Last night was fun, Juan came over soon after Bill went to sleep. Juan and I just hung out, drinking beers and watched TV. I guess Julio made it to Copenhagen since there were no reports of any catastrophes. It was all very mellow and all very good. It’s nice to have Juan around, he is so intelligent and funny and a bona fide drinking companion. We bought tickets to see the Scissor Sisters in Philadelphia on March 3. It’s cheaper than the NY show and easier for Juan since he’s going to school in Trenton.

I woke up late, since drinking into the morning will do that to you. Bill took off because of his ankle which wasn’t swollen as much as it was yesterday. He was up and about way before me but didn’t go get any bagels or the papers so it was up to me, all fuzzy headed to roam the streets of Hoboken in the noonday sun. It wasn’t so bad, I was even able to be pleasant to various people I came into contact with. That was a surprise. I think it was a little bit of the holiday spirit, finally.

Bad news on the travel front for Annemarie, Rex and Earl. They were scheduled to fly to Orlando FL, from Arcata CA with tickets they had purchased with frequent flier miles a few months before. United seems to have sold their tickets and rescheduled the travel route, and were going to send them via Denver CO which was impossible and impassable since Denver is currently under 22 inches of snow. Stupid United airlines. Because of this they won’t be in Orlando after all, staying in Arcata for the holidays after making arrangements to not be there. No visit to Rex’s family, Earl’s grandmother and cousins. It’s a drag and United Airline SUCKS BIG TIME.

Good news for New Jersey Gays and Lesbians. Governor Jon Corzine signed into law the civil unions bill, enabling gays and lesbians to have the same rights as opposite sex couples, regarding taxes, wills, medical decisions and the right to not testify in court against one’s partner. It’s not marriage, and it does reek of segregation. Separate water fountains for now, but it is a start. The mayor of Bogota has gone on record that he will not grant civil unions to same sex couples, he’s more than likely preferring to stay in the last row of the Queen Anne theatre, raincoat on his lap.

I did make it into the city, still can’t think of anything to get my brothers for the holidays. I don’t know why it’s so difficult this year to get motivated or come up with any ideas. I wandered around midtown, wisely avoiding the crowds. Even had a Padron which definitely kept people away from me. I walked down Park Avenue South and who do I see walking towards me, but Rufus Wainwright. I smiled and said ‘Hi Rufus’. He smiled and said hello back. I wished him a Happy Christmas and he did the same for me. That was cool. I didn’t pull out the camera because I didn’t want to be intrusive. A Hello and a Happy Christmas was alright with me.

It is Wednesday and everyone is still at work. No one is off this week. Juan is back from school though and is expected to stop by tonight so that should be fun. Bill twisted his ankle so no rugby for him tonight. I’ve been trying to get into the holiday spirit and it’s not so easy this year. Last year I was more comfortable even though I was adrift at Wanker Banker. This year I’m between jobs and I feel somewhat gloomy. Bill is talking about various NFL players right now. If I couldn’t get into it while being dragged to Giants games back in the day, I’m not into it in 2006.

But he’s in pain with his ankle. I’m doing my best to help, gave him two Tylenol PM to knock him out with his leg elevated. I’ll be checking in on him while Juan and I hang out. Should’ve given him a bell to ring, but he’s not the bellowing type, so I shouldn’t be concerned too much. He was merely walking on the sidewalk, slipped a bit on a crack and his ankle swells up. Of course I try to help when I got home, asking him if he took any aspirin, Advil or Tylenol and he proceeds to tell me everything but the answer to my question, hence the two Tylenol PM. All out of roofies.

I was out and about in the city, trying to get in the holiday spirit by getting some presents. Got something for Annemarie, for Rex I got a Donald Fagen solo CD, a two cd set of Marvin Gaye’s Hits and Steely Dan’s ‘Two against Nature’ and for Earl I got a Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders Best of CD, the book of Hindu deities and a few Grateful Dead badges. I also had to pick up a new set of headphones since I discovered mine were shot once I hit the street. I was distressed since I wasn’t sure if it was the iPod or the headphones.

I hoped to run into someone on the street that I knew that was wearing headphones but I guess they saw me first. I had to swing by McMann and Tate because they had a check of mine, and since they told me they were mailing it on Monday and they hadn’t, I didn’t want to take a chance and not get it. No, it wasn’t a bonus, I don’t think I’ll be getting one especially since they gave them away already. I’m sure I was entitled to one since they had a great year but no, none for me. Their punishment. My retribution was not being there with 25 clients running around the office needing to be fed and walked and cleaned up after. Fuck em! I did meet Urszula on the street who gave me my expense check and we walked and smoked cigarettes before I headed off wishing her a Happy Christmas. She also lent me her headphones to check to see what the problem was.

I ran downtown got the California contingent their gifts, ran uptown to the Apple store for a iTunes gift card for Earl. That was pandemonium but I was out of there in 5 minutes. Then I ran back downtown to Farfetched to say hello to Sharon who’s a sweetheart. Back home, slice of pizza for me, doped Bill and now I await Juan. Julio phoned from the duty free shop as he was off to Copenhagen and not thinking it will be fun since there is a vigil for Stine’s grandmother.

I just ordered some Stella Artois from the corner store, too tired to get it myself. Watching the Celluloid Closet on Logo. That’s it for me, for now.