Tag Archives: McSwells

Love is Like Oxygen

Just got back from McSwells, a late posting. Only slightly inebriated though which isn’t so bad. Before I write anything else, Bill will be on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight. He’s going to be a Saudi King awarding Jimmy Fallon a medal much like a Saudi King gave a gold necklace to Barack Obama yesterday.

Who knows by the time I post this tonight Jimmy Fallon could have come and gone. Anyway kudos to Bill for landing the gig. I love that guy and I’m damn proud of him. Oh that inebriation…

It was a good visit to McSwells with Rand and our third mind, Susan Shed.

Rand and Susan and myself used to hang out quite a bit, sampling various jazz cigarettes back in the day. The three of us were generally in stitches, laughing hysterically, perhaps because we were actually funny, perhaps because we were all red eyed and jazzy.

Time went on, other interests and people entered our lives and suddenly we weren’t hanging out that much. But both Rand, Susan Shed and myself looked back from time to time and decided, why not meet up again and have a few giggles.

No significant others involved, no need to explain inside jokes. Other names came up, names like Bill, Lisa, Stan, Rita and of course Mr. Lovable, Steve Saporito.

Whatever feelings I might have felt for Steve ages ago are long gone and all I feel is admiration for the big lug. Susan had difficulty accepting that, but that’s her thing not mine. He’s a good guy after all, always was.

Emotions ran deep then, now not so much, if at all. He’s doing well and I’m happy for him.

Susan was herself and how could she be anyone else? Lot’s of laughs, rapid fire chatter. Some gossip about people who we don’t see anymore. Rand had his own gossip about similar people. I had no gossip.

Roda was managing and as always it was good to see him.

Juan is around this weekend and I’m thinking of a return visit to McSwells instead of hanging out here in the apartment. Ideally, a trip to Summerstage or rather the rock by Summerstage to listen to TV on the Radio and Dirty Projectors but right now the weather report is on and they’re talking about a lot of rain. So perhaps staying inside is the way to go.

As always we’ll have to play it by ear. And Juan’s input is important too so if he has an idea, any idea I wouldn’t be averse to it. He has dropped hints about going to the Eagle in the past so if he wants to do that then I guess I’m in.

Rand, Susan and myself all agreed to meet up again, once a month. No significant others. The chemistry is good for three. Any more could be a mistake. It was a good hang with Rand and Susan Shed.

We talked about what to do on July 4th and also discussed seeing Macca at the new Mets stadium. So far that makes Bill, Annemarie, Earl, Rita, Susan, Rand, Lisa and me. Brian and Frank and their spouses are still up in the air. Tickets go on sale June 15th.

I hope they have standing room on the field. That’s what I would going for. I doubt it would be the set up like when the Beatles played in 1965-66, stage at 2nd base, everyone in the stands. I guess it would be like the Who/Clash show in the 1980’s with everyone on the field.

Anyway that’s it. I’m beat. Got to get ready to watch Bill on Jimmy Fallon at 12:35 and here it is 11:35. An hour so be enough time to get ready.

Landslide

It’s been a very nice Friday, best day of the week and I don’t mind telling you that. Last night I was extremely tired. Just felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders. A lot of it was probably from lacking a decent night’s sleep for the past few days.

I am happy to report that I slept peacefully for about 9 hours last night. Much needed.

Last night Bill had his pizza and I sat on the front steps, enjoying a Padron, chatting with various neighbors as well as a phone call with Casey Chasm. I was worried about him since Mrs. Chasm was out of town when I visited the other day and while I was visiting we had quite a heavy conversation.

He’s a good guy and I am happy to call him my friend. I certainly hope he has a rosy future ahead of him and it looks like he does. He had some good advice for me regarding work which was worrying me.

I’m going to hang in there as best as I could. That’s all I can do. I came upstairs and Bill was watching a repeat of the Office, followed by 30 Rock which definitely boosted my spirits. Then we watched the season finale of Southland and yes it was very good.

The ending had Willie Nelson singing What Was It You Wanted. I thought it was a Leonard Cohen song but it turned out it was by Bob Dylan. A little research showed that it was from Oh Mercy. I had some downloads from Oh Mercy but none of them was the song I heard.

I made a note to go to the local record store and see if they had it in stock today. I walked around Hoboken around noon and wandered into Tunes.

Looked in Willie Nelson’s section for On The Borderline which is where the song was from. Of course it wasn’t in stock. Juan’s doppleganger was working but I decided to search on my own, finding it too unnerving to speak with an ersatz Juan.

I walked over to the Bob Dylan section and once again I was let down. Oh Mercy was not to be found. Perhaps they had the Budos Band who I saw at McSwells a few months ago. No Budos Band either.

I thought I would see if they had Who’s Next in stock since that’s been on my mind lately and of course that was a ‘no’. I even checked to see some Fleetwood Mac CD’s since I saw an excellent and beautiful video of the PS 22 chorus do a moving version of Landslide by Stevie Nicks.

I left empty handed and disappointed. Still I had some money in my pocket.

I got a text message from Roda last night. He was working at McSwells and said it was dead. Why don’t I come by for some cocktails? It’s always good to see Roda but I was really fatigued, too much to head out and socialize. Bill was about all the socializing I could deal with last night.

I was on Facebook earlier, I know, what a surprise. I saw a link to check up on my high school classmates and I almost connected with a couple of them. Then I remembered how I felt after my high school reunion 9 years ago and decided against it. Some things are best left in the past in my case.

Tonight I am going to McSwells too see my old pal. Not staying out too late since I have to get up and help Julio in Van Saun Park for Alexander’s first birthday party. I got Alexander a Beatles onesie and a toy duck on a stick with wheels that quacks and flaps it’s wings as you push it.

I just downloaded Willie Nelson’s version of What Was It You Wanted so I’m a happy pirate. A happy and relaxed pirate at that. I hope all of you, the six of you that is, have a happy and safe holiday weekend.

Maybe I’ll see you at the VFW Circle on Monday morning on Saddle River Road in Saddle Brook?

Here is that beautiful video.