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.

Diamond Smiles

Well today has been a fartin’ around day. I know some of you would love a day like this, but you should be careful of what you wish for.

So since I didn’t do much of anything today, (hello laundry) I’ll spare you the iPod shuffle thing and look back at the previous entries for the third of September.

And here we go.

Disney’s Dream Debased, 2006.
I sit around for Bill to deliver a California King sized bed. It wasn’t a beach day since I had to sit and wait for Bill and the bed. I watch a DVD that I got for Bill’s birthday, a Herbie Hancock DVD. Brian Eno is in it so that’s what got my eye.

I was working at McMann and Tate, and very unhappy. The night before Juan came over and we riffed on some jazzy type things. Watched the Dave Chapelle Street Party DVD directed by Michel Gondry.

I enjoyed watching Chapelle with Juan more than I did seeing it with Bill in the theater. Bill and I had a major fight that night months previous. Also drank a lot of wine in 2006.

Eventually had to kick Juan out since the jazzy things and the wine made my eyes heavily lidded. The bed is still here and big enough for two big guys like Bill and myself.

The Last Thing You Should Do, 2007.
Sat around and watched TV with Bill. It was a Monday. No longer at McMann and Tate, but working for the Biotechnology Investment Bank. Content with the job, settled in after starting a few months before.

We watched Big Love on HBO the season finale. I write about Bill Paxton being in a band called Martini Ranch. I wrote about my musical snobbery towards Los Angeles which was unfortunate since I missed a few good bands while my nose was up in the air.

It being Labor Day weekend, there was a BBQ in Garfield. Bill and I got there via Zip Car. I bring a dozen CD’s for a 30 minute drive.

Bill and I arrive before most everyone else. Brian and Karen and the kids show up, and Frank is on the mend from his stroke the previous May. Rob cooks on his grill.

Hot dogs, Hamburgers, Coronas and Guinness. Apparently on the way home and drove by 13 Riverview Avenue as there are pictures that prove it.

Thank You, 2008.
In the midst of the election season. I’m on fire. Sarah Palin. Cotton Hill. John McRage. It’s the republican convention! There are a lot of hands grasping at only a few straws in that crowd.

Everything is anti-Obama. Oddly enough, things are more tense now in 2009 then it was last year.

Tropical Storm Hannah approaches putting the free B-52’s show in Cranford NJ in jeopardy. I run into Casey Chasm twice, in the morning when I’m not at my best and on the return trip when I am at my best.

Work is getting back on it’s knees. The economy is tanking in September 2008. Today they try to pin it on Obama.

I just got a new suit, navy blue wool/cashmere blend, two button. I’m asked to wear a suit since a big wig is expected in the office, a white knight who didn’t do anything.

And the program Open Office was giving me problems, but a year later it’s fine, just fine thank you.

Wise Up! Sucker

It’s a beautiful day today. Nice and breezy, sunny, hardly a cloud in the sky.

Congratulations to Rand & Lisa for 14 years of wedded bliss. I believe the proper gift for the 14th anniversary is waffles.

Last night was another nice evening. Didn’t do much except to sweat over last night’s entry. And it was probably a bland entry, I was pulling out every word like I was pulling teeth.

I was just thinking about a bus ride into the city that I took the other day. A woman asked me if 19th and Willow was Hoboken or Weehawken. I told I thought it was Weehawken.

I lived on top of the Palisades and the area below, specifically 19th and Willow was called the Shades. It was in the shade of Troy Towers and the cliffs. Strange people down there, not really trusting of the people that lived on the top.

In any event, I told her to use landmarks instead of street directions since it would probably be easier. She mentioned that she was a former resident of Hoboken for 55 years then moved to the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico.

But now she was back for a funeral at St. Lawrence Church.

I walked over to St. Lawrence Church about 10 years ago when my landlady was on her death bed and since she was a Catholic I figured it would be nice for a priest from that parish to show up and comfort her in her final days.

The priest was hesitant, not really willing to play the role of shepherd of his flock. I sort of brow beat him into it and he did eventually show up. The landlady’s kids Derf and Pastie weren’t about to do anything like that.

The streets are still devoid of children most of the day and that’s fine with me.

I sat by the river and read the New Yorker. Also canceled my monthly bus pass from NJ Transit since it didn’t make sense since I’m not going in as often as I had used to and it is belt tightening time after all. I’m just glad I have a New Yorker subscription until May 2011.

Been listening to Lucinda Williams which an on line buddy turned me onto. She’s pretty cool and of course I heard about her for years already. Once again late for the dance.

I am thinking about heading over to Journal Square tonight to take part in a health care reform rally. I signed up to show up and since there is nothing else to do, that might be the thing to do. And I do believe in health care reform.

Last night I spoke to Lovely Rita. It had been a while since we last chatted. She is now a dog groomer and making some extra bucks which is good. I called her to let her know that 2 of her favorite bands were on TV last night, Cheap Trick was on Conan and the Black Crowes were on Letterman.

She opted for Cheap Trick since the Black Crowes have slowly been mutating into the dreaded Allman Brothers. Does that make Kate Hudson, the Cher to Chris Robinson’s Gregg Allman?

None of that hippy crap for Rita!

I watched about a minute of the Black Crowes before Cheap Trick came on and I quickly changed channels when Rick Nielsen and the band came on. I was glad that I did.

Well soon I will be headed to Journal Square so I may post later on when I get back.

Same Bat time, same Bat channel.

Well I just got back. OK turn out, maybe 100 people.
It’s strange. I must put out an odd vibe or look conservative.
No one would really talk to me about the issues though I was there to support them.
The only one who did was May Young. They need more outgoing people like May Young, that are willing to reach out and talk to everyone.
Someone like her would get more people active in the cause.

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Her name is May. She was very friendly and outgoing.

Her name is May. She was very friendly and outgoing.


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