A long Thursday is at it’s end. I only worked two and a half days this week, but it feels longer. Pretty tired though that may be from the wine and champagne I had at work to congratulate Carla the receptionist’s graduation from the Fashion Institute of Technology. That was my idea, a little get together before the holiday weekend and alcohol is always a good reason for people to gather and celebrate. I ran around midtown in 90 degree heat, but it was ok, lot’s of eye candy out today and by eye candy I mean men in suits.

I was somewhat busy throughout the day, since I wanted to leave as few loose ends as possible, since I had taken Friday off. A holiday weekend, made into a four day weekend. I corresponded via email with Elaine who told me that brother Frank was going to need an angiogram and possibly a heart operation. Let’s hope we don’t have to go down that route, but he might have an infected valve which may need to be replaced. The cardiologist is supposed to be top notch so that is a definite plus. The plan is to go out to the hospital tomorrow and spend some more time with Frank. I even printed out what happened on the last episode of 24 so I could read it to him if he’d like.

I’m thinking about bringing some speakers for my iPod so I could play some music for him. Of course it would be Frank’s choice, like it’s been for all of my life, but I certainly don’t mind. At this point if I had anything he needed I would give it to him. Even a kidney. I say that knowing that he wouldn’t need it anyhow. I am presently knocking on wood. A superstitious atheist, that’s me.

No blind people to escort around midtown at rush hour so I just strolled around on my own, feeling good from the wine, smoking a Padron. Walked through a very crowded Bryant Park, getting stares and returning those stares. Had to check to see if my zipper was open, or if I had snot hanging from my nose. I purposefully ignored the Kick Me post it on my back. It was a good cigar and a good walk, though I think I may have walked too fast since when I stopped, I sweated up a storm.

I sat on an a crowded bus, overheated with the air conditioning next to a guy who was out of it. Not nodding out narcotics-wise, but nodding out due to the heat. I felt radioactive sitting there, it was that hot. I got off the bus on Willow where I ran into an old friend. Actually Rita’s friend, Karen Bunny. With her son. She mouthed something to me but I couldn’t understand then, when I got home I figured out, she was saying that Alexi is adopted. That’s nice. He looked like a good handsome lad in his Beatles t-shirt, which is what drew my attention in the first place.

Now I’m home, hanging out, Bill’s here, Juan is on his way and I am just tired. Glad to have off tomorrow, that’s for sure. These two and half day work weeks are murder.

Lost was very good last night by the way. Good season finale.

I went back to work today. It was a busy day and I was able to get some work done but a lot of the time I had to explain how well brother Frank was doing. I told the truth of course. They seemed genuinely concerned and willing to tell me stories of their hardships with various family members and friends. Misery loves company I guess and this was a way to identify with what me and my family are going through. Even spoke to Kathe about what’s happening. She’s concerned, she’s not that far off from Frank’s age. Same with Charlie her husband.

Bill ran into Roda on the street and told him. Roda phoned me up a little while later, telling me that he’s going to put out good thoughts and prayers, same as Connie. I noticed that initially when I went to the hospital on Monday with Bill, I felt like I was in a dream. This was so unexpected, it knocked me out. As time went on and we left the hospital I realized that it wasn’t a dream at all, that this was real life and real life can fuck you up at any time.

At various points throughout the day I wanted to call Frank at work. We usually speak on different days, usually catching up like, ‘did you see the Office last night?’ but of course I couldn’t call. And the phone in his room isn’t hooked up which is just as well since he is still having difficulty speaking. I spoke with Elaine today and she told me that Frank saw a neurologist and she said that he was definitely making progress. Which makes the good news, official good news. We just need to get him strong enough to be able to walk down the aisle with his daughter Meghan when she gets married on June 30th.

Before lunch, I had the worthless blues, though I know I’m not worthless. Definitely a low blood sugar thing going on. It took a while for me to get focused on the work I had to do, but was able to get things done after I had my salad. I ate grapes throughout the day though but I guess they didn’t sustain me well enough until lunch. It’s hard to believe I’ve been here for a little over a month, but I have been and everyone seems happy with my job performance. Everyone but me I guess.

I left work a little after 5:00, had a Padron 5000 natural and strolled down Third Avenue to 42nd street. At the corner of Third and 42nd I saw a blind guy struggling to get down the street in the sea of commuters. I walked over to him and asked if he needed help. He asked me which was I was going and I said west. He then took my arm and we walked down 42nd street to Madison Avenue. People weren’t getting out of his way when he was alone, no one offered to help him so I did, telling people, ‘excuse me’ as we crawled past.

I asked him where he was going and he said the Verizon store at 43rd and Madison. He didn’t mind the cigar and I didn’t mind going out of my way. I got him there faster than he would have on his own and deposited him in the doorway of the store. Then I walked through Bryant Park enjoying my cigar. As I approached the bus terminal I saw a guy shorter than me. Matt Illuzzi from McMann and Tate. He was the office controller and probably still is. I was two feet behind him but he as usual had his head up his ass so he didn’t see me. I had nothing to say to him so I just went on my way to my bus as he went on his way to his bus to North Bergen.