Sunday, December 27, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
invest in your future. and also some chinese kid's.
get a goddamn iphone!
here we are, a mere 5 hours into our relationship, and horace is already one of my best friends. it's a special kind of union, one that says "hey buddy, next time you leave an interview and decide to hoof across osaka to the apple store, i won't let you get lost." he thoroughly enjoys long walks on the beach, short walks on the beach, and other beach-oriented activities. shit, he pretty much likes doing everything i like to do. every question i ask receives a thoughtful, grammatically correct response, often in multiple languages. firm, but not overweight, i think "sleek" is a good descriptor. he knows something about everything, and improves my brains exponentially.
i'm thinking of developing a high five app so that me and the H man can take this action to the next level.
here we are, a mere 5 hours into our relationship, and horace is already one of my best friends. it's a special kind of union, one that says "hey buddy, next time you leave an interview and decide to hoof across osaka to the apple store, i won't let you get lost." he thoroughly enjoys long walks on the beach, short walks on the beach, and other beach-oriented activities. shit, he pretty much likes doing everything i like to do. every question i ask receives a thoughtful, grammatically correct response, often in multiple languages. firm, but not overweight, i think "sleek" is a good descriptor. he knows something about everything, and improves my brains exponentially.
i'm thinking of developing a high five app so that me and the H man can take this action to the next level.
i didn't think that the japanese youth had it in them, but here we have it: graffiti in osaka. i think they're all vaguely condescending remarks with modifiers denoting politeness.
this is a japanese graveyard. i don't think they actually bury folk here, they just erect small shrines.
fine combination of modernity and classic japanese architecture. actually, the concrete telephone pole and the phallic roof are probably about the same age, but it's a nice concept.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
registration = approved
picked up my certificate of alien registration yesterday, also known as the gaijin card. this is just an ID showing that the government knows that you're here and why, but the lack of it has thus far prevented me from getting a bank account, cell phone, apartment, general credibility, etc. with this little piece of plastic, the future is lookin' bright for lil' mikey! bank account is in the bag, flats are being hunted, and i'll be picking up a phone-ski next week-ski. soon my spare time will once again be eliminated via random construction, interior designing, and party throwing (halloween is pushing it, but i'm pretty sure i can swing F'in tofurkey day). plus i'll have some sovereign space, and will finally be able to walk around naked (without going to the locker room).
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
eponymous
i love me a good diversion. adding to the list of blogging's positive points, i give you break time.
nearby shrine.
pretty, flowery, viney.
roofy.
ice. this is not in kobe.
as far as beards are concerned, the best i could ever muster.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
line in the sand
although i don't eat meat anymore, i have a stronger resolve to not inconvenience others. if i'm cooking for myself, or ordering my own food, it'll all be vegetable based. if i'm offered food or sharing dinner with others, and there is a bit of meat in the mix, i'd rather just eat it than make them feel like a-holes. this treated me quite well in portland, but here in japan meat is a staple in almost every dish.
one time when i was first in town, i went to this new joint recommended by a friend. "it's vegetarian" he said. i was like "cool, i'll check it out!". it was a set lunch menu, and it was all really good food. it's true that the sign out front said "natural", but the vegetarian was slightly off the mark, and they served me a large pork chop.
i went to dinner with a couple of japanese friends last night in downtown kobe. after taking our seats, the waiter was on us immediately (service that is rare in other parts of the world, and they don't work for tips). i used a couple of key japanese phrases to explain that i don't eat meat, but that they could order for me and i'd eat whatever they chose. i've done this before with mixed results.
the small dishes started coming one by one. first was "nama riva", or "fresh liver". we each received a plate piled with pieces of raw chicken heart and raw chicken liver, each with it's own dipping sauce. next was a plate full of cooked chicken hips on sticks, followed immediately by plates full of cooked chicken intestines on sticks. there were plates with small eggs wrapped in bacon on sticks, cooked chicken hearts on sticks, and composite chicken meatballs on sticks. a large salad came, full of sliced cooked chicken. the soup we had was just broth, but i'd bet it was based on some type of meat stock, perhaps chicken. we rounded out the meal with chicken fried rice. why i've yet to vomit is a mystery. it all tasted pretty good, but i think from now on i'll have to take a firmer stance on my diet.
it's come to my attention that this is widely known as the worst time of the year not to own a kitchen in japan. produce is ridiculously cheap everywhere. not just fruits, but various strange looking vegetables as well. eggplants are like 10 cents a piece, and a whole pineapple will set you back about 2 bones, or clams, or whatever you call them. pretty amazing, hopefully i don't miss the boat. for now it's restaurant city, but i'll stick to the fruit, bread, and tofu diet.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
whoopsie
daisy. tried something new with the blog, apparently it didn't quite work. but, i suppose, this is how we learn.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
business ethics
many of the western folk i know seem drawn to places like japan for a solid ego boost. i think that after they stay so long, this often develops into an ego problem. many foreigners in this country are regarded with a certain kind of awe, especially when you smile a lot and try to communicate with people. i suppose if there were only white people in america, then a foxy cambodian walking down the street would appropriately turn heads. some may claim to be bothered by it, but i think that they're probably just lying to seem like better people.
i taught a couple of english lessons to this one lady, who always brings me coffee. i ran into her today as i was sitting on a bench reading. we exchanged some bs, then she returned five minutes later with some fancy chocolates, gave them to me, and was on her way. in fact, most of my english lessons involve me getting gifts and fielding questions regarding relationship status and physical characteristics. five foot ten (and let's not forget that half) in the states is average at best, but here "lil' mikey" apparently doesn't fit.
autumn festival was this weekend, coincident with national health and sports holiday. i went to this celebratory wine party with a couple of homies. although a bit odd, it was certainly a blast. basically it was a bunch of cougars who speak enough english to invite young western men to wine parties at a cafe one of them owns. endless eats and drinks, and alls i had to do was cut a few rugs and fire around some friendly convo. by about the eighth hour of this, however, everyone was quite loose, and it took quite the effort to dodge middle-aged lips and escape with all of my clothes on. maybe a bit questionable, but the goal was really to score some students. i handed out plenty o' name cardos. with a bit of luck, i'll have some 60 year old sugar mommas in no time!
it's not just the women who have this unnecessary appreciation for white guys. many men seem equally fascinated. at a(nother) japanese party, i'd never experienced an easier time assimilating into a group of strange dudes. conversation is pretty easy when everyone has a non-stop supply of questions. it also helps when there's some chick handing everyone freshly opened beers non-stop. in an unrelated incident, i was simply walking down the street when some rich drunk japanese guys hammed me up, then invited me to join them in a restaurant so they could buy me dinner. paid not a cent.
i taught a couple of english lessons to this one lady, who always brings me coffee. i ran into her today as i was sitting on a bench reading. we exchanged some bs, then she returned five minutes later with some fancy chocolates, gave them to me, and was on her way. in fact, most of my english lessons involve me getting gifts and fielding questions regarding relationship status and physical characteristics. five foot ten (and let's not forget that half) in the states is average at best, but here "lil' mikey" apparently doesn't fit.
autumn festival was this weekend, coincident with national health and sports holiday. i went to this celebratory wine party with a couple of homies. although a bit odd, it was certainly a blast. basically it was a bunch of cougars who speak enough english to invite young western men to wine parties at a cafe one of them owns. endless eats and drinks, and alls i had to do was cut a few rugs and fire around some friendly convo. by about the eighth hour of this, however, everyone was quite loose, and it took quite the effort to dodge middle-aged lips and escape with all of my clothes on. maybe a bit questionable, but the goal was really to score some students. i handed out plenty o' name cardos. with a bit of luck, i'll have some 60 year old sugar mommas in no time!
it's not just the women who have this unnecessary appreciation for white guys. many men seem equally fascinated. at a(nother) japanese party, i'd never experienced an easier time assimilating into a group of strange dudes. conversation is pretty easy when everyone has a non-stop supply of questions. it also helps when there's some chick handing everyone freshly opened beers non-stop. in an unrelated incident, i was simply walking down the street when some rich drunk japanese guys hammed me up, then invited me to join them in a restaurant so they could buy me dinner. paid not a cent.
here we have a bunch of loud dudes in the square, carrying around these large portable shrines, or mikoshi. they bang drums and yell real loud, and are kept in check by other men carrying lightsabers.
here we have a bunch of loud dudes in the street. this is a rowdy bunch indeed. i stayed in my high perch, as the jedi were not around.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
thai hoon
big ol' fat storm rolled on through town last night, prompting much public banter and school closing. i was pretty pumped, as this was to be my first tropical cyclone. i headed down to the water's edge around 9 or so, hoping to see a good show. there honestly wasn't much going on aside from tons of rain and an occasional gust of wind. kobe's on a bay that's pretty well protected by awaji and shikoku islands, but the surf was still rougher than i'd ever witnessed here. i mean, there usually isn't any, but last night the sound was enough to stop me in my tracks once i was about half-way out onto the fishing pier. few things intimidate me more than the ocean at night, when i can't see what's abound.
i got thoroughly soaked, then returned to the spot to catch my z's. the noise wasn't enough to keep me awake, just enough to pull me into a semi-conscious daze now and then. the gusts made me half dream that some really loud dude kept running by in the market down below. weird. the sun's out now, but still many schools and establishments are all closed up. it's kind of like portland when there's a half-inch of snow predicted. these are the only pictures i got that're worth a damn:
pearl bridge. long, suspended.
looking across the bay to awaji island. imagine lots of rain, a bit of the gust, and loud waves crashing underneath your feet.
monday, as i'm sure you're all aware, is health and sports day! as a national holiday, it is truly cause for celebration. i've been seeing the drummers practicing all week here. apparently there is a party in tarumi from saturday to monday, probably all healthy and sports-oriented. i think this sort of traditional festival is going down all over the place. should be pretty fun, and i hope to snap a solid pic or two.
Monday, October 5, 2009
walking around naked
got to the gym today after a solid week and two days without much in the way of exercise. it's a really sweet gym, many amenities. i used to have a membership there but forgot my card. the chick working the counter, who i'd never met, already new that i was askew-san. in that respect i guess it's a little like that really old tv show called cheers!
i never did the public bathing thing last time i was here. it was probably because none of the dudes cover up with towels, and i'd probably look weird if i did. also my gym bag was very small. today i rolled in with a backpack full of extra clothes, soaps, and drying agents, determined to wash up with confidence. i'd say it went quite well. not only are there showers, but a large hot tub and a sauna. i was immediately comfortable walking around japanese style, and even rocked an impromptu hot tub session. i noticed as i was getting in the other dude's eyes shot right to the junk. straight up curiosity, and completely understandable when you probably don't see a live naked foreigner every day. i can imagine that the stereotypes are now formed, my gym mates all convinced that every american man's lower half is covered with some sort of strange fur.
anyway, great times in the bathroom today. i even used one of the fancy hair dryers, a privilege i generally reserve for the hair stylist. i think next time i'll even hop in the steam room and talk business (brokenly)!
Friday, October 2, 2009
samurai-chan
i'm fairly certain that i was born to explore. i absolutely love it. when i was a little kid i did a book report on thor heyerdahl and the kon-tiki. i came to school to deliver the report dressed up as i thought most nordic adventurers must have. should've known then that i was a lifer. if there were any downside to walking around checking shit out, it would probably be that my back gets sore pretty quickly. clearly not enough to deter.
headed out to motomachi, motomachi desu, and explored for a couple of hours this morning. for y'all's sakes, i took a bunch of pictures of things that i had already seen. also some stuff i hadn't. went to a couple new neighborhoods, saw much cool stuff, and found a bulk honey store! good times indeed. here ya's go:
here we have china town, or at least one entrance of. you can get lots of food on sticks here.
this is a clock made of flowers on flower road. i saw one before in geneva that was also quite sweet.
this was taken in the fountain district.
this really cool building that i always see from the train. tracked it down today.
huge shrine containing multiple smaller shrines. there were all these adorable asian babies running around in there, some in tiny kimono, one in suspenders and a bow tie. i wanted to get a picture with him, but i think my very presence sort of freaked the little guy out. we reached a silent understanding and i moved on.
"cow statue with paper and sticks suspended overhead"
one of the smaller internal shrines.
cool view of flora within the larger external shrine enclosure.
headed out to motomachi, motomachi desu, and explored for a couple of hours this morning. for y'all's sakes, i took a bunch of pictures of things that i had already seen. also some stuff i hadn't. went to a couple new neighborhoods, saw much cool stuff, and found a bulk honey store! good times indeed. here ya's go:
here we have china town, or at least one entrance of. you can get lots of food on sticks here.
this is a clock made of flowers on flower road. i saw one before in geneva that was also quite sweet.
this was taken in the fountain district.
this really cool building that i always see from the train. tracked it down today.
huge shrine containing multiple smaller shrines. there were all these adorable asian babies running around in there, some in tiny kimono, one in suspenders and a bow tie. i wanted to get a picture with him, but i think my very presence sort of freaked the little guy out. we reached a silent understanding and i moved on.
"cow statue with paper and sticks suspended overhead"
one of the smaller internal shrines.
cool view of flora within the larger external shrine enclosure.early bird sans worms
so the nap turned into like 15 hours of sleep with minimal disruption. i feel great! i may have simultaneously kicked the lag and the cold. find out for sure later in the day...
never took a whole lot of time to get up early and explore the last time i was here. the rain stopped sometime around 4:30 or so, leaving me with plenty of shine to brighten the morning. to sum up:
-every time i'm able to read something, i start skipping and throw a high five to the nearest unlucky pedestrian. it's awesome.
-the humidity makes it feel more like seasia than the japan i remember. i came across some nondescript scent yesterdayday that combined with the weather to precisely reminded me of singapore.
-i got some sweet breads and coffee for breakfast, actually finding a place that opened at 7:30. it's been my experience that most shops open around 9 or 10. as the cashier moved to transfer my goods from their current plastic tray to a different plastic tray and secure them with wax paper, i calmly informed her that it wouldn't be necessary. i was glad to see i can still maneuver my way out of unneeded protective covers, and subsequently did a little dance while trying to force her into going up top. i even threw in a "let's not waste", hoping to make a lasting impression.
i returned to the computer planning to sit here and watch the flyers game via the slingbox. first game of the season or not, i think i'll get back out on the streets. it's simply too much fun!
view from fishing pier
gorgeous day! definitely can't sit around inside for this one. if it weren't for all you loyal followers, i'd be out there already.
clockwise from bottom left: raisin bun, orange croissant, maple sandie (minus two bites), hotto cohee, onegaishimasu. top notch break-o.
never took a whole lot of time to get up early and explore the last time i was here. the rain stopped sometime around 4:30 or so, leaving me with plenty of shine to brighten the morning. to sum up:
-every time i'm able to read something, i start skipping and throw a high five to the nearest unlucky pedestrian. it's awesome.
-the humidity makes it feel more like seasia than the japan i remember. i came across some nondescript scent yesterdayday that combined with the weather to precisely reminded me of singapore.
-i got some sweet breads and coffee for breakfast, actually finding a place that opened at 7:30. it's been my experience that most shops open around 9 or 10. as the cashier moved to transfer my goods from their current plastic tray to a different plastic tray and secure them with wax paper, i calmly informed her that it wouldn't be necessary. i was glad to see i can still maneuver my way out of unneeded protective covers, and subsequently did a little dance while trying to force her into going up top. i even threw in a "let's not waste", hoping to make a lasting impression.
i returned to the computer planning to sit here and watch the flyers game via the slingbox. first game of the season or not, i think i'll get back out on the streets. it's simply too much fun!
view from fishing pier
gorgeous day! definitely can't sit around inside for this one. if it weren't for all you loyal followers, i'd be out there already.
clockwise from bottom left: raisin bun, orange croissant, maple sandie (minus two bites), hotto cohee, onegaishimasu. top notch break-o.Thursday, October 1, 2009
prefecture side
left portland early wednesday with all the clothing and electronics i could carry. as usual, got to the terminal about 1.5 hours ahead of schedule. still haven't lost the phila int'l attitude of arriving at least 2 hours before flight time. i don't think it's ever taken me more than 20 minutes to get through the whole process at pdx.
flights were good. nay, flights were great. i watched two terminators (newest and oldest) and some affleck/crowe combination crime thriller. this weak cold i picked up last weekend caused me to lose a lot of my voice, but hammed it up as best as i could with my neighboring canucks en route to bali. i was almost positive that if i didn't get the voice back, immigration would quarantine me with the quickness. i drank enough water to lube the vocals, and dishonored the "let us know if you're feeling sick so we can quarantine you with the quickness" system. i just don't feel like this cold is putting up enough of a fight to go through that. but anyways....
traveled fairly well plane-wise. emerging onto the catwalk, it occurred to me that i had grossly underestimated the central asian temperature, or at least the humidity percentage. i was dressed smooth in these super heavy gauge denim pants and a t-shirt, which ended up soaking through completely about three separate times during the remainder of the day. felt oddly familiar to be surrounded by strange signs and listen to strange pa announcements while looking like a complete wierdo, all covered in sweat with like four suitcases and trying to figure out the atm.
finished the trip, grabbed a bite, and called it a 26 hour day. i got up fairly early and went for a nice walk. many rains falling today, pretty nice for the scenery. with the onset of my new language skills, i can read everything! well, i can't read kanji, so i guess i can read about 20% of things. still a huge step up. totally forgot that i'm abroad again and need to carry a camera everywhere. i saw some pretty funny shit, but have no way of sharing. sorry.
the bitch about jet lag is that you only get it when you're traveling far away. this means that you're constantly conflicted with whether to explore cool new surroundings or take naps. this afternoon the nap just might win out.
flights were good. nay, flights were great. i watched two terminators (newest and oldest) and some affleck/crowe combination crime thriller. this weak cold i picked up last weekend caused me to lose a lot of my voice, but hammed it up as best as i could with my neighboring canucks en route to bali. i was almost positive that if i didn't get the voice back, immigration would quarantine me with the quickness. i drank enough water to lube the vocals, and dishonored the "let us know if you're feeling sick so we can quarantine you with the quickness" system. i just don't feel like this cold is putting up enough of a fight to go through that. but anyways....
traveled fairly well plane-wise. emerging onto the catwalk, it occurred to me that i had grossly underestimated the central asian temperature, or at least the humidity percentage. i was dressed smooth in these super heavy gauge denim pants and a t-shirt, which ended up soaking through completely about three separate times during the remainder of the day. felt oddly familiar to be surrounded by strange signs and listen to strange pa announcements while looking like a complete wierdo, all covered in sweat with like four suitcases and trying to figure out the atm.
finished the trip, grabbed a bite, and called it a 26 hour day. i got up fairly early and went for a nice walk. many rains falling today, pretty nice for the scenery. with the onset of my new language skills, i can read everything! well, i can't read kanji, so i guess i can read about 20% of things. still a huge step up. totally forgot that i'm abroad again and need to carry a camera everywhere. i saw some pretty funny shit, but have no way of sharing. sorry.
the bitch about jet lag is that you only get it when you're traveling far away. this means that you're constantly conflicted with whether to explore cool new surroundings or take naps. this afternoon the nap just might win out.
Monday, September 21, 2009
back in business
so last week i was offered a position with a university. quite startling, as this was pretty much completely unsolicited. this new development in the life of lil' mikey carries with it several benefits. to name a few,
1. academia can offer a fair amount ethical and moral gratitude, some things i haven't been able to find elsewhere in my career.
2. while probably only half-time for now, the job is completely remote. as far as i'm concerned, this puts me about half-way to where i want to be. long live the internet, and long live location independence! i'm well on my way to eliminating hair cuts and wearing jammies all day.
3. consulting, while all bready and buttery and such, can use a little support. now i feel a bit less pressured to find a bunch of teaching gigs. speaking english has just become a supplement to my supplemental income.
my immediate future looks a bit different now than it did a couple weeks ago. if the farm in hirakata isn't wifi-enabled, then damn it, i'll have to put wwoofing on hold. to minimize the lapse of internet connectedness, i might just set up some living quarters immediately upon my arrival. this wouldn't be a bad thing, as i'm about ready for a kitchen and a bit of stability. it's been great visiting in the states, but i think that three months is long enough.
there could be a strange addiction to exploring different cultures. there are many things that i miss about japan even though i was only there for a short while. i think i mostly just miss how everything there is different from what i'm used to. it's like everyday you run to the tofu man or the gymnasium or just head out for a three hour walk, it's a completely new adventure. it's convenient being able to walk into a second hand shop in portland and ask for exactly what you need and then have the shop keep understand you, but where's the fun in that? much more entertaining pointing at things and playing charades.
"Pumpin' 4 the Man", by Ween - Pure Guava
"Big Boss Man", by The Grateful Dead - History Of The Grateful Dead Volume 1 - Bear's Choice
"Work", by Gang Starr - Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr
"Dream for Mollie (I)", by Oddjobs - Drums
"Working For Vacation", by Cibo Matto - Stereotype A
wearing jammies in a scholarly manner.
1. academia can offer a fair amount ethical and moral gratitude, some things i haven't been able to find elsewhere in my career.
2. while probably only half-time for now, the job is completely remote. as far as i'm concerned, this puts me about half-way to where i want to be. long live the internet, and long live location independence! i'm well on my way to eliminating hair cuts and wearing jammies all day.
3. consulting, while all bready and buttery and such, can use a little support. now i feel a bit less pressured to find a bunch of teaching gigs. speaking english has just become a supplement to my supplemental income.
my immediate future looks a bit different now than it did a couple weeks ago. if the farm in hirakata isn't wifi-enabled, then damn it, i'll have to put wwoofing on hold. to minimize the lapse of internet connectedness, i might just set up some living quarters immediately upon my arrival. this wouldn't be a bad thing, as i'm about ready for a kitchen and a bit of stability. it's been great visiting in the states, but i think that three months is long enough.
there could be a strange addiction to exploring different cultures. there are many things that i miss about japan even though i was only there for a short while. i think i mostly just miss how everything there is different from what i'm used to. it's like everyday you run to the tofu man or the gymnasium or just head out for a three hour walk, it's a completely new adventure. it's convenient being able to walk into a second hand shop in portland and ask for exactly what you need and then have the shop keep understand you, but where's the fun in that? much more entertaining pointing at things and playing charades.
"Pumpin' 4 the Man", by Ween - Pure Guava
"Big Boss Man", by The Grateful Dead - History Of The Grateful Dead Volume 1 - Bear's Choice
"Work", by Gang Starr - Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr
"Dream for Mollie (I)", by Oddjobs - Drums
"Working For Vacation", by Cibo Matto - Stereotype A
wearing jammies in a scholarly manner.Saturday, September 19, 2009
prost!
ate another voodoo doughnut yesterday. i used the "fuck it, who's counting" logic*.
covered yesterday in 10 hours what only last month took me 13 whole days. it was hard work getting out of the rockies, much easier to get back in this time. rather good weather in helena lately, damn close to 90 today. to make the most of it, we rocked the hell out of the helena ridge trail. there's this sweet program in town called "trolley to trail". basically you can head downtown in the morning and load your bike onto this trolley, then get dropped off close to the trail head. pretty sweet!
this was my first time mountain biking, ever. i mean i've ridden mountain bikes before, but never on an actual mountain. pretty much takes an entirely different set of skills than road biking. erik's in the woods killing things, allowing me to ride his newly acquired wheels. very sweet! took a couple quick spills and blasted the shit out of my shins with the pedals. sara at one point was flying through the air, somehow underneath her bike. it was an unbelievable time, and we both came away relatively unscathed. good times indeed here in the 'tan!
in other, completely unrelated news, today marks the start of OKTOBERFEST! so if you're capable, grab a ridiculously large mug of beer, a nice soft pretzel, and pump up these germanic jams:
"Die lustigen Holzhackerbuam", by Sepp Vielhuber & His Original Oktoberfest Brass Band
"Gaudiburschen", by Blaskapelle Herbert Ferstl
"Ziwui, Ziwui", by Das Mondschein-Trio
"Freut euch des Lebens", Franzl Obermeier und seine Blasmusik
*if you're counting, please refrain from counting.
covered yesterday in 10 hours what only last month took me 13 whole days. it was hard work getting out of the rockies, much easier to get back in this time. rather good weather in helena lately, damn close to 90 today. to make the most of it, we rocked the hell out of the helena ridge trail. there's this sweet program in town called "trolley to trail". basically you can head downtown in the morning and load your bike onto this trolley, then get dropped off close to the trail head. pretty sweet!
this was my first time mountain biking, ever. i mean i've ridden mountain bikes before, but never on an actual mountain. pretty much takes an entirely different set of skills than road biking. erik's in the woods killing things, allowing me to ride his newly acquired wheels. very sweet! took a couple quick spills and blasted the shit out of my shins with the pedals. sara at one point was flying through the air, somehow underneath her bike. it was an unbelievable time, and we both came away relatively unscathed. good times indeed here in the 'tan!
in other, completely unrelated news, today marks the start of OKTOBERFEST! so if you're capable, grab a ridiculously large mug of beer, a nice soft pretzel, and pump up these germanic jams:
"Die lustigen Holzhackerbuam", by Sepp Vielhuber & His Original Oktoberfest Brass Band
"Gaudiburschen", by Blaskapelle Herbert Ferstl
"Ziwui, Ziwui", by Das Mondschein-Trio
"Freut euch des Lebens", Franzl Obermeier und seine Blasmusik
*if you're counting, please refrain from counting.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
tuesday snoozeday
after wrestling with computer maintenance issues for a while, i decided that maybe a nice picnic was in order. i was in for a lazy one, as i've been cutting back on caffeine intake lately. it feels good. perhaps not quite as good as the high you get after drinking a non-fat venti no-whip double white chocolate mocha supreme (double-cupped with insulator), but still good.
first i headed to the g-spot to pick up some g's, mostly lunch-type items to get me through the rest of the week. backpack fully loaded, i shuffled on to the park. one of the better parts about portland is the never ending supply of park options. i picked a new one today, and it reliably provided for a phenomenal late-morning/early-afternoon. finished mem's of the geish (easily one of the top five books i've read), got mad sun, and took a nice power nap. you know those weird shapes you see when you stare into a bright sky through tightly closed eyelids? the ones that you can never focus on, and craftily shift just ahead of your every eye movement? well, i damn near caught one today. it's only a matter of time, ol' shapesie.
a diamond in the rough. i was all walking around the coop, wondering what the hell to buy when i saw the pastry section. i hadn't had a voodoo doughnut yet, and this gem cost the same as all the little ones! pretty much had me at hello.
enjoying the voodooie sweetness. i actually felt sick about 6/7 of the way through this ol' 'nut, but decided to press on. i used the classic "when's the next time you'll eat a voodoo doughnut" logic. plus i took a hellaride later in the afternoon.
so when i drop some line like "i'm living the dream", "life keeps getting better", or "give me a high five", perceive no jest. rest assured, i mean every word.
now, who wants a high five!? whoo!
first i headed to the g-spot to pick up some g's, mostly lunch-type items to get me through the rest of the week. backpack fully loaded, i shuffled on to the park. one of the better parts about portland is the never ending supply of park options. i picked a new one today, and it reliably provided for a phenomenal late-morning/early-afternoon. finished mem's of the geish (easily one of the top five books i've read), got mad sun, and took a nice power nap. you know those weird shapes you see when you stare into a bright sky through tightly closed eyelids? the ones that you can never focus on, and craftily shift just ahead of your every eye movement? well, i damn near caught one today. it's only a matter of time, ol' shapesie.
a diamond in the rough. i was all walking around the coop, wondering what the hell to buy when i saw the pastry section. i hadn't had a voodoo doughnut yet, and this gem cost the same as all the little ones! pretty much had me at hello.
enjoying the voodooie sweetness. i actually felt sick about 6/7 of the way through this ol' 'nut, but decided to press on. i used the classic "when's the next time you'll eat a voodoo doughnut" logic. plus i took a hellaride later in the afternoon.so when i drop some line like "i'm living the dream", "life keeps getting better", or "give me a high five", perceive no jest. rest assured, i mean every word.
now, who wants a high five!? whoo!
desperately seeking solder
you'll have to excuse the lack of musical and philosophical updates, but these last few days have been the worst of my recent life. just joking, they've been the worst ever! no, that was another joke. actually they've been quite good, just a bit quiet...
long ago the headphone jack on this machine started acting up, followed shortly by the microphone jack. i quickly discovered that i could simply jam the sharp end of a pen into one of the holes for a little temporary audio rebirth. this genius strategy treated me quite well for about 4-5 months, until the other day, when i jammed a bit too hard. not sure exactly what happened, but now neither the speakers nor the headphones work. coupled with a lack of ipod capabilities, i've been sitting in silence since saturday.
this morning i decided it was high time to put an end to all this nonsense and break this bad boy wide open. twice dis- and re-assembled to no avail. i've determined that i need some tools that i simply don't have, at least not right away. if i can get my hands on some solder and a tool with which to heat said solder, we could be back in business. meanwhile, for my sake, please don't take your itunes libraries for granted.
thankfully this entertainment shortage will allow me to spend more time in the sunny ol' park. i'm almost finished with one of the better books i've read, and the skin cells are once again alive with solar radiation. additionally, a solution has presented itself which will enable me to once more visit the great state known unto thee as mawntanner. a friend is moving to austin via wisconsin this week, and has agreed to swap a ride to helena for some gas and a place to crash. the return details are fuzzy, but i have a few options in mind. it will be a quick trip, and sadly there is no time to run it back with a bike ride. anyone heading to portland from points east early next week? while i can't promise continuous conversation, i'll put a lot of thought into the things i say. plus i'll bring snacks!
just for a multimedia fix, here's some pictures of a lovely day up at the sauviest of islands:
peach fuzz
long ago the headphone jack on this machine started acting up, followed shortly by the microphone jack. i quickly discovered that i could simply jam the sharp end of a pen into one of the holes for a little temporary audio rebirth. this genius strategy treated me quite well for about 4-5 months, until the other day, when i jammed a bit too hard. not sure exactly what happened, but now neither the speakers nor the headphones work. coupled with a lack of ipod capabilities, i've been sitting in silence since saturday.
this morning i decided it was high time to put an end to all this nonsense and break this bad boy wide open. twice dis- and re-assembled to no avail. i've determined that i need some tools that i simply don't have, at least not right away. if i can get my hands on some solder and a tool with which to heat said solder, we could be back in business. meanwhile, for my sake, please don't take your itunes libraries for granted.
thankfully this entertainment shortage will allow me to spend more time in the sunny ol' park. i'm almost finished with one of the better books i've read, and the skin cells are once again alive with solar radiation. additionally, a solution has presented itself which will enable me to once more visit the great state known unto thee as mawntanner. a friend is moving to austin via wisconsin this week, and has agreed to swap a ride to helena for some gas and a place to crash. the return details are fuzzy, but i have a few options in mind. it will be a quick trip, and sadly there is no time to run it back with a bike ride. anyone heading to portland from points east early next week? while i can't promise continuous conversation, i'll put a lot of thought into the things i say. plus i'll bring snacks!
just for a multimedia fix, here's some pictures of a lovely day up at the sauviest of islands:
peach fuzzFriday, September 11, 2009
friday fryday
this morning i made a serious business decision to choose a range of descriptors and dynamically select the most appropriate.
gonna be mighty warm today, sunny and all that. there was a moment of sheer panic earlier this week when i realized that my tan was prematurely in the fade. immediately i headed to the park, disrobed, and burnt the shit out of the ol' shoulds. by now the red has subsided enough to head back out into the blaze and catch some serious solar action.
it's incredibly easy not to eat meat in this town. even the middle eastern food cart has veg options. a lot of times when it's food i'm after, i've put eating off long enough to be crazy hungry at exactly that time, and i mostly don't feel like waiting. you know when you heat up oil, and then you put things in it, and they taste real good real quick? i'll be surprised to make it through the day without any sort of furaido poteito.
hence, the duality of friday fryday.
today i offer some solid island grooves in the spirit of hot weather, sunshine, and, well i guess not really fried food.... maybe just the hotness and the sunshine. and pineapples.
"Fever", by Susan Cadogan - Trojan Upsetter Box Set
"Clear De Road", by SuperBlue & Fayann - T & T Soca 2004
"Young, Gifted, and Black", by Bob & Marcia - Trojan UK Hits Box Set
"Murder She Wrote", by Chaka Demus & Pliers - The Story of Jamaican Music: 1982-1993 Dance Hall Good To We
"Singer Man", by The Kingstonians - Trojan Originals Box Set
"Hot Like A Melting Pot", by Dennis Brown - Reggae Roots Vol. 4
"Rudy, A Message To You", by Dandy Livingstone - Trojan Originals Box Set
"AIDS", by Yellowman - This Is Crucial Reggae: Yellowman
fence fruit.
gonna be mighty warm today, sunny and all that. there was a moment of sheer panic earlier this week when i realized that my tan was prematurely in the fade. immediately i headed to the park, disrobed, and burnt the shit out of the ol' shoulds. by now the red has subsided enough to head back out into the blaze and catch some serious solar action.
it's incredibly easy not to eat meat in this town. even the middle eastern food cart has veg options. a lot of times when it's food i'm after, i've put eating off long enough to be crazy hungry at exactly that time, and i mostly don't feel like waiting. you know when you heat up oil, and then you put things in it, and they taste real good real quick? i'll be surprised to make it through the day without any sort of furaido poteito.
hence, the duality of friday fryday.
today i offer some solid island grooves in the spirit of hot weather, sunshine, and, well i guess not really fried food.... maybe just the hotness and the sunshine. and pineapples.
"Fever", by Susan Cadogan - Trojan Upsetter Box Set
"Clear De Road", by SuperBlue & Fayann - T & T Soca 2004
"Young, Gifted, and Black", by Bob & Marcia - Trojan UK Hits Box Set
"Murder She Wrote", by Chaka Demus & Pliers - The Story of Jamaican Music: 1982-1993 Dance Hall Good To We
"Singer Man", by The Kingstonians - Trojan Originals Box Set
"Hot Like A Melting Pot", by Dennis Brown - Reggae Roots Vol. 4
"Rudy, A Message To You", by Dandy Livingstone - Trojan Originals Box Set
"AIDS", by Yellowman - This Is Crucial Reggae: Yellowman
fence fruit.Tuesday, September 8, 2009
que buen día
man, you know how sometimes you just wake up and know that things are generally going to kick ass that day? this is, without doubt, one of those times. unbelievable sleep last night giving way to crisp air this morning, plus the clouds burned off already! suppose one might say i'm megahellapumped to live this one out.
time to escape the grips of this wonderful machine and get in some solid L-I-V-I-N. well, maybe after a solid 'net fix. first up, some audio supplements:
"Kiss", by Prince - The Hits/The B-Sides
"Three Day Night", by The Books - Music for a French Elevator and Other Short Format Oddities
"Ya Mama", by The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II
"Hotel California", by The Gipsy Kings - ¡Volare! The Very Best of the Gipsy Kings
"Albee Square Mall", by Biz Markie - Goin' Off
"Joppa Road", by Ween - Chocolate and Cheese
time to escape the grips of this wonderful machine and get in some solid L-I-V-I-N. well, maybe after a solid 'net fix. first up, some audio supplements:
"Kiss", by Prince - The Hits/The B-Sides
"Three Day Night", by The Books - Music for a French Elevator and Other Short Format Oddities
"Ya Mama", by The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II
"Hotel California", by The Gipsy Kings - ¡Volare! The Very Best of the Gipsy Kings
"Albee Square Mall", by Biz Markie - Goin' Off
"Joppa Road", by Ween - Chocolate and Cheese
Friday, September 4, 2009
namesies
back when i was like 3, simply learning proper english was exciting enough. after about 10 years of that bullshit, however, i realized how much more fun it was to derive and use slang, abbreviations, and alternate pronunciations of otherwise boring words. one way this has manifested is through the days of the week. let's face it, saying "today is tuesday" is totally your mom's way of doing things. instead, try using the more illustrious "it's tuesday-boozeday mu-fucka! whoo!" see that? way the f more exciting. others include:
-Sunday Funday (probably a bit cliché these days)
-Wednesday Friendsday (admittedly a bit lame, but totes soash)
-Saturday Fatterday (it's a stretch, i know, but it's probably my least healthy day of the week.)
now, my fave day of the week is friday, hands down. this is mos' def' a throwback to my pre-2009 lifesteez. these days friday simply signals a time in the week when i'm about to have a lot more folks with whom to rip shit up. it occurs to me this morn' that i've not yet come up for a decent alter-nomer to describe this most spectacular time in the 7-day cycle. this is truly a case of creative dragonass.
i was never much for smoking on drogas, otherwise i'd probably just go with "friday-highday" or something. i'll also not accept "friday-guyday", due to it's implication that hanging out with women is a sub-par experience. if anyone has any good ideas, maybe you could help me out maybe? winner gets to choose the genre of the next musical selections.
and now, just for the sake of switchin' it up, please find brief collection of solid inspirational tracks below.
"Sunday Part II", by Cibo Matto - Stereotype A
"Friday On My Mind", by David Bowie - Pin Ups
"Like Clockwork Springs", by Daedelus - Denies The Day's Demise
"Groundhog's Day", by Primus - Frizzle Fry
"Summer Days", by Phoenix - United
"One Day", by RJD2 - In Rare Form...Unreleased Instrumentals
aaaaaasshole.
-Sunday Funday (probably a bit cliché these days)
-Wednesday Friendsday (admittedly a bit lame, but totes soash)
-Saturday Fatterday (it's a stretch, i know, but it's probably my least healthy day of the week.)
now, my fave day of the week is friday, hands down. this is mos' def' a throwback to my pre-2009 lifesteez. these days friday simply signals a time in the week when i'm about to have a lot more folks with whom to rip shit up. it occurs to me this morn' that i've not yet come up for a decent alter-nomer to describe this most spectacular time in the 7-day cycle. this is truly a case of creative dragonass.
i was never much for smoking on drogas, otherwise i'd probably just go with "friday-highday" or something. i'll also not accept "friday-guyday", due to it's implication that hanging out with women is a sub-par experience. if anyone has any good ideas, maybe you could help me out maybe? winner gets to choose the genre of the next musical selections.
and now, just for the sake of switchin' it up, please find brief collection of solid inspirational tracks below.
"Sunday Part II", by Cibo Matto - Stereotype A
"Friday On My Mind", by David Bowie - Pin Ups
"Like Clockwork Springs", by Daedelus - Denies The Day's Demise
"Groundhog's Day", by Primus - Frizzle Fry
"Summer Days", by Phoenix - United
"One Day", by RJD2 - In Rare Form...Unreleased Instrumentals
aaaaaasshole.Thursday, September 3, 2009
hot streak
so you head out for the night, it's all dry and whatnot. then maybe there's a bit of rain, just enough to give the streets that fresh summer tar scent. you wrap things up and head back to your designated city quadrant. you know that little strip of dirt you get on your pants while biking sans fender? pretty sweet looking eh? even better, apparently, on white linen. what an idiot! otherwise incredible riding weather we've been having. now to find some..... soda water? baking soda? fountain soda? shit. it's something in the soda family. i'm sure of it.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
emission volition commission
F climate change. apparently we can just keep on truckin', then engineer nature back to the way it was intended. says so right here. wonder what it will take for people to realize that we aren't actually in control of the natural world, we're but a small part of the whole.
now, all over the planet, people are constantly monitoring the populations of other species. we determine how many of a certain type of animal there should be, when there aren't enough, and when there are too many. overpopulation we call it. then, as generally prescribed, the hunt is on. i wonder if anyone out there has put a number on us? we clearly can't keep going at this rate, but i guess procreation is mighty instinctual. there's a fairly interesting debate you can find here. the "background reading" section is particularly informative.
at risk of sounding redundant, it seems to me that rather than trying to tackle population/consumption driven problems at a macro scale, maybe some simple consumer education is in order. portland's one of the greenest places i know, but could still come a long way. what does that say about the rest?
check this story out. maybe it's old news for some. there are these groups around town that campaign for people's surplus lawn space, cultivate it, and pay said people in harvested goods. awesome. it's always nice if you take the growing initiative on yourself, but this is an effective way to motivate the other folks. 'twould be supertits to get something like this going in japan and wherever the hell else i end up. i really only see two main hurdles:
1. i don't speak much japanese
2. the only people with lawns are farmers
the first is really just a motivation issue. the second is a testament to their efficient use of space. maybe i could just pass out city friendly planters with translated watering instructions.
hope everyone's enjoying the jams. two new ones this morning.
now, all over the planet, people are constantly monitoring the populations of other species. we determine how many of a certain type of animal there should be, when there aren't enough, and when there are too many. overpopulation we call it. then, as generally prescribed, the hunt is on. i wonder if anyone out there has put a number on us? we clearly can't keep going at this rate, but i guess procreation is mighty instinctual. there's a fairly interesting debate you can find here. the "background reading" section is particularly informative.
at risk of sounding redundant, it seems to me that rather than trying to tackle population/consumption driven problems at a macro scale, maybe some simple consumer education is in order. portland's one of the greenest places i know, but could still come a long way. what does that say about the rest?
check this story out. maybe it's old news for some. there are these groups around town that campaign for people's surplus lawn space, cultivate it, and pay said people in harvested goods. awesome. it's always nice if you take the growing initiative on yourself, but this is an effective way to motivate the other folks. 'twould be supertits to get something like this going in japan and wherever the hell else i end up. i really only see two main hurdles:
1. i don't speak much japanese
2. the only people with lawns are farmers
the first is really just a motivation issue. the second is a testament to their efficient use of space. maybe i could just pass out city friendly planters with translated watering instructions.
hope everyone's enjoying the jams. two new ones this morning.
Monday, August 31, 2009
bulk action
just got back from this money coop. seems there isn't a damn thing you can't get unpackaged in this town. well, maybe potato chips, but there were like seven types of honey, laundry detergent, and various nut butters. and as i was perusing the wares, i was all like "man, now i just need like 17 more containers." negative! they had a whole drawer full of recycled containers donated by loyal patrons. after stockin' up, i found a bread shop full of unbagged loaves. all around, i'd say a pretty good shopping trip.
in the spirit of tributes, two spankin' new jams for all you socially responsible mofos.
in the spirit of tributes, two spankin' new jams for all you socially responsible mofos.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
sunday funday!
today's musical selections are meant to improve attitudes and promote cardiovascular health. basically, if these tunes don't invoke some sort of movement, you should probably accompany me to dance class.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
strange behavior
i have tons of fun here. it's like that old ass commercial for hungry hungry hippos, where all the kids are going crazy playing around as though they've never before experienced adrenaline. however, i suppose i'd be lying if i said my time en los estats was completely fun/game oriented.
first, a word on objectification. i find it quite difficult to connect, or even converse with people who are incessantly discussing women without regard for personal feelings. i suppose it's just the dude thing to do, devising point systems for physical contact. thank God i'm not a dude i guess. it sickens me here, as it does in japan, as it did in vietnam, as it did in thailand, and as it does everywhere else i'm ever enveloped in testosterone. 'tis a global phenomenon, this bullshit, and i wish i could find some kind of escape. ladies, i feel for ya.
next, i'd like to say hi to the next wave of hip fashion: the negative 'burn! i'm sure you all see this every time you put COPS on the teli. it just kind of makes me uncomfortable.
i haven't seen it spring up in the hip crowd yet, but i can sense it on the horizon. i feel like the next time i'm in portland i'll be hard pressed to find a decent sideburn at ron tom's.
first, a word on objectification. i find it quite difficult to connect, or even converse with people who are incessantly discussing women without regard for personal feelings. i suppose it's just the dude thing to do, devising point systems for physical contact. thank God i'm not a dude i guess. it sickens me here, as it does in japan, as it did in vietnam, as it did in thailand, and as it does everywhere else i'm ever enveloped in testosterone. 'tis a global phenomenon, this bullshit, and i wish i could find some kind of escape. ladies, i feel for ya.
next, i'd like to say hi to the next wave of hip fashion: the negative 'burn! i'm sure you all see this every time you put COPS on the teli. it just kind of makes me uncomfortable.
i haven't seen it spring up in the hip crowd yet, but i can sense it on the horizon. i feel like the next time i'm in portland i'll be hard pressed to find a decent sideburn at ron tom's.
Friday, August 28, 2009
file sharing
there are few things that i know a lot about, but i know a little bit about a lot of things. one of these things is music. i'm talkin' straight up can't help but at least chair dance jammerz. 'tis one of the truly enjoyable things in life. back in me home havin' days, i was often presented with good opportunities to share new tunes with folks whilst entertainin' the lot. great fun was generally had by all. until i'm domesticated once again, i desperately need a venue through which to spread the auditory wealth. behold: the blog. henceforth you'll find links to any number of solid gold tunes at the top right of this'n here website. the deets:
-right click (or "option" click for all you lucky mac users) and save the file
-not to be contained by any single genre. nay, you'll (hopefully) be pleased to find everything from easy listening to metal, including both country and western.
-updates will come with irregular frequency.
-requests and suggestions will be thoughtfully considered.
-this is all completely and legitimately licensed...
we'll start things off with a pair of tributes.
first, to the thousands of photo albums out there on ol' bookface entitled "summer '09", "2009 summer", "fun in summer '09", "zany summer fun", or any other genuinely original title such as these. if you don't already know the roots, you should. they represent philadelphia, and they represent that shit well.
second, for those out of the know, ween is rocking the hell out of bend tonight. thought about going, but these things cost dollaz you know. surely a friday night out with the boys in portland will be just as entertaining.
enjoy!
-right click (or "option" click for all you lucky mac users) and save the file
-not to be contained by any single genre. nay, you'll (hopefully) be pleased to find everything from easy listening to metal, including both country and western.
-updates will come with irregular frequency.
-requests and suggestions will be thoughtfully considered.
-this is all completely and legitimately licensed...
we'll start things off with a pair of tributes.
first, to the thousands of photo albums out there on ol' bookface entitled "summer '09", "2009 summer", "fun in summer '09", "zany summer fun", or any other genuinely original title such as these. if you don't already know the roots, you should. they represent philadelphia, and they represent that shit well.
second, for those out of the know, ween is rocking the hell out of bend tonight. thought about going, but these things cost dollaz you know. surely a friday night out with the boys in portland will be just as entertaining.
enjoy!
Friday, August 14, 2009
ample linguistic armament
i learned another japanese alphabet today with mad help from my new japanese tutor. being able to read katakana is awesome, since it's used exclusively for japanized words borrowed from other languages (english) and all. this means that not only can i sound these words out, but i can understand what they mean! going through my 1st grade workbook is now absolutely G.D. hilarious, speckled with words like "gorira", "raion", and "miruku".
i probably won't put too much effort into memorizing kanji, as i wouldn't have any idea where to begin. suppose'n i'll most likely just pick that shiz up as i go. i'm keeping a running list of important phrases that should come in handy almost immediately. you know, the basics. here we have just a couple of juicy ejemplos:
Konichiwa, niku wa tabemasen.
Mina san wa ima odorimasu!
Watashi wa chizuka desu.
Takai go o watashi ni kudasai! Whoo!
i probably won't put too much effort into memorizing kanji, as i wouldn't have any idea where to begin. suppose'n i'll most likely just pick that shiz up as i go. i'm keeping a running list of important phrases that should come in handy almost immediately. you know, the basics. here we have just a couple of juicy ejemplos:
Konichiwa, niku wa tabemasen.
Mina san wa ima odorimasu!
Watashi wa chizuka desu.
Takai go o watashi ni kudasai! Whoo!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
holding pattern
totally relaxed now. strained muscles and vocal chords have nearly regained composure. daily mileage is down about 80%. tune beltage is down as well, as i'm safely secured under some stereo headphones. got my own room with some good friends. the comfortable bedding makes for some solid sleep time. there is definitely something resembling a groove into which i can fall for a bit.
the pac nw sure is mighty fine this time of year. 70-90 degrees, partly cloudy, relatively dry. landed some contract work to keep me busy for a while, and there're plenty of relationships to stimulate all over this town. oughtta make for a good place to soak up some solid english conversation and mexican food before headin' on back to ol' japang!
my schedule for the next month n' a halfer is relatively open. drop a line if you're in portland and feel like exchanging some casual high-fives.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
reaching portland alive, fo' sho'
arrived in stump town a day ahead of schedule yesterday. i'm finally back in front of the internet, fully loaded with pictures. please allow me to illustrate the journey...
upon leaving helena, you get about 7 flat miles, then you're immediately faced with the continental divide. i remember blogging before about all this training i was going to undertake. pretty much involved a 25 mile ride once a week for three weeks. macdonald pass and the first day totally kicked my ass. but from this point on, all my sweat was pacific-bound.
there aren't so many rules in montana, but the ones they have are fairly straightforward. this was outside of ovando, day one.
this is inside of ovando, day one. i was headed for a fee campsite further down the road, but after explaining to a shop keep that i was on the verge of passing out, he invited me to set up camp in the middle of town, no charge.
stayed for a night in missoula with some of sara's buds, then finished out the rockies on day three. this is a picture of me, high atop lolo pass. not only do you enter idaho here, but the next time zone. it was like i had a whole extra hour to ride! bombed the other side and then camped (again for free) at the lochsa lodge. i met another cyclist here from denver. we rode together for a couple of days, hit a few hot springs, and i got him in on one of my surfin' couches.
shoreline of the selway river where we camped just outside of lowell, id. this site was free as well. four days in and i hadn't paid for accommodations yet. sweet!
jacob takin' the point.
me, sweating.
i didn't fully understand this. any thoughts?
after roughly three days of winding downhill, i emerged from the woods close to lewiston. the temperature immediately jumped about eleven degrees, as i had finally reached the ol' heat wave. hung some serious ten in this town as well. i was almost too tired to converse, and after i went to bed they made me banana bread muffins. awesome.
this is basically what life was like for lil' mikey the past couple weeks.
ye' ol' rattler. this little son of a bitch was heavily camouflaged, as you can tell. i was pretty much just focused on climbing, and didn't see it until my front wheel trickled by. i doubled back for some pictures, unsure whether it was dead or just in a heat-soaked trance. i double-dog-dared myself to kiss it on the lips, but then i chickened out. then i went for the triple-dog-dare before convincing myself that this was no time for games. ended up seeing several more of these along the trip, although most were flat as pancakes.
the first time i had to pay to camp was outside of dayton, at the lewis and clark trail state park. they were all like, "thanks for the 12 bucks, now pay us more for a shower". then i was all like, "fuck that...
...i'll just hose down in that there creek, bra." good old natural soaps, shampoos, and t-pastes. don't leave home without 'em.
smoothies + sushi = teriyaki. soon after this, i got to walla walla, where i had a badass reservation at the marcus whitman hotel. erik's old man frequents the place for biz, so he hooked it up solid!
ze mighty columbon. this was a sure sign that i was soon leaving the desolate, windy, rolling hills of eastern washington, and entering the desolate, windy, rolling hills of eastern oregon.
boo-yow! three states down.
oregambodia. i was reminded of the time i crossed the border from vietnam on a bike just months before. everything was very straight, and people almost immediately took a shine to me. many a wave, and even a handful of hellos. i guess the main difference was in the type of challenge. in SEASIA, it was the 90+% humidity, and in oregon-shu it was the constant breeze comin at your face.
surfed it up for a night in umatilla, then rolled smooth into heppner the next day. immediately i honed in on a farmer's market to scarf mad fruits. some dude came right up to me and asked if i needed a place to crash. apparently the annual oregon bike ride was taking off from town that weekend, and they had permission to camp at the high school (for free). although there were supposed to be about 250 campers on saturday night, on friday 'twas just me. pretty peaceful. a handful of kids showed up at 11:42 to get stoney-bologna and recite lines from dazed and confused, but they were only there for a bit.
to some, this may seem like any other slightly inclined stretch of road. if the camera could have captured the direction of the breeze, however, you'd see that this is in fact a solid 300 meter stretch of tail-wind! whoo!
vaguely reminiscent of the thailand motorcycle trip, the roads soon became steep and curvy. this is looking ahead to a nice bombing descent.
looking back on condon, circa the dawn. here i stayed with anne's cuz laura and fam, who were incredible hosts. i highly recommend a visit! it's a pretty cool town and they basically know everyone. they made an ass-kickin' pie, which was coincidentally one of the foods i craved most along the trip.
cruising along the arid landscape for extended periods of time with only song and thought for company, it doesn't take much to stop and whip out the trusty camera.
nice rock formations near fossil, or. you can find a lot of fossils there. this was during a wicked 13 mile descent toward the john day river. awesome, considering i only had to climb 8 miles back out of the canyon!
♫high......plains......drifter.♫
looking ahead to the final descent of the day into maupin. mighty nice indeed, although as you can tell, it made for quite the breakfast climb on the other side. rounded this day out with about 95 miles.
day twelve, hunger setting in. J sealed hopelessly shut, PeeB sandies for supper.
day 13. i figured "shit, if i can do one, then i can surely do the other".
the last major obstacle.
proof positive that i was back in the land of moistness.
destination. the final day was the longest, 103.29 miles.
the grand total.
upon leaving helena, you get about 7 flat miles, then you're immediately faced with the continental divide. i remember blogging before about all this training i was going to undertake. pretty much involved a 25 mile ride once a week for three weeks. macdonald pass and the first day totally kicked my ass. but from this point on, all my sweat was pacific-bound.
there aren't so many rules in montana, but the ones they have are fairly straightforward. this was outside of ovando, day one.
this is inside of ovando, day one. i was headed for a fee campsite further down the road, but after explaining to a shop keep that i was on the verge of passing out, he invited me to set up camp in the middle of town, no charge.
stayed for a night in missoula with some of sara's buds, then finished out the rockies on day three. this is a picture of me, high atop lolo pass. not only do you enter idaho here, but the next time zone. it was like i had a whole extra hour to ride! bombed the other side and then camped (again for free) at the lochsa lodge. i met another cyclist here from denver. we rode together for a couple of days, hit a few hot springs, and i got him in on one of my surfin' couches.
shoreline of the selway river where we camped just outside of lowell, id. this site was free as well. four days in and i hadn't paid for accommodations yet. sweet!
jacob takin' the point.
me, sweating.
i didn't fully understand this. any thoughts?
after roughly three days of winding downhill, i emerged from the woods close to lewiston. the temperature immediately jumped about eleven degrees, as i had finally reached the ol' heat wave. hung some serious ten in this town as well. i was almost too tired to converse, and after i went to bed they made me banana bread muffins. awesome.this is basically what life was like for lil' mikey the past couple weeks.
ye' ol' rattler. this little son of a bitch was heavily camouflaged, as you can tell. i was pretty much just focused on climbing, and didn't see it until my front wheel trickled by. i doubled back for some pictures, unsure whether it was dead or just in a heat-soaked trance. i double-dog-dared myself to kiss it on the lips, but then i chickened out. then i went for the triple-dog-dare before convincing myself that this was no time for games. ended up seeing several more of these along the trip, although most were flat as pancakes.
the first time i had to pay to camp was outside of dayton, at the lewis and clark trail state park. they were all like, "thanks for the 12 bucks, now pay us more for a shower". then i was all like, "fuck that...
...i'll just hose down in that there creek, bra." good old natural soaps, shampoos, and t-pastes. don't leave home without 'em.
smoothies + sushi = teriyaki. soon after this, i got to walla walla, where i had a badass reservation at the marcus whitman hotel. erik's old man frequents the place for biz, so he hooked it up solid!
ze mighty columbon. this was a sure sign that i was soon leaving the desolate, windy, rolling hills of eastern washington, and entering the desolate, windy, rolling hills of eastern oregon.
boo-yow! three states down.
oregambodia. i was reminded of the time i crossed the border from vietnam on a bike just months before. everything was very straight, and people almost immediately took a shine to me. many a wave, and even a handful of hellos. i guess the main difference was in the type of challenge. in SEASIA, it was the 90+% humidity, and in oregon-shu it was the constant breeze comin at your face.
surfed it up for a night in umatilla, then rolled smooth into heppner the next day. immediately i honed in on a farmer's market to scarf mad fruits. some dude came right up to me and asked if i needed a place to crash. apparently the annual oregon bike ride was taking off from town that weekend, and they had permission to camp at the high school (for free). although there were supposed to be about 250 campers on saturday night, on friday 'twas just me. pretty peaceful. a handful of kids showed up at 11:42 to get stoney-bologna and recite lines from dazed and confused, but they were only there for a bit.
to some, this may seem like any other slightly inclined stretch of road. if the camera could have captured the direction of the breeze, however, you'd see that this is in fact a solid 300 meter stretch of tail-wind! whoo!
vaguely reminiscent of the thailand motorcycle trip, the roads soon became steep and curvy. this is looking ahead to a nice bombing descent.
looking back on condon, circa the dawn. here i stayed with anne's cuz laura and fam, who were incredible hosts. i highly recommend a visit! it's a pretty cool town and they basically know everyone. they made an ass-kickin' pie, which was coincidentally one of the foods i craved most along the trip.
cruising along the arid landscape for extended periods of time with only song and thought for company, it doesn't take much to stop and whip out the trusty camera.
nice rock formations near fossil, or. you can find a lot of fossils there. this was during a wicked 13 mile descent toward the john day river. awesome, considering i only had to climb 8 miles back out of the canyon!
♫high......plains......drifter.♫
looking ahead to the final descent of the day into maupin. mighty nice indeed, although as you can tell, it made for quite the breakfast climb on the other side. rounded this day out with about 95 miles.
day twelve, hunger setting in. J sealed hopelessly shut, PeeB sandies for supper.
day 13. i figured "shit, if i can do one, then i can surely do the other".
the last major obstacle.
proof positive that i was back in the land of moistness.
destination. the final day was the longest, 103.29 miles.
the grand total.so anyway, i recommend some light bike touring if you ever find yourself with a bit of time to kill and a bit of gear to borrow. it's great for a little spiritual reckoning and exercise. make sure you eat a lot though. if that scale is accurate, i've managed to whittle down to like the lower 140's. i've lost the double chin, and i'm going to rely on a series of free 7-day passes at some local gyms to beef back up to my regular lower 150's.
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