Spring Ride Six--A Brief Summary Timmy the Gent timrask@worldnet.att.net Sunday March 30, 2003 21:56:36 I think we’ve got a rampaging juggernaut on our hands. In recent weeks, I’ve been surprised by the number of people who told me they were looking forward to the Spring Ride. “That’s nice,” I’d reply. “I’m glad you like it.” Somewhere in the back of my mind, I didn’t believe that this little ride the Dave and I concocted six years go had grown to become such a rollicking harbinger of Spring. But I suppose it has. We’re not entirely sure how many riders showed up this year. We’re usually more involved in having a good time than in trying to figure out how many other folks joined us. We figure it was around 200. Not bad. Not much to summarize really. We biked, drank, frolicked, went to Cedar Township Hall and Sutliff Bridge, then drank and frolicked some more. (As an aside, make sure you get out and frolic often. It’s good for you). This year’s ride was notable for the grand appearance of Oink Henderson & the Squealers at the Station on Saturday night. They sure know how to get the crowd worked into a frenzy, and wave after wave of positive energy fueled the bash. Reports that the Squealers have now decided to retire and “watch their legend grow” are unfounded, however. Keep your eyes pealed for these boys at a music venue near you. Thanks for coming, everybody. Now get out there and have some fun. And watch the skies! Help Timmy Name His Bar Little Timmy Rask timrask@worldnet.att.net Sunday March 30, 2003 21:57:43 Now that I have taken the leap and built a home bar, I figure the thing needs a name, right? Naturally, this is a shameless excuse to have a bar-christening party, but I would like your input. Below are some of the names suggested so far. Tell me what you like, or if you can think of something better. What should one call a bar that consists of a merger between the old Tuck’s beer cooler and a chunk of bowling lane from Plamor? Here’s some of the suggestions thus far: -Rask’s Rolling Ale Alley (rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it—try it drunk). -Amish Underground (Gee, can you tell Yoder suggested that one?) -Portal to Hell (some folks think only evil can come of my bar) -Bowl-ero Lounge -Gutter Alley Spirits (GAS for short) -Gutter Ball Spirits -Timmy’s Place -Fuego y Sangre del Alkohol (why, yes, that did come from Senator Baker) -Der Raskeller -Ale Lane Alley (ALA for short) -Gino Germani’s (Kind of esoteric. Apparently, Gino Germani was an Argentine sociologist with a penchant for sunglasses and some statistical issues. This one was suggested by my good friend, Ross. Ross is a political scientist at Boise State. He’s an all-around ace guy and possesses a wry sense of humor, but may need to get out more). -Ale Alley (aka A.A.) -Alley of Ales -Pumpkin’s Pub (or Pumpkin’s Patch) (In some circles, my cat is much more popular than I am. Serves me right for adopting such a charming little cuss). -Timmy’s Bar #1 (Apparently, some people think there will be sequels). -Quarter Ton of Fun -300 Pounds of Heavenly Joy -The Re-cycler Lounge (salutes both bicycling, and the recycled nature of many of the bar’s components). As they say on the Satellite of Love, “Whaddya think, sirs?” Summer, 2003: The Best Summer Ever! Timmy timrask@worldnet.att.net Sunday March 30, 2003 21:58:35 I know this is going to sound corny. I don’t care. A couple of weeks ago—Sunday, March 16 to be precise—Senator Baker and I were pondering the intricacies of life on Earth over a couple bloody marys and a 40-ouncer of Old Style. Not to sound arrogant, but sometimes the Senator and I can transform ourselves into a latter-day Jack Kerouac/Neal Cassadays due as we try to make sense of this pile o’ rock under out feet. All right, so a ponderous opening paragraph is not the point here. Somehow, while slurping a bit of Old Style, I happened upon the idea that the upcoming summer just might be the best ever. Why did I say that? To be honest, I really don’t know. I just had a feeling. Curiously, though, Senator Baker seemed to pick up on the vibe. Is this all just the mindless babble of two guys who drank too much whiskey the night before? Hell, I don’t know. Probably. But for some reason, the idea of the “best summer ever” got stuck in my brain. So I think the whole thing has some merit. So let me lay it out for you. The Senator and I, for no reason other than some bizarre Kinsella-esque yearning, think that the upcoming Summer will be the best summer ever. So drop your doubts, and just play along with us. Help us to make this Summer a grand event. And if we channel enough positive energy, the year may conclude the way I’ve always dreamed: with me passed out in a dumpster behind Wrigley Field, celebrating a Cubs World Series Victory. A boy can dream, can’t he?