12.23 Studios

(05/03/25)

Ok, the anxiety and chaos from the administration of the Felon In Chief, the sheer dumbassery, and the pre-occupation with doing the new podcast has really cut into these journal entries this year, but frankly, we're finally getting into bike weather now, so let's see how it goes from here...

I'm actually starting this in the final few days of April, once again waiting to see if Elon's DOGE assholes have screwed up SSA enough to make me miss a check...

Lately, I've been staring at the space taken up by my bike and the rack, and I really want to readjust that general area to accommodate the boxes and assorted items and get them out of that tiny and rather expensive storage space. I need that cash for other things and I want access to all my misc. stuff. Most of the current boxes are also a dozen years old and have to go, and there are still some items that can be discarded...

Stacking boxes in this area will only be possible because the bike on the vertical rack doesn't have to lean so the handlebar rests against the wall...

Ok, my money came through normally, so I cut my rent check and went to the U-Haul store and got 8 fresh boxes and a roll of packing tape. The plan is to first move out all the items in the bike area, prep all the boxes for use, then stack them into the corner and readjust the new arrangement.

Because this will be fairly labor intensive in such a small space, I'm waiting until after I drop the 5/02 episode and make a weekend of it.

And just like February, I'll spend most of May moving stuff a load at a time, using my big backpack and the small sport bag to carry a box's worth on the bus. I'll only use the bike for a single run - hauling the big Rambo touring trailer uphill, which will be the next to last thing to go.

On Sat. afternoon I cleared out the space, stacked the boxes in the corner, moved everything back, and it looks as well as expected...

Once the boxes are filled a lot of the loose bike gear will come off the floor and sit up top. The shelf fits as well. I can also get a couple more boxes if needed. The bike rack bites into the space for the big backpack, but that can be shifted...

The existing box from the move last summer is a convenient prop to rest the rear bike wheel against for now...

The corner space is a rough equivalent to the 4 x 3 foot storage locker, and I have the luxury of not needing to rush, but if I can get things transferred by the 20th, I can close out that particular bill...

(05/05/25)

Ok, I made a run yesterday and this morning, and based on the two misc. items moved so far, I think it'll take this month and half of June to finish the task, and I will need a few more boxes.

For reference, this is what I started with - moving many of these misc. items first, I've already tossed a few pieces of research gear not worth keeping...

It'll take a full week just to clear out these items around the cart and frame. Half of this is heavy stuff. The few bulky items that won't fit the backpack can go in the roller duffle not seen..

By the time I get to all these boxes, the toolbox, anvil and green studio bag will be moved. This part of the task will take longer with having to take out the touring trailer gear and put it back each time...

(05/06/25)

Ok, the big toolbox and the anvil are settled. The big block of marble is the last misc. heavy item to move, and it'll go under the rack with the rest of the stones...

At this stage of the operation, I'm pretty sure that everything will be shifted around by the time I'm done, so I pulled the empties out of the corner now to make stacking them by weight easier as I go...

(05/08/25)

Before getting on with producing podcast episode 25, I hurried down to the storage locker for the big marble block. Bringing it back turned into an ordeal the minute I struggled to put it in the messenger bag. It was heavier than I remembered; walking 2 1/2 blocks to the bus stop was a pain in the ass, back and legs. The bus ride was a half hour of enduring giant baby strollers, wheelchairs and more than one old bastard who exuded the funk of sleeping on the street and not bathing for months. Once back in my neighborhood, I had to slowly walk two blocks downhill to my building, then had to walk like a sumo wrestler up the flight of stairs to get it home. This has me seriously considering the hassle of using the shopping cart to bring two boxes at a time...

After I took a break for lunch, I put the block on the scale before moving it in place...

I'd completely forgotten that this thing was almost 60 lbs. I already have the vision of the piece buried within the marble - I swear, it'll be less than 30 lbs. when it's done...

For now it's under the bike. Hard to believe it's been 10 years since I took those Sculpture classes...

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