Category Archives: Wonderful World Beautiful People

I’m Not In Love

Leave a reply

Another day off. Having two in a row is pleasant. It’s my Saturday and Sunday I suppose. It would have been nice if it were actually on Saturday or Sunday but who am I to complain?

I slept really well last night, so much so that Bill had difficulty rousing me to kiss me goodbye this morning. I vaguely remember it. I slept until about 9:00 this morning.

Woke up, showered, had coffee and cereal. Tentative plans to see Radiant Child, a documentary about Jean Michel Basquiat with Roda.

Whenever there is something Basquiat related going on, I always try to involve Roda. It was a good documentary, ultimately sad. Forgot that Jean Michel died at the way too young age of 27. That dreaded number. I’m 20 years past it so I’m not especially worried.

I was in the end stages of laundry when Roda ambled on by, sitting on the stoop and waiting for me. I almost made us late, but pushed enough to make the 1:15 show.

Saw coming attractions for two other documentaries, one about Nazi propaganda made in the Warsaw Ghetto and the other one about a French contest for the best pastry chef. I would wait until both are shown on cable.

Next week a movie excursion to see Inception is in the works with Bill and his friend Fred. That should be interesting. Also looking forward to dinner at the Rocking Horse Cafe beforehand.

It was fun walking around the Village if only for a little while. I was right around the corner from Wolff Olins, where I worked 4 years ago. I don’t know if I would recognize anyone still there, in fact the people I really liked have moved on.

I did run into the newsstand in the building and picked up the latest Mojo & Uncut magazines. A walk back down Carmine Street to the Path train meant a stop at the Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Bookstore.

I enjoy going in there, lot’s of good, cheap remaindered books on sale. Saw a few things that would make for good books for various people.

Path train home was comfortable, new car, air conditioned and the fact that it wasn’t rush hour meant we had seats. Back in Hoboken, Roda opted for the light rail since he had a birthday party to attend.

I opted to walk along the river for a while before heading to the supermarket and then home. Laundry done, hanging on racks and in the bathroom.

My Netflix account was activated again and I have Terry Gilliam’s Jabberwocky here. I saw that in the 1970’s with my sister at the Bergen Mall. I recall both of us being disappointed that it wasn’t as good as Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Maybe 30 years or so will allow me to look at it with fresh eyes, or at least an informed outlook. Then again, the DVD looks like it’s in bad condition.

I also have The Wonder Boys from the bibliothèque. I never saw it, Julio recommended it when it came out and I just read a review in the New Yorker that mentioned it as Michael Douglas’ best film. It’s always available at the bibliothèque so I thought now would be the time to check it out.

Also after reading a review in the New Yorker, I have a copy of Duke Ellington’s America by Harvey G. Cohen. That’s a tome with a small font.

I am looking forward to Leo and His Circle, a biography of Leo Castelli. That looks like a more entertaining read, I think.

Jean Michel Basquiat


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Michel_Basquiat:_The_Radiant_Child

I’m Gonna Make You Love Me

Leave a reply

Late start again. And it’s already Sunday. Nothing bad happened. Actually something quite good. Had a late dinner with Julio at O’Neals on the other side of Church Square Park. We usually get together for a meal when Stine & Alexander are in Denmark. And that’s where they are these days, on vacation.

It was actually a good day at work too. I did about $1800.00 worth of business, in fact I was the top seller today, out of three. Don Birch, Raymond and me. We made for a good team. I walked up a different avenue this morning. I was early and even hustled to catch the bus.

Before that I was up and about in the apartment. While I showered, Bill was asleep in the air conditioned bedroom. At the other end of the apartment I made coffee.

As I showered, the power went out. We have a lousy electrical system here, at least in this apartment. Use the air conditioner and try to use an appliance and the power will inevitably go out. That means someone (almost always me) will have to go down to the basement and flip the breaker.

So I dried off and got dressed and headed down the stairs. A couple of minutes later I was back in the apartment, finishing the making of the coffee and when that was done, turned on the air conditioner while Bill continued sleeping.

It was a Saturday so that meant, casual dress. A guayabera and some khaki pants. Airwalk sneakers which were changed once I got to the shop. As I walked up the avenue once I got into the city I stopped by a Farmer’s Market and bought some cookies for me and my co—workers.

The day was better than yesterday, perhaps it was half a Xanax that I had. A few minutes after I got to the shop I noticed a woman walking by. I read that ace blogger, Pam Spaulding was in town and Thursday night I thought I saw her but it wasn’t.

This time I was sure. I called her name as she walked by the shop and she stopped. We chatted, or rather I gushed. I really enjoy her posts concerning people of color as well as the LGBT community. She was super sweet, and surprised that I recognized her.

She was on her way to the Old Timer’s Day at Yankee Stadium and posed for a photograph with me. It was the highpoint of the day.

Still it was a good day to work, and at lunch I headed out to a bench by the park where I had a nice cigar and read Uncut magazine. Like I wrote earlier, I had the highest sales in the store, thanks to me being vigilant with adding my name on the screen during each transaction that I conducted.

Towards the end of the day I heard from Julio who was wondering if I wanted to go have a beer with him. I mentioned that I needed to eat so we decided on O’Neals. Which is where we usually go. I had a burger, Julio had a mozzarella salad.

He picked up the tab, I left the tip.

Now I’m home, buzzed on two Guinness. Bill came home about 10 minutes after I did. Tomorrow family barbecue in Saddle Brook and hopefully a day at the beach on Monday. Two things I’m looking forward to.

I also made it from the shop to the bus terminal in about 14 minutes, unofficial. The songs were I Want to Take You Higher by Sly & the Family Stone, Connected by Stereo MC’s and Jeepster by T. Rex, and a bit of Once in a Lifetime from Talking Heads, Stop Making Sense.

Me & Pam Spaulding (of Pam's House Blend)