It’s another hot day in Manhattan. 97° feels like 103°, that’s according to the temperature display on my screen. A handsome, scantily clad man walks by, and they just keep walking, which is fine by me.

Over the weekend, Mike had a problem with Jeff Bezos’ company. He submitted a text to confirm an interview, and AI said he did not. We pursued it further, and they called up yesterday and let him know that AI did mess up and they would like to see him.

He had his interview, and it went well. He astounded the interviewer with what he had to say, and he asked questions that took them aback. They were impressed enough to let him know an hour or so later that the job was his. So he’s very happy he’s got the job. He seems to be on the right path. Let’s hope he continues to be on the right path.

Last night, while sweltering in my heat, I was looking for something to watch and might have watched a documentary on Janis Ian. I had known about her for quite some time, and admired her and followed her on social media. She’s a right-on chick. And last night was a very informative, entertaining interview or biography.

I am also glad I put the AC in the window, which enabled me to sleep soundly throughout the night. So soundly and so cool that I was underneath a comforter, and I woke up. Bill was on the road and didn’t come home until this morning after I had left. He seems to be presently sleeping, which is what he can do, and he is doing in the AC bedroom.

And today I had a healthy lunch. This morning, though, I was toast one cup of coffee and the brutal heat fried my brain. I bought a bagel for $2.65 and gave the woman behind the counter $5.65, and instead of waiting for $3 change, I just took my bagel and walked out. Walking down the street, minutes later, I realized what I had done, and all I could do was laugh. I guess we’ll find out more on Friday when I get my bagel on Friday.

And at work, I seem to have poked the bear at Jimmy Chile’s suggestion, and now I seem to be in the crosshairs of Marcus. Marcus loves to play pranks. I fell for it, and now I am his latest target, and apparently, I don’t know how bad he could get, as he’s told me himself this morning. So it remains to be seen if I keep giving him the side eye, uncertain of what’s going to happen if it’ll happen. There is also letting my guard down after some time, so he could always get back to me that way, and he probably will. It’s so unnerving, but happily so, I suppose.

So Mike will start on Monday at 9:00 a.m. at $19 an hour, which is a good way to start and a good improvement on the pay from what he was making at the shelter where he had worked. They are mighty impressed with him enough so that they’re taking him on. Now all he has to do is keep a cool head, take a deep breath when things don’t go his way, and just keep at it.

I used to call Gene Holder, DNA Cup. It was an attempt at Wit. Whether or not it’s received as such, I couldn’t say. He just popped into my mind as I was urinating in the men’s room. There was a mutual friend of ours who suggested that Mr DNA Cup was homophobic.

I mentioned that to another mutual friend who told DNA cup and he called me up telling me that he is not homophobic, in fact, he has homosexual friends. It was so disappointing to have that, that I have difficulty listening to his band these days.

I do like their records, but live, I found them to be quite boring. The first time I attempted to see them was at the Peppermint Lounge with my brother Frank. I had smoked too much sensemilla and had a killer headache, so whereas Frank went into the ballroom to see the band, I was outside by the bar with my head between my knees.

I did see them at an art and music festival in Hoboken a few years ago, and that’s when it was confirmed that yes, they have great songs, but they are boring live. Not much personality.
So last night I got home from work, and Bill and I had a talk for about 3 hours about Mike and what to do. I decided I wasn’t going to do anything, I was going to do my Pontius Pilate routine and wash my hands of the whole matter.

Towards the end of our session, Mike called. I wasn’t about to call him, so it’s a surprise he did apologize, and his apology fell on semi-deaf ears. I think he realized he fucked up. Bill was part of the conversation for about 20 minutes, then he went to bed, leaving me to talk to Mike for another hour, and I was distant at best.

I told him no one can hurt you like someone you love. He has got to get his shit together (a day later it turns out that he has gotten his shit together). And last night was so insanely hot that I believe when I get home from work today, I am going to install a window air conditioner, perhaps the old one, not the one we got from Brian last year or two years ago but the one I bought 25 years ago which still worked albeit noisily.

I do have to go to Home Depot and see if they have brackets available, cuz I don’t want to spend weeks praying that the air conditioner will not fall out the window, though I have done that before. I was thinking of taking the one that Brian gave us recently and installing that in the TV room. But of course, everything is subject to change, to change the subject.

I am smoking a mini cigar on 5th Avenue once again in the shade of an apartment building, not moving much but about to sweat a lot. There are not too many people out walking around on this lunchtime hour, so it wisely best to stay indoors or limit their time outdoors, which is basically the same thing.

It is a sky blue sky today. The air is thick with heat and humidity. After this, I’m going back inside for it’s much too much for anything else to happen. And once again, I dictate into the phone rather than type later at home. I don’t know what else to tell you.
I am very glad I got my haircut last Thursday on June 19th otherwise I’d probably be sweating and cursing a lot due to that amount of hair on my head One gentleman doesn’t know when to cross the street even though it’s in his favor hanging onto to his backpack as he walks down the street.

Following this discussion with Mike last night, he said he might join Bill and me at the pride parade on Sunday, but I mentioned to Bill that if it’s raining, I’m not that into it, as it rained last year and it was quite dismal. Mike was receptive to the idea, though, so there’s that.

I am wearing shorts to the office because I can and because it’s allowed, which is the same thing. And Marcus is a pain in the ass once again with his pranks and antics. Jimmy Chile yesterday stepped up and gave me some guidance with regards to Mike, so that was good, and even Marcus toned down his manic behavior.

Yesterday, I thought wistfully of being in Ocean Grove and walking down the streets with Bill. Sadly, it’s not happening this year because I just started the job, and I was off for about 5 months.

Why do women wear heels even though they’re bad for their backs? I asked that once, and I was working at the Algerian financial management firm, and the women looked at me like I was from another planet, and to them, I probably was.

I do have to find other pairs of shorts to wear since the ones I’m wearing are a bit how you say comfortable, yet need a wash.

Back at my desk, Invisible Sun by the Police is playing, and I am reminded of hanging out with Kenny and Tina at their apartment on Main Street in Lodi. Tina is Perry Dedovitch’s sister. Nights from 40-plus years ago sitting around listening to music and smoking weed.

PATH train riders (mass transit) are dumb. The train stops at the station, announcements are made, and the majority of riders do not hear it since they’re wearing headphones and earbuds.