This morning my mind is a blank screen. There are no thoughts bouncing around inside just waiting to come out. It’s just me and the darkness that resides inside. This is due to the fact that I have not ridden a bike all week, not even so much as a test ride at work. Nothing. Every time I’ve tried to ride to work, something stupid happens and I end up running out of time and driving to work.
Like on Wednesday. I had almost everything ready to go with plenty of time to spare. The only thing I needed to do was get some dog food at the store just around the corner. Not a big deal. As I mentioned, I had budgeted my time for this and as I went to jump in the truck to go get the large bag of dog grub, I could not find my wallet. After checking every conceivable place I would have put it, I deduced that it must be at work. Bummer. I jump in the truck and high tail it into the shop to get my wallet. It’s not there either. At this point, I’m starting to get myself in a tizzy. I return home, still with no way to purchase food for the puppies. I rip the house apart to find it in the junk drawer. Hmm, I wonder who put it in there.
By this point it was obvious that the Japanese Cycling Gods were not smiling on this Mooseknuckler and I resigned myself to get back in the truck and drive to work.
And to top that off, I’ve been to two yoga classes and still am yet to do any yoga. I have pretty much recoiled into a corner of my room with a book and some rye to drink away my pain. All of that just means that I only am capable of abstract/creative thought when I am riding my bike, so I my brain is as blank as those screens above.
If you are paying attention at all, you will now be pointing out that those screens not only aren’t blank, but there is actually a lot to be said about that photo which is in fact my office at work. The debate that could be had, just by what is going on in that photo is raged on countless web forums every day, so I won’t go there. No in fact, my brain is anywhere from blank, but if I were to divulge what thoughts are raging around in its recesses the FBI would be at my door to haul me away to the place from where people don’t come back.
In all my free time that I have had whilst not riding my bicycle, has been spent becoming a meaningful member of society by driving my car (and by meaningful, I mean conforming). This has given me lots of time to list to Escape Velocity Radio.
This is hosted by two Canucks, one is some dude I don’t know anything about and the other is Chris Hannah. Hannah is the lead singer for my favorite band Propagandhi. Based on those two things, you should know exactly what this podcast is about, but for those of you who aren’t into punk bands that won’t play corporate sponsored concerts so you still can go see them in a tiny venue with a couple hundred other punks as they blast you with political noise…
The podcast is about politics, science and has a lot of funny accents thrown in the mix. And by funny, I of course mean the typical Canadian accent. This is the closest thing to talk radio that I have ever listened to. They break down truly newsworthy topics and then in the middle will blow your mind by both going completely out of the box with their thought analyzing every possible faction of a debate or just telling everyone to fuck off (sarcastically). If that’s sounds remotely interesting, check it out. I, for one, think you should.
And then there is this.
I usual watch this right before I go to bed with my mason jar full of whiskey. Of course, the damn producers always end an episode in the middle of some epic battle between the whalers and the Sea Shepherds meaning that KB and I end up staying up later than expected watching this small group of people use direct action in their battle to stop the slaughter of whales.
This usually ends with me mumbling something about cutting locks as I make my way to bed for a fitful night of dreams characterized by the intro used on every episode.
To end on a note that is semi-bicycle related, it’s September which does in fact mean that it is moustache month and if you have mad Facebook skills you can win a free bike, but much more importantly it means that it is time for the next Mooseknuckler Cup.
This one will be an actual Alley Cat themed race. This amazing occurrence will take place next Saturday the 13th at 8:30 PM. If something like this feels right, meet at Confluence Park bathrooms wear all the bike paths come together. This should facilitate arriving without your four-wheeled pollution spewing coffin, but we will let you participate even if you do bring yours. Wear your most hipsterish clothing and ride bikes with super narrow bars and no freewheel. If you don’t happen to have a bike of that kind, there will be a Wannabe Hipster Category for the rest of you.
And without I will leave your screen filled with emptiness.
P. L. and R.
