Sad

Chris Whitley 1960-2005 ,one of my favorite artists.
i feel like i've lost a friend.

work and Work

So I'm adjusting to the night shift and trying to make use of the time I have to create and study.
While I've been using this forum to post WIP , I figured I'd post a finished version of the last sketch , mostly 'cause I don't think I'll get the website done before X-mas.
Meanwhile, back at the Batcave, I've gotta put together some lunch and stuff so I can go and paint a Gap store in midtown.

Thanks

Happy whatever.A good day here in the city if a bit cold. I went and bought a pair of long johns yesterday. Had some turkey,gouda, hummus ,olives and such for my little mini-feast and then went to see some friends(Bill's). All in all Ihave quite a bit to be thankful for .And now I think I'll show my grattitud by doing some work.

My day (dry, minimalist version)

10:33 ish. Rolled over and talked myself outta the human/blanket burrito I was inhabiting.
Read the news and want ads, drank coffee and had many Camels.Talked to Mom and made calls looking for work, sent e-mails doing same. Stared sketch for future painting, ate turkey sandwich.
Refined drawing, ate a bowl of raisin bran. Went to a (good) meeting, then to fed-ex to pick up package from aforementioned mother.Came back home, further developed drawing, ate large plate of spaghetti . Sitting in front of laptop smoking (yet) another Camel, think I'll go get a glass of soda and...

Oh and by the way..........

Did you know that you can click on the pictures to see a larger version?
You did?
Well damn, wish some one woulda told me.

Mass-A-Chew-Sets

So, getting laid off from my job (timing is everything) and having nothing better to do I packed my bag and headed off to Salem, MA to see my buddy John O.

Ever wonder where the expression "Colder than a witches bosom" came from?

It was good to spend some time w/ John as I haven't seen him in 4 years more or less.
Salem was pleasant to visit but I couldnt live there.Although they do have a great liquor store


and plenty of opportunities for gainful employment

Mass. transportation....

And so Tuesday we went to Boston (Bah-Stin), to the Old North Church were the lanterns were hung to signal Paul Revere on his historical ride.




I also saw Revere's gravesite at the Granary Burial Ground.


And lastly, some shots from the Holocaust Memorial

A vacation from Vacation

So, the party's over and Chris left this A.M. Thankgod!
No, but really we both had a grand time and the last 3 days the weather was perfect .I ended up with one more day off today and spent it keeping my mattress firmly in place.
Yesterday was halloween and Chris' er, uh 29th birthday......and if you find that beleivable I've got a special deal for you......
.
Real cheap.
But before we hiked the Brooklyn Bridge (nice segue huh?) we took a stroll through Central Park

and after the bridge we rode the Staten Island Ferry

O.K. so i just HAD to work that joke at least once

and then we were off to Greenwich Village for the annual Halloween parade
SPOOKY, eh kids?

as for the pictures from that , well, it was over three hours and i snapped at least 200 so you'll just have to wait

Stuff we been doin'

So, Friday we went to the Empire State Building

and the Met, below ,
adding a little gusto to Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze's "Washington Crossing the Delaware"
and generally walked around yesterday in SOHO
and there abouts. Ate huge Kosher corned beef sandwiches ate 2nd Ave.Deli and went to Madison Square Garden to see Audioslave.

Pictures from previous post

D.L.

So, we went to a taping of David Letterman but no cameras allowed in the studio.Pooh pooh!
Really a bummer since his guest was Bruce Willis and the musical guest was CARLOS SANTANA!
Big props to Chris for scoring the V.I.P. tix ,we had exellent seats.
General touristing in Chelsea, an excellent Italian meal and coffee in the Village capped off a fun day .
Can't seem to post pics at this time so I'll do that later...........
Meantime , off to the Empire State Building..............

Re-Touristing

So my good friend Chris P. flew in last night from Houston, Texas. So with 5 days off and no $ I'm gonna be a gawker in the Big City. This afternoon we're going to the Ed Sullivan Theater to see a taping of The Late Show with David Letterman.
Also ,I started a new position with the painting co. I work for. I do several things including driving all over Manhattan which ,given my previous experience I took to very quickly. It's not as bad as one might think ,just incredibly slow and stupifying at times.
Mo' later........

This just in

Houston leads Chicago 4-2 in the bottom of the 6th.
GO 'STROS!!!!

Tuesday Afternoon

So back to work today,Crosstown to the east side {yes that east side, Park Ave.) Hey, some one's gotta have that kinda of money cause I never will, and if I did I'd choose to live in Soho. A beautiful day for a cup of coffee on a bench in Central Park, which is exactly how I spent some post job time.
Tomorrow I need to take my girlfriend to work w/me ,that being my Canon eos 350 D.
And now , some chill grooves some paint, and maybe a Boca Burger.

Sun Shine

So Annie was right , the sun did come out . After 7 straight days of rain. Needless to say every one in the city was out on the streets including yours truly. Did a bit of meandering and window shopping and then I finally hooked up with Bill's Friends. I even went to a dance. I feel much better after some fellowship and fresh (as it can get in Manhattan) air.
Tomorrow eve, I plan to go to a club in the east village to dig on some lounge and chill grooves w/ a new friend.
For now , a shower and some paint.

Just Enough For the.....

7:30 Mon Evening



Later that same Evening




Needless to say I was exausted the next day, but i woke up in Manhattan and made the 30 min. commute very happily.And i only got on the wrong train once on the way home.

Leaving Patchogue

So I got up later than I would've liked.My new place is on the 5th floor and yesterday I moved an entire carload of boxes and stuff up all 5 flights. Fortunately I do not have too much left.I saved a bunch of info last night , wi-fi spots, libraries, meetings etc. Now i just have to drink some more coffee ,one last time here on the porch, and get my ass in gear .
More as soon as i can...............

Phase 2

So, my new address is 473 W. 159th st.
Such as it is. Its not much but it is a place to lay my hat.(apologies for the Temptations reference)And more to the point I will be living in NYC.As well (and most important) I will have space to paint.
Unfortunately I will not have internet access but i'm sure i'll make do.
Also ,that will not be my mailing address. I know it all sounds weird but whats a boy to do?
I will make periodic updates and check my e-mail as often as possible and will post pics soon.
Meanwhile..................some of my latest studies.
.

Hunting for a place to stay

So , spear in hand,and car packed i'm off to NYC to an apt. broker to find a place to live for a while. Hopefully I'll be reconnected with internet service before long so I may be out of pocket via the information super highway for a bit. Naturally i'm a little nervous and it is exceptionally weird to go off w / much of my belongings packed up w/ no where to go as yet.
The Experiment continues........

Quick post

Still alive , spent almost 2 hrs traveling 100 blocks today 'cause the city was a cluster#%@& this after noon what with the new "terrorist plots".Who knows?
Any hoo, hopefully I made my last work commute today . I'll post more in the next two days as news develops.Mean wile ,back at the Batcave.........


I call this one "Robert"

Stuff

O.K. so its been a little while . The last week or so has been kinda weird and ever so slightly chaotic at times. I will not go into all of the details ( sighs of relief) but one thing has been the job I've been working on the western end of Long Island. It has been frustrating, and I have to drive there which means that while i get up a little later in the a.m. , I actually have to be somewhat conscious in order to brave the ungodly massive amouts of traffic .
On the other hand tonight i went to the city to see Paul Weller play at the Roseland. For those of you who don't know, he was the lead singer of the Jam
a long, long time ago. He also fronted The Style Council, but for the last 15 years he's consistantly put out some of the best albums as a solo artist. He and his band rocked and I have to say I haven't seen a show that good in a really long time.

Head cold

But my head is actually kind of warm.
Beautiful day, 72 degrees , nice breeze, blue skies.
Andre Agassi is playing in the U.S. Open finals today.
Life is good.

Labor day

so no labor today.none yesterday either.almost like a dream. still in Long Island after two months, yes Jose, it's ONLY been two months. The movers show up the 28th and Jose will be starting his return to memphis. I'm praying I can find a place to live by then .
Finding a shared apt. in the city is like dating, a job interview and pro wrestling all rolled up into one frustrating little package.
I didnt see the T.V. untill friday. I'd seen headlines in papers on the train all week but hadn't really grasped the extent of the devastation on the coast. Thank god for small favors. I had water and a roof over my head , and here i was getting bent outta shape over the commute I've been making.
I got nothing.