Pull Up To The Bumper

A beautiful autumn Sunday afternoon. Air is crisp in the 60 degree range. Warmer on the street than it is in the apartment. Everything pretty mellow after devouring a lot of meat at dinner with the soon to be (April 15th they’ve been told) parents, Julio and Stine. It really is a thrill to hear. Probably thrilling for them as well, as well as filled with anxiety and expectation, hence the term, she’s expecting I suppose. They got me good. I don’t know why a few friends of mine always have to surprise me with things, like Bill renting a Zip Car when we saw the B-52’s in Brooklyn last August, and now with Stine and Julio having a baby, they just can’t come out and say, ‘I rented a car’ or ‘We’re having a baby’. I’m not complaining, not at all. It’s an entertainment and it affords them the chance to get one over on me.

I watched Saturday Night Live last night, it was pretty good. Two music sets by Bon Jovi versus one by the Foo Fighters. I guess it’s all good. Not a Bon Jovi fan though I’ve met him and he’s alright, just another Jersey guy. He’s the cousin of my friend Barry Bongiovi and Jon stopped by Right Track studios to visit Barry (who I’ve always had a crush on).It was a good show and the digital SNL short was the highlight of the show once again. The Three Guys from New Jersey game show was pretty good and nearly spot on. From there it was trying to fall asleep next to Bill snoring as if sawing through granite. His words not mine.

I woke up and called Julio as I headed to that Bagel shop and asked if he and the missus wanted any bagels, which was a very slight payback for Julio and Stine taking me out for a belated birthday dinner. They did and I bought, dropping them off after a visit to the supermarket. Lynda, the older cashier who reminds Annemarie of our Nana, aka our grandmother made a motion for me to come to her register, needing to ask me a question. I walked over and she asked me what should she do about her cat who won’t eat canned food, only dry food. I didn’t know what to tell her except that if the cat’s female dry food is no problem, it’s spayed male cats that have a problem with dry food. I remembered that because my late cat Zed, (best cat in the whole wide world EVER) had the exact same problem back in the day.

Dropped off Stine and Julio’s bagels and headed up two flights where I had coffee and read the papers, full of usual nonsense and bad news. It was too nice a day to stay in and I was itching to go out, specifically to go to Farfetched and see Harpy who always works on Sundays. I walked to the Path train, past where the dog parade had occurred, gingerly stepping around several left behind clumps on the sidewalks.

Got off at Christopher Street since I didn’t want to deal with the crowds on 14th Street. Strolled past new buildings that weren’t there last time I had been around. Washington Square was crowded in various pockets, chess player and crap weed dealers over here, drum circle over there, dance troupe next to them across from Buzz Universe, a jam band going electric as people mingled around or sat and read their text books in the mid afternoon sun.

I made my way up Fourth Avenue to Farfetched to find Harpy not in session but Lois who switched off with Harpy yesterday. I picked out some cards for upcoming birthdays, though I have to say the selection has been a bit lacking lately. I used to find so many cards, now it’s a struggle to find 3 cards for me to send. Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s them. It can’t be the customer is always right, since I work there on occasion so I’m not really a customer.

My being there allowed Lois to eat some lunch, so I rang up some customers for a little while, then after chit chatting I headed out, lighting a Padron and checking out the inhabitants of Union Square. I decided to walk up Broadway to Fifth Avenue then to 32nd street so I can finish my cigar and get a seat on the Path train home.

And now I am home, tired from walking around but feeling good.

Somehow I wound up taking 77 pictures while walking around the city, here are but a few of them.

Beautiful afternoon