I Like It Like That- Pete Rodriguez

I had difficulty sometimes knowing what day of the week it was while I was working retail with an erratic schedule. Now being out of work, all semblance of organized time has been thrown out the window. Well actually not 100% true. I can tell by the fewer amounts of people on the street or more often what is on TV. Nurse Jackie, The Big C and Mad Men were on last night so that makes it Sunday, dunnit? I wrote the first two lines last night and the rest just a few minutes ago. It’s been a lazy day after a night of some not very good sleep.

Looking at Saturday night’s entry, wow. I was quite drunk. Each word was a struggle and the fact that I was able to do it, albeit badly, has to say something. Not one of my best and better off ignored. I did have a good time and once I settled in at home I soon sobered up and eventually went to sleep. Waking up wasn’t so bad on Sunday. I slept in later than I expected, just as Bill was going to bed after returning from yet another drive to Atlantic City.

It was a fairly busy day, but each time I decided to go out and play the guitar by the river, (not actually busking since I am too intimidated to have an open guitar case in front of me) it looked like the skies were about to open up. And it did rain hard a couple of times. After an hour or two of that and with seeing the sun come out, I headed to the river and just played whatever songs I could figure out from memory. That meant Shame Shame Shame, All My Loving, Please Please Me, Kansas City/For You Blue and a variation of Take Me to the River.

Rand was practicing with Lois, the three of us will be playing together next Sunday as part of the Sounds of Hoboken thing. I had hoped to be playing around where I was strumming yesterday, but it seems we will be at the mews uptown around 14th Street. I think I am going on around 3:15 with Rand. Rand is also performing with Lois as Trombolele, and then Lois doing something called ‘Stump Granny’ where the object is to stump Granny (Lois) with song requests and win prizes or something.

I walked over to the river and set myself up and di what I did. The skies did ipen up and I was under a tree so I had some shelter. I also looked around for something better than some leaves on a tree, but after walking around to nowhere in particular I realized that my original spot was the best so I went back, opened an umbrella and waited it out for a few minutes. And I was right, the storm passed, leaving a rainbow over Manhattan. I could see about two thirds of the actual arc and a few minutes after that, a second rainbow appeared.

It was a nice sight to see and I played my guitar, wishing I knew the chords to She’s A Rainbow by the Rolling Stones. After an hour of strumming it was time to go home since darker clouds were gathering in the west.

I came home, Bill was off to a wedding that I was supposed to attend, but I requested the time off from the cigar shack and the RSVP was needed by a certain date which had passed by the time of my dismissal. So Bill took his dear friend Theresa who needed to go out and have a good time more than I did. They had a good time and sent me a nice video from the reception where they told me that they loved me and they were having a great time indeed.

It’s getting better all the time.








04 Getting Better

I Like It Like That- Hot Chelle Rae

Well it is a Saturday night and a bit early. I am a bit buzzed after spending time with Pedro and Connie in the Village. A few beers a few shots and once back in Hoboken and now I am at home for a spell. II am expected to go back out in a little while. I needed something to eat so now that’s worked out. Having written that, and being home it doesn’t seem likely that I will be going out again. Though that is the plan and a worthwhile plan at that, but with each word I write it seems unlikely.

I had made tentative plans to head out and meet up with Pedro this afternoon and when he did call I was still a little hesitant. Bit a plan is a plan and since I hadn’t seen Pedro in such a long time I couldn’t resist. Bill was up and about when I decided to head out. Bill came home and I was still asleep, not knowing what day it was I asked if he was going to work. He told me it was Saturday and yes he was going to work, after he had gotten some sleep.

So after getting his sleep, Bill was up and about and I was on my way out. Pedro and Connie were in Soho when I last was in contact with him so I figured that was where I would meet up. I walked to the Path train after saying goodbye to Bill and headed that way. A block away from the Path train he texted me asking where I was. I let him know that I would be there in about a half hour. And it turned out that I was in the city within 30 minutes, meeting Pedro at Christopher and Greenwich Streets.

A big hug and a kiss from Pedro and then a walk up Greenwich Street to a Tapas bar where Connie was waiting. More hugs and kisses before sitting down for a few beers and a couple of shots of chilled Patron. It wasn’t my choice but Pedro can be so persuasive. Connie being the designated driver passed. Catching up was done followed by tales untold, mainly what happened to my gig at the cigar shack. IT was time well spent with an invite to me to come up and visit Pedro and Connie for a midweek visit, which was fine by me.

We walked for a while after that and I was able to introduce Pedro to my friend Teo who sells his artwork on the street. Pedro liked what he saw but it was too small for what he envisioned and requested a piece by Teo that might be a bit larger than what was on display. It could be done and all it needs is Teo to get it together so that he might have a nice sale from his art work. I won’t make anything from this, just the satisfaction that two friends could get it together in a way that is beneficial for both parties.

Now I have written my 500 word allotment and I am more than comfortable to stay home and just chill out, let the alcohol buzz fade away.

I did intend to go out again and meet up at Hoboken Cigars once again, but I got held up in an online argument, me defending Bob Mould, Blow Off and bears in general. I must have made my point since the guy I was debating, the one who called me ‘bitch’, deleted his posts and left the Facebook group where this all took place. Still I was ready to go out again, but now having written that, and being home, I asked myself do I really want to go out again. The answer is no.

I am home, happy to be here and more than willing to stay in, which is what I am apparently doing.

Me & Pedro


He doesn't smoke, really.


Dave Alicea at Hoboken Cigars


Black Sheep – The Choice Is Yours