Interaction with children / more xtracycle

I've never had interaction with small children. Not much anyway. Just enough to scare me and make me a little bit uncomfortable. I like kids - I'm definitely for them - but that doesn't mean I know how to act when they're around. I'm sitting next to Milo and eating a bowl of whatever was left in Eddie and Melanie's place. Barley chicken lima bean soup with confusing crayfish parts. It's great food, but I could do without the pinchers. Milo expressed interest in the soup, and I got to let him try it. Then he continued to express interest, and I kept spooning it over. At 7:21 I'm having a sweet little family moment. I'm feeding a little boy who just turned one and learned how to walk. Milo will probably be saying word combinations before I leave, and I'm genuinely excited to hear them.

I'm here again for dinner because Eddie needs to change out the handlebars on his new xtracycle bike. Eddie likes to sit up when he's riding a bike. Because it's more comfortable. I'm starting to agree strongly with this style of riding. It is very comfortable to sit up, and makes a ton of sense for most people - but aside from beach cruisers, or goofy hybrid bikes you really can't sit up unless you do something drastic like changing the bars and/or stem, and often all of the cables and housing. That's what we're about to do on Eddie's bike. New bars and stem and cables and housing.

Eddie's xtracycle is one of the best bicycles I have ever seen or ridden. I already knew about the xtracycle because a guy rode up to my bicycle sidewalk sale at 46th and Locust on one. In Philly last year. I didn't know exactly how it hooked up to a frame or how awesome it is. The connection is simple and strong, and the added storage capacity and durability are staggering. I love this bike. After completion, we immediately took turns riding on the 'snap deck' on the back. There are huge, long panniers with a wooden surf board-style deck on top. I really kinda want one of these. You could go on a bike tour with no storage worries whatsoever. It beats a trailer, and it's way sturdier than a regular loaded bike because it has an enormous wheelbase. You could fit all the gear you could ever need on there. And it doesn't look that weird, and it's still just a solid two-wheeler and a very easy ride. The xtracycle impresses me. It makes so much sense that I'm almost slightly frustrated by its unknown-gimmick status. This is what you need if you want to carry big stuff on your bike. This is what we need as a people. Bikes can do everything, and this is another tool that helps. Eddie put on a baby seat and rode by the shop with Milo behind him, and Melanie sitting on the snap deck behind Milo. The whole family was enjoying a sturdy ride on one beautiful 80's Peugeot mountain bike. No problem. Amazing.

About Eddie's bike: Eddie had to decide which of his bikes would receive the xtracycle. The Trek with the chunky lugs was a candidate, but instead he chose a newly gotten yellow Peugeot mountain bike with lugs. Yeah - he has two lugged Peugeot mountain bikes. This one is yellow, and proclaims itself to be the "Crazy Horse" on the top tube. That's the model name, for real, and it's written in a western font style with a colorful mustang that matches the rainbow Peugeot decal on the downtube. It's in great shape, and after a little tuning it runs silently, perfectly. It still has the original freewheel, and the lowest (biggest) gear is stamped metal that is an integrated part of the big shiny spoke guard. This is very hilarious and awesome to me. We upgraded from the Lee Chi cantilever brakes and levers to some decent v-brakes and levers. Dude: the shifters are Simplex friction thumb shifters. Totally sweet! Eddie also put my briefly-installed Maxxis Hookworm 26x2.50 tires on. Those mega-fat tires on this mega-long bike make it a smooth load-bearing beast of burden bicycle. It floats around like a cloud over the earth, and you can literally ride around with a kayak and have an optional pedal-powered blender going at the same time. That's right. A pedal powered blender is possible.

Eddie's xtracycle. I eat.

Eddie made chicken and rice. This is really good food. Eddie finally bought an xtracycle after thinking about it and dreaming about it forever. It's here in an open box, and we've been looking at it. Since I'm Eddie's friend, and I have keys to a bicycle shop, I'm going to help him with the installation.

Napping on Grinell Street

I'm laying down in my van preparing to take a nap. I'm comfortable, relaxed. The van has had a makeover. Yesterday I borrowed a die grinder from work. I drove down into the Truman Annex in the big lot by the water and plugged my extension cord into the secret outlet. With a lot of sweat and yellow spark fanfare the seat was removed, and subsequently ditched in a dumpster up on Duck Ave. Then I borrowed a shop vac to clean the carpet. I kept two sections of the bed - just the top cushions, none of the bulk. That's what I'm laying on now. The van seems much roomier, but I did lose storage space from under the bed. Still, I prefer this setup. This van is my sanctuary. I feel at home, and I'm digging the new bed setup. I sleep amongst my stuff, and I live in a cozy bubble.

I'm emailing Shelly

I'm at Eaton Bikes again. We just closed, and it's just me. There is a normal-sized keyboard here, and I can click around like crazy. On the internet. I am emailing Rochelle Salamon at sodashelly at gmail.com. You can email her too. She'll be happy to answer any questions you have about Philly, hockey, relationships, or dogs that hug people.

New bag of pizza

Names, places, and things have been changed to protect parties present. Me and Michelangelo are standing around in the yard behind Splinter's Sandwich Shop just after closing. We're waiting for Donatello to finish up work so he can give us the pepperoni pizza that we're going to split.

Freakin' Bubba's

It's not 7:21 right now. I'm writing this two days later, recalling the events. 7:21: At Bubba's again. Bubba's is inexplicably closed. The sign claims they're open, but they're clearly not. There is still drinking on the premesis. This premisis does not miss one single beat. Two cats I don't know, and a set of siblings I do. Steve is doing his laundry. Matt is sitting around being his brother. There are some weird cats (people) who offered me a beer. I'm trying not to drink (sort of) but I do not decline. I accept. But I'm saved. Apparently these cats drank their whole case... except for five cans which were unaccounted for. There was surprise and confusion about this. The girl-cat, who wasn't wearing much, was evidently (witness testimony) on lossa-lossa ecstacy. After I was long gone she reportedly convinced Matt to give her Steve's sweatshirt*. She claimed she'd return it at Wendy's later: a plan making no sense at all. She asked me if I had any weed. Come on, sketchy girl. What do I look like? Sketchy? "Nah... not on me." I am not sketchy. You are a very sketchy character. Ask me louder next time, please.

I was only there for about a minute. Approximately one: but it was a specific minute that I type about frequently. Rob and family rode by, and I went after them to see if anything better than the laundry scene was occurring.

*Matt redeemed the hell out of himself. The following evening he saw her getting a pedicab ride with a tourist cat (old man). Matt jumped from Dreamin's still-moving vehicle, and according to witness testimony, he chased her pedicab for two blocks before catching up at a red light. The sweatshirt was returned to the rightful owner's brother.

Mid piss

I'm in the very middle of a pee at Eaton Bikes. I'm here alone, and I'm thinking about bicycle seats made by Brooks. I got one here, and I'm contemplating whether or not to treat the underside of the leather with 'Proofide,' which is the saddle goop supplied by Brooks. I'm hiding out a little. I think I need some time alone. Plus, there's a shower here that I can use. I'm also in the process of not-drinking, and my mind keeps reaching for a beer. My life is pretty much awesome whenever I take a deep breath and think about it. My lungs aren't quite big enough at the moment, but my ability to reason is picking up the slack. You know exactly what I mean.

Union of Klopps

I'm at Steve and Dreamin's place, and Matt is here. Matt is Steve's twin. We're kinda making some plans, but mostly just being in each other's presence for a reunion.

Bicycle Ride with Steve

It's 7:21, and I'm talking to Steve. I'm thinking about my apprehensive feelings, healthy lifestyles, and where I want to be right now. We rode ten miles up the keys, and got to a serene little beach with a beautiful sunset, and a ton of found-shoes and found-flip flops covering a section of fence bordering some Navy land. What could be more beautiful? It's places and moments like this that I love the most. This is where I can look at myself and be happy to exist right now at this moment. Here, now: I do not feel this. I feel like I belong somewhere else, or like I'm running late. Maybe this is a result of my geographic location, or maybe it's just how I treat myself right now. I had a piece of fried chicken and a big fat beer before this ride. Delicious, but perhaps not necessary in the middle of the day. It's 7:21pm, and I'm discussing my feelings about this with Steve. We're riding side by side, and talking about how once again I'm feeling like I drink too much, and I'm too unhealthy. It's been back and forth like this since before I turned 20. It would be simpler if drinking and health weren't something I needed to keep in check. But this is something I always need to keep in check. I let out some slack, then I reel it in again. I'm discussing this with Steve. On the ride up, we struggled through a strong headwind. At this moment we're a short distance from the left turn that will put us right in line with the wind all the way to Key West. Our previous work will pay off with an easy cycle ride back, and my chest and figurative heart are feeling a little less constricted. At this point. At this moment.

Internetting at Eaton Bikes

I'm here at the shop, hours after close. I couldn't get a good internet connection at Bubba's, and I decided to get to a keyboard that does not require two dainty pointer fingers. Here I am. I have the key. I'm pausing from my business to talk to Steven J. Klopp. Steve. He stopped by here. We're headed to the Tropic Cinema in a bit. I was just using the internet to look again and see that my $10,000+ balance was truly no longer on my Bank of America card, and had, indeed, been moved to my 0% APR line of credit. I couldn't sign into my account for the line of credit due to a temporary case of the sillies on CitiBank's end. Bitches.

Personal preparation moves indoors

I'm chillin with Rob, his girlfriend, and his little daughter at his place. They're about to all watch Cars. It's just a quick stop-by chill before I go to the Tropic Cinema to see The Savages with Nat and Caroline. I'm getting ready. Film starts at 7:30.

I dove into some water again

I'm laying around in the back of the minivan that Nat and Caroline rented to come down here. I'm soggy and sleepy. We're trucking back from the Everglades.

Hand out the window; smile on my face.

I've got my arm out the window of the passenger side of the minivan that Nat and Caroline rented to come down here. We just turned off Palm onto Roosevelt, and we're almost to Albertsons. The present goal is to get fish.

Bubba's: getting my money's worth

Eddie is to my right, then Nat, then Caroline. It's a round table, so I'm next to Caroline too. We're eating at Bubba's. $12.99 gets a big plate of food and unlimited Budweiser. I fixed up a found Peugeot bike for Eddie. He found it. Arrangements ended up such that he pedicabbed us over here. Perfect: I'm having a really good time. The Peugeot was a red lugged mountain bike. The head lug was a single piece for both the top and down tubes. I continue to enjoy big chunky lugs on old mountain bikes. This bike was in pretty nasty shape, but I showed it more or less how to act.

Return of the Scorcher, etc.

I'm chatting with Eddie and watching bicycle advocacy documentaries. Return of the Scorcher, We Are Traffic. Google video. We're getting pumped up about bikes.

Rut in apartment

I'm in a rut, kinda. It's a time like I need to sort stuff out. All I'm really doing is working and then getting smashed. Today there was a smooth transition, as I stayed late to work on a couple more bikes and was rewarded with a 12 pack of Heineken right while I had bikes in the stand. They were shared beers with the other guys, but of course I got my share. Now I'm at Steve and Dreamin's* place with the sole purpose of having a place to smoke with Dave. I'm getting chubby, and I need to ride more. Need to ride because it makes me happy. but what'm'I going to do? Just ride into a headwind and go up the islands? That's about the only long ride option. So it's 7:21 and I'm sitting in this little apartment with Dave and Steve, and Dreamin's fixing up her hair, and I'm hungry independent of the effects of any munchies, cause I haven't eaten very much. There's options and options, and instead of talking about that, I'll just say that I went on my ride instead, and it wasn't very far, and my bottom bracket needs grease at a minimum, and I need cue sheets up the keys, and I need to find a comfortable saddle, but yo - it was a good ride cause I sobered up on my bicycle listening to good music on a path. Alls well.

*I'm gonna spell her name Dreamin so she doesn't show up on 10,000 pages after a Google search.

I love bicycles

I'm slapping the u-lock around my City Bike frame and front wheel. The front wheel is a little bit of a formality, because the quick release skewers have been replaced with ones that require a 5mm allen wrench. That's one mundane little detail of a thought in my head as I lock up the bike with my watch beeping. Another little thought is anticipatory bliss about taking this exact bike on a long trip in a couple or few months.

Bears and clarification of the exact

I don't remember exactly where I was at 7:21. Sometimes I don't write it down, or I'm drunk and I forget or something. I try to fill it in later, and write like it's in the present tense, but sometimes I really don't know. Sometimes, like now, I fake it - but if I'm fudging, I speak in general terms of time - if I say it's exact, then it is. At 7:21 or whatever time on 2/29: I'm talking to Davi while half ignoring a bum who's trying to change the subject to philanthropy and cigarettes. This is outside the CVS where I was about to go in and buy some bears. I call beers bears, because bears is better, and Keith was yelling 'bear' instead of beer once. That was the day before he left for the army. That was before 9/11. Now it's later, and I'm still saying bears, and that's why. Davi and the other Brasil guys are leaving this month. The dates are staggered, but the destination is home. I got light bears. They weren't worth a damn.

Bicycle fix-it w/ Chris

Nobody is teaching these guys how to fix bikes - which sucks, because they want to learn. Dave and Bill work in the rental department, and they both want a good bike. Dave and Bill and I each have a bike in the stand. Each is a separate project that needs attention. I'm spending too much time working on my bike, but I'm still making perpetual rounds helping with all three projects at once.

Bill has a road bike project. The frame is a lugged steel Bianchi of less than incredible quality. It's getting built up from the frame. Before tonight we've installed a sealed bottom bracket, and the original Sugino cranks. It has a new too-nice Shimano 105 headset, and some way-too-race-y wheels that Bill might have to spend too much for. But moving on: we're setting up the brakes. The calipers are the new super-long reach Tektros that can put a pad on a braking surface 73mm below the brake bolt - and they're dual pivot calipers at that. A new and exciting concept only recently available, and very reasonably priced! Well, the reach is maybe too long for this bike. The pads sit on the braking surface, but they're clumsily jacked all the way to the very top of the slots on the calipers. The Shimano aero levers are nice and pretty though, and the combination will work well. I show Bill how to measure and cut the housing, and how to run the cables, seat the housing, and set up the brakes. Then tape the housing to the groove on the inside of the bars. That's where we left it.

Dave has a goofy Kona frame with track ends, made for intensely fat tires and single speed. There's a braze-on (TIG weld-on) for a coaster brake arm to be bolted. Dave has one gear, and he could really use at least three. Eaton Bikes has a goofup-ordered 26" Zac19 rimmed Shimano Nexus 3spd coaster brake hubbed wheel. Perfect. We installed the new wheel, which required springing out the stays by about two millimeters. Somehow this made the right crank touch the chain stay. I swear we only spread it a miniscule amount. But the crank was close. It's a 113 width bottom bracket with a road-ish crank arm that does not stick out enough to clear the stays, which appear to be designed to clear tires at least a foot or two wide. So I showed Dave how to pull the cranks and bottom bracket, and install a wider BB - then how to put the chainring on the inside of the spider - then how to remove all that stuff again to put a couple little spacers on the right hand side of the BB so the chainring doesn't touch the stay. The spacers were Dave's idea. Genius which should have come from my mind first. I forgot about BB spacers.

My City Bike is in the stand getting those damn drop bars off. It's a good bike, but it doesn't work for me at all with those handlebars. It feels like I'm riding a tiny frame, even with the bars jacked way up on the Technomic stem. Clearly a bad idea in hindsight, but I'm happy to have tried and failed, just to get that out of my system. I'm putting the Tall Cool stem back on with some alloy northroad handlebars made by J&B (Sunlite). The clamp diameter works, and the bars are very similar to the ones from the Raleigh Sports that I used in the first place. For good measure - and to always be changing stuff - I'm installing some Avid single digit 5 v-brakes, and some similar matching Avid brake levers. I put on the alloy seat post I was looking at, and finished it all off with some very handsome khaki colored OURY grips that look fantastic with the frame. I'm not the first person to fawn over aesthetics, but the City Bike is looking like an attractive simple machine. I think an overhaul of the original cup and cone bottom bracket is kinda in order though... geez, self. I overhauled it once, but it's been a long time and now it's been cared for by criminals. Time for some new grease.

Pouring wine

Did you know you can get a bottle of wine for $3.60 after tax at CVS? I have one in my hand right now.

Song in head... Talking Heads

I'm walking past Michael's Restaurant on Margaret. It's after work, and I'm headed toward the van. I have a song in my head - just a part of a song - and I know I should know who it is. Immediately. And a second after immediately, I remember. It's a piece of a Talking Heads track.

Phosflourescent jellyfish

I'm leaning over the railing on the White Street pier looking at a group of about five jellyfish with a little phosflourescent bug dancing around inside of each one. It looks like how I imagine a glowing electron bouncing around in a big jelly nucleus.

Rehab the snabbed cycle

I'm at Eaton bikes after hours. I want to swap around parts on my Diamondback and my Diamond Back. The Diamondback (compound word) is the younger bicycle of the two, and the bike that I call my City Bike even though it does everything. It's a cheaper super-beefy hi-ten frame, but I love it more. I'm here at the shop after work so I can clog up two work stands and the entire workbench with no interruptions. Steve came over, so we're each drinking two tall Budweisers and listening to music from my iPod while I work on my bike. Silver Sun Pickups, My Morning Jacket, Nirvana, Iron and Wine, other artists.. I'm experimenting in the spirit of trying out everything possible, and goofing with bikes. I'm putting drop bars on my Diamondback - reclaiming my recovered City Bike. I have a Technomic quill stem by Nitto with a shorter than average extension. This stem is paired to some cheap anatomically bent black drop bars by Dimension with some new Shimano aero levers. I'm using the original cantilever brakes - cheap as hell, work good. City Bike is getting new wheels. I'm using the double-walled eyeletted Zac19 Weinmann rimmed, stainless steel 2.0 gauge straight spoked, Shimano RM60 cassette hubbed wheels that were intended as my temporary wheels for the Diamond Back. The City Bike's original rear wheel was thoroughly goosed for weeks before it was stolen. I hit a curb pretty hard when I first got to Key West - by the Home Depot. That was when I was still sleeping in Truck House. I kept riding on that wheel in the spirit of riding whatever still works. Now I'm upgrading. Previous to theft, I installed a J&B 'Tall Cool' (their name) stem. It does not mate properly with the Raleigh Sports-born northroad bars I was using - requiring beer can shimming. This worked worse than mediocre. This situation was going to be amended before it was stolen, but then theft got in the way. Now I can finally address the handlebar setup. Additionally, I'm installing a rear rack by Delta: tubular aluminum, black, rated to 60lbs, holds a u-lock perfectly. This rack replaces the uniquely substantial steel rack made by who-knows-who. The steel rack has no bolted or movable hardware - the struts that attach to the seat stays are a welded integral part of the rack. It just so happened that mated to the City Bike it leaned back to the precise angle necessary to allow for a hose-clamped milk crate to clear the back of the saddle. But now I'm changing it for this Delta rack. Dunno... just am. I also have my eye on a new alloy seatpost to replace the obviously functional steel beast-post. Dunno... just do. So we'll see if this bicycle is acceptable with drop bars. Of course it will work, but will it be fun and comfortable for me? That's the name of the game. That's the purpose of this evening. As Dave from West Chester said: "So, I guess you're all wondering why I've called you here this evening." I got a kick out of him saying that.

Tropic Cinema short films

I'm watching the Oscar nominated short films at a special showing at the Tropic Cinema. My mood: quite good. Reason: I just got my original Diamondback* bike back! (Stolen Jan. 8 - see Feb. 6 for weepy reminiscence). I was walking to the movies after work, and there it was outside Fausto's Grocery store on Flemming St. It had a lock, but it wasn't secured to anything. I didn't want to have a conversation with anybody about whose bike it was, so I hopped on and rode it away. Somebody clearly treated it like junk for the past couple months. I like short films. I'm happy to be sitting here in the theater. Tom Savage had an extra ticket. I bumped into him on my way in, and he gave me his extra - ostensibly because this is my lucky day. BOOF BOOF**!

*the original Diamondback is spelled as a compound word - sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. I can't remember whether the compound word bikes came first or second, but I recall that Sheldon Brown mentioned this on his page about Japanese bicycles. Rest in peace Sheldon.

**celebratory exclamation

Drunk, smoking, shopping

I'm smoking weed, and I'm about to go shopping at Albertsons. I'm already done drinking, and I'm fully aware that it's fairly early to be this enlightened.

blunts and bike-speak

I'm rolling past Truman on Windsor with Dave smoking a floppy blunt of blueberry. Just got out of work where I spent an hour off the clock rehabbing a bike for Gustavo to borrow. When he goes back to Brasil he'll return it to me so I can sell it. A customer left this bike for Eaton to do as it pleases. It's a basic Raleigh 21spd mountain bike. TIG welded steel, no suspension, medium frame. I took the tall-ass Key West handlebars off, swapping them for some flat bars that were taken off a Bianchi Milano. I removed all the shifter-stuff that was attached to the Alivio brake lever/shifters, and used some reel cheap friction thumb shifters in its stead. The J&B catalog has friction shifters marked as 'Pyramid' listed for sale. I've witnessed, used, and detested those plastic bodied shifters - but I ordered a pair for lack of a better immediate alternative. What arrived to fill the order is a pair of aluminum bodied shifters with a nice ratcheting feel labeled as "Xundah." These are a sure classic, and I've put three pairs into action so far. For grips I used khaki colored 'Oury' brand. The cables had been recently replaced. Since I was removing a considerable amount of housing due to the handlebar exchange, I was able to cut off the clamped cable sections and reinstall the same cables just like new product. Mega thrifty! The cables that came with the Xunda shifters were replaced with stainless. They don't supply Xundahs with cables that would make your momma proud. The original cantilever brakes and the derailers were all fine and remain on the bike. The chain was deemed toast and replaced with a SRAM PC-830 "reasonable price/quality" model. In short: without going apeshit, I rehabbed this bike pretty good, and I did it fast on the cheap. I like that. [ed note: after riding this bike for a longer distance, I've decided that the wheels are too heavy, especially with the big cheap tires. Oh well.]

My new watch

I splurged on a new watch, and this was the first time it's beeped for me at 7:21. It's very similar to my previous watch. The face is the same size and style and all of the setting procedures are exactly the same. They're watch cousins. It took a long time for me to finally break down and get the new watch. I don't like buying stuff that's likely to show up at some point for free. The previous watch was a castoff from Shelly. The velcro part of the band eventually just fell off, and I started the policy of tucking the extra strap in behind the remaining band to kinda hold it on. Worked for awhile, but eventually started to not-work. Plus, since it was at least a few years old, the display was getting dim. I almost threw down on one of those calculator watches, but I have unusually slender wrists rendering such a choice silly on two levels. I stayed a penny inside my 10 dollar preferred budget - excluding watchtax - and have no regrets about this fine wristwatch.

BBQ @ Bubba's

I'm at the laundromat / beer / internet place. I'm drinking beer. The BBQ deal is $13/plate and as much beer as you can drink. I'm at about 75 cups, so I'm winning by a little bit. I'm also doing laundry. I'm washing my clothes, and also the slip cover for the chair in my van. My parents are coming to visit tomorrow, and the slip cover was looking nearly as dirty as I actually am most of the time. I don't want to look like a bum, so I'm washing the slip cover for the chair that's in my van. This amuses me. So does the beer, and the fact that I'm doing laundry here. I was also just reading a book by Lisa Scottoline. Dreamane is here doing some laundry. Steve just showed up, and a guy-in-charge pretty much said he could play a song. There's some live music involved in the BBQ, and it's between acts right now. He doesn't end up playing a song. Maybe next time, maybe never. Would have been good to see though.

Getting drunk

I'm drinking whiskey and coke out of my brown plastic camping cup. Dreamane drove my van up here, and now we're just sitting in my favorite spot talking. My Duck Avenue parking spot where my van will remain for the night. I'm drinking from my mug, still sitting shotgun. She's goofing around on her laptop.

Just saw a ghost ride

I'm standing over my bike after a short post-work ride with Dave. He ghost-rode a bike to his friend's house near Georgia. Street. He rode a big shitty long chopper bike, and held the handlebar of his bike to bring it alongside. The chopper is for his friend who can't drive his dad's truck now that it has become apparent that he doesn't know how to act proper with that responsibility. The kid has been relegated to the realm of the shitty chopper.

Going up some steps

I'm lifting my Diamond Back up the stairs at Steve's. I'm almost to the top. I'm liking this bike a lot better, and my comfort level is rising daily. Dreamane can cook like crazy for cheap. She'll be here in a minute.

Lighters needed

I'm riding bikes with Dave. We just got out of work. It was my day off, but I was called in to cover the last four hours. Easy money, so sure. But somehow I wasn't happy. My situation here in paradise is unparalleled. When described, it could make a jealous man from one who was previously content. So why the long face, Chris? Maybe I'm homesick. Maybe I need to experience something new. Maybe I got used to enjoying more alone time. But 7:21pm is a snapshot of happiness. We're passing the cemetary and headed toward that gas station at Truman and White. The one with Dion's. Dave needs a lighter - now. This reminds me: I need one too. My Coleman stove doesn't light itself. Some stoves do - but mine doesn't.

Real close to Dion's

I'm walking out of Dion's at Truman and White. That's not the name of the gas station. Dion's is the name of the fried chicken joint housed inside - where I'll probably be visiting later in a less sober state of mind. [ed note: that's for damn sure...] Dreamane is here, and we just put ten bucks in her tank. Or we might as well have, because that's what we spent on gasoline. Next we're stopping by the place where she was staying to get her shit outta there and into the place where she's staying next. Steve's.

Eddie's w/ Dreamane

I'm sitting in Eddie's back yard with Eddie and Dreamane. It's been raining on and off, and Eddie has constructed a little tent out of cloth and a big stick tied to a couch with some rope. We're under that. I'm here to deliver Eddie's bike back to him. I checked it over at work earlier. I didn't do much to help it. I put some grease in the rear hub, and tightened the cones to get rid of the play. It's a reasonable old Trek mountain bike with the (very) high rise handlebars you see everywhere in Key West. The paint is beat to hell, but I like the frame 'cause it has super-fat chunky lugs and somehow I respect it for that. This decent old bike would really shine, figuratively, with a new bottom bracket, cassette, chain, and brakes. It would shine, literally, with a new powdercoated paint job. But for now, let's remain serious.

Hanging out with Dave

I'm hanging out with Dave from the rental department of Eaton Bikes. We're riding to his friend's house so I can meet who he hangs out with. We're stopping for some Yuenglings at the gas station at White and Truman.

Sharing silences

I'm back in my life-is-easy chair in the nearly official, but still unofficial, van parking spot pseudo catty corner to the White Street Pier. Dreamane brought salad, laughing cow cheese, and pita bread. She appeared in Key West unannounced and baffled my mind a few days ago when she came through the gate at Steve's while I was picking my nose on his porch, and spitting and staring at the trash in the little no man's land over the edge. Now she's fully reclined on the bed area of my van, and Steve is back there playing on her iPhone trying not to let his feet make contact with mine. Dinner was good, and we've moved to the intermittent silence phase.

Talking about respect

I'm standing over my bike outside of Bubba's with my feet on the ground and my forearms draped all over the grips. Steve is a big distorted mirror image facing me. I'm telling him that we will absolutely respect Eddie's wishes.

Walking in a white shirt

I'm wearing a white shirt. I found this shirt on a trash can or some such situation. I can't remember exactly. I think it's an undershirt. It has short sleeves - shorter than typical, but not sleeveless or anything. That describes an undershirt, right? It's a tight fit, and it's made by Calvin Klein, so says the tag. My mood is difficult to explain. Vague, bland, aloof, spaced out, mediocre. None of that really captures it. I'm wearing this white shirt with the same intentions I always have in a white shirt. Gettin' dirty. I'm walking away from work. Bike mechanic people get pretty greasy in the hand and shirt area. I always fail at getting properly dirty. I end up a little dusty, but no big greasy stains to show I'm a working man. I'm just a man who can't figure out laundry. It's hot out, and I'm feeling a little greasy and salty on the skin. I'm walking in the roundabout direction of the shower at Steve's. I don't necessarily feel like hanging out tonight, but the shower is there and I'm planning to use it. Part of me wants the shower, and part of me just doesn't know where else to walk at this moment.

At the marina, Steve found $300

Me and Steve just came from Eddie's boat. We planned to scrub bird shit off of it, but didn't get really far with that before dark. We parked the dinghy and we're standing on shore. Steve went to chuck out a couple empties in the dumpster, and came back with a look on his face.
Steve: "What do you think I have in my hand right now?" (awed, beaming)
Me: "weed. Dude - you found a fucking bag of weed there?"
// Then he showed me the money. $300 in hundreds. Unbelievable.

Diamond Back on Duval

I'm cruising down Duval after visiting the Truman Annex to visit my former favorite parking spot by the cruise ships. I'm on the phone with Steve. I'm riding my new Diamond Back. This bike is a good machine. It's a replacement for my recently stolen (and very much loved) Diamond Back city bike. Maybe this one doesn't give me the same feeling of bicycle love. The old one was a kinda green metalic hi-ten(sile) steel frame with bulky too-fat tubing. I bought it for $20 when I was running my basement based bike business in Philly. I changed the cables and housing, took off the front derailer, put on some northroad handlebars from a Raleigh 3 speed, put on a big yellow milk crate on a super bulky old steel rack, and called that bike mine. I locked it outside and rode it everywhere. I had better bikes, but liked this one best. When Nat's bike got stolen in Montreal on our way north, I almost wanted to get my city bike shipped up there and give Nat my bike. I rode the city bike 120 miles from Kennett Square to Lewes, DE along bicycle route 1. Now it is gone: stolen.

I'm riding my new Diamond Back now. This is the new puppy. My old trusted labrador has passed on. This is a great bike, but maybe nothing can replace what I had. This is a Diamond Back too. It's an old mountain bike of approximately the same vintage. This one is taller: a 23 inch frame because maybe the other one was small. This one has a chromoly frame and fork because that is an upgrade to the hi-ten fatty tubes of the city bike. This bicycle started from an eBay purchased frame. The parts had to be bought: a mix of basic Tektro stuff, and J&B flotsam and Eaton Bikes jetsam. The city bike's parts were logistically easy. I rode it how it was and upgraded nothing. I built it for cheap utility. With this new Diamond Back I've already sunk money into parts for an old less-than-beautiful frame. I question myself on gear selection. I go between wanting less and wanting more. Free, garbage, swap meet parts, or Paul Components? I've met this bike, respected it, spaced the frame. We've met, but we're not partners. I'm planning to ride this machine for months across the country or thousands of miles somewhere. We'll be acquainted. I think we'll become friends. First we have to get to know each other. It needs to be housebroken.

I'm cruising down Duval, talking on the phone. My bike has pink grips and a pink "I [heart] my bike" bell. It has J&B brand "Origin 8" handlebars in a matte black finish bent slightly like northroad handlebars. It has no front derailer, but a triple crank. Shift with a foot or a finger. It has a white basket on front. It has a dent in the top tube. It's pretty big.

Showing off my xo laptop

I'm at Bubba's and everyone is checking out my new xo laptop. I like
this spot very much. I'm sitting outside, and it's warm and breezy.
Steve is here and we're drinking a pitcher. We're about to get
another pitcher for free just for lifting a new keg into place.

Stopping by at Eddie's

I'm at Eddie's. Eddie has a boat that he lived on, but he's not living on it now. He said I could and should stay on it for awhile. I'm here right now mentioning Steve Klopp to make sure it's ok if he stays out on the boat too.

Ordering food with Steve

I'm sitting across from Steve at Two Friends on Front Street, and the
waitress is about to take our order of the Captain's Catch, conch
fritters, jalapeno poppers, and a house salad - all to split. Steve
is putting this and drinks on his credit card which he has no
intention of paying off.

Fat Tuesday, looking at muted TV

I'm sitting on a bar stool at Fat Tuesday holding a frozen drink with
a tube of a shot suspended in it. This drink was bought on the
recommendation of Andrew who teaches sailing. I met up with him here.
As I sit here, my attention is fixed to the TV screen showing the
Spike TV show broadcasting something to the effect of World's Most F'd
Bullshittery. I shouldn't be hanging out in some bar - but I did want
to meet up with Andrew. Here I am.

New spices, wondering

I'm at the same spot. This is a nice daytime spot, but only available
between 7am and 10pm. I've eaten. I have an increased cooking
repertoire. CVS has a deal on 88 cent spices. I stocked up on a
cayenne pepper and a garlic powder. Add that to my chili powder and I
have a solution for anything men (mankind) ever cooked. So I've eaten
my noodles and well spiced sauce. When the watch beeps, my left
floppy hand is curled flaccid against my left temple on the left side
of my headbone. I'm remembering approximately three months ago when
Truck House was parked in the driveway at my parents's house. I'm
remembering how I still spent a strong majority of my nights sleeping
in the upstairs bedroom. Was that more appealing to me? What's more
appealing now? If I was in Kennett Square at this moment, after being
in Key West for two months (to the day), what would be more appealing?
Would it be my van? The van that I affectionately refer to as "my
house?" Or might I again get more comfortable sneaking weed and
watching Law and Order?

Mixing in broccoli

I'm in my [life is] easy chair sitting in the van at the spot near White Street pier here a group of van people hang out. I'm stirring steamed broccoli into a Lipton (paper pouch $1) meal of chicken flavored rice etc. I'm thinking about this girl I went to a bar with and wondering what would have happened if i said i lived in a van. Not that i liked her - I even just quit talking to her. She'd mentioned going to Harvard and she was a conch and stuff. Would van ideals have weirded her out? Either way it would at least have been conversation. That's my thoughts as I mix in the broccoli.

Paradise Cafe w/ xo

I'm sitting at the Paradise Cafe drinking a buchi and playing with my new XO laptop. A buchi is a strong Cuban espresso. A double is $.75. There's wifi here, and this is my test ride for this awesome little computer.

Chain line check

I'm at Eaton Bikes after work with my left eye closed and I'm squinting up the third highest cog on a French mixte deciding that yes - this cog has the best chain line with the chain ring.

Talking to Eddie

More bicycle geek talk with Eddie - and also learning more about the awesome shit he's been up to for the past years. It's like Indiana Jones without the whip. Sort of. He lived on a boat, lived in remote Alaska on a bus, and now he's a daddy who rides a big tricycle for employment.

Chillin' at Eddie's

I called Eddie to see if I could stop by for a real proper shower. I ran into him at the library yesterday, and he offered that option to me. He knows I'm living in a van, and he's done that too. I took my shower awhile ago, and now we're just sitting around.

Looking at beers in CVS

I'm taking way too long to make a simple decision. What beer am I going to get? ...Foster's fat can.

Mannequin?

I have my pedicab pulled over near American Apparel. The front window is empty, but brightly lit up. There's a guy working on stuff. He has a ladder, and he's in fix-it mode. There's a mannequin in the front window. Then it might have moved slightly. It is dressed in a very form-showing but highly casual manner. Then it moves for real, and my watch beeps. My watch is beeping and I'm checking out a really hot girl on display in the mostly empty window of American Apparel. Now that she is moving and bending over and such, pedestrians are stopping and double-taking. That's enough for me: It's time to take a lady from New Hampshire to where she's staying right next to Eaton Bikes for $15.

At Steve's place

I'm sitting in Steve's apartment. $225/week. Includes bed, sink, chair. Bathroom is shared between four such rooms. Free condom wrapper on floor as a welcome gift. Amazing location right off Front Street near Mallory Square. Real pain in the ass neighbor who is a loudmouth fuck and likes to complain. I'm trying to get Steve moving toward the movies if he wants to go. This is an actual process. I even jumped and clapped a little bit so far, but he's still oozing around a bit.

With Shelly at The Cafe

I'm sitting with Shelly at The Cafe on Southard. We're eating dinner and splitting things, which is always a good idea. I haven't seen her in awhile now, and finally it is a little more comfortable. This is a case where worlds collide, but it's lightly surreal and positive. She came down here with Dreamane, who I also haven't seen in awhile. Dreamane is eating at Mr. Z's with Steve next door. I'm glad I got to be alone with Shelly for dinner. The Cafe is nice, and it gives us a chance to actually talk about general things.

In van with Steve Klopp

Steve Klopp is in my van, and we're cooking. I'm parked in the same area. Steve just got here today. He was fairly homeless in West Chester, sleeping in a basement. Now he sold his car and got a plane ticket to be homeless down here. Somewhat at my encouragement. [ed note: on 1/22 Steve sleeps on floor of van to make a worrisome claustrophobic situation for me. Next day he gets apartment which makes relieved Chris Harne happy.]

At Eddie's

I'm sitting on the couch at Eddie's place. He lives with his wife Melanie and new baby Milo. When he invited me over I was reading in the van and it was cold and windy and it even kinda wanted to rain a little. Eddie's idea for me to be over there with pedicabbers Tom and Anthony for dinner was much better. I was, by a decade or more, the young guy there - but I was so happy to be in a house with friends having dinner that it warmed my heart. These guys have a lot of stories from living a lot of different places, and pedicabbing and bike riding and traveling for many years. I'm just getting started, so I have less to say. Babies crawling around are great, but I don't know how to interact. Poke'em? Say stuff? Eating dinner and relaxing is much easier for me. I didn't say much, but I had a good time and stayed reasonably late.

Fausto's

I'm at Fausto's buying some bullshit to eat because I have no plans about what to do. [ed note: since I'm writing this a week later, I'll tell you how it turned out AFTER 7:21, even though that ruins the format somewhat. I got a small thing of roast pork, since Fausto's is a cuban place and cubans tear it up on stuff like pork. Then I got a 6 pack of Yuengling at CVS for $5. Then I went and sat on a wall by the ocean in a little park area. Eddie stopped by because he had a ride over there. After all that beer, I decided it was time to bike up to Winn Dixie for some grocery shopping. If my watch beeped while I was sitting on the wall, that would have been perfect.]

Talking to Kevin again

I just got Kevin a slice of pepperoni pizza at "Big Un's" which is a sports bar. He's working at the info booth across the street, so I went and got it for him. I would be working, but instead I sold my pedicab shift. I did work at Eaton Bikes though. I went by to see if my check was there and Steven, the owner, asked if I was busy - could I stick around? Absolutely. It is never hectic, buy always lucrative. Yes. I put in two hours, and even got to catch up with the computer.

J&B, Feist, Van

I'm sitting in my van listening to Feist on my iPod. I'm also flipping through the J&B catalog. J&B is a bicycle wholesaler. They have bikes and parts, and I get wholesale pricing. Since I'm a bicycle nerd, I can somehow look at this catalog even though I know what's in it and how much it costs. If I have a project in mind, I flip through for ideas to feed future daydreams. Right now is much greater than just that. I'm mellow, the side doors are open, and the entire universe is my living room. This is a situation where vans are not cramped. If you open the doors, they are extremely vast.

Dollar beer

I'm doing the tilted cup slow beer pour outside the $1 beer shop. I just gave a beer to someone else, so I replaced it with one from this shop. It's a Milwaukee's Best. Plan: walk around.

Driving on Flemming

I'm driving my van on Flemming Street toward Kevin's house to help his friend / boyfriend / surfer-type, model, coast guard, dude, guy get a bottom bracket un-stuck from a frame that he found. I'm the bicycle guy always. Note: the bottom bracket did not come out, but we gave it a good try.

Long pedicab ride for cheap.

A guy told me he had $20 including tip to take him and his girlfriend as far as that was good for. I took him for about a $45 ride 'cause we were talking and I didn't really mind. I'm always looking for karma. I think about it every day.

Cooking in van again

I'm cooking up some Tereyaki Noodles in the same spot I was yesterday. It's a Lipton Meal. About $1.29, filling, and a really great idea for camping. I got that suggestion from a book about bicycle camping written in 1984. I have another whisky and coke. I'm killing time before I go out to see another movie: Juno. I'm going to the Tropic Cinema, which is a block off of Duval on Eaton St. I just got a membership, so tickets are only $6. It's a nice theater, and the tickets are cheaper than they are up in New Town by Publix. Hmm.

I'm very happy. I'm thinking how nice this is, and how this is exactly what I want. Relaxed in a van, cooking with the doors open. If this wasn't something where you had to be worried about police once in awhile, it would be the ideal lifestyle. Ideal. And right now, I love it.

Drinking, eating, sitting, watching, thinking

I'm parked in my favorite spot with the side doors of the van open, and dinner cooling down on the camp stove. I can see the football game on the big screen TV that's on the cruise ship parked down here. I can barely see it, but I can hear the commentary. I'm not paying attention - but it's good background. I'm daydreaming, and thinking about how nice living in a van can be. I'm happy. I'm a little sweaty. Dinner is macaroni noodles and pasta sauce. I have a plastic camping mug of whisky and coke.

Just cooked / Feelin' great

I just turned onto Duval St from Southard. My van is parked up there, and I had a little pedicab cookout with my new stove. Cooked right on the back seat. I heated up some Campell's Chunky soup with a bagel broken up into it. That's a good meal right there.

Circle K

Coffee and muffin in front of Circle K. Talking to yet another Brazillian guy who works crazy hours at a booth on Duval. Raphael. Lives on Duck Ave, just like a million other Brazil guys.

Boil in a bag

I'm cutting open a bag of rice that I just cooked with my new stove. I'm using my pocket knife. I'm parked in a great spot that is inhabited by other van people during the day. But you can't park here from 11pm - 7am. This is a parking spot where you can open the side doors, sit in your old chair and relax while reading a book in the breeze. You can also cook in your van, and have a nice time.

Greyhound - Truck House sold

I'm in a great mood. I'm sitting in the front seat of the Greyhound bus headed south on Florida's Turnpike. I'm listening to a song that I like - my iPod is in shuffle mode. Truck House was sold earlier, and now I'm headed back to Key West.

Kevin / stolen bike / new job? / soup

I'm always slacking off when 7:21 hits. I'm at Angela and Duval talking to Kevin at his info booth again. I'm apprehensive. Someone stole my City Bike. I'm going to drive up to Lantana, FL tonight to sell Truck House. Kevin said I might be able to park in front of his house. It'd be nice to add a sanctioned spot to my bag of parking spots. He said I could even plug in... but no need. I don't really need electricity. I haven't missed it very much, surprisingly. I'd rather just have a spot to kick open the side doors and cook. My new $19.99 propane camp stove is great.

My anxiety is keeping me from having the will to work. I know I'll be quitting very early. The anxiety isn't very bad though. It's mild, and it's aimed at my stolen bike and the impending road trip. I'll be calm once I'm rolling. I'm looking into a mechanic job at a shop to substitute for some of my pedicab days. If it's good, I'll get $15/hr cash, and work on customer repairs. I'll do pedicab just on weekends. Pretty sweet setup if it works.

I'm sorta sharing Kevin's soup. Like potato soup with shrimp. Good.

Coasting up Whitehead St.

I'm taking it easy. Too many hours on this job. So I'm going to make it a point to not work all of them. I'm about to take a break to get on the internet and cut my hair. I just found some really nice sunglasses. In the urinal at The Green Parrot. I know that's pretty disgusting, but I washed them off thoroughly. I've been waiting for some good sunglasses to turn up. They always show up for free - I just expected that they'd be on the ground. Oh well. They're clean now. "don't look a gift horse in the mouth." Right?

$130 / Duval and Front

I'm basically just riding the pedicab, and it's a pretty good night for money. I had the worst customer ever about 20 mins ago. A couple - one super drunk guy, and his pissed off wife or girlfriend. First thing he did was grab my ass cheek. Not polite. He could barely talk, and he even fell down pretty hard at one point. 20 minute ride. That's $30. In spite of saying how well he'd tip about a dozen times, he only had $28 and ended up telling me "don't be like that, man." I wish he landed on his face when he fell. Regardless, I'm making good money.

Nodding

I'm coasting past Truman Ave headed south. I'm nodding hello to my Serbian friend Demonya, whose name I could never begin to spell correctly. He's holding a coffee from Circle K. I'm trying to cut out buying so much crap food. Coffee included. I got Life cereal and Publix brand nutra grain bars. Anthony, the experienced Australian pedicab guy, eats Life cereal with Nutra Grain bars broken up in it almost exclusively. I don't know how good or bad that is, but it's probably a hell of a lot better than my diet of bullshit. It's good and easy too. So that's entering my regular diet. I was looking at milk options, since I have no refrigeration in the van. Then the obvious solution occurred to me. Apple juice, duh. Delicious.

Talking to Mateos and Kevin

I'm talking to Mateos and Kevin outside of Red Fish Blue Fish on Front St. It's a slow night, and I only made $10 so far.

Winn Dixie

My watch beeps and I feel like I got caught, and in a way I did, but it's funny. I'm in Winn Dixie trying to figure out what to get in addition to some Steel Reserve. I just picked up a thin little pack of sliced chicken. Then beeping, like a little burglar alarm - caught buying processed chicken for $.59. I'm going to put it on Triscuits that I got yesterday. Beer, and chicken-Trisuits. I love how I'm living down here. Love it. I'm going to get a new stove, and start eating actual food at some point. I have a stove but it sucks really bad, so I never use it. Don't get a Coleman 533 Dual Fuel. Go with propane or something. I should get a 12v skillet like Tara HoboStripper has. I think she's a lot smarter than I am about things like this.

Using Kevo's Laptop

I'm using my pal Kevin's laptop inside the info / tourist booth attached to the Denny's at Duval St. and Route 1. It's my night off, and I'm seeing what movies are playing at the Regal next to Publix on the north side of the island. My plan: get drunk at the movies. It is strangely cold and windy, and I'm wearing two sweatshirts and jeans.

Thinking of Ashland, OR

I'm at the southernmost point in the USA, and I'm seriously considering Key West. Ashland Oregon comes to mind. I was there for 2 weeks learning how to build a bicycle frame, and at the time I thought that maybe I shouldn't leave. Here I think maybe I should. I'm a little tired of the pedicab. [ed note: got happy and satisfied again hours later]

New Year Pedicab Scramble

This is the calm before the storm. I'm riding the pedicab. It's busy, but I'm wondering when the insanity will truly begin. I've heard 10pm. The night started rough. I was on a spare cab because the rear timing chain was broken on my usual bike. These bikes are old pieces of shit. I'm not being mean: they are total shit. The steerer tube of the $20 Pyramid brand shitty fork broke. Snapped right off, because the headset is loose, and there are about 10 spacers on it instead of zero, 'cause nobody wanted to buy a hacksaw and cut off the extra threads. There are no back brakes, so the full force of a loaded pedicab is slamming on a shitty fork built for a normal bicycle - and it's a shitty fork even for that. That means I was lucky not to lose my face. Seriously bad news, and this has happened before to my friend Mateos. On this bike. I was way out by the Casa Marina Hotel. I had nothing to steer with. I jogged and pushed from behind the cab with the fork turned backwards so I could 'steer' by turning the entire cab - if I kept up enough speed. Not easy. Once I got back to Duval St, my Serbian hero - Goya - gave me a lift while I 'steered' holding top tube and riding in the passenger section. He even picked up a fare going the same direction! I shared the back with a couple from Alaska. Back at the shop I very carefully - very, very, carefully - stole the back timing chain from that spare bike, and got my usual green machine back on the road. There are no spare chains, and I've never changed one of these types of chains. The theory is the same as a normal chain, but this chain is extra wide, and the cage plates are extra thick. It also takes a chain tool I'm not familiar with, that Anthony (pedicab guy) miraculously owns and keeps at the shop. I took my time and very calmly and meticulously took the 18 year old chain from the broken bike and transferred it to the green machine using a hammer, pliers, and that chain tool. I knew full well the whole time that if I fucked up just one link on this ancient chain, I would lose hundreds of dollars for the night. I got on the road at 6:30 with a feeling in my chest of explosions of relieved awesomeness.

Pedicab

It's 7:21 - I'm driving an empty pedicab. Probably daydreaming about bullshit.

Low on blood

I'm situating myself in my van. It's my night off. I'm passing my laptop and electronics bag to the back, and my curtain clip just came off. Just before the beeping I mumbled "fuck you, fuck you, fuck you" to myself. Not with any anger, but just a mild scolding frustration. I'm light headed. I donated blood for some snacks and a movie ticket this morning, and I'm just now feeling how I should be more careful after donating blood. I haven't eaten enough - just a burger and fries - and I had a couple beers, which can dehydrate a man. I was warned about that. So I'm back at the van to sit for a minute and make some easier plans, cause I almost passed out on Duval St. about 10 minutes ago. I have a free coffee from Kevin who works at the info / tourist booth connected to Denny's. I'm having that, water, a peanut butter bagel sandwich - then finding a place to cook some food and listen to an iPod. Couscous. That's the current plan.

Christmas at Wendy's

It's Christmas, I'm working, and it's not a very high-dollar pedicab day. I'm taking a break in front of Wendy's. I got a $1 crispy chicken, and a $2 small chili. I'm hungry as hell, but going light because there is usually free pizza sitting around somewhere on Duval or a side street, and I always find it because I'm always circling. Starvation is not likely in Key West. In about two seconds I will give solid, accurate directions to Ernest Hemmingway's old house. So far I've got seventeen bucks in my pocket.

Mooshy Cookie

I'm sitting on the back (passenger seat) of my pedicab in front of a coffee shop toward the ocean side of Duval. I have a coffee and a big cookie. A peanut butter cookie. The coffee shop was technically closed, but the door was wide open. The man behind the counter was very nice. Friendlier than most - which I've found is not at all uncommon in Key West. He gave me the coffee for free, and asked for $1 for the cookie (marked $1.25). So I'm sitting here breaking off pieces of the cookie, which is extremely moist to the point of falling apart and being extra delicious. My last customer was generous, and kept peeling off bills until I was holding $65. I paid the pedicab rent already.

Awesome Sunday

I'm riding toward Front St, and I already have $100 in my pocket. I "paid the rent" within about one hour of riding. We call making $100 'paying the rent,' and on a slow night we'll ask each other "did you make the rent?" Or we'll say "I made the rent in an hour!" This quick cash flow is a good indication that I'll be having a lucrative evening of pedal-work. When you get money fast, you are in a good mood, and when you are in a good mood you have confidence, and when you have confidence people seem to sense it and they are ready to get in your pedicab and give you big tips. Conversely, if you make $0 for 5 hours, people can sense that you want to shoot yourself, and they stay out of your pedicab to avoid issues of mess and crossfire.
[ed note: $270 night = rent + past 2 days rent + $100]

More of the same

For a Saturday night, this is pretty slim pedicab work. I pay $100 to rent the cab each night that I work. I work every day except Wednesday and Thursday. Last night I made $63, so I owe money after many hours of work.

Somewhat dismayed

I'm pedicabbing toward the ocean side of Duval at about US-1/Truman Ave. I've been out for hours, and haven't made $0.10. I'm anxious for this money that I hear I'll be making soon.

Toward the Keys, happy as pie.

I'm 75 miles from Key West, headed south, driving my new van. I have a Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino from the Circle K, where I just got a full tank. The coffee is in my right hand, resting right above my knee. My driving hand is on the wheel. I have the cruise control set at about 50, and the combination of all of these details makes me a very happy and content man.

Delirious at Staples

I'm in or around Clearwater Florida, pacing around, tired to the core, talking to my mom on my cell phone. I have a package of clips in one hand that will cost $3.19. My mom and I talk about things and my status for 28 minutes while I pace around, happily delirious. The clips are to be used to hold up a makeshift curtain, which I don't yet have, so people can't see me in the back of my van, which I just purchased an hour ago.

Need a ride?

I'm pedaling the pedicab at Duval and United waving to a girl in her twenties or so who is talking to her mom. The girl is talking about a TV something-something, and it seems unlikely that they are going to need a ride. I'm correct. They do not.

Wild for the Conch Train

There is a Conch Train full of tourists wearing Santa hats, waving and calling out. I ring my bell repeatedly and make a hooting and yelling ruckus as I pass going the other direction. This is typical. But this time my watch beeps.

Pumkin Spice vice

I'm pushing the button which dispenses Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino from a whirring machine at the Circle K on Duval St. In my mind - in a lazy daydream - a played out scenario, I am saying this reminds me of home. In reality, it does not. It reminds me of Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino only.

Talking to Tom

I'm sitting with my pedicab outside the CVS by Duval and Front St. talking to Tom, who has cycle-toured 23 countries and subs 'suck' and 'shoot' for other more popular curses.

Vehicle meetings

I'm riding out to Truck House, which is still parked on Stock Island getting an electrical problem fixed. Beer, iPod, sweatshirt. That's what I'm retrieving before I head back into town, or the beach, or wherever my bike ends up with me on it. I just ran into Seth outside the tattoo shop on Stock Island. The tattoo shop is next door to the truck repair shop, so our vehicles are close enough to wave to each other. We chatted a bit, then he and the tattoo artist went back in to put more birds on Seth's leg. I headed toward the truck, and my watch started beeping.

ed note: on pedicabs

I'm going to break the mold here, and admit to writing this on the 10th. I don't know where I was, but I was driving the pedicab again. The pedicab is a real trip. It's a great source of 7:21 info, but if I don't write down the specifics it all blends together. I'm pretty sure I was driving around the couple with the baby and I told them that I'm planning to go to law school next. I've thought about law school, so it's not a complete lie. I'm definitely going - but I just need to use their bathroom.

...

Pedicab...

Pedicab again...

Now I'm headed east on Duval from Front St. No passengers.

Pedicab again

I'm coming up to the same exact intersection as yesterday.

First pedicab night

I'm driving around a pedicab, and it's my first night on the job. I'm pointed west on Duval St. I'm stopped at a red light across from the place where I'd previously purchased a 16oz beer in a brown bag and asked about the specifics of the public booze laws. My phone rang, and I was very happy to see that Mary was calling me. I answered, rang my little bell for her, then hit the lower right-hand button on my watch because it was beeping.

Walking with beer

I know I usually write this in the present tense, but I'm not sure exactly what was up at 7:21 last night. I was somewhere walking with a beer in a bag. LEGAL here. I only had one beer and I walked around for a good amount of distance and time. I need a better way to kill time, and that's what I was thinking. I still don't belong here. I talked to Mike Bradley on his birthday, and it cheered me up some.

Convenience store

I'm in a convenience store. I've been looking for free wifi, and I stopped to get a beer. I bought the beer. $1 even for a 16oz Milwaukee's Best Light. Not a killer deal. I saw that what is probably the bathroom says "out of order." I've seen this trick before. After I buy the beer, I use my friendliest inquisitive-effeminate soft voice - head slightly cocked - "would you happen to have a restroom I could use?" Yup. Coming out of the bathroom I notice there is a "cycles trader" catalog. I'm thinking it's bicycles. Then my watch beeps. I pick up my beer, thank the guy, and leave.

AIDS memorial, bicycle, booze

It's my first night in Key West. I've spent hours - hours - walking around and exploring. I stopped back at Truck House to lay down for a minute. It was hot as hell and smells like cheap wood and paint. I got up, got my jacket with my weed in it, the rest of my Old Crow, and my city bike. I headed down the street to the AIDS memorial, where there's a long pier. I only spent a minute, while my watch beeped, because my heart wasn't into this plan.

South of Cocoa Beach

Truck House is in southern Florida. I'm pulled over at a rest stop, and taking a break in the back. It's warm! I just replaced my pants with some shorts. I've got the main RV door open, so the RV screen door is in full effect. I just got off the phone with Nat about a minute ago. I was glad he text'd me, cause it's great to talk in the midst of a big weird transition like this that's all new and up in the air. I'm chugging along pretty good. Shorts are nice. 7:21 came at a happy moment today.