Vitamin

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Today is Sunday, day three of a four day weekend. It did not start well and last night didn’t end well either. I don’t know what happened. After a wonderful day with Julio, Stine and Alexander and family in Van Saun Park in Paramus, and a few Stellas with Julio and Stine I came home, feeling ok.

I was pretty tired and when Bill came home I was just exhausted. I got myself ready for bed before midnight and just said a good night to Bill before heading to sleep.

I don’t think I slept too well and I woke up feeling sad. Bill was up already getting ready to head to church. He gave me a donut last night which I wanted to have this morning but when I woke up this morning it was gone. Bill ate it. That made me sadder.

Bill headed out and I showered and made some coffee when a few minutes later Bill showed up with a donut, some bagels and the newspapers. He decided that me well being was more important than catching a bus into Manhattan. It was a very nice gesture but still I had a melancholy air about me.

Like the Sunday night feeling that I would have when I was a kid with a major book report due the next day.

It really wasn’t Bill or anything that he did or ate, it was work that was weighing heavily on my mind. Bill was off once again, concerned about the state of mind I was in and I was concerned too.

I made some breakfast and had a bagel. I was able to copy the photos from yesterday onto a disc for Julio and Stine and headed downstairs where the boy wonder had opened up his gifts.

Mine was opened last night and they waited for me to show up this morning when they gave it to Alexander. I also gave the other bagels Bill got for me to Julio and Stine. I sat with Julio watching Alexander while Stine cooked some food to bring to Brick NJ.

The duck on a stick worked fine but Alexander just kept bashing it on the floor. He’s a strong boy but the duck was stronger. After a while they had to get ready to go and since I wasn’t going with them, despite being invited, I headed upstairs.

Still a bit gloomy, all the news in the papers was mainly bad and it was bumming me out. Even though I had a few cups of coffee, I thought it best to take a nap. A reboot as it were.

That didn’t last long and I set about hanging some paintings that Bill’s late father painted throughout the apartment. Then I just farted around a bit when Rand texted me a little past noon.

He was thinking about a bike ride and asked if I was interested. I was interested. It would be good to see Rand again as it always is and a bike ride would more than likely clear the blue cobwebs in my head.

Rand showed up an hour later giving me time to do some proper stretching before cycling. I also had the foresight to apply some sunblock beforehand. Since it was Rand’s idea to go riding he was calling the shots.

Last time we headed north up to Guttenburg, this time the plan was to head south. We headed to Jersey City, exploring the riverfront pathways whenever possible and wound up at Liberty State Park.

It was an excellent ride yet disappointing to see that since I had last been cycling down in Jersey City a few years ago, they still have not done one thing to make access to the bike paths bike friendly.

We tossed a Frisbee for a while before getting all sweaty.

Mid Toss!

Mid Toss!

A ride back through Jersey City brought forth ices from a street vendor who confused coconut with lemon and got a bit indignant when I returned mine.

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An easy ride back into Hoboken where I left Rand on the steps of his building, turning down a martini with Rand and Lisa, deciding to head home and grill up some hot dogs instead. Bill was home for a while before heading into the city for a reading at the Theater for the New City on First Avenue in the East Village.

I was supposed to have drinks with the Chasms tonight but they backed out, then backed in while I was showering and Bill was napping. No worries, I’m pretty beat even after stretching after cycling.

Just staying home tonight. I know I’m going to sleep well tonight and I don’t have the blues anymore.

Stine mentioned last night that she wasn’t comfortable with pictures of Alexander being posted online, that other people will see them before she does so I’m not doing that anymore. You’ll just have to take my word for it that Alexander is a handsome boy from now on.

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Lisa on the phone with...

Lisa on the phone with...

...Rand!

...Rand!

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

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Well I just got back from a really nice time in Van Saun Park, Paramus NJ. Stine organized a party for Alexander’s first birthday. Of course it was a splendid time. I rode up with Julio so we could move some picnic tables together. I was glad to be able to help.

Hadn’t spent time with Julio in a while so that was nice too. And of course I am totally in love with Alexander, who after spending some time together today, recognizes me. I had a blast playing peek a boo with him. Doing a number on his head running in one direction then back tracking, finding him anticipating the direction I should have been coming in and then surprising him when I would turn up where I had just left.

You had to be there. His squeals of delight were most charming and encouraged me to keep running around in circles to amuse the boy wonder.

It was mainly Julio’s family, his mother, & sister with her husband and their 7 month old twins. And his cousins who are also very nice, one of them saying to me that I was part of the family after being around for so long. I was also invited down to Julio’s cousin’s house in Brick NJ tomorrow but I think I will pass.

I didn’t get a chance to go to the zoo at Van Saun Park where I hear they now have a pair of mountain lions, no train rides. I figured out the last time I was at Van Saun Park was when I was sledding with a neighbor Scott Williams. His mother, the sainted Mrs. Williams had driven us there and I don’t know whether she hung around or just came back a few hours later, but I do remember one of the top ten songs was ELO’s Evil Woman.

That was in 1975 so the last time I was there was 34 years ago. Crazy!

Lot’s of good food, Danish and Spanish and all of it tasty and filling. Couldn’t get enough of Julio’s mother’s Potato Onion Quiche thing nor Stine’s Danish sheet cake in the shape of a boy and covered with candy.

It was a dry party as we were told by the park ranger that any alcohol would be cause for expulsion from the Shangri La known as Van Saun Park. Of course a few parties going on around us had surreptitiously snuck in some alcohol but we did just fine with out it, though once or twice Julio and I connived to run out and get something just for a lark. It didn’t happen though and we never saw the park ranger again.

It was a lovely time and I look forward to attending more of Alexander’s birthday parties as life goes on.

Last night I did make it up to McSwells after walking along the waterfront, enjoying a Padron that had got me buzzing quite hard, enough so that once or twice I was weaving as I walked along the river. I met up with Roda who told me the previous night he got drunk as did Rand which made me realize that staying home was the right thing to do.

I only had one pint of Guinness before heading home to watch Bill Maher with Bill Vila.

Quite a pleasant evening and I am quite pleased at how this weekend has been turning out.

Here are just a few pictures from this afternoon, of the boy wonder himself. Now I’m going back downstairs to have a Stella Artois with Julio and Stine while Alexander sleeps.

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The computer is acting up so this is the only pic for now. More to come later as I’m running late to be downstairs and also CONGRATULATIONS to Casey Chasm!

As per Stine’s reasonable request, I will no longer be posting any photos of Alexander. It’s too scary a world and I totally understand.