I still can't get over this whole chain monkey thing. I'm told they have a law that you need chains on your tires here for winter driving. So they set up a roadblock and you have to put chains on, and if you have them, you can pay some criminals to put them on for you, the chain monkeys, or if you don't have chains they sell them to you for 60 dollars. This takes place on the way to Tahoe, since there are steep hills and snow there, and no snow around here to speak of. But I'm surprised by this for several reasons, not the least of which is that snow chains aren't even legal in New York and haven't been for many years, because they wreck the roads. Strange that they would use them here, where everyon eis all progressive and environmentally aware.

I did a nice painting today, if I do say so myself, only since I live in a pretty residential apartment I got paint on the sheets and stuff. It begs the larger question, of whether I should pay for a studio to paint in, but I can't abide spending that kind of cash. I would rather move into a bigger place where I can paint. Only that costs considerably more. Which is really one of the main drawbacks to living here. The housing is really pricey, even by NYC standards. But it would be awfully nice to have a place to paint where I wouldn't get paint on the sheets.

I saw an accident yesterday. I was walking home and a motorcycle got hit by a car right in front of me. The guy seemed to be alright, even though he skid across the road for about 20 feet on his side. Kind of upsetting, especially the noise it made. Then again today a tow truck drove into a porche and a mercedes, both with the drivers in them, right at the top of the street. Again, no one was hurt, but there was probably 140,000 dollars in damage in that crash.

It's been getting hot around here, and I can't say I'm glad about that. For the first time since being here, it's getting too hot for me at mid day to be out doors. It gets to be in the 80s and sometimes the 90s, which is killing me, and yesterday was 103, which is freakishly hot around here. Plus, it is made worse by all the talk about the great weather we are having, since everyone seems to love the heat, though I can't see why. I can't stand weather like this.