Tag Archives: Harpy

This Charming Man

Well there was a howling wind last night. Bill made it home to Hoboken as Robert the oh so handyman was disconnecting the hot water heater. I helped Robert move the heater with the broken tank out into the hallway. Robert reassured me that it wasn’t anything I had done, the heater was about 12 years old and they really don’t last much past their five year warranty. I was reassured as Robert headed down the stairs and off into the storm. He was gone for a while and I thought I’d be calling up Julio and Stine to ask if I could use their shower in the morning. No need to ask for Bill since he showers at his gym.

Bill asked if I was hungry and I said I was a little bit, which prompted him to call and order a Grimaldi’s pizza. I was in the mood for it and obviously so was Bill. I sat writing last night’s blog while 3:10 To Yuma was finishing up. Pretty good movie, a bit slow in parts but overall enjoyable. I prefer to watch Russell Crowe to Christian Bale, though Ben Foster stole the movie from both of them as Charlie Prince. Ben Foster played Claire’s on again off again boyfriend/art partner from Six Feet Under, he was intense there and even more so in 3:10 To Yuma.

About an hour later the bell rang and I mentioned to Bill, ‘oh it must be the hot water heater.’ Bill explained it was the pizza and I explained that I was joking. Bill headed down the stairs and shouted up that the hot water heater was on it’s way up. I knew I should have said, ‘oh it must be that million dollars I hoped for’. Up the stairs came Robert with Peter the landlord, huffing and puffing after climbing four flights of stairs. They maneuvered the new heater into the kitchen and after scanning the room with his eyes, Peter made a hasty exit. I suppose it will be another two years until I see Peter again. He’s an absentee landlord if that’s possible in Hoboken. He also insisted that I call Robert next time should I need any work done in the apartment. He doesn’t want to be bothered.

Bill and I sat and watched The History Boys, not the first time for me and sort of the first time for Bill since he was so exhausted the other night. Who knows what Robert thought as he welded the copper pipes into place and made sure the brand spanking new heater was set up properly. I offered Robert some pizza and some water but he turned me down. He left a little while after that and I was relieved since Bill and I inhaled the pizza and if Robert changed his mind about a slice, he would have been out of luck. Bill enjoyed The History Boys though not like me. I mentioned that it was a smart film and then thought that Bill might be put off by that remark, thinking that the movies he likes aren’t so smart. Perhaps I think too much.

The dvd ended on time, so that we watched the news and Saturday Night Live which was funny. Amy Adam hosted and Vampire Weekend were the musical guests. I have the Vampire Weekend cd and it’s ok, a bit twee if you ask me though live it sounded a whole lot better. Bill went to sleep midway through and I stayed up reading the rest of Hotel California, which I am almost finished with. I went to bed happy to have hot water once again. It was rough to be without for those hours, he wrote tongue firmly in cheek.

Woke up and moved the hands on the clock an hour ahead for daylight savings. Lost an hour of sleep but I didn’t really have it to begin with. Ran into Mike Korman with his son Harrison as I did my morning rounds. Good kid it seemed though Mike told me he and his wife, my old friend Clara have no idea how to handle this three year old boy since he doesn’t listen to either one of them and does whatever he wants. Too much information for me with one cup of coffee in my system. I parted ways with them after wishing them a good day.

Bill had headed off to church and I had a nice quiet breakfast. Headed into the city for a quick trip to Farfetched, saw Harpy and gave him Steve Martin’s Born Standing Up which I read a few weeks ago. Very good and I thought Harpy would enjoy it. After picking up some cards and a pair of spider shaped cuff links I walked up to 33rd street where I got a seat on the Path train and read the rest of last weeks New Yorker.

Ca Plane Pour Moi

It’s a Sunday and it was nice and sunny. Nice and sunny enough for me to head into the city. I wandered around 14th Street after riding the Path train. Not too crowded, a pleasant ride. Read the New Yorker. I got off the train and first walked over to Entertainment Outlet to see if they had a copy of My Left Foot. Such a dismal dusty store. You have to wash your hands after going through the racks of DVD’s they are that dusty and grimy. Of course they didn’t have it. Had every movie Jackie Chan made but no Daniel Day Lewis.

So I headed east on 14th Street. Went into Payless shoes since they’re about the only shoe stores that carry Airwalks, my sneaker of choice. They had a decent selection but nothing that made me want to buy a fresh pair of kicks. I then wandered over to the Virgin mega store to see if they had My Left Foot, but no. Everything else was on sale, a lot for $10.00. I almost bought Boogie Nights, such a good movie, watched it a week or so ago. But couldn’t be motivated to purchase that either.

I stopped by Farfetched to see Harpy. That was fun for a short while but even Harpy didn’t have the zest for life, the joie de vivre that I had hoped for. I left Farfetched and walked over to Broadway where I looked for a new Eagle Creek bag, since the one I have is still functional, but looking a little beaten up. Not impressed at their selection but looking back I think I should have bought the bag that was on sale. Perhaps I’ll go back this week.

Came home empty handed after wanting to buy things. Once I got back to Hoboken I stopped in the T Mobile store for a hands free headset, only to find the girl behind the counter just sold the last one. The gods of commerce must have had a good chuckle. I was able to got to Ben and Jerry’s and bought a pint of Chocolate Therapy which they had in stock.

Now I’m home, hanging out after a ravioli dinner. Last night I watched Pride starring Terence Howard and Bernie Mac. Classic Cinderella story, underdog beating the odds. Cliché after cliché, but with handsome young black men in Speedos, which made it all worthwhile. I love Speedos. Diana Ross’ son Evan Ross was in the movie, playing a stuttering Speedo clad swimmer. Unless you like watching young men in Speedos, you might want to avoid this movie. I plan to catch it again though.

Before I headed into the city I watched a documentary called before the Music Dies, all about the state of the music business. A few famous musicians mentioned Bob Dylan and how he wouldn’t get a contract today if he was starting out, the same for Jimi Hendrix. An interviewer asked some girls outside an Ashlee Simpson concert if they had ever heard of Bob Dylan. They giggled and laughed and said no, but that Ashlee Simpson is a great singer.

I agreed with much of what was said in the documentary, including Erykah Badu with her crazy wig. They did touch on a point that the record companies had it easy of the past decade or so, most people buying catalogs of artists they had previously on vinyl or cassette. I know this for a fact since I’ve done it. And they’re doing it again with mp3’s, The Beatles being the big fish coming down the stream soon enough this year. Will I buy their catalog again? After owning vinyl, tape, and cd’s? That would depend on whether or not there would be something different or extras and also whether or not I have the cash to buy something I already had over and over and over again.

Here’s some pics. Joie de vivre! Have a good week.

Last night’s dinner
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Sunlight reflected through green tumbler on a dirty floor
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Valentine’s rack
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Harpy makes a wish
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Where I live
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