31st

Yes, I know I don't put much effort in to blogging anymore, and I am mostly talking to myself when I apologize for this lack of blogging. However, Halloween is here, and there is no shortage of fun things to talk about.

They thought this guy was really dead, probably had some really good make up on I am sure.
This Book, and it's cartoon adaptation has had a huge impact on my halloween life since I was really young.
I'm also heading off to see Bright Eyes, The Square Waves, and Modest Mouse. Oh what a few days it will be! I have been waiting for this for such a long time, and it's finally here.

This is what I am dressing up as:

A Christopher Walken Cutout mask!

Labels: adventure, funk, holidays, links

I Hate Rodeo

I don't "Hate" rodeo as much as I don't care for it. What I hate is the attitude that you must abuse animals for fun. I do however enjoy watching people getting their asses kicked by said animals. Nature is great!

Right now I am kicking it in Calgary waiting for a ride down to Stampede for some "Hoot n' Hollerin'" fun, and possibly alcohol. Some popular country band will be playing Nashville North, which is where we are going to hang out. This will be reason enough for the alcohol.

Joey is back, and it is her birthday today, so off to the Stampede we must go! It's great having her back as I have never had so much fun sitting around in Airdrie. We're heading back to Lethbridge tomorrow for my own birthday, which should be a good time.

Many regards my good friends, it's hot, so I will need your prayers.

Labels: adventure, friendship, life, road trip, summer

Bicycle Buddhism

Only a few days back on my new bike, and I must say that I am smitten. The weather here has been great bicycle riding weather. I was riding tonight, with a cool breeze in my hair and warm pavement under my wheels. Call me a romantic, but I was seriously in love with my life. There is clarity in the craft of bicycle riding, and I must say I am rather sorry I hadn't been in so long.

Like I mentioned before, my bike was stolen and that discouraged me a bit from riding. However this newish addition to my life has pepped me up with a love for a nice bike. I think I have developed a new style of thinking due to this fact, and I'm very excited. My summer has exponentially improved.I'm sure these ideas have a lot in common with many other thinkers, I do not consider myself a philosopher or a profit of any sort.

When I was a child, I felt chained down when I did not have my bike. Locked down in my basement, doing banal little things because I been grounded or popped a tire I could not afford to fix. A terrible atrocity to a 14 year old boy. Did anyone else feel this way? I usually only had one desire, adventure and explore.

Riding these past few days, I felt the same way, I felt like I was exploring. I think I saw most of Nicolas Sheran park in the past few, and it feels great. I am also finding some fine time to meditate. When I am riding, I am focusing forward, on my bike, on pedaling, and maintaining balance. Clearing my mind of everything else, moving forward without dying is an interesting goal to set. I also find that I do not want as much when I am riding my bike. My desire for worldly possessions falls limp, and my mind goes almost blank. Bicycle meditation? Bicycle Buddhism?

Not saying that this type of feeling is exclusive to cycling, as I am aware of the thrills and fun of many other modes of transportation. I guess whatever works for you will hopefully guide you to a place you want to go. Just as Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty found America and themselves kicking up dust up and down California. Jack Kerouac knew the score, and I feel closer to his stories now that I can relate. I may have found the strange hybrid of Buddhism that I have been looking for.

I'm not preaching to destroy your cars and join my cult, but I would not shy away from a leisurely ride around the west side of Lethbridge with anyone willing for a ride.

Labels: adventure, lethbridge, philosophy, summer

Zen and Bicycle Repair

So I finally got my bicycle back from a friend who had it due to a series of strange events, but I must say that I am thrilled. My original bike was stolen and almost completely trashed due to being ridden in some sub-zero temperatures, and much harder than any Sport-Chek bike should be. I used to race BMX, so I'm pretty good at riding in a reckless manner, and I am sure that lead to the death of the bike. However the thief now has a broken bike.

I however decided to try and balance some karma by stealing a bike from the university that had been tagged as "In violation of bicycle parking", and was long abandoned. I later found out the bicycle belonged to a friend of mine, and she gladly allowed me to steal it. Here is a picture of the bicycle in all it's glory.

Ok, I know it's a girl's bike, but I don't care, it was free!

I took off the front and rear fenders, as well as the back brake. The back brake was broken, and the fenders were rubbing. As well, it looks much cleaner now. So I am going to do some upgrades to make this the coolest thing ever:
-Get a new seat; The current one is horrendous.
-New pedals; The current ones are probably older than me.
Remove the chain guard; It's ugly and I never wear baggy pants anymore.
-Make it a Fixie?

The reason for the question mark is the fact that riding a fixed gear bicycle can be extremely dangerous if not taken seriously. However, it is apparently very rewarding once you can get the hang of it. It will also let me remove the extremely antique gear shifter, and horrendously rusted gears. Think I can do it? I'm not too sure either. I have however found this resource online, and it seems I may just need to go wheel shopping. "How To Build A Fixed Gear Bicycle"

Let's hope I don't die.

Labels: adventure, holidays, lethbridge, life, summer

Paint, Painter, Painterly

I'm loving the Depth of Field.

Keep up the good work yall

Labels: adventure, art, drunk, lethbridge, photography

Graffiti In Lethbridge

I love the centre justified, I think it just adds so much to the post. Isn't it weird that this website has nothing to do with the radio show that shares it's name? I need to fix that, check out the photos!

Labels: adventure, art, photography, summer

35mm Just Looks Different

I give you, luxury and passion as a passenger.

35mm film has that look that I can usually feel better than I can see.

Labels: adventure, photography, road trip

Joey is in Malaysia, I miss her

the barber shop
Originally uploaded by I am Joey
This picture is just fantastic, please enjoy it.

Labels: adventure, friendship

It's a Nice Day

Labels: adventure, photography, vancouver

I finally did it

I finally got my shit together, drank a bunch of coffee, and rearranged the entire living room. I think it looks pretty good.

Labels: adventure, lethbridge, photography

I'm still excited about Photography

Hey everyone, I'm back in black in Lethbridge and I am just feeling good right now. Good to sit down for awhile, sleep in my own bed. Here is another picture I uploaded.

Labels: adventure, photography, vancouver

On My Way Back Home

I just finished packing all my crap together for the journey home. I'll be back on Albertan soil around 2 pm on Tuesday, pretty excited. It's not that I do not like this place, it's mostly that this place is a bit too different. There is something about the beer and the coffee that isn't quite right. The beer tastes a little flat, and all the coffee is either a) crap that comes from either Starbucks or Blenz or b) pretty good stuff from a place with really bad service. I could live here, I am sure, but I think it would take some getting used to.

I sadly did not take as many pictures as I wanted to, although the mass amount I took at the aquarium sort of made up for it. If you haven't checked them out, see the post below. Anyways, I am waiting on a call for more adventure. Catch you all later.

Labels: adventure, lethbridge, road trip, vancouver

North American Scum

So yesterday was super cool. After my last blog post I got together with Jocelyn, who I haven't seen since senior year of high school. It was fun seeing her, since she really hasn't changed at all, except she's super hot now. Anyways, she took me to a rather swank gay pub for a few pints of Strongbow and the end of the Canucks game. The bar wasn't really flamingly gay, which made me completely forget that it was a gay bar. However, the giant paintings of cocks on the wall was an ever present reminder of whose house I was in.

After a few casual pints, we decided to go across the street to "Celebrities", which is one spot that I really wanted to hit. Celebrities is also a gay bar, but it's much more of a dance-club than a bar. I was good and buzzed, so after we payed our cover and checked our coats, I was pretty excited to hit the dance floor. However, when we finally got there, it was a bit daunting.

I was a little worried about what could be waiting for me, I've never been to a gay bar before that night, so I felt like an adventurer about to step in to a dense jungle (of sweaty men). I was hesitant until the DJ started spinning Daft Punk (it was sort of a retro night, so he was playing "Around the Word"), and that sent me in to a frenzy of groove. From then on out, the decks were hot with a spicy blend of disco, new wave and techno. I was in sweaty man heaven.

What really has me excited is that on Friday, James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem (who is playing on Thursday) is doing a DJ set at Celebrities. WHAT? HOLY SHIT! It's going to be James Murphy, Pat Mahoney, and Al Doyle (of Hot Chip). I have been listening to DFA/Hot Chip remixes lately, and I am really excited now. James Murphy two nights in a row! WORD HOMIES!

Labels: adventure, funk, music, vancouver

I'm in Vancouver; Word up to my homies!

As I type, I am in "Our Town" cafe. I may not get a chance to actually blog this, as I can't find a good WiFi network :( Woe is me. I came here, because this is pretty much the only place in Vancouver that I know by name. I walked a bitch load to get here, I could have taken the bus, but being outdoors is nice; this place smells different. I assume it's because it is always raining, and plants actually get a chance to grow. What a wonderful place. Damn, no WiFi, I guess people are realizing that it is a bit foolish to let people wander anonymously on the internet. I guess I could pay Telus a bunch of money for WiFi at certain places, but I am thinking I should just go ahead and not. I think I am going to check a bookstore around the corner, try and find some kerouac, and smoke a cigarette. Word.

[Much Later] Found some dope WiFi, and a great new (to me) drink "The London Fog". Especially good with green tea and soy, yum. I did some pretty awesome wandering today. I took the bus to Stanely Park and went to the Vancouver Aquarium, which I wasted most of the day at. I took almost 200 pictures of the fish and the park and now I just need a USB cable to unload them. Damn, why didn't I think to bring one before? Oh well, I am sure I will be able to find/buy one and upload some awesome fish pictures to flickr/facebook.

While in the Vancouver Aquarium, I was wandering and I heard some music coming from some obscure corner. I was thinking to myself how much I love the song "Pacific Theme" by Broken Social Scene, and that it would be great for this undersea-esque adventure I was undertaking. Guess what band I realized it was? Yeah! Broken Social Scene. It was joyous. If you get a chance, you should really go, the fish they have are really big!

Labels: adventure, photography, road trip, vancouver

Leaving On Some Sort of Jet Powered Vehicle

Blogging from Vancouver for the next week or so. LCD Soundsystem on Thursday, rock and roll! Have a good week, and check back for daily (hopefullY) updates from the road.

Labels: adventure, blogging, road trip