Something’s going on this morning at Hoboken with fire trucks lined up, lights flashing, police cars lined up, lights flashing, who knows? Apartment fire on the west side of the 300 block of Hudson Street.

For February 9, 2026, a Monday, it’s certainly a Maryann Fuentes kind of day. Meaning it’s cold outside, and I am inside drinking ice water. She would be doing that, whereas I am merely hydrated. Those bloody Algerians. The last decent one was Doreen Galante, and she passed away a few years ago. She saw the way out and took it. Some rednecks claim it was the COVID-19 vaccine, but we tend to know better.

The weekend was another stroll through blase lands. I did go out on Saturday, much to my dismay. The trip to the supermarket was a difficult one. The temperatures were in the 10-degree range with a wind chill that cut right through. The leather gloves, which were a topic of my foibles last week, provided scant relief as the wind sliced through them.

I was planning on getting a cigar and shooting a video as I walked, but it was too damn cold. I also “had” to go to the dispensary, which sent me out into the dges of the wastelands of Hoboken. Where the land was barren back in the day, now it has construction, which will tax the overtaxed sewers and pipes, which were not built for more and more toilets and plumbing.

I spoke with my siblings over the weekend. My sister’s call was as expected, my brother’s call was a bit awkward. Sometimes we get in fine, other times it is like pulling teeth. I’m usually alone when I call, but I think my brother has an audience and speaks kindly to whoever is in the room at that time.

I also called my friends Connie and Jane. I last saw Connie in January 2025 before they shipped her out to California. I left her a voicemail in November for her birthday, but reports are that Connie is not doing too well, a bit of dementia, it seems.

As far as I know, Jane was doing well; she’s been taking care of her man, Duke. We last spoke a while ago, and things were shaky with regard to Duke’s well-being. I left a voicemail for Jane as well, happy to have checked off the connection boxes, though I would have preferred to have spoken directly.

Mike’s beloved flew back to the left coast yesterday. The boyfriend arrived Friday evening and left Sunday evening. I was taken aback when Mike asked if I could send his boyfriend in a ride share from the crib in Jersey City to Newark Airport. There was a plan for Mike to come over after the boyfriend left, which meant Mike would need a ride share as well.

I could not afford both and told Mike that. He said the boyfriend did not know anything about my being asked to foot the bill for a later reimbursement, but I am skeptical. I don’t know the boyfriend beyond photos and videos online, and I caught a glimpse of his left ear during a FaceTime thing on Saturday.

It turned out the boyfriend’s sibling was able to forward the cash for the ride share, and Mike did not come over anyhow, which was fine by me.

Bill is supposed to return today, so I guess within minutes of meeting again, he will proceed to drive me up the wall in a bus.

I have finished the Patti Smith book, Bread of Angels. Next up is Jelani Cobb, Three or More is a Riot. I have a crush on Jelani Cobb.