Another beautiful Cowtown day, with “The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth” in it’s final days, and so, the tourists that dared come to Mad Cow, SARS, West Nile Virus, Calgary, Canada, will be leaving the city shortly—and thank god for that! Sure, they pump money into the economy, but when I’m driving down 17th Ave. and some yahoo from Montana is driving in front of me and neither sure where he quite is nor where he might need to be going: go back home. And that reminds me, I figured out a solution to the closed boarder to Alberta Beef problem: we need merely launch live cows over the American border using catapults.
So I head downtown about 4:30 with my partner and drop her off over at her friend Barbara’s. I get hold of my old friend “The Remover” so we can both hook up with Master M to get some herb. I head over to the Remover’s place and we can’t reach the Master by phone, but the Remover figures he knows where the Master and his Mistress are—it being Friday and all. So we jump in the car—and it’s cookin’ in there while I’m trying ta’ sort the CDs and plug the adapter into the factory tape deck of the old Dodge (who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The…) Shadow (knows)—and head over to the spot, and sure enough, there they are!
Well, the Remover and I saunter on over and bid everyone Howdy—tippin’ our hats to the misses and the waitress—‘cause that and free pancake, sausage, and sometimes eggs are the traditions and customs during the week of the Stamp. Surprisingly, Dan the Man is there, who I haven’t seen for quite awhile: long enough that he said, “the last time I saw you your hair was green.” That’s well over four years ago. So me and my friend pull up our chairs, and place our orders for food and drinks: a cheeseburger with fries and an ice tea for me, a pint of Grasshopper and an order of chili for my friend. He had to order something soft ‘cause he’s a doorman at one of the “scene” bars here and the other night some guy cold-cocked him in his teeth while he was draggin’ another guy off the ground. Anyway, we all light our smokes—except Dan and Robear—and the others are sippin’ theirs beers, as my and the Remover’s beverages are brought to the table. Quickly, quietly, and efficiently the transaction takes place, and then, soon enough, the other folks’ food arrives. The Remover and I smoke some more. Then our food arrives: good—fresh vegies on the burger and good fries. We eat, then we all hang out for a bit, smokin’ more and enjoying or drinks.
Well the Remover has to work in about an hour, so he and I head back to his place. We flip a floozie, and then we each twist a couple more up: him for work, and me for the skate park. He’s playing a band called “Turbo Negroes” (I think) very loud. We stand on the balcony, smoke some cigarettes, and try to talk to passers by. Most ignore us. We start making jokes about how we ought to flick our smokes at the next people who walk by without even tryin’ to be friendly first, and then follow those up with the busted old VCR that is slowly getting’ destroyed out on the balcony. So it’s like twenty to eight, and we bust out so I can drop him at work for eight.
We got the B-Boys “Check Your Head” playin’ in the car as we cruise the Ave. Lotsa’ people. Many are wearing cuhboy attire. Yee-ha. We get to the Ship, and the Remover and I bid each other good nights and calls later, and hook-ups soon. We both know it’s real, right? Anyway, I head over to Timmy’s and grab a medium Ice Cap and chill in the parking lot listening to my music and havin’ a smoke: to early to go to the skatepark yet. I kill some time. I dive in a round about way to the park and get there by 8:15 (the park’s three blocks from the Timmy’s). I have another smoke and finish my Ice Cap. Time to skate.
Man, again, I am lovin’ this new deck: crisp, poppy, tight. Glorious. I’m getting’ warmed up, and haven’t been there for days. It’s feelin’ real good. I start off slow and easy but pick up confidence and momentum pretty fast. Soon enough I am sweatin’ like a pig and sittin’ down to gulp some water. More runs. I head to the car and puff a jay, back to the park. More runs. Getting’ to try even more stuff: little rail kisses, higher curbs, and etc.. Skate more. Landin’ stuff, tryin’ ta’ board slide the full fifteen foot rail. What a blast. Head back to the car at about 10:45, smoke the secondary hoolie. Head back to the park. Skate down the path, up the platform, down into the bowl, and then out. There is a little “clink” noise as a guy skates by and says, “I think you broke your king pin.” I look down and there’s my wheel tucked half-way under my board in a very unnatural postion: I had broken my king pin. Well, that’s that. I sit for a minute, and then head over to the b-ball courts, and ask a guy if I can shoot around with him. He says, “Sure,” and gives me another ball that he wasn’t using. I shot hoops for awhile, then I figured it was time to go see if K wanted to head home. Yep. But before we left, Barbara fed me two Havartti cheese and turkey bunwhiches (which totally hit the spot and tasted like they were made in Heaven).
Now I am back at home, and checkin’ into the Lith. All in all, today has been incredibly enjoyable, and life is rockin’ like a mushroom cloud layin’ motherfucker, motherfuckers! |
