Posts Tagged ‘Hoboken’

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I Got The Blues

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Well it is a day off today and overall it’s been so so. Really lackluster. It had the potential to be that type of a day and it certainly did it’s best to live up to my low expectations. There was a tentative plan to go back to Chelsea with RoDa and see the Doug Wheeler installation that was too crowded to attend last Friday, but it fell through.

To tell the truth I didn’t really want to head into Manhattan today, but left it open for RoDa to approve or veto, or even postpone. As it turned out, RoDa was unable to go so that left me in on the Jelly Side of the Hudson River.

A trip to the supermarket, a wave to Tony the Barber, things seemed to be going nicely. Isis was the cashier again, she said she hadn’t seen me in a while and it was true since I hadn’t seen her in a while either. My schedule and Isis’ schedule are not in sync so there are more moments when we don’t see each other than when we do. The life of retail clerks.

I came home and had a nice breakfast. I stopped buying the newspaper a few weeks ago, so I just reread parts of old books as I eat. I surfed the net and read some emails and Facebook postings for a while as I waited for the laundry cycle to end. There is always laundry to do it seems. I decided to get a new pair of Airwalks since my last pair were falling apart, coming apart at the seams.

That meant a trip to the Newport Mall in Jersey City. It was a nice day as I walked down the avenue, stopping into the local record store to see if the latest Mojo and Uncut were in. Empty handed I headed to the train station. I figured I would take the light rail to the mall but just missed it when I got to the platform. The next train was in 15 minutes which would be almost the amount of time it takes to actually walk to the mall, so I decided to walk there.

For some reason ‘My Little Town’ by Simon & Garfunkel was in my head so I played it on my iPod. That’s the song they came up with when Simon & Garfunkel reunited in the 1970’s. I bought some socks at the Sock Store and walked into Payless which seems to be the only place that sells Airwalks lately. And of course they did not have them.

While there I got a text from Thomas. I found out yesterday that the cigar shack will be having a little to-do in the man cave for the super bowl. And Jerry Vale will be working it and since Jerry Vale is a part timer, a full timer has to be there too. And I am sure it will be me. Having written that just now I realize it is no big deal. I’ll have a few cigars, watch the game and eat some food and get paid for it too. A positive spin if you will.

I left the mall with a few pairs of socks and saw the light rail headed back into the station. As luck would have it again I missed the train. And since it was still a nice enough afternoon, I walked back to Hoboken. I decided to treat myself and get a milk shake at Ben & Jerry’s, the aptly named Chocolate Therapy. But they were all out of Chocolate Therapy, I walked over to Crumbs instead and got myself a Chocolate Blackout cupcake to salve my soul. I haven’t had it yet, it sits in the fridge just waiting for me.

Like I wrote, a lackluster day.








Tom Verlaine 1982 Words From The Front 06 Coming apart

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I Feel A Change Comin’ On

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

I don’t know why but I just put on Christmas in Rockefeller Center, which is all about the lighting of the tree. I remember when I was growing up, it was a big deal but not that big a deal. It was usually allotted about a half hour that night and my mother used to laugh at the people in their offices behind the tree who would flick their office lights on and off when the tree was lit up.

Tonight they have everyone from Neil Diamond and Carole King to Justin Bieber and Michael Buble and Javier Colon. Back in the day they would have Peggy or Art Fleming skating in the rink, now it’s a two hour extravaganza. The Little Drummer Boy duet between Justin Bieber and Busta Rhymes is heartwarming though.

Right now Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie are on introducing the acts. Calvin told me a few weeks ago that Al Roker is a dick, not the roly poly fun guy he plays on TV. He might have heard that from someone who had an encounter with Al Roker on the telly.

Today has been a day off and a nice one at that. I’ve been busy, running errands and doing laundry and now that’s mostly done. There is more cleaning to be done but not today. My love Bill had to work today and of course he gave me quite the passionate kiss when he was leaving, telling me he loved me so. I mumbled I loved him and went back to sleep.

Later when we talked on the phone, he mentioned a dream that he had where I had kissed him. That was no dream, I actually kissed him a few times when I came home and he lay sleeping. He appreciated it as did I, since we are spouses and partners in life, not merely roommates. It was a fun chat on the phone as I did the first round of errands.

Later when I was doing more errands I left my phone at home and thought about going back to get it, then decided against it and proceeded to walk around Hoboken. It was a good day for it, a little overcast, a bit on the breezy cool side and not too many people around.

Perhaps I felt a bit of the holiday spirit but it was a nice feeling walking up and down the avenue. I stopped by the Guitar Bar to say hello to Mr. Wonderful but he wasn’t in. He’s probably on tour with Ian Hunter somewhere. I also got my first Christmas card this year.

Bobby Risotto more than likely wrote them all out the day after Thanksgiving. I am obliged to send one in return. I was going to write him a letter as well so maybe I will mail the card on one day and the letter a few days later, thanking him for what he did for me as well as his encouragement with regards to my photographs.

I had a nice online discussion with some Facebook friends, friends who live right around the corner but we only see each other online. They’ve been quite supportive with regards to my photos and videos as well as links that I provide to important issues, like how Clarence Thomas should resign from the supreme court, how Rick Perry makes rocks look smart and how Michelle Bachmann is quite a know nothing twat, who has nothing but other know nothing twats following and supporting her.

That’s about all for now. Bill is home and we’re having a good time watching the lip syncing on the Rockefeller Center holiday show thing. Tomorrow is World’s AIDS day, so remember those who have fallen.












09 Everything Is Broken [Alternate V 1

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I Don’t Need You

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

And today is/was a day off. I woke up at a decent hour and almost immediately set about starting my day. Laundry was in the works as well as the trips to the supermarket and the dry cleaners. It was a good start to the day.

Not much else was going on, a stop at the Guitar Bar to say hello to Mr. Wonderful Jim Mastro. Jim’s former band, The Health & Happiness Show is reuniting for a fundraiser at Maxwells tomorrow night to help a former band mate’s wife who has fallen ill and has enormous medical bills. I can’t go to show my support, but if you’re in the area maybe you can go. It starts at 7:30 and it’s for a good cause.

I saw the Health & Happiness Show a few times, even worked the door for them when they played the Shannon Bar in the 1990’s. They weren’t my cup of tea then but I could appreciate their talent and they had a good amount of fans.

Then I saw them opening up for the Bongos a few years ago. I used to love the Bongos and they had reunited for the Art & Music festival in Hoboken, and they got some kind of proclamation. The funny thing is this time around I loved the Health & Happiness Show and found the Bongos to be quite lackluster.

If they reunited ten years earlier it probably would have been exciting, but they were ten years too late this time Jim (who also played with the Bongos) & the Health & Happiness Show blew them away. It must have been a comedown, shifting gears from hi-octane to merely regular.

The news of the day has been about the death of Khadafy in Libya. It even featured gruesome pictures of what appeared to be Khadafy’s head all shot up. John McCain and Joe Lieberman traveled to Libya a few years ago, promising Khadafy aid and equipment. Lindsay Graham and Susan Collins also made the trip and I could easily picture the four of them sitting in grief and reminiscing.

I finally got the latest Mojo and Uncut Magazines. I could have picked up Uncut by itself since it was available, but I always buy the two together. I started Mojo after I finished last week’s New Yorker and it’s a good issue. Better than the one edited by Noel Gallagher which was a yawn.

I did a lot of walking around and when I got home I was bushed. So I decided to take a nap. I was watching the Harry Belafonte documentary on cable but was too tired to watch the whole thing. I could always watch it on demand later, or as a repeat which this afternoon’s broadcast was.

I certainly slept later than I expected. It felt good though but instead of a body clock reset like it usually happens I woke up a bit discombobulated. Now a few hours later I am back in the swing of things.

And that’s the name of that tune.






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I Don’t Like Mondays

Saturday, October 15th, 2011

Well it’s a Saturday and it’s been a day off and from what I can tell nice day weather wise. It’s been alright, I’ve been relatively busy though operating on a low flame. Not that I am ill or anything like that. Physically I feel fine.

All week long I was looking forward to going to Maxwells to support Rand and the Kirby Enthusiasm art show. I spent most of the day killing time, cleaning the apartment, getting some groceries and running errands.

Went to the bibliothèque and picked up a couple of things on hold for me and a stop at the dry cleaners to pick up some clothes. I came home and watched some television, not watching anything in particular. All in all it’s been a nothing day really. Lying low basically.

Last night I was home at a decent hour after work, Bill was off working on the play. I watched Bill Maher and then the news. Surprisingly (or maybe not) there was nothing to watch. Bill came home and we talked for a while before he went to bed.

I soon joined him, falling fast asleep. I slept fairly well, probably from the Xanax I had taken 12 hours before. The day before at the cigar shack was so soul crushing that I needed to let things slide and it certainly helped. And the comedown was pleasant enough to insure a good night’s sleep.

The sleep was good enough to make me sleep later than I expected, awoken once more by Bill kissing me good bye for the day. Bill had a full day, a voice lesson and then picking up his cousin’s son (whom he calls his nephew) to work alongside Bill on the play for some school project.

I did go walk around Hoboken for a spell this afternoon. Not much going on anywhere, so my walk was short lived. After coming home and having something to eat, as well as my Saturday phone call to Annemarie I started to get ready to go to Maxwells for the Kirby Enthusiasm show.

I took my time since I was watching a DVD and also downloading some Everly Brothers tracks as well as some Dave Edmunds and a couple of Elvis Presley songs. I wasn’t sure how cool it was outside since on the fifth floor of my building it was quite windy with the windows open.

I did get it together and started to head out. I also called CREDO since I checked my smartphone account. I was near my 300 text limit and couldn’t figure out how that happened so fast. I called CREDO and spoke to customer service.

They told me that my texting including the sending and receiving of texts as well as photographs, which I’ve been sending quite often. So I upgraded my text messaging and downgrading my phone plan because it seems I only talk to my sister and Bill. A trade off of sorts I guess.

Around 5:00 I decided to finally head out the door. But of course I didn’t actually hit the street until 25 minutes later. I walked up Washington Street, listening to the Bongos on the iPod. On the way I saw a young mother with a toddler and a baby in the carriage about to go into the building.

The toddler climbed the stoop to open the door for the mother. I figured the mother would need help carrying the carriage up the front steps so I offered to help. It was no big deal. I was smoking a cigar and lodged it in the front grate and then helped the mother up the four or five steps. After helping her out, I reclaimed my cigar and walked up the boulevard towards Maxwells.

Inside it was busy enough, people coming in for Saturday night dinners. I walked in and some guy waved to me so I waved back even though I had no idea who he was. I didn’t know anyone there so I looked at the art hanging on the wall. Great stuff, many different artists.

After a few minutes I still didn’t see anyone I knew. It was almost like the first time I went to Maxwells, just a feeling of unease from not knowing anyone. I did check in on my smartphone and decided I might have a better signal outside. Standing on the sidewalk I had a smoke and checked my bank account online and saw it was dangerously low.

I decided to head towards the river, planning on sitting on a bench. As I walked away, out of the corner of my eye I did see someone I knew, but didn’t really hang out with back in the day. Now he approached with one of his kids. I figured he didn’t see me so I had the advantage and kept walking, not turning around.

I turned the corner and felt better at being unseen. It was then I felt it would be best to go home. I saw the artwork and liked it, but couldn’t afford a pint or anything else, including a friend’s band playing in the back room as part of the Kirby Enthusiasm event. I felt bad but what could I do.

Perhaps pride got me going home, or perhaps it was shame at not having the funds. Still it was a way to save face. I feel better being home now, regretting not seeing any friends but I was there and they weren’t. Now they are there probably and I am not. That’s how it goes I suppose.

Bibliotheque





heading home



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I Don’t Even Know Myself

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

Well it’s been a nice day off, and after yesterday’s headache if it was raining cats and dogs it would still be a good day. I came home last night, Bill stayed up to wait for me which was quite nice. We talked or rather Bill listened as I told him my tales of woe.

He went to bed and I stayed up watching The Sorcerer’s Apprentice for some reason. It wasn’t that good but then again it wasn’t that bad. It was a good way to kill some time, to tire the mind and the eyes and prepare one for a good night’s sleep. And it was a good night’s sleep.

Bill was up and out at his usual time, way too early for me, but he once again kissed me goodbye before heading out. Such a nice thing. I eventually got out of bed and started my day. Had nothing planned really, just a day to decompress. I did have to do some grocery shopping and there were shirts to be dropped off at the dry cleaners.

A brief chat with Mona at the cleaners then a walk around the supermarket, pushing the shopping cart and trying to avoid the little old ladies who hog the aisles. I saw my favorite cashier Isis and she was looking good and as usual quite friendly. I came home and had a nice breakfast and after that, set about trying to figure out the smartphone and all the apps that I could get as well as surfing the net and checking emails.

A few weeks ago I got a letter from an old friend. It’s a rare thing to get a letter these days, a handwritten letter. The penmanship took some time to figure out and I felt that I in turn should respond with a letter of my own.

So for the past couple of days, I would sit on a bench by the park and write my letter. I opted to print the words out since my cursive skills seem to have fallen by the wayside. Sure a sentence here or there is relatively legible but a few pages written looks like a first draft by Ted Kaczynski, full of words crossed out and misspelled.

With a final post script I was out the door, enjoying a cigar and wandering around Hoboken eventually winding up at the Frank Sinatra Post Office by Pier A. On the way back home I stopped at the Garden of Eden and got myself a small salad since I noticed my diet had been lacking in green leafy things, to eat.

I ate that at home and soon after that I had a nap. While I slept I dreamed about our neighbor Mike who was moving lots of things in and out while Bill was trying to squeeze past Mike’s cronies to make it up the stairs to me. I set my alarm on the cellphone and also left the cellphone in the TV room while I napped.

I heard it go off and decided a few more minutes wouldn’t be so bad to sleep. It turned out to be 15 extra minutes before I got out of bed. I headed out for what is likely the last time for the day, stopping by Hoboken Daily news and seeing Andy for a few minutes before heading home and making supper for myself.

And now I am here, writing this and trying not to do much of anything else. That’s about it. My friend should get the letter in a day or two since they do live in town. I hope they enjoy it since I already forgot what it is that I wrote.






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I Cut Like A Buffalo

Monday, September 5th, 2011

It’s Labor Day and for all you republicants out there it’s a terrible day I’m sure. It was an alright day though I had to work. Getting in was no problem, except there was no 8:30 bus so I walked to the Path train and rode to 33rd Street.

I needed cigarette papers so I figured I would get off the train a stop or two earlier. My decision was made for me when it was announced that the next stop would be the stop I get off at. No worries since it was still a nice morning. Other people had to work today so I wasn’t alone in that regard.

Yesterday was an even better day since I had off. That was an early start too, but not as early as today. I ran some errands, grocery store and had a nice day at home, just chilling out. I watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and it was very very good. Quite intense, as intense as part 1.

The copy I had was a bit dark on the screen so I guess I will still go and see it in a movie theater, maybe Friday. I will go alone if I have to, just to see what I missed.

Bill was supposed to drive to Atlantic City, as a backup and found out once he was driving to his first destination, there was no need for a backup. It was OK with Bill though he did a lot of research on Saturday afternoon, finding out which roads permitted buses, which roads were under construction. He came home and after chatting a bit he went to bed.

I headed out, enjoying a cigar and walked over to Pier A where I read the New Yorker, then continued on my way up to 14th Street, and walked back down Washington Street. It certainly felt like a holiday weekend, even though I only had one day off.

I came home, Bill still napping and watched Harry Potter. Despite some audio sync problems I applauded at the end. Very good series overall each episode building tension and the final episodes were certainly top notch. Now I want to read the books and see what I missed.

I figure since the mania has died down considerably, it might be awkward to be seen reading JK Rowling in public, but public awkwardness is something that I am more than used to, so I really have nothing to worry about.

Bill had off today so he stayed up while I went to bed. My sleeping patterns have changed somewhat in the past couple of weeks. Instead of kvetching on things in my past, I find myself thinking of the future which is quite a change of pace from the past couple of decades. Somehow I fell asleep and did not even hear Bill when he came to bed.

And of course I was up too early, Bill asleep as I kissed him goodbye on his hand. He took off his sleep apnea mask so I could properly kiss him goodbye for the day. And as slow as it was in the cigar shack, I had good company in Thomas and Jerry Vale.

Those darn Warhol kids!







Peter Noel?

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