A nice spring day. Quite nice. A walk to work from the Ninth Street Path station down Sixth Avenue, past St. Joseph’s school where the street was blocked off so the kids could have a playground of sorts. Nothing really to complain about, no contact from anyone from Wanker Banker, which was a first. I guess they’ve finally gotten used to me not being there. Friday will be a month since I started at McMann and Tate and I feel like I’m finally fitting in.

Last night Juan came over. We watched Scrubs. Bill walked in half way and all three of us just giggled throughout the show. Even Juan who is perfectly indifferent chuckled a few times. It’s great having Juan hanging out. A breath of fresh air and he smells so nice. He was telling me about the cruising that goes on at his gym. Bally’s by Kennedy Blvd in North Bergen. Sounds enticing, but Juan is put off by all of the preliminary action.

Juan passed his bartending class yesterday, quite inadvertently. Seems he didn’t know how to make a mind eraser last week and had to come back this week. The teacher who was tired walked in and asked the class who out of all of them was the best bartender. Juan said that he was and the teacher said, ‘ok, go’. Much like my schooling. Getting by on personality. Juan, like me, has personality, which makes everyone stand back in awe.

Juan is close to the perfect guest. Perhaps too perfect. He’s been here often enough and should just say he wants something to drink. Then Bill or I would tell him to get it himself.

Song is on the other side of the world. I guess Ray is back in Sydney so Song should be happy. I think I missed Song’s birthday so I’ll put it out here:

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY SONG!!!!! HUGZ!!!!!

It would be nice if everyone who reads this would comment and wish Song a very happy birthday.

The day at work was hectic. Big wigs in, everyone trying to impress. I hooked up my speakers and played Howie B ‘Music for Babies’ then Marianne Faithfull singing ‘Why’d Ya Do It’ Very opposite from each other with Marianne spewing forth expletives about having been cheated on. How did someone betray her oyster for such a low bid? That’s what I’d like to know.

I saw Marianne Faithfull in the 80’s at the Bottom Line, she looked magnificent. Dressed in red, singing songs from ‘Strange Weather’. She was accompanied by Dr. John. Bill Frisell, Fernando Saunders. Absolutely brilliant. I was with some people from McSwells, Declan, Patty Quinn, Charlie Charas and someone else. We all fell under Marianne’s spell.

Now watching Lost, chatting online with Juan, Julio on the phone on commercial breaks.
I saw Eric Balfour on the street yesterday. He played Gabe, Claire’s boyfriend on Six Feet Under a few years ago. Handsome dude. On his cell talking about having to go to HR. Human resources? Homeroom? Henry Rollins?

Didn’t say anything and once again, didn’t have the camera. Not like he was Mick Jones, or even Rue McLanahan.

The B-52’s will be at Asser Levy Park (next to Coney Island in Brighton Beach) on August 10.
Laurie Anderson is playing in Prospect Park. Teddy Thompson at Summerstage. Looks like it’s gonna be a great summer.

A gray day in Hoboken. A Sunday. Mother’s Day. No one around, Bill driving, Julio doing his thing, Juan doing his, Song in Sydney. I just got in from sitting on the stoop in front of my building, listening to the Ipod. Paul Simon’s ‘Surprise’. Yes I am surprised too. After reading about Brian Eno’s involvement I had to check it out. Its actually very good and a departure for Paul Simon.

Eno co wrote a few songs and provided electronics and soundscapes. Quite nice. I’m still hooked on the Arcade Fire, ‘Funeral’. That continues to blow me away, it’s so touching and beautiful and occasionally noisy.

On the news was a mention of the movie, ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and how the Christians are up in arms because the movie departs from reality. Reality? People have never heard of fiction it seems. And faith is so easily shaken by the mere mention of an opposing thought. Or even a new thought. Perhaps they’re worried about how if people can be held under the sway of a bible, then another book might have the same power.

I’ll probably go see it since Julio had read the book and I, like most everyone else, like Tom Hanks. Seems like fun escapism for an hour or so.

It continues to be gray outside and inside the television spews forth bad news from around the world. Not too many people out on the street, the occasional mother dressed in her finery and her children. Other than that, pretty quiet.

Saturday Night Live was pretty funny with Julia Louis Dreyfuss hosting with musical guest Paul Simon who performed two songs off his new cd. Juan hung out last night and we watched Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and Spalding Gray’s Swimming to Cambodia both of which he had never seen before. Julio, who is phobic about seeing a film he’s seen before stayed away. Bill came home after another Foxwoods journey midway through Swimming to Cambodia and went to bed soon after, since he needed to wake up at 4:00AM to repeat the Foxwoods trail again.

Juan split after Saturday Night Live, and I went to bed. I think it’s time to get some new pillows since the ones I have are causing discomfort. Perhaps I can convince Julio to give me a ride to Target this week sometime. Nice selection of Pillows and everyone likes Target. I heard Tom Hanks shops there.

Back to work tomorrow. Thinking positive in a trepidatious manner. It’s really the only way. Just have to make sure things go smoothly.

Julio’s coming up tonight to watch the Sopranos and Big Love tonight so goes our Sunday routine. I’m glad Bill and Julio get along, just as I’m glad that Bill and Juan get along since lately when Bill comes home, one or the other, or sometimes both are sitting on the couch watching the telly.

30 years ago on Sunday nights it was Kojak at 9:00. Now it’s the Sopranos. The prime time for the Alpha Male.