We have ‘here’ and we have ‘there’, and what lies in between.

Today’s post consists of the randomness that lies under the crumbs, deep within the cracks.
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‘Here’ of course being where this photo was taken, while ‘there’ is any one of the points in the distance. Clearly what lies in between is the important part…. Or maybe not.


Let’s get to picking a few of them out.
On December 19th, 2010, I posted a plea for people to come to the aid of Wisconsin’s Upper Hixon Forest.
I hoped my plea wouldn’t fall on deaf ears regardless of where those ears might be located, and after Wednesday’s meeting, and the following transmission of UHF’s Facebook page, my fears were put to rest;
“Thank you to all of the Upper Hixon Forest Supporters! Every single person counted! We turned in 4500 signatures, have over 1100 Facebook Supporters, made numerous contacts to the Council, and generated over 100 in attendance last night. At the hearing, a council member stated that he appreciated the positive energy from this initiative! A special thank you to Tim Keneipp for writing the petition and to Marvin Wanders for sharing Upper Hixon on a walk with council members! And, of course, we would like to Thank the Council for making the right decision!”
I’m reasonably sure the AHTBM readership were responsible for at least half of those signatures.
Anyhow, on behalf of all of the folks in that region who depend on that open space for solace and peace of mind, not to mention the animals who call it their home, as well as myself, I want to offer thanks to the folks who rallied.
For those who didn’t, I believe you to be lazy.
In news of things of a far less important nature, Wednesday evening Zeke, (pictured here);
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notified me that he had spotted one of my decals front and center on the Travel Channel’s ‘The Layover’.
For those who are unaware, The Layover stars a relatively brash, yet lovable New Yorker named Anthony Bourdain who travels the world and spends a short amount of time in each city he visits, spotlighting what qualities he feels to be the most noteworthy.
It’s like an ‘Insomniac’ for grown ups. Anyway, among the many spots Mr. Bordain visits while in the West Bay is a bar called the Zeitgeist, where as a youth, I spent many hours, and to this day remains the only bar I’ve ever been 86ed from.
If you’d like to watch the clip, feel free;

If you’d like to see the only part that mattered, that’s understandable too;
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My fifteen seconds of fame is rapidly ticking down.
Of course you recall the post from that same day and my admission that cute things cut me to the quick?
Tom from Salida, Colorado (this fact will be pertinent in a second) took advantage of that bit of information with the skill and efficiency of a ninja;
“Stevil
You probably don’t remember me, I sent you pictures of my kittens on a Hunter Cycles t-shirt last fall and ordered a few stickerz.
Anyway, regarding those kittens: Last spring I adopted two male neutered cats from a shelter, a 5-month-old and a 7-month-old. Well, one turned out to be an intact female.
Fast forward to October 7 when 5 kittens were born. In seven months I went from owning no cats to owning 7 cats. Three have been placed in good homes, one will be staying with me, but Tigg still needs a home;
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He’s fourteen weeks old as of Friday the 13th. Gray tiger markings. He still has his pair, but he’s just a little young to get them clipped. First shots, the very best nutrition, weaned when mom was over it, always safe and secure, and socialized by rambunctious play with gay Uncle Butters and four siblings. He’s got plenty of hybrid vigor going for him since mom is a random shelter cat and he’s alley bred from a random Tom.
His interests are playing with dangly things, stuffed mouse hockey, and sleeping in cat piles with sis and gay uncle;
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I can’t take him to a shelter. The image of him in one of those little stainless steel cubbies with the wire mesh doors breaks my heart.
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I wouldn’t mind if he went anywhere on the planet. I’d even meet someone who wants him halfway if it was a good home (and halfway didn’t involve driving to Kentucky or something). I would certainly be willing to deliver him to boulderwheretheytakecyclocrossseriously.
Thanks for the help,
Tom”

Sarah McLachlan has got nothing on me;
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Dear reader, do you live near Salida? Do you want to give a baby a good home?
I can’t believe we have come to this. ‘Missed Connections’ and ‘Lonely Hearts’ are sure to be right around the corner.
In news not relating to that in the least, via the Twitter, a different Tom recently notified me that out in Iowa there is a woman named Abbie who is in the process of Launching a line of women’s cycling clothing called My Alibi;
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(Feeling beautiful on a bike is really all I ever wanted.)
Now knowing the disdain I have for female cyclists as you do, I was hesitant to make any mention of it, but upon further investigation came to realize I know both Abbie and her husband Bill and have on occasion given them both thumbs up for being extremely talented cyclists as well as very nice human beings.
At that point I was torn. Should I help promote My Alibi’s Kickstarter page and risk my hard won reputation as a misogynist, or toss the opportunity in the rubbish and possibly damage my relationship with Abbie and Bill?
Obviously I chose the former, but make no mistake- Don’t take this as a sign that I’m getting soft.
In other offerings of the internet, Schreiner, pictured here;
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Has penned yet another heartbreaking work of staggering genius, which I should remind you is probably not suitable for those with delicate sensibilities or anyone who doesn’t like getting EPIC™. (Trademark included to avoid being sued.)
Speaking of Specialized and their various currant litigationings, I will refrain from delving too deeply into the matter due to the fact that I only have a half baked opinion of anything. Besides, The Bike Snob has said that which I am intellectually unable in this recent post. I will say that I have a deep appreciation for my friends who work there, equalled only by my disappointment in matters such as this.
I like to look at the bicycle market as an infinite pie. Everyone who is not riding a bicycle, could be with the encouragement of the industry as a whole. I see Specialized’s strangle hold on the existing market share, not to mention holding their dealers over a barrel as unproductive in the short term at best and wholly damaging to the industry and perspective market in the long term, at worst;
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You see what I did here? I made an illustrative representation of a pie being choked in a noose. Inspired, right? I’m like an interpretive dancer, but with Photoshop.
I would hope that the adage of ‘competition breeding excellence’ would prevail, but in terms of Specialized’s mode of operation it seems as if the only thing it breeds is continued paychecks for their legal team.
However these current wranglings pan out, (*So far so good. With the exception of ‘breach of contract’, Specialized has apparently dropped all claims against Volagi) I will continue to love and support my friends who are in the company’s employ, as well as my stable of bikes and product conspicuously absent of any giant red Ss.
Alrighty then… There are things to do other than to laze around here. Such as, attending to this;
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Nevermind that turd on the left. It was something Geno left in my possession like, three years ago.
The continuation of cleaning the previously referenced and proverbial cracks can wait until later.
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16 Responses to “We have ‘here’ and we have ‘there’, and what lies in between.”

  1. bRado January 13, 2012 at 6:16 am #

    Sarah McLachlan’s boobs are nicer than yours

  2. Stevil January 13, 2012 at 6:33 am #

    Probably. My boobs are horrible.

  3. Keith Earickson January 13, 2012 at 7:38 am #

    If only there were less miles in between Salida and here, that pussy would be mine.

  4. sinnfein January 13, 2012 at 7:56 am #

    I bet yours have more hair on them, though..

  5. Brendan January 13, 2012 at 7:57 am #

    You had me at kittens in Salida, and then you go and make an illustrative representation of a pie being choked in a noose.

  6. Thom January 13, 2012 at 8:06 am #

    Screw Lonely Hearts and Missed Connections. I’m holding out for Tradio.

  7. Logan January 13, 2012 at 8:32 am #

    Yo dude,
    My coworker is from Salida and she thinks she knows someone that may want the kitty. Can I get Tom’s email? I don’t want to get his hopes up too much, but if this lady in Salida wants the kitty we’ll email him.

  8. pablo picnostral January 13, 2012 at 9:36 am #

    someone should tell that guy that chez panisse is in Oakland, not SF.

  9. Tom Purvis January 13, 2012 at 9:43 am #

    Tom the kitty peddler here: you or your coworker can reach me at tom at absolutebikes dot com

  10. Stevil January 13, 2012 at 9:50 am #

    Chez Panisse is actually in Berkeley, but who’s keeping track?

  11. Lane January 13, 2012 at 10:45 am #

    Oakland, Berkeley. Can’t we just say “East Bay” and hug?

  12. pablo picnostrel January 13, 2012 at 2:58 pm #

    sheet. The organic artisanal egg is on my face.
    I see the same people are bellied up to the bar at the Toronado as they were twenty years ago.

  13. jmarshallkohtz January 13, 2012 at 5:41 pm #

    Think about how many Lilith Fairs that poor dog has suffered through.

  14. Nived January 13, 2012 at 6:24 pm #

    New parts for bikes is like the gift that keeps on giving.
    Again many thanks for the HPT help/// someday I hope that you can come and ride.

  15. EK January 14, 2012 at 6:46 am #

    give the cat to Scott

  16. Gene o January 16, 2012 at 10:19 pm #

    Turd! Oh you got it coming buddy. You got it coming….