Monthly Archives: January 2009

Slip Kid

It’s Friday but in this week, at this time of year the days seem to blend into each other and if it weren’t for the TV shows I wouldn’t know if it’s a weekday or a weekend. Well I could look at the new calendar I bought or the watch on my wrist or even my cellphone.

Those are actually better than TV to determine the day since regular viewing has been preempted by end of the year shows or football games named after flora.

Last night, or rather yesterday was pretty good, an excellent way to start out the year. Bill and I just sitting around the apartment alternating between the Twilight Zone marathon and a Looney Tunes marathon.

It was all timed quite nicely, after an episode of the Twilight Zone, we’d watch a 10 minute cartoon, preferably from the 1940’s-50’s. We saw the episode with Jack Klugman and Jonathan Winters in a Billiard Parlor and the Art Carney Santa Claus episode.

Couch surfing didn’t require much interaction with the remote control, I just kept hitting ‘last’ on the device. Yes, we were that lazy. Or at least I was since Bill did put my computer in order once again which was great.

He was planning to head out and catch the 8:30 bus after all that, but when he saw the Bucket List on he stayed and watched it. I watched it too and there wasn’t as much dreck as I expected. It was only slightly cloying.

Bill left after the movie and watching him descend the stairs I had started to miss him. I was going to walk with him to the bus stop but it was 20 degrees outside and I was wearing slippers.

Instead I continued watching the Twilight Zone, finishing up with ‘It’s a Good Life’ featuring Billy Mumy and Cloris Leachman and ‘A Penny for Your Thoughts’ starring Dick York.

‘It’s a Good Life’ was even creepier than I remembered. I guess little Billy Mumy destroyed the rest of the world, saving his hometown for his own amusement.

Went to bed after that. Woke up and puttered around. It sucked not having Bill around. I didn’t even go out to get the papers. Too damn cold out. I made some coffee and read the news online which is what I usually do.

Still I was bored and decided to head into the city and check on the office. As expected there was some mail to deal with, which I dealt with. Had a slice of pizza which was ok and soon I was walking towards the Path train, smoking a La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero.

I was wearing Bill’s hat which according to Bill makes me look like a real old school gangster. All that was missing was a violin case. A walk through Hoboken followed. Not too many around just like how it was in Manhattan, only in Hoboken there are very few tourists.

Now I am just hanging out at home, taking it easy. Spoke with Pedro on the phone. I was worried since I had heard from the monkey king in a few days and he almost always calls on New Years Day.

All is well in Otisville and he told me he loved Gran Torino, the new Clint Eastwood movie. I told him I watched a documentary that he recommended called Bigger Faster Stronger about steroid use. Not something I am into but he has flirted with them a few years ago.

It was actually a pretty good documentary, much better than I thought it would be. I do like to look at those bodybuilders and even though there were very few of them in this I still enjoyed it.

It’s mainly about 3 brothers who get into the steroid world, one wants to be in the WWE and even though it seems he won’t make it (too old and not the type they wanted) he still dabbles in steroid use. Really a well made documentary.

And here’s some after party pics from this afternoon….

1208-001

1208-002

1208-003

1208-004

Connected

Happy New year to one and all, excepting spammers and haters. I do get a lot of spam that does not make it to the comments. Usually it’s mostly from Russia and almost always written on gobbledygook. So my good wishes for them are non-existent.

Last night was off to a wobbly start. First off I started drinking around 4:00, hitting the Bushmills which made writing fun. Don’t know if it made reading as enjoyable as writing but it wasn’t my concern last night.

I expected Bill to be home around 6:00 but I didn’t hear from him until around 8:00 by which time I was quite buzzed and hungry and borderline cranky. Still I got my act together and headed out to meet Bill at Arthur’s Steakhouse.

I was a bit annoyed with the fact that Bill never called to let me know what was going on on his end. I got over it as I inhaled my steak and potatoes. I had two pints, Bill couldn’t finish his, he said it tasted funny and I tasted it and it seemed fine. After he ate he felt queasy and ran to the bathroom. Nothing happened but he did feel a bit odd he said.

We headed back home and he promptly lay down for a little a while. I enjoyed my La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero and had some more whiskey. After an hour or so of Beatles Christmas messages I woke Bill up to see if he still wanted to go to Rand and Lisa’s as we had planned.

He said he was even though I did give him a few chances to back out. The walk from Park Avenue to Bloomfield Street was mostly quiet in the bone chilling cold. I was slightly inebriated so I wasn’t feeling much of anything weather-wise.

Made it Chez Rigoux-Hoppe safe and sound and climbed the two flights of stairs to their abode. Lois and Fred as well as John Figueroa and his wife Arianna and their daughter Luna were throughout the apartment.

Lois and Bill

Lois and Bill

Rand was staving off a cold and doing an admirable job at that. Lot’s of snacks and we got there in time to help hand out champagne before the midnight hour. Lot’s a laughs and chit chat ensued. I continued drinking with some Guinness I brought. Bill had another pint for himself.

Rand with his pots and pans at midnight

Ran with his pots and pans at midnight

We all settled down after the clanging of pots and pans on the fire escape and watched the Steven Colbert Christmas Special that I had recorded for myself but let it erase itself on the DVR. Good thing that Rand saved it.

Everyone loved it of course, how could they not. Both Rand and I were somewhat surprised at how agreeable it was for Elvis Costello to dress up as a Jack in the Box as well as other things. I think Elvis had fallen out of favor with Rand as well as myself.

John Fig

John Fig

And the version of What’s So Funny (About Peace, Love and Understanding) with Willie Nelson, Feist, John Legend and Toby Keith as well as a grizzly bear was outstanding.

Gigglepuss and Me

Gigglepuss and Me

The party wound down after that, with everyone heading to their respective homes and leaving Rand and Lisa with the brownies.

El Jefe and Lady Gigglepuss

El Jefe and Lady Gigglepuss

Slept really well, nice to have Bill in bed again. How I missed his snoring. I was up and out on the street at 10:00, getting bagels and newspapers. That was the last of the outside world that I saw for the day. It was enough.

Bill eventually got out of bed and we had a great time together. He even went the distance and finally was able to hook my computer up to the wireless network so once again, I am back on my own computer.

A major accomplishment for which I merely sat on the couch reading and making some hot chocolate. A very nice way to start the new year.

And I once again wish each of you a very Happy New Year!

Me with my La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero for New Years Eve

Me with my La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero for New Years Eve

Bill sleeping off his queasiness

Bill sleeping off his queasiness

New year's Bill

New year's Bill