Just got back from having pizza at Grimaldi’s with my sister and her son, aka Annemarie and Earl. They just flew in from Arcata, and boy were their arms tired. Rex, Annemarie’s husband and Earl’s dad is flying in on Sunday. For those playing at home Arcata is in Northern California and closer to Oregon than it is to San Francisco. If I’m wrong, I’m sure Annemarie will tell me one way or another. They try to make it out back to New Jersey every summer. Not try, they DO make it out here every summer.

I am the only one that had made it out to Arcata and that was in 2001. I should go out there again, this time with Bill. Annemarie and Earl and Rex, usually stay at my brother Brian’s house. Unfortunately since I’ve started the new job, I don’t have the vacation time coming like I did previously at Wanker Banker. I do think I’ll be able to take at least next Thursday and Friday off.

I spoke with Mark who is Felicia’s boss. He’s a nice guy it seems and has a decent sense of humor. He said it would be okay to take those days off. I could use them and spend some time with Annemarie and Earl and quite possibly Rex. I just have to run it by Felicia on Monday. Paula who’s been helping me out this week said she’d be able to come in and work so I don’t see where there would be a problem.

The police were lurking about the office today, actually right outside in the hallway. That was odd. Never had a chance to find out what that was about, who would I ask? Maybe Mark would know. He’s the guy who knows everything, or at least the go to guy who acts like he knows everything. I don’t think Felicia likes him though. Not my problem, at least for now.

It’s been pretty good at the new job and writing that I realize most every time I write about finding my groove at the job, something changes that opinion soon after. I’m not trying to be Nostril Damage here.

New Jersey has finally gotten its budget shit together. That means people can work, and also that the beaches will be open. Annemarie fancies Sandy Hook so that is where we will go weather permitting. That’s more than ok. It’s a nice beach and if I get next Thursday and Friday off it shouldn’t be too crowded if we go then but I’ll go WHENEVER.

The weekend approaches and I’m feeling good. Bill’s at his folks which means the bed is mine, all mine for the evening. Sure, it’s great to have him there all the time, I just consider this missing him that much more. There’s the old Police song, ‘The Bed’s Too Big Without You’. There was a reggae cover version of that song, a reggae cover of a reggae covering band. Full circle. An infinite loop I suppose.

This is how it should’ve been done. Some time off, breathing space then into the new job. I should’ve taken a week or two between jobs in April but no, I basically jumped right in from the frying pan into the fire. Today wasn’t so bad, the four days off really cleared my head somewhat. Getting up and going to work wasn’t so bad today, it was something to do.

Felicia is off this week, meaning having three days off, Linda is in England on holiday. It wasn’t so bad. I worked next to Paula who worked at the job I have a while ago. She’s a sweet girl, very funny and gets my jokes. Also feels the same way about several coworkers, like Web, Baldy and Dondi. Web is on holiday too. Dondi returned from holiday and Baldy is just a jerk plain and simple.

I was out having a smoke and Baldy walks up towards me, and I say ‘Hey’. He just looks at me and kept walking. Hey it’s not my fault I have a fine luxurious head of hair. He’s also the Diesel jeans wearer. Maybe if he was twenty something he could pull it off but with that cue ball for a skull it emphasizes how out of step he really is. But then again he could be out of step since his foot keeps getting caught from the four inch cuffs on the leg of his jeans.

It was great having Paula around, since I’m usually so lonesome where I sit. She’s a good kid. She’s an actor as well and we discussed things like AFTRA and SAG and Actor’s Equity, things that I know of through Bill. The day flew by. I was able to actually have a relaxing lunch. There’s also a new friend in the office, Alan who’s a really funny cat. Smart and hip and in my age range so he gets a lot of what I talk about.

He’s also gay which is a plus. We discuss men and places to go, what bars have good music. He had a lazy weekend and said I should’ve called when I went to Coney Island. I should’ve, I have his number. Before you get any ideas, dear reader, know this fact. He’s a friend and I don’t have play dates with friends.

I was able to leave early today, 5:30 thanks to Paula working until 6:00. I strolled down to the World Trade Center Path train, smoking a La Gloria Cubana Serie R #6. It’s a cigar I had for special occasions and since no special occasions were on the horizon where I could smoke a cigar, the end of the work day was the special occasion. Nice walk, it took me about 30 minutes to get from Houston Street to the Path train.

I listened to N*E*R*D*’s first record, ‘In Search of…’ Pedro turned me onto them. I’ll never forget hearing them while sitting on the rock at Summerstage while they played. I was ballsy enough to call him while he was working his shift at Riker’s Island to let him know how great the band was. As things go, they’re second album was nowhere near as good as the first. Sophomore jinx in action. I even tried giving it the best chance possible, after not liking it when I first got it, I still loaded it into the iPod, and today I decided to remove it. Too bad, but I did give it a chance.