Sunday was Pride, Sunday was Julio’s birthday. I haven’t seen Julio since he literally ran into me at the Art & Music Fair, which is something he never attends. But there he was with wife, Stine. I wished him the best. His oldest, Alexander, has graduated from high school and is off to college. The youngest, Christian is still in the grammar school system.

Monday was Bill’s birthday. We had a plan to go to Sandy Hook. Annemarie suggested it Friday but it was overcast. Monday was better. Annemarie had been chauffeuring all over North Jersey and since Bill loves to drive it was decided that he would drive to Sandy Hook. Mike was supposed to join Annemarie, Bill & me but an interview was scheduled so he dropped out.

Once again, a route was needed to be taken without using toll roads. A bit stressful once again but this was Bill’s forte. He knew where to go. Annemarie sat in the back as I sat up front next to Bill. I was trying to be a good DJ, satisfying Annemarie’s taste as well as pleasing the birthday boy.

I had also forgotten or blacked it out of my mind how Bill drives a car. He drives a car like he was driving a bus. It’s nerve-wracking and a bit frightening. It was on Monday afternoon. Bill can be so fucking stubborn, we almost hit another car when he decided to make a right turn from the left lane in an intersection.

Annemarie noticed it as did I. I have a pet peeve about people making turns like that from the wrong lane. The ride back was fraught with disappointment. As usual we had ice cream in Rumson, and on the way towards the highway, where we should have made a right turn, Bill decided to make a left and take us further away from where we needed to go.

It was so fucking stupid, and like I said, Bill could be so stubborn there would be no point in telling him. So suppression was the way to go. It was largely an uncomfortable return and I don’t know if Annemarie ro Bill felt uncomfortable. Not much conversation occurred during that oh so long trip back to Hoboken.

We parted ways in front of my building, Annemarie headed to Garfield, and Bill and I climbed up the four flights. On Saturday, during my grocery shopping I bought a red velvet cake, which Bill likes. But it was not enough and Bill wanted a chocolate mousse cake as well.

I had 2 birthday cards for Bill as well as 2 gifts. He ignored the cards and went right to the gifts which was also another disappointment. He didn’t notice or open the cards until the next day. I was at work, and it was busy yet quiet.

The whole day I kept telling myself to be nice, it’s Bill’s birthday. So I was nice and swallowed anything untoward.

Today it is not busy and very quiet.

Not much going on. It’s a summer holiday week and many people are out, or at least, working from home.

20 minutes before lunch we’re spent watching a man and a woman who climbed to the top of the empire State building to unfurl a flag that said when the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace this is usually attributed to Jimi Hendrix but it might be from somebody else.

I watched with sweaty palms and a nauseous feeling as the man and the woman did what they did.

the man knelt down and proposed to the woman before they descended and were arrested by NYPD.

The guy that I went to grammar school and high school that has a scar on his chest in the shape of a T was in the helicopter flying above and reporting as only some guy from Lodi could.