Rand + Lisa | johnozed

Yes, yes another late post. Yes I know, but I have a good excuse. I just got back from a really good party, one of the best parties I’d been to in a while. Bill was with me, as was Rand and Lisa, and Lois. It was at John and Donna Hamilton’s apartment in Chelsea, a surprise party for John which turns out wasn’t that much of a surprise.

John and Donna’s wonderful boys were there of course, Jasper and Henry. Jane Scarpantoni was there and it’s always great to see her, and Steve Saporito was there as well. It was fun to see Steve after all this time, seeing him fleetingly last May at the Wire concert at South Street Seaport was nice, but this was a chance to reconnect and it went well.

He’s still a good guy, whatever crazy feeling there were are all water under the bridge. Dave from Tiny Lights, John and Donna’s old band was there as well.

It turned into a hootenanny of sorts, started out with Bill at the piano. He started with Knocks Me Off My feet by Stevie Wonder, then I Believe In You & Me by the Four Tops and then Picture In A Frame by Tom Waits, all songs that go straight to my ever lovin’ heart. Then John brought out his 1953 Gibson guitar. Beautiful thing it is.

Songs started pouring forth. Bob Bert, drummer extraordinaire was there and soon he was playing a snare and bass drum, hi hat and cymbal, Bill on piano, Dave on a cello picking out bass notes and occasionally scraping the bow, and Rand on a trombone belonging to Jasper.

We were all singing Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, a wide range of songs most of us grew up listening to and knew by heart. You Can’t Always Get What You Want inspired a dueling Jagger situation with Lois and myself competing, back of hands on hips, shaking index fingers in front of each other.

Oh it was a blast, followed by Honky Tonk Women. I really haven’t had that good a time in a while. Just connecting with friends from over a couple of decades, and singing and rinking wine. Nary a bad or harsh word was said about anyone. All very comfy and cozy.

John and Donna’s boys are something else. Jasper the oldest did the artwork for his father’s book and Henry at age 5 wrote 2 books himself. We had a little chat about the books, one was titled the Spy Family and it was a nice bound book with story and art by the author. These 2 boys, brought up by such loving and creative parents, the world will be at their feet soon enough.

Bob Bert eventually left and I had the nerve to pick up the brushes and played some drums accompanying John and Dave on a few songs, my personal highlight was getting the drum fills right on Ticket to Ride. That was a high water mark in my life that I probably wouldn’t have done if Bob was still there.

He’s a real drummer, I’m just a geezer who wanted to give it a go. I think I did well, I certainly fished around for feedback on my playing and it was generally good feedback.

I even had a chance to play John’s guitar, rumored to cost $10,000. I did my best on that throwing off Maybe I’m Amazed as well as Kansas City or maybe it was For You Blue. I was playing Kansas City, Lois was singing For You Blue.

Then as things quited down I tried to figure out how to play Hallelujah, the Rufus Wainwright version of the Leonard Cohen song. Didn’t get far on that, but that was ok.

And as all good parties go, it had to end. Around 8:00 it was time to go, Donna had to get Henry ready for bed, Jane had to get back to Woodstock and Rand, Lisa, Lois and myself back to Hoboken.

I told John and Donna a few times that I couldn’t remember such a good party like theirs and I wasn’t lying. It was a blast for all concerned, a welcome respite from life’s troubles.

Here are some pics. More on Facebook.

Rand. Lois. Lisa.

Greg, Richard (?) Bill, Bob Bert

JOhn Hamilton in one of several attempts to blow out the candles on his birthday cake

John, Donna, Dave, Jane and Bill

Lisa, Me, Lois and Jane

Well Chaz once again threw a pretty good party. All very adult, chit chat and cocktails. The promised snow storm didn’t happen. I was starving beforehand so I ate a light supper about two hours early. Bill was in the city, fortifying himself with Claratin. Chaz has a cat, Lily (who once tried to take my eye out) and Bill is hyper-allergic to cats.

Rand and Lisa were going too so plans were made to meet at the Path train. I stopped off at Karma Cafe gingerly stepping over the kitchen help laying about the floor and got a gift certificate for Chaz. I started walking down Washington Street when I got a phone call from Bill who was in the city and about to head into the 14th Street Path station.

He mentioned meeting at Journal Square which made sense since the train he would be on would be going to Journal Square after Hoboken. But he wasn’t going to make a move until I gave the go ahead. The plan was to meet at the station so I told Bill that yes we would meet in Jersey City.

Rand and Lisa were a block or two behind me so when I got to the station I called them. They thought we would all be taking a cab from Hoboken to Jersey City Heights and I explained the situation. Rand and Lisa and I met on the platform, Bill on a train already, somewhere.

Nice ride and a few laughs along the way. We got off at Journal Square where we found Bill disembarking from the same train that we were on. He was in a different car, you see. I figured we would be taking a taxi from Journal Square so I bought a six pack of Stella Artois which cost more than usual since it was part of the train station.

When I left the store, it was suggested that we could walk. That was fine by me and I was surprised to find out that Lisa and Bill were into it. I know Bill isn’t a fan of the cold. I could have bought a six pack closer to Chaz’ house but it didn’t matter. Rand and I led the way with Bill and Lisa chatting it up a few feet behind us.

It wasn’t too bad of a walk, a frozen drizzle would rain on occasion but overall it was harmless. We were on Carlton Avenue before we knew it and soon we were in Chaz’ warm living room next to a kitchen table crowded with food and snacks.

Chaz made some excellent vegetarian chili as well, which I only had a tiny portion. Chaz’ lifelong friend Andy was there with his friend Howard. They made for a nice couple as well as Debra and Roy another couple that I only seem to see at Chaz holiday party.

No Dave McKenzie, no Connie and no Kathe. Dave was in Kentucky, Connie was fearful of the blizzard that wasn’t happening and Kathe had gotten out of work in Astoria and was just too tired to make the hike. And it would have been a hike for Kathe from Astoria and Connie could be excused since it would be unnerving to drive home in the middle of the night back to Highlands.

From what Chaz said, Connie was angry with the fact that she wasn’t going to be at the party.

Chaz had presents for most everyone, Bill and I getting a Simpsons calendar as well as a Simpsons bottle opener and two DVD’s, the Outkast movie Idlewild and the Paul Giamatti movie Sideways. You could tell it was a good party, lot’s of food, and drinks and before we knew it it was 1:00 in the morning and Bill was on the phone calling for a taxi to take us back to Hoboken.

Bill was heading back to Stuyvesant Town so Rand, Lisa and I rode to the Path train and saw Bill off. The three of us walked up Washington Street in a light drizzle past people lined up outside of bars trying to get in. I parted ways with Rand and Lisa on 7th Street with hugs and kisses.

I came home and watched Saturday Night Live for a bit while enjoying a night cap before going to bed myself. I waited to hear from Bill to make sure he got home alright. He did but was waylaid by his allergy since the Claratin wore off.

That’s it for now, back to rearranging the deck chairs tomorrow.

Here’s some pics.