August | 2007 | johnozed

Rainy Tuesday. Relentless. Woke up this morning and it was 57 degrees out. I wore a suit yesterday since it was in the 60’s and since it was below 60 degrees this morning I wore a suit again. A different suit at that. I do love wearing a suit, though I am sure it throws some people off since basically for the past two and a half months I mainly wore casual collared shirts or a guyabera with khakis. This look is almost the exact opposite and it’s also the most comfortable look for me. And I get compliments for it.

Last night was a lot of fun, seeing Jim and Meghan and Lily and Ruby and the Jack of Hearts. Oh wait, the Jack of Hearts wasn’t there. It must have been the Guinness. I took about 60 pictures last night, and I had to pick the best and edit them down so they would be the right size for the blog. And on top of that, I had to write at least 500 words like I’ve been doing since October 2005. Tomorrow is Annemarie’s birthday and she got a package that Mina Theta sent her. Good old small mouthed Mina Theta brought to you as a courtesy of her parents and McMann and Tate. Thanks Mina!

I had nothing to read on the bus ride home tonight so I wrote instead. Old school, pen to paper. Here’s a bit of that.

On the bus, nothing to read so plan B. Write.

The usual Hobokenites pile on the bus, each body increasing the temperature inside. People are balking at having to stand for the 20 minutes rush hour ride back to the Jersey side. It seems old fashioned to be writing with a pen and paper. Most everyone else has their crackberries or their PDA’s, and one or two of them have laptops. I have a notebook and a black pen. Old school, that’s me.

Lot’s of rain today. Someone online in Colorado wants to make me rich. With my luck it’s probably a resident of the Overlook Hotel.

Work was calm, good and busy. Actually had things to do. Tomorrow I have to go down to Chinatown to order business cards for myself. Woo hoo. Hadn’t been in Chinatown since May.

I just texted Carla the receptionist about a FedEx I needed to send to Greg Stevens out in the Hamptons. She dropped it off for me. Carla is good. So much for being old school. One foot in the waters of the 21st century I guess.

“Alright, I’ll meet you there around 6:30”, the guy a few rows behind me talking on his cellphone.

Had a quick talk with brother Frank today, mainly about the Sunday night shows on HBO which we both watch. It was good and brief and almost like old times.

My handwriting isn’t as bad as I thought it would be (you can’t tell here) despite writing on a crowded bus rolling and rocking through the Lincoln Tunnel.

Finally back in Hoboken, the home of the vain. Saw quite a few cute guys on the street today. Even caught the eye of one of them who was checking me out as I lit my Padron cigar after work.

Have to learn to take photos unobtrusively. Sometimes I’m so self-conscious I don’t take the camera out. Other times if I feel that something is Art, I have no problem. I think it’s a Duchampian ideal. Or even Warhol-esque. Doesn’t matter since they are related after all.

Here’s something you may have seen before. Or maybe not. I haven’t seen the whole video from start to finish but it’s oddly compelling. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE VIDEO…..

A little later than usual though it’s still Monday as far as I can tell. Last night, Juan came over, watched Big Love with Bill and me. Juan was sangria’d out. Bill and I were pretty mellow. Juan couldn’t take another hour of polygamy so he split half way through and headed up the hill to Union City. Bill went to bed soon after that leaving me to watch the bad news broadcast on my own. I didn’t sleep well. Woke up earlier than usual, needed to pee, Bill on the toilet so it was hello empty Poland Spring water bottle.

Went back to bed after that only to wake up a half hour later and get ready for work. Bill was gone by then and before you know it I was out the door and headed to the bus stop. I passed Mr. L, my barber who’s barber shop was undergoing a make over by some company. Maybe it’s going to be broadcast on TV. Last week they created a man cave in the basement of a firehouse on Washington Street. They started yesterday and I guess today is the conclusion. Saws, drills and kleig lighting in the neighborhood.

Work was quiet, final weeks of summer make various people take them off, so a few people were out which made for a quiet office. I ran around doing errands for the office and also for myself. I felt a bit sad walking by Billie’s store since Billie went back to Washington DC on Saturday, with his training completed. I texted him wishing him a good morning. The other Bill, Bill’s father is slowly making progress after a tense couple of days. Thats a bit of good news. I left about 10 minutes early which was twenty minutes later than I wanted.

Came back home and changed my clothes. The Guitar Bar All Stars that I mentioned a few weeks ago were playing tonight. Unfortunately, it was drizzly so they moved the show indoors. Indoors to McSwells. I didn’t want to go there that’s for sure, but I rarely get to see Meghan and our daughter Lily, and Meghan’s daughter with Jim Mastro, Ruby. I should have contributed to Lily’s upbringing, but I couldn’t be bothered. Showing up once a year is alright by me and it seems to have worked out fine for the Mastro clan.

Meghan and I don’t have a daughter, it’s just that Lily looks like Meghan’s and my offspring. Ruby looks more like Jim. Just an odd fact.

So despite my mild protests I made it up to McSwells. It was British Invasion night and Lily got up on stage and jammed to London Calling by the Clash, and Ruby jammed to Submission by the Sex Pistols. Such talented kids. I’m sure it doesn’t hurt if dad (the other one) owns a guitar store. It was a lot of fun, albeit somewhat deafening at first. Took a few snapshots, though next time I’ve get to get up closer.

Here’s some pictures, not all from McSwells, but recent snaps.

Friday’s Clouds