It’s Friday. Last week at this time I had just gotten back from the beach with Annemarie, Earl and Corinne, getting ready to go to Brian’s surprise party for his upcoming 50th birthday and when you think of it, 50 birthdays is an accomplishment. Annemarie sadly reminded me of last week’s fact. And once again, I’m solo, meaning lonely. Juan blew me off last night, figuratively, not literally and I didn’t think that was too cool. Bill was at his folks. I watched Jean Pierre Melville’s Army of Shadows, a film about the French resistance in World War 2.

I had the time and no distractions so I could watch a subtitled film without being bothered. Can’t really do that when anyone else is around. Someone always has questions about what happened, what will happened, or why did they do that which breaks the flow of the movie. Plus I had the film since May so it was high time I watched it. It was worth watching, though it didn’t live up to the hype that I read about last year when it was released for the first time in the US. It was made in 1968 and never made it to the States for some odd reason.

Woke up in a big bed all by my lonesome. Got out of bed and did the shower, cereal, coffee routine. Got the bus, more Andrew Loog Oldham stories. I got my fix of music mags, since both the new Mojo and Uncut came out. That’s my life. I’m excited that magazines are here. Oh I used to be exciting. I used to go out more often. But then again, I did go out the other night with Bill and Billie and that was fun. There was a time when I would do that most every night. Sometimes I’d go from West 48th Street and 7th Avenue, go down to the Lower East side for a few hours and then somehow make it home to Weehawken. Then again, I was working in the music business and partying was something that was done. Now I am done.

Thirty years ago today was the big blackout in New York City. I was 14 years old and living a relatively innocent existence. I was at the neighbor’s, the Williams’ family, watching TV with the youngest, Scott. Then all of a sudden, the screen went to static. I think we played Gnip Gnop, some silly 1970’s game or was it Othello? That would explain why Scott was in blackface.

New York City was still a terrifying concept which was reinforced the next day, looking at the newspapers and the news on TV which was being broadcast somewhere outside the city. Lot’s of looting, and Son of Sam still roaming the streets. It did back up my parent’s belief that the city was full of animals, and perhaps at that time, they were right.

This weekend, I was invited up to Otisville to visit Pedro and save him from rural boredom. That’s doable. Or I might take a bike ride, which I haven’t done in weeks. The weather might be good for that and that might be good for my doldrums. I also have to send a load of pictures taken while Annemarie, Rex and Earl were here. But it’s Friday, and I’m enjoying cocktail hour. Bill’s working overtime, Juan is MIA, Julio and Stine return from Denmark on Sunday and I just picked up their laundry, sheets and pillowcases and towels. I hope they’re bringing me some Cuban cigars, but he did that a few years ago, and it cost Julio a bundle and he regretted it I think. Maybe he’s forgotten. Maybe Stine would suggest it. Or maybe not.

It’s also Friday the 13th.

It’s Thursday and it’s a rather ho hum kind of day. Woke up once again with Bill kissing me farewell as he left for work. I couldn’t wake up this morning but the kiss certainly helped. He made coffee again to my eternal gratitude. I showered, shaved and had some coffee, not enough milk for cereal so that meant an egg sandwich from West Indian Tony at Smilers on Fifth Avenue. That was something to look forward to as I rode on the bus reading 2Stoned by Andrew Loog Oldham. It’s the sequel to his first memoir, Stoned. Witty title, no?

It’s an enjoyable read, how arrogant and fucked up he was, in the Swingin’ Sixties. I know the Swingin’ Sixties is a legend, perhaps even a cliché, but he was, if not at the epicenter of the London Pop Scene, he was very close to it, as manager of the Rolling Stones and Immediate Records. He was also wrecked on all sorts of things as well as being manic depressive before that became a fashionable term. Oldham hasn’t spoken to Mick Jagger in quite a while though quotes from Keef, Marianne Faithfull, and Bill Wyman among others are throughout this book much like the first book.

West Indian Tony was as personable as ever. Always asking about how my man is doing. He seems really excited about Bill singing the national anthem next Friday, opening up for the WNBA’s New York Liberty. Tony hooked me up big time with an nice sandwich, even threw some bacon on it. I wished Tony a good weekend and headed off to work, listening to Queen Bitch by David Bowie. It seemed oddly appropriate for some reason. It was cool enough this morning so I didn’t have to change my t shirt when I got to the office.

Last night while walking to O.W. With Billie there was a sudden downpour which was violent but broke the humidity and made everything rather pleasant. Pleasant enough for a jazz cigarette while walking through the park with Billie and Bill. The park was deserted except for a couple of tourists anyway. So all that made for a really cool day, weather-wise. Work was ok, not too stressful. Greg Stevens left early and won’t be back until Monday. I’ve also been working with Fay Victor from Wanker Banker days and that’s bringing back some fun memories. She’s cool to hang with. She sent a copy of her latest cd and a get well card to Frank. I also got a copy.

I saw Billie at Chop’T today, and had another expensive salad except this was cheaper since I found a buy 9 salads get one free in my desk at work and since I’ve been the only one sitting there for the past three months, I claimed it as mine. The salad which is usually expensive cost 2.00 and change. Nice. I finished my work with Greg Stevens early and opted to leave the office at 3:30. My work was done and it was too nice to stay in an office. I walked across midtown, listening to Young Americans and got back on the bus reading once again, 2Stoned. Bill’s at his folks tonight so I’ll be chilling out here all by myself. Quite a change from last week.