Monthly Archives: September 2008

My Spine (Is The Bassline)

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It’s Sunday. Right now, it’s 100% humidity and 80 degrees. A bit uncomfortable, but that’s about it. Just a bit. Last night I watched Chris Rock and he was funny of course, but not as funny as I had hoped. It was a live show shot in various locations, Edinburgh, Johannesburg, New York and a few other places I believe.

They kept cutting between venues since he did the same show basically all over the world. They do it for rock and roll concerts sometimes, various shows many splices. This may have been the first time it was done for a comedy show. For me, it was too gimmicky. But over all he was alright.

I just expected a little bit more. Not as funny as his other specials I think, though the proper gauge would be to see how many times Bill laughs out loud and busts a gut for a few minutes. Bill missed it last night, but I’m sure it will be rebroadcast ad infinitum.

Saturday Night Live was pretty good though. Anna Farris was good and Duffy was really good. I know some people don’t like Duffy but I do and so does my sister. Darrell Hammond and Fred Armisen were both funny as McCain and Obama for the debate sketch and it was good to see Chris Parnell who Bill and I always liked. And he looks good in a Speedo too, but that was a different sketch a long time ago.

Slept like a log and woke up with Bill kissing me goodbye as he was off to church. I soon got out of bed and found myself walking down Washington Street looking at various vendors setting up with wishes that the rain wouldn’t happen.

Saw The Lopez clan as I dropped off some bagels and chatted with them for a bit. Seems like it’s getting to be a Sunday morning routine, chatting with Mama and Papa Lopez while Alexander feasts.

I watched the Sunday morning shows for a while before finally watching a documentary about the tailor to the stars, John Taylor. Old school tailor, dressed the biggies like Mike Douglas, Monty Hall and Jan Murray. Big I tell you! He also dressed Sinatra, Dean Martin and Bing Crosby. He’s the last of a breed, few good tailors around, I guess in Beverly Hills and I certainly can’t afford a bespoke suit that starts at $1500.

Ran into Rand and Lisa at the supermarket and then heard from Rand a little while later. He was at the Art and Music Festival and watching our friends in Sexpod playing. I didn’t think they would be on until later but there they were. I only caught the last 2 songs, but Alice noticed me while she was on stage and gave me a nice smile.

Rand

Sexpod

Alice

Karen and drummer

Rand and I hung about waiting for Mary Weiss from the Shangri-La’s who was better than anticipated. She did her hits as well as 2 songs by the Rascals among others. I mentioned to Rand that she should have covered a Blondie song or a Ramones song. They would’ve have sounded great but overall Mary Weiss was plenty enjoyable as was the crowd.

Mary Weiss

Rand’s wife Lisa joined us and we all had a pleasant stroll through the festival, enjoying the finale of the Salsa group that was performing. Rand suggested a drink but I needed to go eat. Came home and made some pesto with gusto.

Bill came home after singing Something’s Coming from West Side Story for a church presentation. I threw in the DVD of West Side Story that I bought a few years ago that I hadn’t watched completely. I knew why I hadn’t. I always cry at the end, and watching Tony sing Something’s Coming before meeting Maria at the dance I started to get choked up.

I usually watch the movie and always ridiculously hope that Tony and Maria will get away, but they never do.

The crowd

Yabba Dabba Don’t

Roda and his daughter

Night of the Living Baseheads

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Last night was the debate between Obama and McCain and of course, as far as I’m concerned it was Obama’s victory. Whenever they would show a split screen and Obama was criticizing McCain and his record, McCain was grinning through gritted teeth it seemed.

Obama was most presidential I think. McCain was crazy. Obama did say a few times, ‘You’re right John..’ and then go on to back up that McCain might have been right at some point but where he is now was some place totally different.

And already the wrong wing has taken that little snippet of Obama saying that and will try to turn that into a pro McCain advertisement. Next time Obama will have to be a bit harder and sharper. I was tired before the debates started yet when it was underway I was totally engrossed. Bill came home halfway through.

His mother is making progress and will likely be in the hospital for a while. And she’s taken to speaking in Spanish to everyone, regardless if they speak or understand. Another thing that she’s taken to doing is behaving the nurse she was for quite a number of years, making the beds of various other patients on her floor to the amusement of the actual nurses as well as Bill. It’s good that she’s active though and stimulating her mind somewhat.

Bill was in bed soon after the debate and since I was drinking some crappy cranberry juice that had quite a bit of sugar in it I was up for a while. I watched Bill Maher after that but didn’t pay too much attention. I can catch that at a later date. I tried sleeping but the sugar hadn’t worn off yet but eventually I slept. It was rainy still when I woke up, gray skies and drizzle.

I had a plan to participate on an Improv Everywhere assignment of Governor’s Island, but with the weather being what it was I decided against it, watching instead a DVD of the Twilight Zone from the 1980’s with a soundtrack by the Grateful Dead and Merle Saunders.

It was the series brought back on CBS back then. I specifically wanted to watch the episode called Nightcrawlers, about a Vietnam vet who cannot fall asleep or else his nightmares of Vietnam will come to life and wipe out everyone including the dreamer.

It was also the very last episode on the DVD. Nightcrawlers also had Exene Cervenka in a featured role as a waitress in the diner. She was great and I remember telling her that I thought so when I met her at McSwells back in the day. She was doing a spoken word thing that night and mentioned that William Friedken who directed that episode was a crazy man, or words to that effect. He really put them through the paces.

After that I wandered around Hoboken, so muggy out, quite Hummus. I had hoped Pier A in Hoboken would be deserted but it was far from it. There was a Lights On celebration that had a lot of people wandering around.

I sat and looked at Manhattan through the fog and talked to my sister on the phone before heading home for a penne, pesto and chicken dinner. It is Saturday after all.

The weather promises to be the same tomorrow which is the Hoboken Art and Music Festival which features the headliner, Mary Weiss from the Shangri-La’s of Leader of the Pack fame. As well as Remember (Walking in the Sand) and I Can Never Go Home Again.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate and give me something to do or at least give me people that I can surreptitiously take pictures of. Yes, we see…

Just watched Bee Movie which was cute and funny. Waiting for Chris Rock’s latest HBO special. That’s it. Smell ya later.

Rest in Peace Paul Newman

photo from JockoHomo