Dude comes up to me and a friend last night at the Bar. (no....this is not the start of a joke).
Dude comes up and says hi to my buddy, and then introduces himself to me. I happen to be wearing my 3 dollar "U of M" beanie. Often times, people ask if I go to the U (when I wear the hat), and I say "I got this hat for 3 dollars at Marshalls, that's why I wear it, I don't feel like giving the University any more of my money".
Dude last night see's my hat and asks "So...are you a fan or do you just want to look like a gangster"?
"Imma student", I said. His question (and my answer) pissed me off. Mostly his question though.
I was obviously annoyed by his ignorance, and said something to my friend Mike (who was sitting with me). Mike said, "Well, maybe it's because you have a black hat and a black sweater on". Yeah....I'm sure. I've wearing a fucking Merino Wool sweater from J. Crew (thanks Dan Hartnett, for washing/drying/shrinking it so I could have it).
Anyway, this guy ended up getting 86'd (aka kicked out) from the pub after a while. Good. Now I don't have to defend myself as a student anymore.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Wish List
My family doesn't celebrate the birth of Jesus. Regardless, here is my Xmas wish list:
1. The Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR
2. A Saab 9000 CSE Turbo 5 speed.
3. Ice Cube Trays
4. A running partner (does not have to be Carrie Tollefson, though she would nice).
5. This coffee table (in dark brown).
6. A subscription to Popular Photography Magazine.
7. Someone to go fishing with (photo by Janette Ellis, 2008).
8. Vinyl
9. Books, including:
10. A job (i.e. photographer, bartender, teacher).
11. Window Curtains (similar to these)
12. A long legged Kenyan runner with skinny ankles, big lungs, straight teeth, and musical/artistic ability.... to be the father of my children.
13. More days like these...
14. World Peace.
This list is a work in progress, and is not confined only to Xmas. Please expect more to come. Enjoy your day.
3. Ice Cube Trays
4. A running partner (does not have to be Carrie Tollefson, though she would nice).
5. This coffee table (in dark brown).
6. A subscription to Popular Photography Magazine.7. Someone to go fishing with (photo by Janette Ellis, 2008).
8. Vinyl
9. Books, including:
10. A job (i.e. photographer, bartender, teacher).
11. Window Curtains (similar to these)
12. A long legged Kenyan runner with skinny ankles, big lungs, straight teeth, and musical/artistic ability.... to be the father of my children.
13. More days like these...
14. World Peace.
This list is a work in progress, and is not confined only to Xmas. Please expect more to come. Enjoy your day.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Stuck (in the snow)
I went with Ethan to Clouds in Water today, for a noon sit. It was good, minus "My Cheri Amor" running through my head most of the time.
As we were getting ready to walk into the meditation center, we saw a big VW Bus/Van thing that was stuck in the snow along side of the road. A dude (who we decided was British, because he looked like a emo/rocker) tried to push the lady's vehicle out of the snow. Two runners came and joined him. This went on for about a minute, as Ethan and I sat in the car, deciding if we should help or if we'd just be in the way. After a minute, one of the runners (in his expensive spandex/neoprene/wind-proof/waterproof/nuclear disaster proof outfit) fell into the snowbank because he pushed so hard and lost his footing. Upset (and probably feeling salty), he yelled a bit and ran off with his partner in tow.
Ethan and I looked at each other and said "Fuck that". The Brit was still helping push, and his set of skinny legs was not going to be enough to move that van. We jumped out of Ethan's car and went to help. Another guy joined in the pushing, while Ethan went to the coffee shop to get a shovel. Between the 3 of us pushing (and Ethan being the logical one to get the shovel) we managed to get this lady unstuck.
One thing I love about winter, is the many opportunities to help others. The lady in the van was from the Yacht Club, and here we were (Ethan, the Brit, the scruffy dude, and me) all together, trying to make shit happen.
I'm sure the eurovan/yacht lady was happy that we got her unstuck. I was happy that we (as a group of strangers) put aside our going-ons to do something nice for someone else. Ethan was happy that he didn't have to shovel. Today was good.
As we were getting ready to walk into the meditation center, we saw a big VW Bus/Van thing that was stuck in the snow along side of the road. A dude (who we decided was British, because he looked like a emo/rocker) tried to push the lady's vehicle out of the snow. Two runners came and joined him. This went on for about a minute, as Ethan and I sat in the car, deciding if we should help or if we'd just be in the way. After a minute, one of the runners (in his expensive spandex/neoprene/wind-proof/waterproof/nuclear disaster proof outfit) fell into the snowbank because he pushed so hard and lost his footing. Upset (and probably feeling salty), he yelled a bit and ran off with his partner in tow.
Ethan and I looked at each other and said "Fuck that". The Brit was still helping push, and his set of skinny legs was not going to be enough to move that van. We jumped out of Ethan's car and went to help. Another guy joined in the pushing, while Ethan went to the coffee shop to get a shovel. Between the 3 of us pushing (and Ethan being the logical one to get the shovel) we managed to get this lady unstuck.
One thing I love about winter, is the many opportunities to help others. The lady in the van was from the Yacht Club, and here we were (Ethan, the Brit, the scruffy dude, and me) all together, trying to make shit happen.
I'm sure the eurovan/yacht lady was happy that we got her unstuck. I was happy that we (as a group of strangers) put aside our going-ons to do something nice for someone else. Ethan was happy that he didn't have to shovel. Today was good.
p.s.
the brown cube is not actually called "the brown cube". i just call it that, because brown is my favorite color.
i have no idea what the cube is really called.
pic by me, after finishing it at the graber's house, fall 2009.
i have no idea what the cube is really called.
pic by me, after finishing it at the graber's house, fall 2009.Sunday, December 13, 2009
the brown cube
Sometimes, I can solve the brown cube. Other times, I cannot.
Often times, when I show the brown cube to others, they say "Ooh, I know who can solve that.... cuz he can solve a Rubik's cube like whoa".
And so they give it to the dude(s) who can solve a Rubik's cube, and the dude's (along with me) know that these two cubes are totally different in color/strategy/maneuverability. So they fuck with em for a minute, set them down, and go back to their Rubik's cube.
I'm impressed (?) with people who can do a Rubik's Cube. I am not impressed with people who assume the brown cube is solvable the same way as the Rubik's Cube.
Also, I am amused by the lack of effort/interest that Rubik's solvers give to the brown cube. If they can't solve it immediately (which is true...they can't), they put it down and go back to something they know they are good at.
Makes sense, I guess. Unless you wanna expand your "cube shaped activity nerdiness". I sure do.
me solving the brown cube. 12.13.09
I must say, however.... that I bought both a Rubik's cube and the Brown Cube because I fidget with my hands a lot. If I knew how to knit, I would likely knit enough blankets to keep a family warm...because my hands are always moving, messing with things, touching things, breaking things, etc. If someone wants to teach me how to knit, that would be great. In the mean time, I'll have to try a lil harder on my Rubik's Cube. So far, I can only get the White Side completed.
Often times, when I show the brown cube to others, they say "Ooh, I know who can solve that.... cuz he can solve a Rubik's cube like whoa".
And so they give it to the dude(s) who can solve a Rubik's cube, and the dude's (along with me) know that these two cubes are totally different in color/strategy/maneuverability. So they fuck with em for a minute, set them down, and go back to their Rubik's cube.
I'm impressed (?) with people who can do a Rubik's Cube. I am not impressed with people who assume the brown cube is solvable the same way as the Rubik's Cube.
Also, I am amused by the lack of effort/interest that Rubik's solvers give to the brown cube. If they can't solve it immediately (which is true...they can't), they put it down and go back to something they know they are good at.
Makes sense, I guess. Unless you wanna expand your "cube shaped activity nerdiness". I sure do.
me solving the brown cube. 12.13.09
I must say, however.... that I bought both a Rubik's cube and the Brown Cube because I fidget with my hands a lot. If I knew how to knit, I would likely knit enough blankets to keep a family warm...because my hands are always moving, messing with things, touching things, breaking things, etc. If someone wants to teach me how to knit, that would be great. In the mean time, I'll have to try a lil harder on my Rubik's Cube. So far, I can only get the White Side completed.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
for sale
I bought a watch on Woot.com the other day. It's too big. In fact, when I put it on my wrist, it looks like I'm wearing a clock. Yes, that's right.... a clock.
I'd like to sell this watch at the same price I bought it for, 30 dollars. (it is brand new, never used, just put on my wrist for half a day so i could laugh at how funny it looked).
It's black (and not flashy), it reads heart race, distance, speed, calories. It also can attach to your bike (if you are riding and don't want to wear it as a watch).
If any of you men have regular sized wrists (or women, ave-bigger wrists) get at me via e-mail or phone if you're trying to pick this up.
I'd like to sell this watch at the same price I bought it for, 30 dollars. (it is brand new, never used, just put on my wrist for half a day so i could laugh at how funny it looked).
It's black (and not flashy), it reads heart race, distance, speed, calories. It also can attach to your bike (if you are riding and don't want to wear it as a watch).
If any of you men have regular sized wrists (or women, ave-bigger wrists) get at me via e-mail or phone if you're trying to pick this up.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
1.29.09 (winter depression)
I was at the hexagon bar, on 1.29.09, drinking whiskey, listening to natives yell and a black dude, the black dude yell at the white dudes, and the white dudes yelling at everyone. It was awful. I wrote a poem that day, about my winter depression. It went like this:
My winter depression, it has arrived,
no sounding horns or warning sign.
Comes out of nowhere, like an STD,
Comes totally unwelcome,
like a teen pregnancy.
Its showed up each year,
for over a decade,
It comes every fall,
w/the queen of spades.
I play my hand,
my mind plays me.
I rest my head,
don't care who sees.
----------------------------------------------
Yesterday (12.01.09) I felt a same kind uglyness. The difference this year, is that it's now December and we don't have snow! We had a nasty october, with maybe a few inches... but then November was warm (comparatively).
How can I be in a winter depression so soon?? It's December 2nd today, and I feel 75% better than I did last night. I hope this (better feeling) sticks (like snow should).
A question to those reading..... How do you get out of your head, on those hard days? Those long, dark days, when nothing seems to matter. When the outside looks so uninviting, and then inside is just depressing. What do you do?
Yesterday, I worked on a cover letter/resume for a while. I got about 1.5 hours worth of work done.... in 4 or 5 hours. It was that kind of day. It turned around when my friend came over later in the night, and we starting watching "To Wong Foo" with Patrick Swayze. We couldn't finish it, because I got hungry (and he got thirsty) and we had to fix that. If he wouldn't have come over last night.... the day would have been completely miserable.
We can't always count on others to help us out of a rut. Day to day, it's okay to lean on people, sure... but it can't be day after day. At least not in my book.
So what do we do? What do you do? Have you ever had a day/weekend/week/month where you couldn't get yourself going? When you couldn't find the motivation?
If you live in MN, I'd be willing to bet you've had at least a few of these instances. If you live in the moment, I'd imagine you've had a few also. So....what have you done for yourself? What have you done for others?
self portrait 12.02.09
My winter depression, it has arrived,
no sounding horns or warning sign.
Comes out of nowhere, like an STD,
Comes totally unwelcome,
like a teen pregnancy.
Its showed up each year,
for over a decade,
It comes every fall,
w/the queen of spades.
I play my hand,
my mind plays me.
I rest my head,
don't care who sees.
----------------------------------------------
Yesterday (12.01.09) I felt a same kind uglyness. The difference this year, is that it's now December and we don't have snow! We had a nasty october, with maybe a few inches... but then November was warm (comparatively).
How can I be in a winter depression so soon?? It's December 2nd today, and I feel 75% better than I did last night. I hope this (better feeling) sticks (like snow should).
A question to those reading..... How do you get out of your head, on those hard days? Those long, dark days, when nothing seems to matter. When the outside looks so uninviting, and then inside is just depressing. What do you do?
Yesterday, I worked on a cover letter/resume for a while. I got about 1.5 hours worth of work done.... in 4 or 5 hours. It was that kind of day. It turned around when my friend came over later in the night, and we starting watching "To Wong Foo" with Patrick Swayze. We couldn't finish it, because I got hungry (and he got thirsty) and we had to fix that. If he wouldn't have come over last night.... the day would have been completely miserable.
We can't always count on others to help us out of a rut. Day to day, it's okay to lean on people, sure... but it can't be day after day. At least not in my book.
So what do we do? What do you do? Have you ever had a day/weekend/week/month where you couldn't get yourself going? When you couldn't find the motivation?
If you live in MN, I'd be willing to bet you've had at least a few of these instances. If you live in the moment, I'd imagine you've had a few also. So....what have you done for yourself? What have you done for others?
self portrait 12.02.09
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