Monthly Archives: May 2010

For All We Know

It’s a Monday again. I don’t mind. Less people on the streets, less people wandering around the Hoboken waterfront. Worked out fine for me. Last night I watched The Pacific and though there wasn’t much violence last night, it really hit home hardest out of all of the episodes.

Last night was all about the surviving Marines coming home after the war. No one maimed or seriously injured, but most of these Marines had internal damages to their minds. It was last night where I started to recognize most of these soldiers as the type that would be sitting around the U shaped bar at the VFW in twenty or thirty years.

There were a few scenes that brought the lump to the throat, specifically John Basilone’s widow visiting her late husband’s family for the first time. Not many of those soldiers left, as was noted in the end credits. The actors were listed and then the person they played and their history followed.

Treme was good too. I do have the occasional problem with Steve Zahn though. Some episodes he’s good and other episodes he’s not so good. I don’t know how many episodes are left but I’ll keep watching more than likely.

Stayed up late and watched Burn After Reading by the Coen brothers. Not the best from the Coens, but better than most. A few surprising twists in it. Don’t know if I would recommend it. This afternoon I was out by Pier A, strumming my guitar. Made a quarter.

It was encouraging.

I thought the Art Hams or something resembling pork products were supposed to be doing something in May up in Hamilton NY but that doesn’t seem to be in the works. At least not if I’m included.

Occasionally, some people make plans and I show an interest then it’s all hush hush until after the fact.

And some people always coming up with some plans, “A movie! A CD! And I want you, John to be in on it!” and when I say I would be in on it, I ask when and where and I will be there, I never hear anything about it again.

“A part for you John, where you wear a suit and tie and you smoke a cigar. Think you can do it?” I reply positively, even offer some more ideas to the project at hand, when seem to go over well then nothing is said until after the fact and if I then mention my ignorance I sometimes hear that I knew all about it.

Like playing in Hamilton, which is probably now, two people and a trombone doing who the fuck knows if it hasn’t happened already. It’s happened before, hearing afterward about two friends playing right up the street from me at an open mike. Turtle club anyone?

A while back I was somewhere with someone who told me about a project they had just completed. I asked why didn’t I know about it and they insisted that I did know about it. It’s just as well. I do my thing and they can do whatever.

I suppose my request to do the voice of a radio DJ has fallen by the wayside. I may have been replaced, that is if that project still exists. Once again, besides the initial idea presented to me and my interest in doing whatever is asked, I’ve heard nothing. Perhaps a fourth party or someone else will tell me all about it.

And also the Last Sunday of the Month Shakespeare reading seems to be no more. It was a good idea while it lasted and it was fun. But there are no more brunches at Maxwells and I’m not too keen on participating in the process in someone’s kitchen.

from last week.

from last week.


Next day, 5.18.10 a new attitude. Not so bitter and resentful.

Your Mother Should Know

Here I am again, in front of the computer, sitting at the keyboard, hitting not so random letters and keys and forming words, sentences and paragraphs. I am surprised to be here. I had hoped to not write this weekend and here I am writing.

Am I a man of letters? Of words? A man of my word? Can I be true to myself? Can I be true to you, the reader? Should I buy that t-shirt, that coffee mug or those greeting cards?

I’ve just gotten back from sitting on the front steps, enjoying a cigar and writing in a notebook. I know, how old school. And what I wrote I am about to transcribe here.

It follows what happened before my visit to Barclay Rex on Thursday. I was all set to go and decided to check the email from Barclay Rex to reassure myself. But I could not access my email through Firefox or Chrome.

I plodded on, upwards to the bus stop and called Bill. I figured he might have access that I didn’t have and asked him to open my account. He remarked that I had a lot of email in my account, which is true. I do have a lot of email in my account.

Thousands of unread emails, going back a few years. But the email server has no problem with it and so neither do I. I told Bill I didn’t give a shit about the emails and asked Bill to look for an email from Ryan Bibble.

Sure enough, Bill found the email and all was as I thought. Felt bad for being a bit testy with Bill but I knew I had a lot of emails and I only needed to access one which could be easily found with the simplest search.

Texted my love once again to Bill and he responded in kind. We’re still up in the air with regards to Barclay Rex, now that Susquehanna Investment Group has entered the fray.

I would never had heard of Susquehanna Investment Group if it weren’t for that certain ‘Maurice’, sending me an email from their workplace. Fortune comes in from strange angles.

So now, this is from sitting on the front steps a little while ago.

This is a twist. Sitting on the front stoop and writing. It’s a beautiful day and I spent some time earlier by the river, reading Mojo magazine. Lot’s of people out and about. I avoided the Baby Parade scheduled for the waterfront, but still there were plenty of strollers going by and pregnant women.

Once I finished reading Mojo I was bored and decided to head home and be bored there rather than sitting by the river. No buskers out today and I wasn’t strumming.

I came home and Bill was awake and getting ready to head into the city for rehearsal. He came home this morning after driving to North Haverbrook last night. He slept a few hours when he came home.

Last night I watched The Hangover. It was just what I expected, and I wasn’t disappointed. A few laughs, basically men being stupid.

After that I watched a documentary on The Mamas and the Papas. I’m sure I had seen it before but nothing else was on. It was definitely interesting to watch after MacKenzie Phillips revelation/accusation of having an incestuous affair with her father Papa John.

McGuinn and McGuire just keep getting higher and in LA you know where that’s at/And no one’s getting fat except Mama Cass.

After that I watched the news and Saturday Night Live. Alec Baldwin was the guest host for the season finale with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. It was good, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers reminded me a bit of Led Zeppelin. Maybe that’s what they were trying for. I enjoyed it nonetheless.

The high point for me was the Digital Short. Once again, hilarious.

After Saturday Night Live I took a melatonin which has been great in helping get some restful sleep but it doesn’t help me waking up and getting out of bed in the morning. But that’s not so bad.

Listening to the Mama’s and the Papa’s last night reminded me of Sunday afternoons spent at the VFW in Saddle Brook. I would hear Monday Monday, as well as Make the World Go Away by Eddy Arnold a few times on Sundays as I watched the veterans drinks and smoke.

10.16.10 jot alxndr 008