The weatherman said it was going to snow last week, which I thought was absolutely ridiculous. Snow in early Octember? HAH! SURELY YOU MUST BE A CRAZY PERSON TO THINK SUCH A THING!
Looks like snow to me.
In fact, not 5 minutes after I took this picture and went back inside, it was snowing so hard it was near-whiteout visibility. Half an hour later the sun came out and everything melted, but still. Snow. 12 October 2006. A new personal record for the earliest snow of the fall.
…unless you’ve got the finest $40 propane cooker underneath it. Then it will go from 2 gallons of cold tap water to boiling water ready for making wort in 15 minutes flat.
My freshly assembled cooker has a batch of black, evil-looking outdoor Illinois porter happly bubbling away right now. Recipe to follow.
DON’T BE A PUSSY.
It rained last night so the streets were still pretty wet this morning. They’ve torn up an entire mile of my ride – California all the way to Damen – and there was more rain forecast for today. Hmmm, wet streets plus torn up street plus more rain on the way? Maybe I’m better off not riding.
Wrong. WRONG.
It didn’t rain any more today to speak of. My folder has full fenders, anway. So what did I do? I rode the bus. In theory I have no problem with the bus. In practice, well, it fucking sucks. They’re rarely on time and the one today smelled like somebody puked Wild Irish Rose all over it and the windows seemed to be covered in some sticky substance from the inside. The reality of the situation is that I hate the fuckin’ bus.
So much so that I walked the 4 miles home. Probably got at least one blister from my practical but steel toed shoes – fine for sitting at a desk, standing around the shop or crawling all about a railcar but not so good for walking.
Bought a lottery ticket on the way. If I win the 45 million this Friday the 13th, I’m putting in a roof full of solar panels, a wind turbine and a Listeroid generator setup fueled by B100, WVO and waste oil. Plus crafting a lifestyle where I don’t have to drive anywhere unless I want to. With no job, you ain’t got to commute, dig?
I can’t think of anything I’d rather do on a daily basis than ride my bicycle around.
You might notice that you’re standing around waiting for the bus and I’m on my way home.
I noticed that I passed the bus you’re waiting for ten minutes ago. Your bus didn’t pass me.
I didn’t have to pay $2 to ride home or sit in a trash-strewn stained seat next to Booze Sweat Jackson.
Maybe think about that the next time you feel like yelling something witty, jerkass.
Having ridden past you a hundred times, I know you won’t think about it.
Have a nice day.
TO DO:
Here’s my idea, after reading a whole lot of stuff:
Run the computer (and ancillary equipment) that “runs” sammich.org off renewable power.
Cable modamn, analytical computing engine, VOIP bawx and routatron all off solar/wind power. Folks, I am full of ideas and I think this one is particularly good. Not just to help do my part blah blah blah but that this should act as a big fat UPS for the entire system.
I’m even thinking of a bicycle-powered charger for the wan light during the upcoming winter months, which should certainly help me stay in better shape.
First and foremost, I’ve really got to figure out how much power I truly need. For this, I tip my hat to a certain Brooklyn ninja and his tip about the Kill-A-Watt meter and my trusty Fluke 76 MkII True RMS multimeter.
I really need to put together a plan. I like plans, especially the ones that take the form of a list.
Dipped down into the mid 40s last night, confirming that fall is well on its way in and summer is on its way out. Personally, I’m really looking forward to it. I love chilly weather, riding around aimlessly or driving about with the windows down and the heat full blast in the floorboards.
Fall bonus #1: all those damn kids in my neighborhood won’t be outside as much.
Fall bonus #2: dog poop cools off and hardens quickly, making it easier to pick up.
Fall bonus #3: tannin stains on the sidewalk where leaves fall then get rained on.
In short, I’m ready for another descent into winter. Give me a couple months of it and I’m sure I’ll be ready for warmer weather again. That’s one of the nice things about having four real seasons – by the time you’re sick and tired of the current season, another one is on its way.
It’s sad that my beloved Chicago Bases-ball White Stockings won’t be in the playoffs this year, but I think we’ve all learned our lesson: never send Ozzie Guillen to sensitivity training. If you think him calling a Trib sportswriter a “fag” is bad, you should read his lips when he’s chewing out Doug Eddings at home plate. Hoo boy, now that‘s some good cussin’!
Why must you horde all-dressed chips and poutine? May I not have these delicious comestibles in my native country? Surely we have the all-dressing technology for potato chips and poutine sauce manufacturing capability!
The trip was fine, altho a bit busy. The biodiesel at the Truck Town Terminals in Milton (west of Toronto on the 401) was mighty fine stuff indeed – B20 made from Canola oil – and I netted nearly 44 mpg for the entire trip. Not bad, considering the amount of 80mph driving combined with the low-calorie B50 I was using to drive around town (and drive around town I did plenty of). The B50, btw, was from the Stohos station at 1001 Queen St. E in downtown Toronto.
Our one year anniversary was excellent and we had a very nice dinner at the CN Tower, despite it being an antenna.
Visited my buddy Jeremy who spent the long hot summer of 2003 in Auburn, Alabama and lived to tell about it. Got to hang out with him and his lady in the non-industrial-wasteland side of Hamilton, go walking in the rain, eat more poutine and generally have a nice time. My lady got sick, unfortunately, which necessitated a stop at an urgent care clinic in darkest Indiana. One hour, three prescriptions and one very ethusiastic dog walk later, we were back on the road, heading for home.
Canada, I will be back this weekend. Please have a bucket of poutine and some beers ready at the border.
I know that everybody puts pictures of their cats on the internet, and that is one of the reasons why it sucks. Especially when their cuddly wuddly cutesy wootsey lil snugglemuffin kittykat looks like every other fleabag on some geoshitties site.
But friends, I have something different to offer.
Most people would be worried about their pet’s health if they found Mr. Kittyman eating something not meant for human or feline consumption.
Me? I get my camera.
David Lynch used to have a daily weather report narrated by him on his website. It now appears to be a subscriber-only feature, unfortunately.
Fortunately, thanks to the magic of the interweb, you can see a few of them.
I will not be responsible if you have nightmares about LA weather afterwards. Do not question why there is a bear dancing in a mirrored coffin full of chum in the middle of a dog show – this is David Lynch’s weather report. I don’t live in LA, but he’s a hell of a lot more interesting to watch than WGN’s Tom Skilling.
