Just for fun, because it’s Sunday!
News
In 1999, I was interviewed by Fox 13’s Russell Rhodes. He was the morning newscast roving reporter who did charming features and one of them was on the fledgling Tampa Firefighters Museum. I was there because I’d donated a small collection of fire department memorabilia from around the world to the museum for its displays.
It resurfaced after 26 years, at a time when I’m still uncovering who I am and what I’m supposed to do with my life. I have mixed emotions watching it, but sense that there are no coincidences in its timing.
Views
My contribution to the CULTUREEDIT amateur art auction is live!
It’s a digital collage entitled “Equinox” that captures the essence of going to a gym like Equinox in Hollywood. Lots of beautiful men, posing and peacocking and being coy, at the same time hiding behind unspoken boundaries of body dysmorphia, judgement, and hierarchy. I ended my membership when I realized I was spending $275 a month to schlep to and from there on the bus (before I bought a car), and quietly feeling all sorts of heightened emotions and social pressure while there, and not getting much in return except lots of self-critique.
It is easily the least serious piece in the entire auction (which is very NSFW), but I decided to go for it.
The Debster
Debbie is a 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320, smoke silver over parchment leather. When a sedan was a true 3-box design. Rear wheel drive. A 3.2 liter V-6 engine purrs ‘neath her 3-pointed star hood ornament.
I’m as in love with this car now as I was when I was a kid riding in the back of Dr. Pizzo’s E-class (a friend’s dad).
She’s not flawless—there are blemishes and signs of age and use all around and minor things no longer work properly. But the basics of transportation are intact and healthy. I figured out that her tires were overinflated, and now they’re riding real nice and squishy since I released some of that pressure.
Her quirks give her a personality that’s varied like a real human being. They force me to slow down, to be gentle, and to praise her with gratitude for daily effort.
There are no screens and no connected apps. But her leather seats are real hide and her Bose speakers play Diana Ross with high fidelity. A rarified and relatively inexpensive delight.