Sunday. A very lazy day. Last night I programmed 4 talking gnomes on sale at Farfetched. They are about 5 inch dolls and you press the foot and record something then you press the chest and what you’ve just recorded plays back at a fast, Chipmunks like sound. I recorded on all four gnomes variations of ‘I’m Going to Kill you Harpy’ and ‘Die Harpy Die’ since Harpy was going to be working at the store alone. I wasn’t sure whether or not he would notice and thought I would have to call before the store opened to tell him to check them.

I did it last night before the store closed and a customer did press on the chest of the gnome and heard, ‘Harpy, I’m going to kill you and chop you up into little pieces’. The customer was surprised and a little put off and I had to reassure you that unless her name was Harpy she would have nothing to worry about if any gnomes were saying things like that. I don’t know if she got the joke since she left soon after. Jessica laughed through her scarf though. I didn’t have any need to call since Harpy did call me up laughing about the whole thing.

He told me he leaves messages for Susan and Lois but they generally go unheard. It’s their store and there’s no time for fun and games like that which is totally understandable. But Harpy laughed and I know I did good. I wound up walking to 33rd Street last night, smoking my Padron. I could have caught the Path train at 14th street but decided I wanted a seat and felt the main terminal would guarantee that. Plus it was a nice evening to stroll around and smoke a cigar. I read the New Yorker and was back in Hoboken soon enough. Bill was home already watching TV, what it was I don’t remember.

We did watch a documentary on the History Channel about Caligula. Basically it was all stuff I knew from watching and reading I, Claudius though I did forget that Caligula was dead by 28. Nasty guy. Nasty enough that Claudius who succeeded Caligula as Emperor had all statues of Caligula destroyed. I suppose it’s a testament to John Hurt’s acting that every time I think of Caligula I think of his performance from the mini series. Same goes for Claudius as portrayed by Derek Jacobi.

Tonight Juan is expected over, and I plan on watching Rome which is the early story of Augustus Caesar. I, Claudius takes place at the later years of Augustus’ life. During Rome he is still known as Octavian and Mark Antony is still alive. I’ve finally gotten into the show, which has been called by the critics as ‘I,Claudius for people who like the Sopranos’. Which definitely makes sense, bigger budget for sets and special effects, but lacks the gravitas of I, Claudius but still it’s better than a lot of other stuff out there right now.

Andy Rooney just recommended starting the draft again.