Well the day started out ok. Slept in after going to sleep around 1:00, watched some Conan O’Brien. Nice night of sleep, Bill all cuddly. Still not used to the big bed, but I suppose I’ll have to. The old bed is either at some landfill or being cleaned somehow for resale at a Salvation Army or Goodwill maybe. Finally a beautiful day. I walked around Hoboken doing errands, basking in the sun. A perfect day, which would’ve been perfect for the beach, but Julio is going to Copenhagen on Thursday and had quite a few things to do beforehand.

I did laundry, went to the Dry Cleaners, went food shopping, sat on the stoop reading and smoking a cigar and napped at various points throughout the early part of the day, not in the order listed. I toyed with the idea of going for a bike ride, the usual 30-40 miles trek, but couldn’t get motivated enough. Julio called, one of the things he was doing was cleaning out a basement in West New York. I helped him move some heavy garbage bags and debris. Between runs from West New York/North Bergen to Hoboken we ran up to Edgewater where he drove to Target and I was able to buy some nice shirts for $5.99 as well as some new boxer briefs. Woo hoo.

I do love Target. One of my favorite stores. My brother sent me a link about how a group of people walked into a Home Depot in Manhattan and started walking very slowly and at one point the group stood still for a few minutes. Synchronized stillness. Cut and Paste:
http://www.improveverywhere.com/mission_view.php?mission_id=59 . Very interesting but if you search the website there’s a piece about an earlier action at Best Buy that doesn’t have the video that the Home Depot one has but is quite vivid in the description of what happened. I could easily join this group at a future action if I have the time, and I could easily see the same type for action happening when I go to a big chain store. If you read the article you’ll understand.

Juan is up today, going back to school tomorrow. Hanging out in an uncomfortable atmosphere that was created mere minutes before his arrival. I accidentally stepped on Bill’s toe, so accidental that I didn’t even know I did while negotiating the space between him, his laptop on a folding table and the wall. True he moved a bit but still it was awkward and resulted in my stepping on his toe. Not that he said that I stepped on his toe, no ‘Hey! Watch it!’, no ‘OUCH!’. So I didn’t know. Somehow though it came up and I said I didn’t, he said I did and it went on, becoming quite absurd and Bill exclaiming that I stepped on his toe.

I needed to state that I was joking which did a little bit of good but there is a tension in the air. Both Julio and Juan are here and the tension has dissipated somewhat, perhaps lingering only in my mind.

Oh it was raining again today and muggier than yesterday. Had the bed to myself and slept ok, woke up to some crazy music that I can’t describe, some fucked up avant jazz stuff. Paddled around the apartment and did my routines, and then it was out the door and into the rain. I wore a suit today because we had a potential client in today. No one asked me to, I wanted to, but with the humidity, by the time I got to the Path train I was wearing a see through French cuff shirt. Embarrassing, yet sexy to some.

Ninth Street was a pain in the ass, just a slow moving crowd of people trying to delay walking out into the rain. Why do people decide the best place to have a conversation is at the top of a busy stairwell? Where is Miss Manners when you need her? Got my bagel and walked in the rain, down Sixth Avenue to the office. I had made preparations for our client to glide on in and the lobby personnel were anxious to find out when this client was coming in. I told them that the client would be in around noon.

Got to the office and found the stashed t-shirt which is seemingly a better idea each time I come to work dressing like a cheap whore, all sweaty and I’m not cheap. I set about setting up the office after I changed shirts. Made a mental note to even keep a dress shirt in the office should something happen to the one I’m wearing. It’s not like when I worked at Wanker Banker and had Sym’s around the corner and could run in and buy whatever I might need. No, I’m miles away from any good affordable men’s wear store. Need to bring in an extra shirt next week.

It was busier than the previous weeks since summer for businesses is officially over. The food I had ordered came in earlier than expected and though it caused some stress, I was able to start setting the lunch up. Around noon I went outside and waited for the client to escort them through security. He was late but it was ok. I hung out and talked to various smoking coworkers underneath the awnings that run along the building façade. About 30 minutes later, a town car pulls up and out pops, Robert Redford. Yes, the Robert Redford.
He looked good, obviously did not have work done. He does look 69. I breezed him through security and we rode the elevator with a few people that had no idea who he was.

He asked me where I was from and I said New Jersey, I’m a Jersey boy. He mentioned he was out at NBC in Secaucus and I told him that NBC has offices out there in the middle of the swamps. I also mentioned to him that I watch the Sundance channel and really enjoy it, especially the Documentary Mondays. He smiled and was happy to hear that since that was his personal idea. The office was atwitter when he arrived. I gave him a brief tour of the office and he thanked me, telling me it was nice to meet me. I said the same.

I had to run out and get my lunch and I forgot all about a phone interview that was set up for me. I didn’t want to take the call but since it was set up I felt obligated. I was standing out in the drizzle talking to whatever her name was, walking her through my resume. I’m sure I sounded cranky, as I was going to get my lunch. I answered her questions and tried to explain things on my cell, and I’m happy to say it wasn’t a good interview. I’m basically settled at McMann and Tate and don’t need another upheaval for the second time in a year. I did even mention that I was working with Robert Redford and whatshername seemed impressed. Bob (that’s what I called him) left about an hour or so after I got back. The meeting seemed to go well. I was happy and was thanked and told that Bob was impressed with the fact that I watched the documentaries on Sundance.

The afternoon flew by, and I had to go to ‘see’ Philip afterwork. They don’t know so don’t tell them, ok?