my life in pixels

the phenomenal amount of crap* handed out all over the downtown Chicago area never ceases to amaze me.

free stuff i remember: various kinds of gum, Listerine breathstripsthatBURNlikenothingelseifyouaccidentallyputthreeinyourmouthatonce, various cereal boxes (mmm, Smart Start!), various juices and smoothies, a travel coffee/tea insulated mug-thing (with lid) advertising some online auction thing, mousepads, mints, candies, waters (berry-flavoured Propel wasn't so bad, actually), and various other drinks.

and always, whenever i'm confronted with free stuff being handed out, i think of two things: either a) ooh, a power-up! does this mean i get to spit fireballs? or become invincible? goodie! or possibly b) it's all a plot set out by the Dark Kingdom to imbue all the unsuspecting with Dark Power. where are those Sailorsenshi when you need them?

clearly, this says something about me. XD

anyrate, this morning, there was a girl handing out some silly $tarbucks espresso drink-in-a-can. while i'm generally anti-$tarbucks for several reasons, i did take one---'twas free, after all, and therefore costing them money. XD not really v. surprisingly, it tasted much like ass---that's my other problem with them; too spensive AND really kinda gross. what's the point? better kohi can be had via 7-11 and/or Dunkin' Donuts. not to mention various other independent places. yeesh. :P

but it reminded me of my power-up theory, because espresso is still espresso. and i'm thinking now my life is turning even more into a video game, given my recent conversion to biking to and from the train station now. and the fact that my quick-release bike seat & post which are currently stuffed in my backpack make a nice, handy weapon---stake-like, although metal stakes prolly wouldn't be so effective as wooden ones. (and the seat would make a nice bludgeon if it weren't so cushy, but i digress. XD)

walking from the train station to my house takes a good 30-45 minutes, depending on various things. a nice walk, sure---but to one who hasn't got much time as it is, it's more time than i can spend. which is sad, because i really do like getting out and moving around. i used to walk a whole lot more when living in the city, mostly cos either you rely on public trans to get around, or else you walk. and if relying on the CTA busses, you're usually better off walking (although they have gotten a bit better in recent time).

anyrate, biking takes between 10-15 minutes. definitely doable. and so, i have been and will continue to do so unless the weather is exceedingly crappy out. have no wish to bike in the pouring rain. XD but the thing is, i think of the bicycle music from Pocket Monsters. "Janaki GOT ON THE BICYCLE!" and then i get to the station, and hop off, and lock it in the bike bank---and when i get back, it's waiting for me to take it out again. and the music starts playing in my head. (and it's usually the bloopy Game Boy version, not the fully orchestrated anime version. and i have both, on CD. because am dork like that and was more amused than anything that the Pocket Monsters anime took the original game music and fleshed it out. that amused me more than the anime, actually. although Team Rocket is priceless. XD)

granted, i have yet to see a video game chara use a bike seat and post combo as a weapon, but there's a first time for everything, right? XD

also, the post in question has a big sticker on it declaring it to be a "Post Moderne." eheh. XD

more ramblage later. but all this is meant to say a) i'm a huge, huge dork, and b) there is nothing better than a nice breeze rushing past you while biking. well, almost nothing. fweeeeee!

* = and i use the term loosely and all-encompassingly; not really meant derogatively but more meant in terms of "ohmygod, there's crap EVERYWHERE" upon entering my room when still living with my mom. take that as you will. XD