Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Tip a 40oz..

Today was a bittersweet day for me.  It had been a long time coming but today I finally had to do something about the Blue Goose.  Since I picked her up the last day of June, 2008, I hadn't looked back.  Damn near 20,000 miles later I've come to realize we did a lot of great things together.  From day-to-day commuting to Lewiston to scantily-planned yet ultimately tremendous trips to Virginia and Tennessee there aren't a lot of spots in the northeast I saw without getting there behind the wheel of my 24 year old, four wheeled friend.  It was a good run, kid.  A great run, to be even more appropriate..
 
 Since I hopped into the driver's seat a few hours after I touched down in Portland the end was in sight but I put off this day as long as I could.  I had grandiose dreams of firing the Goose up just like before I had left, driving it for a few more days, lining a shady mechanic to get an inspection sticker on it then and then craigslisting the shit out of it for close to what I had paid for it.  But when I hopped in it that fateful evening the battery was dead, the emergency brake had rusted to the rear wheels, and the brakes, well, didn't really enjoy braking anymore.  I saw the writing on the wall: my baby was headed to a junkyard..
Semi-Sidenote: When I got home a couple Wednesdays ago I hopped into the same 1986, rusting, un-inspected, old bucket of bolts that intimidated most of its passengers.  These intimidated folks (most likely afflicted with conditions of wimpitis and/or sissy syndrome, though sandy vag could be another possibility..) looked at my baby as nothing more than blueberry dump while I looked at the Bird as a friend that was a little rough around the edges, yet could always be trusted.  I found the whole to truly be much greater than the some it its (mostly questionable..) parts.

Naysayers will mention that I never paid for a sticker for it and that me driving it without one for quite some time doesn't cover up the fact she had bald tires, bad brakes, rust holes straight through and bad shocks.  To these haters I respond: Walk.  Whether the temp was 101 or -1 or anything in between she fired up on the first go round and never looked back.  Outside of it's price tag, oil changes and gas its only additional costs were new front tires and a new clutch cable.  Two grand plus gas for 20,000 miles...I'll take that all the way to the bizzank every day of the week.  They just don't make cars like that any more..
Luckily I knew just the place to bring my baby and that was the place I took it to get serviced a couple of times over the last couple years: AC Auto in Leeds.  The proprietor, Al Wheeler, specializes in older Volvo repair and has himself quite a collection.  It's a veritable Volvo graveyard out there behind his shop.  Basically it's the perfect place for my baby Goose.  I look at it as her heading out to pasture; she now resides at the no-kill shelter, rather than a glue factory.  That will help me sleep easy tonight.  Now time for some baby photos of today's trip..

 And some memories of me and the Goose from the last couple years...we've seen some shit together..

It was weird being home and driving my folks cars around - they both have new Nissans these days.  New just isn't me.  When I'd drive around and goof off to the music or stare at pretty girls I just wouldn't feel cool...I'd feel like a dork.  The Goose didn't make me feel self-conscious like these new-fangled automobiles.  We went together like peas and carrots..

Just like my previous gem, the Red Dragon, the Blue Goose was all me.  It epitomized my steeze.  Well, actually, in the nature of full disclosure: it didn't have a crank sun roof.  Next time around when I get a 240 wagon, I suppose..

In lieu of a proper eulogy feel free to share your favorite memories below.  She was a good egg.  Cheers.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Maine-ly Swell..

I was really, truly, going to write something of substance today.  I clicked on Blogger in the AM but then I took a nap.  Then I ran some errands, ate some pasta and watched Seinfeld with my mom, played with a 2 year old, went to Gritty's Brew Pub then across the street to the former Midnight Blues Club& Muddy Waters Cafe; the new name escapes me now but the new name is beside the point of this short narrative..

Anywho there was a sick cover band playing of high school-ish looking fellows.  It was impressive because it was Phil Collins-esque: the lead singer banged away on drums all night.  They were solid, very good actually.  But an older gentleman with one leg playing between sets laid down a kick ass cover of a more obscure song from an album I picked up a couple years back by a Maine-dog who has been playing out of Texas for awhile now.  First heard hime on WCLZ.

But, man, the song is a favorite of mine.  Well played, old timer..
This caused me to get home after close and listen to the album before bed, and while that was on I noticed Slightly Stoopid immediately followed "Slaid Cleaves" in my iTunes library.  I saw Slightly Stoopid a little bit ago.  They were swell.  I talked about them today when I talked to J.Mac on my cellular telephone for the first time since he left the Vally Isle.
I didn't think I had any Ess Tee Double Oh Pee Eye Dee in my library but when I saw I had downloaded this track from WLCZ's website I decided to check out their homepage where I saw a Lucinda Williams song was on air.  Good tune it is, too, off of a good album..
So after Slaid Cleaves' cd ended and I got a little Stoopid Car Wheels on A Gravel Road was played.  It's been quite a night, and a hell of a day, lemme tell ya...Cheers.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Homeward Bound..

Yep.  Chapter 1 is in the books and I'm heading on my first vacation home, well, ever.  All of my previous "vacations" involved heading away from good, ol' L/A.  Now I'm making my triumphant return to town.  Getcha popcorn ready.  I'll need to find plenty to do to occupy my mind since I'm moving out of my current place at this very moment and stashing bags with two friends.  So while I won't have a place to live upon my return...at least I have a job.  And in this economy, that's saying something.  Right?  HAH.  No stress, though.  I'll sleep on the beach with the meth tweakers..

Credit to young Samuel for the video credit...and yes, Stop Making Sense will be watched no less than five times while I'm home.  It's packed.

See ya'll at Gipper's on Thursday at 9pm.  Can't wait.  I'd expect more from the plane, but no promises.  Cheers (And yes.  When I board I'll tell the flight attendant to tell the pilot not to crash.  So all will be well  Trust me..).

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Stick'em up, punk..

Woke up this morning and thought of this.  Don't know what triggered it, but these guys are classics.  Scooby Snacks and its Reservoir Dogs samples might be a bit better overall but this song is still a keeper:
Cheers.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Happy 4th; (Hopefully) A sign of things to come..

Aloha!

Clearly my focus over the last month or so has not been on this little piece of the "internet."  I'd like to say I'm sorry, but Jenn always said don't say sorry unless you mean it and so I'm not really sorry.  I'm lazy.

I should have time to post here, just for whatever reason over the last couple weeks I haven't felt like writing.  I've done some pretty fun stuff; I just haven't put fingers to keys to describe what I've been doing in my usual semi-eloquent, mostly silly fashion.  I've started posts multiple times only to find them left unsaved or saved but never returned to.

I hope today can be me getting back on track.  It's the 4th of July, possibly my favorite holiday because it means lots of food on the grill, beer in the fridge and friends on the deck.  Well, that's what it has meant over the last couple few years.  This year I'll be working tonight so the grilling will have to be squeezed in to the early afternoon hours.  SHUCKS.  But for those of you back home reading who have spent some time on the deck in years past know this:  The countdown is on.  In just about 10 days time I'll be home for a couple of weeks.  I'm quite excited about this.  Holidays will be observed during this time, as I missed Memorial Day and now the 4th.

Now that I'm writing I actually have more to say now but I want to get four miles in on the 4th, well, because I've never done it before and I haven't run in a couple of weeks so this seems like a good day to get back on track in more ways than one.  So Happy 4th to all, Love and miss most of you and have a great afternoon.

Now, a country favorite that fits the holiday:


Can't wait to drive the Blue Bird.  Cheers.