It’s Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, or at least the federal government’s recognition of his birthday, and because the government is involved, it’s a holiday and I have off which is quite nice. I haven’t done much of anything at all today. It’s cheaper to stay in and just watch TV and the weather is so lousy, who wants to go out in that anyhow? I haven’t been a shut in all day though. I did go out a few times and ran some errands. In fact I have to go out again to get some 2% milk.

I brought the iPod and this is what I heard.

Rio Grande- Brian Wilson
From Brian’s first solo record from 1988. The slimmer, trimmer Brian yet so obviously damaged. Executive Produced by his therapist, Eugene Landy who on top of psychiatric fees got a nice percentage of sales from his ‘production’ work as well. All that ended thanks to Brian’s brother Carl. It’s the last song on a good but uneven album, that I think was eventually disowned by Brian and his camp. It’s really a great song though.

Def Con One- Pop Will Eat Itself
I first this song on the jukebox at McSwells. I remember Maurice Menares dancing in front of the jukebox. They were a garage band that fully embraced samplers and whatnot in the eighties. Lot’s of bits and pieces float around in the background underneath a funky bass and propulsive beat with Rod Serling to boot. I was supposed to DJ when they were scheduled to play but due to minor criminal offences on their records they were unable to enter the country. Too bad, it would’ve been a good match.

April Fools- Rufus Wainwright
It’s one of the two or three songs I really like on Rufus’ first album. I know some people prefer the first but I prefer most everything after. Call me crazy. He played McSwells promoting this record and I didn’t go since I didn’t know who he was and McSwells really wasn’t my ‘scene’ at that time. Nor is it now. The video is good. It featured Rufus (natch), his sister Martha and Jane Adams, a cool actress as well as a few drag queens. I’m sure you can find it somewhere if you so desire. Maybe youtube.com

It’s Been a Long Time- Rakim
Rakim is one of the best rappers ever. Eric B and Rakim were a great duo, Eric B was on the cuts and Rakim rocked the mike. No one can rhyme so potently as Rakim, still to this day. Rakim. At 40 years old he is definitely one of the oldest rappers out there. He’s edgy but not violent. In fact about the only harm he raps about is to other rappers and MC’s, so unless you’re one of those I think you’d be ok.

How Could I Let You Get Away- The Spinners
Greatly underrated Philly soul from the seventies but quite a good run of hit singles both Pop and R&B. I used to see them all the time on the Mike Douglas Show which was based in Philadelphia. The five Spinners would be doing dance steps and dressed all the same. Nice and personable and a bit corny yet I have their greatest hits on my iPod so that’s respect. Huh.

Country Feedback- REM
From the Out of Time record. Made REM super duper big. They were everywhere except on the road. Lot’s of TV shows, including Mike Stipe dressed in a suit made out of FedEx materials. Like everyone else I played it a lot, especially during the summer after my mother’s passing so it has a bittersweet taste of memory.

Quiet Slave to the Rhythm- Grace Jones
Ah, back to soul, funk or Grace Jones who doesn’t fit into any of those categories. This is probably her last good album, coming after playing with the Compass Point All Stars and winding up with the Art of Noise crew with Trevor Horn at the helm. It’s good, if not a bit clinical. No, actually it’s great. The Slave to the Rhythm record was basically eight versions of the same song intersped with interviews with Paul Morley and narration by Ian McShane, he of the greasy black hair and moustache from Deadwood. All the songs have basically the same lyrics, yet different backing. A disco version, a pop version, a hard dance version. It’s different and I don’t think anyone has done anything like it since so kudos to her.

Let’s see. Friday night, I was hanging out, Bill rehearsing for a play, Juan out running around somewhere. The cellphone rings and its Pedro. I’ve been thinking about him, and hadn’t heard from him in weeks. Usually we talk on the phone at least once a week, but after leaving messages I hadn’t heard from him. I didn’t worry despite occasionally reading articles about life in and on Riker’s Island. It’s never any good news of course, but since his name never comes up in the papers I figured everything was all right. And it certainly was.

He proceeded to give me the low down about what he’s been up to in the jail, fighting crooks, with his fists. He’s got the fists for it I tell you. Some pretty gruesome details that I won’t repeat here, only to say when the going gets tough, that’s when the corrections officers call for him to set things straight. He loves it, always been a scrapper and with the law behind him he is almost untouchable. I’m sure it’s not easy working around people who would kill you given half the chance. His girlfriend Connie, is also a corrections office, though not in as violent a wing as Pedro’s.

Pedro asked what I was doing the next day, Saturday and I answered honestly. Nothing. Nothing at all, besides laundry that is. He suggested hopping on a train and heading up to Otisville NY. I said it sounded like a good time, and an hour later, his girlfriend, Connie told me what train to take. I told Bill what I was thinking of doing and it worked out perfectly. I could buy a ticket and hop on the train in Hoboken and be in Otisville in two hours. Easy peazy.

I did my chores and ran some errands and soon I was on the train, listening to the Smiths and reading about Manchester and Joy Division in the latest Mojo. Soon I was past Teterboro and Hackensack heading to new destinations, at least new to me. I got off the train, the next to last stop and stood around for about five minutes before Pedro showed up. I got in the car as we drove and I couldn’t believe how dark it was. Keene, NH was never as dark as this. Saw some deer across the street from Pedro and Connie’s new house.

Another old friend of Pedro’s and myself, Excer had driven up for the evening as well. I’ve known both Pedro and Excer for about 20 years, so it was a nice occasion. Excer is raising his kids on his own since he split from his wife and doing a really good job though the kids being kids resent him for it. But he perseveres nonetheless. We hung out and ate a nice turkey dinner that Pedro and Connie had cooked up for us. Lot’s of wine was consumed as well and before you know it I was nodding off at 12:30 while Pedro had put on ‘Tombstone’ with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer.

Woke up around 8:00AM and waited for Connie and Pedro to stir as Excer and I watched ‘200 Cigarettes’ on cable. Connie whipped up pancakes and scrambled eggs with lots of Spanish coffee, Bustelo. Then Pedro was off to work again and Excer and I following his lead out of Otisville, heading to the New York State Thruway. Back in Hoboken, foggy down here, foggier up in Otisville and probably foggy in Arcata CA too. Day off tomorrow courtesy of Martin Luther King. Three day weekend, four day work week. Nice indeed.