Another beautiful day in Manhattan. Penultimate Friday for October. Some higher up’s are meandering through the office which hampers my style and my plans. Nevertheless I will persevere. So quiet in the fruit stand today. Trying to look busy takes a lot of effort.

Listening to The Story of Jamaican Music. I bought the box set for Julio in 1993. He was with me at Tower Records on Fourth Street in the basement where they sold reggae music. There were only a few copies available and Julio nabbed one and I was about to nab one when Richard Gere got it instead, telling someone on the phone that he was getting it for Cindy, his then wife, Cindy Crawford.

I silently cursed Richard Gere and it was only another week that I was able to get a box set for Julio for Christmas which was when he gave me my copy of the same thing. It was an easier time,things were simpler. Now I live with Bill for the past 24 years and Julio has been living a few blocks away for about 18 years.

Yesterday I brought a can of THC seltzer. I decided to drink it at work to see the effects I might feel out of my usual environment at home. I had a can the other night and I couldn’t tell. I had a can around 3:00 pm and an hour later I was just full of love and supportiveness. It was sincere though I didn’t think anyone would notice. And though the train was crowded I had a zen like contentedness that got me through the 10 minute train from 14th to Hoboken.

I’m not going to do that every day. It made me quite chatty though not overwhelmingly like it used to be when I was making brownies. Those were the days, the days when weed was abundant, when Jesse was still in the states. I don’t know the real story of his departure, or even if he did leave to go back to Guyana. Did he self-deport? Did he see the writing on the wall?

Jesse left, the sweet woman, Arti, at the supermarket went back to India. I admit my feelings are selfish. I liked these people and didn’t want them to go but they have their own lives.

Lunch was pleasant. I had hoped to take a walk and go to a magazine shop in the Village but there were too many underlings running around and didn’t want to draw attention to myself in case I was running late. I would’ve picked up an issue of Mojo that hasn’t been delivered (yet) and a copy of Uncut which seemed appealing.

I could do that next week or when I’m working in the belly once again, which according to the calendar is next Wednesday. There is a magazine shop on 37th street across from where Skyline Studios used to be.

Mike is planning on coming over tonight and Bill may make an appearance at some point this weekend. He mentioned something about it but I’ve told him that I do prefer to read his itinerary.
Mike is not coming over since a furniture delivery has been scheduled for some point tomorrow. Bill is ensconced at a hotel near the Willowbrook Mall which was exotic to me once upon a time…

Bill is scheduled for a Hoboken appearance tomorrow.

Thursday morning. I tell myself that I do my best writing in the morning. Whether or not it’s true remains to be seen. I was on the phone last night with Bill and Mike which overall was a couple of hours. Right now I am in an on camera meeting with my fellow fruit pickers and overseers. So far nothing has been said regarding the intruder the other day when I was out.

Listening to Girl Talk right now. Night Ripper. Been quite a while since I last played. More memories of Juan. Juan and I saw Greg Gillis aka Girl Talk at Terminal 5, 16 years ago.

Also dealing with the once very good TDBank, now they are awful. Reliability is a thing of the past it seems. If you misplaced your debit card they could replace it within minutes, it would only take a ten minute trip to a branch. When I discovered my debit card was misplaced on Sunday I figured that is what I would need to do.

When I got to the branch across from the fruit stand I approached the teller and explained what I needed. They informed me that they don’t do that anymore. I asked since when and they said it started (or stopped) in Jan 2026. It seems there was not much money in courtesy. Better to keep the customer antsy and in a situation where things will take 7 to 10 days rather than 7 to 10 minutes.

This is what they call progress. TD Bank used to have No Fee debit cards that you can use at any ATM.They ended that program. There used to be 4 branches in Hoboken two uptown, one midtown and one downtown. Now there is only one.

I called the TD Bank customer line to check the status of my shipment. The first customer service representative told me my order was being shipped via UPS. That was distressful since UPS doesn’t have building access. I asked to speak with her manager and with a heavy sigh she sent me to her manager.

I was told it would be a waiting time of 1 to 2 minutes. She was off by 8 minutes. The next person, the manager, told me the item was being sent via the United States Postal Service. Then she laughed at the confusion I seemed to be in. So, sometime next week I may get my debit card. But really, TD Bank has gotten truly awful.

There was a camera meeting this morning. I didn’t have much to say, and Yancy mentioned that some things said personally should be kept confidential. A little after the fact but the point was made. Hopefully that was the last to be said of that topic. The rest would be up to me, I reckon.

It looks like another beautiful day outside and I am looking forward to going out.

I had a dream that had Sarah Fortner in it as well as Robert Isacco. I used to call Isacco, Bobby Rissoto when he was deep in the closet and didn’t want his mother to know he was gay. Then he met Greg and they exchanged rings and I guessed he was out of the wardrobe.

Anyway, the Sarah Fortner dream with Bob Isacco took place in Bryant Park and I was hoping to borrow some cash from Sarah for bus fare. She hopped on her bike with her son on the back and pedaled off before I could ask.

I mentioned to Bobby Isacco that I was surprised that Sarah had her son with her. Then I woke up on October 22, 2026.