Learning to ride clutch

If you’re next birthday promises you’ll turn 16 in the United States, you’ve already spent the last few hours of every night thinking about your dream car. The make, the license, the new-car smell we all love. If you’re living in Bermuda when your big day arrives, look forward to your Honda Scoopy or Yamaha V50.

My first bike was a 3rd hand 50cc Centro. I was so excited to get my hands on my first bike I nearly hit a wall less than an hour after I purchased it. Some rider eh? I took a course in High School setup to ensure Bermuda’s young people’s safety on the roads, I threw that out the door the same day I received my license. Sadly, its common among young boys here. With all the women to ride pass and impress and all the parties to show up to in style, aren’t we all just a bit too cool to ride safe?

Eventually my first bike broke down and because I was still in school and unemployed I never had it fixed. I mean, the old chunk of metal was turning 5 years old and the rust was beginning to replace the paint and spray job the previous owner had given it. Two days ago I brought a new one. A Honda sonic 125cc (4T Clutch). Im learning how to ride it because for 5 years I’ve been riding automatics. Not as easy as I thought. Instead of just turning the key and gassing, you’ve got to turn the key, put the bike in neutral, pull in the clutch, lightly gas while releasing the clutch, turn on your landing strip lights, ask for permission from the tower to take off, ensure the flight attendants are ready, take off and radio in my altitude arrival times. Perhaps they should issue plane licenses to ride clutch bikes.

The important thing is I am learning and in about a week I should know exactly how to fly this thing without any hiccups.

Lots of kids die on Bermuda’s roads riding the exact bike Im riding. Im taking my time. I’ve already given up on trying to look cool, Im a nerd. But there’s something about this bike that makes me want to give “coolness” another shot.

21 Chapters.com

Most of you who know me know that sleep has been a foreign concept to me since, forever. I’ve recently been trying different techniques to get me to bed but nothing seems to work. In the meantime…

I’ve used my “zombie” time to launch a new website (blog). 21 Chapters.com is where I’ll be posting my attempted poetry, creative writing and scrap book entries. I’d like you guys to have a peek and let me know what you think if you have time? Oh, you do? That’s great!

Also remember, if your interested in your own blog I don’t mind getting that up and running for you for free. It could only be for personal use though.

Head on over to 21chapters.com!

Happy New Year

Wow, what an eventful and interesting year 2007. I hope all of you enjoyed it as much as I did. All the best for 2008 and a wonderful New Year’s Eve! Damond Mainee

How do they know?

Bermuda has one major mall. The Washington Mall. Meh, I kno. Just one mall? How do we do it? Anyway, it serves its purpose (which would be to meet girls, try on expensive leather jackets, and have races with friend’s to see who could down their strawberry milkshake the fastest). Oh yea, and sometimes we shop there.

Chances are, if you’re meeting me in town, I’d either say “Hey! Let’s meet at Rock Island Coffee!” or “Um, how about the Mall?”. As usual people take 3 light-years and 4 minutes to meet me there so Im usually stuck on a bench making funny faces to infants in their stroller’s while I wait. But last week in particular I thought I’d try something new.

So Im sitting there, eyes aimlessly wondering, headphones stuck in each ear and fiddling with my leather “Live in Love” wrist band and Im thinking to myself:

“Most malls in the States have those humungous maps on the wall that illustrate the entire mall’s floor-plan. Most times there’s a little red dot that indicates where you are. It says something like “YOU ARE HERE”. I got to thinking. How does it know where you are at that precise moment? There’s no way they could have known you’d be right there. They get it right every-time without fail! Its a phenomenal experience. I mean, thats how you know there’s something out there! Something bigger than us! Smarter than us. Amazing!”

Just a little fun fact. Something to think about…

So its christmas eh

Okay, okay! Settle down now. I bet you thought I was too busy to blog these last couple of days. Truth is, I have been. But not the type of busy where work is involved. I’ve been spending much needed time with friends.

Tis the season to be jolly, eh? Well, Christmas around here hasn’t been all that jolly this yea. Since Nana’s gone, there isn’t anyone to make delicious pies and soup for the holidays. We could ask Cousins and Aunts to attempt. Sure it’ll probably be good, but nothing compares to Nana’s original recipes.

My Christmases are usually spent in my bedroom with video games and loads of food. This Christmas I was invited to my friends house for Christmas dinner. Im really looking forward to it. My friend’s Mom is a terrific cook!

I’ll probably spend the rest of the day writing music with her and finish up at home with my family.

With that let me wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

P.S. If you see that white-bearded crippled old man with the glasses and sleigh; as him why the hell hasn’t he ever returned my letter to the North Pole?

Rest in Peace Nana

Today was a sad day for my family. We lost someone very dear to us. A courageous woman, a family woman. A woman who has been through so much and still managed to be the glue in our family. My nana Janet Bean, will forever be missed, never forgotten and always remain a part of who we are.

I love you nana!

Baby Jameson’s first Chirstmas

My buddy Nicole had her first kid a few months back. He’s growing up like a champ. Never have I seen a child so happy and carefree. I was having coffee alone at Rock Island Coffee a few weeks ago and Nicole and her sister Kim were nice enough to stop in with the little man. He’s grown so much since then.

Its so funny how your life could change. Nicole and I have been friends for sometime now and though she hasn’t changed at all, her life has made some pretty extreme ones. I could only imagine. She and her husband James have asked me to prepare a little Christmas card featuring their son Jameson to give out to family and friends. Of course I’ll do it for free. After all. The kid rocks man!