I walked to work with my head up, looking forward. I slept well entwined in Bill’s loving arms. It’s great what a little communication can do. He’s was up and about this morning and it’s rare that we are up at the same time. He was as exuberant as he was last night. A yin to my yang. Me? I sit rather quietly, having coffee with Today in New York on and check my email.

Bill doesn’t drink coffee. I require coffee. I was sitting at the computer reading my emails and the New York Times online while Bill puttered about. Eventually I had to go and we kissed, professing our love for each other in a post 9/11 daily routine. He lingered at the door watching me go down the stairs. That was a nice send off. He really cares for me I felt.

I played Optimistic by Sounds of Blackness, it was so good I played it twice. Then decided to play the other two Sounds of Blackness tracks on the iPod, The Pressure and Testify. Good swingin gospel music to get me to the train. I could’ve played Optimistic all day but opted for Prince ‘Sign O’ the Times’. Still a great record, so much fun and so many memories.

Work was the drag that it usually is these days. I heard from McGruff from Wanker Banker, who told me to speak to his assistant. I called and then had to hang up due to someone next to me that I didn’t want to know what was going on. I couldn’t reach her, and it was McGruff’s suggestion. They haven’t replaced me and I am more than willing to go back. I have been humbled.

The wheels might be turning. It is familiar ground. It would be awkward that’s for sure. It’s very similar to what my counterpart at Wanker Banker San Francisco did. She left for what seemed to be a more exciting and promising job and found it not to her favor. So she left the new job and went back to her old job in Wanker Banker. Why couldn’t I do that?
The only obstacle could be the human resources director who I decline to name at this point.

It was a busy day at McMann and Tate and it was also the last day before the start of a four-day weekend for me. It was accidentally timed nearly perfectly since tomorrow is going to be very busy. Paula will be sitting in for me, both Thursday and Friday working with Felicia. Friday should be not as busy but basically I don’t care. I plan to be at the beach after dropping in on Virginia Wagner tomorrow. The beach depends on the weather. Virginia is a definite. Virginia is for lovers. Only heterosexual ones though.

It would’ve been nice to have had dinner tonight with Annemarie and Earl since I’m in a much more mellow mood than I was last night. But that was then and now is now and tomorrow is Saturday for me, Thursday for everyone else. I doubt the interview should take more than an hour, at which point I get back on the bus, change in shorts and trunks and hook up with Annemarie and Earl and head down the shore. That is the plan, man.

The Fourth of July. The United States is 230 years old. Been a mellow day, kind of lazy. Watched a cool DVD last night called ‘We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen’. The Minutemen were a group from San Pedro who were definitely into punk, but had a funky edge. I saw them a few times back in the day at McSwells. Out of all the bands that passed through there on a semi-regular basis, the Minutemen ruled.

It’s a bittersweet DVD since the band fell apart after D.Boon’s fatal car accident 20 or so years ago. Mike Watt and George Hurley continued with Ed From Ohio as fIREHOSE, but it wasn’t the same. Mike and Boon were old friends since they were kids and loved music fiercely. It’s definitely worth seeing. I think my nephew Earl would like it. Perhaps I’ll buy it for his birthday.

Yesterday before I headed out to Coney Island, I watched the final episode of Six Feet Under. I knew what I was getting myself into, and it wasn’t depressing. It was actually life affirming. Great performances all around, especially Lauren Ambrose. She drove away with the show on that episode. Still haven’t seen it with Bill. That would be nice.

What I did see with Bill, and that was today, was ‘Cars’. A Pixar film with Paul Newman and Owen Wilson. It was good and of course it was cute. It wasn’t 100% good though since there were no buses featured. It was a nice way to spend an early overheated afternoon. We walked around Times Square over to Bryant Park when it suddenly felt like rain so we hightailed it back to the bus terminal.

It was a summer shower when we got off the bus and it was all over in about 5 minutes. Pleasant now, nice breezes abound. Neighbors having parties. I was invited to a few parties, not in this neighborhood which may be a deciding factor. Bill’s having a nap, I’m watching a documentary on Punk Rock directed by Don Letts who is a mate of your friend and mine, Mick Jones.

Henry Rollins is talking about how rigid some punk fans could be. He was talking about how Public Image Ltd. was more interesting than the Sex Pistols, and he’s right. I like Henry. He’s a righteous dude. I remember him sitting at McSwells drinking cup after cup of black coffee. No one really approached him as he sat and wrote in his journal.

Now it’s the straight edge scene, the counter culture to the counter culture, whatever that means. I was too old and my edge had never been straight anyhow. Flash forward to Nirvana, and how they made it because of all the bands before them. It really was an uphill battle for Punk. I know it’s on DVD and it’s called Punk: Attitude by Don Letts.

I don’t think I’m going to either of these parties, one my friend Roger is having up in Weehawken, and the other is an impromptu bbq thrown by Felicia who invited me via text message after Bill and I were leaving ‘Cars’. Things would be different if I didn’t have to work tomorrow. But I do so I will be a mellow fellow.

and here’s some pics