Tag Archives: McSwells

I May Be Wrong (But I Think You’re Wonderful)

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Well it’s Thursday but it feels like Friday. A holiday weekend Friday no less. But still it’s a Thursday and I made it through ok. My brother in law, Rex had his heart procedure this morning and it went beautifully, thanks to the Italian cardiologist in Cleveland. I said she was Italian because she’s from Italy and apparently the only one in North America who could do the procedure that the numb skulls at UCSF did not follow up on, throwing their bloody hands in the air saying, ‘oh Rex should have come in for a follow up. I guess we should have told you, but we didn’t so you’re fucked. Bye!’ Yeah fuck you too bitches.

I got a phone call from my sister Annemarie, happy to answer it, but dreading what I might hear, but it was Annemarie crying tears of joy, that it went so well. A relief to be able to call my family and tell them the good news. Everyone happy on the family front for Rex. Good news at last.

Last night Bill came home, the third time in a row this week. It’s so good to have him around. He didn’t drive me crazy like he sometimes does. I don’t mind the crazy. I mind the moments of solitude when he’s not here. We watched the season finale of Lawn Hor d’oeuvres. And like the Olivia Show on Lawn Hor d’oeuvres SVU it had an extremely weak ending.

I could have written a better ending than what was presented. Jack McCoy, car chase, shoot out, love scene would have been miles better than the Elliot Spitzer rehash with the governor played by the young Tom Hanks look alike from That Thing That You Do getting off the hook. Bill was vocally disappointed, I wasn’t paying that much attention. I didn’t stay up for the news, I went to bed and fell asleep rather quickly. Woke up Bill still asleep next to me, looking so cute.

I got myself together and was out the door, dropping off God is Not Great at the library having finished it last night. Reading the New Yorker about a club in Hollywood called Largo. It seems it’s the in spot for hipsters and musicians, probably much like McSwells used to be in the eighties and nineties. Almost made me want to go there but realizing that if it made it to the New Yorker it’s time had come and the time will soon be past. Been there done that.

True, John Paul Jones never played on stage at McSwells but hey, we had Peter Buck having French onion soup in the front room with Julie Panebianco and that has to count for something doesn’t it?

Also read about a Jazz afficianado, or Jazz queer as Ann Boyles like to say. A fanatic, the last of a breed searching out Charlie Parker 78’s or Bix Beiderbecke sides from the 1920’s. He has a radio show on WJCR at Columbia University. It was a good article, and I related to it somewhat, though not a jazz fan per se, but the hunting down of records that I loved or heard about was close to home. It almost got me interested in jazz. Almost.

Today was the penultimate day for the sweet receptionist Lydia. That meant going out for drinks. I was smart enough to hit McDonalds and have a little something in my system before quaffing a few pints. It was me and Lydia plus Allen and Rossi. A few laughs over pints with the guys, Lydia sipping a glass of white wine. Marty Allen and I bought a few rounds, I used petty cash, Marty Allen out of pocket. Vivek showed up and gregarious as usual bought the rest of the round as well as some snacks that we could munch on.

Somehow my age came up and I was compelled for the past year to keep it under wraps, but since I was on the spot I had to tell the truth, I am 45. Their reaction? I was a young looking 45. I actually look as young or younger than them, excepting Lydia who’s 21. I act younger than them that’s for sure, excepting Lydia once again. After 4 pints, 2 more than I had planned I made an exit with Lydia, walking her to her train.

Here I am now, hearing that John McCrazy disowned John Hagee’s endorsement which is good news for the country and showing that John McCain really isn’t a good judge of character or a good judge of anything really worthwhile. Now, let’s arrest Karl ‘Big Ass Closet Case’ Rove.

Time to chill. Peace out cub scouts.
Here’s Ian Hunter, a dedication for Annemarie, Rex and Earl

Riddler!

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Well I’m probably going to post later, it’s 6:53PM now. I thought I’d get started after I see Nick Lowe at McSwells with brother Brian at McSwells. It’s a foggy, balmy day always feeling like rain. Ran a few errands today around midtown and I heard a few people complaining about how cold it was. These people were spoiled last week when the temperature was in the upper 70’s. Work was interesting, a deal seems to have been made, a meeting went on all day long and when I left everyone involved in the meeting seemed content.

I had to go to the post office this afternoon for myself. I heard from the company that made the earphones I got from Julio and Stine this past holiday season, once again giving me an RA number so I can send back the earphones for the fourth time. I waited a short time on line then I got to the counter.

The Mailman behind the counter asks me:
‘Name 4 US Presidents not buried in the US.’ I answered correctly.

Then he said, ‘There is a race, and you overtake the guy in 2nd place. What place are you now in?’
This I answered incorrectly.
Finally, he riddled,
“There are 2 coins that add up to 30 cents. One of them is not a nickel. What are those coins?”

That one I knew from Scrubs, and no, it’s not a penny and a button with 29 cents written on it. It actually made for an interesting and fun experience at the post office for once. I did wonder, that if I hadn’t gotten any of the riddles right, would he refuse to handle my mail? It was reminiscent of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, crossing over the Bridge of Death. I would have been prepared, I know my sparrows.

What are your answers?

Well here we are later, and by ‘we’ I mean the royal ‘we’ and by that I mean ME. Several pints later. I really don’t do this that often, despite being in quite a similar state last weekend. By this I mean, drinking. Nick Lowe, very good. Excellent, in fact. Sold out show, jam packed. Also found out the secret word to tell the door people and get you into a sold out show. Me, 3 sheets to the wind. If it were 4, you would not be reading this. A good time had by Brian and special guest Chaz. Chaz duly writing down each song for his endless compilation.

I wound up going to bed immediately after writing those lines. Couldn’t focus and my fingers weren’t doing what I wanted them to do. Sleep uneasily, of course. A number of pints will do that to you.

Saw Roger, Ira Hubley and Georgia Kaplan as well as Thaylor and her husband Tom. Nick Lowe sang his hits, I Knew The Bride, Cruel to Be Kind, What’s So Funny (About Peace, Love and Understanding) as well as some new ones which were quite good. He’s very personable on stage, telling stories about his tour. He mentioned that it was the first time he was ever in Hoboken, after touring the US for the past 30 years, which was somehow fitting since it was the last night of his tour. Brian gave me a ride home and that is where I am now, waiting for Julio to play the role of Egg Man on this foggy day in Hoboken town. Sorry you had to wait, but the bottom of those pint glasses were so engrossing.

Here’s the best pic of the Basher himself. It’s a bit blurry but then again, so was I.

Yes I finished this this morning, and since I started it last night, I’ve post dated the entry.