Well, it's been a pretty active month.

I've got a new job. Starting Monday, I'm working for MNSCU(Minnesota State Colleges and Universities) . The office is by the St Paul U of M campus. I'm kind of pumped-I'm back to 40 hours a week!

I totaled my car. It sucks, I'm fine, blah blah blah. I'm not buying a new car for a while, so I'm bussing it. Which I kind of like...I'm doing a lot of reading.

I'm looking for a new "fun" job-either First Avenue, or something like Cheapo Records.

That's about it.

a photoblog of a St John's Monk:
http://www.fotolog.net/cybermonk

oh. 8 days until I'm 26. What the hell am I doing with my life?

What the hell am I up to?

How do I spend my day?

Am I still updating this blog?

I'm still working for Paisley, listening to music, riding the motorcycle, and hangin' with my homies.

I've been playing a lot of music as well, recording and writing and whatnot.

I've also found this terrific new radio show on NPR- Pop Vultures.

Listen to it, my hipster brothers and sisters!

Up until yesterday, riding has been great-the only thing is that my right knee is starting to bother me...I think I might sag it in after the first fourty miles or so.

 
I get to sleep inside tonight!  Exciting!

Well, the first day of riding went really well-it was about 70 miles, was fairly hilly(the very hilly day of the ride this year), but the weather was really nice. 

The only thing that gets me down is that the prices for stuff has gone up quite a bit since my first year.  $6 for a cup of ice cream, $8 for a piece of pasta and pie....Etc.  But what should I expect?  I'm an old timer now.

I'm kind of nervous about tomorrow-30 miles until the breakfast town.  That is pretty far.  But I'm sure I'll make it.

As any of you who know me and also own a working calendar, you know that this is the last full week of July-thus, it's RAGBRAI time.

What is Ragbrai?  Check out it's site, and/or pay attention to this blog.  Like years past, I'll try to blog my trials, tribulations, and love stories.

Today, I arrived at the starting town and I really don't feel prepared.  Few hours in the saddle(I've been working ALOT), and a kinda half-assed packing job might have me in trouble.  But I always feel underprepared, so this isn't anything new.

Well, short of any major developments I'm going to conclude this little entry.

If anyone I know wants a postcard(and you know-I REALLY do want to send one to you), drop me a line.  I've even got a bunch of crappy jokes for them!

later,
Mike

 
PS-my pseudo-girlfriend is really great....we spent Thursday night together, and it's just awesome.  I can even watch a really crappy with this girl and have a good time.  blah blah blah, jabber jabber jabber over and out

So...as any person who is reasonably internet saavy has done, I've googled the girl I talked about a little while ago. Which raises the question: do I tell her?

Also, I've seen Before Sunset twice now... It's a great movie.

If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. You don't have to have seen Before Sunrise to enjoy it....although there is some insider humor that is funnier if you have.

So...Mike. Do anything interesting this weekend?

Yeah, thanks for asking! I ended up going to the Factotum Cast and Crew party with Marnie, and I saw Matt Dillon make out with one of the interns (well, I think she was an intern).

I look forward to telling that story for a long time. It totally ups my hipness, I think.

First Avenue is Dead
Long live First Avenue.


What a huge change......I don't know if I work there anymore or not. It kinda sucks.

it's finally here. I can't wait.

ugh, maybe I was a little hasty in saying that this girl was all that. She's a nice friend though, if she doesn't do too much drugs.

I forgot to mention that she gives me TONS of sweet, sweet STREET CRED. Like, Little T waitress levels of street cred.


It's something I've been lacking and looking for my whole adult life. I'm weeping a little right now. I'm so happy.

If I wasn't smitten before, I'm smitten to all hell now.
On Friday, we met up by accident-I was going to the Red Dragon in uptown, and she was leaving this Yoga place she goes to. I honked, she said hi, and then I asked her if she wanted to go. As it turns out, the Red Dragon is one of her favorite places. So she comes along and meets many of my friends(who just love her). After that, the two of us went to the Uptown Diner and slow danced to some punk music.

Monday, she called me up, asking what I was doing that day. I told her I was planning on going to Fort Snelling to visit my dead grandfather, then to Lakeview, to see Wellstone's grave. I asked her if she wanted to come along, she said yes, and I had the most fun ever at a cemetery.

How alike are we? Well, we were walking through Fort Snelling, then this headstone with the last name "Westerberg" pops up, and we both stop and look at it, at exactly the same time. We didn't even have to wonder if each other were thinking the same thing. Cool. I've never had that with a girl before.


I'm happier than a dog eating his first cat. Woof.

On another note, she's going with me to Prince. She's a punk girl, but she likes Prince. How cool is that?

So....last night I went to a show at First Ave(I actually haven't gone a day without going there all week).

And I met the future Mrs. Kohout. Her name is Marnie, she's 23, is funny and smart, plays guitar and drums, can keep up a conversation, is REALLY cute, and she started talking to me.

Tonight we're going to go to the turf club if anyone would like to meet the new couple. And mark May 26, 2006 in your calendar as that is the day we're getting married.

I Love Spring.

Well, I think I'm going to start updating this blog on a regular basis again. My life is starting to get interesting again (as evidence, I present my lack of regular restful sleep).

This last weekend, I went to Chris and Sherri Kosel's wedding reception. It was a blast. I had grappo for the first time. And the other guests were all Grade A.

I also saw "The Legendary Pink Dots" at First Ave on Sunday....interesting.

more later.

Sorry about my absence.....

I'm thinking of doing this at First Avenue:
1) TWIN CITIES BAND SLAM

Find out what happens when 40 local musicians are assembled into 10 new bands. Registration is $5.00 at the First Avenue Box Office from Wed May 14 to Tues June 1. Sign up early as spaces are limited.
Local musicians of every genre: pop, rock, folk, classical, electronic (you name it), from seasoned professionals to fresh-faced teens are invited to participate in the First Annual Twin Cities Band Slam.

Entry for contestants is now set up at the First Avenue box office. Just sign up the next time you come in. People
wishing to enter the contest pay a fee of five dollars to enter their name and whatever instrument(s) they play. Deadline for entry is June 1st.

Once all entries are in, brand new bands will be assembled and given one month to come up with 15-20 minutes of material. On July 11, the bands will play in the First Avenue mainroom.

Celebrity judges Jim Walsh and Melissa Maerz from City Pages and Mark Wheat from Radio K will be on hand to determine which group has done the best job of creating a viable band in the short period of time. Bands are encouraged to record a single, make buttons/posters/t-shirts anything they can think of and these will be included in the judges consideration. The winning band gets all of the entry fee money, an appearance on KQ Homegrown, and other prizes.

Filmmakers and photographers are also needed to document the bands from the first meeting to the final performance to add a visual element to that night's performance. And perhaps, time and resources willing, produce a simple music video. If you are interested in serving in this capacity, please contact Catherine Campion at catcampion@yahoo.com.

this is the saddest thing I've read all day:

the death of a homeless man. Now that I make more money, I think I need to donate to causes that mean something to me.

Well, I've got a job. I start on the 23rd, and I'm going to be writing tax and audit software...I'll fill in on the details as they become more clear but I know this much:

60% (national and international) travel, where I'll deploy this software.
40% not travel, where I'll write this software.

I'm kind of excited.

THIS is why Republicans laugh at us.

soooooo much time has passed since the last update-3 whole weeks!

Well, I'm on the verge of being employed. I think. An offer is supposed to come in, any time now (according to the recruiter I'm going through). I guess I'll be able to travel to corporate offices, and help them customize/install this really expensive accounting/auditing software. It pays pretty good, and I think I might enjoy the travelling for a while.


here's a trail in Wisconsin I might like to ride, in the spring. And if I can afford it, this might be what I want to ride it on, so long as it accepts these (to make airline travel easier). Otherwise, I would also jump at a Waterford 1900 Adventure Cycle -I'm a sucker for a lugged frame.

Tonight I bought a IBM Websphere book. On more than a few occasions, people have asked if I have any experience with this tool-today, I decided I'd get myself some.

I went with Developing J2EE Applications with WebSphere Studio: IBM Certified Enterprise Developer (IBM Certification Study Guides) for starters.

Boy- it's been a long time since I made an update.


There have been some positive steps in getting me off the dole-next week, I've got an interview with a company named Bourne Consulting. Monday.

Over New Year, I hung out with Joe Reilly's girlfriend(Carolyn), and her friends. I had a good time, but I got pretty hammered and started calling people on my cell phone, to wish them a good new year. Good idea, but poorly executed.

I'm glad the Vikings lost their playoff bid. Now I don't have to listen to the annoying chatter that normally accompanies a (always failing) Vikings playoff run.


later, and happy new year.