Category Archives: Cool Cold Reality

Where it is and what it came from. The end-all, be-all, and all-for-a-dollar.

Super Freak

On Wednesdays in the metropolitan area, on News Channel 4, the meteorologist Janice Huff does a bit called Wednesday’s Child, taking one kid from the area who is in the system and broadcasting the kid on television hoping to hook them up with a family for adoption. It’s usually heartbreaking, most of the kids are teenagers and they’re the ones usually left behind and forgotten, not being cuddly babies and toddlers. Tonight was a real heartbreaker, a 15 year old boy, so well spoken, a poet. If I had the money, the time and the space (the money would help achieve the last two) I would adopt this kid. But since I am lacking in all three departments I can only hope some viewer with those three attributes would adopt him.

Eliot Spitzer announced his resignation, effective on this upcoming Monday. His career is over, sad to say. He had a lot of promise, but turned out he was a sex addict, addicted to prostitutes. Spent a lot of money on them too. Not such a bright move for a smart guy. I feel bad for his wife and daughters and also feel bad for my sister’s friend, and feeling bad for them makes me feel mad at Spitzer. What a dumb ass. Last night was all about trying to drink soda from a cup without a straw. It sucks having to go through things like this on my own, but ultimately, everyone goes through things in life on their own.

Also I broke the news to my sister that I haven’t had a cigarette since Sunday night. That is true. I did have a cigar on Monday night and also had one tonight, but none of the constant smoking of Gauloises which I had been smoking quite a bit of, being holed up in my apartment throughout this winter. I told Bill as well who was surprised, he didn’t mind the Gauloises, not being a fan of American ciggies. He didn’t know I was planning on quitting the fags though I did say something about it on New Years Eve at Rand and Lisa’s cocktail party.

So far it’s been ok, no climbing the walls, and not being any more irrational than I usually am. No need for a patch, no gum and no jonesing. I’m sure it would be worse if I’d see people rolling Gauloises on the street but they don’t. They smoke whatever it is that they smoke. Do I miss it? Sometimes. I see much older people walking down the street smoking and they seem ok, but then again it doesn’t affect everyone the same way. Some people smoke and are fine, no oxygen tanks or things like that. Some people don’t smoke at all and die of lung cancer. But basically I’m alright, no need to worry about me. And I’ll still have the occasional cigar anyway.

Bill’s coming home tonight and that should be something. I think he feels guilty about not being around for me yesterday, though that wasn’t my intention. I only mentioned it would be good to have someone with me after a dental visit in the future, if he’s available. I don’t think that was asking for too much, but who knows? It might be.

Geraldine Ferraro is an idiot. I used to ‘like’ her, but it’s all over now. Not very fond of the Clintons, suggesting Obama as a vice president or the Democratic Party, what with the talk of changing of the rules with Florida and Michigan, either counting the votes after all, or doing another election for their primaries. I think corporate media wants a McCain/Clinton face off and are doing their best to make it happen.

And hello to Richard Beniquez, Sheree Draft, Thomas Morro, Bill Wrice and Donna Rinaldi

This Charming Man

Well there was a howling wind last night. Bill made it home to Hoboken as Robert the oh so handyman was disconnecting the hot water heater. I helped Robert move the heater with the broken tank out into the hallway. Robert reassured me that it wasn’t anything I had done, the heater was about 12 years old and they really don’t last much past their five year warranty. I was reassured as Robert headed down the stairs and off into the storm. He was gone for a while and I thought I’d be calling up Julio and Stine to ask if I could use their shower in the morning. No need to ask for Bill since he showers at his gym.

Bill asked if I was hungry and I said I was a little bit, which prompted him to call and order a Grimaldi’s pizza. I was in the mood for it and obviously so was Bill. I sat writing last night’s blog while 3:10 To Yuma was finishing up. Pretty good movie, a bit slow in parts but overall enjoyable. I prefer to watch Russell Crowe to Christian Bale, though Ben Foster stole the movie from both of them as Charlie Prince. Ben Foster played Claire’s on again off again boyfriend/art partner from Six Feet Under, he was intense there and even more so in 3:10 To Yuma.

About an hour later the bell rang and I mentioned to Bill, ‘oh it must be the hot water heater.’ Bill explained it was the pizza and I explained that I was joking. Bill headed down the stairs and shouted up that the hot water heater was on it’s way up. I knew I should have said, ‘oh it must be that million dollars I hoped for’. Up the stairs came Robert with Peter the landlord, huffing and puffing after climbing four flights of stairs. They maneuvered the new heater into the kitchen and after scanning the room with his eyes, Peter made a hasty exit. I suppose it will be another two years until I see Peter again. He’s an absentee landlord if that’s possible in Hoboken. He also insisted that I call Robert next time should I need any work done in the apartment. He doesn’t want to be bothered.

Bill and I sat and watched The History Boys, not the first time for me and sort of the first time for Bill since he was so exhausted the other night. Who knows what Robert thought as he welded the copper pipes into place and made sure the brand spanking new heater was set up properly. I offered Robert some pizza and some water but he turned me down. He left a little while after that and I was relieved since Bill and I inhaled the pizza and if Robert changed his mind about a slice, he would have been out of luck. Bill enjoyed The History Boys though not like me. I mentioned that it was a smart film and then thought that Bill might be put off by that remark, thinking that the movies he likes aren’t so smart. Perhaps I think too much.

The dvd ended on time, so that we watched the news and Saturday Night Live which was funny. Amy Adam hosted and Vampire Weekend were the musical guests. I have the Vampire Weekend cd and it’s ok, a bit twee if you ask me though live it sounded a whole lot better. Bill went to sleep midway through and I stayed up reading the rest of Hotel California, which I am almost finished with. I went to bed happy to have hot water once again. It was rough to be without for those hours, he wrote tongue firmly in cheek.

Woke up and moved the hands on the clock an hour ahead for daylight savings. Lost an hour of sleep but I didn’t really have it to begin with. Ran into Mike Korman with his son Harrison as I did my morning rounds. Good kid it seemed though Mike told me he and his wife, my old friend Clara have no idea how to handle this three year old boy since he doesn’t listen to either one of them and does whatever he wants. Too much information for me with one cup of coffee in my system. I parted ways with them after wishing them a good day.

Bill had headed off to church and I had a nice quiet breakfast. Headed into the city for a quick trip to Farfetched, saw Harpy and gave him Steve Martin’s Born Standing Up which I read a few weeks ago. Very good and I thought Harpy would enjoy it. After picking up some cards and a pair of spider shaped cuff links I walked up to 33rd street where I got a seat on the Path train and read the rest of last weeks New Yorker.