autumn weekend

Well so that new Nike bowl I keep talking about got finished a few days ago (see above). It's, like, perfect. I seized my opportunity, knowing it might be the only one, and materialized right when the boyz were sweeping up the last pile of sawdust. And guys, it's good. Nice birch, pretty, smooth and fast, and coping like stepping on a silver bullet.

Lance got so fired up that he front-boarded the railing that leads up to the new bowl. Unlike other rickety-ass wooden handrails, Ben Mohr built this one, so of course it didn't disintegrate into a pile toothpicks. Quality craftsmanship. Sorry ’bout the blurry photo.

And after many long hours adding up to long days where many important deadlines were met, I drove over to Dude Barn for an impromptu Q. The sun was catching the crimson leaves just right on broadway, and it's October, people, have you noticed?

It's October & New Nike Bowl

Woke up this morning to rain on the roof. It's nice to just lay in bed and listen to this. And then get up even though you know you don't have to. Do the dishes with a soapy sponge and hot water. Clean the countertops until they shine. Then a poached egg with toast, butter, strawberry jelly. Nothing special. Just started a new book: Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck (thanks Dave). It's autobiographical. Says he: "I've lived in good climate, and it bores the hell out of me. I like weather rather than climate. I'd like to see how long an Araoostook County [Maine] man can stand Florida. I wonder if ... sitting on a nylon-and-aluminum chair out on a changelessly green lawn slapping mosquitos in the evening of a Florida October—I do wonder if the stab of memory doesn't strike him high in the stomach just below the ribs where it hurts. And in the humid ever-summer I dare his picturing mind not to go back to the shout of color, to the clean rasp of frosty air, to the smell of pine wood burning and the caressing warmth of kitchens. For how can one know color in perpetual green, and what good is warmth without cold to give it sweetness?"

It's nice, and true, I dare say.

In other news, the boys are down at Nike park building a new bowl. Looks fun, no? Sawdust everywhere, and empty bottles of gatorade. One Slayer CD is getting them through the whole project, it seems. Oh, look at Lance in his new tool belt. Tradesman chic.