May « 2009 « johnozed

Archive for May, 2009

Eight Miles High

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

Well today has been a lovely Sunday. Bright and sunny with only a few minutes of drizzle then it all went back to being sunny and gay. Well it’s always gay for me and maybe for some of you too.

Sorry about the late posting last night. Firefox has been misbehaving lately. Each time I would try to upload pics to the blog the Firefox browser would crash.

Over and over again.

Then I went out to meet up with Rand and Lois to discuss plans for their short film that might be shot over a weekend in a few weeks. I am game for it and told Lois that I would be willing to do just about anything she might want me to do.

It was a good meeting with laughs liberally applied. I’m not getting into any further for now. Don’t want to give anything away or offend any gentleman’s sensibilities though Clive Davis should be worried.

Some musical instruments were played with, a piano, a ukulele, a eastern European harp of some sort and a double necked bass & guitar as well as Lois’ Fender Squire which I liked. Lois asked if we were up for some drinks and Rand said yes and I said no. Then I thought about it and said why not?

It was off to DC’s Tavern on Eighth Street all the way in the back of Hoboken. Everyone’s friend Pat Longo DJ’s there sometimes and I can’t say I’ve ever made it to his spinning sessions. Finally making it there I wondered where does Pat Longo set up his turntables and whatnot.

It’s not that large a space and a lot smaller than I had imagined. It seems like DJ’s Tavern would really like to be a roadhouse. Streamers advertising Pabst Blue Ribbon were hanging underneath beer trays for Pabst as well as other beers.

I expected to see some Rhinegold, Ballentine’s and Schaffer beer trays hanging but didn’t see any from my angle. Cute bartender though, shaved head and inked which isn’t normally my style but any port in a storm. Alas, there was no storm though.

It was a good evening with more laughs with Rand and Lois who I’ve known since 1983. I definitely look forward to the filming of their filmic world. After a few pints of Guinness and some cocktails for Lois we headed out, I was able to light up a San Luis Rey Rothchilde for the walk home, with even more laughing with old friends.

When I got home I checked the blog and was surprised that what I had written a few hours previous wasn’t posted. I was able to figure out what happened wrong on that front and re-posted. Then I watched some rebroadcasts of Lost from the first season.

Posted the pictures this morning on Internet Explorer. As I am doing right now.

With the Guinness and walking around Manhattan in the afternoon with Bill I decided to head to bed with Bill sleeping quietly under his sleep apnea mask. He was up and about around 7:00 which was just wrong in my book. I finally got out of bed myself around 9:00 after Bill had headed off to collect his mother.

I made some coffee, showered and was soon out and about picking up newspapers and other weekend morning items. Saw Julio with Alexander from a distance as they were waiting for Stine and her family from Denmark. I was off to the supermarket so a wave would have to suffice.

It was a nice morning and I wound up playing selections from Woody Allen’s movies, which were mainly songs from the Big Band era. Bill and I watched a little bit of Peter Marshall on PBS hosting a pledge time Big Band special.

I knew most of the songs last night and with Bill’s Shazam application for his iPhone we were able to identify and tell the difference between Chick Webb and Harry James.

My sister Annemarie had burned the Woody Allen stuff a few years ago but they couldn’t be identified through Gracenote on iTunes since I think Annemarie had her son Earl do the CD burning. Too complicated for her and some fun for Earl since he threw everything out of order and it took me a couple of years to figure out what’s what.

It was too nice to stay in today so I walked over to the Hudson River and sat by the soccer pitch and read the New Yorker and enjoyed another San Luis Rey Rothchilde.

I’m still trying to get my brothers and sister on board for what could be Paul McCartney being the first concert at the new Mets stadium in Flushing in July. Right now it’s only a rumor, but it’s a fab rumor.

a brief approaching storm from the west of Hoboken

Tags:Alexander, Annemarie, Big Band music, Bill, DJ's Tavern, Earl, Firefox, Julio, Lois, Pat Longo, Paul McCartney at the new Mets stadium, Rand
Posted in Whats for lunch? | 2 Comments »

Radio Gaga

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

Friday afternoon

Just got back from another lovely day outside. Today was even nicer than yesterday. Clear skies, nice temperature. Almost perfect. Last night was mellow, Bill was off rehearsing with his church choir for a big thing on Sunday.

I watched TV, played some bass, some guitar. Watched on 20/20 an episode about Etan Patz who was abducted 30 years ago on his way to the bus stop in Soho. An unresolved story, which is still sad 30 years later.

I remember seeing his 6 year old face on the cover of the Daily News when it happened. Etan’s parents still live in the same loft on Prince Street, perhaps in a vain hope that Etan might return someday.

After that I watched Bill Maher which I thought was tedious. Bill came home when I switched over to the last Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Conan O’Brien was the guest with James Taylor coming out and singing Sweet Baby James, requested by Jay Leno.

Never really cared much for Leno and can’t say that I ever watched a complete episode of the Tonight Show when he was hosting. It was OK overall. I am looking forward to see how Conan holds up on Monday.

Bill stayed up watching Craig Ferguson and I went to bed. I slept in while Bill went off this morning to get the bagels and whatnot. Eventually I got myself together and made some breakfast for myself.

Julio stopped by to get his Frisbee since he and Stine and Alexander were going down the shore with Stine’s sister and her family who are visiting from Denmark.

It was brief visit. I was soon walking up and down the aisles in the supermarket, replenishing the juices that I bought the other day.

Cut back on drinking soda you see, and been I’ve drinking juice lately.

Bill and I had plans to make it into the city to see a friend of his performing at the Lincoln Center library. Nice ride into the city as well as a stroll up Eighth Avenue on a spring afternoon.

We ran into another friend of Bill’s (which sounds like an AA meeting) Jesse and after chatting with her outside the library we all headed in.

The performance was titled When She Was King- D.R.E.D. : Daring Reality Every Day. The artist was Mildred Dred Gerestant who performs as a drag king. Same premise as a drag queen only with the gender reversed. It was a lot of fun, and a few laughs.

Definitely not what I was expecting to say the least.

Bill directed Mildred in her everyday drag in a workshop reading. So that’s how they know each other. It really was an entertaining performance that I would check out again if the circumstances were permitting.

After that Bill and I walked up to Gray’s Papaya and got some hot dogs and headed into Central Park. We wandered over to the skate circle where the disco was in full bloom. Lot’s of the same people that were there 10 years ago are still there skating around in circles.

The DJ was quite good as Bill and I watched from on top of the rocks. There were a few bears opposite on Bear Hill, a few that were probably in the demonstration on Tuesday night. We didn’t stay too long and caught the 1 train from 72nd street to the Path train.

A nice evening walking back to the apartment. Twilight in Hoboken can be quite nice. Now I’m waiting to meet up with Rand and Lois to discuss something that Lois has planned.

I’m not going to get into it right now, but it promises to be a fun endeavor.

heading in...

..the city

Lincoln Center

Mildred 'Dred' Gerestant

Central Parkers

53009-nyc-017a

Tags:Bill, Conan O'Brien, Drag Kings, Etan Patz, James Taylor, Jay Leno, Lincoln Center library, Lois, Mildred Dred Gerestant, Rand, When She Was King: DRED Daring Reality Every Day
Posted in Wonderful World Beautiful People | No Comments »

Series of Dreams

Friday, May 29th, 2009

Earliness ensues. Been a pretty good day thus far. Last night Bill and I watched both The Naked Civil Servant and Resident Alien. It was Quentin Crisp night on Park Avenue. The Naked Civil Servant was very good, mainly for John Hurt’s top notch performance.

Resident Alien was a bit of a downer, Quentin living in a tiny apartment in the East Village, getting some negative feedback from Seniors Active in a Gay Environment (SAGE).

Quentin claimed to be a successful failure and some people in the documentary are say some awfully mean things about him. It’s definitely not a love letter, unless it was from Frank Booth in Blue Velvet.

I would see Quentin Crisp from time to time on the street in the East Village, blue rinsed hair, looking like a dandy. I might have said hello to him once or twice. He probably responded in kind, being polite and well mannered. That was probably the early 1980′s.

John Hurt was in Resident Alien, playing himself and interviewing Quentin on the streets of New York City, and some eerie shots with each looking at the other though as mirror frame.

Bill enjoyed the DVDs and then it was off to bed for him while I stayed up until almost 1:00. Slept good, told Bill to use my bus pass this morning since I wasn’t heading into the city.

Had a nice relaxed breakfast and did some laundry, leaving the apartment around 11:45 to do some grocery shopping. I’m so domesticated.

Listening to disc 1 of Bob Dylan’s Tell Tale Signs quite a lot today. Also listened to Bruce Springsteen’s Magic album which was really good. Never played it from start to finish.

Some of it is typical Bruce & E Street stuff and some of it is extraordinary. Also played some of Born to Run. Not the title track, that would be a bit much. No, I played 10th Avenue Freeze-out, Night and Backstreets.

Just seemed like a perfect day to play some Bruce with the windows open and the sun breaking through the clouds.

It was so nice out I decided to wander around Hoboken. Not many people around on a Friday afternoon. Rain was forecast but all you needed to do was look outside, where it was cloudy but sunny as well. The glass was half full as it were.

I wound up by Pier A and sat and continued reading the Eno biography. He just did some half hearted demos for Television, working with Robert Fripp, had a lung collapse and was hit by a car.

A busy life indeed. Up next should be David Bowie, Talking Heads, Devo and U2.

Now it starts to rain, a few raindrops fall on the windowpane, raindrops in puddles on a neighboring rooftop. I like living on the top floor.

Now I’m playing disc 2 of Tell Tale Signs and like disc 1, it opens with a version of Mississippi from Love & Theft. There’s so much Dylan out there, different eras and styles. I do like 1965-66 Dylan but not much from the 1970-80′s. I have Blood on the Tracks but I just can’t get into it.

Yet.

I didn’t ‘get’ Blonde on Blonde the first time I heard it and that was in the 1990′s. Ann Boyles played that record a lot and tried to get me into it once or twice. I thought it was a character flaw, but the flawed character was me.

I really do like the 1990s to the present Bob Dylan. Seems like a very good fit. And the band behind him, lead by Tony Garnier for the past 15+ years is really good.

The rain has passed, mere minutes later. No biggie.

Tags:Bill, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, John Hurt, Quentin Crisp, Resident Alien, The Naked Civil Servant, Tony Garnier
Posted in Iron my Shirt | 2 Comments »

Goodbye

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Ah, just got off the phone with Lovely Rita. Hadn’t spoken to her in a while. Always a good chat. She’s another woman who I love to make laugh. Getting off the phone is a bit abrupt. It always is. Just an uncomfortableness.

I guess Rita’s not one for long goodbyes. I know a few other people like that. As soon as the ‘e’ in ‘goodbye’ is said, they are gone. Personally for me, I don’t mind the long goodbye. It’s a warm feeling.

The goodbye/I’m outta here is too cold, leaves me hanging. But that’s some people and not me and if everyone was like me, it would be a better world, yet it would be a boring world, so here’s to them, the short goodbye people.

Goodbye.

It’s a Thursday which for me is a Friday. It’s been a week of oddness. Monday off, Tuesday substituting for Monday, making Wednesday feel like Tuesday and today feels like Friday. As you can guess it’s very confusing.

Goodbye.

I spoke with my brother Frank today. He called me, a bit bummed that I hadn’t spoken to him in a while. He’s been trying to deal with his retirement. And he still has issues with life, specifically growing up.

Apparently my parents wanted him to be a priest. By the time I came along 11 years later, the parents were tired and didn’t really seem to care what it was that I would do.

No red flags with regards to college. No red flags with regards to anything. I don’t blame them. Wouldn’t do any good to blame them anyway. I’m not one to go to a cemetery and yell at a tombstone.

Work was busy somewhat and also quiet. Vivek was in and when I finally had a reason to see him, I find out that he’s on the way to the airport.

Goodbye.

I was able to make a few phone calls with regards to the new position I find myself in. I call it, ‘inroads’. It’s funny, last week on Thursday I was totally stressed, at wit’s end. So much so it affected me physically. Today, not so bad. It must be the new outlook, to just plow through.

Goodbye

Today was humid and drizzly, tomorrow they are expecting thunderstorms and showers. I have 2 new DVDs from Netflix, The Naked Civil Servant, starring John Hurt, who is one of my favorite actors of all time.

John Hurt portrays the late Quentin Crisp, a bon vivant from the UK transplanted to Manhattan. It’s said that Sting wrote An Englishman in New York about Quentin Crisp. Very dry that Crisp was.

The other DVD is Resident Alien, which is also about Quentin Crisp, this time a documentary. Since Sting is in the documentary, I guess I’ll find out the story about An Englishman in New York.

When my brother Frank was on the radio, instead of the web these days, he would occasionally mix in some spoken word recordings of Quentin Crisp on top of what ever music Frank happened to be playing.

Quentin Crisp, from the old world of Oscar Wilde. The was no closet that contain him.

Goodbye

Tags:Brother Frank, John Hurt, Long Goodbyes, Lovely Rita, Quentin Crisp
Posted in Abstract Absurdist Otherness | 2 Comments »

32-20 Blues

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

It’s Wednesday, and it feels like a Tuesday since Monday was a holiday. Last night Bill and I marched, I saw awesome Andres and met Joe Jervis. It was pretty cool that Bill was with me to see these other bloggers that I enjoy reading. The word becomes flesh.

We made it home after running into the Virgin Megastore on Union Square which is going out of business. I was able to buy CD’s that my local record store, Tunes didn’t have.

Still no Budos Band but I was able to get Bob Dylan’s Oh Mercy and the 2 disc set of Tell Tale Signs, Number 8 in the Bootleg Series. At 30% off I couldn’t resist.

We made it home in time some clip show on NBC, about the most well known lines from TV. It was totally worthless filler. It seemed to go on forever. How much NaNu NaNu can one person take? Bill liked it enough though.

At 10:00 Bill wanted to watch Lawn Hors d’œuvre SUV but I figured he would rather watch Keith Olbermann reporting on Judge Sotomayor. As soon as I changed the channel he forgot all about Lawn Hors d’œuvre. Bill’s a Puerto Rican from the Bronx and so is Judge Sotomayor so he was feeling especially proud.

It was no surprise that the right wing had nothing to say but “no” in regards to the Judge’s nomination. She’s going to pass since the Republicants don’t have anything to block the process.

We watched the news and then The Simpsons at 11:30 which was from the second season. A classic episode featuring Harvey Fierstein as Carl. As soon as I heard the word Mynoxodil I knew what the episode was.

It is certainly in my top ten Simpsons episodes but for Bill it was his all time fave.

He was off to bed after that and I joined him soon after that. I slept OK but once again I could have used a few more hours of sleep. I guess I can catch up with those missing hours on Friday since my Fridays are still furloughed.

Work was OK. Vivek told me he was going to be in Seattle today and tomorrow and I was surprised to see him in the office. I was fairly busy, things seem to be going smoothly.

I was ambushed by another conference call from out of the blue but I stood my ground and stopped the call, putting them on hold until I was able to get Sanjay in on the call.

Too much of what Vivek and Sanjay do is secretive or at least I’m out of the loop, while on the other end of the line in the conference call they seem to think I know it all. That is one of the biggest parts of my frustration. Those outside the office think I’m running the show whereas in the office, I’m just a cog in the machine.

I plan to keep plowing on, doing my best. What else can I do?

I had a chance to check out JoeMyGod earlier than I usually do and there was a picture of Bill and myself. That was a kick. I regretted not taking a picture of Andres and I just got a message from him saying he regretted not having a good picture of me and Bill looking dapper. He said dapper, not me.

Now we’re watching a documentary on PBS of the making of the Broadway show In the Heights. Bill’s getting a thrill just watching it and I knew that he would. One of these days Bill will be trodding the boards, saying lines.

Who knows? Perhaps they will be lines that I’ve written.

Tags:Andres Duque, Bill, Bob Dylan, Carl, Harvey Fierstein, In The Heights, Joe.My.God., Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Lawn Hors d’œuvre SUV, The SImpsons, Virgin Megastore
Posted in Yesterday's News Tomorrow | 3 Comments »

Someday Baby

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Late posting tonight. Just got back a little while ago from a demonstration showing the NYC area disappointment of the California State Supreme Court and their upholding of Prop h8. The demonstration was planned if it went either way. If the court overruled, then it would have been a celebration.

But they didn’t and there we were, Bill and I and hundreds of LGBT people and our straight allies shouting and chanting from Sheridan Square, across the street from the Stonewall riots 40 years ago and the start of gay liberation, all the way to Union Square.

The police did an excellent job, keeping traffic away from the marchers as we walked on the side lanes

I also saw the wonderful Andres again, he of the blog, Blabbeando and finally got a chance to meet Joe Jervis from the blog, JoeMyGod. He’s a nice guy.

Andres was busy snapping photos and I was surprised to see him, even though I knew he would be around, I forgot to take his picture.

Still, he posted his pics on Facebook and he will probably post onto Blabbeando. Joe Jervis will probably do the same and so will I. It was great marching side by side with Bill. We were in our suits which probably made other people think we were conservatives. If they only knew.

I just think Democrats and Liberals dress a bit shabby and we’re doing our bit to change that. We were also interviewed in Union Square for Our Scene Networks, an online broadcasting channel by 2 guys named Matt.

They asked us how we felt about the California decision and we told them, and also mentioned that a march on Washington should be in the works since the White House had no comment on the decision today.

The LGBT people are a bit upset with Obama dragging his feel on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell as well as the Defense of Marriage act, both which were instituted by that Bill Clinton guy. And a march on Washington is planned for either Columbus Day weekend or in November.

Bill and I plan to be there.

I marched on Washington in 1993 when Clinton was in the White House, which should go to show that just because a sitting President was someone I voted for, does not exempt them from scorn or criticism.

Last night, Bill and I watched A matter of Life and Death, starring David Niven and Kim Hunter. I had never seen it from start to finish but oddly enough the timing seemed apt since it was Memorial Day and this was a movie that takes place during World War II and made in 1946.

Lot’s of extras in the cast that were actually in uniform and active service people. It really is a good movie and definitely worth checking out.

I enjoyed it so much that I moved Black Narcissus to the top of my Netflix queue. I also have another Powell & Pressburger film nearby, from 1969- Age of Consent which stars James Mason and features Helen Mirren in her first major screen role.

Work was actually OK today. I hope and I think I have a handle on things. Perhaps having 4 days off in a row was what was needed.

I had a talk with Vivek and Sanjay. I told them that things were stressing me out and they were somewhat reassuring. I mentioned that I would like to be able to leave at 5 or 6 each day and they were fine with that.

I also brought up the fact that my sister was coming to town in July and I would like some time to spend with her and that was OK by them. So, so far so good. Of course we will have to see what happens come July. But for now it’s good, and that’s the name of that tune.

And congratulations to Judge Sotomayor! Good luck!

And here are some pictures from this evening’s demonstration.

52609-marriage-equality-march-in-greenwich-village-005