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°.

For some reason, Tony Orlando and Dawn are in my head singing ‘Say has anybody seen my sweet gypsy Rose ‘. I swear I haven’t heard that song in 50 years. Now it plays on a loop.

Now it is Jim Croce Time in a Bottle. I just spent a few hours with Annemarie and Elaine. We went up to Goshen NY to see my friend Sarah’s art exhibition. I’ve known Sarah for a number of years but hadn’t seen her in about 14 years.

It was nerve wracking. Annemarie rented a car but there was no easy pass so no toll roads could be taken. When I travel with Bill he handles all that. It was not that way with Annemarie and with Elaine and I having travel apps on our phone, it all added to confusion.

That made things stressful and not very comfortable so the road part of the trip was very stressful and it was even more stressful coming back. I had them drop me off a few blocks away from the train station since roads were closed due to a FIFA thing happening nearby

Not 100% sure of where to go or what to do I asked a traffic cop or at least a woman in their fluorescent vest with a stop sign in her hand which way to the train station and she proceeded to send me in the wrong direction.

There were plenty of police officers around but I did not feel comfortable asking any of them especially since two of them were in their gigantic SUVs conversing with each other one cop and each SUV with the window rolled down talking about whatever it is they talked about

I was playing steely Dan in the car and when I got out near the stadium where this FIFA event was happening the cover band was playing steely Dan I thought that was a sign but it was merely a sign of idiocy on my part especially since I did follow the woman in the fluorescent fest with the stop signs instructions and halfway there realized this was a mistake

Annemarie and Elaine went off to get falafels. There’s no time for me to do both have a falafel and catch the train so I opted for the train. It was good seeing Sarah she’s been through a hard time with her idiotic husband or now ex-husband since he was a scumbag then and even more of a scumbag now

And I have about halfway through the wait for the train, spending 15 minutes so far sitting at the bench and another 15 minutes waiting for the train to show up. The 15 minutes came and went. I was seated across from a 24 year old young man looking forward to retiring and moving to Colombia real soon. His positivity was infectious as was his enthusiasm. He got off at the next stop and I made my way home to do my laundry.

I’m looking forward to sleeping.