Tag Archives: Cigar

You Spin Me Round

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Yes, it’s a Friday night and yes I know I’m posting later than usual. Almost 3 hours later. What do you want from me? I just got back from Manhattan where Bill had a surprise for me. Tonight he took me to see Black Violin at the New Victory Theater on 42nd Street.

Black Violin are 2 black guys playing violin basically. They play some classical, some R&B, pop and hip hop. It’s really good and ironically earlier this week Pedro sent me a link about them. He loves them so much he bought the CD and proceeded to tell me all about them.

I had actually heard about them and possibly saw them on TV. They’ve played with Kanye West, Alicia Keys and Jay-Z among others. It was really a fun show. Lot’s of families with kids making lot’s of noise which despite being the theater, was encouraged.

It was a very pleasant surprise. Bill loves to surprise me. I’m not one for surprises but that doesn’t stop him. He loves to tease me and all this week he teased me about how he got me a present, texting IGYP (I Got Your Present) followed by IASS (I Ain’t Sayin’ Shit).

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The plan was to meet outside his office building at 6:30. I got on the bus in Hoboken and sat in traffic on the Manhattan side of the Lincoln Tunnel. I was able to convince the bus driver to let me out at west 38th street and 10 Avenue. I hustled through midtown fighting the crowds trying to get out of the city. I showed up on time, smoking a cigar.

Bill came down and we hung out for a few minutes. It was a wonderful evening which may not be over yet. A good band is playing McSwells and Roda just texted me about it. I haven’t seen Roda since last year and a visit is due so after this posting I’ll more than likely be heading over to McSwells to check out the Budos Band.

I first heard of them from Jockohomo-Datapanik (located in the blogroll on the right) a while ago and downloaded 2 songs which I can’t find at this moment. Before heading into the city I watched a few episodes of Freaks and Geeks.

My sister recommended it as did my brother Frank. It’s produced by Judd Apatow and has Jason Segal, James Franco and Seth Rogan among others. I tried watching it once and I couldn’t really get into it, but since it was available at the library I decided to give it another chance.

Also picked up from the Hoboken library, the first season of Mad Men, another show I tried to get into but couldn’t. I did see an ad for the DVD set and it looked good enough to give it another shot. It’s also something that Frank recommended.

First Day of Spring, with snow

First Day of Spring, with snow

Writing about Natasha Richardson last night was cathartic. Today there was a wake for her at the Irish Heritage Society on Fifth Avenue. Not my thing and I’m not one to join a group of celebrity watchers fenced in across the street.

And to end tonight’s posting on a positive note, here’s some pictures of Alexander Lopez from the morning. He always makes my day and always seems genuinely happy to see me.

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one more baby picture

My Bill

My Bill

You Are The Blood

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It’s been a gray day all day. Nothing special. Just ‘meh’ which is an expression that I’ve been using quite a lot these days. Didn’t sleep well. Left shoulder blade achy. Could be worse I’m sure. Bill was up and out by the time I got out of bed. Off to church for him, leaving me reveling in my atheism.

Didn’t do much of anything today. Got bagels, newspapers, went to the supermarket. Sat around and watched The Lucky Ones, a straight to Tim Robbins, Rachel McAdams and Michael Peña. It’s a road movie about 3 soldiers just back from Iraq.

They’re stranded in DC and Tim Robbins decides to rent a car to drive to his wife in St. Louis. He’s a reservist who has finished his tour of duty. Rachel McAdams and Michael Peña have been wounded and back in the United States on a 30 day leave. Soul searching and misadventures go on and before you know it, they’re in Las Vegas at the end of the movie.

Strange ending for sure. Who would have thought a zombie attack would have made them all heroes? Not me and I guess the film makers didn’t think so either, hence the total lack of zombies. Would have made more sense though. I do like that Michael Peña….

Bill came home and immediately took a nap before he headed back into the city. His church had their annual pancake breakfast today and he was the official greeter. Then he was off to check up on his mother in Beth Israel Medical Center.

As he napped I wound up watching Sicko, the movie by Michael Moore about the US health care system. I tried watching it a few months ago when I rented it but couldn’t get into it. I couldn’t get past the guy who accidentally chopped off 2 fingers and the insurance company would only pay for one to be reattached. One finger cost $60k and the other $1200 I think.

I enjoyed watching it though if enjoyed is the right word for it. It made me want to live in Paris that’s for sure.

Towards the end after bringing back the rescue workers from Cuba after securing them free treatment, Michael Moore mentions an anti-Moore website that needed to be taken down since the guy who ran it couldn’t keep up the expense now that his wife had fallen ill.

So Michael Moore anonymously paid the insurance bill so the guy could continue running his anti-Michael Moore website. It was a pretty good documentary and it did show how some insurance companies are really rotten to the people they are supposed to ‘look after’.

I know I had my problems with the insurance company from work and then it turned out months later the ‘board’ they sent the claims to for review was owned by the insurance company and rejected many claims, including my own since it wasn’t in the best interest of the insurance company.

In my case they felt that 2 procedures done in the same day disqualified me for coverage, but if I went in Monday and then had another procedure on Tuesday that would have been perfectly alright. I’m now on Bill’s coverage from his job. Better plan I think.

I’m glad I picked out what to wear to work tomorrow. I already know what I will be wearing on Tuesday. It is St. Patrick’s Day and I have to do my bit. Tomorrow night I think I’m supposed to be taking photographs of Bill’s jazz combo as they lay down some tracks at Smash Studios.

That’s what my calendar told me, though Bill hasn’t brought it up since he first asked me if I could do it. So tomorrow I may be posting early from work.

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