Democratic National Convention

A lazy Friday. Just little running around errands here and there. Nothing major. Juan came by last night on his way back to Trenton. We watched the convention, He, Bill and I. Specifically Obama’s speech which was excellent.

I read somewhere that Bruce Springsteen was going to make an appearance but all we saw was Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow and Stevie Wonder with Take 6. Stevie was great as usual, but no Bruce. A mellow low light evening.

Juan left after Obama spoke. Bill went to bed and I stayed up watching nothing in particular. Maybe the Simpsons, I don’t remember. Went to bed around 12:30 and slept until 9:00 this morning. Last weekend for lot’s of parking in Hoboken so you might want to get here quick.

Tonight I’m heading over to South Street Seaport to see Raphael Saadiq. It’s fairly cool and since I will be on the water I’m thinking blue jeans instead of shorts. Once the sun goes down it will get cooler, that’s for sure. But then again, just because it’s breezy and cool on the fifth floor, there really isn’t a breeze on the street.

I sent emails to Chaz , Roda, Rand and Lisa as well as Pedro. Roda has to work at McSwells, Pedro doesn’t want to drive since he has to work tomorrow, and no word from Rand and Lisa, though Chaz responded in an email that it sounds like a plan. Of course that’s an ambiguous response, one that I have given a few times probably in the past week.

The big news today on TV was not Barack Obama’s speech, but rather that McCrazy picked a woman for his vice president. Sarah Palin from Alaska. We’ll see how that goes. Anti Choice, Gun Enthusiast, former Mayor of 6500, present Governor, and she’s also against equal pay for equal work, which is just swell. She loves that glass ceiling. It’s an obvious ploy to get the Hillary supporters who are greatly upset with Obama getting the nomination.

So what else is there? I don’t know. I’m killing time. Last week was Shea Stadium and that was fun. Bill said he’d get some more tickets if they became available if I wanted. I said maybe. Last week was fun since Shea was going to be torn down when the season was over and it’s true I do prefer the Mets over the Yankees but I guess I committed to ‘yes’ when I said ‘maybe’. I didn’t say ‘no’.

Well Bill just came home and he’s feeling ill. Just walked through the door and went right to bed. He looked like hell. He’s better off staying home and sleeping. Me? I’m having a Stella Artois before I head into the city.

I think I’ll post this now and perhaps write about the show when I get back. Or maybe not. A few beers and the last thing I want to do is formulate my thoughts for reading. Pontificating from a bar stool, no problem. Sitting and writing, mucho difficulty. Though I have done it before, in a few altered states. I’ll probably leave a little after 6:00 and take the Path in.

Sounds like a plan.

“People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power. “ Bill Clinton said that last night. Bill and I watched the convention again. A rousing speech by Clinton & John Kerry. But Beau Biden introducing his father was touching as was the embrace by Joe Biden when he came out for his speech.

Really a beautiful moment. I don’t recall my father ever hugging me like that, then again I don’t recall my father hugging me at all.

I sincerely hope that Barack Obama wins the election in November. I can’t afford to be optimistic but I can be hopeful. One of the most depressing days in my life was when John Kerry lost the election in 2004. I certainly don’t want to go through that again. But watching Obama come out after Joe Biden’s speech was electrifying.

I just think it would be phenomenal if he would win. A black man as President of the United States was something I thought I would see in my lifetime, just didn’t expect it so soon, and now that it’s a distinct possibility it really gives me a hopeful feeling. And whatever ambivalent feelings I may have towards Joe Biden have fallen by the wayside.

I didn’t know his story before and now that I do I am impressed. I stayed up and watched the entire convention last night. We’ve been watching it on CSPAN, rather than MSNBC. Occasionally we catch it on PBS, but CSPAN doesn’t have commentators, just a nonstop camera on the stage. No talking heads there. No advertisements. And it’s up to us to make up our own minds thank you very much.

Woke up around 8:00 which was pleasant. Went out got the papers, went to the supermarket. Did laundry, talked with Angry Juan who was very angry. Not at me, but rather mad at the world. It’s a good thing they have a cooling off period when buying firearms. Not that he bought firearms.

But if he did…

I went into the city, saw Bill, saw my friend Jesse and watched a building on fire, or rather watched a fire being put out on top of a building. I was going to head down to Farfetched and came close to jumping on the subway but wandered around midtown instead and went back home.

I had other things to do, co-edit the other blog and see if my sister got the Mets souvenir visor I bought at Shea Stadium on her birthday. Heard from Song who was asking me if I wanted to have dinner with him and Ray in the city, but since I was mere feet away from the bus terminal I passed.

I had hoped to meet up with Song and Ray when they were in town but things being what they are, it didn’t work out. I found out Raphael Saadiq was playing the South Street Seaport tomorrow night and I am definitely going to that. I saw Raphael Saadiq last in 2000 on tour in Lucy Pearl.

He was so magnetic on stage and when he smiled I could have sworn he was smiling right at me. Who knows? Maybe he was. I was smiling at him thats for sure. Anyway, that’s where I will be tomorrow night. Last show of the season at the Seaport, featuring Raphael Saadiq.

Do youself a favor and check out his website: http://www.raphaelsaadiq.com/ I just love his voice, ever since hearing him sing with his cousin and brother in Tony Toni Tone. Good for the soul. I’m psyched!

Here are some pics!

This afternoon’s fire