July | 2006 | johnozed

This is how it should’ve been done. Some time off, breathing space then into the new job. I should’ve taken a week or two between jobs in April but no, I basically jumped right in from the frying pan into the fire. Today wasn’t so bad, the four days off really cleared my head somewhat. Getting up and going to work wasn’t so bad today, it was something to do.

Felicia is off this week, meaning having three days off, Linda is in England on holiday. It wasn’t so bad. I worked next to Paula who worked at the job I have a while ago. She’s a sweet girl, very funny and gets my jokes. Also feels the same way about several coworkers, like Web, Baldy and Dondi. Web is on holiday too. Dondi returned from holiday and Baldy is just a jerk plain and simple.

I was out having a smoke and Baldy walks up towards me, and I say ‘Hey’. He just looks at me and kept walking. Hey it’s not my fault I have a fine luxurious head of hair. He’s also the Diesel jeans wearer. Maybe if he was twenty something he could pull it off but with that cue ball for a skull it emphasizes how out of step he really is. But then again he could be out of step since his foot keeps getting caught from the four inch cuffs on the leg of his jeans.

It was great having Paula around, since I’m usually so lonesome where I sit. She’s a good kid. She’s an actor as well and we discussed things like AFTRA and SAG and Actor’s Equity, things that I know of through Bill. The day flew by. I was able to actually have a relaxing lunch. There’s also a new friend in the office, Alan who’s a really funny cat. Smart and hip and in my age range so he gets a lot of what I talk about.

He’s also gay which is a plus. We discuss men and places to go, what bars have good music. He had a lazy weekend and said I should’ve called when I went to Coney Island. I should’ve, I have his number. Before you get any ideas, dear reader, know this fact. He’s a friend and I don’t have play dates with friends.

I was able to leave early today, 5:30 thanks to Paula working until 6:00. I strolled down to the World Trade Center Path train, smoking a La Gloria Cubana Serie R #6. It’s a cigar I had for special occasions and since no special occasions were on the horizon where I could smoke a cigar, the end of the work day was the special occasion. Nice walk, it took me about 30 minutes to get from Houston Street to the Path train.

I listened to N*E*R*D*’s first record, ‘In Search of…’ Pedro turned me onto them. I’ll never forget hearing them while sitting on the rock at Summerstage while they played. I was ballsy enough to call him while he was working his shift at Riker’s Island to let him know how great the band was. As things go, they’re second album was nowhere near as good as the first. Sophomore jinx in action. I even tried giving it the best chance possible, after not liking it when I first got it, I still loaded it into the iPod, and today I decided to remove it. Too bad, but I did give it a chance.

The Fourth of July. The United States is 230 years old. Been a mellow day, kind of lazy. Watched a cool DVD last night called ‘We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen’. The Minutemen were a group from San Pedro who were definitely into punk, but had a funky edge. I saw them a few times back in the day at McSwells. Out of all the bands that passed through there on a semi-regular basis, the Minutemen ruled.

It’s a bittersweet DVD since the band fell apart after D.Boon’s fatal car accident 20 or so years ago. Mike Watt and George Hurley continued with Ed From Ohio as fIREHOSE, but it wasn’t the same. Mike and Boon were old friends since they were kids and loved music fiercely. It’s definitely worth seeing. I think my nephew Earl would like it. Perhaps I’ll buy it for his birthday.

Yesterday before I headed out to Coney Island, I watched the final episode of Six Feet Under. I knew what I was getting myself into, and it wasn’t depressing. It was actually life affirming. Great performances all around, especially Lauren Ambrose. She drove away with the show on that episode. Still haven’t seen it with Bill. That would be nice.

What I did see with Bill, and that was today, was ‘Cars’. A Pixar film with Paul Newman and Owen Wilson. It was good and of course it was cute. It wasn’t 100% good though since there were no buses featured. It was a nice way to spend an early overheated afternoon. We walked around Times Square over to Bryant Park when it suddenly felt like rain so we hightailed it back to the bus terminal.

It was a summer shower when we got off the bus and it was all over in about 5 minutes. Pleasant now, nice breezes abound. Neighbors having parties. I was invited to a few parties, not in this neighborhood which may be a deciding factor. Bill’s having a nap, I’m watching a documentary on Punk Rock directed by Don Letts who is a mate of your friend and mine, Mick Jones.

Henry Rollins is talking about how rigid some punk fans could be. He was talking about how Public Image Ltd. was more interesting than the Sex Pistols, and he’s right. I like Henry. He’s a righteous dude. I remember him sitting at McSwells drinking cup after cup of black coffee. No one really approached him as he sat and wrote in his journal.

Now it’s the straight edge scene, the counter culture to the counter culture, whatever that means. I was too old and my edge had never been straight anyhow. Flash forward to Nirvana, and how they made it because of all the bands before them. It really was an uphill battle for Punk. I know it’s on DVD and it’s called Punk: Attitude by Don Letts.

I don’t think I’m going to either of these parties, one my friend Roger is having up in Weehawken, and the other is an impromptu bbq thrown by Felicia who invited me via text message after Bill and I were leaving ‘Cars’. Things would be different if I didn’t have to work tomorrow. But I do so I will be a mellow fellow.

and here’s some pics