... this morning i found that both of my income tax refunds had been posted to my savings account ... first things first, i let out the breath i've been holding for a few weeks ... second, i made sure all my reoccurring bills were paid ... third, i then paid ahead a car payment (which means i've only two more to go) ... fourth, i finished paying off my credit card, which means, other'n the car and motorcycle, i'm at $0 in that department ... !!! ... fifth, i paid the rather hefty "100,000-miles-do-everything-needs-to-be-done" car maintenance bill ... finally, i put away a chunk of money for the wanderabout adrien and i are going to be making in a few weeks ...
... naturally, after all that there was only one thing left to do ... i went online and once again examined the really great deal i've been watching on a fuji x-t1 ... while i was doing that i had a thought, so i started searching until i found an even greater deal on a fabulous nikkor 10-24mm wide-angle zoom ... i've already got one of those, of course, but i've already got more cameras than i have hands so i suppose that kind of counting doesn't—well, i guess it just doesn't count, does it ...
... so ...
... so, i went for a ride, which is what i've learned to do before i even think of buying something that i absolutely don't need ...
... stopped in augusta ...
... bought something i didn't need ...
... yup, a hideously expensive motorcycle helmet ...
... actually, and this is a tiny bit strange, i was able to make a better "need" argument for the helmet than i could for the photography toys ... who'd have ever thought that could happen ... considering that the "average" motorcycle rider drives 3,000 miles per year, that would mean my old helmet has eight seasons of wear on it ... !!! ... also, the last time i—well, i believe the phrase is "dumped the bike," the helmet took a good whack against the tarmac, and the book says you're supposed to discard a helmet after that happens ... mostly, however, this is just a way, way better helmet ... built-in sunscreen, with push button that lets it instantly pop back into the helmet, wind guards to keep the cold air from coming up inside the helmet, a breath deflector to keep the visor from fogging (works like a charm), and a locking face visor ... also, it's a modular helmet, so i don't have to remove the helmet in order to drink, spit, or, should it ever chance to happen, give a girl a quick kiss ... !!! ... (okay, but spittin' and drinking are of enough importance that i'll allow the latter as a probably unlikely bonus) ...
... and, finally ... (drum roll fits in here) ...
... this helmet is about 17% lighter than my old helmet ... i figure that if i keep averaging 12,000 miles per season, and this helmet lasts two or more years—well, that's a whole lot of "lighter" ...
... the dealer said he'd "give it to me for cost," which i check carefully, of course ... he did ... a real deal, especially when this is one of those things i don't like to purchase at a distance ...
... by the way, the "R" is the brand-name logo, but, as far as i'm concerned ... it stands for "rocket" ... i mean, after all, who am i to disagree with ray bradbury ... !!! ...
... yup, i thought so, cool helmet ... !!! ...