Here are a few more parting shots on Seattle:

• "Beaver Brew" - this is the weirdest named coffee stand ever.  Maybe I am just a pessimist here, but when I saw that sign I thought "UTI".
• 12 Coins is a weird place at 2 AM.  Especially if you have one drunk (and passed out) coworker and another one that is really drunk (me) and another coworker of undetermined inebriation level (but probably equal).  Waiters yell back too!
• There seem to be around 2 places to go to dance in Seattle.  And at the very least, I know one of them played a song from Grease on Friday night (Belltown Billards).  How can a DJ get that out of touch?  I mean, was that ever cool other than at the end of the night in a Cancun bar?
• Alibi Room (downstairs) is still my favorite place to go drink and half-dance.  The DJ on Saturday night was either playing good rap/hiphop/older/rock to dance to, or slower gangster rap which is more for a lounge.  Seattle can create cool spaces, but apparently they can't play music to save their lives.
• Ian is an awesome store as usual.  I ended up buying two jackets from Spiewalk.  Similar materials, but different cuts (bomber and windbreaker).  They are pretty cool and therefore I am pretty cool.
• Is there anything better than getting a new pair of ultra-white shell toes from Adidas (this time with the black felt trim)?  Now I just need to get those phat laces for them... :-P

Till next time Seattle!

PS: which is later this week...

(or: get the fuck out of my way)

I drove back from San Juan today on I-5.  Not only did I have the pleasure of fighting my way through the dumbasses up to the ferry, I had to do it back.  At least this time it was faster, but no thanks to any of you Washington drivers that were on the road at the same time.

The thing that gets me the most is that people will drive 70 (exactly the speed limit) on I-5 up here.  Driving the speed limit on I-5 is like sex... sure you can do it like the "law" tells you to, but that is not going to get you anywhere in a timely manner... hm, maybe that doesn't work as an analogy... anyways...

When I was dodging in between traffic using the skills I had picked up in a highway survival course (such as the two car length lane change at 50) the left lane opened up into the HOV lane (aka the carpool lane).

It was a struggle to not simply pull into that lane for the times that there was someone in the number 2 lane in front of me.  It made me think about why I am so nonchalant with breaking the speed limit and not willing to break the law regarding HOV lanes. 

I think it is because I respect the dream of urban planning and making the world a better place... or something. 

Just stay out of my way.  :-P

I am on San Juan island (Friday Harbor) right now and last night I tried to get out for some libations at a local bar.

First stop was some bar that had a smattering of people.  Half of which were local, townies and the other half were North Face-geared up tourists.  And then there was me in my baggy jeans and fur hooded parka.  Needless to say I stood out a bit... 

After sitting there, nursing my Pabst (from draft mind you) I decided to head down to the China Perl.  No one was mingling at this bar, and even the bartender, who saw I was alone, didn't even try to engage in small talk.  Isn't that was "local bars" are supposed to be good at?

Upon entering the "Perl" I knew it couldn't get much worse...

There was a live band playing their renditions of famous songs.  At the bar sat some more locals and I was asked for my ID by the bar wench.

"What, don't I look 35?"  I said this with a grin as I passed the ID over.

"No."

(handed her my ID)

"You're not anywhere near 35.  I don't get it."

"It was an attempt at being endearing, but apparently that didn't work."  I stared at her for a minute and she just stood there with a dumb look on her face.

"It was a joke."  More silence.

"What do you have on tap?" 

I ordered a Bud Light (always looking after my weight) and contemplated why San Juan sucks so much.  The answer was that I wasn't wearing fishman gear, ugly (keep your opinions to yourself) or knew any of the other sad soles that were drinking at that time. 

I decided that I can sit alone, listening to bad music and drinking shitty beer at home, or basically anywhere else.  After spillng the rest of my beer on the bar (it was partially an accident) I ambeled out of the establishment.

For the rest of the weekend I am determined to stay in doors and avoid drinking establishments on this island.

...and the new Messenger too!

hey all.

just testing out this crap-fest for someone...

chrizbo