I have continued to be happy gathering LPs from the internet, one by one, in mint condition only.  It is super-bling in your hands when you open that package.  I recently discovered a set of albums from the same seller and noticed he was in Minneapolis.  Then noticed it was Roadrunner (LandSpeedRecords on eBay) near my house where I had gone a few times before.  Drove there directly and talked to the man about where he got them and could I buy the currently-auctioned items (ok, I'll bid on them then) and bought many pieces - in mint condition - spent hundreds, less than 10 each, some less than 5.   He had purchased an estate sale load and seemed to be concerned that he would be able to sell the mint condition 80s metal vinyl - 50 or so albums.  He was auctioning the best ones according to internet research he told me, but there were still plenty in the rack, near-perfect condition with all inserts.  I just won 6 for a hundred bucks, and I regret not winning several others.  When they're mint - you've got to strike while the iron is hot. They look and feel so good.

Heft on Wheels

I'm ninety pages into this and loving it, I like Mike's writing and perspective and I can totally relate to his (former  - by the end I'm guessing) lifestyle.  His self-awareness, bi-polar practices, and down-to-earth persona ring absolutely true with me. Some of his anecdotes are so close it's scary.  OK, most of his anecdotes are so close it's scary.  Highly recommended for overweight cycling-loving alcoholics.

Harriet Brewing is cool

Actually rode the bike tonight, the flow of streets and cars, head and tail lights through Riverside and the university bringing back memories of commuting days, god I felt weak, but still pounded those around me of course... My canti's are squealing.

Finally got to Harriet (was tipped off by the band playing my kid's school's outdoor carnival on Friday.) - and had a great time with bands, beer and talking to the brew-master Jason.  Everything is Belgian-oriented which isn't really my preference but still pretty cool.  IPA was good, Double-bock was good, Pilsner not so much.  MILFs? yes please.

Thira is Minneapolis Industrial Metal

One Saturday morning a couple of months ago I looked out the window to see a moving van in the driveway of our depressingly-trashy next door neighbors who had lived there nearly as long as we have.  On Sunday I spied the unfamiliar nice car of the Property Manager and popped-out to introduce myself as the actively-interested next-door home-owner.  He was cool and apologetic to my description of the previous tenants. He gave me a tour and his card telling me to be sure to contact him if there were any issues with the new people.

Two weeks later several twenty-something guys moved in - short hair and good manners on initial contact - Still worried though, it was several twenty-something guys after all...  But they're quiet and seemingly not around much - so far so good.  It looks like they're in construction as their large, enclosed and logo-emblazoned trailer advertises their services. But I've spied-on them and all I've ever seen being loaded or unloaded are nice, large road-cases.  Musical equipment traveling cases that is.  The trailer is gone most weekends but doesn't move during the week.

Tonight I ran into dude in the alley and we introduced ourselves, I asked him about the road cases and he told me about his band, Thira.  Wow, I like heavy metal music too.  Ya, they live next door.  And they're pretty fucking good.

The one for you and me

Have Mercian

 

The hand-built fixie died tonight.  I loved its feel on the road, but it was too small, and with the Methadone, I think I'll stay off of it.  The surly/openPro wheelset kind of rocks though, and the Hussefelt and the green Brooks, all seem like they could have a better life on a different frame.  That sweet yellow and white tube-set is light and I do believe British hand-built, but covered with surface-rust, I don't think I'm going to ride it anymore.

That Salsa quill is sweet too but surface-rusty at the joints,  I don't think I'll ride it anymore either

Who Watches the Watchmen?

Motion Comic?  I do.

There was a movie a few years back too, but it was not great. The Watchmen story is great however so the movie could have been.  The motion comic was pretty satisfying though.  Motion Comic means it's the actual drawings from the books Photoshopped into moving scenes, which if you're coming to it from the actual comic-magazines as I am, it's pretty much better than the original.  The success of this kind of thing rests on the skill of the voice-actors, or in this case actor, though this guy does a pretty good job.  It's an incredible tale spanning twelve super-intense episodes and husky-voiced heroines aside it was done pretty well.  After watching them here and there over the last couple weeks I finished off the last three tonight - comics are for children, ya right.

Crack The Skye (Skull)

Ugh - don't even ask.

Mayday is NEXT Sunday

The three-toed sloths looked disappointed and members of the undead marching band milled around aimlessly under the marquee,  I guess we weren't the only ones unpleasantly surprised.  Good gardening day at least...

Extra Terrestrial Live  They always did have great album covers though.