Fashion Cards, Acrylic on canvas, 16"W x 20"H

Rick started work on Fashion Cards on May 3, 1999. However, it would be almost three months before it would be completed. He went through a period of mania, stress and anxiety. During this time, he also developed shingles, which tend to occur during periods of high stress.

Journal entry dated June 17, 1999:

"God, I'm a survivor, but sometimes I can't keep surviving. God keeps throwing me shit to conquer. Life is not fair. Makes me angry to see other people just cruise through the day without trauma. I'm sick; which ailment would you like to discuss? We have several to choose from."

On July 14, 1999, Rick went into a coma. At the emergency room they tested his blood sugar level. Normal glucose is between 65 and 110 mg/dl. Rick's was in excess of 1,200 mg/dl. He had developed diabetes as a side effect of one of his antiviral drugs. He came home from the hospital on July 17th. Fashion Cards was finished on July 23, 1999.