Does the universal cop have a beat?

So, I might be moving upstairs, and more importantly, I will have a garage.

Many things can happen in this garage.

I can go vintage. 70’s Vespa Rally 200, anyone?

I can get a that Triumph Bonnie I’ve always wanted. Not one this nice, but one that could BECOME this nice.

UPDATE: What a coincidence, a guy I emailed about a ‘64 GL (just for fun) just emailed me back. I might go check it out in Silver Lake when I get back from Mexico. Just for fun, see. Here is what a ‘64 GL looks like:

Messing around with format

Hey everyone – I’m messing around with the blog format with colors and fonts, so it may be ugly and changing all day today. And by everyone, I mean you, the sole reader of this blog.

First Ride of the Summer

I took my first real ride of the summer yesterday. It was beautiful out, and I was going to go shopping in Santa Monica, but I decided to just keep riding up the PCH.

I went to the top of Pacific Palisades. It was a little hazy, but up there you are completely surrounded by mountains. I barely saw any cars on the road up there.

These little purple flowers were everywhere up there. You could smell them from the road. When I stopped to take this picture, I could see thousands of bees. I was wondering what kept hitting me in the chest as I drove by these. I’m glad one didn’t get into my helmet!

I eventually got back on the PCH and went up a road which brought me to Mulholland Drive. This is a cactus garden off Mulholland. It was very arid here, and I was surprised at all the different climates I would experience in a two hour ride.

After Mulholland, I got back on the PCH and headed for Topanga Canyon Road. This ride is the most fun, and I think I saw at least 50 motorcycle mamas and papas going up and down. Lots of leather, scruffy beards, and little black helmets.

This is actually the second time I took Topanga that day. When I started up the road, I noticed that I had forgotten to get gas, and my gas light was starting to blink. I decided to just go all the way up the canyon to the town of Topanga, because surely they would have gas. They didn’t! By this time my gas light was on steady now, meaning I was very low. I headed back down Topanga Canyon Road to the PCH. I had to head about a mile south before I hit a gas station. I thought for sure I was going to run out! I guess the reserve is a little bigger than I thought.

This is taken on a turnout on Topanga, where I stopped and ate some pistachio nuts. It was at least 10-15 degrees warmer here than on the coast. I took my jacket off and enjoyed the heat. The warm air brought down the smell of juniper and sage, it made me hungry.

On the turnout, I explored a little and saw a little rabbit who was too fast to get a picture of, and this lizard – Mr. Lizard.

Finally, I met back up with the PCH again and headed up to Malibu. I found a place to park and walked down the pier and snapped this. There were a ton of people out, but most out swimming or surfing.

It is amazing that I could experience desert, forests, mountains, and beach all within minutes of each other. It was a great ride!

There are a few other pictures I didn’t post here, as well as these pictures full size on my Flickr photo set.

Joe Strummer week

It is friday, and I’m about to leave work. Listen to some Joe Strummer this weekend if you haven’t. He’s my hero. Try and rent “Let’s Rock Again” and give it a watch. Remember Joe!!!!

“With half closed eyes you realise… It’s love in the life that is paradise”

yesssssss

Oh yeah, I also read a Scooter Blog called: ScooterDave!

sausage links

Oh, hello again. Just hanging out at work.

I thought I would post some sausage links, minus the sausage!

Here are the blogs I check out daily. I know there is some sort of fancy website or service that can compile all the new posts from each of these into one handy page, but that just seems like too much work. I use a thing called “bookmarks.” In the future, these bookmarks will be made of holograms I bet.

Witty Funniness

Face of the Cookie
SinPies

Scooters and junk

The Scooter Scoop
2-Stroke Buzz

Important Stuff

The Consumerist

That’s about it. I suck at reading lots of blogs. I mostly just read my own over and over and over and over. And I click on my ads. Wait! I don’t have any ads! Aids. I don’t have any Aids. I FEEL CRAZY TODAY

sidecar yeeaaah

Dave’s awesome information about the Ural (now that I think about it, Dave, I think we’ve talked about these bikes before) got me thinking about rad sidecars.

Yeaaaah. I love how there is even crash bars on the outside of the sidecar. It looks like it was made out of an old Spitfire! Rad!

In other scooter news, I had a close call this morning. I was turning onto Lincoln from Venice, and I was leaning into the turn, and my center stand started to grind on the ground because I was leaning so sharp into the turn. It started to pull my front end around, and I’m glad it was smooth road, because I was able to pull the bike up without getting squirrelly.

It looks like Saturday will be the day for working on my Scooter, if my turn signal kit comes in on time. I’ll take pictures.

I got a haircut yesterday, but it is too short. It will be fine in a week, but GOD DAMNIT.

Tonight I’m going to a warehouse party downtown with a bunch of bands. Shouldn’t be a late night, but should be fun. I’ll take pictures there too. Pictures, pictures, pictures. PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES. Do you even want to see the pictures? I take them for myself!

I did the delete last night. The phone was too overloaded with phone numbers! So I did the delete. Essentially, when I delete a number, it is basically saying “I never want to talk to you… ever again, in my entire life!” Don’t worry, reader! I didn’t delete your number! I love you! Unless, of course, you are a stranger (then I love you just for reading) or you are someone who doesn’t like me, but chooses to read this blog anyway (I don’t like you, and I deleted you).

Here is the part where I try to decide whether to click “PUBLISH,” or I decide to keep writing.

Hmmm….

Bold Italic BOLD ITALIC

I’m done.

random photos

Yes, this is a vanity plate on the back of a PT Cruiser.

This is an awesome Russian? bike with a sidecar. I wish I would have taken a picture of the emblem. Cherry.

Earthquake Weather

Before Joe Strummer hooked up with the Mescaleros, he made a solo album titled Earthquake Weather in 1989. It is now out of print, and goes for around 30-50 dollars.

It’s quite good! Strummer’s vocals are always present up front, and he is starting to slip into his “Streetcore” mode that first started to appear in Sandinista! as well as their covers of such songs as “Armagideon Time” and “Police and Thieves.”

Because this album is so tough to get – how can you ever listen to it? Good news, friends. I own it. Just ask me for a copy.

Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros Music Videos

Over at Hellcat Records, they have free Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros music videos that you can download, or watch in browser. Find them here. The “PSP” version seems to be the best quality for downloading.

If you have a dry eye after watching the music video for Strummer’s cover of “Redemption Song,” then you better get that heart checked.. because it’s cold man.

It has been over four years since Joe Strummer died – but I still feel quite sad about it. Maybe because I never got to see him perform. I named my first car the “Strummermobile” when I was 16.

Global a Go-Go

It is Joe Strummer week here at Shoesonpowerlines!

Tonight I’m watching the rock documentary (don’t say rockumentary!) Let’s Rock Again. I learned about it when I looked up Dick Rude after watching Straight to Hell again. I’m very excited.

Ode to West Coast

Actually, I just listened to LCD Soundsystem’s “New York I Love you, but you’re bringing me down” and changed all the words.

BEHOLD:

West Coast I love you, but you’re bringing me down..
You’re entire coastline only has three good towns.
I’ve lived in two of three – and the third ain’t for me!
West Coast I love you, but you’re bringing me down..

West Coast I love you, but you’re way too spread out..
Between each great city, there is an urban drought.
College towns and farmland – I just don’t understand!
West Coast I love you, but you’re way too spread out..

Los Angeles I love you, but you’re too half and half..
On one hand you’re genius, on the other just daft.
The weather is so great – but the people just ain’t!
Los Angeles I love you, but you’re too half and half..

Los Angeles I love you, now please bring me my food..
I know you are an actor, so I don’t mean to be rude.
Oh you’re writing a script? Oh I’m sure you’ll make it!
But right now I’m just hungry, so please bring me my food..

(bridge)

Los Angeles I love you, and you complement me fine.
Your opportunity is endless, just like your wine.
For those who play it safe – well this just isn’t the place!
Los Angeles I love you, and you complement me fine!

The Onion: This American Life LOLZ

This American Life Completes Documentation Of Liberal, Upper-Middle-Class Existence | The Onion

Ha! Even though I love it, I can laugh at it too.

Just got back from a last-minute late night movie …

Just got back from a last-minute late night movie with Lindsey – “Disturbia.” It was just what I needed.

Straight to Hell

Just finished Straight to Hell again. What other film can you see Joe Strummer and Shane Mcgowan have a gun fight? None, I suppose.

I miss Joe Strummer. I miss knowing that he is alive. His last album, Streetcore, has climbed into one of my favorite albums of all time. I listen to it every week.

I just put Roadside Prophets on my queue. I watched this movie about ten years ago, it stars John Doe and has a ton of cameos in it. I love any movie with motorcycles in it.

Today was dreary and overcast and drizzly and a real shame. Hopefully next weekend will be sunnier.

Vespa nerdout alert: I broke 4000 miles this weekend on my Vespa. I will get the Euro turn signal kit this week – which has dual filament bulbs in it now, so the running lights will stay white and the turn signals will be amber! AWESOME! I also will be stripping the reflectors.

Mexico in two weeks. I am so ready for it. I haven’t had a real vacation since I went to London my senior year in High School.

The art show was very fun. Lindsey’s art is amazing. I’m in constant awe.

To the six or seven people who still read this: I salute you!