Interesting Things as of Late | johnozed

Another opening, another show. Here I am a year later, from June 1, 2010 to June 1, 2011 in the cigar shack. I’m surprised to be here as are some of you I’m sure. Last year I was working with Raymond, Sean, Don and Harold as well as Calvin and Marcus.

Now it’s just me and Calvin. Raymond, Sean and Harold were let go and Don left on his own. In their stead are Bradley and Thomas. A good team and totally different from who I started with. Of course if you’ve been reading this during the past year you know all about whatever dramas ensued.

Today has been an interesting day, me & Calvin manning the boards. Of course as soon as I start something goes wrong with my register leaving me unable to process credit cards, only able to handle cash.

Calvin was in the humidor a lot today so that left me shifting back and forth between his register and mine. I would ask will this be cash or charge and depending on the answer I would move to my left or to my right.

And of course since it was just me & Calvin I was tied to the cigar shack, unable to leave for any ‘real’ amount of time, lunch included. I really didn’t mind since it was too godddamned hot outside, the few moments I had outside felt like I was wearing a damp wool overcoat.

I really don’t know how sheep can manage in this weather. Perhaps a visit to the Sheep Research Clinic in downtown Bala Cynwyd would give me the answers I so desperately crave. If not, then a séance near Livingston NJ might have to do the trick, since it seems to be all about tricks in Livingston. No treats, all tricks and these tricks are not for kids.

Calvin was kind enough to bless me with a La Aurora 107 Gran Toro cigar for my anniversary. Don’t know if I will smoke it tonight since I am opening up the store tomorrow. It was my idea actually.

A friend, Karen Kuhl is playing at Pier 13 here in Hoboken tonight and I like her and her music. So I decided to switch hours with Bradley tomorrow, me opening and him closing.

I sort of regret it though, just the change of pace, the diversion from my routine. I will get over it of course. Hopefully Rand & Lisa will be there, it’s their type of thing. I guess I should text Rand and find out.

Now I am at home. Bill is watching ESPN, something about the Knicks/Pacers rivalry from 1994. I was very much into basketball then, thanks to Julio’s influence. Lots of things going on, the Knicks had a great team that didn’t bring home any rings.

Of course there was a sexual element involved, Charles Oakley & Anthony Mason were big old bears, Mason particularly thuggish. One time during the playoffs Julio & I with my Rasta friend Marcus and my dear friend Miriam went to Madison Square Garden with $5.00 tickets to watch the Knicks lose an away game on the big screens. Despite the loss the four of us had a good time.

Now it’s a mellow night at home and happy to be here. All the windows are open and a nice breeze is blowing. Tomorrow should be a nice day at the cigar shack, Thomas and Bradley and me running things. It definitely nice that we’re all getting along, at least I think we’re all getting along.

We shall see tomorrow I guess, won’t we?

Thank goodness it’s Friday. I know it’s really Monday but I am off the next two days so for me it’s Friday. I can’t speak for the millions on their feet all day, not complaining, bless their hearts, but for me it’s a relief. And it was quite an interesting day at the cigar shack.

It started out interestingly enough last night actually. A little before 10:00 I started getting texts from Julio. He and Stine had a birthday party for Alexander at a park on the Hudson River north of the George Washington Bridge. It was cold and damp and they had a lot of food left over as well as birthday cake.

They figured I was just getting home, not realizing that I had gotten home a little before 8:00 since the shack closes earlier on Sundays. I was home, a little jazzy and not really wanting to go down to see them. But I figured I should.

I knew Alexander would be asleep by then so I threw on some track pants and went down for about a half hour. It was good to see them, both of them talking to me at the same time. Since I’ve known Julio for over 25 years we really understand each other very much, a word here, a gesture there, a cocked eyebrow and a lot is said.

I think that must frustrate Stine somewhat so I took extra care to pay extra attention to her. I came home with a large piece of homemade cake, festooned with Danish flags, some hot dogs, hamburgers and buns.

I came home and watched some TV with Bill before he went to bed and I eventually followed. Waking up wasn’t so easy and I mentally bargained with the alarm clock, which satisfied the both of us. The alarm clock now has off the next two days as well.

After showering and shaving and coffee and cereal I was out the door enjoying a slightly damaged Padron 1964 Anniversary cigar. As I waited at the bus stop I ran into Mr. Castro, an old friend from the past powdery days of yore.

He doesn’t do that anymore and neither do I. And neither of us miss it. In fact he can’t stand to be around the people from those days who are still sniffing here and there. We both rode the bus into the city, but did not sit together.

I made it to the shack early enough, Thomas and Bradley were there. I worked with Calvin yesterday and we talked about my problems with Bradley. Today I decided to take matters into my own hands and had a talk with Bradley who by the way has been taken off life support.

It was a nice chat, interrupted every now and then by commerce but we’re both glad we talked and it made for a smooth easy going day. I told Thomas about it since he was out of the shack at the time, and he jokingly said that he was going to try to put it back the way it was since he felt he benefited from the disconnect between Bradley and myself.

So for the first time in what seemed to be a long time, the three of us were able to work together and laugh throughout the day. Since I closed the other night with Thomas leaving early, which left it open for me to leave early and have Thomas close.

I made my way to the subway, this morning I had $2.80 left on my MetroCard and when I tried to use it this evening, the turnstile read to swipe again. I swiped again and once again got the same message. I swiped once more and got the message that there was insufficient fare left on my card.

The turnstile took $2.50 and left me unable to get through with $0.30 left. So I had to walk over and refill my MetroCard and when I finally was able to pass the turnstile, the train I wanted to board was leaving the station. I loathe the MTA.

Such a horrible corrupt organization, filled with the laziest teats alive (and possibly dead).