Springtime in the rockies

spring time in the rockies
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

Yep, it's almost May and there is an inch of snow on my truck. Of course by now I'm used to it and I'm not complaining. In fact I think it is kind of funny. The only month I've never seen it snow is August and I'm sure if I stay out here long enough I'll see that as well.

The only problem is that it is putting a crimp in my plans to replace the muffler on the truck so I can sell the damn thing. But that's ok, it'll get done one way or another.

Not only that, I haven't posted a photo in a while. Actually I hope it does warm up by Sunday because I'm supposed to go to a wedding and I don't really want to be cold and wet.

yeah yeah yeah

Apparently I've acheived a fair amount of local fame in the last several months. Actually, I've sure that is a bit of an overstatement but that's what I tell myself, and Shawny at Mocha's tells me that as well. The thing is I've had more ink in the local press than I have in my entire life. Between the contest in the Local, the article in the Pilot and some other stuff in Local (mostly a couple of cover photos I've shot), I've had some press. Which is a little weird for me. There's never been a point in my life where people have said to me "I liked the article about you", until now. To tell the truth I have no idea where I am going with this...I guess it's just interesting and new to me.

Can I mention Sonic Youth just one more time? Every so often I go on a binge of listening to everything by them that I own. Tonight is Dirty. Which to me is one of their best, or at least the best of the ones that I own. The rawness from their ealier stuff is still very much present, and the proto-grunge sound they help found is at it's peak on this album. I should clarify by saying that I don't in any way consider Sonic Youth grunge, but I think they were very infuential with the grunge bands of that time. This album is less jazzy than their newer albums, which I've alluded to in earlier posts. Ok, I'll try and not write about Sonic Youth for at least a month.

Boredom and anxiety set in

This godforsaken hellhole (the gas station, and no it's not really that bad) is so boring right now. I'm ready to be done with it and get on the road. Mud season has set in fully, the rain is finally here which is a good thing. The green is really starting to come through. Rats, someone is going to have to take pictures for me while I am gone and capture the creeping greenery of the valley.

As for packing I am nowhere near where I wanted to be hopefully I'll knock a bunch out tomorrow. Like I said at least most of it is already in boxes.

My skills are lacking (no q)

Dang, LeeAnn beat me in Scrabble tonight, although I still say if she wasn't missing tiles I may have beat her. I want a rematch on my board, dammit. I know my set has the Q. Oh well, she schooled me and now my tail is between my legs. So much for IM smack talking.

The one thing she does have is an almost full collection of Sonic Youth, except for Ciccone Youth and maybe Evol. And those may be hard to find, especially Ciccone Youth. Well there's MasterDik but who the hell has that. I've only heard of it. Hell, she has more albums by Sonic Youth than I've ever owned. And I've bought Daydream Nation three times now.

To be honest I really didn't want to descend into writing about Sonic Youth again, because I finally think absorbed Pinback's Offcell EP. For a thirty minute EP it really packs a nice kick, and seems to have a flow throughout each song that ties the whole thing together. Definitely one of those that should be listened to in one sitting. I know I've mentioned before how much I like these guys, they write a helluva song and incorporate many pop elements yet are still serious. I'm guessing that this EP was a little more experimental for them with the sounds that provide the continuity between the tracks. Whatever, it works. If you see it, grab it; it could be the best five songs recorded in 2003 (so what, I'm behind).

Update: LeeAnn actually does own Evol and it's on vinyl no less!

Secrets...has been updated

One of my favorite sites ever Post Secrets updates every Sunday. New stuff every week. If you only click one link off of here please click that one. It is one awesome project.

Free the Gnomes...or at least take one on vacation!

Well it's come to this...lawn gnomes! Actually their kind of cool with their little cherubic faces and whimsical poses. And they make great prank targets (please, please don't destroy them). Most of you are aware of the fabulous vacations they can take. But did you know they have parties as well? Actually, if any of you Steamboat readers want to liberate one for me, I'll take in on a less fabulous vacation, as in I highly doubt I'll see Paris Hilton in Indiana. Maybe John Mellencamp. If anyone finds one before May 1st, email me.

Of course, if I had a scanner I could show you the trips my former roommate's Darth Vader coffee mug took. Someday.

Packing...ugh

Spread out through my living room are piece of my personal history here in Colorado. Mostly t-shirts. Every time I pack up to move, I go through this ritual of going through and trying to get rid of some more things. I don't do a very good job of it, there are shirts that I should just get rid of and yet I can't. My green Alien Workshop shirt with an alien (a gray) and the word "believe" below, I can't get rid of. Really I should, it has so many holes and is barely wearable but I know I'll regret it if I do. The donation pile is getting decently sized, there is even a shirt that is close to fifteen years old in there (Red Hot Chili Peppers). Someone will score at Lift-Up after I drop it off.

Worse than the clothes are the random pieces of paper. Letters, bills, receipts and other strange things I rarely throw them away. And when I go to pack I have to read each one. And the photos take forever although the last two years worth is on a hardrive so that won't be as bad this time.

I'm doing better though, the last two moves I never took most of the stuff out of the boxes. I have years of skate and punk rock magazines saved in some of those boxes. Not that their really worth something, but they are a part of my history and I just can't throw them out. Although I think this time they'll end up in my parents basement until I'm more settled.

At least I'm just moving next door this time.

Welcome newcomers

Hey, welcome to this little corner of the WWW. Since Friday my hit counter is off the chart for this thing and I can only assume it is due to Autumn's Picks. And I figure a few of you are reading this because of the Steamboat Pilot story. Anyway, look around, check out the archives, click some links and leave a comment if something strikes your fancy. And don't worry I don't bite. It's all ones and zeros anyway (geek joke for ya).

PS. I also have more photos over at Flickr, feel free to check them out as well.

Adios

Today I said goodbye to some friends. After living here I'm pretty much used to it, but Craig has been a constant in my tenure here in Steamboat. It'll be strange not seeing him around town and the infrequent times I step foot in Mazzola's and Harwigs. Of course I may run into him before he really leaves. I've always know that this is a somewhat transient town, but after you've seen the same faces for damn near a decade you forget that they may leave. We all leave, but many of us come back. I did. Due to a broken heart, but yet I still returned. Even though I'm staying, I am trying to change it up by quitting my job (anyone need a blogger or photographer?). Well no matter what I wish him and Jennie luck in their next life.

Wading in

Generally I stay away from politics here as I feel I don't have well thought out political opinions. However, I am going to make an exception tonight because I like to see someone stand up to a powerful group. I'm talking about Ken Salazar not laying down when Focus on the Family's political wing decided to launch adds here in Colorado which attack him. Salazar and James Dobson (who founded Focus on the Family and is the new Fundamentalist Christian kingmaker) have been trading barbs all week. And for once a Democrat is coming forward as a man of faith. Which to me is refreshing.

Personally I've disliked Dobson for years, everytime I've heard him speak he come across as a huckster to me. In addition I find his version of Christianity to be rather rigid and unforgiving. His strong affiliation with "Dr." Laura bothers me as well.

I have no problem with Christians in general, if fact many of my morals come from eighteen years of attending church. But there are certain groups that scare me and the Colorado Springs group is one of them. They want the power to run the country and they will not stop until they achieve that goal. If they do any of us who do not believe the way they do are in for a world of hurt.

Anyway, a big amen to Ken Salazar for standing up to this theological bully. The more I hear about our freshman senator, the more I like him (well except for the bankruptcy bill).

This is change!?

For once I'm going to live up the title of this here blog. Because I am still surly about a certain customer. A little background: I used to have a serious problem with people who paid in all change, but I got over it. Until tonight. This woman came in, who I've always had a bit of a dislike of and whipped out this bag of quarters. Now of all the denominations of change, quarters I mind the least. They're easiest to count and they leave the draw quickly. But she had $30 in gas and was determined to pay for it in all quarters. Quarters! Thirty dollars! Who in their right mind lugs around thirty dollars in quarters? Well, unless they are on their way to the bank to turn them into dollars. She claimed it was laundry money and that she spends $60 on laundry a week. Hell if that's the case you could buy a washer and dryer in about a month and a half. Further more she reeked of cheap booze and cigarettes (I should have called her in on a DUI). As I'm scowling and asking her if she has a different method of payment, she had a card but didn't want to use it, she proceed to tell me to smile. Hah, I'll smile at just about everyone, but when you tell me to smile...no dice.

I guess the only bright spot is we won't have to open quarters for a while. Oh, and since I'm quitting I won't ever have to see her again.

Post Office follies

Thank God for memepool! If it wasn't for them, I would have never known about CameraMail. And that's not even the original. This idea is so cool I think I'm going to try it out, but mail it to myself to and from Indiana. I promise to share any results.

But that's not all! There is even more fun to be had with the USPS. From Annals of Improbable Research comes Postal Experiments where their mailing specialist would mail various objects including, coconuts, bricks (wrapped and unwrapped), a feather duster and a ski. Apparently they achieved a 64% delivery rate which sort of surprised me. This all just tells me if nothing else the US has the best postal system ever.

This could get me in trouble

Last Sunday's Steamboat Pilot had an article about how the county commissioners are reviewing the funding for GRAMNET (Grand, Routt and Moffat Narcotics Enforcement Team). Personally I'd like to see their funding cut as I've always had the feeling they are a kind of cowboy outfit, at least for this area. Plus according to vague numbers GRAMNET provided to the commissioners led me to believe they tend to target marijuana more than they should. Yes, marijuana is illegal but barely here in Colorado. If the marijuana arrest end up to be just simple possession charges then GRAMNET is truly wasting taxpayer money. Especially considering possession is a $150 fine. Additionally there have been stories for years floating around up here about the heavy handed tactic they use, which if are true border on unconstitutional.

If GRAMNET were appeared to be actively targeting the methamphetime problem up here, I would be more inclined to support their mission. As it is, it seems that most of their meth and coke bust are based on blind luck and informants. If we are giving them that much money it would be nice to see some arrest based on indepth investigations and real undercover operations. And if arrest are occurring out of these investigations we should be hearing about it.

Back in the day

Having this wireless card in my computer sort of reminds me of the days after I had dropped college. At the time my student account was still active and I still could get email and do whatever else it was I did online back then. To date myself let's just say this was a couple of years before the advent of the World Wide Web. So to access my account I would have to poach computer labs at other schools in Indy or offices that were connected to the Internet. The school labs were easy as long as they didn't ask for an ID. Offices were a little harder as they usually don't like strangers coming in and using their computers. Of course as soon as they canceled my student account that all ended. Until the Web started. After setting up a free email account (which I think I still have), I'd still have to poach the CU labs or other facilities in Boulder. You had to really be sneaky to get into the CU labs.

There are some parallels today, with trying to find open hotspots and all. It does feel a bit similar although not quite as sneaky. As some of us know, however, one can sneak onto someone's network because it was left inadvertently open. Which really does remind me of those days in a way.

A bit later

slp1
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

This is from the Aggie the night the Plagiarists opened up for No Means No. Maybe not the best one I took but it does give a sense of scale. Definitely the biggest stage they've played on yet. There are a few more on the flickr account, I've also made a set of the Plagiarists which I'll be adding to as well.

Don't forget, if you're in Steamboat on April 30th they will be playing the Rio along with Rusty Shackleford. Come on by, it's a joint Liana's Birthday and Surly Monkey is Quitting His Job party. Don't worry I'll still be Surly Monkey, just not a Surly Pump Monkey. And I am not changing the name of this here blog.

The greatest song in the world

Dammit, I had this wonderful post all ready it was brilliant. The greatest thing written in the American language and then Firefox locked up on me. Hey stop gloating Explorer users! Stop it! Actually it was a pretty lame post anyway. I still hear you snickering. Jerks.

Anyway, well the warm weather has taken a bit of a hiatus but I know it'll be back. It's snowing tonight so at least I can test the Surly Mayfly in snow. I know it rocks on dry pavement. For an old car at least.

On thing I learned on my weekend adventure is that it is a lot harder to take a photo out of the sunroof than I thought. I truly thought it would be easy. Well I do have a long trip coming up that I can practice. Then I can show you people lovely shots of the Kansas highway from my sunroof. Actually there is this one ten mile part of Kansas that is kind of cool. But the rest of the state pretty much blows, in more than one way.

Daylight

This is strange for me to be doing this during the day. Usually I write in the darkest of night and under the infuence of some kind of alcohol. I think I ramble on better when tipsy. Maybe, or the day just provides more distractions.

Ok I just asked a couple of people and they had some ideas but those were way to heady for me right now.

Two hours later and a new location. At least here I can see the weather rolling in. It looks like it could snow today.

I probably should have mentioned in the last post that the Plagairsts sounded freaking great over the weekend. Especially at the Aggie, with the awesome sound system in the Aggie.

Returned alive

Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

Well I made it back alive, just barely. Remember the old saying "Party till you puke"? Apparently I took it to heart on the first night. But I place the blame squarely on Carl (see bottom photo) it was he who insisted on that last shot of Maker's. That is what sent me praying to the porcelain god.

The drive down in my new car was great. I only had to but three gallons in it at the Pilot in Laramie, sweet. Now the car has a name: The Surly Mayfly. It's a long story and I'm not going to tell it now. All I can say it that car is many times better than my truck.

The first night Sim and Erin came out with us, I used to live with them when I lived in Ft. Collins. Us non-band members started at the Crown Pub an English pub type joint. I really should have eaten while I was there. Anyway we regrouped at the Aggie, the Plagiarists were up first. As with all opening bands at a place like that the crowd was kind of sparse but those who were there seemed to be really into the band. The other opening acts were pretty good especially The Things They Carry. Then came No Means No. I'd never really listened to them even though I've been aware of them for about fifteen years. Damn I really wish I had been listening to them longer. They were just awesome, like Rush without the bullshit. Each musician was an excellent player and the bass player really stood out, he was playing his bass like a guitar at times.

Sunday was recovery day for me. Well that and letting Leeann drag me around to shop. Ladies I'm a keeper, I didn't complain once. I finally started feeling better once I had a falafel pita and a Coke. We went back, met up with the rest of the band and went to a BBQ at Scoo and Holly's place. Scoo owns the Aggie and has known Doug for years. If you're reading this Scoo, thanks again. After that was the Surfside 7 show with Rusty Shackleford who are this great hardcore style three piece from Ft. Collins. Surfside is a very intimate setting to see a band to say the least, which actually makes up for the lack of audience. But everyone rocked out and had a good time.

Monday we went our separate ways after checking out of the hotel. I went to the skatepark and took photos of Carl which you see here. Then I drove back and discovered that the Surly Mayfly gets 29.66 mpg. Damn am I happy.

When the orbit shakes so do we

So bourbon is the key to loose fingers, at least for me. Finally turned of the TV and am listening to the music I've saved here on my computer. Just turned on Mastodon who are full on metal. Yeah, at this time of night it will last one song but there is just something about metal. I have this fantansy of me being a singer in a metal band sometimes. You know the one, with the long hair flailing during the guitar solo and growling into the mic.

But that can't last so back to the old standby, Sonic Youth. I can't go wrong with them. It's not like they changed my life or anything but they did change the way I listen to music. I suspect that without Sonic Youth it would have taken alot longer for me to appreciate jazz. That may sound weird to those of you who are not so familiar with them but in a way they are jazz and yet not at all. Find me and ask me sometime, I may be able to explain it. All I can say here is that it has to do with the movement of the piece.

It seems like forever

I'm finally getting out of this god forsaken valley for the weekend. I am driving my new (to me) car to Ft. Collins and joining the Plagiarists for their two show invasion of the Front Range. I haven't left this place since last October and I am ready to get the F out.

If I don't keep up with this here thing for a few days, please forgive me. Hell, half the reader base will be there anyway. I will put photos up of my little trip afterwards.

However I did get a wireless card so I am anxious to try it out. If I can find a hotspot who knows.

Geek alert

As some may know, I am a Mac user partly because Microsoft drives me to distraction. Although I will say XP is a thousand times better than ME ever was. But that's not my point. Recently I downloaded Firefox from Mozilla to try out on my Mac. Since then I've made it my default browser, Safari (for Mac) was already faster than Explorer but Firefox is even faster and I'm on a crappy dialup connection. For Windows users there are even more reasons to switch mostly security related. It does offer a lot more protection from virii and spyware, not being intergrated into the OS has some serious advantages. Mozilla also offers an email client called Thunderbird that is apparently quite good. I haven't used it as I'm quite happy with the email client that came with my computer. But I would encourge those of you still using Explorer to at least try out Firefox. It's pretty damn cool.

Clusters?

Do idiots come in clusters? After tonight I'm beginning to think they do because there was a serious idiot cluster in the gas station tonight. It started with a women who was smoking while she was pumping her gas. Smoking! Sheesh, I'm a smoker and I would never even remotely think about smoking within 25 feet of a gas pump. And then she gets irritated when I asked her to put it out. Later there was a lady who managed to break one of the pumps and I have know idea how that happened, although her grasp of English wasn't that great so that may be part of the problem.

Then came the minors trying to buy smokes. First he does the lap around the store, for some reason they always do. And then up to the counter. It went something like this:

"Can I get some smokes?"
"Got your ID?"
"I think so"

He does the mandatory look through his wallet trying to convince me he has one. This is one of two tricks minors try to get cigs, the other is just handing me the ID and hope I don't actually look at the date.

"I don't have it on me"
"No ID, no smokes."
"Are you sure? I swear I'm 18."
"Yeah right."

Then his little friend ask me if Stu still works here. That was like two years ago. Maybe he thought namedropping would score them some smokes.

I have to say I love denying smokes to minors.

Not much...

nick
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

I don't have much floating around in my little brain tonight so here is a gratuitous American Relay photo for you. I think I spent to much time reading about the health care disaster over at Political Animal tonight. The whole state of affairs in this country depresses me sometimes.

I did pick up Cursive The Ugly Organ but I haven't listened to it enough to really say anything about it. On first listen it sounds decent. I'll have to give some more time before I say anything more.

Someone wanted me to talk on camera about "what music means to me" today. That actually is a hard question.

Driving

car window
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

I may be getting a little photo happy here but I really like this shot. To be honest it is appropriate tonight because I bought a new (to me) car. Yeah it's a 91 Accord but it drives a hell of alot better than that damn Toyota pickup I've been driving for the last nine years.

The thing is, I feel a little more secure driving this car cross country than the truck. The truck is awesome for what it is and it is the first vehicle I ever had sex in but it is time to let someone else enjoy it now. It served it's purpose for me.

Anyway I'm so stoked just to have a new car. Even if it is thirteen years old.

Maker's, Birthday's and Rock-n-or-Roll

Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

Once again it was another successful The Local party. And I managed to finish off the Maker's Mark that night. Work was very fun the next day. I don't know if it was the better sound system or what but American Relay freakin' nailed it that night. I'll have some more photos of them up at my flickr.com page soon. If you're in Colorado and have a chance to see them, don't miss out they are damn worth it.

After American Relay played the Plagiarists hit the stage. Once again I think the Levelz sound system seems to make bands sound even better, because they were tight. Unfortunately the crowd wasn't dancing like they should have been. I tried to make some old/middle school moves when I wasn't shooting but I'm just one person. There was this one young lady really into them, regrettably none of my photos of her turned out.


I'd talk about Gyrus but by the time they started I was too buzzed and distracted to really do them justice. I do seem to remember several Ween covers though. And Ween is cool.

Of course

My snowboarding season ended as of this afternoon. As far as conditions went this season was mediocre at best until the very end. Although I feel I progressed a bit and I did shoot a cover shot for the Local. Of course it snows tonight and I have to work tomorrow watching the snow come down out the window. Oh well, that's how it goes.

Unrelated and yet...included in the box of goodies that Paradox sent out was a copy of The Streets A Grand Don't Come for Free. After the third listening, I have finally realized that this album is basically a rock opera. Well, not so much a rock opera as a film. In fact if there was some more violence it could be directed by Guy Ritchie. Anyway it may sound a little harsh on the first listen but once you get into the story it's pretty cool. And he does find it in the end.

On to the 21st Century

I've been an adopter of technology albeit not early, in fact my tech purchases are many times already out of date and generally used. This week I contractually joined the wireless age and got my first cell phone. And to think I used to swear I would never get one. However, I am tired of every few years having to give a different phone number out each time I move. And I can talk to all of you fools on Verizon for free.

Now if I could find a sugar momma to buy be a G5 Powerbook and a 8.0 megapixel Canon I'd be totally set.

Props

Paradox put a nice box of goodies for myself and Brett in the mail. Dang, I'm a happy little pump monkey right now. This MF Doom I'm listening to right now is freaking awesome. Damn its over, time for the next album. Anyway big props to Paradox. You are the greatest.

Curses!!!!

I just missed my hometown player on the Daily Show, Reggie Miller. I'm actually a little ticked of that I haven't been able to watch a single Pacers game this year due to work. I completely took basketball for granted when I lived in Indy. I was much more interested in chasing the girls when I was at games back then (and who wouldn't be?). But now I wish I could catch at least one, dammit. Of course if I wasn't single I may not think the same way.

The sky opens up

I'm confused. This is nothing new of course I've been confused since the age of fourteen. And still to this day it is the same thing, females. Maybe confused isn't the correct word, torn may work better. The problem is there is at least two and I don't know which way to go. Damn, this seems so high school especially at my age. One I can tell likes me but the one I am really into I can't read. So which path do I take? The (fairly) sure thing? Or continue to pursue the one that is distant yet quite possibly a really good catch? To be honest, I am a bit lonely when it come to the companionship of the opposite sex because of this I could make a poor choice. Or not. Stupid emotions. If I were really cool I'd just be a playa.

Downwinding

Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

One more week, and finally it feels like winter on the mountain. It would have been nice not to have been stuck in the gas station tonight as I could have truly gone around and enjoyed the April Fool's/Gaper Day festivities tonight. There were a few people decked out in their finest gaper ware on the hill today. Including Brett who is shown here. There all but a few straggling families and some various Denverites who have been following the ski reports left here in Steamboat other than those that live here. Finally.

The Burger Police

This is great. Some lady called the sheriff's department because she couldn't get her burger the way she wanted it. If you can listen to the audio. Idiot. Props to the dispatcher for standing her ground and putting the women in her place.