STEVE BARNES

My friend, Steve, is very unhapy with me. He feels that, since he can't be bothered to make up a blog for himself, it's my responsibility to post his news. So without further ado, here's what's going on with Steve the last few months:

On The Simpsons the other week, Apu, the Indian convenience store clerk decided to leave the country and change his identity. "Apu? Who's Apu? My name is Steve Barnes," Apu is quoted as saying in the episode after donning a blond wig and glasses. It was quite funny and I'll post a clip of it when I get around to doing so.

Steve bought a car on Ebay around 6 months ago or so. It was a 1977 ChryslerTown and Country station wagon. He bought it for a few thousand and paid to have it shipped to NY from California. He has since dumped several more thousands into it to get it running well. It's a beautiful machine and I can't wait to see it completely renovated.

Last month he decided to surprise his wife with another Ebay special; this time, a 1977 Chevy Nova. "Stick with what ya know!" he tells me. The car was in Jersey and Steve was going to spend 7 hours and take trains and buses to get there to pick it up. I honorably offered to drive him. It would be like a mini-road trip. We scheduled it for Thursday. Wednesday night, I came home from work feeling dopey and tired. It got worse and worse and it became clear that I was miserably sick. I spent the night shivering and sweating in the basement. I woke up on Thursday and called in sick from work. As the day progressed, I began to feel better. By late afternoon, I felt I was well enough to help Steve out and called to tell him so. He picked me up and away we went, but not before showing off his new walkie talkies! He put one in the kitchen and took the other to the bathroom to prove that they worked. Swell. Steve paid for my coffee and for all tolls (with a second EZ pass) and we arrived in Jersey around 7:30ish. The transaction completed, we took seperate cars home, walkie-talkieing the whole way home. We stopped at a deserted rest stop for burgers. Steve dropped the Nova off at his mechanics' and I took him back to my house, where he picked up his old car and went home. Wow! What a crazy trip.

Recently, Steve was a guest on Money Talk on WLIE 540am that aired on Saturday November 11, 2004 at 10am and lasted until 10:30am. He discussed year end tax planning for individuals. I will get a clip of this as well, but I missed the actual broadcast by one hour.

As more of my friends' news comes up, I will be sure to report it all!