How about it cityboy........

Baseball today! Good for you---spend the whole afternoon at South Fourth watching the Yankees and maybe the Mets in good company. Fine! But what about taking a job in a school you don't know? Why is that so difficult? When are we going to break the schneid? Friends may not have much work for me this week---yes, we have unemployment but is this the way you really want to spend the day, and give yourself as little income to work with as possible. Oh, Cityboy, can't we do better than that. Most of these schools that you don't know that call you seem reasonable. So come on, cityboy, let's do it---see what is out there---look at all the theater or movies or opera in NY that is screaming for your attention---can't do that just with unemployment, and anyway, you don't want to. So that is the scoop, cityboy---see if we can make some moves in the next week.
Yesterday returned to Standings, baseball bar extraordinaire---watched about six innings of first game of the year---had fun, some return. Let's see what the rest of the day brings.......

My mind is reeling.......

from the trip yesterday (and Friday). Had forgotten how exciting it is to be in another city. Have always gotten good vibes from DC, strange, how a block away from where policy affecting all of us (US citizens) is made, a lively neighborhood of what seems to be "cool, normal" people, exists. Would like to return, maybe for Memorial Day weekend, and stay by myself in some "reasonable" hotel or boarding house, but....well, you know the money thing...see how it evolves. Still no work for this week, atleast can receive unemployment, still....after return to South Fourth, felt really good about being part of that group, also found a nice smoothy place on Bedford. Tomorrow, the Champion forum at Dancers Over 40.....? We'll see

the Robbins....

Mind is still reeling from the Robbins exhibit at Lincoln Center library---lots to get into and think about---will return there probably several times. Tomorrow will probably go with Bill to Washington to view WSS exhibit at Library of Congress---see it on Saturday--will drive down tomorrow, after another day (and I think a good one) at 163. Then Friends returns on Monday, but wonder if I will really get any work until end of week. Will not post again, I guess until Sunday or maybe Monday. Hope I decide to take more work in DOE next week if Friends does not need me, these empty days, waiting for the night to come, wear on me. But last night after seeing Betrayed (very strong!) had fun with Martin and friends at bar on Broome street (no, not Broome street bar). Had fun, but am uncomfortable with the pace of too many other people. Feel that may be my problem traveling with Bill, as well, but...anyway, will probably hit South Fourth tonight...and see what happens.

Tuesday's adventure

Left Brooklyn Public Library at around 1P.M. Found Vanderbuilt, walked down it---right past the hummus place fell hard on my hands and knees---blood everywhere---well not everywhere, but all over the left pinky and mostly left hand. Still continued on down Vanderbuilt, not wanting to stop until I had reached Outpost--that quirky hang-out place on Fulton near Irving. Stayed there a while---one of the baristas was extremely nice to me---gave me a bandaid, did not talk to anyone, then left, had to determine if it was time to return to the apartment.
Stood for many moments outside Outpost, just staring at the space facing north and on the nearby blocks, also facing north. Still an amazing no-man's land---not quite gentrified, yet still you can see the old street people inhabiting their spaces. Finally I walked to C train, retuned home to west side, until leaving for Williamsburg for the evening. Lots of people I knew, there, Nadia, Jasper, Adam, Scott. Sloane, et.al.
Today, doing fine until I read about Dan Doctoroff, then anger---anyway, now it is on to the Robbins exhibit at Lincoln Center Library.

so what...

so what happened yesterday...well, a little bit of rest, then got restless around 8, had to get out! But where? Brooklyn? Too tired, not sure if I was strong enough. So I decided to check out the new Toast--the one on 105street. Came in, saw immediately that the bar girl would not be very outgoing---it is a small bar--the restaurant is obviously the more important part of this establishment. So, had my beer--which I kind of enjoyed, and after two very obnoxious guys left, watched a little basketball, then chatted briefly with a nice guy who was playing in the Encores series. After he left, did not want to have another drink, so took off. Not a great evening, but isn't that part of the new bar experience, accepting that some moments might be more interesting than others. still, glad I did it---seem in a pretty mellow mood now, as I sit in Brooklyn Public library, but probably not for long...well...gotten as much out of the computer as I could have....later....

coming to.....

still another sleepless night after being unable to accept any DOE jobs yesterday. It is getting oppressive---here I have an incredible day on Thursday at 163---thought I had worked through my resisitance, only to reject several sub jobs today, a day that I could have worked one easily. Actually turned down one excellent school---atleast. So where does it end...? Friends is on its vacation, and it is possible that once they are back there will be plenty of work...but still, why this total resistance to any new school...? Got to work it through, Cityboy....other than that...probably Betrayed on Wednesday, and the trip to Washington with Bill on Saturday. tonight....feel very sleep now, see how that evolves.....

Yesterday and today.....

Well, everything happened yesterday.....returned to horse racing---as usual, smart choices but wrong one, read the third race correctly, but did a "hopeful" bet, rather than choosing McGlaughlin's horse, who, ofcourse, won. Then off to Film Forum to see Godards' Contempt---beuatifully made movie, but right in the middle I began to think of a film script that I would write---an encounter between a 53 year old woman, and myself---ofcourse they had dates in Park SLope, early to mid seventies, and ofcourse she is now married to someone else, who is dying. Then what...? Visited with Henry at Cosi's yesterday evening, always good to see him, had an interesting conversation with Martin, a thirty something doctor from Germany (Bonn) who is visiting with three friends. May see Betrayed with him on Wednesday. Went home and almost immediately fell asleep---then woke up at around 2, and thrashed around for a few hours. This morning calm and collected---listened to Mozart's first Haydn string quartet (k387) will hopefully study them all in the next few weeks. Very fascinating---now, here I am in the library-rest of the day what.....? hanging out at South Fourth...watching basketball, (plenty of it to watch)...and then...well, get on with it Cityboy.........

Friday.....completely invigorated.....

completely invigorated by my two classes at 163 yesterday---particularly the second one----wonderful listening skills and awareness skills for four year olds. Never thought working this age group would be so much fun---also, nice to be at a different school than Friends---never thought that quite possible---nevertheless, want to do most of my work there---hopefully, yesterday's success will make me less anxious about taking other jobs--got to deal with that---and hopefully there will be more work at 163. Today, possible horseracing adventure (or mini-adventure; have to be careful) then tonight, who knows? As usual, lots of options.

Much.....

Much happier today---the idea of going out to South Fourth was really good---had a nice talkwith Katya and Jasper, and then a good talk about opera and theater with Bill, and he wants to go down to Washington to see the WSS exhibit---we will drive down on the last day---have to check that out. Sometimes not working pays off--gives me the time to function in other circles, strange that since the end of Friends, or atleast its Spring vacation, I had isolated myself until yesterday evening. Both money and time are freed up this weekend, since won't be visiting DC--catch up on some movies or plays...? or maybe make it a "hangout" weekend---watch basketball and move around the city---tomorrow at 163, should be fun, have to buy a new pair of pants...so it goes........Ofcourse, this is the fifth anniversary of the troops going into Iraq---should have something to say about that.

calm down cityboy.......

left the Donnell library--my head spinning---with what---well, not happy to hear that in addition to cleaning at Dentist in June, will have to have my first cavity filled......and pay extra money that I am not budgeted for. Remind myself over and over that plenty of time to cover it, and obsession with not using credit card for ANYTHING--puts me in a good place for that by June. But other things as well---my head is fiilled with trying to get as much info as I can re the Bear Sterns crisis---that is alot to focus on---and whole attitude that building luxury housing is good for the city---but decided this afternoon, after Patti canceled Lena's lesson (I did not expect it to happen anyway) to calm down, chill out---will try to stay at library until after 3, then take out some chamber music (I have not done that in a long while) and go home to wait for the sub system to call me. Give that an hour and then off to South Fourth. Sounds better, huh? But still issues re subbing for DOE; have a job at 163 on Thursday, should be good, but still is a chore thinking of going to unknown schools, and no amount of research re internet on schools seems to make it more palatable. Should get some work for the next two weeks in addition to Thursday,
and cretainly, today has proven that time on my hands is not fun. Friends? Think I am coming down from last week---can't do much since vacation does not end until 3/31. So should find other work....we'll see.

Yesterday...after

yesterday...after the movie at BAM---an Olivera movie---finally saw one, very beautiful, but terribly overstructured--determined---left after two hours---took bus up to Putnam and Fulton, or where Putnam begins---in search of Outpost. Found myself on a nice quiet block, just one block away from Franklin Avenue---realized Outpost was west of there, trekked about three blocks through industrial no man's land, past Classon, and right west of Irving, there it was. Went in and had their coffee---very good coffee, I might add, very individual---and read for about an hour. Sitting near to me was a young man and his lover, soon joined by a friend of the girl friend---they seemed to have graduated from Yale around 05 or something like that---found them interesting, but continued to read my book on takeover of Nabisco---it drones along---but should finish it. After I left, too late to go to Barbes----Freddy's? not really because I wasn't sure I wanted a beer, tempted to go up what is now the Vanderbuilt Avenue strip, but instead walked along Fulton towards the subway. Very interesting to walk down Fulton from Iriving (or Classon) to Washington, which is the beginning of Clinton Hill. A real sense of no man's land--extremely quiet, some small buildings, several construction sites which will be housing for whom....? Quiet, but people walking past me are either young and white, or those black people who seem poorer, inhabitants from the time that Bed-Stuy had its bad reputation, or its poor reputation. Also several church families---that is still prevalent there. Walked down to Flatbush, actually a rather long walk, and it was cold, but I loved looking at things there. Now, more time on my hands until Friends reopens, some subbing at DOE schools...? We'll see.

fast and furiious......

the action is coming fast and furious---finally a day off from Friends, but a marathon tomorrow, and possibly a long day on Friday as well...well it is the end of the term, so should take it---otherwise, what---still exhilirated by artistic choices, maybe even see two movies in one day (possible?) over the weekend, the Spitzer thing and all this work has taken my mind off the Harlem problem---the city council's committee acceptance of the reorganization of 125 street---I still have not written to my councilwoman, sure there are a lot of other sites to visit, but should still do that...will go to South Fourth today, havn't been there in a while, after tutoring Lena (I think). Otherwise, still much to think about for the rest of the day........

humid

did I really mean humid....just a word that came into my mind...really feeling kind of mellow; will be working tomorrow for Shireen at Friends, and also, had a nice session with Brandon---he is doing so much better now that he sees his home teacher every day, also she has given him a "math process" that really works for him; much more emphasizing the "step by step" than my process or help, which relies more on remembering to concetualize. Ofcourse, she has more time than I do---but I wonder......last night Rock and Roll, sort of liked it---ending is awfully mushy....than a great slice of pizza at a raunchy pizza place on Union Square, tried to see Bobby yesterday, but the place was packed, decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and opted to go home---glad I did, not really sure what the rest of the day will bring.......

worked my......

worked my ass off yesterday at Friends, but continue to feel good about it----atleast one day there next week, and already a few after vacation. Came home, tired, but invigorated, woke up today full of energy---will probably go out to Williamsburg and see Jeannine this afternoon--then come back and see Rock and Roll, maybe say hello to Kenny---tomorrow, could be a tutoring marathon, but maybe not---erratic parents, so you never know. Either way, can be dealt with---two entries on the WSS page today---any effect...?still have to go down to DC sometime in the next two weeks. We'll see..........

relax, cityboy......

after two really good days at Friends, I think it is clear that you are well liked there. Even if there is a day or two that you are not called, it is really not a problem. Try to enjoy what the city has to offer in your spare time. Now the bad news, the Post's article on the new building that replaced the Mayflower---more wealthy people moving in, these people call themselves liberals, yet by moving in, how do they effect the money demands made on the rest of us. The Times, in atleast three articles that I have read, presents a city where realtors are all, people renting simply have to feed on the crumbs (that is the word of an advocate)---the article about Dumbo today, simply says that all artists are beholden to the Walentas--really exist at their will...is this how it should be.....? Lots of contradictions in the city. But for you, at the moment, a stasis point that is fulfilling...so lighten up....or......

Yeah...Sunday was

an incredible day; great tutoring, it was great to see Alejandra again, and work with her. But today, second day without work, restless, have work at Friends tomorrow, but after that.....and what about Washington....no plans, simply spur of the moment, must get there and see the WSS exhibit before 3/29---this morning, thought long and hard about Great Gatsby and Checkhov's Sea Gull----wonder if that revival is any good---nice time at South Fourth yesterday, good to see Kim and Trevor---may return there later---have to read the O'Connor short story for tomorrow...a very busy day........later

hateful.....

That was my feeling about the first act of Kindertransport, which I went to to support Nacho, who played all the male roles. But I left after Act I; simply could not stand the empty dialougue, and obvious acting---also, terribly self congradulatory tone of the audience---today much tutoring, but ironically, with all the changes my clients have made, some free time between 12 and 3---so an adventure, back to the past, after taking the bus from ALlerton Avenue to Bedford Park Blvd, walked down Briggs avenue, to library. Again, faced with all those buildings, looking so familiar---haunted memories, like to make something of it but what...first part of Briggs relatively quiet, then it gets noisier around 194 street, approaching Fordham Road. Found the library, have not been here since it opened, seems very nice, large and useful, should remember it for my free time---still two more tutoring sessions today, should be fun.......

Missed.....

yes, another great day at Friends, worked my buns off, then returned home, only to find that a possible two period job offered for monday, was already given away...still, feel proud and exhausted for working the seven periods yesterday, good session on Gatsby...today, exhilirated at the nice weather, out to Brooklyn ( where I sit now); seems to me that enjoyment of traveling around the city, especially Brooklyn has replaced going to see things. How much?...we'll see, havn't been in a theater in a long time---tomorrow, tutoring in the Bronx...what the day will be like.............