Sunday, August 3, 2014

getting mail rules

I love getting mail. Meredith sent me a nice card, two new bumper stickers, &
 Normally I'm really picking about what bumper stickers I place upon the van. I have to balance between stating my principles without attracting police & redneck wrath. So I was stunned when both the bumper stickers fell in line with what I feel is acceptable for the van. "BREATHE" by thich nhat hanh resides next to the license plate. "STOP PUBLIC LANDS RANCHING" is dear to my heart because that is the one issue that I point to remembering the most clearly when I saw Howard Lyman speak on the CSU campus in 1991. The same speech that led me to a vegetarian & later a vegan lifestyle. Cattle barons are allowed to graze their for profit livestock on our public lands without paying for the use of the lands. And certainly not having to pay for the environmental degradation that is caused by the cattle in the form of soil erosion & water pollution. We the tax payer have to foot those bills. It pissed me off as an 18 year old, that these rich white assholes were getting a free ride on the taxpayer's back.

With that said, I'd like to put out a request for you, my blog readers, to send me bumper stickers that you would like to see on the back of the van. I will heavily consider any submission and should I surmise that your submission be too controversial for the van, I will place the sticker in another location and it will show up in a future blog post.
my 1st package of cat butt gum
I made the decision to wait and open it when I'm in the presence of one of my cat email list recipients in September. You love cat photos and didn't know I send out a daily cat pic to a select list of cat lovers? Think you might want to get in on the fun? just email me

found a bunch of chalk in a dumpster

with the bluegrass fest happening at Avo's, I thought I'd make message out front

only lasted an hour before the hour washed out my beautiful creation - some friend of animals he is.

Free Palestine rally on College & Mulberry

stop the bloodshed - war mongering Israel

Jaeson - front pivot to long drop off the edge

had a brief visit with the Peter's clan in Erin's new apartment

felt honored to see the Peters Sisters Moving Co in action

Tsedeq - front blunt off the edge into the abyss

and again with a floating ollie to the mush pocket

Foco Cafe fundraiser @ Shire CSA

I'd been hearing about the pending opening of Foco Cafe
It will be Ft. Collins' first pay as you can cafe. Remember last week, when Adam, Beadle, Angela & I went to Same Cafe in Denver? Similar model.

the bike in concept was right up my alley - hung with Launch & Foco volunteer - Molly Hoff
3 bands, food, beer, desert auction, good times
local bike shop was on hand to do free repairs and provided the bike racks
the stage was set up near the pond
took a tour of the Shire CSA farm
the owner of the CSA gave the tour
broccoli coming in nice
wildflowers abound - this one is for you Don Vine
a sample of what comes in the CSA box
community raspberry bushes along the fenceline near the bike path
on my ride home, I found the building that will house the Foco Cafe opening in Sept 2014
I really hope I can get a meal here before I depart to the NW in mid Sept.

fine dining

brand new all vegan food cart - The Silver Seed

I caught up with them at the Coloradoan - the reading room

lots to choose from

I'd heard about the special featuring Mama's seitan

but I went with the bbq squash tacos

went back last week to find the Seed at Bath Nursery & try the Hawaiian!
checked out the local Ethiopian spot called Nyala with my Fort Vegan pals
I'd never had Engudai Tibs before and it was delicious (mushrooms, onions, zucchini, & carrots)
been eating lots of damn good tacos
the Sicilian taco with homemade pesto !
yum yum's - been eating falafel's here since '91
$5 falafel special if you pay cash
Tasty Harmony is still the best option in town. More on that later.

back to squash tacos for my 3rd visit at Patreros Creek Brewery on Sunday evenings

Saturday, August 2, 2014

the Fort

my last from a vegan voodoo bucket
checked out a different meditation option
they cut up my dumpstered cantaloupe & everyone ate it!
On my way to meditate, I stopped by the best dumpster in town and found a perfectly good cantaloupe. I figured that perhaps I could hide it in the bushes until I could get it back to a fridge. I chose to ask the greeter at Heruka if they had a refrigerator. They did and she took the melon and thanked me for bringing it. When she returned, I felt the need to clarify. "I'm not sure you understand, I found that melon in a dumpster on the way here. I was going to eat it later." She was unfazed and countered that they are happy to share rescued food. Sure enough, after the hour of meditation, she went in the back, cut it up, and served it to us. 
oh WF - A. watermelon is healthy  B. it's spelled WATERMELLON
still on my quest for used Crocs, these knockoffs got voted down
the evolution of an envelope
I scored this old rollerskating poster from a recycling bin on the CSU campus. I figured I'd write a letter on it at some point. It was fairly banged up and sorta soiled in parts. Last year when I attended the Portland Zine Symposium, I attended a workshop on the importance of letter writing. The lovely facilitator had all sorts of good advice. She also provided us with a custom envelope template. I've kept that template with me and pull it out from time to time. Most of the time I'm writing postcards with no need for an envelope. But ever so randomly I find a piece of paper that begs to be written on & it's those times that I must also create a unique envelope. Heidi has something to look forward to when she gets home from Chicago.
this one is for Phil Burcher
went to sangha one sunday and didn't get the memo that it was carpet cleaning day
so myself and these two newbies sat together for 20 minutes outside in the shade. then I sung a song.
ft collins is a bike friendly community - bike crochet on a downtown fence
and out on a southerly bike path...a fine message
my new friend, Liz - our 1st chat at Avo's
an ever present issue as seen at Bean Cycle
found these on a major street corner, but no straps & too small
rad lunch pouch when Square State came to Launch
this is my primary swimming spot on the Poudre.
I'd never seen someone jump from up in the tree
stoked I witnessed this
this is Turtle a Ft Collins local - but I first met him at Brooklyn Street in PDX in 2013
Last summer in Homer, Alaska, I was out hiding my bike around early in the morning and passed a thrift store. There was a large pile of donations out in front of the store. I stopped and took a look and walked away with a worn pair of sturdy Carhart black denim pants. I had high hopes that they would fit me. Alas, once back at the van, I tried them on and they were too small. I held onto them with the hopes of finding a skater that would appreciate them. Fast forward to June 21st at Northside Skatepark. The Bacon team was arriving & about to demo. I'd found the pants in the van and had found a few other items to give away. Turtle caught my eye as I was walking the perimeter of the park. He remembered me from Portland and we got to talking. I asked if he could use a pair of pants. Once he saw what they were, he graciously accepted. Now fast forward again to the end of July. I see Turtle skating Northside barefoot. Low & behold, he's wearing the pants and was singing their praises. He asked where I found them and it took me a second to recall, but then the Homer memory popped into my head and I shared the story. He countered that his dad works most of the year in Homer as a miner. How perfect......I found the one skater that could use a pair of pants, who fit in the pants, & who had a family connection to their city of origin. I'd say that is a fine tale of reuse.