Final day...

of the year---have two unexpected tutoring sessions coming up---that's good, maybe a little more money---
tonight----will probably head to South Fourth around 9, then go over to La Flaca---still it will be cold, and I might be tired, yet should go and celebrate the night.
Last night Falstaff---with Clint, we had a good time, very good discussion about opera and operas in general-today listened to WNYC comments about appointment by DeBlasio of Carmen Farina, sounds like a very good choice---listening, I felt sad that I could not in some way contribute or change something in DOE----need a teacher's licence, which I don't have---but her appointment has made me optimistic that things will really be better---once again would like to contribute---guess it is part of a feeling of strength that
I am experiencing. Anyway, hope there is a decent amount of work for me at Friends.
Not much else to say, will probably report on Thursday....

I'm emboldened by....

DeBlasio's picks for Schools Chancellor and Corporation Council---this certainly looks like a more progressive vision than we had previously.Will be very interesting to see how things turn out starting Wednesday.
Otherwise---yesterday spent the day at South Fourth and ended at Cobra---lots of free food, just what cityboy needed, but also good conversation---particularly with Mat, the city planner from Boerum Hill, who knew all the bars on fourth avenu( )good for him!) Other conversations valid as well, and football games were interesting,
Schlemowitz trilogy---
1. Shchlemoniwtts the Bohemian (east village, of course)
2. Schlemowitz moves to Brooklyn (Park Slope in the seventies)
3. Schlemowits is Rich---well of course, he sold his co-op which he just "fell into" when he moved to
Park Slope.
4. Coda: The Mayor of Ditmas Park.
Nobody remembers it--but it does chart the history of the baby boomers in one man (Schelmowitz) who wants to be a writer, falls into teaching, moves to Park Slope and becomes a career teacher, sells his co-op in the early two thousands, and sits contentedly in Ditmas Park, a wealthy and sucessful man, perhaps showing another person his age (a woman, perhaps) pictures of his youth, while she regales him with stories of her grand children. Is there a future in this for Schlemowitz?
Well, it is a beginning, so they say. where to from there...?
Tonight...Falstaff, perhaps, so far looks that way...good tutoring session with Miguel, encouraged him to come in every Saturday..maybe I can really get some work done with him, other tutorees have all had excuses to cancil, except for Kyla who I saw and will see on Saturday. Anyway, for the public school students and some Catholic School students, school returns on Thursday, so there should be some results.
We shall see....

reading noticing.....

New York, more depressing news about what the city is trying to do to the libraries. Where are the true protesters in this. Why is the writing community so silent in its  (non) protest. Does P.R. know about this?
Perhaps should contact M. W....anyway...
yesterday afternoon---restless, had to go "somewhere"---forsook my regular Brooklyn outposts to go the Bronx. Why? Felt it was important to make a visit---of course there is no place to "hang out" there, no conducive coffee shop, or whatever, nevertheless, took the D to 175th, immediately saw the architecture--
again amazed as the memories return---still mythic in my mind. Traveled down Morris Avenue until Tremont, then crossed to Creston. Tried to identify Grandma Landau's apartment house, did not find it---I remember it as being one of the red buildings, but red building was first---seemed too close to Tremont, my memory is that ithe apartmant house was very close to Burnside.Was there an elevator in her building...? Maybe not....
Anyway, after stopping at the Bank on Burnside, continued to Fordham up the Concourse. On Tremont, very little commercial input---much more on Burnside, but tried to imagine the avenue (Tremont) during its Jewish hayday, say the forties, or fifties, or even the early sixties...stores and shopping all over. Nothing like that now. Is this the second of the "two cities" that deBlasio talks about? He is so Brooklyn oriented, is he even aware that parts of the Bronx exist. No sense of chaos or fear walking the streets, people seemed pretty independent and safe, but the area simply looked "poor" . Doorways that lead to apartment houses seemed frayed, much more than last time I visited a few years ago. Not a sense of hopelessness, but if not that..."what....? Poverty? Later walked down Fordham to library, very frenetic, people all over. Really understood that I did not "live" there.
Today, tutoring seems to have been canceled--will check on that in a few minutes---that might change. not sure what the day brings--probably will listen to first act of Tosca if I am not tutoring, then consider my choices as I travel, those choices are numerous.....

feeling listless...

for some reason---body seems to be tired---in the library now---tutoree just canceled so have the day to myself---just as well, although I need the money---well, maybe next week. Still reeling from finishing the Philip Roth bio by Claudia Roth Pierpont. Why? Something so resonant in his life and work and choices----being in the library or around books a different experience at this point.What next...? Got the NY Review of Books---some interesting articles in them---Paul Auster's memoir awaits me, but do I want now to inhabit his zeitgeist...? If not that.....what?
Rest of weekend kind of vague.....would enjoy seeing The Way We Were at IFC....not sure what else...will do a decent amount of socializing.....nothing else clear......

Back in the ...

world, after a long and lonely Xmas day---seems like the world seems to collapse on cityboy on this one day. Of course, you did not look for friends, either, however did get some solid reading of the Roth bio--continues to be fascinating---forcing me to look at my own life as well--digs in---one quote that I was supposed to take with me to publish on this, but that I didn't---something about the rejection of purity for appetite. Read it as a criticism of my "lifestyle". Yet for all the way it challenges me---it is important to get through the book. Coming up on the trilogy of short novels he wrote in the 2000s, so should be interesting

to see how Roth Pierpont (the author) analyzes those works.

Wondering what the rest of the week holds......it's cold, so not much walking is possible---waiting to see what movies or plays I decide to see---tutoring has diminished (as of now, that could change) so have to be careful about the way money is spent. Not much else to say at the moment, maybe will return at some point and try to create something---a "memoir" or something like that---anyway, let's continue...

Feeling optimistic....

but not sure why..stomach really dominated me yesterday, but seems to be better today, still there are things that I notice that are different---not clear how it will all shape out----also my neighbor downstairs is having problems with the oil overspill from the boiler---and the "super" is rigid about nothing being wrong---how will that play out---trying to be an intermediary for both----nevertheless, as I sit here I am feeling 'up" so many options to consider---so many ideas, artistic and realistic (the two are really separate) to ponder and consider.
Reading the biography and analysis of Philip Roth's work---really exciting to see the path of his life and the path of his ideas set out,as  the author does. Will probably follow through with this today and tomorrow---also have Auster's autobiography in my house---don't know how soon I will get to this---Auster is, of course, much closer in age to me than Roth--still, have to ask, "where am I in all this...?" My own inability to sit down and do what they do---that is, put ideas into print----is a constant thought while I read through
these works. I am a "doer'---I can't separate myself from "life" to create something written, unless I am asked by someone to do it.
Herny Roth, the other Roth, all of a sudden comes into my mind---his life in the twenties and early thirties---
more haunting....
Reality: will try to visit Austen today at Cobra (acutally Sunday at Cobra was not that great) and then maybe to south fourth if Merlin is working. Would like to share some ideas with him---a movie in the mix...? Possibly---depends on how much time is available to me, and how the stomach is reacting---like I said, much better today---
Tomorrow, Xmas day, usually a difficult one for me---hard looking for sympathetic bartenders---maybe Lansdowne Falls will be open, can watch some of the Net game there--of course there are always movies,
maybe even a play---some have performances tomorrow, so we'll see---let's get on with life!

looking good....

on this beautiful day,  having completed two tutoring sessions, and finally made my reservation for David Greenspan's performance tonight at Bushwick Starr. Fun going out there, first to hang out with Austen, then see the play, then...well, who knows...? Yesterday the Friends alumni day, lots of fun, good to see everybody, got a nice candy box from Sue, (fifth grade) what a difference a couple of days makes---feel much more relaxed, will enjoy the upcoming vacation, more reports to come....

two full days....

at Friends, very hard working but successful--feel very well integrated into that world again---party today, will sit in on Bob R's jazz class, intereact, then go to Assembly...then....tonight into Fort Greene to see
Merlin's performance---should be fun---glad I do not have to tutor, today, bones kind of ache from the last two days---reaching to holiday with a little bit more relaxation then I expected, which is good.

half a day at Friends...

everyone glad to see me---two fun classes, and yet very little work in the future (that of course might change), and when I did my financially inventory this morning (in my head)..well, not really feeling that good.
Now, things might change, possibly a lot of tutoring work this vacation (we will see) and some money not due for three or even four weeks, so time for their to be changte---but nevertheless not sure where to go from here. Probably wait the first week, then contact other schools if necessary---maybe just meet someone in a bar during the holiday, who teaches in a school that might need me---that is certainly a possibility.
Meanwhile the tutoring continues tomorrow, tonight will probably go to Basketball game at Berkely Carroll and see the Friends team play.

wonder what the...

future holds...still no sub work on this very cold day---will be in tomorrow, but wonder how much I can expect this winter and what to do about it. Right now, tutoring is keeping me going...luckily I have the session with Alem today, and then the meeting at FUREE--and won't be tired, but for January, only one date, is it possible that it will just be a once a week thing...or maybe things will really pick up in January, with a flurry of meetings, retreats, conferences etc. Hard to say, hard to know what to do about it at this point.
Saturday night, found out that Kristen and group from Philly will come to NY in February to do their
Twelth Night---so no need to run to Philly on Sunday, though a break like that might really be fun.

Yesterday, the normal Sunday, South Fourth to Cobra to South Fourth---lots of nice conversation with
"family" at South Fourth---good time at Cobra, that seems to be the normal approach for sunday, perhaps with holiday coming up, there will be some variation...anyway, it is cold today, and we will see what plays out on our trips to upper Manhattan and Brooklyn.

cityboy is ....

overwhelmed by possibility of going to Philly to see Kristen in Twelth Night (god, can't even get spelling right!) when could I go, maybe next sunday---might be fun to get away, but schedule becoming very crowded, but isn't that the whole point cityboy---keeping busy---anyway, went to basketball game at Brooklyn Friends, which I finally found after a long trek in the wrong direction, then to La Flaca briefly to see if Bobby was okay (he is) and then to Standings my "favorite" sports bar---for three pieces of delicious pizza, and some good coversation. Today, one tutoring session called off, then another scheduled for about an hour from now. After that, not sure---snow, at least at this point does not seem to prevent travel, so maybe off to Invisible Dog to see variety show there---but then there is also Eliza's piece, this would be a good day to get into that. So let's continue....

Friday and cityboy...

visited Friends to pick up his check---basically a good feeling---still only one day of work for next week, and today was brutally cold, is it possible there was no work for subs this day...? Well, maybe....anyway, last night met with Lucas from 5:30 to 6, will go to meeting on Monday after I tutor Alem---today will tutor Ellie in harlem then go to Brooklyn Friends to watch the basketball team play the BF team. Visited  with Lucas for a while, interesting conversation re deBlasio's plans---can he really shake things up----next week a forum at the same place, but after meeting I decided the best course was to see a movie---saw Nebraska at BAM, enjoyed it basically, still feel very alone at movies---afterwards it was cold, but decided not to immediately go back to Manhattan, instead went to BARK, not a bar, but a place with good hamburgers (I rarely have one) and people sitting around. Not conducive to conversation with strangers (it is not a bar, as such) but still glad I extended my stay in Brooklyn. A little adventure never hurts.
Tomorrow really depends on snow system, how much will fall, this will determine what I do...we'll see....

supposed to...

go out to Brooklyn to see Lucas today---still no word, that is kind of strange. Felt upbeat this morning from the hard work of the two tutoring sessions from yesterday. Seems like tutoring will continue...but work....
not sure....last night tired after the two sessions, simply went home, after a few stops, tonight, seem determined not to spend any money..so probably not Onegin, but it's cold out dude, so moving around the city (particularly Brooklyn) may be a little difficult. Remember the Friday two years ago when cityboy walked from Library on Washington in Fort Greene to Brownsville...!? Could I do that today, ah Brooklyn, the vastness of it! Lots of bus rides to take over the holiday, but lots of movies as  well...so let the day continue....

More plays than....

you can shake a stick at..that sums up what cityboy could see in December and January. Have to counter that with the amount of money we have to spend. Tonight two tutoring sessions beginning at 4:30, some time to kill, no movie today. Yesterday saw the movie documentary Lenny Cooke---very harsh but well done---plenty to talk about with basketball friends.Today, still no phone call---however will need all my energy for the tutoring sessions. Movies, they don't excite me the way plays do, or is there something about watching a movie alone that is a reminder of other times when cityboy watched movies with others. Theater is my turf, I feel at home there, absolutely no need to share anything with anyone, since conversation will evolve with friends anyway---movies different---will have to play off choices of that versus conversations in bars and coffee shops. What happens after tutoring....?

any ideas about

tonight, or even this afternoon. No work, no tutoring, all the time in the world. Movies? Plays...? Dvorak at the Philharmonic (assuming that they have rush tickets) ---seems to be all one to cityboy. But the article in the Times about Dasani is great! Seems like DeBlasio and his people have a strong problem on their hands. On one hand, how to move deserving families into decent apartments, out of destructive shelters. On the other, how to convince landlords that the families who need apartments desperately are better risks then the young professionals who now live in neighborhoods like Bushwick, Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights. It is a contradiction in terms, a a tug of war. Not much else to say, a really good session with Alem yesterday afternoon in Harlem, tried to find basketball game, couldn't, but very low energy, returned home and after some tofu spaghetti, went to sleep immediately.Why was resistance so low...? Hard to say, anyway, feel much more alive today, just got an advance job for mid-January. Things are looking up--we will see.

what now...

cityboy---very functional morning-payed a few credit cards and got a haircut. Discovered this morning that I really needed it. Waiting for one tutoring assignment today at 4:30---quite a long wait---well a lot of reading that can be accomplished. What about the weekend?
Saturday arrived late at Bronx Documentary Center, then spent the next five and a half hours there. Grueling, somewhat pretentious comments, but learned a lot from the panelists during the first part of the session. Gentrification is only trickling into the south Bronx, but after East Harlem, it could be soon. Part of DeBlasio's mission would be to stop it, yet very few mentioned deBlasio in the discussion of the problems of New York which I thought was a little strange. Always interesting what people cite and don't cite. Then the movie about East Harlem gentrification---very good, and another discussion. Still feel there is a lot more to say, but am glad that the Times finally published today's article on Dasani and her family. Returned to UWS with new friend Louise---a good conversation and a cheese Danish. Totally interesting, dynamic afternoon and night, getting to really like that place. (Bronx Documentary Center).
Yesterday, hung out until play at Friends. Amazingly it was a fantastic production---great timing, great commitment from the cast---beautifully paced--everyone on exactly the same level. Good beginning for Steve, the new theater guy.
Then visited Cobra and South fourth, in the opposite order. Basically a good time, nothing special---and moved into today....

the aches and....

pains, after a day of subbing at Friends, and a tutoring session in Harlem. Cityboy really got it together yesterday, and collapsed royally when he returned home. Still, it was good to be back at Friends.
Today, tutoring session then over to the Bronx for that session on gentrification at Documentary Center. should be interesting and important for me to know. Tomorrow will go to play at Friends.
Not much else to report---body aches, but must continue at this pace. Later...

thrilled by....

philharmonic rehearsal this morning; never been before---lush music just coming up at me---remarkable! Scotch Symphony---felt like I was hearing it for the first time---very different than when hearing it for the ballet. First movement (not in ballet) really an incredible piece of music writing and Zinman and the Philharmonic players really articulated it beautifully. Love the rehearsal atmosphere, can sit by myself---none of the pressure of being a performance audience. May do it again at some point.
Still no work, though I will be in tomorrow. Just got an offer (which I accepted) for Tuesday the 17th---so
feel a little more centered as far as work is concerned. Still, surprised that there is  no work this week so far.
Well, it is a much younger staff this year.
Tonight the party at South Fourth, sound like fun---god knows the place has been so much a part of my life since June 07---happy to celebrate. Yesterday late afternoon, two good tutoring sessions, but not much
energy for a long evening---ended up getting Pizza at Two Boots, then going to the coffee place on 79 street and reading and eating a brownie (very rich). Checked out Barnes and Noble as well. Tomorrow, two first grade classes at Friends...wish me luck!

beautiful day....

and cityboy sits in the Riverdale library (actually it called Kingsbridge, but it sits adjacent to Riverdale) after a "trek", but a very valuable one to Inwood. Tried out Indian Road Cafe---very nice enrgy early in the morning, plenty of room, a nice ambience among the people, ended with a nice conversation with a writer called Kevin---may return tonight for Triva---if not then, another time.
Last night attended FURIE session, pretty productive, then got a slice of Pizza nearby and rather than hit a bar, chose to go to a yogurt place. Not a lot of energy but a good fruit drink. Woke up this morning feeling far less lethargic than yesterday---two tutoring sessions today, starting at 4:30, not sure about afterwards (see above) but will try to keep prices down...later.....

let's examine

last night: after two very successful and creative tutoring sessions, cityboy feels the hunger pains---and badly. But where to go? Stomach tells him a soup at Ollie's filled with pork or chicken is just the thing. But that means no conversation. Bars might be good, his two best Manhattan bars, Lansdowne Road and La Flaca are too far away. Pizza at Two Boots and then move on to somewhere else--not a bad idea, but cityboy thinks that his stomach deserves more than just a slice of pepperoni. So finally, Ollie's on 116street was decided, Columbia area with all that that brings up.....still go, have Duck in soup with noodles---really go to town (never usually have noodles) and end up being totally stuffed. Stomach feels like it has reached its limit.
No place to go but home and sleep. Woke up this morning---no work-----same feelings of rawness. Should cityboy have really gone to a place where "everybody knows his name" and scrapped the Chinese food. It's food for thought...don't you think. Will not stuff myself like that again---believe it!
Today, sun out nice and warm, can enjoy that--meeting at FURIE tonight---not sure what is before that---
so many things to do in the next few days---how can I get them all in...and what about....?

kind of mellow...

at this moment, I have two tutoring appointments later today, one at 4:30 on Convent Avenue and my friend Nailah  at 6:00 at 2311 Fifth Avenue. Should be easy to move from one place to another....just a question of how to spend the early part of the afternoon. Will probably read more of Salter's novel, am really enjoying it,
has me really swept in.
Saturday, determined not to sleep after tutoring session, achieved that, instead try to get a rush ticket for Good Woman at Public---no tickets available, did not want to pay for others--instead went out to Cobra, good conversation with Austen, the bartender, we went through our Williamsburg Bar repertory. She suggested that after leaving Cobra, I try Harefield Road, took her advice---arrived to find a few groups
of people together, no one lounging alone by the bar---felt alienated, nevertheless decided to stay, had a Smithwick and got the bartender to turn to the Net game. Bartenders grew in friendliness--did not stay very long----will try it again, perhaps on a slower night. Then down to East Village--laMama for a work in progress that should have been free.
Sunday, got off slowly, but went to cobra---Chelsea got me a new winter hat---really nice of her, but kind
of embarrassed me---nevertheless, very sweet, then off to south fourth to touch base with the regulars---had fun, good to see Alyson again---a pretty good day, all things considered. Lots of football watching, well at least it is cheap.
Today, after tutoring, not sure, will explore my options, as usual....