I've been working on the illustrations for my
next book (which will take some time) however I'm still
doing fun and familiar things with fun and familiar friends...
Picture it: Ridge High School. 1988. I’m a 15 year old in a blue and white Benetton rugby shirt with a bright red Cure “Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me” pin on it sitting on the gym bleachers next to a girl who just moved to New Jersey from Cincinnati, Ohio. She’s got a super cool asymmetrical blonde curly bob hairstyle and eyeglasses with brightly colored speckled frames. Spying my pin, she says to me “Wow… Do YOU like The Cure?” I was like “That’s it. You. Me. Friends. DONE DEAL.” Folks, if you are fortunate enough to have a day one ride or die friend (with an equally amazing family) that you can laugh with, travel throughout all of life’s trials with and stay connected to across miles and decades, you are very blessed. If you find that when you are with this person you can always comfortably settle back into the shared understanding of those spaces, memories and moments you once inhabited together while being your completely authentic present self, you are very rich. If you find yourself in the company of people who knew you and loved you as you were having all of the formative experiences that created you, you are in the best company possible. Time is indeed a flat circle and it always brings us home. Love you, Diane. Thank you for always being “home” to me.
“On candy stripe legs
The spider man comes
Softly through the shadows
Of the evening sun…” - Robert Smith
Happy National Ice Cream Day
from myself and my friend Steve.
True Story • It Happened To Me TWICE!
About 15 years ago, I spotted the hard to find Transogram Green Ghost Game (1965) sitting among a pile of discarded items in front of a house in a nearby neighborhood. I grabbed it, took it home and realized that it was incomplete. I had fun hiding the green ghosts all over my friend Steve's house and built the remainder of the incomplete game and box into an assemblage piece that I sold. Ever since then, I was looking to get another one for my vintage game collection. All of the complete original game sets go for exorbitant prices on eBay and every time I was about to pull the trigger and buy one, something told me it wasn’t worth the expense so I refrained. I stopped the search and quietly affirmed that a complete 1965 Green Ghost Game would find me when the time was right. Last week as I was driving to a car dealership, focused on the transaction I was about to make, what should I spot leaning up against a stack of discarded items at the curb in front of a finely appointed, neat little midcentury ranch house? You guessed it… THIS! After grabbing it and inspecting its contents at home, my suspicions on its condition were correct. It’s a complete game set (with instructions) and the box is in great shape. What are the odds of finding this pricey rarity free of charge, not once but TWICE? Manifestation is real, folks and the circumstances which bring us even the most ridiculous or seemingly small things often surprise us. That’s the fun part of claiming what you know is yours. You never know when or how it’s going to be delivered, but it does indeed arrive. Many thanks to that anonymous gift giver on Warrenville Road whose 57 year old Green Ghost happily haunts my home now.
Fresh New Vinyl:
Noah Reid • Adjustments (2022)
Duran Duran - Rio (1982)
This classic album just celebrated its 40th birthday. This rare cassette edition with a graphic paper label found its way into my collection a few days ago. DD’s keyboardist Nick Rhodes has referred to the iconic cover portrait by Patrick Nagel as “The Mona Lisa of the 1980s” and he’s not wrong.
Vintage Postcards: The Cure (1985) and Depeche Mode (1990)
These small pieces of music memorabilia have been popped into small frames. I had the DM image on the right (as a poster) on my bedroom wall in high school. I have no idea where it went but I was fortunate enough to find another one (poster size) in pristine shape on eBay last year. That full size poster is safely stored in a tube until it’s ready to be framed for future walls.
Unboxing • Prang Sketching Case (1985)
It’s Christmas 1985 all over again! 37 years later an item I loved as a kid has entered my vintage art supplies collection as an adult. Time is indeed a flat circle.
SEE YA!
