Didn’t do too much of anything, it’s a gray rainy day and I don’t have anything to write about. I’m sure you would dread another iPod shuffle thing so I’ll spare you and leave you with this.
Here is the wonderful Bill Moyers’ take on the resignation of Turd Blossom, Bush’s ‘Brain’ Karl ‘Closet Case’ Rove
A real nothing kind of day. I have them often. People like my brother Brian don’t. He wishes he had a day to do nothing, and I’m not being snarky by saying that. I just stayed local and low key. Bill’s dad is still in Bellevue and they’re still running tests to figure out what the hell is going on. Why the swollen feet? And the other stuff? Bill’s distressed by the fact that the hospital isn’t doing all that they could be doing for his father’s comfort and general well being. Bill just came home about an hour ago, very tired and in low spirits. Sometimes it’s an emotional roller coaster, since he’s presently rambunctious again.
I had a few errands to run today. Some toiletries and a haircut mainly. That was the extent of it. Oh, a walk to the Post Office and sitting on the stoop, smoking a Padron and reading about Prince in the latest issue of Mojo. No plans for the evening, no plans for tomorrow. Not yet at least. Heard from Julio earlier today so hopefully he was laying down a foundation for a beach day tomorrow. And I’ve probably jinxed that by writing it down. Curses. Where is that delete ke
Here’s some iPod shuffle stuff.
Wait- Angela Lansbury (from Sweeney Todd- The Demon Barber of Fleet Street)
I’ve seen this show (not with Angela Lansbury) quite a few times, some versions better than others, have the cd, the vinyl and two versions of the dvd. Guess I like it huh? It’s also a bonding moment between brother Frank and myself. Also looking forward to Tim Burton’s take on the bloody tale, starring Johnny Depp with the score once again by Stephen Sondheim.
S.U.S.- The Ruts
From Made in Britain- A Mojo Collection from a few years ago. Don’t really like it much. Don’t recall hearing it twenty or so years ago. Sounds close to metal actually. I do know the Ruts had a single called Staring at the Rude Boys.
It’s Gettin’ Hot in Here- Nelly
Classic summer song from a few years ago. I remember hearing this being in Pedro’s car with Bill heading down to what Pedro calls Domino Park in Soho. Still a lot of fun to shake your ass to. It’s just reanimated Bill’s tired spirits as well.
Energy Fools the Magician- Brian Eno
This has chilled Bill’s boisterous spirit. Nice mellow piece, jazzy in the musical sense. Based on Tarot cards I’ve heard. Energy (the Sun), The Fool and the Magician. Check it out.
This Life Makes Me Wonder- Delroy Wilson
From an Uncut magazine collection from March 2007. Old school reggae. Perfect for a summer evening. Great production and you know those guys were all playing and recording at the same time in the same room, which isn’t how they do it anymore. This life makes me wonder, how to live to another day gone.
Very Very Hungry- David Byrne & Brian Eno
From My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. Classic landmark album. I have a few copies of this, including an early version with Qu’Ran (Koran) which was deleted after initial pressings so as not to offend. This was in the 1980′s , not today mind you. This was the replacement track, since an Imam singing people to prayer set to a beat could cause a whole lot of trouble.
Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)- Otis Redding
Didn’t know too much about Otis until a few years ago. PBS had a documentary about Stax Records on a week or so ago and featured Otis, including a clip of him singing this song on a TV show in the sixties. What a talent. Would have loved to have seen him live.
There you go. That’s it. Better than nothing, wouldn’t you say?
It’s Friday. Left work early today, things were slow, half the office was out on holiday. Just woke up from a nap. I had a dream that I was living in a house on the border of Hoboken and Weehawken, by the overpasses on Park and Willow Avenues. At one point in the dream I was riding my bicycle, then all of a sudden I was riding my skateboard, the orange Bigfoot skateboard that Annemarie gave me 31 years ago. I was better on the skateboard in the dream than I was in real life. A lot of people had gathered in the middle of the street watching someone named Peter in a fist fight with a small person, actually a midget. From the point of view I was at, looking up at the overpass, all I could see was Peter swinging wildly. I skated past a growing mob and headed towards a party where there was a DJ spinning records by my house. Some spreading puddles of greenish water encroaching. Then I woke up.
Today was truly a bittersweet day. Billie heads back to Washington DC tomorrow after training up in New York for six weeks. It was originally supposed to be for two weeks then three which was bumped up to six. It was great to have him around for so long. He certainly enjoyed Bill and my company and we definitely enjoyed his. I stopped by to see him for a bit this morning at his store, but the street was closed off for yet another steam pipe breaking. Not as bad as the steam pipe explosion last month, but unnerving nonetheless.
I had burned a few cd’s for him, including the Corinne Bailey Rae that Annemarie had burned for me. I think Corinne Bailey Rae will be the soundtrack for a bittersweet summer this year. I told Billie that it felt like summer was over when Annemarie, Rex and Earl went back to Arcata in July, but that having Billie around seemed like an extension of that feeling. Now that Billie is heading back home, that feeling of summer ending has returned. I offered to meet up with Billie tomorrow to see him off at the train station and it seemed like a good idea.
After I left work for the day I stopped by again to touch base, and Billie said it probably wouldn’t be a good idea since he would probably wind up crying at the station. Billie also said that the crew he was leaving in New York had been saying their goodbyes and it was making him emotional. We stood there and talked for a bit when I felt my bladder inching up towards my eyes. Billie was right in the fact that there would be two queens crying in the middle of Penn Station tomorrow, so we would be better off if I didn’t see him off. I’ve had many teary farewells at boarding gates in the past, one more wouldn’t be so bad, but I’ll respect his wishes. Maybe.
As I was napping, Bill called. The WNBA game is off tonight since Bill’s father isn’t doing so well. There were some problems this morning and Bill called me, telling me they were going to go to the stroke unit at Bellevue at the paramedic’s suggestion. If there isn’t a stroke then they will take him to the Veterans Administration hospital on 23rd street. Bill’s father is 83.
On a lighter note, speaking of being 83 as I was walking through Bryant Park this morning I noticed that the Mike Love and Bruce Johnston version of The Beach Boys were putting on a show for Good Morning America. Didn’t see the Cowsill that was supposed to be playing with them but here’s some snap shots illegaldress.
some security looking like his head is in Mike Love’s crotch.
If given a choice I would have chosen Bruce Johnston.
and here is a clip from a few years ago, the finale of Six Feet Under which added to today being bittersweet.
Thursday. Just got back from a really good movie. Bill, Billie and I finally got it together and made it to see Talk to Me, about a Washington DC DJ, Petey Greene. Don Cheadle and Chiwetel Ejifor are the leads with excellent support from Martin Sheen and Taraji P. Henson as the station owner and Petey’s girlfriend, Vernell Watson. I recommend it. Great soundtrack and costumes. A little picture that is crazy cool, and little or no jive. It was once again a wonderful night with wonderful company. Of course there’s always something that almost derailed our plan, and it wasn’t too good.
Last night Bill was at his folks as Juan and I hung out watching Gosford Park. Bill called midway through. He was worried about his father who wasn’t doing so well last night. Naturally I went into comfort mode, knowing the road that Bill is going to have to go down. I felt bad for Bill and offered whatever assistance he might need. He appreciated it and hung up as he was getting ready to go to bed. There was nothing I could do one this end except to finish the movie. I always had problems with Robert Altman’s films but this one I really enjoyed. Perhaps I should give his life’s work another chance.
Juan split and I soon wet to bed, sleeping fitfully. Woke up earlier than I should have, which sucked. Stumbling around the apartment, I was still able to get out and head to the bus on time. An easy ride, reading the New Yorker, only two weeks behind. This issue has the rain forest New York on the cover. So far so good though I’ve skipped the article on golf. A boring sport, to watch on TV and even more so to read about. No thanks on that one. That’s one benefit of being behind in reading the New Yorker. If something doesn’t grab me quickly, I usually don’t feel bad about moving on to the next article.
Work was ok. I was certainly busier than I was yesterday, meaning I actually did something, and that meant that the day went by a little bit faster. I made it over to Billie’s store for lunch where I actually paid for a expensive salad that tasted a little bit odd. I told Billie about it and he told me to come back tomorrow for a replacement salad. Billie goes back to Washington DC on Saturday so I’m trying to get as much time in with him before he leaves.
The movie was at 6:15 in Chelsea so strolled around the terribly humid midtown and then we had a quick little jazz diversion in Central Park which was even more humid. I was drenched when we made it down to the subway, feeling pretty good and sweaty. I love talking with Billie, just walking around midtown talking freely about whatever it is on our minds. He’s such a dear friend and we’ve known each other about 23 years. Billie is my chocolate sister from the Chocolate City.
Wednesday. Blasé boring and passe. Not complaining though. Not at all. Last night was pretty mellow. I was reading the Joe My God blog. He’s under attack from the right wing Christians who were appalled by Joe’s writing about the serviceman who was denied a funeral service in Arlington,Texas because he was gay. It made almost all the gay blogs, though not this one. But the right wing Christians are calling for Joe’s blog to be shut down and that Joe should be arrested. He didn’t do or write anything wrong or profane, just the fact ma’am. And they want his blood. That had me fired up. Bill came home as I was reading this, and since he is a Christian, brought up in an evangelical church, I asked his opinion on this. It started out as a dialog which turned into a monologue. It was informative and rambling and after all that I forgot what the original subject was, which goes to show you how far we strayed from the initial topic at hand.
We watched Weeds which of course was quite good and funny and edgy. Oh that Mary Louise Parker, can she get any more harebrained? I’m sure she could. Bill turned in and I watched In The Life the gay PBS show. Loved it of course. Gets me all fired up and makes me feel so gay and proud which is a good thing to be.
I neglected to mention that I ran into dear sweet Martha Keavney last week when I was heading to Madison Square Garden to see the non-WNBA basketball game. She was looking good and it was great to see her again. She asked about brother Frank’s health and I gave her the details. We made some quick small talk, she mentioned that she has a new comic book coming out. (can’t wait) Though it won’t be badly drawn, I am excited to see what she has up her sleeve. Really, I can’t wait.
Today the office was so quiet. Just Greg Stevens, myself, Carla the receptionist, one of the directors and Curly playing the role of solo stooge. I did very little at work today. I wish there was a project that I could work on, something to pass the time. I know, I know, careful what you wish for. I think I might be developing Münchhausen Syndrome, only instead of a child, I’m thinking about endangering the office, and showing how worthwhile it is to have me around when I save their asses. But how can I endanger them? I was thinking hallucinogenic mushrooms baked into something, but I’d rather keep those for a special occasion. And for those who are actually wondering, no I wouldn’t really do that. I am kidding. Really I am. Ask anyone who knows me. They will tell you that I would only give the mushrooms to people I really like, and who has done them before.
This is what the world looked like when I woke up this morning.
And a clip has surfaced via You Tube of course. This one oddly proves DICK Cheney to be right about somethings. Very interesting. Unfortunately it’s from 1994.
Here’s DICK Cheney explaining why we should not invade Iraq.
Here’s a little bit from the Daily Show to take care of that agita from the previous video
Oh what a weird day this has been. Is Mercury in retrograde? Tis the season you know, or so I’ve been told. Had a fun talk with Harpy last night. He’s proving to be my editor and a decent one at that. A regular Perry White he is. He gave me the suggestion to not write about getting bagels everyday which I don’t do, only on Saturdays and Sundays, which could be the only time he actually reads this blog. Actually Harpy and Kathe are the only subscribers I have, everyone else reads at their own pace. Subscribers get this everyday, or a notification in their email. Harpy’s latest good idea is to provide captions when I post photographs. I do listen to what he has to say and looking forward to making suggestions to his blog. I’m not holding my breath.
Bill actually washed the bed sheets yesterday and that is something that requires a dryer, not drying on racks throughout the apartment. Clean sheets made for a good night’s sleep and that is what I had, making it extremely difficult to wake up this morning. But I struggled and got out of bed after Bill kissed me good bye for the day. Shower etc just like most everyone else in this metropolitan area, meaning us working stiffs. The day felt odd from the get go. Uneventful bus ride, no thinking in the back of my head that a terrorist attack was about to happen, which sometimes floats through my consciousness.
Once again I was the first one in the office, starting up the machines, changing into a dry undershirt, making coffee. People once again came in. Tomorrow is Greg Stevens birthday and since Tom Chin was going to be out tomorrow, we had a little celebration today. It was a beautiful day, the weather forecasters saying that this would be the best day weather wise this week and for once they were right. I didn’t mind wandering around midtown buying champagne, cup cakes and a birthday card. I arranged for a small soirée towards the end of the day. These little get togethers are usually good for morale and relaxes most everyone. Most everyone.
Three of the guys, Larry, Moe and Curly seemed a bit standoffish. I asked Carla to walk around the office with a birthday card for everyone to sign, and apparently one of the stooges had a problem with that, saying that signing the card would mean that he likes Greg Stevens. I had no idea that there was this animosity towards Greg. I’ve known Greg since 2002 and he’s always been a nice guy, very kind. Never heard anyone say a bad word about him until today.
Larry, the lead stooge just sat at the conference table working with his papers, while we drank champagne and ate cup cakes. And of course Moe and Curly just stood around and brooded which did little to dampen our spirits. What jerks though. If you don’t want to be there, then don’t be there. Larry and Moe were the ones going to Maryland tomorrow and Larry was the one who shouted from his office (as I was telling Moe the info on the trip) that he would set up the itinerary himself. Carla the receptionist congratulated Moe on his recent engagement to his girlfriend. Moe just shrugged. Carla also told me that I was finding out that most of these guys are jerks. Carla once again was right. She and I aren’t going to get involved in this office bullshit. I think aligning ourselves with the president of the company is a good idea. And Greg Stevens is that president. Forget Larry, Moe and Curly. Turd blossoms indeed.