And now....

Saturday---bought some much needed clothing after South Fourth, then saw Cymbeline---beautiful, if not too bright---said hello to both Richard Topol and John P after the play---that was fun, had some good conversation with both----yesterday had a nice tutoring session with Brandon, find myself longing to walk around the Bronx, explore some more---today, after working with Alejandra, took the bus accross the Bronx via Fordham Road---very nice, really enjoyed it---those buildings---still haunted by them, anyway, worked with Alejandra today, she has really changed in the few months that I have seen her---now about 12, maybe slightly older, she is much more guarded then before, less ebullient, a little suspicious---that is an adjustment that I have to make.
Tonight, New Year's Eve in Williamsburg----what does that mean?...we will see..........

Last night.....

Made my decision---skipped War and Peace for South Fourth---a nice time---a long chat with Sonya, who is going away for the New Years---had some really good moments---also got to know Julianna a little better---had no idea she was a theater person---so some good conversation with her---now to return to the famous Jeannine---really tired, so not sure I want to do this, but it will be nice to see her---tonight, Cymbeline---tomorrow, faced with the prospect of no tutoring, if Brandon's mom cancels, may actually return to Heights Cafe---have not seen Annie for a while, should visit---probably would prefer South Fourth---anyway, stay tuned.........

What is to be done.....

Read Gowanus Lounge blog: it is truly frightening---the city is being torn down around us. Nothing to be done---are we all at risk? Then read about the credit crunch---all those people in their Park Avenue homes, falling on their faces, butwhat is the risk to them? Then simply get it all out of your mind by focusing on the arts. Should I see War and Peace today, or is it too much? Next Thursday will be the last chance to see it---but may have to tutor---still, feel like not taking anything in----had fun hanging out in Williamsburg last night---bartender Adam, truly one of the nicest guys--looking forward to the eve---every time I see a small or authentic building I try to take it in--it represents a New York that I have known for years.......

Thursday.....

Long, arduous night---seemed as if everything stopped. Apartment is so hot---doesn't help, I get up every three hours, no consecutive sleep---guess it is also the holiday, now stuck with a stomach recovering from diaharia (probably not how you spell it)--this was the first thing I could do today. Will proabably go to South Fourth Street tonight---have to get out---maybe check in at a few other places as well...good to hear from Diane and Barabara from California today. Not sure what the future will bring..........

Wednesday.....

Two parites---Monday night at Margo's---had fun---some interesting convesations with Jeannie (about education) and with Joanne, about theater. Joanne looked good---do not want to indulge her in any way---anyway, a nice time was had. It was on Monday evening that Retta invited me to her party yesterday---went---did not have a bad time while I was there, but felt empty when I left--all those environmentalists---well and good---but don't want to pay any attention to the horror going around us in the city. Came home tired, slept a little, then had enough energy to go to a movie--then slept, then awoke about 2:30---very restless---feel tired, a bit played out and emotionally exhausted this morning---have absorbed so much, but what is the opposite of that---nothing just becomes boring. Need to rest my body---but will tutor Jose this afternoon---and after that?......will try to head to Brooklyn. The Lincoln book that I got out of the library on Monday is turning out to be very interesting. That's all......

Sunday...tired

Tired, tired, tired, but much has happened. Carol (Now called Cara) sang really well on Friday night---really want to try to encourage her to continue---she is really good. Experience at the coffee house at Park SLope a trip---felt like I saw the last thirty years of Park Slope in that room---some things to like, and some not to.....Yesterday the two plays---Albee's plays very forceful---will not comment on ALl That Chat---to my surprise, I think that most of the people in Saturday afternoon's performance had not seen the play or knew what would happen, hence, the gasp of surprise at Jerry's murder (I guess that is an adequate word for it) Then off to No Dice---could not stay for all of it--didn't "dislike" it, but just was not up to staying---voices were grating------tonight possibly Make Me A Song---if Caroline's tickets are valid for me. Traveling to the Bronx to work with Brandon, had a vision of a movie created around West Side Story and dating in the South BRonx--almost exploded in front of me, as the train moved through 174 Street---not sure why that street has such memories for me, as I never really knew too many people who lived there---is it because a large amout of my dad's students came from there....?

Today (friday)

Yes, I was right, had a wonderful time watching the basketball games at Friends yesterday, less fun today at the Christmas party, but still everyone likes me there. Still hard to deal with the breaks in employment---have to see what happens first week in January, when they are on vacation---may be tempted to take a job for DOE, on the other hand, with the English test coming up but there might be a lot of tutoring because of the test that happens second week of January.
Tonight, go to see Carol at Coffee House in Park Slope, tomorrow, the play marathon---see what becomes of that. Restless this afternoon, do In want to see a movie, read, listen to records, wander around, head out to Williamsburg, what?

Thursday...

No work today either---off to Friends for basketball doubleheader at 4P.M.---happy to see the girls team play again. This morning----went to library on Columbus and 100 Street-saw all the building going on around there---frightening! Do the realtors need every possible space? All of which leads to the Hopkins Reunion in 2009---will I go? Have not missed one since 79 (84 was the first one I went to---have gone every five years ever since), but if Bloomberg is there----can I sit in the same room with someone who has created this atmosphere of destroying the weak! And if I go, can I express my dissapproval....should I just go to the afternoon event and skip the dinner (assuming he is going to be there)---well it is a long time from now, but still I think about it a lot.
Other than that, had a good lesson with Jose yesterday, his parents gave me a nice bonus, which I did not expect--very tired, did not go out to South Fourth, spoke to Jeannine by phone, she did not seem much upset by it--will see her Saturday, before my marathon, after watching cousin Carol sing at the concert Friday evening---so that is it---concert, followed by Jeannine visit at South Fourth, followed by Peter and Jerry, followed by No Dice, followed by....just kidding.
Still trying to figure out exact conflagration of WSS original cast members at Gypsy of the Year--hope to find out soon.

Wednesday

Not published for four days! How can that be? First day off in a while. So what has happened. Well, the Gypsy of the Year---very life affirming---waited outside but did not say hello to Jamie---just did not want to leach...picture of him talking to George Marcy very affecting....Bernardo (replacement) and Chino 49 years later. Amazed at the life in the musical theater right now, even if material (as far as I know) is not that good.
Then back to Friends, and tutoring, a very difficult and long day yesterday, can't imagine the millions of miles I seemed to have traveled on the subway---taking it easy today (I think), one tuturing, then will drag my tired body to South Fourth to hang with Jeannine and the others. I think I need that, rather than seeing a play or a movie. Have set a nice double header for myself on Saturday---wonder how much traveling I will get done over the holiday or what it will bring.

Saturday....will

Will not visit Jeannine today at South Fourth...she knows that...after I finish here, will go down to the Doubletree on 42Street, and "scout"----that is look for some of the WSS alumni. What will happen? What are my feelings about it? Can't say, would be interested in having some unforced conversations about the experieinces these dancers lived through. But I won't push. The irony is that bythe timeI arrive at New Amersterdam for the Gypsy of the Year presentation, I may be totally bushed from the heavy schedule at Friends. And tonight....will I make both presentations. Will Jenn leave me a comp? Tune in later.....

Friday at Friends

Just finished, and I am feeling very good. Spent three periods with mostly Juniors (a few seniors), and the warmth I recevied from them was very fulfilling---simply proctoring a test that they all worked brutally hard on, was very rewarding. Returning a little later for male basketball game, and next week can hopefully see both men and women's basketball team. Still no word from Gwen on WSS reunion places---she may not give me any, anyway, tomorrow to be busy in evening with Waiting for Lefty and then maybe watching Andi in the burlesque show at the Zipper. Will be quite hard to get from one place to another quickly A(113st to 37 street in about 25 minutes) but I will try, anyway, the Murray Hill show should start late. The afternoon, well we will see, may just need tomorrow to rest until the evening,. Will stop now, report tomorrow.

thursday....

easy day at Friends, but a little disappointed that class of Juniors and Seniors (and sophomores) did not want to stay longer in music....oh well...tomorrow a long day, culminating in basketball game, should be pretty exhausted by then..tonight seeing project at the Kitchen...have never been there before---noticed onAE that there were many other interesting shows that are giving them tickets---really impossible to see all these things---how can one even catch one's breath? Had a nice time visiting Jeannine at South Fourth---intresting considering how ambivalent I was about going--but I went--her boyfriend Patrick is really a nice guy---wonder whether he took her home..? Not much else, things are always hectic at this time of the year, tomorrow should be a good day.

Wednesday.....

Chris, the nine year old I began to tutor yesterday, turned out to be a very nice boy, with a slight reading problem...very easy to work with.....his mother, also very nice, made me very nice spaghetti portion, before I left. Felt very good while I was there, but returned home tired as anything, fell asleep immediately...awoke at 1:00 A.M. full of energy, but not much I could do, then returned to sleeep, woke up at about 5:30 A.M., very tired, very emotionally exhuausted...wondered if I would stick it out, but, as it turns out, had no problem getting to work and opening up the library...decent enough day at Friends, tomorrow a short half day, then Friday a marathon---will try to stay around to watch the Varsity play at 5:15.
Nice talk at lunch with Carla about her Hopkins time, will talk with her again...still trying to figure out my role in the weekend WSS reunion, no help from Equity Fights AIDS, though it was nice running into Kenny in the Equity elevator, and chatting with him about Outpost.

on the train...

Almost 4P.M., and I have already been to the Bronx, once. Tutored Brandon this morning, he seems to like our work...on the subway going, felt a lot of anxiety...visions of the past, 174 Street and Southern Boulevard, particularly haunting....why? Only went on a date there, twice (61-62) and yet, many of the students my dad taught at Monroe lived in that area from 47----6? Remember when dating Seema (that was her name) the area seemed totally white. Can we understand the exact moment that it changed---the last time someone played a Beethoven String Quartet in those apartments (Lethem has something like that in his book of essays)
Anyway, back at Friends, things going smoothly, one more tutoree this evening, first time, named Chris.
A community---when does a community change?

Sunday....

Tired at this moment (ofcourse I did do a lot of walking and climbed five flights of stairs to Brandon's (my tutoree's) house) still, seem very tired. lots to talk about---yesterday had a good tutoring session with Fernanda, then visited Jeannine at South Fourth Street---then saw the one acts with Jen taher, and the Hamlet project, which, for the most part, was very interesting. Tired afterwards (it was around midnight) and even though the idea of talking to people was viable, decided just to have a slice of pizza and go home. Interesting choice to see the one acts, as opposed to taking a chance at seeing the "much praised" student production of WSS at John Jay. Was it really that good? The present versus the past, that seems to be the theme around here, as I chose to tutor, when I could have gone to the "Fosse's Men" forum at Dancers OVer 40. What next? Well, the WSS reunion is coming up---moves in and out of my consciousness---now one more commitment for Sunday evening if I see Jen's play at Columbia.

slept like a.....

last night---heat finally arrived---totally weird--went to sleep at about 9P.M., after three tutoring sessions---all very fulfilling, I might add---then slept like a baby---as if a terrible weight had been lifted from me---Tuesday night a bit of an ordeal, simply concentrating on heat or no heat, and when the heat would arrive---now, hopefully that is over---ended up at Friends today, in the library, no less---could have subbed at NEST---might have been interesting. Spending the day at the computer---have ordered tickets to No Dice---which should be "hot" for the 22nd, and for the Gypsy show on Monday the 17th. That should be interesting, they published the list of WSS members who will be part of the festivities---feel much more detached about meeting them all, past vs. present---as always, still, would like to talk to them---we'll see what happens. Doubt that I will see the revival (or whatever you want to call it) this week---too busy. Will see Jen's pieces on either Friday or Saturday.

should have, maybe

This morning, no work, got the computer call to work at Brooklyn Tech---exactly the same program as last Monday, same kids, but I said no! Why, couldn't have been easier---just did not want to---was not comfortable with the apathy of those kids-still, in terms of a day with kids I knew, why not? What am I challenging myself for? Did I need the day off? Good day at Friends yesterday, then went down to Broome Street to watch the football game and root for Baltimore against the dastardly Patriots---sad that they lost, but exciting---violin sonatas on Sunday---really beautiful! Was literally in heaven during the second and third movements of the last one, Opus 30, (I think) number 2. Still, won't go back tonight, even though I think there are free tickets for that one as well Why? Want to be with people, the Tuesday evening thing at South Fourth has worked well for me in the past--maybe another encounter with Andi-Honey, the woman performing in Murray Hill's burlesque saga. Tomorrow, tutoring all day? We'll see....

Sunday in the snow...

First of all, Mrs. A cancelled my session with Brandon---ah Freedom! But to do what? Can get free tickets to the Beethoven Violin Sonatas, could anyone ask any more than that on a day like this?.....any yet.....sometimes you think it would be easier just hanging out...but...last night FIgaro......only stayed two acts---was tired from the standing and a fairly long day, but it was more than that.....production super competent, but not striking, similarly, individual performances were extremely proficient---everyone knew exactly what he or she should do, and Kate Lindsay was superb as Cherubino, but felt very uninspired. Terfel fun to watch, animated, has a lot of talent, but seemed annoyed by the smallness of the role, wanted to take more responsability---made one more aware that the Count is the more important role--seemed like an easy role for him to inhabit, but just by nature, he seemed to be looking for more challenges.
After went to O'Neill's for a beer---did not go down to see Bob at 119, too tired, but should have, not much happened at O'Neill's---got into a conversation with a much older man named James---nice guy, but as usual, talked a blue streak at me---still might return. Wonder if there is an opera message board--havn't found one yet......

Two days at Friends

Thursday and Friday at Friends; overwhelmed by the energy of the seventh grade (and I worked with all, I mean all of them). Came home both nights with very little left---then the waiting begins. Should have celebrated, or something, but once I get in the apartment--it is just chill out time. Did what I said I would do, saw Brandon in between classes at 11:00 on Thursday, had no trouble with the time---trains move very quickly. Really a difference physically in the way I feel when I don't sub, then the way I feel when I do.When I don't---evenings are easy--when I do----well, the body is heavy. What is the future for this week---hard to say. So far, only one day planned at Friends, Friday---probably some tutoring during the week---Thursday is the big party at South Fourth---have to be there. The public schools...? Don't know. Strangely enough, for all the warmth I receive at Friends, Monday's challenge of the English program at Brooklyn Tech (my first time there) left me feeling more calm---only night that I really slept well during. Anyway, another crazy quilt---improvised week is at hand.
Just got an upstairs standing room for Figaro (Marriage of) for tonight---looking forward to it--first time seeing Bryn Terfel---can't wait to basque in all of that music. I guess after this it is off to Williamsburg to visit Jeannine.