It is Wednesday and everyone is still at work. No one is off this week. Juan is back from school though and is expected to stop by tonight so that should be fun. Bill twisted his ankle so no rugby for him tonight. I’ve been trying to get into the holiday spirit and it’s not so easy this year. Last year I was more comfortable even though I was adrift at Wanker Banker. This year I’m between jobs and I feel somewhat gloomy. Bill is talking about various NFL players right now. If I couldn’t get into it while being dragged to Giants games back in the day, I’m not into it in 2006.

But he’s in pain with his ankle. I’m doing my best to help, gave him two Tylenol PM to knock him out with his leg elevated. I’ll be checking in on him while Juan and I hang out. Should’ve given him a bell to ring, but he’s not the bellowing type, so I shouldn’t be concerned too much. He was merely walking on the sidewalk, slipped a bit on a crack and his ankle swells up. Of course I try to help when I got home, asking him if he took any aspirin, Advil or Tylenol and he proceeds to tell me everything but the answer to my question, hence the two Tylenol PM. All out of roofies.

I was out and about in the city, trying to get in the holiday spirit by getting some presents. Got something for Annemarie, for Rex I got a Donald Fagen solo CD, a two cd set of Marvin Gaye’s Hits and Steely Dan’s ‘Two against Nature’ and for Earl I got a Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders Best of CD, the book of Hindu deities and a few Grateful Dead badges. I also had to pick up a new set of headphones since I discovered mine were shot once I hit the street. I was distressed since I wasn’t sure if it was the iPod or the headphones.

I hoped to run into someone on the street that I knew that was wearing headphones but I guess they saw me first. I had to swing by McMann and Tate because they had a check of mine, and since they told me they were mailing it on Monday and they hadn’t, I didn’t want to take a chance and not get it. No, it wasn’t a bonus, I don’t think I’ll be getting one especially since they gave them away already. I’m sure I was entitled to one since they had a great year but no, none for me. Their punishment. My retribution was not being there with 25 clients running around the office needing to be fed and walked and cleaned up after. Fuck em! I did meet Urszula on the street who gave me my expense check and we walked and smoked cigarettes before I headed off wishing her a Happy Christmas. She also lent me her headphones to check to see what the problem was.

I ran downtown got the California contingent their gifts, ran uptown to the Apple store for a iTunes gift card for Earl. That was pandemonium but I was out of there in 5 minutes. Then I ran back downtown to Farfetched to say hello to Sharon who’s a sweetheart. Back home, slice of pizza for me, doped Bill and now I await Juan. Julio phoned from the duty free shop as he was off to Copenhagen and not thinking it will be fun since there is a vigil for Stine’s grandmother.

I just ordered some Stella Artois from the corner store, too tired to get it myself. Watching the Celluloid Closet on Logo. That’s it for me, for now.

Well today was a turn around of sorts. Went to bed early because I was tired from working at Farfetched and having part of two bottles of Ponseca with Harpy and Lois. Didn’t drink after that and ate dinner but around 10:45 I was exhausted. So I slept, Bill once again kissing me good bye as he headed off to work, me just laying there, drifting in and out of sleep until about 8:30. But of course the drawback is, no one is around. Juan was scheduled to come back tomorrow, Julio flies off to Denmark and Bill is wherever Bill wants to be.

I showered, had some coffee and went out for the papers and a bagel. Not many people out on the street, the rush hour had just about ended. I walked along Washington Street and found a text message from Renee back at McMann and Tate saying how she missed me. When I got home and checked my email there were a few other emails from Linda, and Lizzie Borden telling me basically the same thing. I knew I picked a good time to leave since today and tomorrow were promising to be hectic days and I didn’t want to have anything to do with it.

Amiable Alan also phoned but he was returning a phone call I made to him. Obviously Renee or Alan couldn’t talk in the office, but could outside on their cell phones. It’s nice to be missed. I also sent out a bunch of Christmas cards for family and friends, including Kay Benkovitch who lived across the street from my family when I was growing up. The holidays are fast approaching and I do have some last minute shopping for various persons in my life. That’s going to entail going into the city tomorrow so that should be fun.

Juan is back in town a day earlier and we’re going to hang out tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it. He isn’t as disappointed as he used to be when we first started hanging out and I suppose it’s a good thing. Bill has been asking about him lately, he’s become such a fixture in the apartment. I certainly enjoy his company and Bill does as well. On the music side of things, I played a remix cd of holiday songs by Bing Crosby and Dean Martin and Andy Williams reconfigured by contemporary DJ’s like Dan the Automator.

Harpy made it for me from the Farfetched holiday collection. I played Scritti Politti ‘White Bread Black Beer’ which is long but way worth the payout. That is definitely my favorite release of 2006, as well as best show. That is unless Brazilian Girls kick ass next week at Irving Plaza. Going with Juan. I’m taking him to the show for his Christmas present. He’d better be surprised.

I do know that I’m doing the right thing by taking these two weeks off between jobs to clear my head from McMann and Tate and start anew in the New Year.