Back at it. It’s Monday, July 6. Obviously, I did not write for the past few days. Just didn’t feel like it. It was a decent weekend. Mike came over on Friday, and Bill, Mike, and I had a good time hanging out. It was so hot on Thursday, July 2, my fingers were sweating, or actually, the sweat from my arms had trickled to my fingers.

My brother Brian had given me an air conditioner a few years ago and I have used it intermittently. It’s not very strong but can cool off a small room. The air conditioner I bought 26 years ago still works and so that one is in the bedroom. The one Brian gave me is now in the TV/Computer room window. It really makes a difference.

Mike loves hearing Bill’s tales of the road. Bill loves telling his tales of the road. I have heard them a few times so I interject here and there as the stories unfold. I myself have been known to tell a story a few times. I try not to, and find it distressing when Bill tells me otherwise.

July 3rd blended into July 4th, and it was even hotter. The three of us decided to check out the tall ships, but we missed most of them. We walked to the Hudson River on 4th street, making it as far as 3rd street before deciding that was too much and heading home after getting some lunch at the nearby, overpriced supermarket.

More TV was watched in the darkened, air-conditioned room, more food was eaten and more weed was smoked (by me). Mike wants to rent the Michael Jackson biopic. I am reluctant. It is a $20 rental and if he wants it, he can rent it. I’d be willing to wait for the streaming.

The schedule for the night was watching the fireworks that were to begin at 9:25 PM. We were hemming and hawing as to going to the river. We opted to gland found the streets deserted mostly. Hoboken anticipated hordes of people roaming around but it was not to be.

Before we left we saw on TV that the fireworks were starting earlier than 9:25 but we thought we would still have time to see them. We saw the people walking away and figured out for ourselves that we missed the show. Mike was disappointed and Bill and I were ambivalent. I try to maintain a sleep schedule even when I am not working so I went to bed, Bill soon joined me and MIke slept on the couch.

I woke up yesterday to a text from Mike who had to leave before we woke up due to his parole officer being outside his apartment. On a Sunday. During a holiday weekend. Mike had hoped to stay until the afternoon, but it was not to be. We were all very much bummed out at this turn of events.

I did go bicycling yesterday. I did not go the week before, so I had some mileage to make up for. A little over 14 miles. It was not as hot as it had been. I did think about bike riding on Friday, but it was way too hot for that, but yesterday was good.

It was a bit rushed since on the horizon were storm clouds. Those clouds almost prevented me from going cycling but Bill encouraged me to go. No time for the usual 15 minute break under the tree I like with one eye on the gray clouds approaching.

There was a plan for me to go home after bicycling 14 miles, take a shower and change clothes and head out to the supermarket but since I was on the bike I decided to ride up there, get what I could carry in my backpack and head home. That worked out well and I was able to stop and chat with RoDa as his son Logan looked on.

I came up the four flights of steps and was a basic zombie. More physical than mental. It was good to be home in front of the air conditioner. Bill was rehearsing his play that Mike and I are going to see in a week or so, and Mike was at his crib.

I thought about taking a nap but did not want to interfere with my sleep schedule. When I did finally go to sleep I had a disturbing dream where I had signed up for a self-help group that turned out to be a very mean cult. I realized this before I got deeper into it, when I was pursued by henchmen who insisted that I go with them despite my efforts to hide among the people.

It was such an unsettling dream that I got out of bed to pee even though I really didn’t have to, I did it just to get away from the dream.

Tonight I am going to attend a dinner hosted by the company that has placed me at the fruit stand. It’s a free meal and I can’t say no. It starts at 5:30 and is supposed to end at 7:30. It’s at a restaurant in Times Square. I call it a tourist trap though I’ve never been there. Bill has taken his passengers there though and they were mainly tourists.

If the weather was better I would walk but it’s drizzling outside so a subway is in order.