Category Archives: the day after yesterday

Well Did You Evah

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Sunday. Another day out by the river. Francine (Tariq’s girlfriend) was there as well as Tariq. I taught Francine how to play Twist & Shout. We also played I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash. I added an extra middle eight which I thought worked better.

And I made a concession, I learned how to play ‘Feelin’ Alright’ by Joe Cocker. Two chords is easy enough and it is rather soulful. It was a slow starting day and I wasn’t sure whether or not I would go out to play.

I picked a few songs off of Ultimate Guitar and chose them because of the lack of chords and my familiarity with them. Old Brown Shoe and The Ballad of John & Yoko were but two songs I learned.

Julio mentioned he would like to learn some guitar at some point and I offered to show him a few chords. That should be fun. It will be somewhere down the line since he really doesn’t have much time for that sort of thing.

Last night I sort of watched Saturday Night Live. I was actually more interested in recording songs for ring tones on my phone. Of course since I did that, no one called. And I forgot what song I picked.

Maybe the version of Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows from the Beatles Love album. Maybe Human Fly by the Cramps. Maybe the Telephone Call by Kraftwerk. I honestly don’t remember. And though the phone is right in my pocket I can’t be bothered to open it up and check it out.

It could also be You’re Wondering Now by the Specials who I am going to see on the 21st at Terminal Five.

And though I sent out online invites for the party this summer, a few people, friends and family thought the party was this weekend. I do hope no one showed up at Maxwells looking for me and Bill. That would be embarrassing for all concerned.

So I wasn’t all that interested in Saturday Night Live, but I did try to pay attention in parts. After that I started watching High Society, starring Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. Music by Cole Porter.

I knew most of the songs from the Red Hot & Blue Cole Porter compilation from 20 years ago. I actually prefer those songs.

I know, sacrilege!

Also prefer George Harrison’s version of True Love to Bing & Grace’s version. I feel Debbie Harry & Iggy Pop’s version of Well Did You Evah to be much more fun than Bing and Sinatra.

And I do prefer The Philadelphia Story to High Society. I would take Katherine Hepburn to Grace Kelly, Cary Grant definitely over Bing Crosby and Jimmy Stewart over Frank Sinatra any day. Before I knew it it was almost 2:30.

I stumbled to bed where I had a dream I was working for a company that was changing management, much like what happened in 1982 when I was working for HBJ. I certainly saw what was going on and got a job that eventually changed my life. But that’s another story for another time.

Hope everyone has a good week. More resumes going out. Hope springs eternal.

From last week. I generally don't wear a suit when playing guitar, unless Mr. Epstein insists

From last week. I generally don't wear a suit when playing guitar, unless Mr. Epstein insists

I Blew Up The United States

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Here we are on a Tuesday. Another gray day. Not as rainy as yesterday but still it’s misty. I made it outside though. Nice for a walk. Last night I filled out the Census form while Bill slept.

Checked off the Puerto Rican and Black boxes for Bill. Went Albino Chinese for myself. Just to tweak the system you see. A little fun, a little socialist skulduggery never hurt anyone, or never put anyone in front of a death panel.

After I filled out the Census I played guitar. Eight Days a Week actually. Fun to play. My friend Lois offered to busk with me sometime, she playing the violin and perhaps accompanying me on vocals.

Sounds like a plan and it sounds like I should get a solid repertoire of maybe 10 songs I can play solidly. All My Loving, Please Please Me and So It Goes are just a few. And Hercules by Elton John. That makes 5 songs. 6 including The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

There is also Surrender by Cheap Trick, Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues by Bob Dylan (Boob to his friends) and Tracks of My Tears by the Miracles need some tightening up. I’m sure I can write one or two other songs myself just so that I can have some originals going on.

I watched Lolita and of course it was very good. Peter Sellers, oh Peter Sellers. Such a genius, such a troubled man. The whole movie is great but really gets kicked up a notch when Sellers is on screen.

I returned Lolita to the socialist institution and took out Taking Woodstock by Ang Lee. That got terrible reviews. I want to see what’s so terrible about it since Ang Lee generally makes top notch movies.

Also Sleeper by Woody Allen. That piqued my interest after reading an article on cryogenics in the New Yorker. Also to see if the song ‘Rebels are we, born to be free/Just like the fish that swim in the sea’ is sung. It’s also in Bananas and I’m pretty sure it is, but I just want to make sure.

I also picked up Doubt, starring Phillip whatshisname and Meryl Streep. I heard it was a laugh riot, the feel good film of the year and the car chases are supposed to be excellent.

I keep trying to get Black Dynamite but as BCCLS keeps telling me it’s too new. And only 2 libraries have it, Englewood and Upper Saddle River. Perhaps by next year I’ll get a chance. And here in NJ as well as around the country I’m sure, the libraries are in danger of closing.

Right now in Hoboken the library is open 7 days a week. Perhaps if they closed on Sundays they could save some money. But closing the library beyond that would be a big mistake. I am there almost every day and I have seen traffic increase week after week.

I plan on writing a letter to the Hoboken Reporter and letting them know what I think.

I wrote that shaking my fist to the sky.

Just had a very good dinner. Some pasta and a meat sauce made by Stine. She gave me the sauce a week or so ago, and it was frozen like a brick. Now it’s thawed out and edible. Quite good, but then again Stine is one of the best cooks who’s food I have ever eaten.

Can’t wait for the weather to improve. Looking forward to bringing my guitar out and playing and also just to walk around Hoboken and enjoy a cigar.

And very happy birthday wishes to my niece Meghan who is 29 today! Woo hoo!

Meghan and her husband Rob.

Meghan and her husband Rob.