welcome back! that's what you should say to me as you read this. lately i've been taking a break from this blog mostly because i've been too busy to do anything worth writing about. this hasn't changed, but I thought I should break the dead spell.

summer in the city has been hot (like everywhere I hear) and busy (I'm running at least four projects at work, and more potential jobs keep popping up that always require immediate attention). despite this, i've managed to make it out to the beach a three times so far. last past weekend was the best, with great waves for body surfing.

on the downside, my car has been giving me problems. maybe it's crying out for attention? maybe it wants to give up the fight? it's just that i'm not quite ready to let go. First there was a flat tire that involved really tight lug nuts and a lug wrench that sheared in two! that was a debacle. Next was a dead battery. I got jumped four times that day before my friend David helped me install the new one. (he did most of the work.) Lastly has been the battle to legitimize my car registration, which involves getting insurance in New York, exchanging my out-of-state driver's license, bill of sale + transferring the title, new registration, and vehicle inspection. I managed to get auto insurance after selling my left arm and right leg, but I somehow lost my social security card, thus preventing me from doing the rest. this morning I went to downtown Brooklyn to apply for a new SocSec card, but I won't get it for two weeks. So since my car registration expires today, I had to get my car off the street this weekend. But my parking spot on long island was so long vacant that my uncle has fallen in love with having it for his own use. makes sense since it's his driveway. now I have to think up a way to get the car through a fence to store it past the driveway (technically in the back yard). I guess i'd better get out my tools and my drawing pencil!