Secrets

While listening to NPR today there was a story about a web site called PostSecret. It sound it like a really cool project, this fellow in Maryland has people send him anonymous post cards with their secrets on them. When I went to check it out later I was kind of blown away. Some of the cards are sad and pathetic while others are profound or downright disturbing. Of course there is also some that are just funny and hopeful.

As I was listening to the segment I was reminded of at least two other sites that are somewhat similar in concept. Group Hug is one and Not Proud is the other. These two are a little more immediate but they lack the effort and creativity of the post cards. Confession: sometimes I feel guilty looking at these things.

American Oxymoron

We've come to this in our American idiocy. Now I do realize that those of you reading this would not threaten the sister of Micheal Schiavo but it doesn't reflect well on the rest of us. I've never understood the idea in the extreme "pro life" community of using death threats and assinations to further the agenda. Something about it just seems ironic if it wasn't so tragic. I use the quotes on 'pro life" because I question their valuations of life to begin with but that is a whole different post that I'm not going to do. Others have done a much better job than I could.

I've tried to keep politics off of here because I don't feel I have many well thought out opinions in this realm. I know that with the exception of the Second Admendment I'm fairly liberal and that's okay with me. But I'm beginning to get the feeling that some of these people want to inject their so called moral standards on all parts of our lives from birth (or lack there of) to death. And this makes me quite uncomfortable. No matter what, any decision regarding the termination of life or potential life is a gut wrenching at best and outsiders should really stay out of the process. These are personal and familial descions and should remain as such if at all possible.

The one thing this whole fiasco has done is make me want to have a serious conversation with my parents and siblings when I go home. I want to be clear on what everyone in my family wants. Maybe it's something we all should think about, if nothing else than to save ourselves from becoming a media firestorm.

Currently stuck on...

I know I've mentioned them before but I am hooked on Pinback right now. I guess this is pop music although I always thought that pop music was stuff like MJ and Brittany. But this stuff, these guys have filled a hole that I was missing in music. A dab of noise, melodic bass lines and ethereal lyrics. I'm in a rapture. I see that they are playing in Atlanta when I am going to be back east and I think I may have to make the pilgrimage. I can't even describe how amazing this band is. And to be honest, I wish I could because that would make it all that much better.

The good old days

I've been blessed over the years with some of the greatest roommates a man could ever have. After living by myself for a winter this has become very apparent. The whole roommate thing starts back in college when I was living with a the guitarist from Crankpin and a guy who thought he was a vampire. And believe it or not the vampire guy was better with the ladies than the rocker.

I have to say with a few exceptions I've always had very brilliant and creative roommates and any idiosyncrasies were completely blown away by their talents. They have opened many doors to me that I would have never even noticed. I'm happy that I am able to stay connected to at least a few of these people. For some of us, we've experienced intense moments of nature including lightning, the northern lights and a meteor shower in a single evening. Along with times of loyalty that I shouldn't have expected and yet received.

I'd like to think that I had something to do with this in that people of similar capacity tend to cluster together. I would like to think that I am as talented as some of these people. All I can say is that many of the people I've lived with over the years it's been an honor to live with them and they have taught me so much. Without them I would be nothing.

Grrrr...Capitalists Pigs

I'm not even paying attention to the TV even though it's on and yet I've seen the current Burger King Bacon Cheddar Ranch commercial for the fourth time in twenty minutes. It's driving me bonkers. I never really liked Hootie and The Blowfish to begin with but like Jackass Jimmy said what the hell was he thinking. And just who down in marketing had the bright idea that scantily clad chicks would sell burgers or chicken sandwiches or whatever it is they're selling? For crying out loud, it doesn't work for beer let alone food (or something resembling food).

I think if you really want to sell something in the States it should be marketed with the most violence allowed in a commercial. Now that would sell burgers.

The greatest waste of time yet.

I rediscovered the greatest waste of time on the Internet, The Straight Dope. This site contains columns by the great Cecil Adams who is the best answerman ever. I was first exposed to his print columns many years ago in the weekly publication Nuvo back in Indy. The site is awesome and can answer questions ranging from song lyrics to PEZ to the Federal Reserve and anything else. Of course with something this great there has to be some mystery and that mystery is the identity of Cecil Adams. His "teeming millions" claim he is the smartest man on earth and if he is the only one who writes his column the I am inclined to believe it. And anyone who sticks it to Marilyn vos Savant is cool in my book.

I used to sell mixed tapes, now I'm an MC

So I've been trying to put together a mixed CD for someone but I find myself putting three to four songs of the same band on the playlist. For some reason I have it in my head that a mix should only have one or two songs from the same group. The problem is, I really like these songs and I want the person I'm making it for to hear them. I guess it's not a big deal, but it seems strange to have this set of rules I've imposed on myself.

Not that many years ago my only access to new music was mixed tapes my brother would send to me. Living up here kept me really out of touch with the types of music I was into. As my taste expanded it has become easier and the advent of digital reproducing has made trading music so much better. But there were so many bands that I have been turned onto through mixed tapes. I'm just glad the concept is still here.

The times, they a' changing

Maybe change isn't always the greatest thing. There are things that I see changing that I wish wouldn't happen. For instance, in the years that I've been gone from my home state of Indiana, acres and acres of farmland have been turned into strip malls and pop up houses. Seeing this makes me sad. I fear the day that the fields in front and behind of my parents home turn into pop up homes. Memories of sunsets and sunrises over cornfields will be just that, memories.

It's not that I fear change, as we all know besides death change is the only constant in life. But it can make me uncomfortable at times. I'm forcing myself into a period of change very soon and as excited as I am about it, in the back of my mind there is a feeling of apprehension. It will work out, it always does but there is always that anxiousness of the unknown.

A change of ownership of an establishment can also cause discontent in the employees and the patrons. If the establishment changes radically at the beginning it is almost better than the slow subtle changes. The slow letting go of employees, moving and changing the fixtures and furniture can disturb everyone on a deeper level than if it is all at once. This is happening at one of the places I enjoy frequenting and I can feel the atmosphere slowly changing.

Change can be good, but many more times than we'd like to admit it can be rather painful.

Save Toby!

Paradox is at it again. First he sends me the wonderful Penguin Warehouse link, which unfortunately had to debunk. I really wanted it to be real.

Today in comments he leaves us with a link to Save Toby. Now I'm all for extortion or even blackmail, in fact I wish I had more opportunities to commit one or the other. It would be more lucrative than working at a gas station and I imagine a bit more interesting. This site is a wonderful exercise in extortion. Click the link. Who wouldn't want to save the _____? Anyway I'm going to do this differently this time. If you think this is real or a hoax leave your vote in the comments. When I get enough votes, I'll give it away. So comment dammit.

Getting cheesy

brettair2
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

Even after tons of people had hit the mountain up all day yesterday, Brett and I were still able to find some relatively untouched places. Including the Cheese Wedge kicker. This is Brett going off it. The landings were still in really good shape as it seems only a couple of other people besides us had gone off it.

Movement is limited

Tonight I can barely see the screen. I'm so tired, I can't even fall asleep. There was the thought about talking about the Terri Schiavo case, but it's more depressing than I want to deal with. OK one thing, the federal government should have never gotten involved. Party of states rights my ass. That's all for that.

So it finally looks like winter on the mountain even though it mid/late March. I had a feeling this winter was going to be like this when the snow never really came back in December. Although I still say it's Ski Corps fault for plowing over some of the classic hits on the mountain. Fifteen inches today and I haven't moved more than 500 feet since I got home. Hell I did get to catch up on Law and Order.

When gravity stops we will be flung into space

Well it finally happened, one of the silliest questions I've ever been asked was today. I've been here about nine years and not one person has ever asked me if they keep the mountain open when it's snowing. But today an older lady from southern Arkansas asked me exactly that and it was barely snowing. Hmmm, and to think I resisted being a smartass. However if anyone ask me when the deer turn to elk...around September 5th.

Luck

After a few whiskey drinks I am beginning to think this was a lucky night for me. Walking in the door after work I see a bottle of Maker's Mark and a thank you card sitting next to my computer (Thanks again Sam and Juli). Now for me there is nothing better than some Bourbon and my iBook (oh yes, I am a Apple geek). But tonight I wouldn't even be able to get into the bottle until after 2 am.

I had decided to go to the Tugboat and see Duckbutter, which is this band that played/lived here several years ago. The thing is, I never go to the Tugboat. The Tugboat is one of the few places in town that always makes me feel really young when I walk in there. But I had won a $25 gift certificate at the KRS-One show and I wanted to use it. And who better to spend to with me than the lovely _itch? So after my ritual Saturday night dinner at Johnny B Goods, I gave her a call. To say the least she was indecisive about going out.

"I'll call you later"

I go home, well actually Sam and Juli's. Leave to catch the bus and call _itch. She doesn't want to go out and she is already in her pj's. I say I won't twist her arm this time. As I'm on the bus _itch calls.

"Where are you?"
"On the bus."
"I'll see you there."
Laughing "Cool, see you"

I get there, have a drink in hand. _itch shows up, we play Area 51, needless to say if aliens ever invade Steamboat they are fucked as long as there is enough ammo.

We sit at the bar which was a good idea. _itch goes to play pool. I run into Pixie and talk to her for a bit. I decline going into the women's restroom. Stupid morals. Dang, is she popular.

At some point I find ten bucks in the game room, which basically pays for my night. Yeah, I'm still a cheap date. Ten minutes later, _itch finds $100 somewhere. Damn. Luck.

Last of the good cops

Well it's official, there is only one or two good cops left in the Routt County Sheriff Office. Now I'm not one to hate cops, I think they provide a needed service and (at least around here) do a pretty good job of it. But I think there is something strange going on over at the RCSO. In the last two to three months we've lost at least three members of the force. Two of which were, unofficially, asked to resign. Something about not covering up for the Undersheriff. Of course this all rumor and speculation because I can't even get anyone to speak off the record, let alone on the record. And then Ken Klinger resigns to teach weapons for the Navy.

What's lame about this? All of the men that have left the force were the fair ones. The cops that would respect you if you respected them. These guys were of another era, who had come here because it was the West. And they respected the "code of the West", the idea that you're best left minding your own business as long as it didn't impact anyone else. I fear that whoever the new hires will be may not respect this as much

Random bits and pieces

There are so much going out in the outside world and I can't think of a single thing. So here's some randomness for you.

Things I found at work this week: three silver dimes including two Mercury dimes, various discarded phone numbers, and a snake.

I'm sick of being sick. It snowed last night and I finally went snowboarding.

I think I may have fallen into a new career. I'm quitting the gas station in May and all of a sudden a bunch of photo gigs are popping up. Maybe I need to buy a better camera, new toys are cool. I probably should as I'll need something a little of a more professional caliber. Anyone want to buy me a camera?

Skunks!

I love skunks, I think they are the most adorable little creatures. Well except for the smell, obviously. Watching them wander around is enough to make me laugh out loud sometimes, although I try not to for fear of getting sprayed. They are such inquisitive animals and I suspect rather intelligent.

Skunks are legal as pets in seventeen states, including my home state of Indiana. There are several web sites dedicated to pet skunks but one takes the cake with the wonderful acronym OOPS (Owners of Pet Skunks). Face it skunks are just damn cute. Click the links, you'll see what I mean.

I need new music

Apparently I am to start writing music reviews. Fine and dandy, but I am so out of the loop when it comes to current music. I rarely listen to music stations on the radio and I have a dialup connect, so trying to listen to Internet radio is pointless. Which puts me in a bind when it comes to what's happening.

Plus I hate jam bands. Which wouldn't be such a big deal if I lived in a city but living in a ski town I am surrounded by jam bands. Most of the bands that come through here I would classify as jam bands. And I don't go see them. But all of the promo stuff in the office is from bands that are coming. This is a bit of a problem.

Beyond jam bands, I'm pretty open minded in my music. I like and own a little bit of everything (well not modern country but that's a whole different story) from punk to jazz to noise to hiphop. And I'll listen to anything once. But if it sounds like phishgratefulwidespread in the first two minutes...Forget it.

But I still need new music. I need to be pointed in the right direction. I can only review Sonic Youth so many times.

Me and my big mouth or why I shouldn't drink tequila

I really don't know why the CIA wasted all that time and money researching sodium pentathol, when all they ever needed was tequila. Because tequila can loosen ones tongue, to the point of saying too much. I can attest to this.

The other night I was sitting with a woman friend, who I also have a thing for, drinking margaritas. Of course I hadn't eaten and had downed a couple of shots of Beam earlier. Well halfway through my second margarita, I started talking and not just about the weather. Basically I let her know how I felt, and that I have a thing for her. Which in itself isn't that bad but I think I may have carried a little too far. Unfortunately, my recollection of exactly what I said is rather fuzzy due to the booze. Telling her was probably not the best thing to do under the influence of alcohol. Not that I was lying or anything like that, in fact I most likely was a little too honest or open.

Usually I don't tell people I have thing for about it. Based on past experiences I find it better to keep inside, that way I don't have to deal with the response whatever the it may be. Now I just feel sheepish when I see her because I put it out there on the table.

Chaos at the Rio

sam
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

Well, well, well the Plagiarists played at the Rio on Saturday night and it was chaotic to say the least.

The first band (which I didn't listen to that closely) was Cog, another local Steamboat band. If I had to categorize them, I would say stoner rock along the lines of Tool. From what I heard of them, they were musically adept but lacking a vocalist. Unfortunately I was sitting at the bar probably saying to much.

Then came the Plagiarists and before the first song was finished there was a fight or at least a near fight. Of course, I didn't see what happened because I was looking through my camera. After the combatants were calmed down, the band got back to playing until Sam broke a string. But they decided to keep playing, rocking the house. Several times the crowd almost knocked the PA stands over, and other acts of craziness occurred. Then LeeAnn broke a bass string and had know backup. So the band had to break and send someone to get a string. Twenty minutes later they started up and finished the night with Born to Lose. A great late night.

Who sucks more: tourists or locals?

As much as I love it here, there are days when I can't stand some of the people who live here. Admittedly, I only see a certain segment of the local population when I am working but I think it is a pretty fair representation of the residents of Routt county.

We all (those loyal readers that live or have lived here in the Yampa Valley) know that our tourist are prone to asking dumb questions and driving with only half a brain. But the locals are just as guilty, if not more, in the driving department. The way some locals really take the cake, however, is the idiotic drivel that can come out of their mouths. The first thing that comes to mind is the belief that because I am white, I share a mutual hatred of Mexicans; when in fact, I quite like our amigos from the south. In fact I find that the Mexicano customers rather polite and good natured, they may make fun of me for my poor Spanish but I think they appreciate the effort. Another one is the constant demand for a locals discount. I understand that some local merchants offer a discount if one lives here, but I work at a freaking gas station. Prices are the same for everyone. And then there are the creeps that think I am their buddy because I've worked there for so long that it's safe to share their fantasies with me. I really don't care what kind of sexual positions you would like to find yourself in with my coworker. And furthermore, she wouldn't want you, skanky mofo.

The thing about the tourist is that there is just so many of them. But they all ask the same questions and we all have our answers down pat for them.

Why the Internet irritates me.

money3
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

Last fall there were a bunch of one hundred dollar bill with strange stamps on the back of them coming into the register. I would occasionally take pictures of them, because I thought it was kind of interesting. Being the curious fellow I am I tried to find out a little more about them on the Internet, with no luck whatsoever. I tried every search string I could think of on Google to no avail. Here's the thing, I know that there is information about these markings somewhere on the Web but I just can't find it. And that irritates me.

Of course, then I remember there are wonderful resource like Wikipedia. Maybe I should look there.

Soda or Pop

What do you call a cabonated beverage? When I lived in Indianapolis, we called it a coke even if it was a Sprite. After moving here to Colorado I started saying soda, even though according to the map Colorado is pop territory. Of course this now makes me wonder if there's a difference between a creek and a crick.

One night last summer

finger rock
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

This one may be the coolest photo I've ever taken. Those of you who are Routt County residents may recognize this rock formation on 131. Yep, Finger Rock. There is a bit of a story behind this shot. I had spent all day replacing the alternator in my truck (which is for sale, brand new alternator). So I figured I needed to charge the battery, and decided to take a drive to south Routt. What you can't see in this photo is that there was a full moon that night. I get to Finger Rock and decided that this is a good night to take some pictures. I walk up the highway, with my camera and mini-tripod, lay down on the side and wait till I hear a car coming (I wanted the tail lights). I hear a car coming and right before it gets in the frame I push the button. Turns out that this particular car is a State Trooper, who sees me laying on the side of the road. He pulls a u-turn and comes back to check what he saw on the side of the road.
"Are you OK?"
"Yep, just taking some pictures."
"Oh"
"Want to see your tail lights?"
"OK"
"Nice Picture, be careful out here"
"Thanks, sir"

The third one ducks (see two posts below).

After comparing the effects of two different intoxicants, I've decided that alcohol is more conducive to blogging (I can't believe I just used that word). Anyway, I feel as though I should have included an actual list of who I would like to have a drink with, other that Bill Murray and Kurt Vonnegut. So here is an attempt.

Clint Eastwood, I would pick his brain about being an outsider in Hollywood.
Conan O'brien, to see him drunk, and some of the best Simpons episodes, not to mention Late Night.
Margret Atwood, because The Handmaiden's Tale seems so much closer now.
Bill Clinton, he's Bill Clinton, and I bet he's a hoot to boot.
Jon Stewart, fake news, real influence.
Dave Chappelle, this guy is funny.

I could go on, I should but I'm not going to .

Local? I think not.

I'm not a local. When people ask me if I'm from here (Steamboat), I say no, I'm from Indiana. They probably mean to ask if I live here, which I do. Of course, I will tell them that I live here. Being a local or not seems to be fairly relative in this place. Some would say you have to be born here to be a local, other would say having lived here x amount of time. Whatever, I wouldn't call myself a local, I'm a Hoosier if nothing else.

And I sure as hell would never refer to myself as a "loc". Today, I heard that for the first time, ever. On the mountain. Loc? I immediately thought of loco. Geez, local is only two syllables, does it really need to be shortened? I mean, psyops for psychological operations makes sense, that phrase is a mouthful. I really hope that the word loc doesn't become a trend, god forbid if The Local became The Loc.

Two men walk into a bar

I suspect alot of us have a list in our heads of people we would like to have a drink or a meal with, and that said list is subject to change. In conversations with friends this list will come up sometimes, with various constraints, such as living or dead, actors or writers and such. I have one of these lists and it is very much subject to change. Sometimes I almost surprise myself as to who is on my list. There have always been two constants on my list, Bill Murray and Kurt Vonnegut. I don't know why, maybe because they have both mad me laugh and think, sometimes at the same time. Dang, what if they were there at the same time.

Ups and downs of falling

I was going to write about how I'm scared of falling for this wonderful woman that I've know for a while. But then I realized that it would be just a little selfindulgent and overly anaylitical.

Instead, I'm going to gush like a teenager on why I think she's groovy, hopefully without saying too much. For one, she knows how to use a twenty-five cent word the right way. Not only that, but she likes wordplay. That is a big one for me, smart people are just more interesting. As well, we have remarkable conversations in which we both really listen to each other and can remember details from times past. Then there are her eyes, so bright, just so sparkling. Sometimes I'll glance up and see her gazing at me with those eyes, with a look that I hope is just for me. Because if it is for me, I am a very lucky man.

A rebuttle, Paulie Sez

viaductfall
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

I must have Indiana on my mind, or at least I like some of the photos I took last time I was there. A while back the Local ran a Paulie Sez column (not quite years, not quite months), that ripped on Indiana. This is understandable if all he did was go to northern Indiana and then hang out in the Indianapolis airport bar. What he needs next time is a tour guide, for all three sights; actually there are more than three, but more than one house that I puked one the side of is enough.

This photo is of what the locals call the Solsberry Viaduct. According to local lore it is the longest span of it's kind in North America. I can't find any verification on this so take it for with a grain of salt. I couldn't tell you how to get there, even though I can find it when I try. If you need directions ask my brother.

On the Banks of the Wabash

indianasunset
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

This photo is from my parents back yard. You may know that this would be in Indiana. Indiana has it's moments of beauty. Maybe not striking as the in the West, but beauty none the less.

There are times, especially September and October, I miss Indiana deeply. The smells and colors are just not the same expierince here in Colorado. But why in the hell am I thinking about fall when it isn't even spring?