The Snow, The Water, It's All The Same

The snow season is inching its way into the world again. On an average day on the mountain, I spend the first half easily carving wide S's in the snow, staying off my ass, and enjoying some leisurely speed. The second half is most different; this is the time that I acquire plenty of bruises, and test the limits of my ability.

The way I see it, a lift ticket is plenty expensive, so I better learn something from the day - get better at snowboarding though practice. So the second half is full of foolhardy maneuvers that combine speed, jumps, different stances, and a reckless abandon for safety. I consciously better myself.

These two are worth a listen:

Here and here.

It's true. You do have to force yourself to remember the things you've learned, and force yourself out of those ideas, and grow. You have to choose to learn and be better, instead of playing it safe and comfortable.

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Jaymay - Color Confused

Ending Note: Snow day in Sundance?

Occupy Something

Red gave me a call around 5:00 PM.

Red: "They're kinda close. Can you close the shop early?"

Me: "No. Should really stay till closing."

At first I was confused as to why they were here - there is nothing around the shop, but roads and cats. Then again, I guess shutting down a port draws some attention.

It's not that I'm against the movement, but this sort of hubbub just seems saturated in bad press and more harm, than good, for the cause. You can't differentiate the anarchists, skulduggery, or clueless followers from the message. It seems most people I've heard from have had more pride in the fact that they're part of this piece of history, than pride in the sort of change they're pushing; not to say that the former is invalid, but isn't the whole point of this to achieve something?

Me: "No, yeah, they're really close. I'm getting out of here."

Red: "Bye."

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Grand Hallway - Blessed Be, Honey Bee

Ending Note: Condolences to the Runway Style House that was vandalised and robbed during the general strike.

(Digital) Dating Steps

Been hitting the online dating circuit again. That being said, there's a lot of trepidation behind online dating, and I gotta say, it's mostly from the admitting to online dating, not the actual act of online dating.

Just break it down.

What do you do when you're looking for someone, or even, when you see someone that you want to go out with? Steps, it goes in steps...

1. Physical Attraction

2. Availability

3. Mutual Interest

4. Chemistry

5. The Proposition

6. Date

You see a pretty thing at a party (Step 1) and ask a friend if he knows her, if she's single (Step 2) - maybe you sneak a peak at the ring finger. You leave a couple lingering looks her way, see if she notices and reciprocates (Step 3). A couple more swigs of your beer and you head over, say hi, chat her up a bit (Step 4). You share a few laughs, exchange war stories about your boss, and ask her to lunch next week (Step 5). She says yes, and you guys meet at your favorite cafe for coffee, and a walk downtown (Step 6) to people watch.

With online dating you have access to a search engine that takes care of Steps 2 and 3, there are profile pictures that handle Step 1, and messages can be sent to begin Step 4 and eventually lead to Steps 5 and 6. It's all there, in one convenient place.

True, online chemistry through written word is different from face to face interaction, and you only know as much as others are willing to share, but is that really so different from a date? Most, smart folks, hide some of their crazy until you get to know one another, because we all have our fair amount of crazy; information is catered and we each work to put our best foot forward the first couple nights out, even if it's not how we normally act or look. 

Online dating is still a bit taboo, and obviously embarrassing to admit, but should it be?

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Air Traffic - Charlotte

Ending Note: Occupy Oakland is making a mess.

Assault Leads To Good, Kinda

At lunch today, and found this to be quite uplifting.

Two reasons to be positive about this story...

A man acted on his principles and instinct, to do what he felt was right at the time. This same man, realized his error in the matter, and has gone to great lengths to make things right; clear the wrong, and assume responsibility. His actions after the incident are rare to witness, and should be commended.

In the time of professional athletes shooting themselves in the leg, getting in fights, and just plain being criminals and thugs, one of them kept his cool, and followed the procedure of social and legal action instead of flying off the handle.

Good job folks.

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Scrabbel - Mr. Blue

Ending Note: I love football season.

Calibration of Clarity

Found the above in the the computer, and have no idea what job it was from, who took it, or when.

The past really seems to fold over on itself, always getting a little smaller, a bit more compact as time moves on. This job at The Shop accentuates this effect even more so; routine, day to day, activities mix up the memories and blur the edges.

It may be the age too, but I've found it takes a hell of a lot more concentration to make sense of the past. Thankfully, the present it easier to decipher with wisdom, and the future comes off less daunting.

Clarity is rare. Focus often, or you just might lose it.

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Death Cab For Cutie - Brothers On A Hotel Bed

Ending Note: Sundance prep underway. Gotta love Sundance.

Inanimate Objects?

The Boss came by the shop a while back with a couple new calculators. I named mine Simon. You know, like the old school game.

Found this in a truck that came back from a job:

For those that don't know, technicians color code their gear, so that we don't lose it, and everyone knows what belongs to who. The shop uses yellow. My color used to be dark green.

Apparently, whoever this truck went out with, remembered my color, and was kind enough to return one of my old cube taps. It's probably traveled all around the bay area, been out for years, and has now come full circle. A little wiser, a little more worse for wear, but finally home. 

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The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Bone Thugs N Harmony - Notorious Thugs

Ending Thought: Girls named Camille are dangerous.

Growing Older

Oh so very tired. But that's hardly out of the norm, so...

What's the above picture look like to you?

When I was a kid, I didn't have many friends - none really until junior high. I made friends up. In my head. I met a new person a week ago that struck me as having absolutely no creative process whatsoever. Like, none. As though that spot in the human body where creative thinking usually resides, was instead, replaced with tapioca. Or Jell-O. Or some other inane, mediocre dessert that nobody would ever be excited about.

In contrast I met another new person just today that struck me as intelligent, open-minded, and absolutely in love with art. Needless to say, I was enraptured. She'll be back by the shop tomorrow - let you know how it goes.

This past Friday, went into the city with DS and Stucco to a film night thrown by Sam, of Autofuss. We hung with some hipsters, watched Total Recall, and had awkward conversation with some caterers.

Stucco: "Which one you like more?"
Me: "Could go either way. Ro-sham-bo?"

Finished the evening back in Oakland, where we met with NY at a Korean bar we've been frequenting since somewhere around 2005. It's the type of place where I'll never know what it's called, underage youngsters drink heavily, and smoke billows out if you hold the door open too long. Reminds me of my own youth.

Christ I'm old.

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Radical Face - Ghost Towns

Ending Note: This Sunday is Canadian Thanksgiving. Be nice to your local Canadian.