Sunday was Pride, Sunday was Julio’s birthday. I haven’t seen Julio since he literally ran into me at the Art & Music Fair, which is something he never attends. But there he was with wife, Stine. I wished him the best. His oldest, Alexander, has graduated from high school and is off to college. The youngest, Christian is still in the grammar school system.

Monday was Bill’s birthday. We had a plan to go to Sandy Hook. Annemarie suggested it Friday but it was overcast. Monday was better. Annemarie had been chauffeuring all over North Jersey and since Bill loves to drive it was decided that he would drive to Sandy Hook. Mike was supposed to join Annemarie, Bill & me but an interview was scheduled so he dropped out.

Once again, a route was needed to be taken without using toll roads. A bit stressful once again but this was Bill’s forte. He knew where to go. Annemarie sat in the back as I sat up front next to Bill. I was trying to be a good DJ, satisfying Annemarie’s taste as well as pleasing the birthday boy.

I had also forgotten or blacked it out of my mind how Bill drives a car. He drives a car like he was driving a bus. It’s nerve-wracking and a bit frightening. It was on Monday afternoon. Bill can be so fucking stubborn, we almost hit another car when he decided to make a right turn from the left lane in an intersection.

Annemarie noticed it as did I. I have a pet peeve about people making turns like that from the wrong lane. The ride back was fraught with disappointment. As usual we had ice cream in Rumson, and on the way towards the highway, where we should have made a right turn, Bill decided to make a left and take us further away from where we needed to go.

It was so fucking stupid, and like I said, Bill could be so stubborn there would be no point in telling him. So suppression was the way to go. It was largely an uncomfortable return and I don’t know if Annemarie ro Bill felt uncomfortable. Not much conversation occurred during that oh so long trip back to Hoboken.

We parted ways in front of my building, Annemarie headed to Garfield, and Bill and I climbed up the four flights. On Saturday, during my grocery shopping I bought a red velvet cake, which Bill likes. But it was not enough and Bill wanted a chocolate mousse cake as well.

I had 2 birthday cards for Bill as well as 2 gifts. He ignored the cards and went right to the gifts which was also another disappointment. He didn’t notice or open the cards until the next day. I was at work, and it was busy yet quiet.

The whole day I kept telling myself to be nice, it’s Bill’s birthday. So I was nice and swallowed anything untoward.

Today it is not busy and very quiet.

Not much going on. It’s a summer holiday week and many people are out, or at least, working from home.

20 minutes before lunch we’re spent watching a man and a woman who climbed to the top of the empire State building to unfurl a flag that said when the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace this is usually attributed to Jimi Hendrix but it might be from somebody else.

I watched with sweaty palms and a nauseous feeling as the man and the woman did what they did.

the man knelt down and proposed to the woman before they descended and were arrested by NYPD.

The guy that I went to grammar school and high school that has a scar on his chest in the shape of a T was in the helicopter flying above and reporting as only some guy from Lodi could.

I’m usually the only O’Toole around. Meaning one of the four remaining from Riverview Ave. And when there is interaction between one of the three remaining there is a chemical reaction. Not bad but adjustments need to be made.

Yesterday with Annemarie was just that. We talk every weekend but yesterday was the first time in a few years that we were next to each other. She probably forgot that I can be a moody bitch and I forgot about her abrasive nature. Nag nag nag.

And that was not who my sister was today. Since everything went well, it was all pleasant. The B52s’ Theme for a Nude Beach is playing in my head. Not their best but it does have enough charm to play in my head 40 years later.

Friday Annemarie suggested Sandy Hook. It was overcast and I made a suggestion to go to Goshen NY to see my friend Sarah Fortner and her art which was part of a group show. It seemed to be the right idea until it was revealed that we needed to take roads without tolls since Annemarie did not have EZ-Pass and there are no cash options at toll plazas anymore.

That made things stressful. Google maps had it so we can look at toll free roads but accessing them proved formidable. We did make it though, spending an hour or so with Sarah and looking at art. The ride back was fraught with stress since the maps suggested but were not accessible. Sarah looked good with her son David. She’s divorced from the cunt known as Bob.

It took a while to get to Route 17 and we were driving through and around Bear Mountain, where Annemarie did not want to be. Elaine was in the backseat looking at her maps, I was in the front passenger seat looking at my maps and basically getting nowhere. We did make it and there was a plan to get falafels and to get me on a train back to Hoboken but that would not work out, so no falafels for me.

I split from Annemarie and Elaine in East Rutherford where a female traffic cop gave me to the wrong directions to get to the train station. A few years ago I would have cursed her out but I was not caring much at all and just wanted to get home, knowing I had about a half hour wait.

I forgot I wrote about that already.

Saturday was different. Things were easier. An easy train ride to Garfield then a drive to Maywood where Annemarie and I met Brian and Karen. A Greek restaurant near one of my old haunts which turned mout to be quite good for lunch. I inhaled my order

It’s probably in my head because there was a plan to go to Sandy Hook on Monday. Annemarie, Bill, Mike, and I, with a possibility of Elaine. Sandy Hook does have a nude beach. Mike has a job interview on Monday afternoon so he won’t be joining us.

That was Saturday. Today is Tuesday. I had the day off on Monday. On Sunday, Bill, Mike, & me went to the Pride parade in Manhattan. We went last year, and we had a good time. This year was a good time as well, though lacking the initial enthusiasm as 2025.

Mike slept over on Saturday so it made things easier for Sunday. Bill had driven on Saturday and came home around 11PM which was bedtime for me. Bill and Mike stayed up and chatted, and I was off to sleep.

Sunday was Pride Day. Mike was very excited and bolstered our tired enthusiasm. We made it over to the fruit stand and even though they were closed on weekends, I had a key. We were able to be in close proximity to where we were last year. A shaded concrete area with a small wall to sleep on.

Earlier in the week, I bought some Gatorade to drink. Last year we searched for the sports drink and found some very warm Gatorade. This year, I had ours in the fridge.

We sat around the fruit stand for a few minutes enjoying snacks and each other’s company. We were soon on the street again, torn between watching the parade on Fifth Avenue and the people walking up and down the sidewalk.

It was a fun decision to make. Last year Mike got a kick when the Puerto Rican float went by and when the Irish float passed and Bill and I actually were happy to cheer them on. This year we didn’t see those contingents.

We did walk over to Seventh Ave to see the ending of the Pride parade but it was way too crowded, it was very hot and we were tired. We walked up Sixth Ave to 33rd Street to catch a seat on the Path train back to Hoboken.

Once in Hoboken we walked over to Grimaldi’s for some very good pizza, and then home.

I will write more about Monday tomorrow. I am tired again and it’s quite hot out. It is 81°.