Tag Archives: Bill

Down By The River

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Just got in from the cold. It’s been a bitterly cold day today and luckily I didn’t wind up in the Hudson River like the passengers on the US Air plane that landed on the water a few hours ago. I heard about it at work and watched it as it unfolded.

All the passengers have been reported safe and in various hospitals. No major injuries, some hypothermia from the freezing waters of the Hudson, 40 degrees. The ferries were first on the scene followed by NYPD and FDNY boats and the US Coast Guard.

From Hoboken411 YouTube. Couldn’t wait for permission.

I called Bill to tell him the news, which he hadn’t heard. I had a feeling the ferries would be tied up with the rescue and decided to take the Path train since the buses would be filled with ferry passengers unable to get across the river. Bill and I agreed that the Path would probably be the better bet.

It’s been reported that a flock of Canadian geese flew into the engines and tore up the fan blades. So with only a few days left, I guess BushCo. will invade Canada for revenge. So it was a bad thing that happened but so far no fatalities making it a semi happy ending.

This morning it was snowing out which was a surprise to me. Nothing too much, just a dusting. Some icy spots but no spills on my part. Took the short cut through Grand Central Station, navigating my way through the commuters coming in from upstate and Connecticut.

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As I was going through the doors on Lexington Avenue, I saw Gerri Delaney walking in from outside. I used to work with her at Staffmark, a staffing agency from 2001 to 2002. We worked side by side and got along well.

We also worked during 9/11. I was let go from the agency the following summer and when the first anniversary of 9/11 came up I gave her a call to see how she was doing. A lot of people had unhappy memories of that day and I figured since we both went through it together it might be a good time to reconnect.

Her reaction on the phone had the tone of ‘why are you calling me?’ That was the last I spoke with her until at some point last year when she somehow called me at work wondering how I was doing. I gave short answers and dutifully took her phone number on a post it which I stuck onto a printer that I eventually threw out.

I didn’t say anything to her this morning as I passed her and I didn’t look back either.

Despite the plane landing on the water it was pretty much a quiet day. Cold, but quiet. Bill had a visit with Medicare to see about getting a home health aide for round the clock care. Hopefully that will go well and Bill will be able to stay in Hoboken again.

Awfully cold in bed at night without the big lump on the right.

For the past couple of days or so I’ve been posting a lyric online from some random song. Today’s lyric was ‘In walked Bud with his exploding nose, he’s been giving it maximum today/shouted’ how the devil you in trouble I suppose, all you ever do is runaway’.

The song was written by Graham Parker and covered by Dave Edmunds/Rockpile, called ‘Crawling from the Wreckage’.

I am so Nostradamus.

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from http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/
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Don’t Come Around Here No More

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Well Harpy swore me to secrecy, that Farfetched will be closing at the end of February. Yesterday I found out that they will be closing at the end of January. Everything must go. They’re even selling the shelves. Harpy just called and wondered why I wasn’t there at the store.

After a 28 year run, Susan Zappone and Lois Marsilio are being forced out of business. The raising of the rent you see. It was outrageous rent to begin with, now it can only be described as out of control.

I started working there on and off about 10 years ago. The store had just been robbed by a guy named Delroy Kemp. He had a gun and not only did he rob the store, he robbed the customers as well. The employees at the time were women, Susan, Lois and Denise. Harpy was living the life of a country squire in Rhinebeck or La Grangeville.

I was working at Right Track at the time and was invited to a gathering at the Paramount Hotel that Harpy was having for his then companion, Carol. That’s where I met Susan. Actually I think it might have been when I passed a package of powders to Harpy.

Harpy mentioned that I might be interested in extra money and it would probably be a good thing to have a big guy behind the counter. I qualified as a big guy. Still not sure how intimidating I could be. No robberies on my watch I have to say.

For a while I mainly worked with Denise on weekends. Me coming in at 1PM and working until 7PM for $10.00 an hour. I enjoyed working there though even after all these years I never really felt I fit in. I knew the writing was on the wall the past holiday season where I usually would work one or two days to help out with the rush, this year there was no rush, therefore no need for me.

I helped them out however I could though. Even standing behind the counter when someone needed to go to the bathroom or put quarters in the parking meter. I did see Susan Sarandon shopping there as well as Tim Robbins on a different day. Also Julia Roberts and Benjamin Bratt.

The celebrity that stands out for me would be Joey Ramone buying about $100.00 worth of discounted holiday cards the day after Christmas. I didn’t get a chance to see Robert Plant shopping there a few months ago. I did alert Gawker Stalker on that celebrity sighting of Percy but they ignored that as well as other postings I sent them, so I don’t read Gawker anymore.

So it’s sad to see some friends business go belly up. I don’t know what’s in the works for Susan and Lois and I don’t think they know either. I do wish them well and I plan on visiting them soon enough before the end and before it turns into the hot spot to buy some authentic cruddy Goth shoes and boots which seems to be in the works.

Susan and Lois were at my 40th birthday surprise party that Bill threw 6 years ago at Rand and Lisa’s apartment. I wonder if Susan figured out her digital camera yet…

In other news, I have been home for an hour, heater is on, no carbon monoxide detectors going off. My brother Brian called me, a bit alarmed at the CO problems. CO meaning Carbon Monoxide, not Corrections Officer. That’s Pedro’s department and he doesn’t care. Great to hear from Brian despite the messed up news he had to say. And that’s all I have to say on that.