Worry Naked

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A full night of uninterrupted sleep. A dream where I was at Rockaway Beach, where I had never been before. It resembled Orchard Beach where I had been once. Walking a distance from the blanket where I think my family was, situated to the ocean.

It involved a lot of walking past lagoons and tidal pools where other people were recreating, I walked under a highway overpass just looking for the ocean which could not be found. Eventually, I turned back and got lost trying to find out where I was.

Nothing was familiar and it seemed like a town down the shore that I had dreamt of a few weeks ago. It started to get more and more urban as I walked, the greenery turning into a city of sorts. The dream might have had a subplot where my brother was writing his version of a Dick Tracy comic strip which ran parallel to another Dick Tracy comic strip, offering two perspectives of the same story.

Then I woke up with Bill telling me the boil water advisory had been lifted which was very good news to wake up to. We had been boiling water since Monday and today was Friday. It had been stressful and humid with four pots of water boiling the day away. So things are back to normal.

There was news yesterday about how L’Orange Merde and his ilk were cutting the victim compensation fund which was the main part of working at Bratty McGrotty. If that really happens that might mean the whole raison d’etre for Bratty McGrotty will probably clean house since there would be no more claims processed, no more clients to sign up, and therefore no reason to have 200 millennials to work for Bratty McGrotty. I just texted Daisy who was told things would be delayed.

That was the other day. Yesterday was spent hanging out with Mike at his crib. Bill was off to the city to do things and I had nothing to do. Mike was lonely, I was lonely so we spent time together. It was different than previous times but it was still good. I came home in time to make dinner for Bill and myself.

It was good though I was home before Bill and kept holding back on making the food until he showed up. Mainly letting the water boil and then cool off since he wasn’t home yet. It wasn’t the best dinner but it wasn’t the worst either.

A little while after that, I got a phone call from Mike who was in pain due to a bad wisdom tooth. I told him a list of easy methods to ease the pain. He didn’t have anything in his flat except for some booze so he trekked off to the corner stores and got what he could.

I called him a few times after that but there was no answer. I was worried and I finally spoke to him this morning. A Tylenol PM knocked him out and when I expressed my worry he was annoyed telling me that I carry my emotions on my shoulders. I will try not to make that mistake again.

When a friend calls me telling me that they’re in pain, I’ll just let it go and speak with them the next time if there is a next time. What’s the point of worrying?

Mike is expected over today, to hang out with me and Bill. Earlier than usual but I am not worried. Being concerned is a waste of time. I did have an odd dream this morning. I was with Karyn Kuhl and Charlie Nieland and members of the Clash. The Clash were doing a show at the Meadowlands, with a reanimated Joe Strummer. Every conversation was whispered.

I walked with Charlie to the guest list area, where the guy holding the list couldn’t be bothered so he gave us the list to see if we were on it. Charlie was, I wasn’t so I slinked off. I wandered through the crowd losing bits of my clothing as I tried to call a rideshare.

I wound up by a gas station and stood on top of a pallet of Pepsi trying to negotiate something. I jumped off the pallet and wound up totally naked. I would have to go through the crowd looking for my clothes. I have no idea what happened next since I woke up.

It was another night of uninterrupted sleep.

Contemptuous Familiarity

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Another goddamned day. It’s a fucking Wednesday and I have been in a mood since I woke up. Hoboken has been under a boil water advisory for the past 24 hours and I’m sure it will be corrected eventually but not soon enough for my tastes.

It’s a hassle and not the end of the world but just another straw that has been placed on the back of a camel. It’s been quite cold. I went for a walk, leaving Bill at home and when I came back he asked how it was outside. I explained that it was a February day and the temperatures were 29° but it really felt like 21°.

In any event, I am sick and tired of winter. It’s a drag and I do not want to have anything to do with almost anyone today. And to be under a boil water advisory in the middle of winter does not help anyone. Bill and I watched the documentary Sly Stone: The Burden of Black Genius on Hulu. It’s directed by Questlove, Ahmir Thompson, to his Mom.

I loved it but I am not sure if Bill knew anything about Sly Stone, though he seemed to enjoy it. Then we watched Roy Wood Jr.’s stand-up special which was funny. Bill was off to bed after that and I called Mike and left an unacknowledged voicemail yet again.

I find that annoying with regard to Mike. I know he’s new in our lives here but some recognition is all that is asked for and never received. It’s confusing to me. Both Bill and Mike are into the magical world of Astrology, Bill being a Cancer, Mike a Gemini and me a Virgo. What does it mean, I really couldn’t say.

Most of the time I think it is bullshit but I want to interact with these believers so I play along. The Virgo sign is supposed to represent communication and in that case, I do believe it to be true. I communicate and when others do not respond in kind it all falls apart.

So the unacknowledged voicemail set a tone for most of my day. The ongoing boil water advisory is not helping. And the job search. I send out resumes and apply online for positions and I get rejections or ignored.

It doesn’t help my spirits very much and all it takes is a look back to a few months ago and I get even more upset. I did contact Daisy the other day. The food place she worked at before I got her into Bratty McGrotty had a help-wanted sign.

I sent a text on President’s Day and she eventually replied that she thought about contacting me but was scared to. That was alarming. Daisy does not seem to be like my other friends, the ones that take the good with the bad. Those are true friends. They stick around.

I know Daisy has her kid and no time for nonsense like my nonsense but to say they’re scared to drop a line seemed ridiculous and sounded like the Filipino chick that she works with. Things ended on an OK note but let’s face it, the friendship isn’t going back to whatever it was before. That may be a good thing I reckon.

Four pots of water are boiling. When will the boil water advisory end?

Things got weird. Mike who has a strict schedule at work was able to get some overtime due to some bigwigs showing up tomorrow. He was hoping to get to work early tomorrow and we suggested he come over and sleep on the couch so he can walk to work in the morning.

I called him last night and left a message. He sent texts around 2:30 AM. I thought it odd and it was kindling for the embers that started for me this morning. Plus Bill and I being together so much in the apartment where we have to boil water then let it cool so we can actually use the water, the stress levels were out of the ordinary- high.

Mike asked if I could meet him after work and at 10:30 this morning I said no. The day progressed and my mood improved. Slowly but it was going in the right direction. I was able to tell Mike that I would meet him.

Not much contact after that and I proceeded as planned. I headed out into the winter night, leaving my toasty, humid apartment at 6:15 to meet Mike at 7:15. I walked down Washington Street and called Mike. Connection made, I can hear Mike talking to a coworker. I am on the line for 35 seconds before I hang up and try again. I get the same result. Again. And Again.

Finally, we connect. Mike is annoyed and to me, seems to think that I did not know it was a busy important work week for him. He does not like the fact that I am not in a good mood though by being out on the street on a February winter night I seem to be making an awfully noble effort to be in at least, a better mood.

I am fortunate t have people in my life who recognize the mood I can be in and sometimes stand back and allow it to play out, or try to alleviate my spirits. Or both. Those people are few and far between, living their own lives as they should instead of holding my hand through a momentary crisis.

Mike might be new to someone like me and Bill. We have no ulterior motives, we just want to help him with his life. We love him and want only the best for him. He’s got a lot to learn and so do two old dogs like Bill and myself.