Category Archives: Interesting Things as of Late

isn’t it all?

I Don’t Feel Like Dancing

Well it’s certainly good to be home again. It was a longish day, and I am glad it’s over. It’s still difficult going back to work after a day off and today was just as difficult as ever. Bill had taken the day off to tend to his stage managing for the play which opens on Friday.

We puttered about the apartment trying to stay out of each other’s way. It worked out fine. I was going to work with Calvin and the Possum as well as Thomas. I was not looking forward to the possum or Calvin but Thomas would be in so that made it somewhat bearable.

Bill lugged a heavy amplifier down four flights of stairs to hand off to Tom his buddy who is playing trumpet in the play. I kissed Bill goodbye as we stood on the sidewalk watching Tom load the amplifier into the van with no problem at all.

A walk to Washington Street where I waited for the bus. I resolved not to flag down the bus and I didn’t need to since the bus stopped directly in front of me. No women in tight skirts nearby. The usual uneventful ride, only I don’t stare out the window, I follow my progress on the smartphone.

We made it to the bus terminal, listening to The Pink Room from the Twin Peaks soundtrack on my way to the subway. Back above ground I got my iced coffee and killed time before heading into the shack. While outside I saw Thomas which was relatively reassuring.

It was Thomas, the possum and myself on board today, Calvin at an offsite meeting for a good part of the day. After four hours, I went out to lunch and sat on a bench reading the last week’s issue of the New Yorker. A good issue overall.

I listened to Pandora on the smartphone instead of the iPod. I listened to the Cocteau Twins Radio and Brian Eno Radio which started off with Luther Vandross singing the Bee Gees ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ which was nice to hear and very surprising to hear on the Brian Eno channel.

I also listened to Lightning Flash (Weak Heart Drop) channel, very good roots Reggae. In fact I started out with Lightning Flash channel, moving onto the Cocteau Twins and finally Eno.

I made it back to the cigar shack and saw Calvin was in. He had me make some labels for some new cigars since most everything else to do was done already. It’s been a bit slow lately so most of the time is spent cleaning things over and over.

I was also told that I would have to keep the front door open since people might think we are closed, even though it’s a big glass door and with the lights on and transactions being made and people walking in and out I can definitely see how people might think the cigar shack was closed.

So the door was kept open. Calvin had the door opened the other day and when I mentioned that it was cold in the store with the door open he walked away telling me to stop crying. So with the front door open we got a nearly full exposure to the crazy loud club music from a nearby store for young women who want to look slutty.

It certainly drowned out the horrid jazz that Calvin is so fond of and in doing so made me appreciate the crazy loud club music. There was some head butting between Thomas and the possum this afternoon. I saw the flare up and stayed way out of it.

Of course which side I was on was obvious, though I think the possum had a slight advantage in the fact that all Thomas would have to do was minimize what he was working on and step aside for a few minutes.

Eventually Calvin left followed shortly thereafter by the possum. Thomas and I listened to the crazy loud club music while Thomas tried to play the Elliot Smith Radio on his iPad’s Pandora. Elliot Smith did not stand a chance.

I also had a super hot alpha male to tend to in the humidor, he didn’t buy much but man he reeked of testosterone and knew he was sending out pheromones in all directions. I basked and breathed deeply. Perhaps the hottest man in the cigar shack in months.

While listening to the Elliot Smith club mix we set about making the store shinier than ever since El Grande Queso is expected in tomorrow. For what? I don’t know. I just have to get through tomorrow and it’s a day off on Friday.


RIP Steve Jobs

I Could Kick Your Ass

Something is happening but you don’t know what it is, do you Mr. Jones? Yes, Ballad of a Thin Man is playing at the cigar shack right now. It’s been a decent day, working alongside Thomas and Bradley. All of us in good moods so jokes and laughs were had throughout the day.

Not a bad day after all. Of course the tally could be better Sally, but it is a holiday weekend after all. Regulars have fled the city, people in Brooklyn have fled from the West Indian Day parade on Monday.

Tomorrow is Brazil day in midtown which is usually a fun thing to attend, but crazy crowded. So crowded that sometimes if you want to walk up Sixth Avenue, you have to walk up Fifth Avenue instead. I thought about it but then I thought again. Tomorrow is a day off so I have my doubts about attending. Perhaps if there was someone to go with, but with Bill driving tomorrow I think I will be staying on the western shores of the mighty Hudson River.

The day started out nicely, Bill was up and out hours before I stirred. I vaguely remember a kiss goodbye. Been having dreams that I actually remember lately, one dream involved my regret in not going to the bibliotheque with Roda, another dream had me in a cafeteria with my father and an old coworker from the Maxwells era, awkward introductions back and forth, considering one of those characters was dead.

Now it’s a little over a half an hour left. Thomas is closing so that means I get to go home a full 15 minutes earlier. Both he and I will be off tomorrow, due to return on Minday, Labor Day, working alongside Jerry Vale.

I am sick of tattoos. I know a few friends have them and have had them for years, but lately, it’s like an explosion, whole arms covered in ink by those who apparently did not consider what they will look like in 20 years.

Perhaps if I was in my twenties these days, and did not know any better I too would be inked way too much. When I was in my twenties I did not even consider the fact that I would be alive at 48 years, and here I am. Neck tattoos, I mean really. I just don’t get it. But that’s them and not me and not my concern, it’s just that I see so many of them it’s offputting. Live and let live I suppose.

I might take whatever train pulls into the station tonight. Lots of construction going on at the bus terminal on the way in, so the Path might be a viable option. I will throw the dice in the air and let the metro cards fall where they will.

It seems like a nice evening out anyhow, and a walk from the Path train to home should be nice, unless the other trains pull in first and if that’s the case well I will cross that bridge, or in this case- tunnel, when I get to it.

And the Path train turned out to be the way I got back to the mainland. A nice walk home, talking to Julio who invited me over next weekend when his in laws fly back to Europe. I mentioned that I never see them anymore and that is what prompted the invite.

I may just do that but of course I will have to reconnect next weekend. I will be working next Saturday and Sunday but since I get out early on Sunday that just might be the day. It would be nice to see Julio & Stine and of course, Alexander.

Fare thee well, Film Center Cafe