Tag Archives: The Caterpillar Book

Down in the Depths

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The day is Thursday. Oddly enough it’s been a bright and sunny day. Me, I’ve been morose at best.

It was most noticeable this morning while walking to the office in midtown Manhattan. The day started off kind of depressing. Nothing in particular but then again everything in particular. Perhaps it’s all from waking up on the wrong side of the bed, but then again if that was the case, everyday would be like today.

And it isn’t like this everyday..

What happened? Let’s see, I was almost hit by a Coach USA bus in midtown. The driver insisted he was in the right since the Don’t Walk sign started flashing as I was midway through the intersection, enabling him to justify almost killing me.

Flipping him the middle finger didn’t bring the satisfaction that it used to. I got the bus number, but not the ‘How’s My Driving?’ 800 number. Took a picture of it but by the time I got to my office I stopped caring. What is it with bus drivers? Why are they such an unruly sort?

Shortly after the bus incident, I walk past some guy with what appears to be Tourette’s Syndrome screaming quite loudly either at me or in my direction. So that is basically the start of my day.

My sister seemed to pick up on my blue mood 3000 miles away. She suggested taking a walk to clear my head, but having walked from 50th Street and Third Avenue to 30th Street and Sixth Avenue and then from the Path train to Sixth and Park in Hoboken didn’t clear my head to begin with.

I think staying in and not seeing anyone is the perfect remedy.

Last night after vacillating back and forth about whether to go out, I went out. I walked up to the Whiskey Bar a little after 9:00 and saw my friend John Williams play in his band, The Caterpillar Book.

Why the Caterpillar Book for a band name? I couldn’t tell you. They were good, competent musicians, John was a tasteful guitarist.

They write their own songs which made it odd to see them at the Whiskey Bar since it’s mainly a place where cover bands play. Pearl Jam & U2 tribute bands, but on Wednesday nights, bands playing originals are welcome.

The Caterpillar Book is pretty much a Jersey Shore band, good but a little too AOR for my tastes. But like I said they were good, but not my cuppa.

I also got carded at the door by a handsome cugine who could have been my son if not for the bulging muscles in the tight black t shirt and the black hair straight out of Bensonhurst.

I know this blue feeling, or period, won’t last and will probably be gone by tomorrow.

My three day weekend begins with laundry and then who knows?

I hope to get some bike riding in. Don’t know where to or how far but if the weather is permitting, that is what I might just do.

Right now I’m just glad to be home, away from people.

Ha! Juan just called, he might be stopping by. He’s not people.
"How's My Driving?" The bus that almost ran me over.

The bus that almost ran me over. “How’s My Driving?”

Johnny Du Lump

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Back from work on this Wednesday. Everyone at work is getting on each others nerves. I guess it might be attributed to the fact that it’s tax time. I spent most of the day trying to be busy.

At one point I went out for one of my own errands which threw the office into disarray. I was gone for about 45 minutes and got a few phone calls asking if I had gone home for the day.

When I got back Vivek’s partner gave me a check for $8,000. He needed the cash and wanted to know if he should make it out to Cash or to me.

I told him cash since I didn’t have $8,000 for the check to clear. They weren’t going to give me the cash, not without something in my bank account. Something like $8,000.

Heard from Annemarie. She and her husband had driven down to Oakland CA to see Leonard Cohen. I wrote about the fiasco in getting the tickets and she wound up getting 2 pair. Luckily she was able to sell the extra set of tickets.

She said it was a wonderful show and that old Mr. Cohen was in fine form, playing for 3.5 hours. Not bad for a 74 year old geezer. I just can’t get into Leonard Cohen. I’ve tried but can’t seem to connect. I enjoy other people’s versions of his songs.

I really enjoyed the movie, I’m Your Man with Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Nick Cave, U2 and the dreaded Antony singing his songs at a show in Australia. I’m always willing to give Lenny another chance though.

Last night was a mild night. Bill came home just after Lawn Hors d’oeuvre SUV. It was a pretty good episode, touching on the case of the Austrian woman who was held captive for years by her father and sexually abused by him.

Today was also the Tea Bagging day. I was willing to participate and do some tea bagging myself, but it only works if someone is with you and I couldn’t find anyone willing.

I did try to see how the other tea bagging parties were going on around the country but couldn’t find any examples. Perhaps if I get a chance later I will check on X tube and catch some footage of frottage and tea bagging.

Or I can just watch John Waters ‘Pecker’ again and watch the tea bagging scenes there, with Martha Plimpton yelling ‘Trade is my life!’.

Not John Waters best in my book. That would be Hairspray which is a desert island movie for me.

Tonight I may go see an old friend of mine, John Williams play with his band, The Caterpillar Book. They’re playing at the Whiskey Bar which used to be Live Tonight and before that, The Beaten Path.

John used to play bass with the Cucumbers and was the chief technician at Skyline Studios where we both worked.

The funny thing is, I had seen the Cucumbers a handful of times, but I guess that since Jon and Deena were the front line, I didn’t pay much attention to the rhythm section. Lost is on at 9:00 which is when The Caterpillar Book is scheduled to go on.

I’ll record Lost and check out the band. That’s the plan.