#5) and tune it by widening the hole with the needle files.
16. Repeat last step until all of the holes are drilled and in tune.
17. Now, using a fine grit sand paper, sand the entire flute until it's smooth then wash it.

You're finished!