It’s been another cold and damp day in Hoboken. In Jersey City, it was cold and rainy. I know because I was in both towns today. And Jersey City was mere minutes after a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing all aboard. The sky had a few news copters hovering about. I knew that it would be the main story today on the local news, and I just kept moving along in an attempt to stay warm as I walked over to see Mike.
I had a bag full of his stuff, clothes, socks, underwear, and sneakers, as well as a nail clipper to replace the one he had lost. Bill made an appearance since the people he was driving wound up nearby for a few hours. Bill took it upon himself to get on the light rail to Hoboken. He was here for a little over an hour, which was good.
I was chillin’ though, and he had some questions about things I did not want to think about. So those things were brought to the forefront, leaving my mellow to be unduly harsh. I wasn’t in the best frame of mind since I did not sleep too well the night before. I tossed and turned before getting out of bed and trying to get some sleep about 20 minutes later, which did the job of sleep, but not restful or deep.
Bill’s questions were all about the job, and even Mike had some questions. I know it’s a Monday through Friday job, but I don’t know the hours, though they are normal office hours as far as I could tell. Bill didn’t mean to, but he made me anxious, which did not serve me at all. And the walk to meet up with Mike didn’t help since I was in the thick of the aftermath of the helicopter crash.
The walk with Mike was good, but it started to rain. I enjoyed most of a cigar, nonetheless letting it fade out since I knew I would be taking the train back to Hoboken instead of gathering steps as my original plan was. Before I made it to Jersey City, I walked down Washington Street after getting a cigar from Imram.
I made it a point to swing by DoneRight Kebab, a new Halal restaurant on the Avenue. Last night I had a sample from the restaurant and it was sooo good. I walked by again and saw the young woman again, and nabbed another sample. Last night’s sample was a chicken wrap, today was a lamb and chicken combo, which was sooo good once again. I told Mike about it and he seemed interested, but he may have been being nice.
The mood today matched the weather, the rain falls down on a humdrum town. Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest is 55 years old today, and Terre Roche from The Roches is 72. I posted videos from each on social medias to celebrate them and the gifts they gave us.
Today was Thursday.
The humorous Gemini AI version:
Alright, buckle up, folks, because apparently my Thursday in the glamorous locales of Hoboken and its slightly more dramatic neighbor, Jersey City, was less a thrilling adventure and more a masterclass in damp disappointment, seasoned with a dash of “Did you hear about the helicopter?”
So, picture this: Hoboken, in its infinite wisdom, decided to be a cold, damp hug that nobody asked for. Jersey City, not wanting to be outdone, went full-on “cold and rainy,” a fact I can personally attest to, having bravely traversed both meteorological marvels. And wouldn’t you know it, my little jaunt to Jersey City was conveniently timed mere moments after a helicopter decided the Hudson River needed more metal confetti and fewer passengers. The sky was buzzing with news choppers, probably offering live coverage of the fish now contemplating early retirement. You know, just your average Thursday commute. I, meanwhile, was channeling my inner penguin, waddling along in a valiant effort to retain body heat on my way to see Mike.
My Mary Poppins-esque bag contained Mike’s worldly possessions: a sartorial symphony of clothes, socks, and underwear, plus a shiny new nail clipper because apparently, existential dread and lost nail clippers go hand in hand. Then, in a cameo appearance worthy of a daytime soap opera, Bill showed up. Apparently, his chauffeur duties had deposited his charges near the watery wreckage, giving him a free pass on the light rail to Hoboken. He graced us with his presence for a whole hour, which was… something.
Now, I was attempting to maintain a state of zen-like chill, but Bill, bless his inquisitive heart, decided to dredge up topics my brain had strategically filed under “Do Not Open Until Next Fiscal Year.” So, my mellow mood took a swift nosedive, transforming into something resembling a grumpy badger in a rainstorm. This was likely exacerbated by my previous night’s sleep, which involved more tossing and turning than a pancake convention, culminating in a brief 20-minute nap that was the sleep equivalent of a participation trophy.
Naturally, Bill’s burning questions revolved around the soul-crushing topic of gainful employment. Even Mike chimed in with his own queries. Look, I know it’s a Monday-to-Friday gig, okay? The specifics are fuzzy, but think regular office hours, minus the regular enthusiasm. Bill, bless his oblivious heart, managed to inject a healthy dose of anxiety into my already soggy disposition. And the walk through the helicopter aftermath? Let’s just say dodging rubberneckers and somber reporters wasn’t exactly conducive to inner peace.
The walk with Mike was decent until the sky decided to weep again. I did manage to enjoy most of a cigar, a brief moment of smoky defiance against the damp tyranny, before resigning myself to the train and abandoning my Fitbit’s (I do not own a Fitbit- JOZ) desperate pleas for more steps. My pre-Jersey City stroll involved a pilgrimage down Washington Street for a crucial cigar acquisition from Imram.
But the real highlight of my day, the shimmering beacon in the cold, damp gloom, was DoneRight Kebab, a newcomer on the Halal scene. Last night’s free sample – a chicken wrap of epic proportions – had clearly left a mark. So, naturally, I staged a repeat performance, snagging another sample from the same lovely woman. This time, it was a lamb and chicken combo that sent my taste buds into a state of pure, unadulterated bliss. I raved about it to Mike, who either shared my enthusiasm or was just really good at faking it.
So, yes, the mood of the day perfectly mirrored the weather: a soggy, humdrum affair. On a brighter note, it was the 55th birthday of the legendary Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest and the 72nd birthday of the equally awesome Terre Roche from The Roches. Naturally, I did my civic duty and flooded social media with celebratory videos, because even on a cold, damp, helicopter-adjacent Thursday, we must acknowledge musical greatness. And yes, in case you forgot, all this riveting drama unfolded on a Thursday. You’re welcome.