Quotes for the day...

If Pac-Man had affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in dark rooms, munching pills and listening to repetitive electronic music.
  - Marcus Bridgstocke

One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.
  - Marie Curie

From now on, ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put.
  - Sir Winston Churchill

one little plate.

If you can't see the plate on this one (sorry, it was a sunny day) - I believe it reads "SILYWBT"... and it's a Volkswagen Rabbit - get it!?! Ever since Fahrvergnügen, it's been downhill.

Powerhouse - Hailey, ID

The last night of the trip I had the pleasure of stopping into a great place in Hailey, ID (which is part of the Sun Valley area) - Powerhouse Pub & Bike Fit Studio. This place is pretty unique in the world as it combines a small custom bicycle fitting studio with, what I guess Americans now would call, a Belgian-style pub. If you've been to a bicycle fitting studio, you get that idea. If you've been to HopLeaf in CHI or maybe Buster's on 28th in MPLS, you get that idea (though it's a better combination of both at Powerhouse).

But, Powerhouse does much more to combine the two - bike parts in the fancy restaurant tables, often only bike racing on the TVs, and beers on tap that you don't often see in the US. It also struck me that the people that run the place are some of the nicest and down-to-Earth I have met in a long time.

The night started with me creating a new drink, that I dubbed the Hailey Mule (after the Moscow Mule). This version combines a great local ID rootbeer and vodka. Pretty simple and pretty damn good. Then it was time to mow down a 1/3 pound local-raised beef burger. Dang was it good. Took me all of 5 minutes (it's one of my top 3 burgers ever). I was still feeling a bit peckish, so I pulled the trigger on what I remember being called a Powerhouse Roll. This is a take on the sushi rolls from across the street. Instead of a raw fish roll, Powerhouse makes an all-beef corndog and tops it with special house-made hot sauce and goat cheese. On its own, it was the best corndog I'd ever bit into (awesome corndog batter). With the extras, it really became something special. Finally, the night tapered off into a Spaten Ocktoberfest, some Delirium Nocturnum and I'm not sure what else. Not only that, but I was talking bike parts the whole time - pinch me, I'm dreaming.

If you ever find yourself in Sun Valley, ID - do us both a favor and stop in at Powerhouse. 

You da ho...

... no, Idaho. It's an impressive state. Lots to see and do outdoors. Good regional food choices, really nice small-town people. I'd recommend it to anyone, especially the Sun Valley area.

Quotes for today

Coming home from very lonely places, all of us go a little mad: whether from great personal success, or just an all-night drive, we are the sole survivors of a world no one else has ever seen.
  - John le Carre

There is nothing more demoralizing than a small but adequate income.
  - Edmund Wilson

Quotes.

We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities.
  - Walt Kelly

Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem more afraid of life than death.
  - James F. Byrnes

Auto-matic Trouble.

So here's a pictoral history of my car the last few months. I don't know what's wrong - The neighborhood? My parking habits? I have a stalker? Dumb luck? Anyway you slice it, it's been somewhat costly, pretty unique and, at times, humorous.

 

1. First time the driver's side sideview mirror was torn off

2. Second time the same mirror was broken, but not fully torn off (currently held on with duct tape... no, not 'duck'... well, one brand is)

3. A night time re-enactment of The Birds (Pooping)

4. This is a new one... I can only hope it wasn't the birds again. It's an odd way to start your day as you get into your car. Please note: this was taken *inside* the car, the responsible party had to write it backwards from the outside... skills