Monkees | johnozed

Not a bad Fat Tuesday. Not that I’m celebrating Mardi Gras. Just today was an agreeable day. Sure there was a bit of nonsense but nothing that couldn’t be overcome. Last night was rather ho hum. I thought Heroes would be the big thrill of the day, but actually it focused on the boring characters.

Harpy called when it started and I told him I would call him back In retrospect, I should have taken his call. The horned rimmed glasses guy’s back story simply isn’t compelling, and the cheerleader would have been a better storyline. Also, no Syler which means dull dull dull.

After that I watched Futurama and Demitri Martin’s show on Comedy Central. My brother Frank recommended it and he was right, it’s pretty funny. He does remind me of John Hamilton though. Speaking of John Hamilton, Bill and I are attending a surprise party for him on Sunday. Hopefully he doesn’t read this blog, or Google his name, where this entry might pop up.

Went to bed after the big news story of New York getting a new archbishop, replacing the old archbishop who’s retiring. Not that anything with change, they’ll just have to let out or take in the brocaded cape and gowns.

Haute couture while schools are closing. Yeah they have their priorities straight.

Yesterday was the first time in a while that I’ve walked on the property of St. Patrick’s cathedral. I usually cross the street, but it couldn’t be avoided. Did you hear or read that the catholic church is bringing back selling indulgences? Yep. Sure are. Gotta raise some money and bishop needs a new pair of (Prada) shoes.

Slept really well last night, woke up to the sound of the Monkees singing Daydream Believer. I like leaving a little later, the bus isn’t that crowded since there are buses rolling down Washington Street every 5 minutes and I get to ride in a coach bus. Very comfortable.

Since I finished Sarah Vowell last week as well as the double issue of the New Yorker I had nothing to read yesterday and wound up staring out the window. Today I made sure I had something and brought the latest issue of Uncut magazine and read about the formation of Apple Records 41 years ago. What a mess that turned out to be. Good intentions, lousy results.

Work was a breeze today. Tom Chin has the flu and didn’t stay all day which was good. He gave me something to fax when he gave me the go ahead and then he left the office. I got the thing ready but didn’t fax it, but sent an email telling him I did.

I’d get yelled at if I didn’t fax it and wasn’t sure if he wanted me to, perhaps I missed his go ahead. He responded, probably while on Metro North heading back to Connecticut, in caps writing ‘I told you to wait until I told you!’ I replied that the fax machine wasn’t working properly so it didn’t go out after all.

Actually it never left my desk. He’ll probably have something to say about it tomorrow, if he comes in.

Today’s comedy was courtesy of Vivek. He gives me some checks to deposit. One goes to this bank A, the other goes to that bank B.I get the deposit slips all set but the account number has one too many digits. I ask him if he’s sure it goes to bank B and he says yes.

I go to bank A and that went well, I was able to make the deposit. I go to bank B and they tell me it’s not their bank. I then go to bank C across the street and it’s not them either. I then cross another street and go to bank D where I’m met by some helpful staff.

They escort me to an office and a handsome young man comes in and enters the info. It turns out it is his bank, bank D. He does the transaction while I wait in the office and comes back with the deposit receipt. I ask him how things are with the current economic climate and he tells me he works at a bank that actually has shown a profit.

Then he asks where I bank and I tell him. I’m getting a vibe from this guy, that he’s into me. Imagine that, being seduced so I could perhaps switch banks. It was a pleasant experience and I left after complimenting him on his suit. Gave him something to dream about.

Left work an hour or so later, on my way to see Bill for a few minutes. I had every green light and made it across town in surprisingly record time. Saw Bill and we had a few laughs. He asked me to go to Easter services with him and his mother.

Sure, I said, mentioning that I will have 40 days from tomorrow to think about it in case I change my mind. He mentioned that he wouldn’t be able to get ashes tomorrow due to his hectic schedule. I told him that Ash Wednesday is probably a favorite holiday of dermatologists around the world.

Well it’s Sunday. Weather turned out nice despite the weather reports saying it was going to rain. It was actually sunny and in the low 70’s. Last night was weird. Very discombobulated. Took a nap in the afternoon which wasn’t as restful as I had hoped, and left me feeling out of sorts through the night. Not that I actually went out and did anything. Just watched Bruce Springsteen’s DVD, live at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1975, promoting Born to Run in the UK.

Very entertaining and finally gave me some insight about what my brothers and sister were talking about when they were running out to see Bruce all those years ago. This was when Bruce was a scrawny little thing, all wool hat and guitar and that voice. The E Street Band dressed like Jersey Shore gangsters from the 70’s. Very corny, but then again it was the 70’s. I am constantly surprised at how funky Tenth Avenue Freeze Out sounds when played live. The version on the album, pales by comparison.

Not much else was on, though I did wind up watching Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny. It wasn’t bad but nowhere as funny as Dewey Cox. After that it was off to bed. I woke up with the light streaming in through the windows and hid under the covers. Eventually I got up and showered, got dressed and texted Julio to see if he and his family wanted anything from the store. Washington Street was being set up for the Spring Art and Music Festival.

It wasn’t officially opened yet as I chatted with a gent from Jersey City, setting up a cigar stand. No Padrons available, but some Cuban Seed Cigars were being rolled up for sale. I had some Padron cigars at home so I didn’t need to buy any. Came home, had breakfast and read the papers. Also checked the blog and was very surprised that no one had guessed the three riddles I posted on Friday. They really weren’t that hard. I answered them on the spot, you would have the luxury to use the internet and figure out the answers, I mean really people.

Show some effort, and interact damn you!

Went out again this afternoon to check out Micky Dolenz from the Monkees. He was the big headliner this season. It wasn’t too crowded and the city had set up a tent in case of rain. I hung outside the tent with El Jefe and Lady Gigglepuss. Circus Boy did all the hits, including some he didn’t sing lead, like Daydream Believer and Oh Darling by the Beatles, as well as Spencer Davis Group and Jimi Hendrix songs.

Micky told the story about how the Monkees were able to arrange to have Jimi Hendrix open up for them on tour which turned out to be a mistake since pre-teen girls weren’t ready for Jimi, screaming for Davy Jones while Hendrix played. Hendrix didn’t last more than a few dates. Micky sang Pleasant Valley Sunday, Stepping Stone, Mary Mary, Valerie, She, A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You, his sister Coco sang a couple of songs as well, like Runaway by Del Shannon with Micky Dolenz finishing with I’m A Believer which he noted he sang first, a long time before Shrek.

Then he was off to be mobbed by fans who had items to be autographed. Micky looked good never took his hat off, leading me to believe he’s a bit shiny up there.. It was a good day, nice turn out and good company.

Here are some pics from this afternoon.

Circus Boy Micky Dolenz