johnozed

Friday night. Later than usual. Work let out early, I came home, had a chicken sandwich and had a most uneasy nap. There was a plan to meet up with Carla the receptionist to see Battles at the South Street Seaport. That’s the gist of it really. It’s presently after 11:00 which is later than usual and I’m sure you know all about that dear reader person whomever you are. I had difficulty waking up this morning but decided to go to work to basically show my face. Showing up is important even if there is nothing to do and today there was nothing to do.

Four people showed up and I was one of them. No biggie. I knew it was going to be a half day. I got out at 1:00. Unfortunately Carla had to stay until 3:00. That’s the breaks and I am management now and thats that. Carla was cool with it, and who knows how many times at jobs I’ve had in the past that I had to stay behind while everyone else left early. Carla understood and was busy thinking that I wasn’t going to show up at the concert tonight. I wasn’t too sure whether or not I was going to make it myself.

Came home after walking across town smoking what else but the Padron 5000 natural (get your order in now so I will get them by September 12). Finally defrosted some of those chicken breasts courtesy of Julio and the McDonald’s commercial from a few weeks ago. It was ok and probably loaded with who knows what, but it hit the spot. Then I crashed and tossed and turned for an hour or so laying in the bed under a weak air conditioner, which is better than nothing I suppose.

Met up with Carla and Millie and their twenty something friends, Alex, a 4th grade teacher in Flatbush, Maura, Bridget, and Richard. Bridget and Richard are from Saratoga, and Richard is in the Navy, stationed in Saratoga which is good for him. Nice, fun twenty something crowd, laughing with me, or maybe at me as I hovered buzzing around. Battles were good, but would probably go over better at an indoor venue. No vocals really and the only song I knew, has vocals that sound like Donald Duck. Really. Deerhunter from Atlanta was on first and they were ok, noisy but ok. Definitely not as experimental as Battles whom the critics are calling Math Rock. I got a free download from Jockohomo in the blogroll on the right column. Might still be available, go there and enter Battles, or the track itself, Atlas.

Here’s some notes.

Path train again. Headed to the World Trade Center and from there it’s a walk across downtown to get to the South Street Seaport. Called Kathe (who’s boyfriend lives around there) and Amiable Adam who I thought might be into it. Left voice mails for both of them, Kathe responded, Alan MIA. Kathe is working at a holistic pet supply store in the East Village.

Must pee when I get to Manhattan. Train hasn’t left the station yet.

Got to Manhattan, ran onto Millennium hotel across from the station and using a cod British accent asked for the rest room and was directed to it with courtesy. I felt a UK accent would infer my being a tourist and allowed to use the facilities.

The show was good though it was more a social thing than anything. Fun nonetheless.

Got to Path train as the Hoboken train was leaving the station. What a horrible feeling, seeing the train you should be on, leaving the station with out you being on it. Could be worse I suppose, but still sitting and waiting for a train sucks when you know if you were only one minute sooner you would be on the move.

Thats it. Off to Otisville tomorrow to hang with Pedro so don’t expect a new entry until Sunday, or more than likely Monday. Cheers.

Pics!
Remnants of a sidewalk fire last night in Hoboken

Deerhunter

Battles (‘doing’ Atlas)

Infant with headphones. Hipster parents.

Thursday night. Just got home, after a few drinks with dear Brenda from Wanker Banker. Wanker Banker is no more, been swallowed up by a company that has the same name as Toys-R-Us mascot. Plural, not singular. We wound up at Pershing Square, which is actually a side street off 42nd street that leads to Park Avenue. In the warmer months, they close off the street and set up tables for drinking and eating of noshes. It was nice, catching up on old times, who’s where, what’s what, that sort of thing. We wound up talking about various drugs we had experimented with and Brenda took the crown when she told me about smoking angel dust back in her silly teenage years.

We are both dear friends of each other and it was all pleasant, Brenda having Apple Martinis and me having a few pints of vitamin G, Guinness. We split an appetizer of spring rolls which hit the spot at that moment. Soon enough, Brenda was off to Westchester and I was headed towards the bus terminal. I lucked out, there was a bus waiting and about to leave the gate. I jumped on and soon enough me and my full bladder were hurtling through the Lincoln Tunnel headed for Hoboken. Barely made it into the apartment. It’s odd, I will be fine, then my bladder knows where we are and starts pounding trying to get out as soon as my key is in the lock. I made it in time much to my immediate relief.

Work was quiet. A few people out of the office, if not physically, then mentally. It’s been a quiet week. Yesterday, most of the office left, leaving Carla and myself behind. Carla and I sent an email to Vivek letting him know that most of the office had left, around 3:00. There was no response until I came in this morning, and Vivek sent it at 8:30, basically telling me that Carla and I were free to go for the day. Yes, it was a good thing that Carla and I didn’t wait until 8:30 to leave. We left at the normal time of 5:00. What was Vivek thinking. He did send an additional email to me saying that if it gets quiet like that in the future we would be free to go. I just wanted some clearance and I suppose I got clearance for the future. We could leave when it gets quiet. I’ll bank that thank you very much.

Now I’m home, obviously, just chillin. Bill is with his mom, Juan is still at work, then off to a party somewhere. There’s a plan for me to head up to Otisville on Saturday, to hang out with Pedro. Could it be that I haven’t seen him since January? That seems implausible, yet it could actually be true. We do talk several times a week, but not physically seeing each other for so long is hard to believe. But there you have it. It’s hot and sticky and I’m done writing for the day. Talk amongst yourselves.

Humpy humpy hump day. That means it’s Wednesday oh invisible readers. Some of you might be strung out on GHB and don’t know what day it is, you know, out on Fire Island, party party party. I’ve never been so I have no idea and I freely admit that and by freely I mean it didn’t cost me one thin dime goddammit. No one has ever asked me to go out there and it’s just as well because if you know me (and if you know me only through this blog you don’t really know me at all), you know that I can’t abide by that house music.

Bill’s father’s feet aren’t swollen anymore and he’s now at a rehab facility in Greenwich Village. Bill thinks it’s a great place and easy for him to bring his mother from the East Village to the West Village. Bill’s mom is going crazy though without her husband of forty plus years so the present plan is for Bill to stay with her until his dad come home from rehab. I suggested that to Bill last week and he came up with the very same idea the other day. As long as he gets the message, I suppose thats the idea.

Didn’t do much of anything last night. Watched a two hour special about Saturday Night Live’s first five years. I remembered a lot. I also remember accidentally watching the first show hosted by George Carlin. My brother Brian and I watched it for some reason. I usually watched wrestling on channel 9 n Saturday nights back then. Bruno Sammartino, and my favorite, Mil Mascaras. He looked great and had a million masks hence his name, Mil Mascaras. I wonder if that’s where my fascination with men in speedos comes from? Maybe wrestling wasn’t on that night, and brother Brian wasn’t beating me up at that moment, but we watched something new and different. At least for us.

They had a few people from back then, most of the original cast that’s still alive, except for Jane Curtin who I really liked. Everyone has gotten old. I’m certainly not the the 13 boy I was then. At least not age -wise. Or physically. Ok, I too have gotten older. Happy? Brother Frank was out of the house, Annemarie was probably in a disco and Mom and Dad were getting drunk at the VFW. Why was Brian home? He was 18. He too should have been out drinking. Odd to just think of that now, and in such a disjointed manner.

I also downloaded some stuff legally through iTunes. There is a free Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band track and it’s pretty good. I initially tried to get it, but my shopping cart was full and I needed to unloaded or buy some items. I bought Patrick Cleandenim, Baby Comes Home and The Knife, Silent Shout. And the Springsteen single. Patrick Cleandenim is good, a bit jazzy and he reminds me of Rufus. He sings about girls so I guess he’s straight. Elton sang about girls, but he was closeted then. Juan, the heartbreak kid, turned me onto The Knife (which is an odd thing to read), and that was pretty good. Can’t see them being played in the clubs but Juan does. Maybe they play it on Fire Island. Bruce’s single is very good and for free it makes it excellent. Could be free for a week only and here it is Wednesday so you better get moving.

I have a lot of things in my shopping cart.

This was my reply to someone named Kelly on a New York Times blog. It went unpublished though an earlier comment was published.

Kelly:I get so amused at how some folks just adamently proclaim with all the authority they can possibly muster, “It’s not a choice!!” How do they know?

We know, Kelly because we have been though it ourselves mostly. And yes, we’re pretty adamant about it.

Kelly: What is their objective source of fact that forms the foundation of their pontifications?

The objective source is right there in the mirror in front of you. What choice did you make when you decided on your sexuality?

Kelly: If homosexual behavior is not a choice, why do homosexual proponents just go ballistic over attempts by parents to shield their kids attending public schools from this destructive behavior?

Because homosexual behavior is as destructive as heterosexual behavior, Kelly. They really should learn about both sides shouldn’t they?

Kelly: It’s got every mark of full fledged recruitment…yet it’s not a choice?? Give me a break.

I was raised by straight parents, in a straight neighborhood, went to Catholic schools where I was taught by straight teachers, all the while in a straight society, where I was told endlessly that being gay is wrong and destructive, while having to watch men and women kiss and couple and do all the sort of things that you take for granted today.

I think the straight recruiting methods failed, because I am gay, happy and not destructive.

Is anything broken yet, Kelly? I am hoping you are happy with your choice of sexuality, I know I am despite the obstacles and hatred shown towards gay people.
POSTED BY JOHNOZED

They posted my reply which was in effect a reply to Kelly, not the original topic. But Kelly just pissed me off so much I felt I had to say something.
My original post is #83
Here is the link to the NY Times. Cut n’ paste

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/27/senator-accused-of-lewd-conduct/

here’s John Waters on the Bear Population
a bit raunchy.

and for Hilly Kristal
The Ramones 1977 CBGB’s

It’s Tuesday and so far it hasn’t been so bad. The day started out with an email from brother Frank who seems to be making enough progress to go back to work next week. The email was about a rumor, or talks that My Bloody Valentine may be getting back together to play Coachella next year. Nothing has been confirmed but it got me buzzing enough this morning. After listening to the rest of Blonde on Blonde, I moved to My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless and practically vibrated my way across midtown. I saw MBV in 1991 at the Ritz at Studio 54, quite by chance, an old friend of a friend popped into the video store I was working at and asked me if I wanted to go since he had an extra ticket. I went and was my mind blown. Actually my ear drums were blown out but it was ok. One of the best shows I had ever seen. Total sensory overload, strobe lights, films projected onto the band who were thrashing out quite beautifully. Sort of like Andy Warhol & the Exploding Plastic Inevitable with the Velvet Underground and Nico. Yeah, well sort of. A pretty cool Irish band if you ask me. Regarding “Soon,” no less an authority than Brian Eno said, “It set a new standard for pop. It’s the vaguest music ever to have been a hit.” That means something dunnit?

Senator Larry Craig, busted in a men’s room at the Minneapolis Airport for cruising for sex with an undercover policeman in the stall next to him. Apparently in 1982 when the Senator was a Representative, there was a gay scandal going on around Washington DC and Ol’ Larry was asked his opinion on what was going on. His response? He’s not gay, though no one asked him that. Methinks Larry doth protested too much. Apparently his sexuality has always been questioned despite finally marrying a woman after his denial and adopting her three kids. He is no friend of the gay community, voting against same sex marriage, and protection from employment discrimination of the LGBT people. He is a good friend of the National Rifle Association and was involved with Mitt ‘Flip Flop’ Romney’s campaign in Idaho! Good bye Larry Craig. Say hello to Florida State Representative Bob Allen and Mark Foley and Ted Haggard. Ted Haggard is asking people for money so his family could live in the style they’re accustomed to through a dismantled charity that is currently being run by a pedophile. Oh those family valuing right wing nutty Christians. What will they do, or better yet, who will they do next? Probably curse and attack gay people more and more, though the big boys of the GOP won’t have anything to do with them.

Michael Vick, has admitted guilt for animal abuse. He said that he had to grow up (really!) and that he found god. I wonder if Michael Vick is dyslexic.

Bill’s dad is being transferred to a care unit in the West Village which is an easier trip for Bill’s mom. The alternative was St. Albans, Queens which is a hassle for anyone, not just an 84 year old woman. So that’s good. The catch is Bill’s mom is going crazy so Bill will more than likely spend the next two weeks at their apartment in Stuy Town.

Here’s a clip of My Bloody Valentine.
My Bloody Valentine- Soon

♪ Look all around, there’s nothing but blue skies….♫

Here’s a link to the article brother Frank sent. Cut n’ paste.

http://www.thedailyswarm.com/swarm/believe-it-or-not-my-bloody-valentine-reuniting-for-coachella-2008/

It’s back to work for me and back to school for some. Earl in particular went back to school today, starting his Junior year of High School. Class rings and cars. Annemarie is glad he’s going and not driving her (with a learning permit) up the friggin walls in Arcata. Tears were shed and I think they were belonging to Annemarie. The wheel in the sky keeps on turning. I remember high school, it was ages ago and a little bit painful at school and at home. But I don’t want to go there. It was a different world then.

Last night didn’t do anything. Didn’t do anything during the day so why should the night be any different? Bill came home earlier than expected. He immediately went to work trying to clean things up a bit and I sat at the computer, watching ‘Oliver!’ in fragmented form on Netflix. You can watch movies directly on your computer and for some reason I chose ‘Oliver!’. Maybe it’s because it was one of the first movies I saw. It’s about two and a half hours, I’m surprised it held my attention for that amount of time. ♫ ‘Consider yourself, at home! Consider yourself, part of the furniture. We’ve taken to you so strong, it’s clear, we’re, going to get along!’♪ That’s about all I could remember.

Watched The Big Lebowski again. It was on cable and I got drawn in and once again, I got confused. There are moments in the movie I like but overall, I lose the plot. It’s not as good as Raising Arizona, or Fargo, or Oh Brother, Where Art Thou. Those are the best of Joel and Ethan Cohen. I do like their movies, I just don’t go to the cinema to watch them. Such a bad cinephile.

Work was ok. Nothing home about. Carla the receptionist had a second interview somewhere, so she has one eye on the door. I’d hate to lose her, and I do know that Tom Chin, Greg Stevens and Vivek don’t want to see her go, but I’ve discussed this with Tom and Greg, and they were supposed to discuss it with Vivek but summer vacations and all made it impossible for that to happen and so Carla goes out on an interview. The plan was to get her to stay until the end of the year, then let her go in January when her prospects of getting into the fashion industry might be that much better than they are now. But no one is talking and Carla is balking.

Carla’s friend Millie, might fill Carla’s shoes should Carla leave. I met Millie on Saturday on Governors Island and she seemed good enough though I wasn’t thinking about Carla leaving then. I left work at the usual time, having a Padron 500 natural and grooving to Blonde on Blonde. Great record to walk around Manhattan to, which is cool since parts of it were written in New York City. Speaking of that decade, it was 40 years ago today that Brian Epstein died while the Beatles were in Bangor, Wales with the Maharishi. Poor sad fucked up Brian. A month later homosexuality was legalized in Great Britain.

Here’s some gay related news from 365Gay.com

Veddy interesting stuff I think….

A lazy Sunday. It’s 4:33 in the afternoon and I obviously didn’t go to the beach. I don’t think Stine likes to go to the beach. I’m disappointed. I did have a feeling that a trip to the beach wasn’t going to happen so my hopes were up at all. I was up around 7:30 just in case Julio was going to call. No call. A trip was made to buy rings of dough and some print media. Thats it. Oh and a trip to Shop Rite was the high point of the day. Once again it’s too humid out to do anything. (except to sit under an umbrella in the sand) When I got back from Shop Rite I was drenched. Thunderstorms did not arrive making the atmosphere thicker than before.

Watched Serpico last night. Actually, it was on TV last night but I wasn’t really paying attention. Just hung out and read while the TV provided background noise. Started to drift off while watching SNL Best of the 2006-2007 season.

Shuffle Time!

Ba Ba Boom- The Jamaicans
From the Story of Jamaican Music boxed set. Perfect music for a humid day like today. A jazz cigarette, a ice cold bottle of beer and something to read would be perfect….sand on the beach…Bah!
Old school reggae, or rather, rock steady.

This Is My Story- The Jewels
From the James Brown’s Funky Divas collection. Before James Brown would go on stage, there would be a few acts before him under his aegis, Bobby Byrd, Tammi Terrell and here, The Jewels. I think Tammi Terrell was the only one who made a new for herself, albeit briefly with Marvin Gaye and in life.

This Is Pop- XTC
From BBC Radio One Live cd. I was lucky enough to see them live twice on their Black Sea tour. After that Andy Partridge developed severe stage fright when his then wife threw out his Valium prescription that he was on constantly since he was a teenager. He was fantastic on stage when I saw him at the Capitol theater and the Palladium, always moving and running all over the place. Some people should stay on drugs is the moral of the story.

Monkey Man- The Specials
From the Specials first record. Live track from an album that changed my life on many levels. Black and white, personal politics were all introduced musically to me. They were great and I never got a chance to see the original band. A reconstituted version in the 1990′s but it wasn’t the same thing.
Two live tracks in a row (XTC/Specials).

Maria Novarro- Was (Not Was)
From Are You, Okay? The interesting David Was and Don Was project. A lot of fun to listen to, extremely well produced, perhaps a little too well produced. They have the wit and it could use some grit. Tainted by the fact Steve Saporito turned me onto them.

I Can’t Stop Loving You- Frank Sinatra with the Count Basie Orchestra
From It Might As Well Be Spring cd. A very cool cd to have in case one is feeling loungey. And it’s mandatory that if you want to live in Hoboken you must own at least one Sinatra cd. It’s true, it’s in the Town Charter as well as my lease.

Modern Love- David Bowie
From the Best of Bowie. This was used in the eighties for a commercial supporting the Coffee Growers Association. Bowie drinks coffee, you should too! Originally from the Let’s Dance album, this is the edited single. It’s definitely an upbeat song from the Dame.