Interesting Things as of Late | johnozed

Just another day I suppose. Today it’s Wednesday. Last night was nothing special, watched Dexter which was really good, really edgy and really gruesome. I was hesitant to watch it, not for the subject matter of a serial killer who kills other serial killers, that doesn’t bother me at all. Just that the show has such a slow moving feel to it, I forgot how easily I can sucked into it. It was either that or The War, which will be repeated on the weekend, plus I know how it ends.

Bill woke me up before he left. I asked him what time it was and he said it was Triple 5 time. Surprisingly I was able to understand what Triple 5 said and what Triple 5 meant, it was 5:55. That was an incredible feat for me since I was barely conscious at the time. After that it was putter putter mutter mutter and out the door into 80% humidity. Dense air means sweaty clothes by the time I get to the office. This morning I listened to the entire album of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars which I didn’t like years ago. All the cool kids liked it at CYO and since I wasn’t cool I didn’t like it. I preferred Elton.

Someone sent me a package from Newbury Comics in Boston, but the post office wouldn’t or couldn’t deliver it without a signature, so I signed the card to have it left here at my building. Tonight when I came home, there was no card, and no package. So if you’re reading this, and it was you, you might want to contact Newbury Comics and let them know the package wasn’t received.

I think I have to stop answering the phone while I write. Too many distractions. Breaks the flow then I’m left hanging. Though Harpy called the other day when I wrote and during his ramble I remembered to include something in the blog so sometimes it helps. Perhaps a call by call, case by case basis, or basically whenever I’m in the mood to be distracted when writing.

I was reading in the New Yorker about the 50th anniversary of On The Road by Jack Kerouac. I read it, I loved it. Affected my life somewhat. I was hanging out with the Colgate crew and I imagined the group of us being like those guys, Kerouac, Burroughs, Ginsberg et al. Perhaps we were in the way we pursued illegal substances, and wrote poetry and attended poetry readings. It’s a good book, and like the New Yorker pointed out, it’s about the forties, not the fifties. And Kerouac sure was handsome back then, not when he turned into a bloated alcoholic at the end. I used to think one of my friends back then, Paul Balderas resembled Kerouac somewhat. Paul was also that handsome and encouraging. I wonder what happened to him.

I just saw a commercial for Felician College featuring dancing Nuns.

I also did some editing on wikipedia yesterday. I edited the Bongos entry, some one had posted that they were all gay. I corrected that saying that Richard Baronasaurus was gay, the others were gay friendly. Nope! Edited out. I think it was Baronasaurus. Also edited the WFMU entry adding Frank O’Toole to the list of DJ’s. I wrote that Frank was a nice guy and played guitar with Speed the Plough back in the day. Someone edited that out and mocked my edit. I almost went back then decided it was so not worth my time.

Pics.

Woman with pearls in her hair, and hanging off her face (homage to Vermeer)

Working men and going to work men

waritoro

stage door johnnie’s check their cellphones

Japanese chef having a smoke

Euro man outside Cervantes Institute

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