Sunday, December 31, 2006

December 31, 2006

Standing in the kitchen feeling like an empty bag of air and wishing time would hurry up.

Saturday, December 30, 2006

December 30, 2006

I'm in the passenger seat of my dad's Mazda headed toward Cathy's house. We're just passing the Sunoco across the street from the Kennett Country Club. My dad asked why the watch alarm went off. I told him it was set for 7:21 and I didn't bother to change it.

Friday, December 29, 2006

December 29, 2006

I'm sitting in the passenger seat of my S10 pickup with four boxes of bike related stuff to be shipped DHL. We're rolling down Holstein Avenue. Just about to pull into the parking lot. Shelly helps me out by driving a lot. I'm not a fan of driving, to say the least. I actually didn't drive the truck for weeks after getting it, or do any test driving. Shelly did all that because it was an unfamiliar stick shift, and I get apprehensive even thinking about driving.

Thursday, December 28, 2006

December 28, 2006

Sitting in "the cave" - Shelly's computer room at our Locust St. apartment. Penny is present. So it's the whole family.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

December 27, 2006

Standing in my bedroom looking at a pile of clothes thinking "what was I looking for again?" Answer: belt. I'm about to go out to 7-11 to get a coffee.

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

December 26, 2006

Up at my bicycle workshop on Cedar Ave. Screwing around trying to get a crown race onto a fork steerer without the proper tools.

Monday, December 25, 2006

December 25, 2006

I'm on the bed in the backstairs bedroom at 114 Meadow View. My parents place, where I grew up. I'm watching Law and Order. It's Criminal Intent - not the original type. The original Law and Order is on Channel 40 - this is on 45. It's amazing the assortment of Law and Order episodes always on TV. Shelly is here. So is Penny the dog. It's Christmas.

Sunday, December 24, 2006

December 24, 2006

I'm sitting at the kitchen table downstairs at Mike's mom, Deb, and grandmother, mum-mum's, house in Linwood. I used to live in The Hook, right down the street. I'm drinking a white russian, and making merry for Christmas Eve. Got here with Mike, Claire, and Shelly. Claire isn't feeling so great, but there's deviled eggs here anyway. Gary and Danielle aren't here yet, but other assorted friends and relatives are.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

December 23, 2006

I'm at the Tasker stop on the Broad Street line, just getting off the subway with Shelly. We just ate dinner with my parents who are visiting Philly and staying at the Doubletree. We left my truck parked in South Philly and took the Subway to avoid traffic. We were in South Philly with the truck anyway to drop off a bike rack that I sold to Mike's Bikes for $45.

Friday, December 22, 2006

December 22, 2006

I'm sitting on a couch at "The Whip" in Coatesville waiting for a table with the nuclear Harne family plus Shelly. We're out celebrating my Mom's birthday yesterday.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

December 21, 2006

I'm cycling smack through the middle of the 5th street tunnel underpass before coming up to cross Callowhill Street. This is the maiden voyage of the Peugeot 3 speed conversion that I built for Anthony. This bike is riding like a dream. The sprung saddle squeaks a little under me, but the bike is mechanically great - and fun to ride.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

December 20, 2006

I'm removing the front derailer from a Peugeot that I'm turning into a 3 speed.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

December 19, 2006

Riding in the passenger seat of Shelly's car in the art museum area with a 700c front wheel in my lap. Just picked it up minutes ago for $5 from a Craigslist ad. Hell of a good deal. Penny the dog is in the back seat. We just got done trying to socialize her with some other dogs owned by people Shelly met through hockey. Penny likes to bark whimper and attack, but the first attempt at socializing with this new group of dogs went pretty well. We were at an impromptu dog zone in an field next to Kelly Drive behind the art museum. We'll be back there soon, I'm sure. But the dog stuff happened well before 7:21, so I guess that's another story.

Monday, December 18, 2006

December 18, 2006

I'm removing the front derailer from a bike in the process of converting it to a coastie. The bike is a Peugeot that I got from Tyson. I'm listening to NPR and my workshop is way too cluttered up.

Sunday, December 17, 2006

December 17, 2006

I'm watching Law & Order "Criminal Intent" at my parents house in Kennett Square. Drinking coffee.

Saturday, December 16, 2006

December 16, 2006

I'm sitting in my pink folding chair in front of my closet in my basement apartment at 4533 Locust St. I'm taking the spokes out of a wheel that I laced up previously. The spokes are too long, and I am preparing to lace the hub to a different rim with a slightly smaller ERD. The hub is a Sturmey Archer coaster brake hub, and I'm building these wheels for a new series of "coastie" bicycles. I need a lot of hubs and spokes to do the project right, but I can't justify the investment being as broke as I am right now. I also have a lot irons in the fire as I recently heard someone put it.

Friday, December 15, 2006

December 15, 2006

I'm sitting with Shelly at Allegro Pizza. Just got a second slice, and a second 24oz Bud Ice. I'm at the table closest to the bathroom. It seems colder inside than outside - remarkable for Dec. I'm drinking because later I will be at a bar with free 'Sparks' drinks. Since I'll be drinking later, I'm drinking now. That's the way it works.