Crackberries | johnozed

Ok, it’s Thursday. Not much to report. Maybe I could make something up. No, not tonight. I’ll give you some mundane details. I promise, I’ll write some fiction soon enough. Until then some non fiction, some of my life. A pound of flesh for you dear reader.

Last night, I found the couch. It was buried under clothes and mail and Mojo and Uncut magazines as well as a songbook or two. Bill did a decent job in cleaning the apartment. It still has a way to go, but it’s a step in the right direction.

You’d think, two gay men living together, the place must be immaculate. Well that goes to show, you can’t trust stereotypes. I’ve always had a problem keeping things neat and orderly, and with Bill around I’ve surrendered to the chaos that surrounds us.

Normally if Annemarie, Rex and Earl were coming this summer we’d make an effort, perhaps even hire a cleaning lady to come in and do the things that we can’t seem to figure out to do ourselves.

We did that last year and talked about having her come every now and then, but we had more money last year and the Arcata contingent were headed east. Not so this year. It’s ok. Juan doesn’t mind.

He’s a college student so it all seems somewhat homey to him. He just sits in the couch and we watch the tv and get jazzy. Last night was the same only no Juan and I was doing a jazz solo.

Bill came back from the laundry and we watched Keith Olbermann then after that watched Dave Chappelle who was very funny, funnier than Keith Olbermann. After that, sleep. Bill was out at 6:00 and I stirred soon after getting out of bed myself.

Lot’s more people on the bus lately. Too many, and they all take my favorite seats. They always give the Hoboken run the worst buses, and this morning was no different.

I got off the bus, listening to Orbital as I picked up my free newspapers and walked to Smilers for my breakfast sandwich from West Indian Tony. Tony of course, asked all about Bill. He never asks about me, I guess that because I’m in front of him and by being there I must be alright. West Indian Tony can also predict the weather by how much his knees ache.

As I walked up Fifth Avenue I ran into a former co-worker. Daniel Begin, who set up a successful hedge fund which was also legal, and that’s rare these days. Nice guy, a fellow atheist and quite an intellectual from Israel.

I saw him last summer in Central Park with his wife and kids. It was awkward since I was beat from riding from Hoboken to the George Washington Bridge over and down to Central Park. Plus my eyes were a little bloodshot from a quick jazz improvisation off the bike path.

Not this morning though. We exchanged pleasantries and business cards and we were both on our separate ways. He asked me to tell my boss, Greg Stevens that he had said hello. Greg remarked that I always seem to be bumping into former co-workers and it’s true I do.

I saw the former head of Wanker Banker this morning too. His new company is across the street from my building so I see him fairly often.

Work was slow today. I had to see a vendor, someone who is trying to get my company signed up with her mobile phone service. They never take no for an answer and I was pigeonholed. She was nice and most guys that aren’t gay would love to spend time with her. Me? I just told her some horror stories about cellphone service, she works for T-Mobile which is my carrier.

She listened politely while telling me more and more about how the Blackberries she is promoting are the very best and give good value. I think deep down she knew she wasn’t going to get anything from me, everyone already has a Blackberry with their own service and they aren’t about to switch.

I told her I would bring it up at the next budget meeting next week, which isn’t going to happen. I did get her name which is the title of this post. After that was my special Thursday lunch, penne, pesto and chicken. I was quite a gavone while I ate.

Walked to the bus terminal after work listening to Public Enemy, then I saw a t-shirt that said ‘Never Stop’ so I switched over to Echo and the Bunnymen. Sat in a crappy seat and read ‘Tweak’ by Nic Sheff, the son of David Sheff who wrote the last book I read, ‘Beautiful Boy’ about his son’s addiction to methamphetamine. This is even more harrowing since it’s written by the junkie son. It’s a sad story.

Right now, Bill and I are watching some nut climbing up the facade of the New York Times building at 40th street and Eighth Avenue. This is the second time today. Earlier there was a successful climb, here’s the link cut and paste at bottom. Presently there is a copycat. Someone perhaps inspired, more than likely deluded is climbing and at the 25th floor right now.

The first guy has done it before around the world with his message that ‘Global warming kills more people each week than 9/11’. This new guy seems to be an amateur, climbing on a dare. Odds are against him and so is gravity. A half hour later, he’s been arrested which is a lot better than falling 52 stories to your death.

It’s been an odd day. Not a bad day just things were a little bit weird. Lot’s of cute guys out though. Saw a few fellow cigar smokers which is always a nice sight and smell, for me at least. I do enjoy the smell of a good cigar. The stopped broadcasting the rogue climber outside the New York Times so we don’t know how this sucker will turn out. I’m just glad my palms stopped sweating, so great is my fear of heights. Makes typing difficult.

Last night I watched Repo Man. I hadn’t seen that movie in something like 26 years. Still a very good film, very fast and as Harpy told me ages ago, it’s the only film where the end credits descend rather than ascend. Emilio Estevez was so cute back then and the soundtrack is still great. Definitely worth catching again if you get the chance, or see it for the first time.

They just broadcast that a flight from La Guardia to Charleston SC was $138.00 a year ago, now it is $604.00. I ain’t flying anywhere this year. That is just too crazy. A few airlines are expected to go out of business this year adding to the 22,000 employees laid off so far already in the past 6 months.

So much stuff online today regarding Obama being the presumptive nominee. I spoke to the bookkeeper at work about it. She’s a democrat and for Clinton, likening Obama’s success as Clinton training someone new at a job, then the trainee gets the promotion, leaving the trainer behind in the same position. I kept my mouth shut and didn’t want to get into a discussion about her point of view.

Some Clinton supporters are saying that they would vote for McCrazy rather than vote for Obama. Yes, that would be a brilliant idea. Women, surrender their reproductive rights, people of color prepare for more cutbacks and roll backs, poor people too and gays take more steps back and strap yourselves in for the war without end.

I’ve read some really heinous things about Obama. I had no idea that Clinton supporters were so persecuted by Obama supporters. I didn’t persecute any Clinton supporters I know. In fact Juan called me out when I said that Clinton was shrill. That was as bad as it got.

Here are some snaps from this afternoon, followed by a video from 1987, A Spaceman For All Seasons which is worth watching.

Waiting for that Specials reunion