Beware Garden Dinosaurs
Category: Ballard
Packed
The weather this weekend was incredible and the crowd at the farmers market reflected it. I’m so glad it runs year round and is five blocks from my apartment.
Your’e Doing It Wrong
My Distorted Perception of the World
If you’ve seen me in the last few weeks, you may have noticed that the top of my head has been getting a little…ummm…shitty. Today I decided it was time for a haircut. This is a big deal because I was going to actually go to a barbershop and pay somebody to cut my hair for me. Since high school, I have probably paid for a haircut once, maybe twice. (Special thanks to Kaylee, Gina, Ashlinn’s friend Anne and Ashlinn herself for donating time to my trimmings.)
I stopped to get coffee and then made my way to Old Town Ballard. By the time I got to the barbershop, which employs almost entirely women, I’m freaking out. My brain will not let go of the fact that I should feel improper about these actions. Paying somebody else for something that I should be doing myself? This is filthy. My brain is treating this like I am at a bordello. My legs are weak, my brow is sweating and I might have a partial.
I write my name down on the waiting list sheet. Next to my name, they ask me if I have any preference. I pause for a moment and decide writing “brunette” would be inappropriate. I sit down and wait for them to call my name. When they do, I look up at my barber…a brunette.
She leads me to my chair right next to the window and the first thought that pops into my head is “What if somebody walking by recognizes me!” I’m such a freak.
I make nervous small talk, and probably embarrass myself on multiple levels. I eventually shut up and let her do her thing. I notice her styling license and almost tell her she has a pretty name, then I realize that is the most whorish thing to say to a girl that is providing you with a service.
I guess the whole experience peaked in absurdity when she asked me if I wanted to rinse off. I had no clue what this was going to entail, but I said yes anyways. She could have asked me if I wanted to go out back and take turns punching orphans and I still would have said yes. Turns out “rinsing off” is exactly what it sounds like. There are only sinks in the back room, so you have to walk from your chair to the other side of the building while still wearing your reverse cape. It really seals the deal to make you feel like everyone else is watching you.
In the end, I paid my $10 plus tip and left with a colder scalp and the feeling that I should be ashamed.
It also could have been due to my sensitivity to caffeine.
Blisters & Other Stuff
Why do I only get blisters at the bases of my middle, ring and pinky fingers? I feel like my index finger is doing just as much work, why does he get away with looking so pampered?
BTW, Ashlinn is back and I’m still alive. Bachelor Week boiled down to me lugging home more lumber on foot. My dad keeps telling me to buy a car, but I keep telling him the buy list is organized like this:
1. Dog
2. Pizza
3. House
4. Pizza
5. Car
Speaking of dogs, check out this gentleman. Ashlinn and I visited him at the shelter and if nobody claims him by Tuesday, I may be building a dog bed. He seems quite polite, but a little too vocal. I would be too in the same situation.
On the topic of being fenced in with no way to get home, I must recommend District 9. Neill Blomkamp did a great job of creating characters that react very realistically in their environment.
Funny People was also really good too, but you’ll have to check Ashlinn’s blog for a proper review.
I don’t know what the other half of this sticker said, but I bet it was hilarious.
That Google Thing
Remember how I promised to post the laugh enducing Google Streetview?
Here ya go. Crack problem at the Ballard Commons park gets serious.
Sorry ’bout That
Sorry I haven’t posted for a while, I’ve been a little busy playing with my new Xbox 360 and fighting with homeless guys. That’s right! I bought an Xbox. It was a birthday present for myself. Thanks to all who wished me a happy birthday, that was real cool of you!
As for the homeless guy, I was skating at the Ballard Bowl and got tangled up in this crazy fight between 2 homeless guys and a homeless woman. Needless to say, I was fighting on the side of justice and in defense of the woman, and the only injury that seemed to result was one of the guys pissing his pants and probably a horse throat due to yelling. After that I lost to a guy in a game of S-K-A-T-E. All in a day’s work I guess.
P.S. Mom, I promise I’ll never intentionally get into a fight with homeless people again.
Ballard Bike Race!
On Sunday a bike race was held just a few blocks from my apartment. It’s called Second Ascent Twilight Criterium, and is obviously put on my Second Ascent, a local climbing and cycling store specializing in used equipment.
As you can see, the road surface is either brick or less than pristine asphalt. The divot in the last picture blew at least one racer’s tire. He managed to stay upright though, which is more than I can say for the guy in orange ( I think it was him.) He fell hard on that corner, slammed into the hay bails lining the curb. Then another racer came around the corner and (I think) ran over either his stomach or ribs. It happened pretty fast, but he seemed OK.
Higher quality pictures can be seen here, but they’re not mine!
well well well…
Despite the fact that I’m having a hard time reintegrating my iPhone with my laptop and it’s new hard drive, I am very glad to be back behind a computer (or am I in front of it?)
By the way, have I ever mentioned photographers suck at math?
Ballard
I still haven’t replaced my hard drive, so here’s a picture of a pony I took.
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