NYC Journal

[Particular]

BTW I think we owe our friend John a lot. It was through him that we both learned that a book is a great way to show your work and get it out there.

Also thanks for making me an insider to your process.

I think your advice of laying out small prints so you can get a vision and see the big picture is very helpful. Also all the revisions to the editing… It can get overwhelming…

Cal

Thank you for all the kind words. You may have noticed that I gave John a thank you in the book. We had a email conversation going, where we shared ideas. It was really helpful in keeping this thing moving forward.
If you work on a project this long you have time to polish the text also. It took me about two years to figure out what I was trying to say. I learned a lot on this project, one of them was that editing is not so much a skill, as it is just hard work. There were many points where I was sure I was done, only to come back later and shuffle things around again. I did feel that after every round it was stronger and more coherent. Even in the last few weeks before my printing deadline I pulled a couple of images out, and reshuffled the last few pages. I even had to swap out the text to add one and remove one comma.

 

[Calzone]

Christian,

I did see the nod to John in your book, but I too needed to give an acknowledgement too to John and my own book-making.

I tell “Maggie” all the time not to rush, and that good writing is “rewriting.” I also say, “You’re best work does not happen under deadline or in a rush;” “Art takes time.” “A first draft is just that.”

We live in a world filled with mediocrity. The contractors who worked on my house are seasoned pro’s, but I see the small mistakes they made and sloppiness because for them time is money and they just wanted to get the job done. People tend to be impatient…

Then most people don’t run with the ball and go all the way… “Extra-medium” is good enough for most people…

You went all the way, no shortcut, no cheaping out, and no cheating or fooling yourself. Although not appreciated by many, it does not matter to us. Basically it is most important to go all the way. No B.S, no excuses, no compromise: real art.

I think a big turnaround for Maggie is that she finally listened to me. “I asked her if she needs the recognition of a “mass market” or if a small “cult-following” was enough or even better. I pointed out that negotiating “mass-culture” is very fraught, and is it worth it?

Then she shifted her focus to going small, deciding that local was all she needs. She realized that yet again she got swept up in B.S. that ruined authenticity. Artistic integrity is so easily corrupted, especially when commodified by gate-keepers.

I deeply admire your artistic integrity, and appreciate greatly what you accomplished. IMHO true art.

I also appreciate the passion this achievement required, there certainly was mucho refinement, some OCD thinking, and a lot of dedication.

You PM’ed me about how evolved my B&W printing has gotten, and I was deeply touched and moved. Besides myself there are few people I love to impress. You are one of them.

The problem with Maggie is that she was trying to overstep. The great blurbs she got from famous and renowned writers is now decidedly enough, plus a group of people on Sub-Stax that follow her that are willing to be paid subscribers. Basically she has what every artist needs: peers; and a small loyal cult-following.

It is clear to me why I consider myself not only a lazy-slacker but also an artist. My priorities for me are in order and consistent. I dedicate my life to doing things passionately without compromise, and I don’t waste time with mass-approval.

When I did a workshop sponsored by a gallery in DUMBO that specialized in photography, I was mucho surprised that the owner asked me, “Why do you print so big?”

What went unnoticed is the skill I developed that transcended formats. I pretty much lost any respect for this gallery owner who was a photography professor at Parsons. On a technical level he seemed to have no understanding.

Meanwhile my work gets flattered by getting mistaken for wet printing and large format by people I think really matter: serious photographers.

WTF?

There is a lot of B.S. art; and then there is “Fine Art.” That is where I draw the line. Also Fine-Art has enduring value and is timeless.

Don’t ever forget that we live in a world full of “Spackle-Jobs” that are commodified for mass-appeal. The world of mediocrity is not where I want to reside, especially as an artist.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I have to laugh at the 50% commission that galleries get. I also get a laugh when people say I need to get a gallery.

BTW having a gallery show does not suddenly change your life. Basically many people don’t really know or understand all the “Gate-Keeping” and how work gets commodified for profit and not art.

The reason why I make large books made of literally bound fine art prints is many-fold: I think it is the best way to present my work without the interference of glass; a book supplies a tactile experience that is intimate and long lasting; and pretty much my books take on a sculptural scale that unfolds space.

The only thing I took away from the “Gallery Workshop” in DUMBO is that any of my “one-off” books that were “property of the artist” would be of UBER high value. I forgot, I learned a lot about pricing of limited editions, and how documenting and record keeping is really inportant.

In the end I can see perhaps creating rather small limited editions of my books that feature “hinged” pages of actual prints that are achivally boxed. I have not performed the level of “Devil Christian” editing yet, but I’m excited about it.

I have a huge body of work that kinda began around 2007-2008, during the housing crisis. Somehow I kinda documented and archived a “Disappearing NYC.” So much history was destroyed as old historical buildings were torn down and replaced with new mucho tall buildings.

The old New York was disappearing, gentrification was happening, and NYC was made into a safe place for the wealthy. I did not understand that I was being swept into this process and was part of the process by helping conquer places like Greenpoint, the Southside of Williamsburg, Long Island City, and Spanish Harlem.

It took years to understand that I was compelled to photograph urban landscape and street photography to have a sense of “Home” for when I am forced to leave NYC. I concentrated on image capture with pretty much a total disregard to printing or sharing my work.

Initially I just shot film and made negatives, but this annoyed many-many people. When I mentioned that film was still cheap and affordable, and I could always print later, it was not taken as face-value. It angered many people and made no sense.

In the end my wisdom got validated: I shot rebranded Tri-X for $2.89 a roll; and rebranded Acros for $1.89 a roll that was short dated. One year I averaged 150 rolls of film a month for about 9-months. Pretty much my concentrating on shooting film while it was cheap and affordable proved to be mucho smart. “Ha-ha,” I say. Anyways I’m mucho glad I did not listen to people, stood my ground, and was a “free-thinker.” “Ha-ha,” again.

Then Leica created the Monochrom and I was an early adopter. I kept at my shooting, and it took a few years to get a printer and start my journey into Piezography. When it came to learning I went all in and spent crazy amounts of money on paper and supplies. Eventually I was asked by Jon Cone to be a “Beta” tester of the new Piezography Pro and had access to a new technology about a year in advance of production for the general public.

So at this point I have a complete mess and an archive to sort out and edit. I’m retired, but it might take decades to sort out the mess I made. One friend compared me to Garry Winnogran…

Anyways I’m sure I will still annoy people, and they will tell me what to do, but I also know my inadvertent archive is mucho valuable and documented a “Changing New York.”

Once I get my darkroom built out I will print small wet prints just to start the editing process. This takes time, and is something that Devil Christian has taught me. I’m in no rush… It is wise to have a sense of overview to see a body of work all at once to cull and distill the images.

When I moved to Peekskill I kinda lost my subject matter. Pretty much I realize I can spend the rest of my life just printing, editing, and making books. No need for mass-appeal or a gallery. All I am doing is pleasing myself, and perhaps a handful of peers.

I don’t want to waste my time with B.S. I’m totally cool with being unknown and underground. I learned from “Maggie” a key point: If you want to “stand-out” don’t do what everybody else is doing.

Fame and being a public figure is really a burden I found. Too much responsibility and for me not important and a waste of time. Why waste passion with B.S.?

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I remember a really great early Photoville, where they connected Global Warming to famine, Civil Wars, and a refugee crisis world wide. Pretty much the “editing” connected all the dots and pretty much you saw the big picture of cause and effect.

I think this show/event was one of those events/shows that was like seeing Richard Avedon’s 4x8 sized life sized large format prints at MOMA in the late 1970’s. Another event of this caliber and scale was Salgado’s “Genesis” at ICP.

Pretty much an APEX event that leaves an lasting impression.

Later Photoville’s I found disappointing. Eventually it tried to get replicated in 6 or 7 other cities around the world. To me it got diluted and no longer supported fresh unknown talent and had an “authentic” voice. How did a great idea/concept loose its value and get diminished to becoming not important?

Photoville was a great idea, and then it got commodified, commercialized, and then corrupted. Instagram basically was a good idea, them it changed… So many other examples of how capitalism transformed things into just hype and branding.

I’m no Social Worker with a PhD, but I recognized a pattern and a structure. How to stay pure?

Anyways I am somewhat swept into all this vicariously through “Maggie” who not only is a public figure, but also a soon to be published author. I am part of her story, but truth be told I want to play it safe and remain in the backdrop and “under the radar.”

I already know where the “hamster-wheel” is going… Staying small, invisible, and most of all being “humble” is the way to go for me. Just being upfront about B.S. that in the end has no meaning. I hope Maggie does not fall into the trap and looses her identity again.

I do think her book has great potential. I would not be surprised if it became a New York Times Best-Seller. Maggie happens to have a few great blurbs from influential writers who not only are writers for the New York Times, but are also Best Selling New York Times authors. I would be mighty surprised if Maggie’s book isn’t reviewed in the New York Times at this point.

Anyways this is one of those times when I say, “I was just minding my own business,” and all I can say is “Oh-well…”

The world not only is totally screwed up and crazy, but life somehow still happens. I do not wish fame on anybody.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

My morning got sidelined. “Maggie” was walking to our downtown to do some writing in our local coffee house, and I was doing my morning practice of guitar on my Custom Santa Cruz Model “F.”

Around 10:00 AM I got the call from Maggie that we had to pickup the grandson from daycare because he had a fever.

Oh well…

The change in attitude in Maggie did not illicit a negative response, disappointment, nor any other negative attributes that lead to unhappiness.

It seems grandparenting allows parents of children to be able to call grandparents to deal with emergencies almost like dialing 911.

I’m at an age where I have the most energy in the morning, and as the day wears on I get worn out. Pretty much the mornings is my most productive time, and I’m at a time in life where it is alright to nap to revive my energy level. I saw that in the program on “Blue Zones” that napping becomes part of aging, and that it is part of the lifestyle.

Makes sense after intense activity like guitar practice or biking that a recovery is a good idea and I embrace the concept and realize that in fact I am old.

My life is so unburdened that not stripping the upstairs doorway today is not crisis. I am still having a productive day. On a positive note I have the time to engage here.

I have a calm and boring life, but I feel more alive than ever before. It seems like Maggie my life has found profound meaning even though life is simpler.

The house I call abandoned has no occupants. Presently the house is uninhabitable and unmortgageble. The trailer that was used as a dumpster for the roofers was removed today. I guess the two car garage roof will get dealt with at a later time. The dumpster in the driveway is full and remains.

Con Ed seems to be doing some repair or replacement to the natural gas line. This is the second day of excavating.

When we bought the Baby-Victorian, the now abandoned house was inhabited. The extreme run down condition of the occupied house likely lowered the asking price of our home many tens of thousands of dollars. This now empty house actually helped us greatly.

We spent a load of money on capitol improvements, and I dare say that between the housing shortage, pent up demand, and inflated appreciation, if we sold we likely would get all our money back instead of only a fraction of our outlays.

I would not call the PE (Professional Engineer) who bought the empty house a contractor, because he acts more like a project manager. He hires crews to do specialized tasks. I never see him getting his hands dirty. To his credit a lot of tasks are completed already in rapid secession. I still don’t know or believe he is in for the long haul or if he is a flipper at this point.

Either way my neighbors who are contractor/builders say once the house gets a C.O. and is mortgagable it immediately will become a $500K house regardless that it might nay be 1000 square feet.

Our home at 1400-1500 square feet, not only is a nicer home that I would describe as cute, cozy and comfortable is also well groomed. It’s has a lot of added value besides the upgrade in size.

Anyways the value is getting mighty inflated. Our house was a home that was a rental, that no one loved because it was not turnkey. It had some good bones, and because it was a rental it needed an update desperately. The last update was done in 1975 by my forensics and that update was a Home Cheapo handyman special.

I now believe the previous owner likely put the house on the market due to the sewer problem we recently repaired. I did see some chemical root killer that likely was used to mediate the root intrusion that contributed to the demise of the 1912 clay pipe. I’m alright with the surprise emergency repair. Now the house is more solid than ever.

I’m at an age were it is really peaceful reflecting on my past, I see the rewards of my struggles, but the best feeling is being relaxed and not stressed. Now Maggie is in that same space of peace. To me this is really living.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

“Maggie” had a zoom call with her publisher about the publicity and promotion of her book. In weeks prior there was drama because Maggie was really unhappy with this publicist assigned to her book who might have been maybe just an intern.

Eventually Maggie in conversation with her editor brought up how she was doing all the heavy lifting and at the disappointment. She went through the great blurbs that she got from big time known writers, and then asked what have you guys done? Then she used the term “ageism” to describe how she was made to feel invisible.

Of course her editor was upset, but not hurt or defensive because she did nothing wrong except get no blurbs.

So the “A” word caused a big stir and today’s meeting was attended by some big bosses at the publishing house.

Some really big things are going to happen to promote this book. One event is a book launch at a notable institution in New York. Another is a news outlet wants in that is a huge name I can’t mention. Don’t know if it will be just an announcement, a review, or a full blown interview.

So now we are talking the big-big time. Things certainly will get busy, crazy, and perhaps my life will not be so boring. Around March our lives will be a bit of a whirlwind.

” I’m just minding my own business,” I say…

BTW I think the publisher took note of all the great blurbs Maggie received from very notable writers. Hard to argue with, and at this time they decide to ride the wave to make a huge ground swell.

Also her literary agent is the big time, so they were also somewhat compelled to make happy-happy. Perhaps not for Maggie’s sake, but because of her agent.

Cal

 

[fiddle]

Hey Hey,

Been out of touch for a bit, spent the last 2 hours reading through the thread since I last looked. LOL
Seems like theres alot going on.
Christian, congrats on the book, looks great from here. Ill put an order in soon, Id love to pick up a copy.

On my end, besides work, picked up a 3d printer a few months ago, been going nuts making usefull darkroom stuff. lol

My greatest so far, after seeing prices of jobos, in my attempt to get more evenly developed 4x5 negatives.
I present the fake jobo, closer really to the filmomat light to be honest, pretty much a copy of that product which gave me the idea.

Arduino running a 12v motor. A few rollers, plexxy glass tub for water bath. Still working on some tweeks, this is the first version of the motor. Promissing so far. I think Ive figured out the quirks and should be perfect the next go around.

 

[Calzone]

Fidel,

I love it. Mucho clever.

I have a JOBO tank. They are costly. The one I have can accommodate my 70mm reels so I can use it as an inversion tank, but also 4x5. Know that I have 3 1/2 gallon hard rubber tanks to do a dip and dunk.

At this point I don’t know how crazy I will go. With film I have 35, medium format and 4x5, but I might want to do 8x10. How crazy is that?

I think around the middle of next year I may be building out a digital studio in my attic and a freestanding darkroom in my basement. By freestanding I mean not using any basement wall Because of a chimney, water manifold for heating, and an oil tank as well as my furnace. Kinda funky, I know.

I’m a bit scared of when “Maggie’s” book is released. A ground swell is already happening, and I have a feeling it is going to have some traction and do well. Part of the book is about aging, which most people are scared of. The book though is really about recreating yourself again and again. It also unravels the myths about being a digital influencer and the loss of identity and meaning in ones life when on that ”hamster-wheel.”

75% of Maggie’s loyal followers are between the ages of 25-55. The book’s appeal and audience actually are younger people, and not really people my age. This broad audience is more widespread in scope than the marketing team realized, but now I think they are full on.

Then again we end up in the mass market and are contaminated by pure capitalism at a high level. We hope it does not turn into another “hamster-wheel.”

I’m trying to have a boring life and live in peace. I’m just trying to “Mind my own business,” but life gets busy and crazy. I feel like I am getting sucked into a ground swell that has the possibility of being and becoming a tidal wave. Maggie’s book I can see becoming a best seller.

A few of the writers who wrote very flattering blurbs not only are New York Times best selling authors, but are also staff at the New York Times. I would be really-really surprised if Maggie’s book did not get at least a review in he NYT at this point.

How did that happen? The media campaign now is first rate top shelf and the big time in a bold New York manner. Life could be different in just 4 months or so. March 10th is the official book release.

If you have read through this thread you kinda get the vibe that even though I did not write the book, that somehow I’m vicariously deeply involved. I picked up a lot of slack taking care of things so Maggie could concentrate on tasks at hand and deal with the pressures of deadlines and timelines.

My life got busy taking up the slack.

Don’t forget that Maggie has all these connections with news agencies and media outlets from her past…

Cal

 

[Particular]

Hey Hey,

Been out of touch for a bit, spent the last 2 hours reading through the thread since I last looked. LOL
Seems like theres alot going on.
Christian, congrats on the book, looks great from here. Ill put an order in soon, Id love to pick up a copy.

On my end, besides work, picked up a 3d printer a few months ago, been going nuts making usefull darkroom stuff. lol

My greatest so far, after seeing prices of jobos, in my attempt to get more evenly developed 4x5 negatives.
I present the fake jobo, closer really to the filmomat light to be honest, pretty much a copy of that product which gave me the idea.

Arduino running a 12v motor. A few rollers, plexxy glass tub for water bath. Still working on some tweeks, this is the first version of the motor. Promissing so far. I think Ive figured out the quirks and should be perfect the next go around.

View attachment 4829650

Fidel,
Very cool, I need something like that. I have a motorized stand that I run my Jobo tanks on, but I don't have a water bath. I always assume that having the chemicals at a constant temperature is enough, but this clearly is better. What is that water heater you are using?

 

[fiddle]

It's whatever sous vide I found the cheapest on Amazon. Lol

 

[fiddle]

Honestly, for b&w I think no temp control is fine, once you get chems to temp they don't change much.
My darkroom temps vary a lot, a garage with a small heater, also wanted to do my c41, last few sheets I sent out have not been good..

I found this jobo expert drum, 10 4x5 sheets, for really cheap considering what they go for. All I've ever read about them is how uniform the development is with these tanks. Figured I'd give it a try, no matter how I develop them, anything with sky always shows some unevenness.

 

[Calzone]

These posts are interesting. Keep the dialog coming.

For me using 3 1/2 gallon hard rubber tanks have a lot of volume to stabilize, but once stable it should be steady.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I am pleased in how “Maggie” has stepped up the self nurturing and is religiously taking really good care of herself. Every day she eats good and exercises. Her outlook is much more positive, and she is not loaded and burdened with struggle. Pretty much no anxiety, and she is happy-happy.

Looks like tomorrow we will have the grandson again. We might have to take him to the doctor… Today we have to head out to Long Island again to visit our oral surgeon, otherwise we would of had him today also.

Maggie and I are free of the chronic age related illnesses that plague older Americans. We need no meds.

The “Creature” my nickname for Maggie’s daughter that is borrowed from Jane Austin novels has her farther’s genes which promote high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease. She is only 40, and her dad had a heart attack in his 50’s. Not good.

Maggie paid for a local gym membership, but being an assistant principle in a gifted school in Yonkers is a high stress and demanding job. This school most recently got the national honor of being designated a “Blue Ribbon School.”

So now we will likely pick up the grandson when needed to make time for the Creature to have gym time. I’m cool with that.

The mornings are our most valued time of the day, where we have the most energy and alertness. By the late afternoon fatigue already has set in. For me reading or practicing guitar leads to me falling asleep, especially at night. Pretty much I now exploit the mornings and pretty much I can at times practice for 3 hours straight. At night I last perhaps 10-15 minutes. LOL.

My morning practice involves deep concentration, and I’m seeing profound results. Something big is emerging and I can feel, see, and hear the results. I have some amazing musical gear and pretty much I’m exploiting owning some of the very best gear available, meanwhile my own style is emerging.

I tend to play either close to the bridge, or the end of the neck. I play with pick and fingers. I also play using heavy strings, even on my electrics. My guitar playing sounds and kinda replicated the tone of a piano with a strong attack that is percussive. I feel like I have my own voice and my own expression. Everything is becoming more fluid and smooth.

The anxiety that plagued me my entire life seems to have vanished. I also see that Maggie is also on the same path.

In the “Blue Zone’s” the centurions pretty much worked in the mornings for half the day, then they relaxed and socialized. This was/is the balance that kept them vital, alive, and with a sense of purpose. I will say it again, “This is really living.”

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Grandson again tomorrow.

I snagged a 32 tooth Middleburn chain ring to add to my stockpile. 94 BCD and NOS. Got it on a best offer price. Should be incoming shortly.

Also a black Thompson 29.4 mm seatpost is incoming.

At this point I think the modeling gig might be a dead horse. Oh-well. This is how this industry works.

I have the responsibility to make one of my 40-50 pound La-ZONN-YA that I kinda over do with meat and cheese. Pretty much I get accused of poisoning people because they eat until they get sick. Pretty much an overdose. Usually takes about 4 hours in an oven to heat up.

Anyways it takes a lot of cooking to make one of these puppies. A layer of sausage, I carmelize about 5 pounds of purple onions that get reduced to about a tennis ball. Really sweetens the sauce. I also simmer the sausage in the sauce which makes the sausage so moist and tender. I’ll brown up mucho chopped meat to add texture to the layers of cheese.

Kinda deadly, and you might want to go immediately to the ER and get a stent after eating. What a way to kill yourself. For a tray I use a deep turkey tray.

No one does what I do. It is insane.

Cal

 

[Austintatious]

In the “Blue Zone’s” the centurions pretty much worked in the mornings for half the day, then they relaxed and socialized. This was/is the balance that kept them vital, alive, and with a sense of purpose. I will say it again, “This is really living.”

I also enjoyed watching the Blue Zones on Netflix. One other thing that was discussed was consumption of herbal tea. I loved it when the little lady from Greece was asked what her favorite tea was. She answered WINE !! It seems that they also enjoy "happy hour" in the afternoon.

 

[Calzone]

Austin,

The big takeaway for me was that leisure was as important as work. For many Americans work is too exaggerated or too important.

More to life than work.

I think we have a sense of community where we live, and of course family. Right now the support is mostly one sided with daycare.

I figure I should easily make it to a 100, but I don’t know how far or how well I will fare into the Blue Zone. “Maggie” is 5 years older than me, and pretty much the research indicates it is easier when you have a loving relationship.

The Blue Zone really changed Maggie’s attitude. She avoids the B.S. and the result s that she is much happier.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Do you think inflation has been tamed enough to stop further FED rate hikes? The market increases suggest that many are thinking that way, but at the same time gold has recovered from a recent death cross and is making higher highs. Someone is going to be very wrong.

My spin is the housing shortage is not really solvable anytime soon if a soft landing happens, and pretty much it would take a drastic market crash for housing prices to normalize or correct. Basically the inflated prices I think will be mighty stubborn, unless a major crash in the markets happen.

Reports that China is somewhat getting isolated because foreign investment has dropped and business is leaving. Part of this exodus is of China’s own doing by alienating, being hostile, and its aggression. Mucho dumb, and not easily undone.

Pretty much Chinese policy has caused deflation (overcapacity) and sour feelings that present risk to investors and businesses. It seems the damage will be permanent, as places like India and Vietnam, historically enemies that literally border China as being beneficiaries of damaging self inflicted wounds. Again mucho dumb.

A recent Chinese clamp down has created fear and safety issues for foreign workers and also students. Some foreign businessmen were arrested. “Rule of law” has always been an issue in China, but now recent actions have turned for the worse.

The inflated prices have not really retreated. Food and housing is still expensive, and by my definition inflation is still here, and perhaps only a recession will moderate prices. My belief is that a soft landing kinda encourages stagflation, meaning stubborn high prices and inflation. Although inflation has slowed and moderated, it still persists is what I’m saying.

If my perception is correct the recent market rally really is only a big head-fake. The markets believe in a soft landing and that soon the FED will actually cut rates.

Then the white elephant: do you think the worker shortage went away?

Then there is the report that our economy grew more than expected in the 3rd quarter, but I have to ask how much of that spending was by our government, and also how much of that spending was based on increased household debt. When you dig in basically governments and many households are living on debt. Of course this ends badly.

Anyways I have a hard time reading into this market because it is pretty insane.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Con Ed is back again to repair the natural gas line to my across the street neighbor for the fourth time. Last night at midnight I saw an emergency crew, and today they are here again.

The infrastructure on my street is over a hundred years old. The intersection of my streets has a history of natural gas leaks. Eventually the gas lines and even the meters will be upgraded and replaced. The question is when?

Two years ago I signed up for my meter to get replaced, but it never happened so far. Anyways when this is performed we will be good-to-go.

It is disturbing though that my next door neighbor also had a gas leak emergency, but it was at the curb at the shut off valve. Then Con Ed has been working on the “Empty” house also. How old to have every one of my neighbor’s having natural gas problems within the past year.

BTW I only really have three neighbors, only one is next door, and two are across streets.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

The book launch will be March 12th, not March 10th.

More big/huge publicity interviews in big newspapers.

I had to sign off on permission for the British release that involved some of my personal life that is in the book.

USPS tracking is lame. I pretty much only get a notice when the parcel is actually delivered, and today I got the Thompson seatpost. The Yo Eddy weighed 23 3/4 pounds and lost almost 3/4’ers of a pound with the seatpost upgrade. This is more than I had imagined. The original post was some Kalin made in China.

I still have to change out the bottom bracket with the Ti version I have on hand. The pedals I have on the bike are porkers, and I’m pretty sure the Grafton cranks will save weight over the Shimano XT cranks. A Ti railed seat will save a few ounces, Then there are lighter skewers to hold on the wheels.

The IBIS’s are heavily built and stiffer. The Fat Chance’s conversely have a lighter build and seem to have the right amount of flex and stiffness that is well suited for terrain in the northeast.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Tomorrow the grandson again.

He loves his 1977 tricycle. He is still too small/short to reach the pedals, but I put him on the seat and do laps through the living room, dining room, and kitchen. A big smile goes on his face.

I need to cut some wood blocks and use heavy rubber bands to raise the pedals for him.

Interesting to note that his first words are “that” which he points to things he wants you to name, and the only other word is “Duck.” He has a good understanding and a large vocabulary we know, but he isn’t really talking yet.

He knows our Fat Chance bikes as Betty and Eddy. He is 15 months old.

Seems like he will become a biker boy.

Cal