13 posts tagged “bikes”
My arms are kinda sunburnt, but it was worth it. The temperature right now, with the sun down, is almost 80 degrees. I took full advantage of this, and went for my first long bike ride of the year.
Rode for miles down the Greenbelt 'til I didn't feel like moving anymore, then rode back. I lost my chain downtown, so I pushed my back tire a little further back. It worked okay. But my chainguard is also all bent up, so my right pedal scrapes against it, which may be the most annoying sound a bike can make. I should just take it off and hammer it flat, I think.
Then I came home, and washed up. This is where I risk sounding like an advertisement, but I assure you, I'm really just more of a hippie who is really enthusiastic about a brand of soap that hippies tend to like. Stranger things have happened.
For those of you who aren't already aware, Dr. Bronner's soap is probably one of the finest products you can trade money for. This is no exaggeration. It's a liquid soap that comes in a large bottle with his writings about the "Moral ABC's" and the "All-One-God-Faith" in tiny print that covers the label.
Dr. Bronner was a German Jewish immigrant who came to the United States before World War II, the son of a Jewish soap maker in Germany. His parents refused to immigrate and were killed in the death camps during the Holocaust after the Nazis nationalized their factory. He married a nun's daughter and, after her death in 1944, started making obsessive plans for world peace. He left his kids behind in foster care to focus on trying to convince the world's leaders of the evils of fascism and communism. A devoted listener had himself crucified as a protest for peace in 1945, and although he survived, and Dr. Bronner wasn't actually involved in the protest, he was committed to a mental hospital in Illinois, before finally escaping and making his way to California, where he made soap and wrote labels for most of the rest of his life. He was eventually picked up as an icon of the 1960's counterculture, who dug his call to peace and the fact that you can wash pretty much anything with a small amount the stuff, and his soap has been a staple grocery for hippies everywhere, ever since.
And let me tell you, it's the best thing you can possibly have around when you've got bike grease all over your arms and legs (because that's where I tend to wipe things off my hands instinctively, when I'm wearing shorts). Cuts right through! Just remember that next time you want to call a hippie "dirty."
Okay, so my chain still falls off on a regular basis, although now significantly less often than it was, since I've ruled out at least one of the causes. The back fender was bent up so it was touching the chain. So I took a hammer to it, taking care to not make it dig into the tire. Also, I realized that the last time I'd taken it to a bike shop, they're put on the side plate by the pedals wrong, so that's where that weird grinding sound was coming from. So that shit's sorted. The plate still rubs a bit, 'cause a piece of it is bent, but it doesn't seem serious enough to be too worried about.
So I went for a bike ride, and got caught in a dust storm. I stopped at a coffee shop, had some coffee, and got on my way once the wind died down. I went to the Record Exchange, browsed, talked to Justin a bit, and picked up the new Pissed Jeans record. Then I rode home, and the clouds got heavier, and it started raining. I lost my chain over by the university. Luckily, it was in a spot where it was easy enough to just flip my bike over and put it back on. I examined it to see if anything was rubbing against it, but nothing was. I'll take a closer look later. It might just need a link taken out or something, however that's accomplished. I'll figure something out.
So yeah, that new Pissed Jeans record. I fucking love it. I definitely should've given these guys a listen a long-ass time ago. They sound somewhere between Black Flag and Big Black (with live drums). Definitely very "80's," and you can tell that, had they started back then, their name would probably have the word "Black" in it. Songs about things like scrapbooking and joggers make this an essential, if you like hardcore (especially of the rather strange variety). The LP comes in one of those old-school, thick-ass, cardboard, sleeves.
Oh, and I'm doing a "day in my life" post today. It was a more eventful day than I'd planned, too. Lucky you! I'm also making a slightly different version for the 18+ ADIML community. I'm using the 18+ distinction to its most tasteless extremes. You have been warned! But just to make shit simple, the versions on here and on my Livejournal will be the more tasteful, less blindingly horrible, all-ages version.
My day started out with me looking like this:
Yeah, I stayed up way too late. First thing in the morning, I went out for a ride on my bike and watched the sun come up. I ran a copy of an American Football CD over to Paige at Lucy's ('cause she asked me for one). She gave me free coffee. That was pretty nice. Then, I mowed the lawn. Then, my mom wanted to take me out to lunch, but I was just too tired and crashed. About four hours later, Erik called me up and we went downtown for a while. Eventually that ended up turning into a burrito run, which eventually turned into a trip to the record shop for me. I crashed my car into a wall behind Del Taco 'cause I'm a shitty driver. Luckily, there was absolutely no damage whatsoever to either the wall or my car, since I didn't hit it very hard. At the record shop, I picked up two albums I've already mentioned on here on vinyl (I had them on CD, before):
So that was pretty sweet. The Godspeed You! Black Emperor record has a bunch of stuff that's not on the CD, and the Built to Spill record is a reissue with a bonus track. Bitchin'. Now Built to Spill just needs to get around to reissuing Ancient Melodies of the Future and all the early stuff.
I got back to my car, and realized I still had Erik's bag in my backseat. So I drove it over to his house. His neighbor was standing out in front of his house, and he gave me shit for the weeds and for Erik and his friends playing music in the shed (despite my insisting "I don't live here; it's not my problem"). So I offered Erik to help them clean that shit up. I don't know if they'll take me up on it, but it sounds like a lot of their neighbors are pretty pissed off about the damn weeds. Anyway, that's my Friday the 13th. It's been a pretty lucky day, actually. And now it looks like a thunderstorm is coming. I love storms. What a kickass day.
Well, to those who hadn't noticed, my Vox Hunt got picked! So today, celebrate by taking a picture of something plaid and postin' that shit for me!
Tonight, Dave and I are going to see The Temptation of Saint Anthony. It's been forever since I've seen those dudes, and they do, indeed slay. They're playing a show again next month with Tera Fucking Melos. I'm stoked.
This morning, I went for a bike ride. This is a rather ill-advised thing for me, since I have terrible luck with my bike. Seems like every other time I go out, I get a flat. Today, I didn't. I went to the coffee shop, had myself a smoke, and all was good. Talked to some random dude about bikes and indie bands. He was pretty cool.
I've recently decided that I'm going to plan on attending The Hold Steady and Black Angels/VietNam shows next week. The Foundry Field Recordings are playing on the 30th at Neurolux. That's only $3, so I'll probably make it out to that.
I hope the linkage is appreciated, since a lot of people have mentioned that my entries would probably be a lot more interesting if they knew who the bands I mentioned were.
I may have a new girl. Like an actual girlfriend for a monogamous relationship! I feel like I shouldn't be nearly as excited about that as I am. She's really awesome. She dislikes "tough guy" bullshit. She laughed probably as hard as I did at Justin Pearson's appearance on Jerry Springer. She thinks Zach Braff is hot (I don't care what you say, he's damn cute). And she's also really fucking cute. And no, she's not the same girl that works at the falafel place. Still, fuckin' sweet. She lives in Texas, and she's coming up here the second week of June. I can't wait to show her around! More on that some other time.
Bike's still out of commission. I really need to take a look at that back wheel and the fender on it and try and figure out why the fuck tubes keep getting torn up on it. Also, must invest in a roll of duct tape and try to fix that tube I've got. They are slime tubes, and all, but I really wish they'd actually work as advertised.
Was going to go drinking tonight, but it ended up not happening. I guess I'm the flaky asshole this time, and I am sincerely sorry to all involved. Probably just as well, though, since I only have ten bucks, right now.
I'll be introducing Dave to the new P.F. Chang's on Sunday, since it's so close to the Big Easy. Chain or not, that place makes fucking epic food. A fine vegan choice, as well! I'm really, really excited for Mastodon, too, mainly because I really love Planes Mistaken For Stars and Cursive. It still blows my mind that a line-up like that would tour together, let alone play Boise.
Oh, and last thing, I am a big fan of Brother David's Triple. It's got a dude with huge glasses and a mustache who looks like someone's dad in the midwest on the label. It also has a nice, clean, taste to it, but is still heavy on the hops. You can't deny this shit. Try it sometime.
Bike has another flat tire. Same tire, flat in the same place as before. I should probably take a look at that. We had a hell of a time loading the thing into my mom's trunk.
Went over to the new Mediterranean place and flirted with the girl working there. Had myself an awesome dinner. Shit was good.
Tonight, I'm seeing Elf Power! I'm stoked!
I am also really thirsty right now. I'm gonna drink somethin'.
Okay, where to start...
Drama with the sister is about half cleared-up. Her cat got out, and her ex-boyfriend is stalking her. These things might be related, but I'm not going so far as to throw definite accusations out. Her neighbor saw Matt at her apartment when she wasn't there, though, and that's definitely pretty suspicious. Still, charges might be dropped against her (well, not the speeding ticket, but the assault charge) because, as it turns out, he hit her too, and actually left marks. So hopefully, he'll be getting it in the ass when all's said and done. I'm sure there's a lesson somewhere in this, but I really doubt Ashley's going to learn it.
Last night was my dad's birthdays. Parents' birthdays are interesting at my house, since they always involve going out to eat at some place that isn't vegan-friendly in the slightest, and me getting drunk on my parents' dime as a result. Before dinner, I went out to this new Mediterranean place on Parkcenter, got myself a falafel, and hit on the girl at the counter, who was super-cute. We talked about local bands, and how awesome Doug Martsch is. Then I got my falafels and went back home. I hung out with my parents and we watched some TV and waited for my sister to show up. She finally did, and then pulled this, "how 'bout I drive myself" deal. We went to Jaker's out in Eagle. Ashley got lost on the way there and showed up about a half hour late. They had Stone IPA on tap, and make a really good mojito, so, needless to say, I was a bit sloshed last night.
After that was my sister's last soccer game of the season, and, I guess, her team's only winning game. So that makes me officially good luck, I guess.
After I got home, I went and got some cigarettes and went for a bike ride. I ended up seeing Tim (the guy with the banjo and the hot dog stand) and we talked about bikes and guitars, and local bands, and how "damn, those veggie dogs are good!" The Boise Weekly Music Festival was going on. I wasn't digging most of the bands I was hearing, but I didn't go in or pay money, so it was no big deal.
After that, I came home and realized just how incredibly cheesy Strike Anywhere's lyrics are (meaning, I actually paid attention to them for once). Big mistake. They might as well just replace them all with the phrase, "I'm a white dude with dreadlocks!" over and over. A shame, since they're probably one of the best-sounding punk bands out there.
Also, a totally random aside: I really need to find some people to play basketball with. I miss basketball.
Tonight, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists! I'll probably take pictures!
Today is incredibly nice out. I don't feel all shitty and depressed now that the clouds are gone!
I'm going to see Lightning Bolt tonight. They're playing at the BSU Amphitheater with Pussygutt and some band called Beautician (death-grind with lyrics about vanity and fashion!?). I'm going to ride my bike over there. I might just take pictures, too!
Also, I ordered an Indian Summer shirt! Huzzah!
So today, my parents decided to get me a new mattress. This is seriously the coolest thing ever, since my old one is like a brick, and my back is in horrible shape as a result of it. It'll be nice to be able to sleep comfortably until this one decides to get all busted up. Also, it's a great excuse to not shower 'til Tuesday, since I don't have to worry 'bout washing the sheets. I still have to clean this room up by then, though.
I know this is yet another band I'm a bit late finding out about, but I really dig this record by Latterman. Deep Elm needs to hurry up and get the new record out on vinyl. Speaking of Deep Elm, I hear they're putting out Mare Vitalis and Low Level Owl on colored vinyl soon. I'm rather stoked on that, especially since I missed Low Level Owl on vinyl the first time.
I went for a bike ride today and ran into some dudes I know. I would've hung out, but I wasn't feeling it, and everyone was preoccupied with other things, and someone reminded me that there's a new Ninja Turtles movie out, and that put me in a rather bad mood, so I rode around a bit more. I floored it through a post-charity hockey game crowd. Managed to not hit anyone, although there were a couple close calls.
I should put a beer in the fridge, lest I should be forced to drink warm Pabst when I want to get drunk later. Warm Pabst is seriously the most awful thing ever.
Of the six people invited, three showed up, which was actually not bad, since the three who flaked were the ones I really didn't think would show up anyway.
Erik showed up first. We listened to some records and knocked a few back before getting hungry at the point where I was just sober enough to drive us to Del Taco, where we ran into a "street artist" (yes, the quotes do indicate a euphemism!) that we both know. We talked about "street art" a bit, and about how utterly lame the "scene" around here is, and then went our separate ways. Our way involved eating food. Erik found some ridiculous stickers.
As we were driving back to my house, Justin called Erik's phone asking where my house was. He and Dallas came over shortly after, and knocked on the door. Neither of us heard them 'cause we had the record player turned up too loud. I have no idea why they didn't just use the doorbell, but they ended up calling Erik's phone and telling us to let them in.
And so, we all got drunk and listened to records and talked about friends and their bands and about people we think are douchebags, and all that great stuff.
Then, I decided to go for a drunken bike ride. At 1:30 in the morning. Ill-advised, I know, but it was nice being able to be out in the dark and actually use that headlight for something. I stopped and talked to everyone I wouldn't normally stop and talk to. It was probably the most satisfying bike ride I've ever taken, and I was grinning like an idiot the whole time.
At least two people offered to smoke me out today. Oddly enough, I took neither up on their offer. Just wasn't feeling it, today, I guess.
I really thought I had more than that to say about tonight, but I actually really don't. Now actually seems like a really fucking good time to have a cup of tea and a soak in the tub. After that, maybe I'll make a fire. These all sound like excellent plans, in fact.
