Abstract Absurdist Otherness | johnozed

Ahh. A few years ago Bill and I saw a friend of mine have a recital. Dan Moore, the friend had rented out a studio space and had a pianist accompany him as he sang maybe a dozen songs with a couple of stories inter sped throughout. It was a good time, and similar to an idea I had, when I had ideas, that Bill and I dress up and cover Frank Sinatra and Count Basie’s album ‘It Might As Well Be Swing!’ I was to be the singer and Bill was to be the pianist.

I revisited that idea on the way home tonight listening to the forgotten Specials album, ‘In The Studio with the Special AKA’. I was listening to the song Break Down The Door and felt I could sing my own interpretation with Bill’s accompaniment. It could be fun, with a couple of shots under my belt perhaps. Break Down The Door was the B-side on the Specials single, Free Nelson Mandela.

I’ll always remember the night before Mandela was going to be released, I was spinning records at McSwells and I played Free Nelson Mandela. Martin Kelly came over to me and said it was the last time I would have to play that song. It’s still a good song, but a little dated. Oh the Specials have such a spot in my heart.

I found out in the latest issue of Mojo Magazine that the ‘We thought you were inferior’ header above my letter was part of a series of quotations from the movie, Planet of the Apes, not directed at me (see the post titled Ego Tripping Out) . So Mojo doesn’t think I’m inferior which is a weight off of my mind. Apparently that’s what they’re doing now, a line of dialog from a movie posted above each letter published, though that ‘inferior’ line didn’t do much for my self-esteem.

At work with the new people I am busy as ever and I don’t mind at all. It would have been great to have Juan in the office, but money is too tight. I’m doing all the work and finding some ways to get to do my own thing. For instance, I was in touch with the Roundabout Theater Company regarding Sunday in the Park with George and their volunteer usher program. I found out you have to go to the box office and inquire directly.

I planned to go to Studio 54 where it’s being performed at lunch time, but there was a file that needed to be delivered a few blocks away from there so I offered to save the company some money and deliver it myself, enabling me to check out the program at the box office. I go and talk to the proper people and found that all the volunteer slots are filled for the next two weeks, then the play closes.

Oh well.

I admit my ardor had cooled somewhat and I’ll have to be content with renting the dvd from Netflix of the original cast from 1984. I’m sure some volunteers will drop out between now and then, but I won’t have any way of knowing and they’ll have no way to contact me. Plus I don’t feel like lugging around black trousers and a white shirt, or wearing such an outfit, day in and day out for two weeks waiting for that call.

What am I? A stand by waiter?

Right now, Bill and I are watching some nut climbing up the facade of the New York Times building at 40th street and Eighth Avenue. This is the second time today. Earlier there was a successful climb, here’s the link cut and paste at bottom. Presently there is a copycat. Someone perhaps inspired, more than likely deluded is climbing and at the 25th floor right now.

The first guy has done it before around the world with his message that ‘Global warming kills more people each week than 9/11’. This new guy seems to be an amateur, climbing on a dare. Odds are against him and so is gravity. A half hour later, he’s been arrested which is a lot better than falling 52 stories to your death.

It’s been an odd day. Not a bad day just things were a little bit weird. Lot’s of cute guys out though. Saw a few fellow cigar smokers which is always a nice sight and smell, for me at least. I do enjoy the smell of a good cigar. The stopped broadcasting the rogue climber outside the New York Times so we don’t know how this sucker will turn out. I’m just glad my palms stopped sweating, so great is my fear of heights. Makes typing difficult.

Last night I watched Repo Man. I hadn’t seen that movie in something like 26 years. Still a very good film, very fast and as Harpy told me ages ago, it’s the only film where the end credits descend rather than ascend. Emilio Estevez was so cute back then and the soundtrack is still great. Definitely worth catching again if you get the chance, or see it for the first time.

They just broadcast that a flight from La Guardia to Charleston SC was $138.00 a year ago, now it is $604.00. I ain’t flying anywhere this year. That is just too crazy. A few airlines are expected to go out of business this year adding to the 22,000 employees laid off so far already in the past 6 months.

So much stuff online today regarding Obama being the presumptive nominee. I spoke to the bookkeeper at work about it. She’s a democrat and for Clinton, likening Obama’s success as Clinton training someone new at a job, then the trainee gets the promotion, leaving the trainer behind in the same position. I kept my mouth shut and didn’t want to get into a discussion about her point of view.

Some Clinton supporters are saying that they would vote for McCrazy rather than vote for Obama. Yes, that would be a brilliant idea. Women, surrender their reproductive rights, people of color prepare for more cutbacks and roll backs, poor people too and gays take more steps back and strap yourselves in for the war without end.

I’ve read some really heinous things about Obama. I had no idea that Clinton supporters were so persecuted by Obama supporters. I didn’t persecute any Clinton supporters I know. In fact Juan called me out when I said that Clinton was shrill. That was as bad as it got.

Here are some snaps from this afternoon, followed by a video from 1987, A Spaceman For All Seasons which is worth watching.

Waiting for that Specials reunion