Interesting Things as of Late | johnozed

Tuesday. Woke up earlier than I did yesterday. Yesterday I dragged ass. Didn’t rush around, took it easy and still I was relatively on time for work. Relatively meaning as long as I’m in the office before everyone else I’m on time. Today I was on time not speaking relatively. The usual coffee, cereal which I had to make for myself since Bill has been looking after his mother while his dad is in the rehab center on Abingdon Square. She’s been a bit scattered lately, what with her husband of 40 plus years being away from her for the first time in decades. I know he’s been in the hospital for a few weeks, but his mom has having difficulty coming to grips with the reality of the whole thing. It’s good that Bill is able to step up to the plate. It’s not easy since he’s an only child. In the case regarding my father, I had brothers Frank and Brian doing most of the work, I merely provided comedy relief.

Still haven’t found a replacement for Carla who is leaving next Wednesday, but I discussed it with Vivek who has given me leeway to make the necessary choices. Responsibility? Me? I’d love to have Fay back but I am feeling pressure to get a temp from an agency. That sucks since Fay could use the dough and she’s cool to work with. I’d rather work with someone I know than with someone I didn’t know. Wouldn’t you?

I walked from the bus terminal to Bryant Park in 6 minutes, 38 seconds, the length of Pet Shop Boys, So Hard 12 inch remix. Just a little fun fact. I do that sometimes, break distance down into songs. A few weeks ago, if you’ll recall it took me 10 minutes, the length of the The The track, Perfect. I do notice I walk to the beat of whomever or whatever is drumming. Being Boring which is the second Pet Shop Boys track that I played has an excellent march step beat which got me up Fifth Avenue rather quickly. Of course, while walking to such a beat in such a fashion, I tend to sweat and though the temperature has dropped considerably, still I need to change my t-shirt when I got to the office.

For lunch today I had the usual salad, continuing to eat better during the work week as opposed to not eating that good on weekends. Not that I eat crap, but financially and conveniently, salads are best. No good salad joints in Hoboken on weekends and I want to spice up my diet somewhat on weekends. Hello Mision Burrito! I swear I inhale those things like nothin’. After lunch I usually walk around the neighborhood, sometimes smoking a cigar, sometimes not. Today I didn’t, decided to hold off until after work. As I was headed back into my building, a young woman in a yellow t-shirt, holding a clipboards asked me if I liked kids and right off the top of my head I said, ‘Ahh, they’re alright.’

I guess she didn’t hear me so smiling she asked if I wanted to help save the life of a child today. I said ‘No not really.’ Her smiled faded quite quickly. I didn’t mean no harm and believe me if there was a child in front of me that needed me to save their life I would more than likely do it. But abstractly, some girl in a yellow t-shirt who’s going to ask me for my personal information for something that may or may not be a legitimate cause, will she actually set things in motion to help some child around the world? Or would I just be a good intentioned victim of identity theft?

After work there was a function on west 99th street. One of the associates is boxing for charity and tonight was the weigh in. I RSVPeed along with Carla the receptionist, thinking the boxers would strip down to their boxer briefs. But no they didn’t. It was nice but a bit disconcerting to be in a building still under construction at a party with bankers and brokers. I did have Carla laughing a lot as we stood on the 20th floor balcony. I’m going to miss her when she goes and I’m happy for her. I even tried to hook Carla up with Mike, a nice looking boxer who’s originally from Westwood NJ. Alas when they interviewed him after interviewing the other two boxers present, he mentioned that his girlfriend was flying up for the bout. After 2 beers though it was time to go, Carla disappointed that yet another guy is taken or gay, or both.

And now some pics.

I’ll have the cubist style with polish from his blue period

The view from the 20th floor

Sunset over New Jersey

Lovely Emalee…errr…Carla

Back of boxer Mike, and Carla

The 3 boxers, Austin, Killa and Mike

Me in 2 really good pics by Emalee

It’s a Monday after a pretty good weekend, and it’s a dreary kind of day. Last night, once again, I got sucked into Ken Burns documentary, The War. I didn’t watch Dexter on Showtime even though it was the season premiere. I guess I preferred to watch death on such a wide scale rather than watch a serial killer who only kills other serial killers. It was a tough call. I even gave up on Larry David last night. I can watch both shows on demand whenever I want to. But you can’t watch the SNL Digital Short that I posted yesterday since NBC pulled it since there was a music sample by Aphex Twin that they didn’t get clearance for. Which is stupid and ridiculous since they do have top notch musicians on the show, they could have easily duplicated and tweaked the track. It wouldn’t have happened on my watch I tell you.

Heard from my sister in law Elaine and Meghan Taylor who I sent pictures to. Elaine mentioned that brother Frank looked good, and Meghan warned me about taking pictures of her since she might break the camera. Both of them are being silly since I think they both looked good, though Frank and Elaine were posed, Meghan was sort of a fly by snapshot. Also sent pics to Kathe and Chaz but didn’t hear from them.

Just got off the phone with Billie in DC. He’s tired out. Last week he went to the trial of his sister’s murderer and had to testify. The prosecutor told him they were looking at either Murder One or Murder Two, plus animal cruelty since the asshole killed the dog too. Obviously that would take a lot out of you. His mother and his other sister have been attending and sitting through the gruesome details, even though Billie asked them not to. He was hoping the jury would return with a verdict but they didn’t do it today, and so he’s hoping for tomorrow. Too bad the asshole isn’t in jail up here, someone I know could do a number on this fucker. In any event it’s a terribly sad thing.

That kind of changes one’s perspective on things. As bad as things sometimes get, at least you’re alive to see things through and hopefully come though the other end, relatively intact.

The task at hand for me is to find a replacement for Carla the receptionist. I know she’s doing the right thing, she’s following her dream and it’s a realistic dream, unlike myself who really didn’t have any dreams since I didn’t expect to be living this long. But I’m still here, making the most of wherever it is I am at. The dream of headlining the Garden had passed long ago, as well as the dream of headlining at McSwells. That passed like gas. Someone shook a rose bush.

Well it looks like everyone who has Arcade Fire tickets is trying to sell them on Craigslist. I bought the tickets a few months ago, and knowing the brother Frank might not be up for it I talked to Juan about it. He was fine with being the backup. Like I figured Frank is not up for it, and Juan backed out. Apparently there’s a glue sniffing tournament at his campus and he has to referee. No bites for me from Craigslist, and I’m just looking for face value. I really don;t want to eat the tickets but right now, on Monday, and the show is Saturday, I have a sinking feeling that I might be eating tickets by then.

Things have calmed down United Nations wise, and here are a handful of photos.

“Is your hand in your back pocket?”