Good and bad.....

Sitting in a library not that far from where I was raised---after a lesson with Chelsea, who is improving. Feeling good---there is more money in the checking account then I thought yesterday, and have simple plans for the evening---to return home and probably go to Standings to watch a couple of games. Dinner with Carla and her husband tomorrow night---should be fun...so that is the good. The bad...well, the political, the building, the fact that an ogligarchy of businessmen seem to be determined to reappoint the mayor, meaning that there power is greater then mine (six votes to one vote). Bloomberg gets a crisis just in time to show his management skills---a way of claiming his importance to the city? But what of the building, with the city in a fiscal crisis, can all this aggressive building be maintained, and will Gottfriend and Kucinich continue to break down the Yankee Stadium deal? See how things shape up...........

exhilirated....

from last night---good time at Plan B, the Prospect Heights sports bar that I recently discovered. After a slow start, had some really good conversations. Will return there this weekend, atleast once, also have to decide if I want to see Trenton Thunder game in Trenton this weekend, this will probably b e my only chance to go before Fringe, which, as you know, will keep me very busy till almost the end of August. Still, a good baseball weekend, not sure of where I will be or what else I will do. Feeling good, probably the lack of humidity in the weather is helping as well. Anyway, let the weekend come......

Chelsea is

restless, a lot of fun, but hard to teach---I think she is making progress, but....have a bad stomach ache this morning into the afternoon, just let it slide, the appetite should revive itself, meanwhile tomorrow off, again to play or not to play (horses, that is) and maybe to see Catered Affair. Last night decided at the last minute to go to Bowery Poetry CLub to see O'Debra sister (diane) "curate" open mike. All sort of juvenile, and very poor comics, really poor. Ofcourse, you might try some of your own stuff, anyway, probably today will visit Emma at Greenwich Street Bar, and see what comes from that, tomorrow, Orientation for the Fringe, great, I really want to see where I will be working and with whom, everything changes, we will see......

in a....

cityboy left the house without shaving well this morning and so I hope that Chelsea does not notice it while we have her lesson---sitting in the library now on 145 street, too late to return to home and shave again, so must deal with it--actually, I don't think it will be a problem.
Feeling raw this morning, wanted to use the internet space on Amsterdam for some privacy, but at 10:30 was not opened, perhaps I will return there after Chelsea's lesson. Yesterday wandered around Brooklyn, had some interesting walks on both Nostrand and Bedford Avenue, that armory is enormous, but what will be the effect of moving all the homeless there, if indeed it happens. Just another example of Bloomberg's core insensitivity. Anyway, lasted long enough to see the movie at BAM, Gordon-Green's Snow Angels, wonder why he made it, so maddeningly bleak---no redemption, am getting really rawed out at movies, should not hold myself back from seeing plays in the three weeks or so that I have before the Fringe, and my job there, starts. But I am tough on myself money wise, you know that...tonight will hang out at Standings with Mike, Jeff, Ryan and the others, if they show, after that, if there is an after......?

cityboy is...

sick with disgust, having read that a Quinnipac pole gives the Mayor over 50 percent approval for a third term. Who are these people interviewing. does not this become a political tool in and of itself. Horrendous! And what of "mike and mike' going to the white house in a totally "non-political" event. Is there such a thing? where do you draw the line? This was to be a beautiful, non-work filled day, now there is a pall over it. how political should one be? Cityboy wants meaningful discussion on all this...is it possible.....?

what a day......

after a good lesson with Chelsea, returned to Manhattan, and was greeted by a tunafish on a bagel sandwich for $6.77. But my rage abated after meeting George Marcy on the 104, which I would not have taken had not I eaten the bagel. God, the man can talk at you like crazy...hey, but he is Goerge, the second Bernardo of WSS's original cast, and now he seems to hang out a lot with Jamie Sanchez (CHino).Maybe I will get a chance to talk to them, and get some interesting info re the original. Anyway, somewhat exhilirated by the meeting---things seem to be going well, hope my apartment was cleaned adequately (it usually is), won some lotto, and will visit Emma this evening at Greenwich Street Beer House (not really it's name).

a trip down.....

Nostrand Avenue, by bus and foot. Took bus from Williamsburg Plaza after an afteroon at south Fourth---saw where all the Polish streets---Kosciosko and the other (I'm blocking) begin--still find that fascinating. Got off at Bergen and walked South to Eastern Parkway. Easy walk, lots of people out, the neighborhood still seems mostly Caribbean---very few places to go into. Then took the subway to Prospect Heights and went to Plan B to watch baseball (what else?) Still enjoy these trips, somewhat relieved that Chelsea canceled for today (It is her birthday) but will see her tomorrow. Want to enjoy the passivity of today---no tasks or whatever. Rejuvenate my body, and will find out how Kim enjoyed Damn Yankees later today.

cityboy canceled....

well not canceled, but woke up today and felt that it was impossible to make another trip to the Bronx (this would have been my fifth this week) in the heat. Probably four lesssons a week with Chelsea is too much, three is better, since she is five and a half, never quite know how much I have accomplished with her. This weekend, the usual, the potpourri of choices etc as to what to see or do. Plenty of places to visit...then again, will I ever see a movie, and what if any play to see tonight.....remember, no work tomorrow, so can stay out relatively late if I wish......

it is long and hot......

it is a long and hot trip to the tip of the northeast Bronx to work with Diamond, but it was worth it; had a very good session with her, and it looks like I may be working with her most of the summer. That is good, a bit of a financial relief, which is a little strange, but a good feeling. Tomorrow, back to Chelsea, a little bit south of there a little easier trip, still it is hard taking these trips in the heat. Otherwise, hoped to see Diana Sands' movie, the Landlord at BAM tonight, but too tired, just enough energy to make it here (the computer place) this evening; had to get out of the apartment, much too hot and muggy. Anyway, see what the next few days and weekend will bring........

cityboy is....

played out. Exhausted emotionally---would like to turn it all off. Several web sites to visit or a fes messages to send, but want to wait. Just came from a good session with Chelsea, tomorrow I start with Diamond in the north Bronx, so that should be good. Tonight will visit Emma at bar-restaurant on Greenwich and Beach---Greenwich Street Tavern---I liked the place the first time I visited there...and then maybe hang with Andrew at 119, to watch the end of the Giant-Met game. And then.........

brooklyn, bronx, and.......

saw part of Natalie's scene on the legally blonde mtv thing----she is great, great dancer, but the whole thing......shows you how far we have come from the 40's, where I began. Anyway, yesterday, found myself standing outside Aunt Lil's old apartment house, where we would visit her on the holidays and make that long trip from the Bronx. Really liked walking around there, still is something very different about the neighborhood----apart, you know. Also travelled on the 13 bus to the Bronx, down Ogden avenue, to outside "new" Yankee Stadium---which, ironically enough, is right accross the street from apartment houses, wonder what that means, the current Stadium isolated from the neighborhod by the highways to the west and the subway to the east---no such isolation here, the people living across the street will see people walking to and from the stadium. Ramifications....? Will Yankee execs want to live there...? Higher rent prices, greater land values.....who benefits, how much change...and for who....? That is the question. Meanwhile "art" gets more ludicrous and the gap between certain kinds of art grows wider and wider. See what happens tonight at Some Americans Abroad...rest of the day kind of quiet...not that much baseball, we'll see......

what to do.....

cityboy is still struggling over the money issue, going over how much to spend and on what many times in my(His) head. Wrote down 14 (that is right, 14) possible plays to see, at reasonable prices, but always want to stop and see how much I can hold on to. Still, the streets of NY beckon---some interesting trips through the Bronx might be possible today, or the plays, or Brooklyn-----but, ofcourse everything will be at the last minute for Cityboy. Yesterday, did, as expected, spend the afternoon at South Fourth where I gorged myself on the cookout, (still the franks were great) then returned home, then off to MOMA, where I got in free, and is now run like some cold frightening institution from 1984. Still, was able to see Cassavetes' Too Late Blues, a tough and somewhat interesting movie from the early sixties, with Bobby Darin, who has great charisma. Yes, the possibilities are endless---would enjoy visiting the bar called Plan B, where I had a good time last Saturday evening, but for today...........later cityboy!

what next cityboy

had a brilliant lesson with Alex this morning, wondering whether we should work on the holiday tomorrow, when Lewis, his uncle gave me the news: Alex is returning to Florida tomorrow; our lessons are over. So what about income, cityboy? You had expected another 100 dollars from this, which you really needed. what now? Still, feel rather calm and collected as I figure this out---should I deprive myself or allow myself the culture I wante?....Well, that is what we must find out............

have decided....

have decided to chill regarding plays or movies for today, but did get a ticket for Some Americans Abroad for Sunday evening, nice to see Anthony again. Otherwise a good lesson with Alex, nice walk around the Heights, and will probably go out to South Fourth tonight, or possibly to Plan B, the restaurant bar I kind of enjoyed on Saturday evening located on Vanderbuilt Avenue in Prospect Heights.
Lots of movies to see, if plays are not possible, still trying to realize how much money I will have to spend pre- Fringe, which is quite a few weeks away still. No horse racing today, a little gun shy, and turned off by it; maybe Saturday or Sunday. Yesterday evening at Standings, immersed myself in baseball for about three hours, makes sense, hard but fascinating watching three or four games at a time. Felt valid about it this morning, so we go on.......

yesterday....

far more relaxed then Sunday, made the right move visiting Kim at South fourth and staying for the ball game yesterday evening. Still tutoring Alex, although Chelsea's dad has canceled for the week---which means I am free from about 11:30 on. Right now figuring out what to do once I leave the library---tired, a little, possibly go to the ball game at TRenton, that would be a trip, or perhaps other options. Need some coffee, bad.. what about the shows and movies....we'll see........