Spring Is Here

Looks innocent, doesn't it? They all do.

Last night I took Micah down to Mesa to get started mixing his album. I was tempted to hang out at the studio and observe, but I didn't want to be the interfering record industry guy (yeh, right!). Anyway, I had a few things to do, so I checked in, and headed back out.

I hit the post office and dropped off an eBay sale. Next, I hit Mill Avenue. My destination was Borders Books to find a copy of Philip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly for Micah. He used to be in a band by that name, but doesn't want to call his current project that. For one, this is a different project. More importantly, there is a film adaptation of the book coming out. It could be good, or it could suck (stars Keanu). Either way, it will seem like a rip-off, and no one will care that he's used the name for years.

That being said, Micah does need a name and need it fast. He's been searching other books for inspiration (such as 1984, from which he got the potential band name "Interpose" and the potential album title "Courage + Cowardice," both of which have since been scrapped), but figured why not go back to the original source? I have been hunting around for the book, been to a number of stores, and no one seems to carry it. The synopsis is a mindmelter, I can't wait to read it myself.

Anyway, I struck out at Borders and headed down Mill to find a bite to eat. A block down I feel something fall on my shoulder. At first I thought it was a leaf from a tree and brushed my shoulder... and got a handful of bird crap! Man, was I pissed! I was surprised how mad it made me to get pooped on. There I am on Mill walking around with crap all over me.

I went back to the parking garage in hopes that there was another piece of clothing in the car, but there wasn't. So, I cleaned it up as much as I could, turned it inside out, and went back up to find a new shirt. I went into Hippie Gypsy, considering a Bob Marley shirt, only to realize I am just not cool enough to pull off the "stoner" look. Over to Urban Outfitters were I debated between a shirt with a disassembled Fender Strat on it (said "Ensemble"), or one with a toddler working some turntables (said "Teach Them Well"). This time I realized that I'm not cool enough to pull off the "hip hop" look, so I opted for the guitar. I ducked into the Valley Art bathroom and changed, tossing the soiled t-shirt.

As if it wasn't bad enough, I didn't even find anything on Mill I wanted to eat, and the used book store across the street from Borders ended up being closed. There was no point in my walking down Mill in the first place, and no need to get crapped on.

Now, I'm told that Mill is like that every Spring. The sidewalks are caked in the crap, it's a real health hazard! Anyway, that's how I learned that Spring is here.

Poop!