Is there a reason that pumpjacks (the "nodding donkeys") vary in length in their cycles? Generally, "nodding donkeys" seem to have a four-second cycle -- from highest point down to lowest point, about four (4) seconds, probably even shorter. This is in the Bakken (I don't recall what the pumpjacks were doing in and around Huntington Beach in southern California.)
But occasionally, let's say a Tyler well just for grins, would there be an explanation why a "nodding donkey" might take twice as long, like eight (8) seconds? Even to a casual observer, it would be very, very obvious that the donkey was moving at "33 and a third" when all his neighbors were moving at "45 rpm." (Of course, only older roughnecks remember the "33 and a third" / "45" vinyls).
So, just throwing that out there. Yes, I need to get a life.
For those who would like their own living room "nodding donkey," see this site: http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/archive/nodding-donkey__o_t__t_56935.html
******************************
Happy
I'm up on the upper deck overlooking a huge indoor swimming pool in north Texas where there must be over a hundred swimmers, ages 6 to 17, practicing, as part of their local swim team. It's a huge team.
At the near end of the ten-lane pool, some of the swimmers are practicing their dives. I had never seen this before, but they can turn on / turn off a huge whirlpool under the diving board -- I did not know this, but apparently, the whirlpool minimizes the pain associated with "belly flops."
It's really quite incredible how good some of the dives / some of the divers are. I got a real kick out of a young man, appears to look about 14 years old -- big grin, athletic body, appearing to have the time of his life. He is just all over the pool; all over the board; flirting with the girls; teasing his male friends. You just know he is going to be the BMOC four years from now.
I was not the BMOC when I was a freshman in college, not by a long shot. But my roommate, Rick, was. He was even elected "freshman king" for homecoming. I knew from the minute I met him he would have a wonderful life, a huge success at whatever he chose to do. And he did.
It brings a huge smile across my face watching this 14-y/o diving. He is having so much fun. This will not be the best time of his life, but it will be one of the best times of his life. Hopefully, his best times will be in his coming of age years sometime between age 16 and 26. You just want him, and all his friends, to succeed. Life should always be so good for everyone.
When I see him diving, I can't help but think of the four friends in the movie immortalized by this song:
