Well it’s the first day of the New Year. It’s a Monday. Woke up at a decent hour, 10:00AM. Went out in the rain for bagels and the papers as well as eggs. Bill was sleeping in on the new sheets that he doesn’t think I noticed. I only noticed a few minutes ago actually. Bill went to sleep around 12:30 after we watched the fireworks from the bedroom window. I watched the New Years shows on TV afterwards, eventually going to sleep around 2:00, after two contrasting phone calls from Juan who was at a party in the city.

The first was a bit despairing, the second was more rambunctious, the life of the party as Juan is sometimes known as. For me, gone are the days of DJ’ing on New Years Eve. It was something to do but hanging out with Bill the past two New Years Eves have been quite nice.

I have some anxiety about tomorrow, this being my last day of free dumb. I had two weeks off and didn’t do much of anything which was fine but in hindsight I should have done something, anything. Then again, that is basically what I wanted to do, veg out, so I guess it was a success. Today was the perfect day for imitations of vegetation. Grey and rainy, almost Arcata like. I stayed in and watched the Monk marathon on cable.

Wouldn’t you know it though, that I’ve seen most of the episodes they’re showing today which takes a lot of fun out of a detective show. But it’s so well written and acted that it’s easy to forget who did it. It is a lot like watching any of the Law and Order shows with Bill. After the first five minutes, one of us usually says that we had seen it before, yet still we watch. Since Bill went to work today, I’ve just been avoiding the Law and Orders, preferring to watch Tony Shaloub instead. Beats the Gerald Ford funeral anyhow.

And there is the anxiety of tomorrow, worried about fitting in though I did feel comfortable when I interviewed there. It’s a smaller office, filled with humans, in midtown, an area I know really well. And I’ll be back in the suit and tie, which is something I’ve wanted for a long time. Anxiety lurks in the corners of my mind, fear of failing, yet almost like going to a new school in a new town, needing to start all over again. Bill was trying to reassure me, but now he’s working and I have my self-doubt to keep me company.

I guess everyone has anxiety about tomorrow, tomorrow in the abstract sense. I’ve been thinking about various jobs that I’ve had and the places I’ve work and the people I’ve worked with. I’ve made a lot of friends that I continue to be in contact with over the years. Some jobs ended, some jobs I quit and some jobs I was fired from. This is just another in a series I suppose, though it could turn into a nice long term job which would suit me just right. Wanker Banker turned out to be long term though personally it went terribly wrong at the end, I had to leave since nothing was being done about the situation I was in. Wound up at McMann & Dishrag which as we all know turned out to be a big mistake.

So here’s to hoping to a better job and better opportunities for the New Year, not just for me but for you too.

I am glad 2006 is ending. It’s been a less than adequate year for me and for some others that I know of. I can’t speak for anyone else ( I know I can, but won’t) It’s been a lonely two weeks off from work and that’s coming to a close. I am glad I had the two weeks to clear my head of the debris from Wolff and Tate. I’ll be interacting with the human race again so that might be an okay thing to do. Bill and Juan don’t really count as part of that, they’re above it all.

The dreary year had it highpoints. It wasn’t all gloomy. Annemarie, Rex and Earl made it to NJ and I was able to go to the beach with them a few times. Saw the family also when they were here, so that was killing a couple of birds with one stone. Their next scheduled visit should be in June for my niece’s wedding. That’s something to look forward to. A big family function is usually a lot of fun. I don’t know where it is, and I don’t know who’s invited but I expect a good time for all.

I saw some great shows this year, mainly in the past two months. The Slits at McSwells was brilliant, a return to my punk roots in a couple of ways. One was seeing one of the original punk bands from 1977, the other was seeing them at my old stomping grounds, McSwells. Ran into a few old friends there at the show, Stan, Chaz and Carol. Beats running into them at wakes and funerals I tell you. Not that we were able to talk during the show, we were too busy being entertained by Ari Up and Tessa Niles from the original band.

A week after that was Scritti Politti who was way better than I expected. Went with Adam and Lesley from McMann and Olins and had a good time with them though Green Gartside was definitely commanding my Guinness fueled attention in his low key way. The songs were perfectly performed and the band, all recruited from his local pub in Hackney, were very tight and handled all the vocals admirably. I do regret not meeting the band after the show. I didn’t know they did that sort of thing, forgetting Green’s populist approach to most things musical. It was a really great show that I wouldn’t mind seeing again.

Finally was this past Thursday with Juan seeing Brazilian Girls at Irving Plaza. They were really great and I loved just about everything they did despite only knowing two songs beforehand. I couldn’t tell you much about the band but I recommend checking out their website. Cut and paste time, http://www.braziliangirls.info/ .They’re playing tonight for New Years Eve at Irving Plaza again, but I’ve pretty much sworn off going to the city on this night. Not saying never, just not this year.

Like last year, Bill and I are staying local, steaks at Arthur’s Steakhouse in Hoboken, maybe a stroll around town smoking cigars, then finally in where we’ll watch some telly and have a pint or two, and maybe some champagne at midnight. I hope you have a wonderful evening, safe and sound. All the best for the New Year, may it be better than the previous year. Lot’s of love from me and mine to you and yours.

All the best,
John

PS- Tried posting this earlier tonight but the website was down, so here it is. Bill and I just had some good steaks and then some cigars while walking around Hoboken. Very nice. People going to bars, restaurants and clubs and apartment parties all set on having a good time. Heard from Song who’s in Vegas with Ray and RoDa who still trying to figure out what to do with his New Years Eve. We strolled and chatted and now are glad to be home. Hope you are having or have had a good time.

Love,
John