Category Archives: the day after yesterday

Venus

I guess I’m a touch hungover from last night. Must have been the 3 Absolut shots that I had. There’s nothing like a nap to correct that situation somewhat. And nap is what I did. Apparently I had a leg up on Rand who phoned earlier.

He was surprised that I had been out and about already. Around 10:00 I was getting coffee, bagels and the paper as well as a trip to the supermarket. On only a half cup of coffee I was surprisingly human. No need for homicide. Relatively coherent too.

But all things being equal (whatever that means) it took a toll and I sit around the apartment so far watching the rain fall down on this humdrum town, morosely. The weather certainly lending itself to that mood.

So a 20 minute nap was a reboot which might have done the job. So much so that I put on a pair of shoes since the sneaker I wore this morning had gotten a bit wet. Also heard from Casey Chasm, trying to entice me to move up to South Burlington with Bill so we could get married, as if that was in our plans.

I didn’t mention that that wasn’t in the plans as far as I knew. The topic hasn’t come up in a long time and why should we risk losing an imperfect relationship?

I guess jaded and cynical is the theme thus far.

Casey said everyone was fine, the missus and the baby both doing well.

It’s now a few hours after all that. I heard from Rand asking if I was interested in seeing Leon Russell play the Hoboken Art & Music Fall Festival. I was ambivalent and so was Rand, but he wanted to see what Elton John saw in Leon Russell back in those early 1970’s.

Elton said Leon was a major influence. So I called Rand and made plans to meet him at 7th and Washington. I had a big cigar and walked up to Washington St. Julio and Stine were out there with the baby somewhere and I thought I would see them but perhaps they saw me first.

Due to the foreboding weather it certainly wasn’t that crowded, but then again there was the stroller set out in full force taking up much space. People used to have babies in Hoboken then move out to the suburbs. Now, they stay.

Rand and I walked towards where Leon Russell was playing some rock and roll standards. Where we stood I thought the dark figure on the left of the stage was Leon Russell and it wasn’t until towards the end of the show that I looked to the right (it was a bit crowded) when I saw the actual Leon Russell long white hair underneath a cowboy hat and wearing shades singing ‘A Song for You’.

He did Great Balls of Fire and Roll Over Beethoven as an encore and before the last note faded away he was probably on a bus headed to the next gig.

Rand and I saw Rob La Rosa and also Roger Johansen and his wife Dina. Small talk with all of them, Roger saying he smelled a cigar and figured I was nearby. Funny thing is there are usually quite a few guys smoking cigars during the festival but Roger sussed me out.

Rand showed me some footage he shot last night at Duet, the Karaoke place. Lisa and myself singing a duet of Madonna’s Borderline. I was definitely having a good time on the recording though I think I sounded better singing Jimi Hendrix.

Also footage of various Hoppes and offshoots singing Twist and Shout. We must have had a good time, Rand and I. How else can we explain our hungover natures today?

I am also happy to say Juan’s broken heart has healed.

Here are the pics from this afternoon at the Hoboken Art & Music Fall Festival.

Chug!

Chug!

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I almost wore the same thing as the second from right.

I almost wore the same thing as the second from right.

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Rand's cheek

Rand's cheek

An old lady, dressed as an old lady which is something you just don't see anymore

An old lady, dressed as an old lady which is something you just don't see anymore

He was actually told to get off his bike by his mom and this is his dismount.  True story.

He was actually told to get off his bike by his mom and this is his dismount. True story.

irresistible force meets an immovable object

irresistible force meets an immovable object

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Leon Russell

Leon Russell

NOT Leon Russell

NOT Leon Russell

playing air congas

playing air congas

A profile, perfect for coinage.

A profile, perfect for coinage.

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Wise Up! Sucker

It’s a beautiful day today. Nice and breezy, sunny, hardly a cloud in the sky.

Congratulations to Rand & Lisa for 14 years of wedded bliss. I believe the proper gift for the 14th anniversary is waffles.

Last night was another nice evening. Didn’t do much except to sweat over last night’s entry. And it was probably a bland entry, I was pulling out every word like I was pulling teeth.

I was just thinking about a bus ride into the city that I took the other day. A woman asked me if 19th and Willow was Hoboken or Weehawken. I told I thought it was Weehawken.

I lived on top of the Palisades and the area below, specifically 19th and Willow was called the Shades. It was in the shade of Troy Towers and the cliffs. Strange people down there, not really trusting of the people that lived on the top.

In any event, I told her to use landmarks instead of street directions since it would probably be easier. She mentioned that she was a former resident of Hoboken for 55 years then moved to the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico.

But now she was back for a funeral at St. Lawrence Church.

I walked over to St. Lawrence Church about 10 years ago when my landlady was on her death bed and since she was a Catholic I figured it would be nice for a priest from that parish to show up and comfort her in her final days.

The priest was hesitant, not really willing to play the role of shepherd of his flock. I sort of brow beat him into it and he did eventually show up. The landlady’s kids Derf and Pastie weren’t about to do anything like that.

The streets are still devoid of children most of the day and that’s fine with me.

I sat by the river and read the New Yorker. Also canceled my monthly bus pass from NJ Transit since it didn’t make sense since I’m not going in as often as I had used to and it is belt tightening time after all. I’m just glad I have a New Yorker subscription until May 2011.

Been listening to Lucinda Williams which an on line buddy turned me onto. She’s pretty cool and of course I heard about her for years already. Once again late for the dance.

I am thinking about heading over to Journal Square tonight to take part in a health care reform rally. I signed up to show up and since there is nothing else to do, that might be the thing to do. And I do believe in health care reform.

Last night I spoke to Lovely Rita. It had been a while since we last chatted. She is now a dog groomer and making some extra bucks which is good. I called her to let her know that 2 of her favorite bands were on TV last night, Cheap Trick was on Conan and the Black Crowes were on Letterman.

She opted for Cheap Trick since the Black Crowes have slowly been mutating into the dreaded Allman Brothers. Does that make Kate Hudson, the Cher to Chris Robinson’s Gregg Allman?

None of that hippy crap for Rita!

I watched about a minute of the Black Crowes before Cheap Trick came on and I quickly changed channels when Rick Nielsen and the band came on. I was glad that I did.

Well soon I will be headed to Journal Square so I may post later on when I get back.

Same Bat time, same Bat channel.

Well I just got back. OK turn out, maybe 100 people.
It’s strange. I must put out an odd vibe or look conservative.
No one would really talk to me about the issues though I was there to support them.
The only one who did was May Young. They need more outgoing people like May Young, that are willing to reach out and talk to everyone.
Someone like her would get more people active in the cause.

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Her name is May. She was very friendly and outgoing.

Her name is May. She was very friendly and outgoing.


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