The Aldrich Avenue Weekly

My oh my!!!! What a weekend. The place two be this past weekend was 1st. Ave. I just saw the two best concerts I have ever seen this past weekend. The Band? Umphrey’s McGee. Quite possibly(in my opinion) the best live show a person can see. I’m telling you. These guys can shred it on their instruments. My state of mind helped out too. But honestly, I was blown away. In awe. Who are Umphrey’s McGee you might ask. They have been known to called a "progressive rock/jam band from".  A mixture of this and that. They played 2, hour and a half sets. Just them, only them. Fans chanting "UMPHREYS" and cheering on batman on the big screen as he took down those villains. "BAM", "SMASH", GO BATMAN!!!! Then that screen turned black, the screen rose, and the place turned into a frenzy. WOW!!!!! A must see in my book. It was a fun time. Myself, Matt, Brill, Reggie, and Brandon, all hopped the bus down there, and walked back Friday and Saturday nights. Only about a 25 min. walk to our place. Ran into some old friends and had a grand time.
 
The shop is now completely bonkers. No hope for a break until late
July. Gone are the thoughts of buying a new car. Gone are the thoughts
of actually cleaning my room. Gone are the thoughts of cooking. Now
come thoughts of "wheres the RUM", high stress levels and non-stop
chaos. Do you realize that from now until late July we are turning
wrenches on bicycles open to close, every day of the week? Gotta love
it. So come on in folks. I know those bikes need some lovin’, and Bad Andy and his crew will make em’ happy.
   I am loving this weather we’re having. I’m finally outside riding my bike. No more of that damn, wretched trainer. That thing drives me insane. The latest rain is not helping, but its warmer. A couple of nice long rides with Kyle last week, and hopefully two more this weekend. The legs are coming back, and it feels great. Speaking of feeling great, I just ate a cheese sandwich, gonna suck down some water, and hit the hay. Peace.

:Disclaimer: The "weekly quote" is now going to be called "the former weekly quote" and now will be called "quote of the day". Thank you for you’re cooperation.

quote of the day - "breathe easy, think slowly, dream focused" -Umphrey’s McGee

I was at work last week and I got a message from my mom to give her a call. I called her up and the first thing she said was, "I’ve got some bad news". It turns out that someone that I knew quite well as I was growing up as a child was going to die.
   My very first real friend and best friend was a kid by the name of Bobby. We hung out all day, every day for a number of years. I’m not gonna lie, he was of the trouble making ILK, but he was a good kid and a good friend. We got in trouble a lot and would always get chewed out by his mom Judy. From taking off on his go-kart, starting fires, turning the backyard into a rally pit for the cart, she always caught us. As we hit middle school we grew apart and developed new clicks. Unfortunately for Bobby his click was on the wrong side of the tracks. He missed a lot of school from there up through high school, and got in some trouble with the law. I never hung out with him again from that point up until last Friday night. "You remember Judy right?" says my mom. I say "of course". "Well it looks like she is going to die". I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. From what I’ve heard she had broken her ankle some time back, and developed a blood clot that shot right up to her brain, put her into a coma, and is now on life support. It was really sad news and I felt so bad for that family. She was the lifeblood of the family business. They owned a truck wash and she did all the accounting. I’ll always remember her sitting in her office clicking away at the typewriter and yelling at us at the same time. She made this wonderful hot peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that to this day cannot be beat. I saw Bobby that same day I heard the news at Moe’s Tavern watching The Dirty Harry’s perform. We talked. About his mom, what we have been up to, and what not. It was hard. I didn’t know what else to say besides "I’m sorry". He said we’re welcome to the funeral and I hope to attend. Just makes you realize how fragile our lives are. Think about it. It all started with an ankle injury. Crazy shit. I wish Bobby and his family the best from here on out. I like to think that God needed and accountant.

quote of the week - and excerpt from "Mad World" made recently popular once again by Gary Jules. Originally performed by Tears for Fears.
   All around me are familiar faces
   Worn out places, worn out faces
   Bright and early for their daily races
   Going nowhere, going nowhere
   Their tears are filling up their glasses
   No expression, no expression
   Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
   No tomorrow, no tomorrow

Its official. Spring is finally here. With all this recent warm weather, most of the snow is gone, so yesterday I went out and did my very first outdoor road ride of the year. It was grand. It was only fitting that some asshole had to ruin it for me. Yesterday’s forecast was to be around 50 degrees. I think it was closer to 60. I hopped into the saddle hoping to do at least and hour and a half on the bike. I instantly felt like a million bucks. I love the first ride outdoors of the year. Its the best ride of the year in my opinion. Fresh air and all the smells you haven’t been around in months. All those sounds while riding. Birds, vehicles, gears grinding, breathing. I would say at about the hour and a half mark I was riding down County Rd. C minding my own business, when a car with 4 guys in it(probably in their late teens, early twenties) started yelling at me as they went by and flipped me off. I didn’t quite make out what they said, but like every other motorist out there that yells at a cyclist, it usually entails "get off the road". So I do what you do back to assholes that do this thing to me. I give them the full on double bird. It usually ends at that, but not these guys. I see em’ turn off and down the road pop out again at a stop sign. This time they are going the other direction and as we pass each other, I put up my hands like "whats your problem" and they hurl a glass bottle at me. I landed right behind me and shattered. I was a little surprised, but that soon led to anger. What if that thing hit me in the head and knocked me out cold(I was wearing a beanie, not a helmet). Its assholes like these that make riding in the cities crazy. I know it goes both ways. I always feel bad when some motorist totally thinks they own the road and I show them how I feel. I wonder who saw that. Do they think the same? Its sad really, but I’m not gonna let some asshole think he owns me just because he is in a motorized vehicle. I’m gonna let you know how I feel. I don’t like taking shit from people. ESPECIALLY from motorists that think its funny to throw shit, and antagonize cyclists. I’ve had small items thrown at me like, paper, plastic objects, even a water balloon once(it bounced off me and smacked on the ground) but NEVER a glass object. I didn’t have my glasses on so I couldn’t get a good look at the license plate number. Honestly, I was ready to throw down right there with those assholes, spandex and all. Anyhoo, I ended up riding a solid two hours in beautiful weather.

    I watched the Wild beat Vancouver last night in overtime @ Van. A huge game, playoff atmosphere, high stakes. I watched Sportscenter today hoping to see highlights, and I got nothing. I was pissed. I think I saw them talk more about football then what happened in the NHL last night. I think now that ESPN is not covering NHL games anymore(Versus is) they are sticking it to em’ by not showing as many highlights as they used to. They have done a bad job all year with covering NHL highlights. The only bright spot is watching Barry Melrose with that slick back almost mullet like hair and how much he loves the game of hockey. I think of all the broadcasters on that station, he is the most passionate and most enjoyable to watch. Today is another beautiful day, and I’m off to enjoy it. Happy Hump Day everyone!!!!

weekly quote -
Rodney Dangerfield:  "I went to a fight the other night and a hockey
game broke out."