March 23, 2026. A Monday. My niece Meghan’s birthday. She’s also my goddaughter, though, since I am now an atheist, I do not think that carries much weight. She was upset when I told her that years ago. 30 years ago? Maybe more, maybe less. Meghan was born on a Monday in 1981, when I was on the HBJ bowling team.

I remember in the middle of the three games of bowling that I was summoned to the courtesy counter and was handed the phone, telling me Elaine had given birth by cesarean section. and that everyone was fine and doing well.
I was called a ‘Punkle’ since I was very much enamored with Punk Rock back then.

Meghan has grown up to be a fine woman, and a good mother to Shelby and wife to Rob. She’s smart and seems to have it all together, which is weird considering how my family could be. I can’t say I was that good a godfather since my own godfather was my father’s brother, who lived out on Long Island, and I saw him maybe once a year. According to my brother Brian, he was a mean drunk and was close to my father up to a point.

Last night Bill was home. He will be off once again until next week. Mike has been suggesting coming over, but I am holding off until maybe Thursday, though Friday would be ideal. Bill and I watched ‘Prick Up Your Ears’ by Stephen Frears, screenplay by Alan Bennett, and starring Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, Wallace Shawn, and Vanessa Redgrave. I thought I was showing it to Bill for the first time but he said I had shown it once before. We both figured it was on DVD which makes it maybe 20 years ago.

I initially saw it in a cinema on the Upper West Side with Steve Saporito, back when I was smitten by his swarthiness. It was probably the first time I had seen Gary Oldman or Alfred Molina in a movie, and now I know I am generally in for a treat when I see a movie that has one of them in it. It was good to watch again despite the brutal story and ending.

It is a dismal Monday. Rainy days and Mondays and all that. Paul Williams is still with us. Not sure about Roger Nichols. I am guessing Paul wrote the lyrics and Roger wrote the music. That seems to make the most sense. I did play the Carpenters first thing when setting up my desk. I grew up with Karen’s voice and I do get a kick from the story of how Karen Carpenter and John Lennon were passing each other at a restaurant, and John took the time to tell Karen how much he loved her voice.

Karen was surprised by this and asked her companion who might have been a mutual friend of the both of them if he meant, ‘I have to tell you Luv, I think you have a great voice’ to be true, and the mutual friend assured her that John Lennon did not dispense compliments halfheartedly,

Just had a flashback to Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. I was currently walking through the fruit stand office and thought to myself that I have been up for more than 2 hours.

Then I was back in the college book department, seeing Dave Manzo and John Carroll. I looked up Manzo the other day for no particular reason. He’s not a social media person but his wife is.

Dave didn’t like me and I didn’t know. Another instance where the love for my mother saved my ass. And like I said, Dave didn’t like me and I was oblivious. So oblivious that Nick Lattanzio and I went to check in on him when Manzo was thrown to the curb in that purge in early 1982.

Rich Kovalcick was a Rankin Bass character that somehow escaped from the North Pole and wound up managing a packing line in Saddle Brook NJ. Oh he despised me very much. He looked like the foreman in the toy factory.

People like this float to the surface like bubbles of methane. Just letting my mind wander, and this is where I wind up. It is Friday, March 20, 2026. The first day of spring. Bill is off on the road until Sunday, and Mike is supposed to come by, but I haven’t heard from Mike in a few days. I tried calling but it goes to voicemail so nothing is said.

I am fine if he shows up and I am fine if he does not.

Careless wishes

Mike ordered some fetish gear and was having it sent to the fruit stand. Initially he was having it sent to my apartment but I advised him that it was not that good an idea, and to send it to my office. Well the order was supposed to be delivered yesterday and it wasn’t. I checked the delivery and it was being sent from Maspeth, Queens.

He also messed up the billing address. As I went to get my Halal lunch we spoke on the phone and I told him he should’ve checked the address. He was upset with that saying he didn’t need to hear no woulda coulda shoulda. I told him I would call after I get my food and he should call the company.

Later he told me he called the company and got voicemail. I have my doubts about that. He then said he would not be coming over this weekend. It had been three weekends on a row. I told him I was thinking the same thing. That more than likely took him by surprise. I tried to call him, and he didn’t answer.

He’s probably entertaining gentleman callers. He can’t do that here in Hoboken. He claims he likes being here, it’s more filled with life than his crib in a sketchy part of Jersey City. He can stay on his air mattress and watch videos all night long on his phone. He watches videos on his phone while he’s here, but we provide comfort.

On top of all that Disney+, Hulu and HBO Max have been acting up.