Category Archives: Shed a tear

Keeping the Beat

A frustrating day, came forth from a frustrating night. Overall, a frustrating weekend. Time crawled on Saturday night when it took what felt like an hour for 10 minutes to pass.

Yesterday was more of the same though there was the distraction of the fart and mucous festival. And today has been simply ugh. Last night was so damn humid, I lay in bed sweating. And it’s been quite humid today as well.

I’ve been trying to get in touch with Greg Stevens for the past week or so. A bit of phishing for work, a bit of touching base and saying hello.

Got the voice mail and no responses to email. I was alarmed at that and went so far as to call his wife’s office to see if Greg was alive and well. He is, just spending more time out in the Hamptons was the excuse he gave me when he called back this afternoon. He has no work for me and sympathizes with my plight.

Greg did say that once again he’d be more than happy to be a reference for me. On my end, I am feeling compelled to drop McMann and Tate from the resume and editing it so that I went from Wanker Banker directly to Vivek’s company. Tired of having to explain why I left McMann and Tate.

The truth is offputting.

Also heard from Casey Chasm who is officially in the US Army and picks up his uniform this week. He’s now a GI for the next 8 years and I wish him the very best. I reconnected with another friend on Facebook, Rick Benet who I used to work with at Skyline Studios. He’s also in the army. Been in the army for the past 15 years.

Whatever works I suppose. Somebody has to protect this country and I am too moody to do it myself. It’s best for all concerned that I stay out of it, you see.

It was a strange call from Lt. Chasm. He did call the night of the Specials and midway through the call Miriam phoned in. Since she was meeting me there I had to take the call. I told Lt. Chasm that I would call him right back and when I did I got his voice mail. So today, it was an awkward catching up of sorts which was par for the course today anyhow.

Ran into Julio on the street and that was actually fun. He and the wife and kid and his in laws got back from a weekend in Boston so he was a bit out of it. He did like it though. Lot’s of unloading from Julio, work, looking for a new place to live, things like that.

I was on a hunt for compressed air. My computer just attracts so much dust that I needed to do something about it. A walk to CVS was to no avail, so a walk to Rite Aid was needed and sure enough I found it.

Wandered around Hoboken, just listening to various things on the iPod.

Came home and found a request for my resume to be sent in Word format. I only have Open Office. Bill’s Mac is presently kaput. I instant messaged Bill to see if he had a copy of it at work and he never got back to me after acknowledging my initial message.

I went to the bibliothèque and picked up a book and then went to the supermarket of the damned. The whole wheat bread that I usually get was not on sale this week, neither Friehofer nor Stroehmann and I balked at paying $4.00 for a loaf.

I found a different brand on sale, less bread, but also not $4.00. I can’t say that I go through so much bread especially when Bill tends to eat the bread when I’m not looking. I don’t mind, occasionally he’ll replace it. I also had to tell him a while back that if he’s going to eat bread, eat equal slices, not odd slices.

One slice of bread does not a sandwich make.

I did watch The Pacific last night and it was truly sad. I knew what was going to happen, the John Basilone story. Played by the wonderful John Seda, the episode focused mainly on Basilone.

And that was the heartbreaking part since I knew that it was probably the last we would see of him as he landed on Iwo Jima. Truly gut-wrenching as I watched Basilone court his girlfriend, marry and then head off to war.

It more than likely had a hand in the difficulty I had with going to sleep last night.

At least I was able to get the compressed air and tomorrow will be another day.
5.3.10 13 and Willow

O Solo Mio

It’s a dismal Tuesday, I did my best to make it less dismal but despite my best efforts it’s all fallen by the wayside. I can only guess this is how it is in Bala Cynwyd, day after bleedin’ day.

Been gray at times, then it was sunny with blue skies. Then a few drops of rain would appear. Too windy and nippy to play guitar by the river.

I ran into Tony, my barber at Mr. L’s. He saw me carrying my guitar the other day and told me it would be a good way to make some money, playing in restaurants.

He’s from Italy and told me his favorite place in Italy is Naples. He doesn’t like Rome. And the thing he likes about Naples is the fact that there is music everywhere. Old timey Italian music that is. I doubt if their playing the Beatles or Talking Heads.

Maybe they are. Maybe I should hot foot it to Naples.

I saw Tony on my way to the Soviet bloc building in Hoboken. I had called a few times to inquire about the Civil Union certificate. Left voice mail which went un-returned. Nice hours they have. 9AM to 3:30PM with an hour off for lunch.

A job for life it is, especially when they got the job because they knew someone at City Hall. That’s how Hoboken used to run until recently and probably still is. I finally did get through and showed up. I brought my passport as my identification figuring it would be enough.

At the bulletproof glass they asked for a driver’s license. I live in Hoboken and don’t need a car to get around. Then again, these are the types that work four blocks away and drive to work.

I mentioned that no one said on the phone that I would need 2 forms of identification and they merely replied, ‘well you probably didn’t ask’.

Touché.

I did have a feeling that might happen and resigned myself to the fact that I might have to go through all this tomorrow. But I did look in my wallet and found my Voter Identification Card which was good enough with the Passport.

Paid them $10.00 and they gave me an embossed document. I bet they pocketed the $10.00 once I left.

Wandered around Hoboken for a while after that. Spoke with Bill and told him we were now legit. He seemed annoyed. I mentioned now we can get divorced. He said ‘that’s good’. Maybe we’re both getting on each others nerves as it sometimes happens. Maybe our cycles are in sync.

On my way home I ran into barber Tony so I decided to get my hair cut. A trim. Give it some shape. My hair is so bloody thick that I sweat a lot. Some people would say I had a thick skull but it’s really the hair.

It’s a good idea I think, to look snappy whenever possible. You never know when a job interview might be happening. Tony certainly agreed.

I really tower over him, which in the eight years he’s been cutting my hair, I never really noticed. I have maybe a little over two feet on him, which means the barber chair gets lowered greatly.

And I also have to say I am simply thrilled that Chris Frantz from Talking Heads (and Tom Tom Club) is my Facebook friend. He comments on my videos from time to time and I think it’s so great.

I mean, who cares if he writes, ‘What the fuck do you know about anything? John Ozed, you’re an idiot!’ *
Chris Frantz ladies and gentlemen!

Dog owners now put their dog shit in bags, but they still don't throw it out

Dog owners now put their dog shit in bags, but they still don't throw it out


Parking garage

Parking garage


JOT
Photo-0115 JOT

*Chris Frantz has NEVER written anything like that at all.