I can't believe its thursday. what a week. and it's not even over yet! I know there's things i've been meaning to post, like looking for houses sucks. It's so hard to tell the difference between being busy and just feeling busy. I guess it's kinda dependent on your stress level. There's gotta be some sort of equation there. (high stress:feeling busy::low stess:being busy.)
Dunno, basically it's crazy all the time. I'm starting to realize that life never really mellow's out. Not that I want to be boring, but at 27 years old, I got a lot of shit goin' on, if you know what I'm sayin'. Mad peeps be havin' babies, buyin' houses, startin' up businesses. It's a crazy time. Just gotta get used to it.

sunday morning whew... i made it.

it seems so long ago, country night. but it was a few weeks ago now. i found myself deep into enemy territory. never, in all my years did i feel so out of place, (okay, i don't have all that many 'years', but i've got a few under my belt). fortunately, there are things like jeagerbombs.

just one thing about country night. unless you're a glutton for punishment, don't do it.

no matter how hard I try, I am not a morning person. what an eerie, unnatural part of the day. thank goodness for coffee, it's really the only thing that makes it bareable, especially when someone are your street is using some type of evil, circular cutting device at 6 o' clock in the morning. Who are these people! Don't they have some sleeping to do? I mean, for Pete's sake, the sun isn't even up yet!! Bastards.

This morning I am thankful for patience, and espresso.

despite my often slacker-esque appearence, and general apptitude for complaining I do actually consider myself a hard worker. which is the kiss of death if you beleive there is no duality. okay...i know that didn't make any sense, but read a little suzuki and you may see where I'm coming from.

but anyway, where i was trying to get at was that I don't generally shy away from a solid day of physical labor. that said...after participating in said physical labor for an extended period of time, the downside begins to show. I'm dog tired. I could very easily drop over onto any horizontal soft thing this very moment.

and now for something completely different.

something I noticed today, i was sitting out on Liberty Ave at a coffee shop watching traffic. do you ever stop and look at who drives past? or rather, how many vehicles with one person in them will pass you in any given length of time? it's really quite atrocious iif you think about it. dozens upon dozens of vehicles flying past you, some threatenting to kill whole families ( if you think i'm kidding ask the guy's whose baby stroller almost gotted crushed while walking through a cross walk) And subsequently no one in this town actually knows what a cross-walk is. The only one that actually works has giant flashing lights around a sign that actually explains how a cross walk should be used.

But, without digressing too much, the point is that if human beings on the whole don't realize that driving around a gratuitously large, four seat vehicle all to themselves isn't actually doing any good, then we're all pretty much screwed. My only hope is that some of these people might feel the slightest bit of guilt for personally polluting, threatening, and generally making an aggressive and unpleasant environment for themselves and those around them. I watch my gas needle slowly fade down to that "e" marker and hope that someday i too will do my part to eliminate gasoline from the planet. I pray for the backlash, I've got to laugh when I find out that the government of this country is directly causing the demise of the lifestyle it so lavishly up-holds. Check out the article on the ice deliveries that were supposed to make it to the gulf coast to help hurricane victims. If that's not a fubar situation i don't know what is. I know some people out there have already made this point much more apparently than i have. I'm just trying to equate it to my city streets.
I don't want these people and their cars so suffer unneccesarily, I just want them to understand. I guess that's just the luxury that "they" want you to afford yourself. The ability to be totally, and completely oblivious to what's going on around you. To be so caught up in that which is right in front of your eyes that there is no way you could possibly relate it to any kind of foreign policy, or governmental decision making. I mean, if there's not some Iraqi on my doorstep with a sign that says, "There's no more Gasoline. Go Fuck Yourself!", then why the hell shouldn't I get in my car to go get some WonderBread for Bobbi Sue and Randy??

Some nights I pray for EMP shockwaves to wipe out technology back to the early 20th century, a lot of times I wish the oil wells would all just totally dry up. But on good days, I just wish everybody would just have a bicycle to ride to work.

writers block is nothing to be laughed at.

Thanks for this one Ira...

stop, look, listen.

Kurt Vonnegut on Bill Maher

It's a trajedy for me that he's president of my country. You know, my book is called A Man Without a Country,I still have a passport, but if I showed this now in Portugal or Spain or Italy or Germany of France or Denmark or Japan or even communist China, what it would say about me is that I'm not only from the richest country in the world but the dumbest country in the world. Is our President a tragic figure, perhaps, but he doesn't know diddley squat about economics or history or science even how to speak well.

thanks kurt

well...here's a second attempt. the only thing I don't like about computers is there ability to suddenly do something for no reason. and it usually manages to do this while you're in the midst of something creative, or maybe even profound. but i found a fail safe...notepad. there's nothing like cut and paste, it keeps these posts from just suddenly disappearing into thin air. that sucks.
but what I was saying before was that I just spent the whole weekend (second one in a row in fact) in the mountains which is a great idea if you get the chance. especially when you get to do it with friends, close friends. Its a pretty amazing feeling to be on top of a mountain at a resort, outside in the crystal clear air, in a hot tub with the people that you care about most. it's hard not to let those moments slip past, and its hard not to get caught up in all the of the horrible things that take place in this world at the very moment that you are enjoying to such an extent. it's a bit overwhelming, but at the same time you have to wonder that it's not in fact the moment that is so special, but the ability to realize that you are in fact in the moment just then.
So, it's once again back to the grindstone for another working week, which I hope to have evaporate here in the near future. The notion of working for five days, then getting a break is a good one, it allows for the great weekend getaway. but I may strive to stray from the notion, it's too rigid, to have the freedom of never having to know what day it is...that would be truly great.

been a bit shy on the posts, but peep the side bar...that's where all the action is. Lots to report, but little time, maybe later. Labor day kicks ASS by the way. There's nothing like 24 hours in the mountains...actually i guess it was a bit mor like 36, but who's really counting. September is the best month ever! me and my girly gots birthday's this month, and there's a mega Halloween Cocktail Costume Party in the works. So, chew on that for a bit.

night cap

a long week followed by a long, busy "day off". but running around all day gives you perspective and brings you closer to your convictions...i guess. depends on how deep you wanna get with shit, you know? seems like it's always like that though, how depressed do you want to get? Life is suffering no matter how you slice it.

has anyone else noticed that there's a lot a really crazy shit going on in the world right now. i'm trying hard to fight off my "end of the world" thoughts. but there seems to be some serious aquatic issues lately. and i'm not trying to make light, either. it just feels like we may be on the brink of something really really big, you know? there's other things going on around thirty eigth street these days, too. not to mention i'm off on a friday, which is nice. I guess you could just say its business as usual. Just trying to keep my roll rollin'.

Also, I am really distractable.

by the way there is something wacky going on with my computer. so this the third attempt at a second paragraph. is it me? was it something I said? maybe it's just this fresh new laptop i just got. yeah...not really sure how that happened. it's a little bit like acquiring a new bicycle. which may happen one of these days as well.

yep...something strange is certainly happening here. with the computer its technical. with the rising water, that's environmental. and speaking of environment, its time to head to the mountains! twentyFour hours at 7Springs...can you dig it?
i'm looking forward to seeing some people I haven't seen or hung out with for a while. Plenty of good food and beer to be had, and a whole lot of bike riding, that'll be the next twentyFour for me. So, needless to say, i'm killing some time when there's plenty to do. Gots ta run..

Do you guys know about the eBay. It's pretty neat, huh? Thousands of items for sale by thousands of folks just like you and me. It makes you wonder why the heck you would ever buy anything new. It's kinda like when you go to the Gap and you see all that fancy new shit for sale for a hefty price and then you go back there two weeks later and it's all on sale! Kinda makes you feel like a sucker...(and actually anyone who buys shit at full price pretty much is.) Well, eBay is kinda like that too, accept when you realize how much you got ripped off because when you got your thingy at the store it was all fancy and shrink wrapped and as soon as you open it it's pretty much worth about a third of what you paid for it. Sucker. But i guess all-in-all it's better to get twenty bucks for that old PDA you never use then have it just sitting in a closet, right?

yeah, i really don't have anything to say.

v. 2.7

hey...that's right on time, baby. what's happenin' everybody. sorry for the delay, but we's been workin' out some bugs in in Jcole version 2.7 back from holiday, sun baked and chillin' ready to hunker down for some stone cold maxin' and relaxin' autumn's gott'um and fall is a ball. so sit back, stoke the chimnea and relax cause most of the bugs have been work out of this homeboy's software so it's time to start bringin' two decades to a close. holla!
hope everybody out there on 38th Street and beyond had a chill-ass summer. hope to see some of yall soon.

*rant on*

on a serious note, i just wanted to let all you fat-cat, starbuck's swilling, v8 driving, self-important, gucci wearin' fuck-o's know that if you run over some liberal minded, environmentally concious, peacful citizen who's just trying to get from point A to point B without burning 12 gallons a mile of country raping, war justifying oil to do so..that I hope you have the privledge of witnessing the revolution of greasy handed, two-wheeled warriors who will tear down your door to burn your ethan allen furniture, and your high-heel collection because there is no more oil, there is no more money, and you get to realize that you are actually, TOTALLY USELESS. best of luck.

sometimes (the story of a toys r' us kid)

somtimes leaving your house can be hazardous. sometimes little kids try to hurt you. sometimes rich women in four wheel drive living rooms try to run you and your 15 pound bicycle off the road. sometimes you realize your cell phone is actually a very imporatant apparatus. sometimes you just don't give a fcuk. sometimes you miss sitting in a filthy living room, playing Goldeneye all-day. sometimes you don't wanna look on the bright side

...yeah, i'm kind of in a bad mood this week, can you tell? whatever.

Are we there yet?

The other day my girl asked me if I thought you just sorta wake up one day as an adult? Of course I played the devil's advocate on that one, but I think she's sorta right in a lot of ways. I told her, being an adult is when you feel bad about sleeping til noon on the weekends, so clearly neither of us are there yet. But, I really don't know if I'm going to wake up one day and just know exactly what to do, and how to go about getting there. I mean, life happens in realtime, right? I guess the notion of waking up and having things all in place for you...it's a little too idealistic. Which I guess makes me a realist?? Never thought that would happen. Hmpf? Real Life. What a strange place to be.

just a quickie

yah, i haven't fallen off the earth, at least I think I haven't. Been real busy at work, and since there's no internet in my humble abode, I'm relegated to bloggin' at the workplace; which i've heard can get you fired these days. Anyway, that's the reason for such few and far between updates. I wish I could be more dilegent, and plan on being over the next few weeks. Even if it means staying late! Heaven forbid.

Anyway, lots in the works and lots to report. Another super fantastic shindig occured on 38th Street last weekend. Alas, a meeting of the sin-laws. There's a jewelry store in the works. 38th Street may not be on 38th Street much longer. And...I heard rookie-homerowner's got a girlfriend. OH BOY!

More to come on these topics soon, but I just wanted to let any "loyal readers" (hah!) know that I didn't fall of the earth. Just in the background, makin' it happen.

i'm cursed!

I'm cursed! I'm not sure why, but no one can ever seem to keep an appointment with me. In my current line of work I don't really have meetings with people or appointments all that often; but seriously either they show up three hours late, or they don't show up at all. WTF!!??! Is it this town? Is it me? I mean, we all have cell phones, right? Why don't you just call and reschedule, cancel, tell me to go to hell, whatever, just don't hang me out to dry. How rude!
In other news, I'm on a marketing crusade. I've decided its finally time to get my head out of the dirt and really market my art. And you know what? It ain't that easy. No one calls you back, people stand you up, email strings just seem to evaporate, and i'd much rather be riding my bike! But, persistance is king...I guess.

Hey...wanna buy a painting?

If you blog it, it will come

There is a difference between being stagnant and unhappy with your lot in life (we've all been there), and being perfectly happy, content, and comfortable, yet not feeling challenged. I believe right now I'm falling into the second half of that equation. I've covered all the major milestones that my early and mid-twenties has had to offer. I'm for once, really happy. I know that sounds kind of sad, like the last twenty years have been just leading to this point, in an unhappy manner at that. I'm really not seeking intangible things like I may have in my late teen early twenties...that brooding, bad poetry phase, as it were. So, with all that misery out of the way, what now? I'm obviously not climbing the corporate later. (I'd like to piss on all those sad f*@ks, especially the beemer drivers ). A job is but a job. I'm ready for more. But the scary fact is, no one hands you your life on a platter. At least not us normal bloaks. At the risk of sounding cliche, you must create your own destiny. I figured if I put this in writing, it might spawn some type of motivation on my part, holding myself accountable, god knows no one else is going to do it. Goals people! We've got to have goals!! Good luck out there to anyone that may be in the same boat. If you're struggling to do it for yourself, work for yourself, create a legacy for yourself, leave your mark, your signature, and become a true individual...mad props! keep it up. And if you're trying to make junior partner before you thirty, you're a sucker.

I'm Baaaaack!!

holy S#%T!!! I finally had to give up trying to fix the damn thing and just "re-boot" the damn thing! Unfortunately, I lost all my sidebar content. which is a total bummer, but alas, let us stress the importance of impermanence in life and move on. I think I'll try to recreate some of what is missing, at least the links and a few things I thought are pretty important to mention. But more or less, its so fresh and so clean clean. I can't say that i'm not disappointed that i've lost so much time to this thing, but like I said, there's an imporatant lesson to be learned here...computers are not to be trusted and 38th Street LIVES ON!

summer, summer, summertime!

Yeah, back when Will Smith was cool, I think he pretty much summed it up in that song.
Ladies and Gentlemen, summer has descended on 38th Street like Fred Flintstone down the back of a brontasaurus. And for those who don't know, Pittsburgh generally has two seasons; Hot & Sticky and Cold & Grey. And despite the oppressive humidity that rocked Steel Town this weekend, the 38th Street Crew was out and about. Whether it was playing in the garden, runnin' errands on the bicycle, busting out some good ol' fashion ditch digging at Castle Brownskull, or havin' dinner outside with friends...this weekend was action packed! And speaking of dinner with friends, I'd like to shamelessly promote my favorite restaurant for a moment. If you haven't been here yet, do you yourself a favor; grab a bottle of your favorite wine (actually, you better make it two) call your best friends (the more the merrier) and set aside about three hours to relax and eat the most beautiful thai/filipiniano food, served by the most gracious wait staff, and learn what it's like to be treated like royalty for a few hours. Sweet Basil/La Filipiniana is by far the best kept secret in Pittsburgh.
So...hope everyone had as great a weekend as I did. It sure beat staying up til 3am decorating tiny cakes (not that wasn't rewarding). Bring it on Summertime, I'm ready and willing!!!

Holy Three Day Weekend, Batman!!

Whew!! This was one crazy three day weekend!! Anna and I have been knee deep in frosting for the last 48 hours, and not in a kinky way either. She made (over the last two weeks) 300 individual desserts for a wedding party on sunday night. We were up til 3am on Saturday night putting little bows on the tiny lemon box cakes pictured above. I hope I never see another egg in my life. But, it was a huge success. Everyone raved about the desserts and she's hopefully going to drum up some business from this gig.
After sunday's festivities we treated each other to some good ol' hangover food at Primanti Bros (god, i love that place); then went to check out the new Star Wars flick. Quite awesome in my opinion. So, now we get to spend the whole week cleaning off frosting from almost every inch of 38th Street. All in all, quite a weekend, indeed!!

300 desserts!! 

me and my girl 

F#@K Anxiety

So I caught some flack for that parents comment in my last post. I guess I'm just showing some of my insecurities about maturing, becoming responsible, and giving in to societal, cultural and biological pressures. I mean, come on, I'm a 26 year old boy, we don't think about things like babies, buying homes, careers, life insurance. (actually, I think about all that sh!t) But perhaps I should be thinking in that direction... getting any younger I am not. And as I type this I am realizing that 26 is not that young.
Again...this blog has served it's purpose of discovering peoples' passions while discovering my weaknesses. I am not as strong as I would like to be, and i know better than most, that I have been coasting for quite some time. Perhaps I am too content to leave my fate in the hands of some higher power. It's like that joke says..."I sent you a boat, a helicopter, and a plane...what more did you want". Sometimes opportunity doesn't knock...but it is just on the other side of the door. And most days, I'm too busy complaining that my wrist hurts to turn the knob.

Mi Familia

Hello, hello, hello...is anybody out there? Has everyone has fallen off the face of the earth? Is this a phenomena that only I am experiencing? Is it something I said? I know that I have some tragic flaws, one of which is procrastination, I'm terrible. There's still things I've been meaning to do from years ago.The other one has got to be persistance. I guess that they go hand-in-hand kinda. I can barely keep in touch with immediate family, let alone any of you distant acquaintances out there.
I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has a similar feeling of not keeping in contact. Not sure why. Is it an age thing...a lot of my people are in that deathly late twenties phase. We're not quite techno enough to be constantly emailing and IM'ing each other like kids younger than us. And we're not quite old people, content to be home bodies...or worse...parents!! So, alas, no longer party animals, not quite settled in. I guess that's just how it goes. I'm not trying' to fight the reality of the situation. Nine times outta ten I'd rather just be at home with my sweetheart watchin' flix anyway.
I think what I'm ultimately getting at here is...what the hell is everyone doing. And how are you! Drop a brotha a line once in a while. 38th Street needs to know how it's peeps are hanging. I have the great privledge of having one of the best crews around, honestly, I can catagorically say that the people that I can consider friends right now are some of the most interesting, creative, free-thinking, honest, earnest, and noteworthy individuals that are living in this city right now. And with that...ta da! I have solved the mystery!
It's damn hard to be all those things and still be a social butterfly. So, forgive my griping about where the hell everyone has been these days. Hell, my last post was ten days ago, where the hell have I been? I guess what I'm sayin' is, for as reclusive as I can be, I'd like to know that everyone is still out there, doing there thing. So peep the blog, post some comments, (this sight is about you too.) know that there's others out there that are thinking of you, and drop them a line...just to say hello.
Oh, and Max...the email's in the mail. Hillary...I'm on that phone tonight. Mikey....Return my calls brother !(i kid, i kid) Everybody's family on 38th Street.

Make a Plan

There's a line that Eric Stoltz has in a movie called Kicking and Screaming He says something like, "How do you make God laugh? ...Make a plan." I'm always reminded of this when something you thought was going to happen falls through. Sometimes it's a matter of miscalculation, sometimes it's more sinister. The worst is when you have that little voice in the back of your head telling you to pull the cord, but you follow through anyway, just to be disappointed. I don't want to ramble on too much, and if you haven't figured it out there is a reason behind this post. There is no fiction, only interpretation.
I just think that people have a hard time really being honest with one another. We're all trying so hard to make our lives' a sitcom, that sometimes we forget to shoot from the hip. And we're all guilty. Think about it next time you tell someone you might meet up with them later, or "yeah, that sounds good, I'll be there." At that very moment, you may have all the intention in the world, your plan has been made, but how often do you follow through? (yeah, i know i've got one foot on the soap box) It's just easier to play along, isn't it. Make people think that you have intentions? I'm not going to pretend that I know why that is, either. It just sorta happens that way most often. It's just easier to go with the flow, not to be the grumpy one that says otherwise.
I like to point the finger at media and technology (but then again I like to point the finger at this for just about everything.)
When was the last time you told someone you'd meet them at an exact time, that you made plans to meet more than a few hours in advance? If you have a cell phone, I bet it's been a while. "I'll call you when I get there...", "I'll give you a ring when I get done with this...", there's no accountability.
That said I guess I can let you in on the origin of this post. I got myself into what quickly became a fiasco the other day, something that could have been avoided on one hand if I hadn't left my phone at work and was able to check my messages. But on the other hand, if I had no phone at all the problem would have never arisen, because the plans would have been firm, not something you can just hit eject on a few hours before.
Yeah, I know...blah, blah, blah...who cares that i've got scheduling trouble, just get a f*@king palm pilot and be done with it. But that's just it...I don't want to!!
It's just that, sometimes I feel like the only one that's waiting for the giant EMP shockwave to hit and wipeout all the computer systems. I think it might pleasantly coincide with the death of oil and the resurgence of the bicycle as the predominent form of transportation.
Think about what you're getting yourself into when interact with another human being. And remind yourself next time you've been disappointed by something you thought was going to happen, that while your cell phone is flashing that little new voicemail button, that it might just be God laughing at your plans.

Everyday I write the book.

Hey...Yeah, it's hump day. Finally, got around to updating this thing. peep the new links to a couple of my homeboys. And check out Zefrank's site...its the one referenced in Extra Extra. I totally dig his site, it's very groovy.

So, 38th Street had a big ol' Cinco de Mayo humdinger shindig this weekend. Thanks everyone for comin'. I had quite the time. Thanks, also, to everyone who brought beer in lieu of food; my liver thanks you. Seriously though, there was some serious consumption that went on. And the wine did go well with the chicken.
So, if you missed out...sorry. Send me some freakin' email and i'll get you on the list. Right now I'm thinking, I wonder if there is someone in tahiti reading this and wishing he could come to 38th Street. Wouldn't that be cool? That's the funny thing about the internet. Never assume you are insignificant! Toby Fraley knows what I'm talking about.

So, we're halfway through the week. The sun is shining. I rode three trails in Frick Park yesterday, that I've never seen before. I'm almost done with the dishes from Saturday's party. My girlfriend is the sweetest, most adorable person, ever. There's another weekend right around the corner. LIFE IS GOOD. Can you dig it!

Bunny Suited  

Cinco De Easter Bunny

So, I think this will be the last of the 'usual suspects' posts, since I'm running out of pictures and would like to move on. Pictures of your friends is so 80's.
This is one of mr. Smith. aka elik, aka freaky bunny boy. This kid continues to do his part to decomodify art. Sure, dressing up in a bunny suit in a black-lit room, painting the walls florescent while your silver-painted sister croons next door in a room made of tinfoil isn't going to save the world, but goshdangit, somebody's gotta do it!! You've gotta recognize the imporatance of just doing what you want to do and sharing it with others, if we don't...well, we may as well just let big brother slam shut the doors.

• Name: Something really long with "III" behind it; but I call him Alex.
• Occupation: guru de festival de arte
• Hometown: ATL
• Passion: deconforming
• Current Project: making you think...

Jon Simon: The San Francisco Kid

I'm gonna keep this one short. Pretty much this kid is like my long lost brother. I hardly see him, hardly ever talk to him, but that hardly ever seems to matter. The previous post was inspired by this kid on one side and by my girlfriend on the other. They're definitely two of the most important people in my life. Sometimes I really think that there are people that you knew in a former life, and have the privledge of knowing them again in this life. Jon is one of those people, and if money was no object I'd be on a plane to SF. I miss you bro!

• Name: Jon (beware of men with two first names) Simon
• Occupation: workin' for the man every' night and day
• Hometown: the one and only
• Passion: Stone Cold Chillin'
• Current Project: becoming a real estate mogul
  

The First Chance and the Last Chance.  

My Sangha: 38th Street and Beyond!

yeah, its been a couple of days. thought i'd be a bit more diligent with my postings, but alas, other things have taken precendence. (ps. i don't really care if that's spelled wrong) Like a lot of things, updating this blog takes discipline, something that doesn't always come naturally to a lot of us. Another thing that takes discipline is a relationship, romantic or otherwise. No matter what you call it, we all have relationships with others in some way shape, or form. Sometimes, when it really clicks, relationships seem as though they are meant to be. cosmic. fateful. real. It doesn't matter if that person is on the other side of the country or sleeping in the bed next to you. When its real its real and it's timeless. And sometimes you can come to this relization when things are not necessarily clicking, or when you least expect it. I'm not sure where I'm going with this...I guess it's just that sometimes you know when you've got it, no matter how distracting the rest of the world can seem. And trust me...there's a lot of distraction out there, especially on this internet of ours, or any media for that matter.
I guess what I'm really trying to say, for my own sake if nothing else, is that you can't take it for granted. If you've found someone out there, and i'm not talking about gooshy romantical stuff necessarily, that does it for you. Then you better remember that there's like 8 gazillion people in the world. And even if you'd like to think the grass is greener or your friends are your friends just because of circumstance, well then you better take a look around. Not everyone is like us. Not everyone has the gift of true, inward reflection.
I think this gets at the core of 38th Street. You have to remember that the people that surround you, even if you never see them, are what make up your time here. I'm not gonna get all religiousy on yall, but personally (and not always to the best of my ability) I take refuge in the buddha, the dharma, and the sangha. And 38th Street is my Sangha. And it stretches to Chicago, it stretches to Brooklyn, it stretches to San Francisco. And sometimes, the greatest distance is between those who are closest to you. Close the gap people! The world's not that big.

Chris & Anna: Newlyweds, Rednecks, Intellectuals; Pick Two

Contrary to what it might seem in this lovely photo, these two are probably the two highestly edubacated individuals on 38th Street. Unlike this humble blogger, they value their brain cells and they value helping others. I think the only thing that may actually liken them to rednecks other than this picture is that their current residence is EastKabum, WV. No offense to our neighbors to the South, but it ain't exactly cosmopolitan down there. Some folks are willing to go to great measures to become doctors and brainiacs and stuff. Mad props guys. Keep up the good work. Hope to see you back in civilization sometime soon.

• Name: Chris May
• Occupation: Dr. Frankenstein's Right-hand Man
• Hometown: Hotlanta
• Passion: Junker Motorcyles
• Current Project: Professional Commuter for Dr. Love

• Name: Anna Skold
• Occupation: Compassionate Vigilante
• Hometown: Gainsboro, FL
• Passion: Hotalaskans
• Current Project: Gross Anatomy

Rednecks in Love. 

The Triumvirate 

The Triumvirate: Gina, Idris, Miller

There's really no way I couldn't group these kids togther. Besides it's the only picture I had of them and cropping just results in floating heads. Anyway, these kids rock the house. Two of them are significant to each other, the other only slightly less significant. I'll let you figure that out for yourselves.
If I had to sum up the collective attitude that is exuded from these three...MF Ice Luge. Yeah...for real. I mean who throws down for an ice luge at pretty much every party they throw. That's kinda ridiculous, right?
And did I mention...Idris is a supergenius, Miller missed his calling as the next James Brown, and Gina is the host of Pittsburgh's only morning show? And you thought 38th Street was just another number. Y'all better recognize.

• Name: Gina Focereta
• Occupation: Making shit sound damn fancy
• Hometown: Pittsburgh (Soon to be Chicago, along with everyone else I know that doesn't live in Pittsburgh...or Brooklyn. Sorry Max)
• Passion: I heard she's got some.
• Current Project: Attempting to make Steel Town more fabulous

• Name: Idris Evans aka Two Dimes n' a Nickle
• Occupation: Countin' mad loot, yo.
• Hometown: MF Wales, biatch.
• Passion: Thug Life
• Current Project: Makin' ladies quiver. (sorry Gina, but you know your man is sexy)

• Name: Miller aka Miller
• Occupation: Guardian of the Earth
• Hometown: Seeeeeeeewickley
• Passion: Good ol' fashion laughin'
• Current Project: Strip Club Inspector
  

an apology. a disclaimer

okay. so i don't want this blog to become some sort of weird archive of pictures of the 38th street crew in their 'less-than-finest hours' but seriously, what's more hilarious than passing out with your hand in a bag of cookies?!! Grandma would be proud!
I know my karma's gonna take a hit for this one, and max, you know I love you brother, but I just couldn't resist. Besides, you just looked too sexy in that other picture.

No Caption Needed 

Mad Max 

I Call Him #2: Maxwell Kellog

If anyone I know could give Lance Armstrong a run for his money, it's Max. This kid rides his bike full tilt 365 days a year. I know that seems absurd, but it's actually true. If you can hang with this guy on any climb, then more power to you.
Coming from a long line of bad-ass-Irish-Mofo's, Max is no exception. He's the only person I've ever met whose returned to a certain D.C. night club specifically to tear the men's room sink off the wall. You think I'm joking.
Proving that 38th Street spans the globe, or at least the eastern seaboard, Max just moved to Brooklyn, NY to spread some love. But he's still representin' for 38th Street as far as I'm concerned. Until recently, Max was my favorite bartender at my favorite bar. But alas times change, people move on, bars become trendy, and they don't make things like they used to. Fortunately, Max is around to prove that adage wrong. Drink hard, rider harder, One love.

• Name: Maxwell Kellog
• Hometown: Steeltown by Day, Ireland by Night
• Occupation: Bikes
• Passion: Bikes and Dry Humping
• Current Project: Spreading small town love in big town Brooklyn
  

Victim Numero Uno: Michael A. Browne

So this is probably the worst picture I could find of one of my best friends. And before you get all, "oh, that's not very nice to do to your friend" on me, just quit it. Trust me he deserves it. Not in that vindictive, god this guy's such an ass let's make him look like a sucker, kind of a way. It 's more in that, you deserve a weeks worth of noogies lil' brother kinda way. Understand?
But seriously, for a flat-lander this guy's alright. I'll spare you all the gushy details, but I'm sure he'd give me the shirt off his back, but only if I actually deserved it...which, on most days isn't likely.

• Name: Michael A. Browne
• Hometown: Culver, IN
  
• Occupation: Words (see DirtRag)
  
• Passion: Bikes
• Current Project: Remodeling a house. (see RookieHomeOwner)
  

What can Browne do for you? 

The Usual Suspects

To maintain the truthfulness and honesty of the following posts, names and faces have not been changed to protect these otherwise innocent hoodlems that I call friends. Its just a lot more fun that way. Besides, isn't everyone looking for their fifteen minutes of fame. If you want a head shot, move to Hollywood.

What's the Point?

So what's the point of this whole blogging thing? It's oddly personal and public at the same time. I mean really, with free speech and all, I could really say anything from, "F#*k George Bush" to, "I like to pee in the shower." But I kinda figured since this blog is titled 38th Street USA I'd start there and work my way out into the world, or at least to a point where I can cover my circle of friends.

• Where the Hell is 38th Street

Technically, 38th Street is in Pittsburgh, PA in neighborhood called Lawrenceville. www.1662DesignZone.com
I like to refer to it as Larryville, Lawrence is so formal. But really, 38th Street is more a state of mind than anything else. More than a street, more than a house, more than a home even. It's like a metaphysical home base of sorts where anything is possible...Film Festivals, Winter Cookouts, whatever. Really its just a one bedroom apartment, but why not think big.

• Who the Hell cares?

You know, there's so much homoginization in the media, marketing, and meatpacking that goes on out there its nice to know that maybe somewhere things are different. Now, we're not starting any revolutions or anything, but F*&k the status quo! I like having six bikes in my dining room, I like the fact that my coffee table is a crusty, metal flatbed cart. And I'm not excited when Wal-mart rolls back pricing. I just want my little corner of the universe, and that happens to be 38th Street USA.

• So What?

So, I guess this blog is off and running. I hope to keep it rolling and keep it interesting, and provide some insight into myself, my friends and my little peice of 38th Street USA. Over the next few weeks I'll get some pictures up here so yinz can have some visuals and attach some faces to names (for those that don't know). I hope to get some feedback from everyone as things progress and maybe even surprise myself a little, by realizing that I may actually have something to offer. We'll see.

Pittsburgh is Spoiled Rotten

I don't know if you've ever been to Pittsburgh, or lived there for an extended period of time. But seriously, we have some of the worst weather I've ever seen, until recently. We've been spoiled rotten for about a week now. Sunshine, mild temperatures, it's really quite pleasant. So for all the shit I've talked on Pittsburgh's weather in my fifteen years here, I take it back. A few days of sunshine is enough to wash away most of my bitterness and cynicism...at least for a few days.

One of Many

So this whole blogging thing is new to me. Perhaps it will be an adventure. Perhaps quite boring. We'll see what happens. I used to write a lot, journals, poetry, that sorta stuff; not so much any more. Maybe I'm just too old for that shit. Maybe I need to start again in a new medium, and maybe this is it. Don't think I'm going to drop any serious insight on anyone just yet, but who knows...'the years go fast and the days go so slow.' Cheers everyone, here's to more-to-come.

Playing Tunes at Moondogs2004