B O N D P H O N E.
Words and pictures by Chris Lamb.

Clouds and blue sky swirl like water and oil. This is every day since arriving.

I'm learning the neighborhood. Alt is good for ice coffee, but not as good as Porto Rico if you feel like walking. Ethera has no space and fewer records than most ofyour friends, but you need everything they have. and you need to meet Cricket. Sal's pizza is neccessary for survival. Benjones and Jigsaw live on 11th between A and B, across the street from the outreach mission based on coffee and ice cream. Counter, the vegan place with Sake martinis, aged Sangria, and Patrick on bartending duties is on 1st. Beyond that the map turns vauge, a scatter of landmarks and half-remembered street names. Whatever. It comes with time.

Life is a bit more solid, settling into holding patterns as the vacation feel burns off. This ain't no party. This ain't no disco. This is life now, fullitime occupancy on Mars. I need my head to come together faster, need the stiffness out of my legs and to stop spacing out on long walks. Need to rebuild and upgrade my social skills, need a job and connections. Last week was pinballing; map building and introductions all around, drinks and sleeping till noon. A series of amazing conversations at the Jigsaw opening sets the stage for Monday. I have direction. I have purpose. Somewhere in the middle comes a plan.

Tomorrow, a McSweenys show I have no buisiness being at and Mike Doughty live in Brooklyn. This is life at the center.