Made it up there after 4 days of intense hiking through the Salkantay Pass.
We did it solo (a friend and me). It was quite hard to carry everything (especially heavy weight stuff : tent-food-sleeping mat-cooking stuff-sleeping bag) but we pushed through :) Will watch your video tomorrow on my bus ride to the multicolor mountain (can't seem to do that one without a guided tour :/)
Got a text from a friend at 8:30 PM last night that she had an extra seat for me at a local dive bar. So I headed over, and we got caught up on life, over a few drinks. Then we joined some other friends at another table in the back patio (didn't know they were there, until they walked by us going to the bar for another round!) We talked about the need for a new dirty/dark/edgy cirque-noir type circus in the town (since mine closed down about a decade ago, now), and that a mutual friend is building one. Looking forward to have some edgy dirty physical mind-bending culture-creating circus arts happening again...! Also, one of the women runs the largest bellydance studio and dance troupe, and she was planning next year's big show. Was looking for ideas. So we brainstormed a bunch of fun things for her to do with her students and the old-hands (bellies?) in the big annual showcase. Good fun. Finally, it turns out my friend is looking for an illustration project - a children's book, specifically - and I've been looking for an illustrator for my children's book for about 15 years. She started sketching, riffing on my description of my book, and ... we may have something coming together! But it is a long way from some sketches in a bar after a few drinks, to an entire Dr. Seuss-sized book of illustrations and text, but... hey... we have started! (Kinda.)
Morning coffee I got to play with Hemlock in my metal band this weekend. It was a very cool show. Next month we go to the studio. We're gonna replace a guitarist (again) in the coming weeks too though, so we'll see how that goes. Work is truckin' along. It's going to necessarily take me months to get settled in because of the various bureaucratic processes, but stuff is slowly getting there. I finally did charge my first $32 yesterday, so that's cool.
I really want to get a chemex like that, but I can't tell if it's in pursuit of coffee or the aesthetics of the thing. I've already got an aeropress, so it's more of a side-grade haha Bureaucracy has been fucking with me at work recently, I feel your pain
I have a week left in the town I live in now. I should really start packing. (I will as soon as I write this, promise.) It's scary. And exciting. As might be expected. I'm looking forward to planning and cooking food. Always being able to chose what to eat, and to be able to find a recipe and then incorporate that into to the foodshop for the week is going to be fun. The flipside is that I now have to cook all the food I am going to eat. I might afford eating out sometimes, but I feel like it is the wisest to reserve that for social occasions rather than me just not feeling up for cooking. I'm going to have to study and like revise and stuff. For real. And I am anxious about how that it going to work out. I think I'll manage but will it feel stressful and horrible on a daily basis. Will I find any friends? Will I like the typical student life? Will I feel horribly lonely living alone? Who knows?
I'm 50 years old. Graduated from high school on a Friday in June 1987, and went to work for a tech company on Monday. 20 years later I got an AA degree in Fashion Design in 18-months, because hiring managers needed to be able to mark the box "College Degree?" with a "Yes", when I was applying for jobs. I never got to experience college. Intense learning environments. Honing your mind and skills against instructors and classmates. Doing the hard work of finals and timeline management and learning hard shit. And then fully letting go, with fellow classmates, in a bacchanalian release. Feeling pride for my mascot/team/school (because of Stockholm Syndrome) and having that connection with people for the rest of my life, because of our shared experience with that school/team/mascot. My life is amazing. My skills are at the top of my game, and I get paid handsomely for it. But that doesn't mean that I don't miss what you are about to experience... I'm having some major twinges of jealously...
I'm going to try and enjoy it as much as I can. A year ago I probably would have said that the social side of uni "wasn't for me" but now I have the mindset of trying to experience it and make the most of these 3-5 years. Also, if I may ask, why did you chose fashion design specifically? It seems like it wouldn't have any overlap with what you actually do for a living?
Two reasons: 1. I had always had a knack for dressing women. Even when I was super young - junior high school - I used to help friends, my mom, my sister, with style questions. "Does this coat look good?" "Do these earrings work with this top?" The advice I gave was generally not what they were expecting, but it turned out they loved it. Often, when shopping with female friends, I'd suggest they try something on... they'd look at me weird, and grudgingly say, "Uh... ok." and try it on... and it would become their FAVORITE item in their whole wardrobe. So it seemed I had a talent/eye for women's styling. I wondered if that talent carried over into design, as well... and... 2. I needed a job desperately, and because I didn't have a college degree, I couldn't even get my foot in the door anywhere. When I looked at my finances and realized that in a short 18 months of intense school schedule I could get that check mark AND find out if I was a good clothing designer, well... it seemed like the right idea at the time. It led to a VERY interesting 5-7 year phase of my life. Here's a photo of me being interviewed by Hip Bop Battle magazine/podcast, at the MAGIC Menswear Tradeshow in Las Vegas in 2007, for example.
This was (and is!) my favorite part about living on my own. I have recipes for lazy days when I don't really want to cook, but most of the time I get so much enjoyment out of crafting elaborate meals all for myself :) I have a feeling you'll be okay! You did IB, right? It's going to be a similar workload, but you're going to have more unstructured free time to manage this stuff. Truly, you'll get used to it. You might feel overwhelmed now, but I promise once you're in the trenches it'll be easier to plug away at. I don't know how university is in Europe, but in America things were usually a little more free-form than high school. Professors have a lot more room to work with you to make sure you're learning the material, and you're going to have a ton of resources you can rely on if you need them. Definitely! I made some of my best friends in college. There's going to be a ton of new people, and you might (for the first time) have more options for friendships than "We have compatible personalities and live nearby." Moving out (for me, anyway) was a huge opportunity to find people with common interests. You might be surprised at the variety of people out there! I did, and you might! "Student life" encompasses a lot of different lifestyles, though. You'll find a way-of-life that suits you, and it'll become a comfort once you've gotten it down. Maybe! But you don't have to spend all your time alone - you can invite people over, visit friends, or go out and do something. If you feel lonely, come talk to us and we can inspire some things that might help! You, six months from now!I'm looking forward to planning and cooking food.
I'm going to have to study and like revise and stuff...And I am anxious about how that it going to work out.
Will I find any friends?
Will I like the typical student life?
Will I feel horribly lonely living alone?
Who knows?
Important point, I did IB, but I didn't finish it. So at that point I couldn't handle that workload. But I'm hoping I can now, with less tears.(But to be honest I think the hardest part about IB wasn't the workload but the culture where being stressed out of your mind is a virtue.) I really hope I'll be able to enjoy this, and it feeling like a fun thing rather then a terrible thing to power through. But it'll be fine. I think. It's just all a bit scary.
It's wild to me that this is so universal across national borders. A friend of mine did IB in Mumbai, I did it in Nebraska, and you did it in Sweden, and we all complain about the stress culture. I promise that my first year of college was much easier than IB, and by the time it ramped up I was prepared for it And it's okay to be scared! Just try to focus on your own growth and well-being, I have no doubts you're going to kill it :)...the culture where being stressed out of your mind is a virtue.
Are you living on or off campus ? If you’re not living in dorms I would make a conscious effort to be active in student life activities or find some club to be apart of so you meet people outside of your classes. It can be really easy to not go when you live off campus but make sure you force yourself to get involved, you’re experience will only benefit in the long run. As far as the studying, just be organized. My planner sets 3 weekly goals and 3 daily ones and that helps me stay on top of things so they don’t pile up. Also, do the readings in the textbook or other sources. I’ve watched so many people wracking their brain trying to study what they learnt in the lecture for hours when they could have spent a faction of time reading the damn textbook or watching the video the prof set and understanding it. I do my best when I sit down with the readings as well as the notes I took in class and combine them into one big great note. Hope this helps ! Don’t forget to make time to have fun and get involved, a good planner will help you see you have time for it on top of studying !
I'm living in a student flat. So i have my own bathroom and my own small kitchen, but everyone around me is a student. (Well S.Os don't have to be I don't think but that's a minority of the people there.) There is an introduction-week (more like 10 days) with a lot of activities that I'm going to participate in - but I have a feeling it's going to be the more stereotypical "partying and school/team spirit" which I'm not sure is my scene. It's probably going to be fine, but it's hard not feeling a bit worried you know? I'm replacing almost my entire life.
I'm not sure if I saw a homeless lady with a nursing baby last week. She's in the camp with the lady that shouts at me sometimes for using a headlight at night. They've been there about a year; the crew that was there got cleaned out sub rosa while all eyes were in Santa Ana. In typical LA fashion, the LAPD went "no one is looking crack skulls" and got rid of a semi-functional community of squatters, some of which had been there since the late '80s. And in typical LA fashion, about a week later their entire population had been replaced by the folx kicked out of Orange County. This didn't make the news, of course. So much doesn't. I'm not sure what effect the powers-that-be thought it would have; clearing out the people who had adapted to the city and replacing them with refugees has had the result of radically increased trash, radically increased fecal coliform in the river, and a radical increase in attitude. The folx that were here mostly kept to themselves (the sane ones anyway) while the folx that replaced them want you to know they resent your presence at their personal nadir. So i don't know what to do about the lady who may or may not have a babe-in-arms. Because I know that as a denizen of the LA river she's one of the apex homeless. Compared to the failwhales who set up shop under an overpass on the freeway with four lanes of 70mph traffic on either side of them they're fuckin' Bear Grylls. And I know that should DSHS get involved things aren't necessarily going to get any better, DSHS in LA being what it is. But I also know Frogtown outdoors in August is a shitty place to be 2 months old. So I will probably continue to do nothing. The area north of them is full of better-adapted folx. The Army Corps of Engineers has had that section closed off for three years now (because they're idiots and assholes - Rick Perry might not remember which three agencies to eliminate but for me it's Army Corps of Engineers, ICE and TSA in that order) so they're doing shit like tapping lampposts and running extension cords out to their camps. The area south of them is temporarily full of better-adapted folx because the Army Corps of Engineers had that section closed off for a year so they could dig a 6x6 hole. But the homeless got sick of their shit so they tore down the fences. So now more people ride through that section than before. Which will probably cause a migration north, which will cause population pressure, which will likely cause the whole river to burn again because they tend to light camp fires and then pass out and then my way is blocked by firetrucks. Here's a picture of Lady Gaga wearing a 128ct Tiffany diamond 3.28 miles away. I bought Frank Meza a votive last week. I was going to light it for him on my way to work but I've spent too much time getting the bike rebuilt and I've been running late. So I was going to light it for him on the way home but it fell out of my bag in the bathroom and shattered all over the floor. I gotta buy groceries today; I think I should buy another.
It's crazy how quickly the internet can ruin people's lives just by being outraged. My aunt worked with a lady who ended up on reddit for yelling at some kids. As my aunt tells it, the lady was a shitty person who was abusive to coworkers and the video was in-line with her usual behavior. She's unemployed now, and (according to my Aunt) still receives death-threats from people. I like seeing shitty people held accountable for their behavior, but I hate the disproportionate response of mob mentality. The internet burns them to their roots. In the situation of Frank Meza, I have to agree with this guy: https://twitter.com/realdumbrunner/status/1148021247806062592 I wish the pitchforks and the torches could stay stowed for shit like this. In any case, some of the homeless in my city have been migrating closer to my workplace, which is in the middle of what we call the "Old Market", an expensive part of town with expensive shops, expensive rent, expensive apartments, expensive restaurants... The crackdown has been frustrating to watch, and it's been done quietly. I've noticed the same guys hanging around under a bridge I park near for the last two weeks. They have sleeping bags, a tent, and a little propane stove they use to make coffee and cook breakfast. When I was parking this morning, they were gone. When I went out to lunch, four city workers were tossing their things into black garbage bags. I'm not a huge fan of them living in the middle of what can qualify as my city's "tourist" destination (lol), but they have a right to exist and I'm not going to begrudge them for their decision to set up camp close to my daily routine. I wish my city did more to help them, and I wish we didn't just throw away what could be their only fucking possessions. My city's homeless population can't hold a candle to LA's, but it was nice to read your thoughts on the camps close to you; helps me frame my own thoughts
I used to run /r/favors. We had a couple designers on there that would do cheap work so they wouldn't be homeless. A guy showed up demanding to be able to post for an entire media campaign for free and I told him no, then he told me I was being unreasonable so I told him to pound sand. I went from being "that guy who turns down commenter of the year every year" to being persona non-grata in the space of two hours. Two hours that, ironically enough, I was busy doing some pro-bono design work at a church in Compton. I wish I could say that it was all worth it but once the work was done I went to a service and despite all the lovely ladies in their lovely hats, it was an hour's worth of fire and brimstone and eternal damnation for the sodomites of the world. It's super-hard not taking it personally. I think the people who get through that sort of shit okay develop an understanding that it isn't about them, it's about the mob's constant need to spew hatred and vitriol at something 24-7 and that it's their time. What pisses me off is that anybody with a soul can tell that any upvote/downvote system, any content curator built around "engagement" is an extremism engine. When you're making it easier for people to share the stuff they feel strongly, you're making hatred much more fluid than mild approval. You're building a system designed to burn out of control at the slightest cinder. Unfortunately the lot of them - from Ohanian to Zuckerberg to Dorsey - are stone cold sociopaths. They give no fucks. It's numbers to them, not people and they don't see tears on their statistics to wipe away. Seattle does tent cities. They move. Churches or cities or green spaces will agree to host a tent city for 8-12 weeks and for those two to three months, there's a community of largely harmless homeless. They're the ones that don't go nuts without their medication, they're the ones that don't steal for a living. The high-functioning ones. They don't stick around long enough for the neighbors to get up-in-arms, and they don't let just anybody hang out; it's an attempt to deal with a lack of shelter in as humanitarian a way as possible. It's the least bad solution I've seen but it's a long way from acceptable. Los Angeles waits for encampments to accrete and then sweeps them away with garbage trucks and armed cops. It's like scraping barnacles off a barge. It's crazy how quickly the internet can ruin people's lives just by being outraged. My aunt worked with a lady who ended up on reddit for yelling at some kids.
It lasted 36 hours before the homeless threw it over the edge. His wife put one there last week, along with some silk flowers. The homeless threw her votive into the street but not before using it to set fire to the silk flowers. The wireframe and ashes were still there until I cleaned 'em up. LA Parks rousted the homeless yesterday. I felt bad because they all shuffle around the bike path looking pensive as the stuff they haven't hauled off in their shopping carts gets swept into dump trucks as volunteers with stacks of biohazard-thick garbage bags hurl their accreted possessions into oblivion. There was a social worker there; she set up in one of the cleaned-out drainage tunnels that wash their shit out to the ocean whenever it rains but no one was talking to her. But there wasn't any garbage once I was past the truck. And when I saw two people hanging out down by the water, I also saw their bicycles and their picnic basket. CITIZENS. And the three bicyclists in a row after that? All smiled and waved, which on the bike path, amongst LA bicyclists, is the equivalent of hurling your arms around someone and kissing them on the lips. Last night, of course, the homeless were on the path, reasserting their possession of the territory. Hassling anyone who rode by. Shouting at me for having a headlight. You see, it's their river we just pass through. From a libertarian standpoint, they're the stakeholders. Except of course this is not an economic argument: the actual stakeholders get merely symbolic involvement. And they aren't all homeless? But I'm developing a deep-seated hatred of the LA river homeless and I don't like it. The difference between parks in LA and parks in Seattle is parks in LA are owned by who knows who, who never talk to each other, who create a balkanized patchwork where no one is really responsible. It's 2019 and they're just now thinking this is a bad idea because it's Los Angeles and without graft and corruption this place has no economy. it was just a candle.
Wednesday morning, 10am. Drinkin' A mutual friend came over and we started talking about life and stuff. I hadn't seen him all summer. I went to go pick him up from the airport where he's serving drinks. It's a good time. Drove out there in one giant straight line with the wind in the car and feeling the rush of freedom. Listened to a lot of indie music. He's trying to take the same class on international politics I took, which is lit. Essence of Decision is a good book if you're into the geopolitics of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Also a fight broke out in the parking lot of the pizza joint I work at. Somebody leaned against someone else's car by accident and next think you know Gramps comes storming out of the nearby restaurant drunk and nearly unloading the fisticuffs on these local residents. I'm at a stage in life where I too, told him to calm down. Not going to tolerate bullshit in public spaces. A bunch of kids sitting nearby recorded the whole thing on their phone and will probably upload it to worldstar later. Great.
I don't have any major life updates, but I want to share something that's been bothering me. I live with my parents right now. I've been there for a month, and I'm likely to be there for another. I'm going insane with them. I have a tough time convincing people that I'm truly an introvert who needs alone-time to feel normal, because I'm quite outgoing and really enjoy talking to people. After spending around people, though, I get a feeling in the pit of my stomach kind of like dread? I have a tough time explaining that feeling, but it's like a nauseous anxiety that compels me away from people. I haven't been able to spend time alone since I moved in with them. My entire family is so extroverted that they will find me wherever I am in the house and corner me into a conversation about finances, current events, ancestry, whatever...I'm exhausted and it's starting to really frustrate me. I know I have to tell them I need to be alone sometimes. At the same time, though, I can't help feeling a little guilty: First of all, they're my family. They love me. They just want to spend time with me, because they miss me. I know I deserve to feel comfortable and that boundaries have to be drawn, but it's tough not to empathize with them. The fear of hurting their feelings is what's gotten me this far. Second of all, I've been calling it "introversion", but I'm not convinced it's totally healthy? It feels like I shouldn't get so sick of people, like maybe I'm in the wrong for having such a thin-skin and wanting to isolate myself for a few hours after work? Maybe this is an issue that I need to resolve. Part of my reason for leaving this comment is so that people can call me out if I'm being a shit-head about this. Whatever, sorry for leaving this much angst in a thread I usually use to post life updates. It's been on my mind, and feels good to have off of my chest
Moving back to my parents after my semester abroad in Poland was TORTURE. I love them, but once you get a taste of freedom and independence, spending more that a couple days at a country house with them seems daunting. Any place you can go to re-center yourself for a few hours before heading home? Like a library, park or coffee shop?
Huh...That's not a bad idea! There's a really nice coffee shop across the street from where I work. It's usually not too crowded, has a nice ambiance, and some reading chairs... Might have to start bringing a book or laptop to work. I like that idea. I wonder if it'd be any easier being in public? In the meantime, I've been taking the dog on a lot of walks. That's helped a lot - Murphy isn't much of a talker :)
"Letters from home are messages from a shore we are forsaking." - Milan Kundera, Life is Elsewhere I finished the car with five days to drive from northern New Mexico to Seattle. I pulled out of the driveway in a vehicle I'd made from the framerails up. It was about 5 o'clock; my mother waved. I was about to turn twenty. I spent another five days under their roof for the rest of my life, and have spent approximately two weeks within a hundred miles of their homes in the past 25 years. I mention this so you have some perspective on my ability to get along with my family; my advice is external to the situation and not one of experience. That external observation, however, leads me to suggest that the life of a child that has never left home and the life of a child that has come home are two entirely different things, a situation that parents are less likely to be aware of because their experience has changed the least. Or, contrariliy, a situation that parents are more likely to be aware of because you've been gone and now you're back and they miss what once was and they want it so badly. The fault-free way to express your experience is to say that your inner life has grown substantially since you last lived at home and while you want to make time for your outer life, which includes your family, you also need to make time for your inner life which does not. This is particularly hard when the physical space that used to contain everyone no longer does but it doesn't negate the fact that your persona has incorporated more independence than the last time you lived with them. And maybe that's the best way to put it - let them know that you need to be able to feel independent or else you won't feel like you've actually grown any and that feeling independent means not having to hide from contact. Promise them that you'll seek them out whenever you can comfortably give them your attention and time and ask them politely to let you seek out your own headspace. Teenagers for generations have resorted to headphones, by the way. They don't need to be playing music. You put them over your head and people leave you alone. You have just discovered why taverns and coffee shops and pubs and malls exist. "Third places" have declined with the suburbanization of America and the expansion of homes but as we grow more and more unequal, and more and more people are forced to take on roommates, expect to see them expand. Historically, "home" hasn't been this grand place where you could do pilates in the foyer. "Home" is the bedroom where you and your wife and your three kids live. Pubs and taverns are the places you go and pay a rental of 2 beers in order to have a place to sit where you also have room for both elbows to be on the table. Another option might be something as simple as a membership at 24-hour fitness. Get done with work, spend 20 minutes on a stairclimber, do 3 sets, then hang out in the sauna. It feels like I shouldn't get so sick of people, like maybe I'm in the wrong for having such a thin-skin and wanting to isolate myself for a few hours after work?
This is sagely fucking advice, thank you. Having my own emotions explained to me so plainly has cleared my head. elizabeth recommended a "third place" approach as well - You're both smart as hell, I think I have to try it out. I'm going to grab some tea after work, and see how that clears my mind. Might start by reading the book about third places mentioned in the article. Thanks klein, your insight was really helpfulThat external observation, however, leads me to suggest that the life of a child that has never left home and the life of a child that has come home are two entirely different things, a situation that parents are less likely to be aware of because their experience has changed the least. Or, contrariliy, a situation that parents are more likely to be aware of because you've been gone and now you're back and they miss what once was and they want it so badly.
David Berman killed himself today and I think that’s fucking bullshit and entirely unsurprising. Anyway. Hope you’ve all been well.
Movies When I get around to buying Criterion's Showa Era Godzilla Collection, I'll own every Godzilla film except Biollante. This is in addition to quite a few other Kaiju films I own and there's a huge back catalog of films I wanna get as well. I enjoy Kaiju films, for so many reasons, but I'm pretty much alone in that passion among my circle of friends. So, I think I'm gonna start a thread series, "Applewood's Rambling Kaiju Reviews." I pick a random film from my collection, watch it, and a day or so later share whatever I think about it on Hubski. Maybe they'll be good, maybe they'll suck, or maybe like Kaiju films themselves, they'll be a mixed bag.
Well, this isn't my top list of personal favorites, but for someone who isn't all that familiar with the genre, this is where I'd recommend starting. The first two choices are tied and the other three are kind of any given order. Godzilla '54 - For people who are more into modern films, this movie is a bit of a hard ask. It's pacing is on the slower end and with the standard of current effects that we have today, this movie feels a bit quaint. However, those factors aside, this film stands out as a must see for so many reasons. Not only is it the original film that started the whole franchise, it was also a pioneer film in the realm of Tokusatsu special effects. It's a dark and serious film brimming with social commentary and heartfelt drama and in my opinion it is, and probably always will be, the best example showing that Kaiju films can be deep, artistic, endeavors. Pacific Rim - On the other end of the spectrum is Pacific Rim. It embraces the more colorful, adventurous side of Kaiju films. It has creative monsters, flashy colors, and just enough storyline to move the film from one action scene to another. This film is all about the spectacle and action and is fun for the sake of fun. Giant Monsters All Out Attack - Somehow, this movie went from being a film I was "meh" about to being in my top five favorite Godzilla films of all time. Story wise, it strikes a good balance between social commentary (if you're willing to swallow mysticism in story telling) and just a good, adventurous romp. At the same time, it's also one of the best examples of Tokusatsu in general and Suitmation in particular can be used for effective storytelling and spectacle. I've probably watched this movie half a dozen times in the past couple years, I enjoy it so much. Cloverfield - It's a western kaiju film. It's a disaster film. It's a shaky cam, found footage film. It's got a little something for everyone. What I think this film has going for it that a lot of kaiju films sometimes struggle to do, is show the sheer scale and terror a kaiju brings from a human perspective. If you haven't seen it, Gareth Edward's Godzilla pulls this off by showing the monsters pretty much only from camera angles that would be possible by everyday people. However, I feel that Cloverfield's found footage technique does it better. Any King Kong Film - Each one is a product of their era, for better or worse. If you want to get to know the character though, the story has been told many times before. The original '33 film sits on so many top lists, it's one of those movies that stands the test of time. That said, it's been so long since I've seen the original, there's probably non-PC elements in it that wouldn't get a pass today. Same probably goes for '76 as well. I actually really like Skull Island myself, if only because it tells a different story. Honorable Mention Heisei Gamera Trilogy - I will readily admit that I have yet to see this trilogy, but every person I've ever talked to who has says it does not disappoint. It not only redeems Gamera from his schlocky reputation, I've been told that in story, special effects, and monster design, it surpasses a lot of the Heisei era Godzilla films. I look forward to adding it to my collection.
Living out of a hotel right now. I will be participating more.
So I have two project managers who want me to work on the other project for now, until some decision is made, at which point I should drop everything on the other project and get their stuff done. The dumb thing is it's not even different projects, just different branches of the same product. Also I have to change the brake rotors and pads on the car before we drive to Colorado in a couple weeks, but it's supposed to be 100+ degrees for the next week so I'm stalling.
d00d as someone that has forgotten more about cars than most people will ever know, farm out the brake work. There are few tasks in automotive maintenance with a savings/suffering ratio as low as brake work, and few tasks in automotive maintenance that improve more through the acquisition of specialized tools. Brakes aren't bad if you have all the spanners, the weird little pliers, the circlip tools, the joint forks, the grease pit, the hydraulic post lift, the crawler and the pneumatic brake bleeders developed over a hundred years of history to make an odious job merely tedious. But if you don't have that shit? Every step of the way is an exercise in understanding why unitaskers exist, regardless of Alton Brown's quixotic philosophies.
At some point I'll probably agree with you, but I've done the same job on the same type of car a handful of times so I know what I signed up for an least. I'm just wishing I did it last will when it was cooler.
Went to see Monolink's DJ set last Sunday, and it was a blast! We took control of a full quadrant of the venue, and it was just our crew of friends (of friends) dancing without being bothered by drunk coked up festival bros. I'm not a dancer, I don't usually listen to lots of music, but that night I danced more than I ever did before. A night to remember!