It's Good to be Hank

Nurburgring Racing and Other Such Nonsense

Hank — Fri, 03 May 2013 03:24:15 +0000

So I was looking through the admin section on my blog tonight, and I realized that I had the first sentence or two of a post about the time I drove the Nurburgring in 2012 while on an all expense paid trip to Germany on business. What could be more akin to the fabled Happy Ending as a finishing move to an otherwise great massage? Go to Germany for 10 days for free….oh, and by the way, drive a rented race car around the Nurburgring for 2 hours while you’re at it.

Thank you sir, may I have another? ;P

Yes you may! Since the last post I have also switched employers again, I now work for Halliburton, or Sperry Drilling to be precise. I know there are moans and groans about “Halliburton”….but I have to be totally honest here….I’m excited. 2 things…..I never really mention employers on my blog, bad mojo…and, I was a consultant at Halliburton for 6 months in 2012, so I knew what I was getting into. The funny part is, most folks out there don’t.

In the 6 months I spent at Halliburton as a consultant, the one thing that really struck me, and it had a great impact on my thinking about the company, were the number of people who have been there 15, 20, 30 years….met a guy last week who had 40 years with the company!!! Are you fucking kidding me??!? Who does that? I dropped out on another offer from a huge company everyone knows globally to take the job at HAL. And seriously, I’m giddy. It really is a great place to work, most folks around me are clothed in multiple college degrees, dual masters, Phd’s etc. (I feel so naked) In other words, everyone I work with knows their shit, which is a nice feature.

Long story short, life is good. I drove around the coolest, most iconic track in the world, got an awesome job, the wife is good, the family is good, the Merc is at the shop getting all refreshed and spiffy, I own one of the coolest domains on the planet….livin’ the dream.

Til next time…..

Self Editing, or Not

Hank — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:51:52 +0000

Every now and again I think about touching up my previous post. Maybe it’s a bit rude, or harsh. The title “Hey Asshole!” might be a bit shocking….perhaps I should tone it down a bit?

Then I read the post, and I realize…nope, I’m not changing a thing. Houston, perhaps the world for all I know is plagued with morons in F150′s and trucks of all sorts who try to bully other cars on the roads by tailgating, or having their headlights mounted too high and blinding you in the rear view mirror. I was obviously tired of it the day that I wrote the post, and I’m still tired of it. Is it really nessesary to behave like that in traffic? Nope.

So am I going to tone down my post, lest some client or partner of some sort who happens to drive an F150 with aggression might see it? Nah, maybe they need to see it. Maybe they need to know what’s going through the mind of the driver of the car 4 feet off the tip of their front bumper.

The post stays. Live with it.

Hey Asshole!

Hank — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 01:25:05 +0000

Hey Asshole!

Yeah, you in the truck riding 5 feet off my bumper at 85 miles an hour, FUCK YOU!!! No matter how deluded you might be, your delusions will have no effect on the laws of physics and reality. You see, your truck is not a sports car, it wasn’t made by Ferrari, or Porsche, or Audi. It wasn’t meant to be a purpose built machine for the track, or the Autobahn.

Your fantasies will not change the fact that the engineering team at Ford wasn’t concerned with the balance at all 4 tires, or the addition of independently articulating joints at all 4 wheels to improve handling around corners at speed. They didn’t consider things like drag co-efficient, down draft, or the addition of a wing for added traction in the rear for turning at speed.

Sure it’s got a big engine and comfy leather seats, but those were placed there to assist in moving your fat ass from place to place around our fair metropolis. The handling was designed for things like towing, for hauling bricks, or machinery, or a big load of shit for you to fertilize your lawn with.

Do you really think that if I needed to apply the brakes on my nimble little Mercedes that you would have a fucking snowballs chance in Hell of not parking that big piece of shit you’re driving somewhere between my trunk and the back seat??!!? Are you really trying to tell me that you have some insight into physics that the rest of us lack?

Perhaps you would like me to get out of your way? What, 85 ain’t fast enough for you? Well you know what….FUCK YOU!!! I ain’t moving, and I’m not going faster, Asshole!!

It’s Not Very Often That I Get Jealous, But….

Hank — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:37:41 +0000

Wow…this garage is Amazing! I’m not the type of person to get envious of others, but I can’t imagine having the free cash to whip something like this together. It’s 40×40, are you kidding me? In any case, this garage is a showcase at a complex of Garage Condominiums, which to be quite honest is something I’m looking into in the future, once we get the house paid off, and I get a couple of finished car builds under my belt, and I need a space for a CNC Mill, etc. You get the picture. A guy has to have a dream. Check it out for yourself. (Link)

Life’s Little Pleasures

Hank — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:10:15 +0000

There are some simple pleasures in life whose cost is miniscule in comparison to the joy that they bring to your day to day existence. For instance, new socks. I like to keep a few pair stashed away for days that I just need a casual shift of attitude or outlook. For my money, there is simply no better way of pampering yourself than a new set of fluffy white socks, wrapping your feet in comfort, and making you feel like a million bucks.

Today I treated myself to another of life’s phenomenal little pick me ups, and I replaced a pair of worn, sorry assed windshield wipers. Who would have thought that $15 could bring such utter satisfaction as I watched those fresh, supple squeegees strip the moisture from my windshield like magic. Gone were the streaks and chunks of sticky water that the old set would leave behind, replaced with clear, dry glass. I almost can’t wait for it to rain again.

What are your simple pleasures?

Watch this Space

Hank — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 08:39:20 +0000

I’ve decided to start blogging (writing) again, so there should be some content here soon.