Monthly Archives: March 2006

Are Everything

3 Replies

A nice day. Mellow, pleasant to go out. I read the papers most of the day and chatted online with various friends from the past few years. I enjoyed chatting with a few of them, and some new friends too. Juan made an appearance and we fell into a surreal Abbott and Costello routine that we sometimes do to the annoyance of most everyone in the main room. A welcome change from the usual, ‘Any Tops Online’.

Actually was invited by david209 to check out a spa in Palisades Park and I actually went. I’ve chatted with David for years now. A sweetheart of a guy. It was nice, whirlpool baths, dry and steam saunas. Hey it was something out of the ordinary and totally innocent. Just relaxing for an hour or two. I feel super clean and probably could have used the sauna when detoxing the other day.

The majority of guys were Korean with 3 Hassidic men there and David and myself. Strange company to keep. After an hour, David and I had enough and decided to leave. It was fun. Nice modern sauna, no hanky panky.

David offered to take me back to Bloomfield to his apartment but I begged off. He was cool and dropped me off in Hoboken where I wandered some more and met up with Bill who had just passed by on the 126 bus from New York.

I was a beautiful evening as we walked down Washington Street, Bill talking and me smoking a Padron. Didn’t run into anyone we knew which was odd and pleasing. With Bill coming home from the gym and me returning from a shvitz, we were both pretty mellow.

Bill has been wearing Old Spice aftershave which has been provoking strong memories of my father which does not lend itself to erotic feelings at all. I just asked if he would wash his face to lose the aroma and he’s doing that right now. I told Bill about studies that prove that the sense of smell is the strongest sense that provokes memories. I am grateful and won’t be so reluctant to kiss him.

Now chatting with Juan about transferring Buzzcocks cd’s.

Tonight is the Academy Awards. Julio is expected so the usual couch positions are reserved. I’ll sit by the computer, trying to give a play by play as the show unfolds.

Jon Stewart was very funny, very dry which will surely guarantee him a description of failure. Too intellectual and hip, and mocking of Hollywood. Brilliant!

George Clooney just won best supporting actor. Nice speech. Self Mocking! Brilliant and earnest. The clip of George in bed with Jon Stewart was hilarious. Ben Stiller is funny in green screen suit. Wallace and Gromit. Dolly Parton. Sixty something? Did she have work done? Wearing a corset? These are the questions that float around the room as she testifies and Travels through. Owen and Luke Wilson. I’d hang with them. Irish guy won short film, camera keeps going to a woman quite happy he’s won, but remains in shadows.
Animation award. Not paying much attention. Memoirs of a Geisha wins best costume. A tribute to historical portrayals. A commercial with a T.Rex remix of ‘Get It On’. Will Farrell is funny. Make Up awards, with Steve Carrell. Hilarious. Jon Stewart, too cool for school.

Best supporting actress goes to Rachel Weiss. Didn’t see it. She looked good. Julio mentions her enormous breasts. Great commercial spoofs. Terrance Howard short documentary. He looks hot. Charlize Theron crazy thing on shoulder long documentary. March of the Penguins? Murderball? Penguins win.

J.Lo introduces a song from Crash. Geisha wins again? Over King Kong? Ach. So now it’s a boring speech by the President of AMPAS. I’m out.

Street Parade

Leave a reply

Last night was quite entertaining with my brother Frank. Unfortunately we inadvertently shut Bill out most of the time. Such constant riffing and free associating can be difficult and not to mention the in jokes. Only Brian or Annemarie would be able to keep the pace, we’re that exclusive. Out of the partners or spouses, Elaine, by default would probably be the one who has the best chance to understanding the four siblings since she’s been married to Frank for ages. 30 years? More? It’s a blur.

Playing a track from REM’s ‘Murmur’. Their first album. Man it takes me back to a trip down to visit my cousins for a family reunion. I am so there in the back seat playing ‘Perfect Circle’ on my brand new Walkman2. Visiting the cousins from my mother’s side. The Bordentown contingent. A lovely and lively bunch.

Bill got up early this morning and did my morning routine of bagels and newspapers. I slept in which was quite nice. Slept rather well. Woke up at my leisure, read the papers, had some eggs. Bill had left to fulfill some familial duties.

Today was ST. Patrick’s Day in Hoboken and remembering from past experiences I knew that the bars and pubs would be full at 11AM. By 3PM there will be lines outside of them. It was a bright and sunny day and cold with a nasty bitter wind. Perfect weather for the Irish to have a parade no? Puerto Ricans have the right idea.

So I bundled up, got the camera, the Ipod and of course a Padron. Wandered around on my own. Last year met up with Rand and Lisa but haven’t heard from them in a while. Are they busy? Jehovah’s Witnesses? Am I on the outs? Is it 4:20?

Now playing ‘Isn’t It A Pity’ by George Harrison. I remember I bought this form Annemarie when I visited Arcata in 2001. Really a great record, lush production. I remember Anne saying she forgot how many great songs are on it. I remember going through Two Guy’s Department Store playing it on my pre boombox tape recorder. Loudly.

Bill just called and he’s babysitting his nephews/cousins. For free. I told him babysitters get PAID. The concept escapes him. Then again the last time I baby-sat, I got paid in food and access to cable TV.

Back to the parade. I found an old friend Gary from McSwells. He was watching the parade with his bud Danny from the prime vantage point of my bus stop. Various commentaries from the three of us as various groupings representing city hall, fire departments from around the area and different bars and pubs with a sprinkling of brand recognition pass us by.

And of course that brand recognition did its job and triggered an appetitive for Guinness. I mentioned this to Gary and Danny who seemed nonplussed at the idea. Could it be I forgot that Gary is a nocturnal drinker? But maybe they just vanted to be alone.

They split when the parade ended and I moseyed over to the Liquor store and bought a four pack of Guinness which I didn’t touch until the sun went down. Some kind of restraint.

here’s some pics