Author Archives: johnozed

About johnozed

I'm 50+ years old, 210-ish#, 6'2", reddish blonde, blue eyes with glasses (and without) masculine, funny, relatively intelligent, enjoy the company of assorted friends and family especially sordid friends and family. I love music, reading, writing, conversing, laughing, going to films, shows, concerts and smoking cigars. And I also enjoy looking nice in a suit and tie. Looking more like Lewis Lapham than Tom Wolfe. I'm sure there is more, but we'll just have to find out when I write about it. In a lifetime relationship with partner Bill Vila.

I Can’t Help Myself

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Wednesday. Hump day for some, Friday for me and by Friday I mean that I have off the next two days which is quite nice. The plan is to take a bus down to Long Beach Island tomorrow and visit with Frank and Elaine. Last night I watched the usual, and played the bass a little bit. That was not going as I had hoped so I switched to the Fender acoustic.

After playing that for a while I decided to use the capo and put it on the third fret. It had been a while since I used the capo and in a little while I had a nice little riff going on. I decided to strike the hammer while the iron was hot and recorded it on my phone since I couldn’t figure out how to use the pocket digital recorder Bill got for me over the holidays last year.

With the phone I could only record a minute which was frustrating. I figured out how to use the digital recorder soon after that and recorded an Aunt Ditty about 3:30. I took it to work and uploaded it on my computer today and now it’s on my iPod. It doesn’t sound half bad and of course it could use some work. I have ideas for the Aunt Ditty which I called To Bayonne, a title I will more than likely change at a later date. I think it was inspired from that Talking Heads video that I posted last night.

Then Bill came home and I made him hot dogs. Watched The Jeffersons on TV Land. The night before Bill and I watched Hogan’s Heroes which really shows what a fun time could be had in a German POW camp during World War 2. Such happy good times.

I wonder if Colonel Klink and Sgt. Schultz were included at the Nuremberg Trials. Couldn’t watch the show without thinking how Bob Crane had some pervy aspects and was portrayed amazingly by Greg Kinnear in that movie.

Slept really well and woke up to what sounded like a maelstrom and I didn’t want to get out of bed, but I had to, being it was my last day before a slight vacation. I read Casey’s script last night which was very good. Bladder moved towards the eyes a bit towards the end. Couldn’t wait to tell him about it this morning on the bus.

It was funny this morning on the bus. Usually Casey has a seat next to me and we talk, this morning someone beat him to it, just when I had something relevant to say. Casey sat in the opposite side on the aisle and I tried telling him about the script, when Casey, so smart and awake asked the gent next to me to switch.

He obliged and we had a really good talk about my favorite parts of the script. It was really well paced and I couldn’t find anything wrong with it. I’d definitely watch it, given a chance.

Work was work. I was out of the office quite a bit so the day flew by. I set things up so they wouldn’t go crazy when I wasn’t there, but I know I’ll hear about some thing when I come back on Monday.

Took the Path home just for a change of pace and I was able to read some more of Rip It Up and Start Again by Simon Reynolds. Once again I find I have taken too many books out of the library. Besides that book I have two Alan Bennett books, which I would love to read, but Rip It Up is such an enjoyable read.

It’s mainly about the Post Punk music from the UK so far, and the title is from a song by Orange Juice, Rip It Up which I remember putting on countless mix tapes that I used to give friends and family in the 1980’s. I still have a few from back then and they’re still in decent condition. I’ve even turned a few into mp3’s as a sign of the times.

Of course being mix tapes, they are now two very long tracks, ‘Title’ Side A & B. I wonder if I should get a third hard drive just for my music. Especially if I’m going to start to record my own Aunt Ditty’s.

Bridget?

I won’t have any internet access until Saturday when I return. So feel free to read the posts that I’ve previously put up, and comment damn it. There’s one or two pieces of fiction in there somewhere. Be nice to each other. Don’t be a dick.

Not your average Johnozed reader or is it?

Percy Sledge with Jimi Hendrix on guitar

A forearm

A thumbnail

Leftover Secrets To Tell

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Well it’s now Tuesday. Not a bad day at all. Last night was Monday and as I started to watch Bill Olbermann, Harpy called. That was a good call, funny and enjoyable and me giving Harpy advice to sometimes bite his lip and keep his mouth shut. We all have to do it from time to time and sometimes if you want to keep a job that is what you have to do most of the time.

I hope he heeds my words. Getting a job is tough these days and sometimes you just have to play the game. Twenty years ago when we were younger, things were different. Of course a lot of those time we were basically wasted. Coming down, well right next door in the next cube is a friend with something to pick you up. I guess that lasted a couple of years, it’s hard to tell.

Nowadays, I know I can’t bounce back like I used to so I don’t do those things anymore. I paused Keith Olbermann while Harpy chatted and was back to watching it about a half hour later. Bill came home in the meantime and he’s been enjoying Olbermann more than I do.

I was waiting for Weeds again. Very good episode, but not as good as the previous week. Celia seems to have developed a love for blow, while Silas is seeing a cougar as Shane bashed the most popular kid in his new school with a cafeteria tray, telling the kid as he was splayed out on the floor not to fuck with him.

And of course Nancy has her own thing going on as does Andy the coyote. Nancy playing with fire and Andy will have a different fire in a leg brace coming after him from south of the border. Bill was in bed halfway through and I continued watching Secret Diary of a Call Girl which was the season finale. That was pretty good. I don’t keep and eye out for that show but once I start watching it I get caught up.

After that was the news, I stayed up long enough to see what Otis Livingston was wearing and then I was the other lump in the bed. Before I knew it it was 6:00 and Bill was kissing me goodbye as he headed off to the gym. I was out of bed soon after that and I was out the door about 45 minutes later.

On the bus I run into Casey again. Such a ball of energy as opposed to me needing another cup of coffee. I think I was able to hold up my end of the conversation which wasn’t as death oriented as yesterday. Casey told me about his script and he emailed me a copy.

It’s pretty good actually. I haven’t read the whole thing yet, too many interruptions during the day, meaning too many prying eyes. I would like to be able to sit down and read it from start to finish which I’ll do later.

I had a few errands to run again which made it good to be out of the office. Been noticing a lot of people with broken arms lately. I suppose that could be the latest fashion and I’m glad I disdain the latest fashions.

I do look forward to wearing a suit and tie again when it gets cooler outside. I saw a few good looking guys today all suited up and wonder why they don’t sweat like I do. They must take cars and taxis mostly and don’t do too much walking in the heat. Still, I can deal with the heat the best as I could and maintain my casual appearance.

Tomorrow night Bill and I are having dinner with Casey at Margherita’s on Washington Street. That should be fun.

Here’s a pic or two.

The Index Finger

The Knee

The tourists

28 years ago…..?

Double Feature (courtesy of BettiCola)