Coffee Can

It can't decide if it wants to be could or not, but apparently someone is ready with a perk-o-latin' garbage can.

- David

X-Mas St00f

Okay yes, I am a greedy bastard. I want a bunch of stuff for Christmas and my birthday. Although, most of it is useful clothing items. Does that make me a greedy and girly? Probably. Do I care? Nope.

I have created a Wishlist page with everything I could think of, all in list format and with handy URLs, including sizes and colors. I'm helpful!

I will be twenty-five in one month and two days. Has it been a year already? Good lord. I go through this every year, but I never expected to be around this long. December is always very strange for me.

Enjoy your Hump Day, and take care on the downhill rush.

- David

(Briefly) No Hands!

Just showing off, in triple-fast-forward. Happy Tuesday.

- David

Hap-Hap-Happy Thanks Givingness Time

White meat, dark meat, or meatless meat, I hope your holiday was full of fun and family.

The Gal and I visited her mother for food and three different kinds of desserts, then headed over to see her napping dad and talked over a cigar and spicy cheese dip. We smuggled a cat into our apartment. We walked our neighborhood and took many pictures. We went to bed late.

In more serious matters, today and tomorrow is Buy Nothing Day in North America and Internationally, respectively. It's a protest against the horrendous consumerism that characterizes a lot of what I think is wrong with this country.

It's a matter of degree: Getting gifts for loved ones is a Good Thing, of course it is. But when consumer debt is at 2.4 TRILLION dollars and last year people spent $455 billion they couldn't really afford, that's a Bad Thing. Why does Target and Kohl's need to open at Five in the morning? Why do people feel the need to be lined up outside the doors of these places, no matter how early or cold it is? Is it really that important? Other counties must think we're crazier than shit-house rats this time of year, and I'd have to agree with them. We have a serious problem that needs to be addressed, there's no way this can be healthy.

So just as the name says, don't buy anything today. Christmas is still a long way off; one or two days of boycotting the malls and department stores of America will not kill you or your holiday plans. If you have today off, spend some (more) time with your family instead. Go on a walk. Decorate your house. Read a book. Make hand-made Christmas cards for friends and family. Get some lovin'. Ride a bike. Relax.

Honestly, doesn't that sound better than the stuffy, over-crowded war zone the malls and outlets will be today? Just sit and recall your previous experiences. No one is happy in that situation. Stay home, have a good time instead.

If you really want to get into it, visit this page here and learn about the various ways you can be more active than keeping your turkey-laden booties out of Walmart for the day.

Viva la resistance!

- David

K - "I need to put some lotion on my face."
D - *makes the most subtle of facial expressions*
K - "Oh be quiet!"

Ninja, Vanish!

G.I. Joooooooeeeee!

The hottest conspicuous ninja you will see on the road

New awesome hat!

Have a good weekend! Be safe!

- David

Comfort.

A new joint opened up recently on the lovely High Street and after driving past it dozens of times on our way out of Ye Olde Towne and remarking we should try it, we finally did. I believe we were on our way to get Dunkin' Donuts or something and decided actual food and drunkenness would be better.

After sitting down and deciding on beer for me and red wine for the lady, I drove the truck back to our apartment to fetch my bike and Kasey's ID. This way we could get tipsy and not have to worry about driving as we could easily walk the mile or so home. Also, attempting some drunken biking sounded fun to me.

The nice waiter man who gestured for us to come inside while we were scoping the place out took our orders before I left and as soon as I came back he re-appeared with bread and wine suggestions. He brought Kasey a red and a white wine to try (on the house) and true to her nature she picked the red. I liked the white better myself, which I promptly finished for her before my beer materialized. I'm horrible at picking alcohol when I'm on the spot, so I randomly settled on something with Oktoberfest in the name. It was good, I had two tall glasses.

With my bike propped up against the window we dined, and a good time was had by all. The music selection was unexpected and enjoyable (although last time we were in there it was country) and besides a few patrons at the bar and one or two other tables we had the place to ourselves. A couple leaving the restaurant stopped to admire my bike and gave me a thumbs up through the glass. The food was excellent and I sampled fried okra for the first time. I'm tempted to get a bucket of it next time I'm in there.

Near the end of our meal a man walked by the window and came inside. He had to be at least six feet tall, even without the very high heels he was wearing, which complimented his tiny shorts and sailor's shirt and cap. Did I mention it was Halloween? He was a pro on those heels and towered over all with a big red-lipsticked smile and 5 O'clock shadow. He was adorable. The bartender was dressed as a bumble bee. Sadly Kasey and I were dressed as David & Kasey, Off-Work Couple of Spontaneity. A ton of kids scuttled and scurried down the streets in costumes holding parents' hands as we drove around. I remembered wearing a snow jacket with/under more than one Halloween outfit.

Afterwards we hobbled home. Any attempt at drunken bike-foolery was foiled by yet another flat tire. This had the be the slowest leak ever, as I had pumped it up twenty-four hours earlier and even ridden it hard back to the restaurant. No impressing my female company with wobbly tricks or sympathy sex from falling on my ass. I'd have to rely on my charm and wit.

Did I get some? No. Was it because we were way too full? Yes. Damn you Full Belly, you win again.

- David

The Show, Gun & Otherwise

As the cold weather sets in I've had to hunt for old and re-acquire new armor against it. This is about my normal cold-commuting outfit, although I have on a helmet and longer shorts. Yep, those are long johns. The arm warmers I just picked up, and wool truly is the way to go. I have some wool socks and a ninja ski mask on the way to keep my other extremities warm. If I could just get a rain jacket and a wool top, I think I'd be completely set. Cotton is bad for sweatin' in the cold.

I'm going to subject you to the same torture Kasey has to endure on a daily basis and talk about my cycling a bit more. I've been keeping my GPS receiver on me and feeding the resultant numbers from the ends of my commute into a spreadsheet. Just for fun, to see how fast I'm going, how long I'm actually pedaling during the twenty or so minutes it takes, stuff like that. The cold weather seems to increase my performance, and I'm proud to say that this little one hundred and thirty pound dork has reached a new max speed of thirty six miles per hour, with an average speed of over eighteen. I have a (scary) project in mind for a bike video, and these numbers are very promising.

In non-chain-driven news, the gal and I recently had a chance to view The Darjeeling Limited. Kasey and I both have a profound and thorough love for Wes Anderson and all that he do. I had sadly never been able to see one of his films in theatres (The Royal Tenenbaums, my favorite, would have been lovely) and previews off this new surrealistically-hued film had me very excited. Plus Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman are the stars, and they're playing brothers. We went on a Thursday night, and besides one other boy in the row in front of us, we had theatre to ourselves.

Visually the movie is full of exotic colors that could only exist in cultures and places taken from your dreams, in addition to the beautiful style that is Wes Anderson. The dialog, acting, and tiny details (it's time to buy some very specific Louis Vuitton) that are crucial to that style were all there as well. A few props were more modern than in his other films, but they didn't subtract from the vintage feel all his movies give me. Also, Wes does this certain thing were he lets action unfold just off camera (to great effect) and I think he's perfected that in Darjeeling. His slow motion signature was in full effect, as well.

A few scenes threatened to start my waterworks up (coming out of the river and walking back to the village, reading the end of the short story in the bathroom, both involving Adrien Brody) but I was able to hold back. (I think Kasey heard the nearly-silent noise my throat makes right before, though. People always look to my face when they know I'm crying, it makes it hard to act manly.) I'm sure we'll be buying this soon after it comes out, along with another copy of The Life Aquatic. It was either lost or taken from me this time last year. For anyone interested, my top three Wes Anderson films are The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic, and Rushmore.

Currently I'm in a Barnes & Noble while Kasey is attending a work "meeting" in which they sample all the new foods coming out for the season. Somehow I'm in the Romance section, with dozens of glistening, impossibly chiseled torsos staring back at me with titles like "The Mane Event" and what I'm assuming is "Sexy Beast III". I'm not even making this up.

I think I'll give the new soundtrack I've "acquired" my full attention. I had plans to write more on the other, not-so-fun events in my current incarnation, but devoting my attention to pleasant things like peppermint mochas and pretty music seems a better choice for my mental resources.

Have a wonderful night.

- David

Leggy Blonde, Goodbye. Goodbye.

Somewhere, sometime I caught these guys on Comedy Central doing (what I feel, anyway. Others disagree) the awesome song "Jenny." This year Flight of the Conchords had their own show on HBO. I just finished the first season, and it's very enjoyable. As one reviewer said, it's not LOL hilarious the entire time, but you're always wearing a smile. Subtle humor. I guess that's how they do it in New Zealand.

Anywho, this is one of my favorite songs. No, Flight of the Conchords is not set in an office.



Enjoy, and bundle up!

- David

Boney Macaroni

Cleaning up today I came across the X-rays the hospital let me take home, so I decided to scan them for posterity:

The doctor drew the line to show where my pinky knuckle should be, but isn't.

David says, "Ooooookay!"

- David

CAUTION: May Get Scareded

Eeek!

Yesterday wasn't half-bad. No dressing up or candy binges, but I did get to eat Pez out of a skull dispenser and have dinner at an adorable new place in my neighborhood.

On the way to our spontaneous munching we saw many kids dressed up and trick-er-treatin'. A lot more than I originally would have thought. Yesterday was a good day for it, with temperatures in the low- to mid-seventies. No snowsuits worked into costume ideas like where I grew up!

I had a big ol' vegetarian plate of very good mashed potatoes, asparagus, squash casserole and fried okra. The okra was a first for me, and it was damn good. I added two big glasses of Octoberfest beer and some sips of red and white wine. Kasey had salmon that smelled delicious but forgot to get her some mac & cheese as a side. Oh well, with the place within walking distance we can always go back.


I actually rode my bike there after dropping Kasey off so I could get her ID, and so we could drink, drink, drink and not have to drive, drive, drive. However, when we got outside to head home and I mounted (heh) my bike to tipsily impress Kasey with failed tricks, the front tire was flat. Again.

I had noted it was low when I got home after work, so I pumped it up and it seemed to hold. Still, I'd called my local bike shoppe and had them order me some puncture resistant tubes so this doesn't keep happening. How's a guy supposed to get some if he can't fall on his ass trying to show off?

Hope everyone's Halloween was good, whether they distributed candy or just digested it. I'm off now to try and get things done. I'm very sluggish this morning. I blame the beer and lack of expected exercise.

- David