Second verse, same as the first.


With apologies to The Violent Femmes.

As I lie awake in bed on at the asscrack of dawn on Tuesday morning, I began thinking of a much better way to end that day’s post, but it would have involved getting out of bed, and heading into my studio to shoot photos, and then re-write a bunch of content, none of which I had the energy to do. So I thought to myself that I would just turn today’s post into sort of an amendment, which I will do now.

Do the any of the three to five people reading these words right now recall this post that I wrote eight years ago regarding my inability to confront change?

Actually, it was mostly about items I’d come across in the world of bicycles that I adored, that with time were made unavailable.

One of said items was the Giro Pneumo helmet;

Holy mackaroll, did I love those.

After their production ended, periodically I would send Mr. Blacksocks an email asking if he might happen to have one left over under his desk or in a storage space somewhere. I dreaded the thought of having to either A) get used to a new style of helmet (I’m a Virgo, and my people hate change), or B) wear a helmet I didn’t like simply because no other options where accessible.

Eventually I ended up with one of their Aeons and life was good. I had a white one that was my go-to, and a matte black one that I only wore to formal events.

Well, so as to put my best foot forward, on my recent trip to DC I packed my matte black beauty into my bike bag, and looked forward to my many miles under her protective cover.

That was until I unpacked my goods, and noted that Delta had done the unthinkable;


I mean, what the heck, Delta?

Thankfully my boots on the ground in DC, (otherwise known as Papa Chris) made a call and got me sorted with some super trick matte black and blue Lazerness;

Previous to Papa Chris spiffing me, I sent a smoke signal to Mr Blacksocks, and within a day of my return home, what should arrive to my door but even more sickness;

I realize these may have been scratch and dent, or perhaps Tony the warehouse guy had been using them as a fart recepticle the last many months. As a life long beggar, I certainly recognize my lack of room to be a chooser.

I just sincerely appreciate both of these companies, and more specifically, humans who represent these companies taking my grey matter into consideration, and helping me out so generously.

Moving on and closing out, I’d like to direct you to this post I wrote way back in 2014.

I believe I penned it in the wake of watching the following movie about one of my two greatest artistic influences- Mr. Ralph Steadman;

I bring both him as well as that particular post up to make a convoluted point, which I promise I will get to eventually.

Firstly, two months ago I learned that there was going to be a retrospective of his work on display in Washington DC, though sadly, it closed before I arrived on the (repeatedly) aforementioned trip. So it was quite by accident when just two days ago I literally stumbled across a notification that the very same show was to open in San Francisco on Tuesday night. Not only that, but Mr. Steadman was to be in attendance.

After watching ‘For No Good Reason’, I promised myself that if ever, on the extremely remote chance I would get to meet the man, I would make a very important declaration.

Excitedly I stepped inside the gallery, and began taking in the sights;






After a time I came across a short line of people waiting with books and prints and so forth. I glanced over the crowd and saw a quick glimpse of the man himself, so in place I stood. Not having any of his books on me, once seated beside him, I pulled out my sketch book and asked if he wouldn’t mind signing a page. He did me one better;

And as we sat, I quickly said as articulately as I could, that which I’d promised myself I would if ever given the chance.

I texted a following summation to a dear friend, and because it’s as concise as I could hope for it to be, will just include it here as well;

In it (For No Good Reason), he discuses how in the 60s, he and Hunter were going to change the world. They were going to end the war, hold a corrupt administration accountable, and do it all on their terms. Then Reagan happened, and then the Bushes happened, and very defeatedly, despite all of that idealism, he (said he realized they) didn’t change shit. This hit me at a very venerable time in which I myself was feeling fairly impotent in as far as my own influence went. Seeing that he felt similarly gave me strength and while sitting with him, was able to explain that his efforts did matter, because without him, I wouldn’t be me.

I continued-

It’s the pebble in the water concept. He had no idea of my existence or his influence on it. To be able to express that to him- That was one of the biggest moments in my life.


To say I’m humbled, honored, and utterly laid flat would be as wild an understatement as I could hope to make.

In this instance there needn’t ever be a second verse.

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Leave a Reply

13 Responses to “Second verse, same as the first.”

  1. Steve November 8, 2018 at 6:06 am #

    good karma returns !

  2. Hurl Eversonic November 8, 2018 at 6:13 am #

    Brilliant. Sometime we should meet our heroes. You’re one of mine, pen pal.

  3. Largo November 8, 2018 at 6:35 am #

    Steadman and Stevil together at the same table. Damn, that made my week right there.
    And matte black/blue combo seems to me the ultimate bike combo.

  4. Matt November 8, 2018 at 7:59 am #

    Good job on not saying something dumb to Mr. Steadman. The ripple has reached me too. Great story. Keep up the good work.

  5. Brian November 8, 2018 at 8:24 am #

    Looks like a great exhibit! Wish I could go. That autograph is definitely a keeper. 🙂

  6. JP November 8, 2018 at 9:04 am #

    Thanks man. You holding up ok in the new fascist world? I just decided today’s theme was onion rings and beer.

  7. N/A November 8, 2018 at 3:21 pm #

    You always hear, ” never meet your heroes,” but I’ve long thought it is nice to be able to thank someone who has positively affected your life. As I get older and softer, I like to say a bit of thanks to anybody that has made even a brief moment of my day better. E’rrybody likes a bit of positivity now and again, right? Even bloggers?

  8. Marc November 8, 2018 at 5:05 pm #

    Awesome.

    And the Pneumo was a great helmet.

  9. Krafty November 8, 2018 at 9:49 pm #

    I sit slack-jaw with nothing on my mind but…wow!
    Chapeau to you, good sir.
    That had to have been sublime.

  10. fatlip November 9, 2018 at 8:02 am #

    yes

  11. Michael November 9, 2018 at 10:31 am #

    Were you inspired to pick up his torch to animate Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail of 2020?

  12. James November 9, 2018 at 12:21 pm #

    Tamiya model paint on the workbench, nice!

    • Stevil November 9, 2018 at 3:18 pm #

      Nerd.