Category Archives: Abstract Absurdist Otherness

Read it and weep! I’ve published and now, I be damned! There are some diamonds in this coal. Proceed with cautious carelessness.

Making Plans for Nigel

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Tonight’s bulletin or rambling diatribe is brought to you courtesy of the good graces of Bill. It turned out to be a beach day after all. Julio had two cousins who planned two separate parties and he opted to go to neither and head for the beach. A fantastic idea I felt when I heard it last night. It turned out to be a wonderful day for it after all. We had a later start than usual, yet everything worked out perfectly. We expected to be shut out of the free parking lot but oddly enough we had no problem getting a spot at 11:30.

On the way we stopped off at Foodtown as usual and bought provisions for the beach. I purchased a six pack of Heineken as well as a sandwich and some watermelon, sodas and cookies. A well balanced beach diet. Julio and Stine stocked up on cherries, water and salads. We walked along the beach carrying a cooler, umbrellas and various beach chairs. The ocean was incredible, very high waves, maybe about 8 to 10 feet high. Julio and I were in the 78 degree water for quite a bit today.

Just floating in the water required a lot of attention to the ocean. If you weren’t paying attention you would just get smacked down by the waves that towered over your head. One misstep and you’d find yourself face first into the sand and stones. And more than likely head over heels. It can be funny to see happen to someone and even funnier when it happens to you. Julio and I were laughing at each other quite a bit, while Stine stood at the shoreline, overawed and a bit frightened by the size of the waves.

We turned and tried to convince Stine to join us when out of the corner of my eye I see a wall of water. I yelled ‘OH SHIT’ and dove into it at the last minute. Julio got through barely. Once again, ‘OH SHIT’, followed by ‘OH SHIT’. Three consecutive waves and we made it through each one. Stine wound up getting soaked from head to toe, soaked by the crashing waves.

We adjourned underneath three umbrellas Julio and I concentrating on Heinekens Stine stretching out in the sun with her water. The three of us had a really good game of Frisbee really hitting a good rhythm as we tossed the disc around and around. Stine’s really improved her throwing and Julio was getting better, throwing it close enough so that the Chewbacca catches weren’t too frequent. We’d work up a sweat and then run into the water again.

Eventually it was time to go, but not without one more go round of Frisbee. After that we packed up and made it back to the car. We drove around Rumson for a spell, Stine has designs on buying a house down there. She picks up some free Real Estate catalogs at the Foodtown and reads them on the beach. then as we head towards the Parkway we drive through whatever towns had a house that looked promising on paper.

I told them about my dream as we ate ice cream. My dream of finally having friends that own a house down the shore. I hope my dream comes true.

Sax and Violins

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Oh it’s so god damned hot. The sun beaming painfully on us. This morning I woke up, very warm from the heat. I did my Saturday thing, going out for bagels and the papers, after having taken a shower and had some coffee. It was too hot to do much else. While waiting in the bagel shop I ran into Mike Korman, former guitarist for the late, great Gutbank.

Mike is married to the former Clara Suarez a sweetheart that I used to work with back in the early nineties. We both worked at a video store, a David versus the Goliath named Blockbuster. It was a fun gig and she was cool to work with. Now she’s married to Mike and they have a kid with another one on the way. Mike mentioned something about morning sickness while we chatted on line waiting for our bagels.

Mike and Clara live around the block from me and Bill, and Mike mentioned that I should stop by and hang out and reminisce about McSwells and whatever else might come to mind. I agreed and made tentative plans to meet up with them at some point in the afternoon. I regretted it as soon as I almost said yes, not anything against the two of them but I just didn’t want to be hanging out inside when it was a nice Saturday to be outside.

As the way things go I got a phone call from Rey who was coming into the city with his fiancé Connie and going to Summerstage. I didn’t really know what was going on but I agreed to go. I did know there were some chick DJ’s spinning and some neo soul/house bands happening. I mainly went though to hang out with Rey. I’ve known him for about 20 years, he’s a big and brawny corrections officer at Riker’s Island. I knew him when we both worked together for Rupert Murdoch.

We’ve been through a lot together both good and bad, but he’s always been there for me in some ways and I’ve been there for him. We’ve partied hard and swore off whatever chemicals or booze the next morning on the phone after waking up from our respective comas. I consider myself the Jimmy Olsen to his Superman. He likes to look after his friends and family and I am glad to be of that grouping.

We hung out at Summerstage which we had done many times before, only this time Connie was with us. She’s fun and a fellow corrections officer with Rey, that’s how they met. They’ve just bought a house upstate and I am obligate to visit. Actually committed to visiting since Rey is on vacation in a week or two, and he has absolutely nothing to do. I will be bringing the New York City vibe up to their house and crashing for a night or two.

It should be fun, hanging out with two corrections officers up by Mount Hope. I’m not being facetious either.