Wednesday night. Just got home. Saw Nick Lowe at 7 World Trade Center. Last of the summer time concerts downtown. It’s been a crazy kind of day. Not bad crazy, no one wishing me a painful death or anything like that. Just busy, but it was more manageable than it was yesterday since Carla the receptionist came back from North Carolina today, looking somewhat refreshed and somewhat tan. A few meetings going on, signaling that the summer season for investment banking is over, and things are slowly picking up steam. I don’t mind. I have more things to do, more things than what I have had since I started working in April.

Last night, after I posted, bemoaning my fate, singing Bobby Vinton’s Mr. Lonely, Harpy called with words of support. Harpy reads the blog. Julio came by also, and he doesn’t read the blog. It was good to hear from Harpy and good to see Julio. Julio is going to lend me a ladder so I could fix a light fixture. That means, Julio will bring a ladder upstairs and he will fix whatever the problem is since he loves to do that sort of thing and knows I’m all thumbs when it comes to things like fixing stuff.

I had the foresight last week to remind myself that Nick Lowe was doing a free show tonight. For some reason I thought of Linda from McMann and Tate and sent her an email asking her if she would like to join me. To my surprise she replied and said she would love to join me. I hadn’t seen her since the holiday party so I was looking forward to it. Today seemed to be a day of faces from the past. At one point this afternoon I had to go to the bank and as I was crossing Park Avenue I ran into Brenda who I worked with at Wanker Banker and had cocktails with her a few weeks ago. That was a pleasant surprise and we chatted and strolled around for a few minutes.

Greg Stevens had a major big wig pow wow this evening at 5:00 so I stayed a little bit late to help set up, leaving before it ended so Carla could get some overtime and I could head downtown. Trains were messed up as usual so I was a little late. Somehow I was able to get phone reception at the Spring Street station and I called Linda to let her know I was running a bit late. We met up and she mentioned a few things about McMann and Tate, specifically that Mina Theta was asking for me. I told Linda she must have me confused with someone else since I never had more than three minutes of conversation with her, and that was at the holiday party right before I left. Linda got upset with my unhappy memory and decided to change the subject to nothing. I had to carry the rest of the conversation.

After a few pints we walked two blocks to 7 World Trade Center where the Holmes Brothers were finishing up their set. We walked around, Linda and I trying to find an unobstructed view. Found one that turned out to be right next to Dana Penny and Kathleen Kenney. Yes, those are their real names. They’ve been together for about twenty years or so. Old Hoboken heads from another life. It was a brief chat, introductions all around, then Nick Lowe started his set and they shut up.

Nick did a good set. I do miss him playing with a band but he did just fine on his own. A short set and I was home a little after 9:00. As I was getting my stuff together, I saw a familiar face, once bearded, now just a moustache. I figured if I was wrong, I would be wrong, so I took a chance and said, Doug Schwartz. It was Doug Schwartz who seemed surprised to see me, especially in a suit and tie. He looked good and we parted ways, Linda walking to her uptown train, me headed to the Path.

Bill at his folks, me at home, coming down from three pints of Guinness. Not so lonely after all.

Pics?

Linda and Me

Nick Lowe

NYC

hidden bonus vid

What’s So Funny (About Peace Love and Understanding?)

Is it me? Or is it just Tuesday? Last night was a rather heavy scene, Bill and I talking in measured, quiet tones after starting off yelling at each other. Where are we? Where is this relationship going? Where did our love go? It’s that time of year I tell ya. In between our falling out in 2005 and an anniversary of sorts, 7 years at the end of September for us. Things got better and we talked about cleaning out the apartment. A project we both have to do together. I have no problem with that since I’m basically always here. He’s the one with a schedule so it’s all up to him. We discussed how he hates climbing four flights of stairs, and it can be a bear, though it takes me about 30 seconds to do it, my knees aren’t in the bad shape that Bill’s are.

I mentioned how lonely I am. I yearn to have an intelligent conversation with someone, face to face, over a pint and a smoke maybe. No one is around. Julio’s married and incommunicado, Pedro doing his thing, Juan on Mars, Jeezy Creezy even Harpy has someone. I miss watching the news and discussing topics with people. And I wish I had someone to talk to about the situation that Bill and I are in. No, don’t suggest therapy since I’ve already been down that route and left dissatisfied. Maybe it’s a momentary thing.

Bill went to bed, I wrote last night’s entry. And I felt bad, bad enough to go in and give him a good night kiss and tell him how I loved him. I really do, he’s a good guy and I can’t imagine him not being in my life. Relationships are hard work and perhaps we’ve both didn’t hold up our ends, then looking and accusing the other of doing what the other is doing, or rather not doing. I tried to make amends somewhat and ordered some flowers for him to be delivered today. 1800Flowers in case you were wondering.

Work was busy again, and not a good busy like yesterday. Today had a few guests and I had to set up lunch and do both my job as well as Carla’s job. She’s due back tomorrow and Millie is persona non grata. After setting up lunch I had to clean it all up. Luckily the people I work with aren’t the god damned oily wolves that I worked with at McMann and Tate, so the clean up wasn’t so bad.

I kept checking the website for 1800Flowers throughout the day and it’s probably still refreshing itself. No definite answers from that waste of time. I came home and wrote this after talking with Becky out in the cornfields ( I should have ordered corn instead) who told me the problem of the missing flowers won’t be settled until tomorrow. So much for same day delivery.

You have a horrible website, and flowers ordered at 8:50AM cannot make it across town by the close of business. what a scam you are running. I am thoroughly disappointed in your ‘company’ and I will do my best to dissuade my family and friends as well as colleagues from ever patronizing your ‘organization’ ever again. Once again you have a horrible, lousy operation and your website is a waste of cyberspace. I expect some sort of response as well as compensation, since I paid extra to have them delivered the same day. Feel free to blame the florist.

That gave me very little satisfaction. I even asked Becky if someone wants same day delivery, maybe it might be better to call the night before. Do yourself a favor and never call 1800Flowers.

I am also sick and tired of the right wing assholes in this country. They should all go to the place they believe so much in, hell.

And here are some pics.
a pool set up for dogs in Bryant Park

and at the end of the day

and now, me

Sorry Song, all the used hot water heaters are gone.