I’m Diggin’ You (Like An Old Soul Record)

Another tired day, but I am happy to report I have tomorrow off. Quite a nice thing to write and even better to say. I’ve been home for about an hour. It was a long day. I had to open the store and left the apartment at 8:20 to catch the 8:30 bus.

When I got to the bus stop there was no bus coming and I checked the schedule. Today being a federal holiday meant the buses were running on a different schedule. I started making my way to the Path train and while in between bus stops my bus appeared.

I had to run into the street and wave my arms hoping the bus driver would stop. And stop he did. I got on the bus thanking him profusely. A Scandinavian woman asked if I had 5 singles since she needed change for the bus. I had 4 singles and that was good enough for her.

Once in the city it was a walk up the avenue, the only people out were tourists, most people had off for the holiday. I’m obviously not most people.

There was drama of course at the shop. Marcus and Calvin were upset about a few things, mainly because part timer Sean was on tape hanging out with the customers in the back room over the weekend for a few hours, when he should have been working.

Raymond is on thin ice still and the fact that he met up with Harold who was let go last month. Harold was persona non grata then and is still. He seems to be just fucking with Marcus and Calvin and used Raymond to do so.

I did not get a talking to like Sean did or like Raymond will tomorrow. I guess I’m doing alright, though it was mentioned that we shouldn’t be using our mobile devices while on the shop floor, because if you go to Hermes or Louis Vuitton, you won’t seen the sales staff doing that.

And we’re in that league according to Marcus.

The day started out slow like the other days the past few days. Marcus handed out cigars for the staff in honor of his upcoming wedding this weekend. They had his and his bride’s name printed on the cellophane.

I put it in my cigar box in the humidor and did whatever it is I did at the shop. Finally I was able to have lunch and I went out in the 97 degree weather and found a bench under a tree by the park and had a pretty good, expensive cigar that I had for free.

One of the perks you see. I read You Never Give Me Your Money by Peter Doggett, almost done with it. Just in time too since it’s due back at the Bibliothèque on Wednesday. They all come off badly the Fabs. Sniping, drug and alcohol abuse and endless lawsuits.

I’m in the last chapter. Maureen Starkey, Linda McCartney, and Derek Taylor are all dead and George was just attacked by a deranged intruder in his Henley on Thames mansion. It’s enough to make you give up the Beatles myth.

That’s about it for today. Off tomorrow and I’m happy to be home right now with Bill.

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That was the message some of you may have gotten last night when visiting this here blog. Obviously, Rand fixed it so- thanks to Rand!

I’m Alive

What a long hot day. For some reason Papa Gene’s Blues by the Monkees is the song I’m playing right now and could really relate to it. Now I’m playing Pleasant Valley Sunday. Why the Monkees? More than likely because they require little or no thought.

It’s been in the upper 90 degree range, no matter where you are, in the shade it still feels like an exhaust fan is blowing. Bill is napping right now in the air conditioned bedroom. He came home last night, not completing a drive down to Atlantic City due to a collision on the parkway.

It wasn’t his fault and the woman who sideswiped his bus admitted so to the police. He was nervous that he would be fired but right now he is on stand by for yet another drive to Atlantic City tomorrow morning.

I, of course worked today and it was slow going. The only people that bought cigars and whatnot were mainly tourists. The first customer I had was a guy named Guy who seemed nice enough I suppose. He was very interested in buying a $200.00 lighter.

That was the price I quoted him, but when I ran it through the computer it came up as $175.00. Raymond mentioned that there was a mistake after I mentioned it to him (in front of the customer). The customer wasn’t too pleased by this and felt we were screwing him.

Still he bought the lighter at $200.00 and then asked about the return policy. I explained there were no cash refunds, just store credit and then the guy named Guy got all huffy and decided to not buy the lighter after buying it.

That was the first customer and I hoped the rest of the day wouldn’t be going in the same direction. It didn’t really but it was an arduous day nonetheless.

One more day then I’ll be off on Tuesday, then three days of work then three days off. One regular came into the store, a wanker named Nelson who gladly shook hands with Raymond and Sean but scowled when I nearly offered my hand.

I didn’t mind but said to myself that I will minimize any future contact with this wanker. I could swear he gives me dirty looks and I’m not being paranoid. Perhaps he too is yet another one in the closet and sees me as a disruption to their life of deceit.

In any event, I just wanted the day at the shop to end and go home. I thought most of the week I would take the Path home but decided to take the bus since I have a bus pass. On Sundays the buses run every half hour.

I got to the bus terminal in 14.9 minutes, listening to what was the first side of the Ramones first album. There was a bus at 6:30 and I was at the escalator to the gate at 6:25. Unfortunately there were a lot of people in the queue before me so the bus at the gate filled up leaving me 25th in the queue.

A half hour wait, luckily I had You Never Give Me Your Money to read and that made the time go by faster. Snagged a nice seat. Lot’s of people walking around with beach chairs, headed towards the river.

Last year Bill and I met up with the Mastros. This year they’re not here and Bill & I are more than likely staying home, or at least very close to home.

Just heard from Juan, he’ll be up next Sunday for the party. Heard from Pedro who won’t be at the party as he’ll be working.

Bring cake.