Running Back To Saskatoon

while I'm here I'll tell the story of the craziest day ever. On Wednesday morning at 7 o'clock ante meridian, Brendan dropped me off by the esso so I could hitch a ride from Dawson city to Whitehorse (pictured above). A couple people pulled over but I had to turn them down. People saying stuff like "I can take you as far as the airport" or "I'm only going to dempster corner" going 20 minutes up the road wasn't exactly what I needed. All it would have really done was it would have in the middle of nowhere as opposed to just outside of a familiar town.
I had one guy who was going to Stewart crossing, which is about half way, but I didn't take it and was kind of kicking myself. Then 5 minutes later a fellow and his son from Whitehorse picked me up. Apparently 3 hours had passed since I had started. They were pretty great folks. The dad had lived in Saskatoon from 79 to 85 I guess and still has property out by Borden. Anyway they were super nice but had one of those odd father son relationships were they are obviously really good friends. They were both very knowledgeable about the same things. They read a book aloud to each other on the way back, and not just any book but a book about free market of the past and present and the way super countries of the past and prestent rise but also how each economic structure eventually falls. It was really hard to follow.
I got them to drop me at a hostel in Whitehorse which was full, as was the next hostel I tried. At this point it was pouring rain and I had no place to stay and my bus wasn't leaving until 1:30 post meridian the next day. I was wet and gross and alone, so I walked to the Tim hortons to think about what on earth I was going to do for the next 20 hours. It was then I decided to stop at dominos pizza. Matt ingvardson, an old domino's from Saskatoon guy own the Whitehorse store and Paul Robinson also works there. I decided the only way to survive the night was to put away a bit of pride and ask if I could stay with them. I walked in with my giant bags on my shoulder, soaking wet and I didn't even have to ask. They put my bags in paul's car and let me hang around domino's for a few hours going on runs and what not. They told me it was too bad I already had a bus ticket because they were driving to Saskatoon the next day for a wedding. Also I should mention that the domino's guys run that town. They exchange pizza for everything including respect. They said they'd try and get me a refund for my non refundable ticket and were pretty confident they could do so.
at this point I didn't care, because they said if I came with them they wouldn't let me pay for gas. Not to mention they were driving a 2005 rented optima and had a widescreen laptop with games and DVD's. fuck the bus
they got off work after about an hour and a half and and they took my to their house which was nothing short of amazing. Wide screen TV, a million DVD's, fridge full of food and a nice warm shower. They both went to the gym and realizing that I'm certainly not a gym guy, they told me to make myself at home. I has some cheescake and watched rounders and a couple episodes of futurama. I went out for a cigarette and lamented how twice that day I had gone from having absolutely nothing, to landing square in a lap of luxury and good fortune.
suddenly matt comes home and asks if I want to go out on the town. I say sure, still a little overwhelmed by this ridiculous turn of events. I get in matt's car and we drive to this shady bar where he says he's gotta pick someone up. Suddenly this old drunk derelict looking fellow comes to the car door. This was the guy matt was picking up. This strange man proceeded to hand me his car keys and tell me to drive his car home. Bewildered and a little frightened I thought "what else can I do?" I get in his car and take drop it off at his house. I get back in matt's car and this grotesque little man gets me to pack a bowl for him.
we arrived at the capitol hotel bar. The crazy man buys me a beer and asks me to play pool with him. Ever time he shot, he would make a brilliant shot or he would miss the cue ball completely. I found out eventually that this guy is one of the managers of matt's domino's and he explains to me that when he's sober, he's just like me. I didn't believe him but I was too tired and confused to really know what to say. Eventually we got out of the bar and ran into Paul who drove me back to their place where I had a shower for the first time approximately 10 days.
I fell asleep on their couch. The next day we left Whitehorse at 2:30 post meridian and got back to Saskatoon at 3 post meridian the next day. We drove it in less than 24 hours straight through. Arriving around 16 hours ahead of the bus I would have been on.
What a weird fucking day.

Goodbye blondie

leaving today oh today. Its true, cat Stevens is the greatest singer. I feel great. I feel lighter. You'll learn about that later.
3.5 hours until that horrid long bus ride. Its all good. I'll put my head down and plow through and be delightfully eccentric when I get there.
last night I drank a lot of Yukon jack and swish to prepare for such an epic journey, and it is an epic journey by the way.
all I really have to tell you is I feel great, and cat Stevens is the greatest singer.
north I go.

When I've had my vision

One week until the klondike days begin again for me. A long bus ride later I'll be somthign a little different. I've been in desperate need of change for several years now. A long trip by yourself can help that along a little.
today's lesson: when jeans say they're size 32, they are not always what they seem. Either that or I've become a grotesque physical specimen. I bought a pair of jeans today and my body still hurts from squeezing into them. Perhaps I should start trying things on. I've always hated trying on clothes in a store. I think I'm going to start. Still, its an awkward thing to do when shopping alone.
another lesson I've learned is that men's shorts always show too much thigh. I cant handle that much thigh, so I make my own shorts out of pants I don't wear anymore. At this point I'm undecided which one looks worse.

I haven't said anything about current events lately, and I don't really plan on it anymore. There certainly are terrible things going on everyday, but I'm not qualified to post any sort of opinion. Instead, you should just read the cbc website everyday. www.cbc.ca It take 5 minutes and you can keep up to date on everything.

I sure like Joel plaskett. I recently found a copy of his first solo album which completes my collection. The whole album has such a strange feel to it. I'm not sure exactly what he was going for, but its so full of longing and boredom. If you're longing and bored, I recommend it. I recommend it anyway.
another album that I've been listening to is the new kings of Leon. Which oddly enough came out on the same day as the latest Joel plaskett back in February. I had a listen to it and I wasn't that impressed. Their first album was so fresh and it had such a unique southern rock sound. The first album (youth and youngmanhood) was short and sweet. This new album, with yet another unfortunate title (a-ha shake heartbreak) at first listen was long and just didn't have the same simplistic rock and roll of the previous record. It seemed to be produced all wrong for their sound and the songs sounded a little rushed. Thus I put it away for a few months.
upon second inspection later this month, I decided I was mostly wrong. It is a pretty good album. The songs have some great catchy choruses, and it is a charming piece of music. Its still seems a little scattered and rushed, but there are definitely a few gems that make it worth picking up.
I don't know what else to say about that. I think I'll have a nap. Cheers.

Drunk Post Infinity

There are something that I just wouldn't do. Sometime we get so set in our ways, that we lose sight of how to let go and have a good time. Come to think of it, that's been the story of my life for sometime. Whatever I'm stalwartly against, is usually something wonderful that I just refuse to try.
for example, I once was very against drinking. I'm drunk right now.
I was once baffled as to why anyone wouldever be a smoker. I've no been a smoker for almost 5 years. I used to be very against dancing. This is the new one.
I'm such a fool. A goddamn typical human fool. Aren't we all.
when I was a lad, I wanted so much to separate myself from human tendencies, that I left al the god out. The problem is ,that being human requires certain things. Such as being a slave to your DNA.
my DNA badly wants e to reproduce for some reason. It seems so strange that such a thing could consume a person, but then if you turn on your television it doesn't seem so odd at all.
looking for a shag really consumes a good portion of my life and its not only bothersome, but frightening. I can go outside without feeling some sort of sexual urge, and this really diminishes my chances of a good time. Its always making me wonder what the pretty girl next to me thinks of me. Holy sweet goddamn.
does anyone know why we all consider pinkerton to be a brilliant album? It because no one else in the history of music, has so articulately described their stuggle with that which makes us most human.
everything is the same even if its different. Everything you could ever want or be, you already have and are.

Yukon Cornelius

So many goddamn distractions, I just cant make myself up again.
I'm going to the Yukon, I bought my ticket today and I really cant wait to get away.
I watched some live 8 today. Its a nice cause I bob geldof is certainly deserving of his knighthood. However, I don't think its debt relief that developing nations really need. What they need is for the first world to stop fucking them in the ear with all their exports and resources. Then maybe they can actually bring some money into their country in the first place. A fair price for oil, gold and whatnot would go a long way, probably much further than calling off a debt.
of course I didn't think that up by myself. I read things. I steal ideas. That's just who I am.
listen to the album easy beat by Dr. Dog. Its becoming my new favorite.

tip of the day: don't try to quit smoking cigarettes when you've already got a nice case of the summertime blues. The nicotine withdrawal mixes with the fun withdrawal and can at time feel like a weak acid trip.

Something more familiar

The comfort in a familiar smell or sound is better than anything I could possibly describe. Night air or a song long forgotten.
the signs are all wrong discovery. How old is that map you carry? You obviously don't know where your going.
goddamn. Holy sweet goddamn.
the point is I'm a closed book and the combination has been lost somewhere in the vast ocean of cynisim. Cynicism and cryptic art garbage labeled with smoke and mirrors. Like these ones here for example.
there's something to be said for brutal honesty, but I'm not there yet. Try me tomorrow.