Thanksgiving day. Woke up late, slept until 8:30! Big deal. 2 and a half hours extra. Woke up it was cold. The morning shows all had Parades. I am not a fan of parades. If I had to watch them, I’d rather watch them on TV with the remote close by. I walked up to Washington Street and found the belligerent bagel shop closed.

So I went to their dreaded enemy, Dunkin Donuts. They were happy to see me. They’re happy to see anyone. Everyone gets treated the same basically, faceless efficiency. Got the papers, got some bagels and treated myself to 2 chocolate frosted donuts with sprinkles. Here it is 11:09PM and I’ve only eaten one.

Bill invited me to his cousin Hiram’s house in Yardley, PA for Thanksgiving Dinner. Quite a change from last year, where Bill was invited to his cousin’s for dinner. I was pointedly not invited. The usual lame argument, ‘don’t want to explain Bill’s friend to the kids’. The kids live a block away from the East Village. No way will they see same sex couples. I guess fostering the idea of being gay equals being evil is more important than education. And there was also his cousin’s elderly mother who certainly doesn’t know anything about evil gay people.

So to be invited this year was a major accomplishment. Julio was surprised that I was going after not being invited the previous year. I told them it was important that I go. To let them know that being gay was ok. There was no need for that. Bill’s cousin Hiram, ex-marine, big man specifically stated that it was a house of love and all were welcome. So nice to run into nice Christians. They seem so few and far between these days. They don’t get the press that the not so nice Christians get.

The plan was for me to meet Bill and his cousin, Carmen in Newark. They would be on such and such car and to be on that specific car. Oddly enough that was the plan that was put in place earlier in the week. Funnily enough, this morning the plan didn’t make sense at all for me this morning.

So I let Bill know that I’d meet him and Carmen at Penn Station. It’s closer than Newark and the chance of the plan falling apart didn’t seem as great. I walked to the PATH and got off at the ass end of the parade. Streets closed off, quite a few people on sidewalks, no one in the street except for me and a few other brave souls.


Met Carmen, Bill was late. When he arrived we walked to the platform and saw the train was standing room only. Carmen who has leg problems wouldn’t be able to stand the strain of standing so we opted for the next train. Which was fine. I was able to go outside and smoke a cigar until the next train.

After the Padron we went to the platform of the next train and were the first on. We had a choice of seats and picked 2 by the entrance/exit. Nice ride, comfy and cozy. We were in Trenton in about an hour. Not much to look at on the ride there, and it started to rain. The temperature dropped considerably.

Hiram met us at the station. I met him and his wife Chris, previously at his father’s wake. This was a lot better than that. Hiram is a gregarious guy. Very nice and warm. Bill really looks up to him like an older brother and he couldn’t have made a better choice. Adult children, no kids. All very pleasant.


Dinner was great, dessert was great. Lot’s of talk by a fireplace, political and otherwise. Very comfortable and warm.

Soon it was time to go back. It was even colder. I had hoped the train would be empty for the ride back from Trenton, but 2 stations later it was packed. I separated from Bill and Carmen and sat listening to Rufus Wainwright, Want Two in its entirety. Brilliant of course. And I was able to finish the New Yorker from 3 weeks ago, so I’m almost caught up.

Manhattan was frigid. Worse then deepest New Jersey and very windy. We waited for Carmen’s’ car to drive her to the Bronx. Julio called while we were waiting, telling me how cold it was. Of course he called from inside his toasty apartment. Good to know how cold it is when you’re outside in the cold.

Carmen’s car came and Bill and I made a beeline to the PATH where we luckily made it on before the doors closed.

Hoboken was warmer than Manhattan and therefore more welcoming. Bill is in bed. All is well.

Wintertime is coming, windows are filled with frost. 27 degrees when I woke this morning. Did my usual walk to work, listening to Brian Eno’s Another Day On Earth. It was business casual today, though I opted to wear a suit and tie. I got an egg sandwich on the way to work and picked up the Village Voice. Been reading it for years, a habit I cannot break. I still read certain columns, but of course I mainly scan the music ads. See who’s coming up, who’d I’d like to see.

The Roches are playing Town Hall, The McGarrigle X’mas Show is at Carnegie Hall with Rufus and Martha Wainwright in attendance. I’d love to see both, but probably will see neither. Nothing against them, but in my dotage, I’m becoming more of a homebody. I just stay in more and more. I live on the top floor of a five story walk up so that is a major factor, though it’s more the concept of walking up four flights of stairs, than the actual act.

And I almost always have a good time when I go out. Save money staying home that’s for sure. Julio’s usually around and he comes up for visits sometimes. 2 flights for him. He’s been a pal for a while, almost 20 years. Him and Pedro, I met them both in a space of a few months. Two very distinct personalities.

Both make me laugh like no other and both know me very well. A little too well sometimes. Sometimes all it takes is an arched eyebrow and a whole rationale is spoken.

I’ve partied with both of them, though Julio more so since he’s always lived close by. Former co conspirators.

I’ve been thinking about trying to remain in the city after work and do something fun, but I’m usually so mentally battered and bruised I just smoke my cigar and walk to the PATH train.

Today was different.

I decided to walk on the seedy side of the street. I had gotten out of work early and decided to go to a booth store. Yes, I dipped my toe in the water and found it sticky.
I got on the train to go to City Hall and walk a block or two but wound up going to Brooklyn instead. I like Brooklyn but it was not on my agenda for this afternoon. For the first time in years I decided to allow the little head to make the plan.

So I got off the train at the first stop in Brooklyn, Atlantic Ave which shows how far into Brooklyn the N train can take you unwillingly. AN R train returning to Manhattan appeared and soon I was back in Oz.

Got off at City Hall as I wanted to earlier and walked to Ann Street. There I climbed the stairs and paid my fee. It was dark, it was dank and there really wasn’t much to look at. I walked around for about a half hour. Trying to look so stoically sexy, but no one was appealing really. There were a few trolls there, some twinks. I guess I represented the bears.

For those playing at home, Trolls are generally older guys, not too handsome, a bit out of shape sometimes. Sometimes they have magical gifts though, so I don’t write them off. Twinks I write off without any problems whatsoever. Twinks are twenty somethings, usually hairless, sometimes blond and really skinny and trendy. Trendy twinks in tweed are sometimes tweaked by Tina.

And the bears. The bears are usually nice, hirsute, a bit chubby, furry and bearded. I have a goatee, some hair on my chest, and a touch of a belly. That makes me a bear. Also bears are usually over 35. Under 35 with the same stats, makes one a cub.

Though nothing happened really, I did enjoy myself. I’ll probably go back. Just got to take the right train and not wind up in Brooklyn.

And don’t worry Sunshine, it’s all safe.