Monthly Archives: May 2009

M386

It’s Sunday and though it’s beautiful day, there is a feeling of anticipation in my gut. More like anxiety. It comes and goes, not a constant thing. As long as my mind is occupied I’m fine.

Last night I watched discs 3 & 4 of a series from the 1970’s called ‘All You Need is Love- The story of Popular Music’. It went back to the beginning of the 20th century with vaudeville and Tin Pan Alley up to about 1975 with the cutting edge music of Black Oak Arkansas.

It did have a lot of footage that if I hadn’t seen before, then I saw it when this series was first broadcast on PBS in the 1970’s and if that’s the case, I had forgotten I had seen it.

3 hours each disc. I watched disc 5 this morning into the afternoon, so ask me anything about Black Oak Arkansas. You’d still get the dumbfounded look that I would have given you then. I’m glad I watched it, but it was a bit much.

I gladly walked to the Post Office, enjoying a cigar to drop off the Netflix discs. I actually bought a book the other day, I couldn’t resist. I was reading somewhere about a biography on Brian Eno and ordered it promptly.

So far, up to chapter 2 and it’s a very entertaining and informative read. Brian Eno has always been a fascinating person in my world. I even had the pleasure of meeting him when I worked at Skyline Studios and he was producing some things for Laurie Anderson.

He was a nice guy, very quiet and startled me a few times when he suddenly would be standing right next to me. He was also quite kind enough to sign his first 4 solo albums and Ambient Volumes 1-4 and a book.

Still within reach and in good condition too. Last night, Saturday Night Live was really funny, excepting the Jimmy Fallon guest spot as Barry Gibb which was about 25 years too late and 10 minutes too long.

I doubt that the 20 somethings that watch it or are the target demographic would actually get the joke.

The stand out bit was the digital short with Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake reprising their roles from Dick in a Box and becoming Mother Lovers for Mother’s Day. Susan Sarandon and Patricia Clarkson played the mothers. It was very laugh out loud funny.

I was up until 1:30 reading Uncut magazine. Did not want to get out of bed this morning, just so comfortable. Bill was off to get his mother and bring her to church. I eventually did get out of bed around 8:30 and was soon getting the Sunday morning supplements.

Then after reading the papers I watched the discs and headed out to mail them back. And after enjoying a cigar I met Bill on the street and we just enjoyed a pizza from Grimaldi’s courtesy of Bill’s largess.

Now he catnaps on the couch and I sit a few feet away writing this and playing selected ambient Eno tracks for his napping pleasure.

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Carpetbaggers

Last night was a pretty good night. After I wrote, I got myself together and headed into the city while most everyone at the Path station was heading away from the city.

I had the New Yorker to read as did another rider a few seats down. I tried to see what issue he was up to, but couldn’t tell except I knew it was recent since it had the iPhone advertisement on the back cover.

Got off at 14th Street and headed west, passing the vacuum cleaner store at 131 west 14th Street and took note since they’re about the only accessible vacuum cleaner store for me. And since I’m now vacuuming the hallway in my apartment building, it’s good to know.

I walked over to Eighth Avenue and 20th Street where Bill’s friend Fred was waiting outside with a friend of his, Lila. The whole get together was to celebrate Fred’s birthday which was a few days ago. Bill joined us a moment later and we ordered drinks, they had margarita’s, I had Corona’s.

Then I had possibly the best burrito I have ever had in my life. I usually eat chicken, but since it seems all I eat lately is chicken I decided to have a burrito with hanger steak.

It wasn’t Tex-Mex or Cal-Mex, and it was definitely a ‘modern’ presentation. All I know is I did not focus on anything else while I was eating it.

Oh it was sooo good.

Lila left before dinner was over, having other things to do. After dinner we walked up to 23rd Street where we saw Wolverine. It was underwhelming. I’m getting tired of the high resolution fight scenes where you really can see anything that’s going on.

It’s not even that fancy an effect. And the movie didn’t have that coherent a plot. And no cigar smoking either. It seems cigar smoking is only done by villains these days since smoking is verboten.

We stayed until the very end since there was an open door for a sequel or for another movie. We saw the set up for Dead Pool who I never heard of until this movie, played by Ryan Reynolds aka Mr. Scarlett Johansen.

That’s one way to get a head.

We parted ways at the Path train, Fred going his way and Bill and I heading back to Hoboken. And Hoboken was hopping since it was a Friday night after all.

Near the bars were groups of twenty somethings trying to figure out where the next party was, or else lurking in doorways furtively smoking cigarettes.

I don’t think Hoboken has always been a party town, more like it happened in the past 15 years or so when the gentrification was complete.

Now it’s election season in Hoboken. I keep running into an independent candidate, a handsome guy who’s name I won’t print here since he probably Google’s his name everyday.

Ah fuck it, Chris Carbine is his name.

He always catches me and always ready with a handshake. I’m polite and try not to lead him on.

I did visit his website and when I saw that he held a rally on Pier A on April 15, he asked people to bring tea bags. I always have my tea bag ready but I don’t think that was what he meant. He’s a tea bagger and not the fun kind.

And that cost him my vote.

Republican or Libertarian, no vote from me. Sorry Chris.

The election is in a few days and in Hoboken it’s getting feverish and dirty. And there still is an enormous tax levy.

I haven’t made up my mind on who to vote for, for mayor. It will be a woman, I know that much.

Voting in Hoboken for the Mayoral election always requires a shower afterwards.

Listening to River Deep, Mountain High by Ike & Tina Turner. Still an amazing song hundreds of years later.

Hoboken

Hoboken

Bill Shavin'

Bill Shavin'