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Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
shopping on uncle sam's dime
My economic stimulus check has been deposited in my account and now it's my patriotic duty to blow it as frivolously as possible. I made a small concession to practicality in choosing my outlet for frivolity but it's still ridiculously awesome.
I'm buying a longboard.
I've wanted one for years, I could just never justify the expense. Now I have a few hundred dollars I'm practically required to blow and no motorized means of transportation. I could ride my bike to the bus, but it's iffy whether I can find a place for it on the tiny rack on the front. A longboard comes right onto the bus with me, right into my office, inside the house, etc. Fun and practical, perfect.
While doing some initial research I found that there is a custom longboard craftsman in salem called Longboard Larry's. I called him up and dropped by the little factory this afternoon. Larry is a cool friendly guy that runs a shop staffed by kids that look no older than 19. He let me take out a couple boards they had on hand and I came out with a clear favorite.
A board specialized for carving with spring loaded trucks and a tapered ends on the board. Very fun to ride.
Turns out Larry does a very healthy internet business and has a hard time keeping any thing in the "warehouse". Orders have an average wait time of two weeks. I started talking to him about what I could do to speed the process and he eventually offered to have a board pressed for me over the weekend and hopefully ready by next wednesday.
I ordered a 'komodo' board. I bamboo and birch board with good flex/rebound and a shape made for carving. I bought the same spring loaded trucks I liked so well and some 70mm wheels.
I can't friggin wait
I'm buying a longboard.
I've wanted one for years, I could just never justify the expense. Now I have a few hundred dollars I'm practically required to blow and no motorized means of transportation. I could ride my bike to the bus, but it's iffy whether I can find a place for it on the tiny rack on the front. A longboard comes right onto the bus with me, right into my office, inside the house, etc. Fun and practical, perfect.
While doing some initial research I found that there is a custom longboard craftsman in salem called Longboard Larry's. I called him up and dropped by the little factory this afternoon. Larry is a cool friendly guy that runs a shop staffed by kids that look no older than 19. He let me take out a couple boards they had on hand and I came out with a clear favorite.
A board specialized for carving with spring loaded trucks and a tapered ends on the board. Very fun to ride.
Turns out Larry does a very healthy internet business and has a hard time keeping any thing in the "warehouse". Orders have an average wait time of two weeks. I started talking to him about what I could do to speed the process and he eventually offered to have a board pressed for me over the weekend and hopefully ready by next wednesday.
I ordered a 'komodo' board. I bamboo and birch board with good flex/rebound and a shape made for carving. I bought the same spring loaded trucks I liked so well and some 70mm wheels.
I can't friggin wait
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Moved Out
Well, I finally got the vast majority of my stuff moved out of Katie's place/my old apartment. I rented a 17ft uhaul truck and took my mom along. Katie was upset and a tad confrontational but handled herself really well considering how hard it must have been for her. Quite sad.
What I'll remember from it years from now are two things: Katie showing me a beautiful and sad charcoal that I assume represents her feelings and her telling me she hates me afterwards.
What I'll remember from it years from now are two things: Katie showing me a beautiful and sad charcoal that I assume represents her feelings and her telling me she hates me afterwards.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
bus folk are the best folk of all
This morning walking to catch the bus I was rewarded for a nervous habit I've developed. When walking in the direction opposite to that from which the bus will be arriving I check behind me every couple dozen seconds to make sure the bus isn't rushing up behind me to pass me in a moment of nonobservance. I actually caught the bus sneaking up on me in just this way for the very first time this morning when only a minutes walk from the stop. I hadn't thought so far ahead as to have a planned response to finding myself in this situation but it turns out it isn't a situation that requires much forethought. I ran to beat the bus to the stop and while I didn't succeed the driver took pity on me and stopped next to me. This by the way is not something a driver in Corvallis would do, only marked stops for those drivers so observantly pedantic about their routes. I walked to the least crowded section of the bus, the back, and was greeted by a woman saying, "You ate breakfast this morning". I had but I wasn't completely sure why she would know that or think to comment. I was a little self conscious about running to catch the bus, I know from being on the other side that it looks sort of pitiful. Thinking of this I assumed she was saying that I must have eaten a hearty breakfast to have the energy to run to catch the bus. It wasn't really important though as my response was nothing more complicated than a non-committal laugh and "yeah". She must have been able to tell I was a tad confused because she clarified that I, "smelled like breakfast". In fact I had made myself a fragrant breakfast, a breakfast burrito filled with a scramble including sausage, jalapeños, pablano pepper, three kinds of peppers, eggs and black beans. It was delectable, and I guess it carried a stink that stood up to ten minutes of walking in a strong breeze. My response: "Better than other things I could smell like". Could have gone worse.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Trip to portland
Today I rode to portland with a couple co-workers to meet, greet and deliver BHIP beats.
Some points to flesh out:
Elevator issues:
We parked at a parking garage on 4th to eat at the Greek Cuisina, I should say we parked HIGH up in a parking garage on 4th. After 5-10 minutes of circling up the structure searching for a spot we finally stopped on what was labeled as the third floor, I thought this was strange as we had corkscrewed far more than 3 times by that point. I feel like I should be able to count to three even if distracted by searching for a spot, of course all that spinning may have made me dizzy enough to impare the part of my brain responsible for basic arithmatic. Of course that just seems to further re-enforce my thesis. Because we were to very high up on the third story we opted for the elevator and because I was the first one there I took the command position of the elevator, right in front of the controls. When we got in the elevator my co-workers started saying something I didn't quite catch about hiding our hospital badges. This confused and distracted me. After a couple of minutes of clarifying the badge issues we all found ourselves looking around and bouncing on our heels waiting for the elevator to reach the bottom. While we were high up the wait seemed disproportionately long. Eventually I realized the reason, I hadn't pushed the button. Everyone had a good long laugh at that. Later on in the hospital I placed myself again in front of the buttons and this time for laughs didn't push the button. I laughed and told them I was messing with them when my co-workers mentioned it. Later on I found out they assumed I was just covering for forgetting a second time. So much for intentional humor, luckily unintentional seems to work just fine.
Greek Cuisina:
Is pretty dang good. Really solid basic greek food at very reasonable prices. I had a combo plate, their specialties may be better. They also may cost more than 8.95. I would happily go again.
impressions of hospital
dreams:
One of my co-workers admitted to having a sex dream about our boss, I won't name names.
work road trips:
Are great fun! At least with these two, and I'm betting almost anyone else on my team.
Some points to flesh out:
Elevator issues:
We parked at a parking garage on 4th to eat at the Greek Cuisina, I should say we parked HIGH up in a parking garage on 4th. After 5-10 minutes of circling up the structure searching for a spot we finally stopped on what was labeled as the third floor, I thought this was strange as we had corkscrewed far more than 3 times by that point. I feel like I should be able to count to three even if distracted by searching for a spot, of course all that spinning may have made me dizzy enough to impare the part of my brain responsible for basic arithmatic. Of course that just seems to further re-enforce my thesis. Because we were to very high up on the third story we opted for the elevator and because I was the first one there I took the command position of the elevator, right in front of the controls. When we got in the elevator my co-workers started saying something I didn't quite catch about hiding our hospital badges. This confused and distracted me. After a couple of minutes of clarifying the badge issues we all found ourselves looking around and bouncing on our heels waiting for the elevator to reach the bottom. While we were high up the wait seemed disproportionately long. Eventually I realized the reason, I hadn't pushed the button. Everyone had a good long laugh at that. Later on in the hospital I placed myself again in front of the buttons and this time for laughs didn't push the button. I laughed and told them I was messing with them when my co-workers mentioned it. Later on I found out they assumed I was just covering for forgetting a second time. So much for intentional humor, luckily unintentional seems to work just fine.
Greek Cuisina:
Is pretty dang good. Really solid basic greek food at very reasonable prices. I had a combo plate, their specialties may be better. They also may cost more than 8.95. I would happily go again.
impressions of hospital
dreams:
One of my co-workers admitted to having a sex dream about our boss, I won't name names.
work road trips:
Are great fun! At least with these two, and I'm betting almost anyone else on my team.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
My sister's car has been methed
Got back to my parent's house today to find my mom emptying broken glass into the garbage. The rest of the glass was still in my sister's car. Sometime last night someone broke out the rear passenger window and spent what looks to have been quite a while trying to pry her stereo out. The tool of choice looks to be a railroad tie based on the amount of clumsy damage they did in the process. So my sister is out a car window, a stereo and has a severely damaged dash. The thief made off with her stereo plate.
Fucker.
Fucker.
Stop making sense
Watched the concert film "stop making sense" by the talking heads last night with Matt. Great performance. How do they stack up to other great bands?
Well, what stood out most were four things.
The most immediately noticeable trait of the band is that it's huge. I counted nine members. Where the classic size is 4 the talking heads are way out of proportion, maybe they were originally going to form a baseball team. The effect of this is that they are very imposing on stage. They have the feel of a precisely regimented army when playing together, an army fighting with a very spastic sort of tactics but an army all the same.
The effect of their numbers wouldn't be that great if they all stood around swaying gently while performing, swaying wheat isn't something a band should try and evoke while performing. Every member is in constant motion while on stage, if not running and jumping like a ADHD third grader on recess they are at the very least dancing. All this motion combined with their numbers made it impossible to keep track of everything going on and added to the feeling of a pleasant sensory overload.
Considering their numbers it is especially amazing that every member of the band seems to be very proficient musically. I would expect at least a couple duds in an ensemble that large, the cousins that no one knew how to tell "no". Seems the Talking Heads have some pretty steep membership criteria when it comes to musical ability which is even more considering if you know they're a bunch of art school dropouts.
Probably the most noteworthy aspect to the band is exactly what Matt points out below, they (David Byrn) are creative son'biches. Every song seems like it came out of a fever dream, which seems very plausible now that I think of it. They are strange, and at times disjointed but always carry a coherency in their delivery that creates of sort of patchwork organization. The individual elements, the verse, chorus, bridges, melody and lyrics may shift during the song but the total effect is almost always solid and powerful.
Oh, and they've written some of the catchiest songs ever.
Best band ever, maybe, just maybe.
Well, what stood out most were four things.
The most immediately noticeable trait of the band is that it's huge. I counted nine members. Where the classic size is 4 the talking heads are way out of proportion, maybe they were originally going to form a baseball team. The effect of this is that they are very imposing on stage. They have the feel of a precisely regimented army when playing together, an army fighting with a very spastic sort of tactics but an army all the same.
The effect of their numbers wouldn't be that great if they all stood around swaying gently while performing, swaying wheat isn't something a band should try and evoke while performing. Every member is in constant motion while on stage, if not running and jumping like a ADHD third grader on recess they are at the very least dancing. All this motion combined with their numbers made it impossible to keep track of everything going on and added to the feeling of a pleasant sensory overload.
Considering their numbers it is especially amazing that every member of the band seems to be very proficient musically. I would expect at least a couple duds in an ensemble that large, the cousins that no one knew how to tell "no". Seems the Talking Heads have some pretty steep membership criteria when it comes to musical ability which is even more considering if you know they're a bunch of art school dropouts.
Probably the most noteworthy aspect to the band is exactly what Matt points out below, they (David Byrn) are creative son'biches. Every song seems like it came out of a fever dream, which seems very plausible now that I think of it. They are strange, and at times disjointed but always carry a coherency in their delivery that creates of sort of patchwork organization. The individual elements, the verse, chorus, bridges, melody and lyrics may shift during the song but the total effect is almost always solid and powerful.
Oh, and they've written some of the catchiest songs ever.
Best band ever, maybe, just maybe.
parent's house no longer theirs
As of sunday 4/20/08 the house my parents have owned longer than I've been alive belongs to some family from Montana.
They are returning the favor on someone else. They recently closed the deal on a new house, a three bedroom number out behind enchanted forest. It's a nice little place, if you forgive the forest green rugs throughout, sitting on a nice little 2 acre plot of land. It's situated next to a grazing field for a dairy farm with a stream running by perpendicular to the field. The other two sides face out towards scattered neighboring homes. It has a large garage that will serve as a shop with a good sized loft apartment above. Pretty nice place.
The current arrangement is that my parents will continue to live, I believe rent free, here until the 15th of May upon which they will move into their new house. On the first they can begin moving Kelsey's stuff into her new digs in the garage loft.
I seem to be having an easier time getting used to that than my folks.
It may be because I haven't really felt like this is my home for many years, it may be that it just hasn't sunk in yet, it may be that I'm just a cold hearted mother, in any case I'm just not that moved by the move.
My sister seems to be in about the same boat I am save for the fact that she will actually be living on the new property. She has a connection there that I don't. It's just where I have to get out to for family functions and visits now. My mom is excited but fittingly stressed out by the process and prospect of moving. My Dad seems to be having the hardest time. He was never really completely sold on the moving thing and I think regrets leaving behind all the work he put into fixing up and maintaining this house.
The Jorgenson's are on the move!
They are returning the favor on someone else. They recently closed the deal on a new house, a three bedroom number out behind enchanted forest. It's a nice little place, if you forgive the forest green rugs throughout, sitting on a nice little 2 acre plot of land. It's situated next to a grazing field for a dairy farm with a stream running by perpendicular to the field. The other two sides face out towards scattered neighboring homes. It has a large garage that will serve as a shop with a good sized loft apartment above. Pretty nice place.
The current arrangement is that my parents will continue to live, I believe rent free, here until the 15th of May upon which they will move into their new house. On the first they can begin moving Kelsey's stuff into her new digs in the garage loft.
I seem to be having an easier time getting used to that than my folks.
It may be because I haven't really felt like this is my home for many years, it may be that it just hasn't sunk in yet, it may be that I'm just a cold hearted mother, in any case I'm just not that moved by the move.
My sister seems to be in about the same boat I am save for the fact that she will actually be living on the new property. She has a connection there that I don't. It's just where I have to get out to for family functions and visits now. My mom is excited but fittingly stressed out by the process and prospect of moving. My Dad seems to be having the hardest time. He was never really completely sold on the moving thing and I think regrets leaving behind all the work he put into fixing up and maintaining this house.
The Jorgenson's are on the move!
My new pad
2 bedroom, full bath, spacious, decent kitchen, lots of storage, new carpet, new deck, new well placed water heater, fireplace, hookups for washer and dryer, close to bus stops, extremely close to fred meyers, decent neighborhood, $525/month. I like it.
Only real stinky bits so far have been a window we discovered that had been smashed out and completely removed which exposed a far less secure pane of glass behind and a pretty dang shitty dishwasher. Still, a dishwasher, pretty exciting. I might even be able to get John the landlord to fix it up for me or replace it entirely. He was very responsive about the window and seems to have put quite a bit of money into the place already. Hopefully that trend will continue.
I still need to get the bulk of my stuff into the new place, even then I'll need to head down to the value village or good will to really make it livable.
So far so good.
Only real stinky bits so far have been a window we discovered that had been smashed out and completely removed which exposed a far less secure pane of glass behind and a pretty dang shitty dishwasher. Still, a dishwasher, pretty exciting. I might even be able to get John the landlord to fix it up for me or replace it entirely. He was very responsive about the window and seems to have put quite a bit of money into the place already. Hopefully that trend will continue.
I still need to get the bulk of my stuff into the new place, even then I'll need to head down to the value village or good will to really make it livable.
So far so good.
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