Monthly Archives: June 2010

Above Chiangmai

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John zombie. Zombie John. Feeling OK. Feet hurt from standing for 9 hours. I work 10 hours and you can bet that one hour I have for lunch is spent sitting down somewhere. I’ve gone from living on the Internets for 11 months to not being able to go online.

It’s OK. Really nothing to worry about. I’m eating less and been more active. I found out today that I can access my email, but access to Facebook is blocked. That means I come home and my friends have posted 300 updates.

And I find myself hiding from view certain friends. Some people I know, some people I admire, some people I like. Can’t bring myself to hide Ivan Kral even though he really doesn’t have much to say and having written that I have decided to hide Ivan Kral.

The routine thus far, or at least for the past week- I awake and get out of bed around 6:45 and do my thing which if you’re a regular reader know what that entails.

I leave at 7:45 and catch a bus around 8:00. I get to the bus terminal by 8:30 and catch an uptown train, dropping me off a little before 9:00. I find a spot to change into my suit and tie, usually wishing it was autumn and also muttering ‘fucking hell’ at least once.

Then I leave the building and find a shady spot to just chill out and drink some ice water. I drink a lot of water these days, which according to Harpy is a reason why he and I sweat like a pair of thoroughbreds.

At about 9:25 I can be found in front of the shop waiting for someone to let me in. Today it was me and Calvin until 11:30 when Raymond and Don came in. Calvin and I get along very well I think. He’s a nice guy and I genuinely like him. I haven’t seen his bad side though, if he has one. Everyone does.

Yesterday Raymond mentioned that when you work an 8 hour shift you’re supposed to get 2 15 minute breaks. Here, you have to mention that you’re stepping out for some fresh air. Calvin doesn’t say no and mentioned that he understands that breaks are needed and shouldn’t be abused.

I was able to take a break in the morning as well as in the afternoon. It being so summer-like lately the usual cigar smokers that come in and hang out until the cigar lounge closes at 7:00 do not stop by on Fridays. Most everyone heads out of town.

That meant it was especially slow this afternoon. We still have to stand there in our suits and ties though when we work on weekends, polo shirts are OK to wear as are guayaberas. Yay!

I have off this weekend and don’t have to go in until 11:30 on Monday. That means I’ll be working until 9:30. A new experience that will be.

It was so slow this afternoon that Calvin asked if I had seen the whole complex where the shop is located. I said I hadn’t only gotten as far as the second floor and he suggested that I wander around and see whats what.

It really is an impressive, albeit expensive complex. I made it as far as I could, the fifth floor and then wound my way back down on various escalators. With not much to do, time crawled. I did have a moment when I got back from checking out the complex to get my street clothes ready for a quick change.

When I told various friends and family that I would be working in a cigar shop, I think they envisioned that I would be smoking cigars all day. I thought that too. It’s not like that at all.

Calvin usually recommends a cigar to smoke when I take lunch and when I get back I tell him what I thought. And that’s about it, besides another cigar at the end of the day, when I walk down to the Path train.

Yes I walk 26 blocks after standing around all day. It clears my head and I also find walking a distance like that beats standing around all day. Now I am home, tired and feeling alright.

Since I am working late on Monday I’ll be able to see Bill in a new play on Sunday night. Tomorrow is laundry and chores that I used to do at my leisure and trying to make a party for Rock & Roll Roger’s Honey tomorrow in Weehawken.

I get to sleep late too. Probably wake up around 8:00.

Also heard from Todd regarding the July party at Maxwells. It’s going to be in the front room. Which is a slight twist. More details to follow, but not tonight. John zombie.

The weight of a metal world atop one of my shoulders.


It Keeps You Running

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Well today was a pretty good day. It started out nicely, Bill kissing me goodbye before he headed out around 6:00. I was up and out of bed a little while after that, close to 7:00.

I had the foresight to get my clothes ready and put in a garment bag the night before. Shower, shave, coffee and cereal and at 7:45 I was headed for the bus. Not too crowded, had a decent seat and the air conditioning was on.

I asked Bill last night if he had a garment bag I could use and he said they had them for sale at the Mens Wearhouse. I wouldn’t be able to make it there and Bill said he would if he had a chance. Headed uptown on the train and walked by the shop.

The lights were on but no one answered my knocking. I headed into the public restroom and changed there. Had about a half hour to kill so I wandered around the area in my suit, my street clothes now in the garment bag.

Tried calling Bill but T-Mobile couldn’t find a working network. That happened last night as well while at home. I made it back to the shop and saw Calvin. He was surprised that I was waiting outside. Apparently Marcus was inside the office and didn’t hear me knocking.

Harold, another co-worker showed up. He’s a handsome guy and a part time model. He showed me a photo of himself modeling for Calvin Klein underwear and I did not stare at the prominent bulge. He also showed me his six pack abs in person.

He’s off to South Beach for a modeling competition in a few weeks. I like Harold, he’s very funny. Raymond also came in. I met him when I met with Calvin and Marcus a few weeks ago.

Calvin and Harold said he had OCD and Raymond did not disagree. Apparently Raymond does a lot with the running of the shop and he’s good to turn to if I have a question.

We talked in the humidor about how it is to work there. He doesn’t mind making sure everything is running correctly. He’s a good ally to have.

Since I’m the low man on the totem pole I had to take an early lunch. I forgot to make a sandwich to bring to work so I finally went over to Whole Foods and made myself a salad which was really good. The first bite was incredible but I think I was just so hungry.

I sat on a bench near the park and after the salad smoked a cigar. An older gent walked by and noticed how I was dressed, white shirt, tie and braces and he remarked that I looked like a banker. I told him that I wasn’t, that I had been unemployed for 11 months and that I just started a new job.

He was happy for that and asked where I was working. I told him about the cigar shop and he remarked that he didn’t smoke cigars but wished me well and then he was off buying lottery scratch cards.

He was relieved after much scratching on one of the cards that he didn’t win the Shirley Jackson lottery.

Back to the shop on time and I found that Bill had stopped by with the garment bag. Everyone met him and liked him. How could they not? They also said they knew he was my man since we both looked alike.

I suppose after 10 years that would happen. I was glad they liked Bill and sad that I missed him but I think it was probably all for the best. They also sold Bill some cigars.

Like I said, it was a pretty good day.

Came home and found an email from Harpy saying that Rue McClanahan passed away. She was nice. I met her on the street in December 2005 when I was working at Wanker Banker.
Rue McClanahan 2005