Julio + Stine = Alexander | johnozed

Well I just got back from a really nice time in Van Saun Park, Paramus NJ. Stine organized a party for Alexander’s first birthday. Of course it was a splendid time. I rode up with Julio so we could move some picnic tables together. I was glad to be able to help.

Hadn’t spent time with Julio in a while so that was nice too. And of course I am totally in love with Alexander, who after spending some time together today, recognizes me. I had a blast playing peek a boo with him. Doing a number on his head running in one direction then back tracking, finding him anticipating the direction I should have been coming in and then surprising him when I would turn up where I had just left.

You had to be there. His squeals of delight were most charming and encouraged me to keep running around in circles to amuse the boy wonder.

It was mainly Julio’s family, his mother, & sister with her husband and their 7 month old twins. And his cousins who are also very nice, one of them saying to me that I was part of the family after being around for so long. I was also invited down to Julio’s cousin’s house in Brick NJ tomorrow but I think I will pass.

I didn’t get a chance to go to the zoo at Van Saun Park where I hear they now have a pair of mountain lions, no train rides. I figured out the last time I was at Van Saun Park was when I was sledding with a neighbor Scott Williams. His mother, the sainted Mrs. Williams had driven us there and I don’t know whether she hung around or just came back a few hours later, but I do remember one of the top ten songs was ELO’s Evil Woman.

That was in 1975 so the last time I was there was 34 years ago. Crazy!

Lot’s of good food, Danish and Spanish and all of it tasty and filling. Couldn’t get enough of Julio’s mother’s Potato Onion Quiche thing nor Stine’s Danish sheet cake in the shape of a boy and covered with candy.

It was a dry party as we were told by the park ranger that any alcohol would be cause for expulsion from the Shangri La known as Van Saun Park. Of course a few parties going on around us had surreptitiously snuck in some alcohol but we did just fine with out it, though once or twice Julio and I connived to run out and get something just for a lark. It didn’t happen though and we never saw the park ranger again.

It was a lovely time and I look forward to attending more of Alexander’s birthday parties as life goes on.

Last night I did make it up to McSwells after walking along the waterfront, enjoying a Padron that had got me buzzing quite hard, enough so that once or twice I was weaving as I walked along the river. I met up with Roda who told me the previous night he got drunk as did Rand which made me realize that staying home was the right thing to do.

I only had one pint of Guinness before heading home to watch Bill Maher with Bill Vila.

Quite a pleasant evening and I am quite pleased at how this weekend has been turning out.

Here are just a few pictures from this afternoon, of the boy wonder himself. Now I’m going back downstairs to have a Stella Artois with Julio and Stine while Alexander sleeps.

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The computer is acting up so this is the only pic for now. More to come later as I’m running late to be downstairs and also CONGRATULATIONS to Casey Chasm!

As per Stine’s reasonable request, I will no longer be posting any photos of Alexander. It’s too scary a world and I totally understand.

It’s been quite a pleasant Saturday. Pleasant enough that I wonder what will I write about? I could write about last night. I came home from work and wrote rather hurriedly, did some laundry.

I kept thinking that Bill and I were supposed to meet on 42nd Street to see the Star Trek movie. As I headed downstairs I saw Julio sitting on the stoop. Had a little chat with him, with me keeping my distance since he’s been feeling not at all well the past week and Alexander was sick last weekend.

While I was talking to Julio I suddenly remembered that Bill and I were meeting on 23rd Street and not 42nd Street. I headed towards the Path train, somewhat secure in my knowledge of where to go.

I sat on the Path train after walking against the commuters heading home and sat and read my Eno biography.

I got off at 23rd Street and lit a cigar and saw that Bill had phoned while I was underground and left a message telling me he was on 23rd Street and Eighth Avenue.

I puffed on the cigar as I walked down 22nd Street. Less crowded which meant less people to complain about the cigar.

I rounded the corner and found Bill leaning on a bus stop. Gave a nice kiss hello and we stood on the side of the movie theater talking while I finished the cigar.

Bill got the tickets and we made our way to the seats after getting some popcorn and sodas. Luckily we found two together on the side. It was very crowded, a sold out showing.

Star Trek was a lot of fun. Very entertaining. Miles ahead of Wolverine. Like I wrote last night, I’m no Trekkie but this was so entertaining, a clean slate for the franchise. A lot of fun indeed.

A few laughs at things that hearkened back to the original series that even a passing viewer with just a basic knowledge of the series could be in on.

Bill loved the movie quite a bit, and of course it wouldn’t be a modern movie going experience without a crying baby sitting nearby.

We caught the Path train back to Hoboken free of crying babies. The bar scene in Hoboken was hopping as befits a Friday night. I texted Roda and told him that Star Trek was good. He texted back that he plans on seeing it soon and that it sounded awesome.

Bill and I made it back to watch Bill Maher before him going off to bed leaving me to watch some episodes of The Daily Show before I went to bed myself around 1:00.

Woke up a little before 9:00 this morning and got myself together. Had a cuppa before heading out to get bagels and other foodstuffs. Saw Julio, Stine and the Boy Wonder and hung out with them for a few minutes.

Alexander is certainly getting active. Julio misses the days when Alexander would just lay around whereas Stine doesn’t and is more entertained and busy now that Alexander is more active. He is still so adorable.

No pictures this week but I should have some next weekend at the party in Van Saun Park for Alexander’s first birthday, which was actually last month.

Bill and I watched three hours of Lost which we recorded on Wednesday night while we were watching the Ludes.

Star Trek was directed by JJ Abrams and Lost is his baby. The first hour was catch up from the previous episodes, the last two hours were the season finale which was intense and with every commercial break I let out a ‘Wha?’ V

ery good finale, a tad upsetting but it’s science fiction so normal rules don’t apply, meaning the dead could not really be dead and on a show like Lost that happens sometimes.

Or does it?

Bill went out after that and I went wandering around Hoboken, getting a Graduation Day card for my niece Corinne’s party tomorrow in Garfield.

After sitting by the river and reading a bit about the beginning of Roxy Music I ran a few more errands before coming home and taking a well deserved nap. Overall a pretty good day.

I keep forgetting to write that I saw Bjork with Matthew Barney the other night while walking past Washington Square Park to see the Ludes. She looked great.