Speeding and the Price of Gas

Woo Hoo! I have traffic court two counties over tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Which means I have to get up super early and drive for two hours just so I can pay a judge 60 some dollars and beg for a deferment. Oh well, it should be a pretty drive and I haven't been that way in a while. I'd make a day of it but I have to go to work as soon as I get back into town. Good thing the Surly Mayfly gets good gas mileage because I'm going to cringe everytime I see a sign at a gas station with $3 a gallon on it.

Funny thing about the gas prices, when I was working at the gas station I predicted a rise in prices like this. No one believed me at the time. I wonder if any of them remember that? This has been coming for a long time. I'm not an economist but I don't see prices ever coming down very much. There are to many pressures and forces that will keep prices higher. International demand is on the rise as well as America's and according to a few we are nearing the peak in extraction. Add to that limited refining capabilities further reduced by Katrina and we have a bit of a crisis here. This country really should have started looking into alternatives a long time ago. Oh well, I'm just a mere citizen so I'll have to bear through it like the rest of us. I just hope I get another raise soon.

I will say this much, I'll be watching my speed that much more closely from now on.

Time Flies

It finally happened. I should have had in inkling of it when I was in Indy this spring with the random encounters with a couple of Ball State refugees I had. But this week over at myspace.com people from my past (Ball State) came crawling out of the woodwork. Over the years I had it in my head I would just randomly run into a few in the realworld but this is mindblowing to me. After almost fifteen years all of a sudden there they are, all over the Internet, scattered throughout the country (and yet clustered in the midwest). Admittedly, we all were using the Internet before the Web so it is only fitting that this is the way we find each other. VAX/VMS. And the more skilled (not me, I tried) were using the UNIX system. What's next, everyone I knew in Boulder? Everyone that ever left Steamboat?

What gets me is that even though it's been so long, in the photos we still look pretty much the same. Obviously we are older but the look the same none the less.

I try not to dwell on the past but this time I'm going to revel in what clear memories I have left of those times. Thankfully, the music from that time still brings some of those memories back. Either that or it's just a new chapter with old friends.

Ouch

Tonight I coughed so hard I gave myself a headache. That sucks. Today was the first day in three days that I haven't had a headache until that damn cough. How the hell does that happen anyway? I seriously think that this is the first time this has ever happened to me. Well hopefully the Tylenol will help.

From what I saw here on the Internet and a brief amount of TV news, it looks like New Orleans is done for in the short term. I hope to the death toll stays low but I suspect if relief efforts aren't fast it could quickly rise. The looting has already started as well. And I never got to go there.

Damn. My head still hurts. Time for one more smoke.

Round up

This could be one of those nights. As in there is no real focus to this post.

For instance, the juvenile side of my brain found this item really funny (just click the link). To be honest I think the copywriter of this story took some liberties with the translations.

And then there is the whole Kansas Board of Education and their decision to add Intelligent Design to the science curriculum (sorry that part belongs over in the religion department, biology is how not why). This whole idea of teaching the controversy of evolution is a sham in my eyes, as evolution itself is not the controversy. Thankfully the followers (and creators) of the Flying Spaghetti Monster have come to the rescue. If ID is to be taught in Kansas class science class rooms then proponets of the FSM want a piece. Look, I'm sympathetic to religious beliefs. In fact, over the years I've concluded that at some point a higher intelligence probably started this whole thing off. But I don't think it belongs in a science class. Higher powers are beliefs, science is facts or at least reproducible results.

And of course what would tonight be without a couple of videos? Here's a cool one of the Earth spinning and flying away. Or how about a high speed camera video of a ball dropping in sand?

Oh yeah and as always PostSecret updates every Sunday.

Ah...the weekend

It seems I was busy this weekend but the truth is that I did very little. Friday night was the big night, with The Local benefit party and all. Blessedly I made home safely (once again with the help of my trusty steed) and then paid for it the entire next day. Never again will I put gin into my system. Slowly I am recognizing there are a few things I just can't ingest. Apparently gin is one of them. Saturday ended up being a complete wash, I really did nothing.

Today though I felt fine, slept late, felt rested. Went to brunch with some friends and then decided to go to Silverthorne and skate. It had been a while but whatever. The thing is, I felt fairly on even though my body and the sun were conspiring against me. As soon as I started skating I got a headache and a stomachache. Damn, a double attack. But I just kept going. It was a cool day, for a while it was just me and one other guy with the park to ourselves. Then a family showed up. But every member of this family skated and skated well. Mom, Dad and the two kids. All ripping it. It was a sight to behold. Watching the mom helped clue me in to some newer lines for me to try and it seemed to pay off. As some of you know, I am a crappy skater but I do enjoy it and at least in Silverthorne no one makes fun of me.

Waxing (but not my snowboard)

I'm having one of those nostalgic moments tonight where I want to have a big party that everyone of my friends from the past and present are in attendance. It would be interesting to see my various worlds collide. I'd be curious to see how the people from my past would react to my friends here in Steamboat. Actually I think most everyone would get along wonderfully as I've always had friends of a high caliber (or at least I like to think so). I'm sure there would be some interesting coincidences and conversations. I'd need a really big place I suspect and some format that could cross all of the lines.

What really got me started on this I think was the creation of the Crankpin page over at myspace. Crankpin was a band that existed during the years I was in college (in Muncie, Indiana) and they definitely provided a considerable part of the soundtrack for those years. When I saw the bulletin announcing the page I was taken back almost fifteen years. Taken back to nights of shows at the Flying Tomato, to basements listening to bands that are now legendary in some circles and coming home to listen to Crankpin practicing in the living room on occasion.

And it seems this is the year that people that I knew from those days are resurfacing. Or at least I have some kind of digital connection to them now (mostly through myspace). It's good to reestablish old connections, it was really cool to do that when I was Indy last time (and doing in realspace as opposed to online, was awesome). Now if I could only find some of those people from my Boulder days.

Damn, maybe I could get Crankpin to play at my party.

Maybe it is a cure

After a couple of Hot Toddies and whiskeys I feel better than I have in the last few days. Now if I could only type. Yet I still have to go to the dark room again tonight. Sam and I are going to replace every outlet on that circuit this weekend in the hope that it will fix the problem.

I managed to screw a couple of things up at work while I was sick. I guess that comes with the territory, I probably should have just gone home but I need the hours. I'm not to the point where I can just skip out on work anytime I feel sick. It is weird to finally have a job where that is actually an option. For the last ten years I've just gone to work no matter how crappy I felt. I can't even imagine not going to work just because I'm feeling a little sick. Hell, at the last jobs I've puked at work and it wasn't drinking related (and I don't puke that often when I drink).

Tonight was Juli's birthday so we went out. If it wasn't because of that I would have stayed in. It was good to get out, though. I had a few good conversations and saw the town freak who weirds me out everytime I see him. Ever since he tried to steal my camera I've been a little leery around him (I think he may be a fugitive or a total mental case). He's one of those guys that always comes up and tries to get in between you and whoever you're talking to and then slinks away when you ignore him. If he wasn't such a creep I would possibly be inclined to talked to him but his creepiness is full on. To the point where no one will talk to him anymore because they've all been weirded out by him.

Time for bed, I hope.

Big Brother in Utah

Go figure it happened in Utah over the weekend. It seems that about 90 well armed police officers raided a rave party in the Spanish Fork area of Utah County. Wikinews has a good account of what transpired here. Many of the attendees say that the police acted in a rather heavy handed manner. Busting a rave with semi-automatic weapons, gas masks and camouflage could quite possibly have me thinking the same thing. There are a few witness accounts including this one at Kos. There is also at least one bit of video footage online currently. Just remember it's big so if you're on dial-up don't click that link.

It shouldn't surprise me that this happened in Utah being as a conservative state as it is but it does. Or at least the show of force that was exhibited does surprise me. Admittedly, I've been out of that scene for more than a decade and haven't been keeping up at all. It seems to me that this incident is just another example of the police state that we are allowing to grow in this country due to our complacency. It can start by targeting so-called undesirables and outcasts but then slowly creeps into our daily lives. In a large way these types are our first line of defense against the coming police state that no one notices. Until it's to late. I hope there are some lawsuits in this case that judgments will go against the various police agencies involved.

Of course the creeping police state started long before this. One could date it back to the Seventies or the creation of the DEA and quite possibly even farther back (Prohibition even?). But I've been noticing it more and more in the last five years or so. The phrase "9/11 changed everything" comes to mind as the moment when many Americans decided they were OK with more of a police state. It makes me very close to allowing my paranoia to slip in.

I just have no ideas about how to push back. I doubt if one could get elected on a fewer police platform. Too many people have never learned Yoda's lesson and let the fear take over.

Any ideas?

Sickness and dreams

I hate the feeling of starting to feel sick. At some point today I started feeling it in the throat and as the day progessed I could feel it creeping up on me. Hopefully this is just one of those 24 hour things. I should have known last night when I kept waking up every hour or so that something was going on.

The strange thing about last night was that everytime I would fall back asleep I would go back to the same dream. Of course, I don't remember the details other than a few. Such as everyone except one woman were people I knew. Not only that but this unknown female was rather clear. Most of the time when I dream and there are unfamiliar people they are a bit fuzzy. But last night this woman was clear, if I could draw I think I might be able to draw her with a fair amount of detail. And she even had a name that I still remember. It's a little freaky for me as I generally don't even remember fragments of dreams.

I don't know what this dream could mean. There was no discernible plot to it and if there was it has long been forgotten to the rythymn's of wakefulness. And I really don't put much stock in the idea that dreams are a predictor of anything other than maybe mental state. The idea that dreams are hints to the future seems rather farfetched to me.

What I do know is that I don't want to be sick and I want the power restored in my room at night so I can listen to music.

Pervs

Apparently I got hit by the seedy side of the Internet over the weekend. Actually it started on Friday. I have a hit counter installed here that shows all kind of info including what keyword searches people use to get here. It seems that this post from early this month got all of the hits. And all of the search terms that landed on that page were for "the story of Davidito" plus some where that and images or photos. Considering my dim view of most of humanity, I can only guess they had naughty reasons to be searching for that. Well some media source could have mentioned it. It just disturbs me because I don't want to end up in some kind of kiddie porn investigation when all I did was write about something that caught my interest. So if someone who landed here due to that search would like to explain it, I'd be more than willing to read it.

No light and a family tree

The last couple of nights my room as been a little disturbing. I can't turn any lights on so I've been reduce to candles and a headlamp for light. That stupid circuit keeps going out. Hopefully someone will come and look at it soon. The thing that really bums me out about it is I can't listen to any music while I fall asleep. Or even the BBC. Oh well, I can't do anything about so I'll just have to make do.

Today I spent a fair amount of time trying to look into my Scottish roots. And I got no farther than I had before, in fact I think I'm even less sure as to where my name comes from than I was before. Part of this is complicated by being an American, both sides of my family have been in this country for a long time. This spring, thanks to my father, I discovered we have a fourth or fifth generation grandfather who was off the boat from Ireland. He was the most recent immigrant on that side of the family. My mothers side has been here probably even longer, her family has been in the same valley in Pennsylvania for close to 400 years.

It would be cool to know which Scot clan I've descended from. Until tonight I was under the impression that it was clan MacDonald but now I'm not so sure. Shoot, I guess I'll be digging some more the next time I'm in Indiana.

The night life

I'm attempting to sit here and watch the White Stripes Under Blackpool Lights DVD. But every couple of seconds I want to just jump around with my fists in the air. Holy Geez! I think I'm in love with Meg White. Dr. Caddell loaned me this disc and I've been putting it off. Now I just wonder if there is a way that I can copy the audio of this thing. Damn, it's like Led Zepplin for the 00's with no bass player no less. And no Stairway to Heaven type ballads. I need to go see these peeps live methinks.

Beyond that I'm beginning to wonder if my disinterest in the opposite sex is actually working to my advantage. As all of you regular readers know, I've completely given up but the last couple of nights have been surprisingly active. Hell, I ended up getting a digit or two tonight and that never happens to the Surly Monkey. I couldn't do that if I tried and truth be told I didn't. It's a fact that I'm so beyond trying that you can make all the jokes you want and it doesn't even phase me. I guess the true test is if I actually call those numbers. Seemingly taking advantage of those numbers takes some form of courage and who know if the monkey has what it takes. Of course, after the call would be the point that money comes into play. And the truth is that this monkey just wants to settle his debts and blow this popsicle stand of a town.

Dark ages

Sometimes modern technology is just as much of a curse as a it is a blessing. Last night when I was getting ready to go to bed I went to turn on the lamp by my bed and the whole circuit went dead. Fine, it happened before and came on later which it did. But then this morning I turned on the TV to play some Playstation and it knocked out the circuit again. That was seven hours ago and it's still not back on. Damn. Now I have to scurry around before dark and get everything in it's place. Hopefully it's something simple like a crossed wire in an outlet. But it is a bit inconvenient.

Not only that but the other computer in the house doesn't want turn on properly. The hardrive will fire up but not the display. It's one of those early generation iMac (clamshell blue) G3. A fine computer but a little old. My guess is there is some kind of loose connection but what do I know?

Maybe there is something to this full moon thing after all.

Again, the moon

augustmoon3
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

Yeah, it almost seems like a monthly occurrence that the moon catches my eye. I suspect it's closer to every 28 days as that is the cycle we see. The thing is I've begun to make a habit of trying to get outside and take some photos of it for the last couple of full ones. As long as the weather is conducive that is.

And what a odd night, full moon nights seem to be that way. I don't even know if I can put it into words without giving away too much. Put it this way, I got a surprising email today and an equally surprising evening. I kind of wish I could go into more detail but I don't want to jinx myself and you all know I don't name names. Hey but I did ride my bike no-handed for almost a quarter mile on the way home. I was excited.

Getting fuller

The moon is almost full tonight. There is a 3/4 moon I can see through the slats in the blinds. Some night soon I'll have to get in my car and try to find a good spot to take some full moon photos. I know there are a few, I go by them but never remember when it comes time to find them. Now I'm beginning to wish my 35mm camera worked. The photo department has been sadly lacking lately, it seems that side needs a little talk.

Geez, looking at it from here, it looks like I can see it filling out. If I were on drugs I'd say I need a break. Surely it's an illusion but it is rather convincing at this point. That's it, I should go to bed.

Movies and the comics

It seems that in one way or another, comic books one way or another have been a thing for me in the last couple days. For instance, last night I was led to read about Swamp Thing and Man-Thing which were two plant based comic characters of the early seventies. Eventually D.C. Comic's Swamp Thing was one of (if not the) first to break away from the Comics Code of the day and make a comic series for adults. Man-Thing on the other hand was a less complex character who none the less had some interesting powers nonetheless. I vaguely remember reading both of these titles at various barbershops as a kid. And if my memory serves, Swamp Thing made the bigger impression. Possibly at that age even I could recognize that the more complex storylines were more interesting. Hell, until last night I didn't even remember the name of Man-Thing and was half convinced that Swamp Thing was a Marvel title.

In addition to the various plant things lurking in the swamps, tonight I watched Sin City for the first time. Wow. My continuum for movies adapted from comic books has changed even though I never read the Sin City comic book. From now on my comic-to-film scale will consist of Sin City at the top and Daredevil. I'd say The Hulk at the bottom but the action was better than Daredevil, plus Ben Affleck has annoyed me for the last few years. Matt Damon would make a better Daredevil but not Keanu Reeves (thank god all he's contributed to the comic book thing was Constantine, which was better than Daredevil. Sheesh). I haven't seen the new Fantastic Four movie but I've heard not to expect a lot. All I can say is please, please start having crossover movies soon.

Those darker forces just ain't real

I had that sense of dread again when I woke up this morning. I really don't know where it comes from but it freaks me out when it comes out of nowhere. It hadn't been happening much at all or if it had I wasn't noticing it. Even stranger is that it doesn't even last that long. For maybe ten minutes after I get out of bed it will be there, strongly at first and then it slowly ebbs. As I've said here before, I have a pretty good idea what causes it. But as to why this is a manifestation of the condition is beyond me. Thankfully, it goes away and by the time I leave the house it is mostly forgotten.

It makes me wonder, how many people out there wake up like this? And is it worse for people who feel completely trapped by their lives? It is hard to imagine going through life never even considering that dropping it all and leaving is never an option. Or is it fear of a different sort? Possibly a partial media induced fear, that makes people far more paranoid than they should be. Paranoia is not that fun as I know from experience and I was nowhere near as bad (put it this way, I never made that tin foil hat) as many out there.

When I wake up like that I just need to shake my head and remember that there is only so much in my world that I create. All the rest is out of my hands.

It's a plot

The conspiratorial part of my mind that I thought I had left behind has been acting up again lately. Thankfully, I've left behind the "Freemasons run the country" type of thinking. However, it seems I am clinging to less overwhelming conspiracies that involve certain political, religious and corporate groups. Instead of ruling the world these groups have openly stated that they want to remake the world to shape there ideology. Unfortunately, many of these people are running the country and dragging us into their distorted vision of how the world should work. Not that my vision is any better, but I suspect I could find a better use for the lives and treasure we are expending as a country right now.

This is what I get for reading about comic books all night and then reading the news.

The next President of the United States

Another great Internet rumor has been flying around this weekend. This time it's that Christopher Walken has quietly announced his intent to run for President in 2008. Of course, this to is probably a hoax but if it weren't how great would that be. Couldn't you just see him debating the other two canidates. If nothing else it would show the process for the sham it has become.

My drunken evening

I don't even know if I am sober enough to type this. Somrwhere between the house party that DJ Also Starring was spinning and Kat-n-tha-Hat was MCing and Levelz who featured DJ John Bishop, it seems I got quite intoxicated. With good reason, after the house party the DJ at the bar reminded me days (I'm looking at you BSUers). It sent me back to the day when we were all going to those raves that Gok Tezgor would throw. Yeah, it may have been an acid flashback, but this little white guy dance his little ass off. Actually I know it wasn't a flashback. I just needed some music that makes me want to dance. It started at the house party (once again thanks BA) and progressed to the bar. Of course now I can barely type thanks to the fact that the bartender knows exactly what I want to drink and pours quite generously. I really have to go skate tomorrow and sweat this stuff out.

And I totally forgot to bring my camera.

Go to bed.

There was a time when I could stay up as late as I do and never seem tired. Seemingly, I rarely go bed before 3 am. I don't really want to stay up that late I just do. You know what I do while staying up that late? Not much. Some nights I'll find a theme and follow with a whole night of Internet research. Or listen to tunes, watch a movie and maybe watch some tv. Although the nights learning about a topic can be cool but that's just because I'm a dork and like learning more trivia.

I've often wondered what why it is I stay up late. My mother is a bit of a night owl and I think my sister is as well (are you?). Of course, my father goes to bed super early so it's probably not genetics. My best guess is that it is from years of working until late in the evening or early in the morning. And there is still no real reason to reset my rhythms. I could easily sleep later that I do and make it to work on time.

The beers and other drinks probably don't help matters. Alcohol is a depressant but the sugars in booze can keep one up.

Damn, I think I'm getting tired finally.

Internet Rumors

Apparently, yesterday the blog portion of the Internet was abuzz with rumors that Dear Leader and a host of administration officials were indicted in relation to lies leading up to the war in Iraq. It seems that this article from Artic Beacon was the starting point for the rumor. Interestingly enough the same site has another piece claiming that Justice John Paul Stevens is in Chicago trying to prevent a catastrophe in the making.

Oh, if this were only true! I've longed to see a Bush indicted (or impeached) along with most of the current administration. In private conversations for some years now I've expressed the view that I see parallels to fascist movements inside this administration. The ties to the corporate world, the rise of nationalist inspired propaganda, the creeping reduction of civil liberties and the attacks on dissenters all smell of a sneaking form of fascism to me. And I use the word fascism carefully. Unlike many out there I will not compare these guys to the Nazis.

I guess we'll see if there really is an article in Newsweek on Monday.

Keanu Reeves is God's messenger?

So tonight we watched Constantine which was watchable but I don't know if I'd recommend it. Truth be told I had heard so many horrible things about this movie, I expect a lot worse.

The thing that struck me is as terrible of an actor as Keanu Reeves is, he seemingly finds himself in roles that cast him in the middle of some kind of divine battle. Whether it's Devil's Advocate, Bill & Ted's Bogus Adventure and the Matrix there he is battling for his soul or in the midst of good and evil or both. How does he get these roles? Maybe Keanu has been chosen as an emissary of God. In the future will he be venerated as a saint due to his roles in movies? It just seems funny to me that of all actors he is many times the one who ends up representing the side of the holy. There as to be other actors that can play these roles better (although, he was good as Neo). It's got me scratching my head.

Those guys

Before I nod off tonight, if you've been reading Called Out at Home stop by and congratulate Jackass Jimmy on his 100th post.

I barely even keep track of my post count. I think I'm in the 160's area. Maybe I'll have to celebrate my 200th or something. Anyway it's a pretty entertaining post, with pictures and captions even.

While your at it stop by and say hi to Paradox over at Global Credit Union of Paradox. He has some great stuff as well. His Free Paint Job made me laugh so much I had to close the browser when I was at work.

We all like comments, so if you see something you like (or despise) leave us a comment.

Oh yeah and don't forget that Postsecret.com updates every Sunday.

Staying home

And to think I almost went out tonight. I really was going to go but the bottle of Beam showed it's face in the hands of Hoth. Screw hanging out at the bar with the female help from Johnny's (even if they are cute). Comedy Central was on and now a live Pixies from 1988. Sheesh talk about taking in way back. And the quality is actually really good.

Even though I have only owned one of their albums I still really, really like them. I thought (at the time) that they were one of those bands that were going to revolutionize Rock-n-Roll along with a host of other bands that were active during that time and like the Pixies have never really got the credit they deserved. It was still a time when hair/butt rock and the popsynth dredge (I shouldn't say that, there were some good songs out of popsynth) ruled the airwaves. But while they ruled the airwaves there were bands were doing stuff is still influencing what is being played today. In addition to the Pixies, we had Fugazi, Sonic Youth, Ministry, Swervedriver, Ride, Stone Roses and so many more that I can't name or remember right now. Many of the bands are hot on the indie and alt scenes are descendants of these and the other bands that came from this time. I know, I know Nirvana broke the door wide open. But it was more than Nirvana. It really felt the ground was shifting beneath us.

Blasts from the past

My buddy from college (the missing link) just emailed me a bunch of photos from our first and second years there. Man did we look young, and early 90's fashions in the Midwest left a lot to be desired. Really it was still the 80's there other than the music. The Thompson Twins ans Howard Jones had been long left behind. It's so odd to see pictures from those days, most of those faces I haven't seen in close to twelve years and it makes me wonder what they look like now.

Things like that remind me that although I don't feel it every day, I am getting older. When I look in the mirror I don't see that nineteen or twenty-year old kid anymore. But in the same breath I see the same face that I've seen everyday for almost 34 years. And looking everyday you don't see the changes that you see in photos. Even my expressions have changed a bit. Wow, getting older.

Summer then Winter

The first inkling of winter arose today when I signed up for my season pass. I have barely thought about the upcoming winter other than is could quite easily be my last here in Steamboat. I'm hurting for new equipment but I don't know if I'll be getting any.

For me winter is the best season here, I'm more active and feel a little more fufilled by snowboarding. This summer has been good though, I've been skating more than past summers (other than the stint in Ft. Collins). Summer is starting to wind down here even though it is the second week of August, it won't be that much longer until pants and hoodie weather. And before we know it there will be snow on the ground. At least this is the first summer in a long time that the flora has stayed green for the whole summer.

On Divorce

It seems I know a lot of people who have recently or are in the process of getting a divorce. Most of these people I've know for quite a few years so it sort of makes sense. Whereas I have never even been engaged and have barely talked of marriage in my relationships. There was a time when I thought that members of my generation were going to try and stick it out in marriages but anecdotally I was wrong. It is obvious that it is a gut wrenching thing to happen, especially for the partner who wanted to make it work.

The unfortunate part of seeing and hearing about all of these divorces is that it just encourages my current state of cynicism about relationships and men and women. Truth be told I don't want to be cynical but I just see so much of a dark side that it reinforces the cynic in me. I can accept the possibility that I'm going to be alone for a long time but I don't want to be bitter and jaded about it. And truly I try not to be. However trying and doing are two different things and I don't know how successful I am at doing it this case.

I do what I can, I listen to music that makes me smile and/or think, write this blog to get things out sometimes, take photos and generally just try to live a life. But I wonder if that is enough? From what much of the outside world tells me it seems I need to be sharing my life with someone else. Do I? Am I really missing out on something? Personally I'm not convinced but who knows.

All this reminds me of when I here someone say "there is someone out there for everyone" I immediately think bullshit. It's a nice sentiment but I highly doubt the truth in that statement. I don't even think it is mathematically possible. Although my math skills suck, so maybe it is.

Jaded as this all may sound, please believe that there is a small amount of hope inside me.

Ulysses and me

Ulysses and I
Originally uploaded by surly monkey.

Look it's me and the family dog! This is the first time I've shown myself here but there are only a few of you who don't know what I look like anyway.

The way Ulysess joined our family is a bit of a cool story. While my brother was hanging out in Hoosier National Forest he found this dog who according to his tag was named Teva (yes like the sandal). So he calls the number on the tag and the person on the other end basically said if you want him you can have him. To this day I can remember pulling up to his house in Bloomington, seeing the dog and asking my parents "Does ____ have a dog?" As far as they knew he didn't. But there he was on the lawn. After getting the story on how he was found I asked my brother if he had a name for him. There was no way this magnificent dog would be stuck with a name like Teva. He said no and I suggested Ulysess (I had just finished the Odyssey). It seemed to fit.

Needless to say the Ulysess has been part of the family ever since. Eventually he ended up with our parents due to the amount of traveling my brother did. He is quite the well loved dog over at the house although he does find himself outnumbered by the cats (and his favorite cat, Juice, died recently. They were pals and I know he misses Juice). I think everyone of us kids have some entertaining photos and film of him. As for who took this particular photo, it's up in the air. All I know is that I didn't.

Bachlorette separatists

Wow, the term "Lesbian Separatist" came up in conversation tonight. This makes me laugh because a couple of months I was researching this same topic as possible post material but gave up because it just seemed like so much and so involved. Truth be told I probably abandoned it in favor of some kind drunken ramblings as I am prone to do. The whole concept is foreign to me and that's ok, the only part that offends me is the whole "men are mutants" thing. Which as far as I can tell means I am a rapist just because I was born with a penis. Thanks.

Of course this is the kind of thing that can come up when you spend the night bar hopping and looking for Guinness at every bar you go to (amazingly, there are a nice handful here). Dr. Caddell and I spent the night doing that. I must say he has this great no fear way when it come to talking to people (especially those of the opposite sex (what are you doing saying that after that kind of lead-in, jackass?)). It worked at one point but it turned out to be a bachlorette party with one single woman left. I've never seen that many married women at a bachlorette party ever. But there was a self-described subclick(que?) of smokers that begged me for smokes and then wanted to hide while smoking. That was quite entertaining, and well worth the price of a few cigarettes.

Coincidentally, several of them were originally from Indiana including one who started at Ball State the year I dropped out. Hmmm.

Dear Surly

Dear Surly Monkey-

Don't worry about neglecting me, ever since you wrote that first letter I can tell you've been paying more attention to me. Why, you even rode me to work today. I can understand why you walk to work and you are right it is almost pointless to ride me there (although I do get you there faster). I've long since accepted the fact that I am here for transportation and I gladly perform that service. To be honest, I don't even really like riding down those trails (it might be a different story if you would upgrade my componentry, you cheap bastard). And I don't begrudge the skateboard at all. I would totally throw you off me if you tried that crap with me.

The only problem I have with you is that you never gave me a name. You had your car for less than a month and you named it the "Surly Mayfly". What gives? It's not that big of a deal but I do feel a bit slighted.

Anyway I am happy to serve as your trusty stead and if you ever do get a new bike please don't forget me.

Yours in service,
Your Bicycle

A night out

Tonight a circle has been completed. My Indiana circle of friends from my college days was missing a link and he finally contacted me through myspace. Hooray for that! I know that there are still a few links missing but this guy was a key part of the chain.

At some point at work, us remaining males decided to go out for drinks after work. Man, the margs are strong at Fiesta Jalesico or maybe it was just two pitchers between three people. It's been a long time since I've had a job where I can go out for drinks with the boys after work. And that is a good thing.

Of course there was no way I could stay home after all of those margs so I hopped on my bike and did a small amount of bar hopping. As you may know, my opinion of the bar scene in this town is pretty low but tonight I actually had fun. There was a rather engaging conversation with a young lady that definitely made it better. Truth be told I wouldn't mind talking to her again.

And of course my trusty stead (which I have never named) guided me home with seamless guidance.

Rain Wash

Tonight it rained, for a while even heavily. This is a good thing as it's been trying to rain all day. It may have mentioned here before but rainstorms are one thing that I miss. It seems that it rarely rains here (especially in the last so many years of drought) but this current summer seems to be wetter (except for July).

There are certain types of imagery that I associate with rain. Depending on how the rain is falling and where I'm standing determines which images appear. Tonight's storm felt like it was washing away things. Which things, I'm not sure but washing away nonetheless. There seems to be a cleansing power to rain and it seems tonight there may have been a strong cleansing. Not only that but hopefully it washed all of that sap off of my windshield.

Christ Puncher Caucus

Sometimes cheap beer can be dangerous. It goes down like water and before you know it you've had too much. Thankfully tonight the cut off was two. But the after part is catching up to me.

Truth be told, another problem with those cheap beers is they can leave your head completely devoid of ideas. I could have sworn I had a good idea for tonight but if I did it has completely escaped me.

The Christ Puncher Caucus (or Christ Punchers depending on who you ask) had four members of the regular ride to Mazolla's tonight. Slowly our ranks are gaining. It is our in-joke of a bike gang. Of course the name is taken from a Simpson quote.

The only thing I can say of tonight is take a closer look at your alleys.

Signs of Aging?

An album you may have missed: Swervedriver's Raise. Raise, released in 1991, was Swervedriver's debut album. Originally pegged as a shoegazer band, Raise was not completely a shoegazer (in the U.K. at least) album. It has a very textured but straight ahead rock feel and yet more layers than a Taco Bell Burrito. The only reason I even bring this album up is that I played it at work and instantly remembered why this has been one of my favorite albums for the last thirteen years. If you can find a copy buy it. Or make me sit down and burn it for you.

Not only have I been digging into the nostaglia section of my CD collection but I've been accused of liking "old guy" music by listening and enjoying Mates of State. I can't help it if I enjoy a poppy drum and organ band. And it seems to make it worse that they are married. The thing is, the next time they come within three hours (I'm looking at you Front Range) of here I'll be there and dancing my melancholy butt off.

Religion and The Family

For many years I've had a fascination with religion. Of all the subjects I have a limited knowledge of I'd have to say that religion (and mythology) is one of my strongest areas. I've tried not to limit myself to the monotheism but given my cultural upbringing I've better versed (pardon the pun) in them and in particular Christianity and it's various offshoots. Unlike a lot of people I know, I hold the view that religion is relatively harmless and in most cases can be quite helpful to various practioners. However, there are groups that are dangerous, many times to the adherents and sometimes to the outside (to their) world. Obviously, extremist groups are dangerous to the rest of the world (and this is means extremists of all faiths). There are plenty of stories out there about extremists groups these days so I'm going to let the experts handle that. My only comment is there seems to be a lack of coverage on Christian and Jewish extremist groups although it is true they don't seem to blow up as many bombs.

In the past week I caught the scent of a group "the Family" which seems harmful to its believers or at least the children of the believers. The Family was originally called Children of God and was formed in Huntington Beach, California in 1968. Many of the early converts were actively recruited from the hippie movement. They preached a message against "the system" which was the outside world and would probably loosely translate to "Corporate America" these days. As the years went on another aspect was a practice of liberal sexuality. By 1974 it led to a form of evangelism called Flirty Fishing where women would witness to lonely men using everything including sex.

Members of The Family lived (and still live) in communes sprinkled around the world. Many are children of Flirty Fishing. It appears there were quite a few instances of abuse, sexual or otherwise. Exposing children to sex at an early age was encouraged in the earlier years of the church as shown in "The Story of Davidito". Davidito's whose real name was Ricky Rodriguez whose life eventually ended in tragedy. After leaving The Family he stabbed his former nanny (who he blamed for some of his abuse) and shortly after killed himself.

Since the mid 1980's The Family has soften their sexual practices and promised to excommunicate anyone who abuses children in anyway. However there are many who claim that those rules have in many instances been ignored.