Category Archives: Interesting Things as of Late

isn’t it all?

Purple Haze

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Well it’s Sunday. Weather turned out nice despite the weather reports saying it was going to rain. It was actually sunny and in the low 70’s. Last night was weird. Very discombobulated. Took a nap in the afternoon which wasn’t as restful as I had hoped, and left me feeling out of sorts through the night. Not that I actually went out and did anything. Just watched Bruce Springsteen’s DVD, live at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1975, promoting Born to Run in the UK.

Very entertaining and finally gave me some insight about what my brothers and sister were talking about when they were running out to see Bruce all those years ago. This was when Bruce was a scrawny little thing, all wool hat and guitar and that voice. The E Street Band dressed like Jersey Shore gangsters from the 70’s. Very corny, but then again it was the 70’s. I am constantly surprised at how funky Tenth Avenue Freeze Out sounds when played live. The version on the album, pales by comparison.

Not much else was on, though I did wind up watching Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny. It wasn’t bad but nowhere as funny as Dewey Cox. After that it was off to bed. I woke up with the light streaming in through the windows and hid under the covers. Eventually I got up and showered, got dressed and texted Julio to see if he and his family wanted anything from the store. Washington Street was being set up for the Spring Art and Music Festival.

It wasn’t officially opened yet as I chatted with a gent from Jersey City, setting up a cigar stand. No Padrons available, but some Cuban Seed Cigars were being rolled up for sale. I had some Padron cigars at home so I didn’t need to buy any. Came home, had breakfast and read the papers. Also checked the blog and was very surprised that no one had guessed the three riddles I posted on Friday. They really weren’t that hard. I answered them on the spot, you would have the luxury to use the internet and figure out the answers, I mean really people.

Show some effort, and interact damn you!

Went out again this afternoon to check out Micky Dolenz from the Monkees. He was the big headliner this season. It wasn’t too crowded and the city had set up a tent in case of rain. I hung outside the tent with El Jefe and Lady Gigglepuss. Circus Boy did all the hits, including some he didn’t sing lead, like Daydream Believer and Oh Darling by the Beatles, as well as Spencer Davis Group and Jimi Hendrix songs.

Micky told the story about how the Monkees were able to arrange to have Jimi Hendrix open up for them on tour which turned out to be a mistake since pre-teen girls weren’t ready for Jimi, screaming for Davy Jones while Hendrix played. Hendrix didn’t last more than a few dates. Micky sang Pleasant Valley Sunday, Stepping Stone, Mary Mary, Valerie, She, A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You, his sister Coco sang a couple of songs as well, like Runaway by Del Shannon with Micky Dolenz finishing with I’m A Believer which he noted he sang first, a long time before Shrek.

Then he was off to be mobbed by fans who had items to be autographed. Micky looked good never took his hat off, leading me to believe he’s a bit shiny up there.. It was a good day, nice turn out and good company.

Here are some pics from this afternoon.

Circus Boy Micky Dolenz

Some guy walked into my view. This is his left eye and forehead.

A daydream believer or a homecoming queen?

Stephanie, my former nemesis from Empire Coffee

Micky’s fans

Peter Tork fan

Mike Nesmith fan

Davy Jones

Dancing in the street

El Jefe

Woof and WOOF!


and don’t forget the riddles damn you.

Glory Box

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Well it was an uneasy night of sleep due to too much drinking and not enough eating basically. I had a mere sandwich before heading out which made things fun last night, but what a price to pay today. I’m better now, thanks for your concern. I’ve eaten and even headed out and interacted with people this afternoon. The sun popped out and I took advantage of it. Other than that, the sky has been the color of milk all day.

Did the usual Saturday routine without much difficulty. Watched a Bob Costas special on HBO this morning. Mainly about blogs, specifically sports blogs. One anti- blogger, Buzz Bissinger was foaming at the mouth, putting down the blog called deadspin by Will Leitch. Buzz came off looking like an idiot. It was reminiscent of when punk and new wave started and all the established artists were putting down. It’s the same but instead of musicians, it’s writers of newspapers who are putting down the blogs.

The establishment putting down anything new and different and in the hands of the masses. Admittedly, some blogs are lame (ahem), and some are fun and informative (don’t look at me, I’m neither) and some make lot’s of money (not me). But the established writers, and I think society as a whole, have problems separating the bloggers from the commenters. The guy Will Leitch, who wrote deadspin had a few comments that were rude, but he didn’t moderate the comments, and why should he? That’s what got Buzz Bissinger all upset.

The concept of DIY, or anyone can do it was troubling. I suppose there are some people that shouldn’t write, but I’m not going to stop them. I just don’t read them. There are some people making lousy music, but I’m not going to go see them. It was tacky to see Buzz Bissinger call Will Leitch ‘a Jimmy Olsen on Percoset’. And what kind of name is Buzz Bissinger anyway?

The only sport I ever participated in was Summer League Baseball when I was growing up. And I didn’t volunteer, I was drafted. My brother Brian’s friend Pete Frega was a coach and needed players and since I wasn’t doing anything I was forced into it. I hated it. No interest whatsoever, and probably laid the groundwork for my not being a team player later in life. I sucked. A fear of the baseball coming at me was sure detriment. I dropped out eventually not even knowing the names of my team mates.

Years later I did start a soft ball team, mainly as a way to get out of my father’s way on Saturday and Sunday mornings. That was actually the only excuse accepted. ‘Can’t clean out the gutters, I have a soft ball game.’ It was a rag tag team, all gathered mainly to have fun and drink beer. I would be up at bat determined to swing for the fences only to see the outfield moving in, sometimes only a few feet from the in field. Hopes were dashed but recovered by a cold beer after grounding out. Eventually my fun team was co-opted by serious players. I was moving beyond soft ball and hanging out in Manhattan by that time anyway.