BIKE!

Finally was able to find the Veloflex Pave tires that I've been looking for. Combining the beauty and class of an old gumwall with the versatility of a contemporary puncture-resistant road tire (lined with Kevlar), these rubbers are a must have for any stylish rider. Really, check out World Class Cycles on Long Island for all of your quality wheeling needs. Anyhow, now that I've got the look, I'm riding the old commuter again. Took a long hiatus because the original rear Continental sidewall split and I couldn't find a suitable replacement. The bike is my pride and joy, with custom fenders fresh out of the shop thanks to a one Mr. Vince Colvin. A work-in-progress, the old beat up frame could use some freshening up, I know. To be continued...

(photos courtesy the author)

THINGS WE'VE MADE SINCE SEPTEMBER

GOTHIC 'ASTLE

There's a pretty architecturally stunning building that towers over the streets, just to the north of the Comcast Center. The shadows are somewhat harrowing.

ROOMMATES

Please note: some names have been changed for the sake of anonymity.

It was time to say goodbye to Luze; one last hoorah before he'd finally acted on the fatal mistake of moving back in with an ex-fiance. I mean, who lives with her, breaks up with her, lives apart from her, and then finally decides to move back in with her? Let's just say that those relationships are unhealthy and essentially doomed to end in a mess of bitter misery. Needless to say, there's nothing like getting together to share stories, ideas, jokes and (let's not forget) plenty of drinks to kiss a good friend goodbye; now forever lost to the bad-decision abyss.

Rick was full of energy, Luze was full of laughter, and Stacey was full of curiousity. I just sat there, drunk, taking millions of photos to document our last celebration together as roommates.

ART SHOW IS COMING

FICUS

A visually appealing indoor houseplant, the ficus comes in many shapes and sizes. Somewhat easy to care for, their difficulty lies in the fact that they like to stay put once you place them in that one particular window inside your home. Any attempt to acclimate the ficus to a new environment will be met with (what seems to be) certain death to said beloved plant. One, in particular, has been with us for nine years and has traveled with us successfully and healthily through six houses. Currently, Fieky appears to be suffering from an unknown affliction, one we decidedly attribute to loneliness. Although it's constantly accompanied by a close friend of seven years (schefflera), I fear the lack of human interaction has left this ficus fig to suffer a grueling depression. Falling leaves and weeping branches. There is no lack of food. There is no lack of water. There is no lack of sunlight. There is only the newly-uncomfortable and indefinite lack of regular human presence. No more talk radio in the mornings. No more music in the evenings. I fear there may be no helping our long time companion, save for the hiring of a stand-in to act regularly as we had in years past.

[images courtesy the internet]