summer is here

I went for a ride this afternoon before the rain started. Now it's raining and I'm stuck inside doing dishes and watching Caddyshack on VH1. My new bike has been treating me very well - aside for some hamstring pain around mile 40 I didn't really 'hit the wall' concerning energy until I was five miles from home. I'm giving some consideration into setting a formal training regiment with the goal of making it to the Wisconsin state line and back in an afternoon. This is what I've been up to lately. Thank you president Bush for the tax incentive check.

Tonight Josh Ritter is playing a show at the west loop neighborhood festival for only $10 admission but it's supposed to rain all evening and I'm pretty tired from earlier today. I'm sure I'll hear about this from Peter and Erin.

Speaking of shows - we had a great time at the Mark Kozelek show. The old town school of folk music is a fantastic place - small and intimate amphitheater with great sight lines and relaxed attitude. It helped I scored 2nd row seats. He played very few songs from his solo records and instead focused heavily on playing old Red House Painters tracks and songs from 'ghosts of the great highway.'

I've been listening to Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes. I'm getting ready for pitchfork.


Our first CSA box was delivered yesterday. Last night we enjoyed the freshest salads I've ever had accompanied by Cypress Grove Chevre on a Tuscan loaf and a delightful bottle of Pinot Grigio from Sonoma.

Summer is here, indeed.

via boing boing

Talking Jesus

"...you want to hire a choirboy you can go back to Grand Rapids. I've been to that scumbag town, it's full of 'em."

...Is a line Peter Boyle uses in Paul Schrader's 1979 film "Hardcore" which Xtina and I watched last night based on a g-rad discussion board mention. If you haven't seen this movie you should check it out. It's filled with GR nostalgia and plenty of nudges to those who are familiar with its' subculture. It was nice to view that Calvinist familiarity from the outside-in. I can see why many in city administration vowed never to have another film shot in the city again. The movie makes GR appear in the same way the news media are making mormon enclaves appear today.

It's been incredibly hot in the city for the last week or so.

Not too much is new...working, sweating, riding, eating. Oberon is back in town under the guise of 'Kalamazoo Unfiltered Wheat Beer.' Perhaps I'll post a photo.