rainy wednesday....

morning---went to Friends to pick up check--people there friendly, still have not worked in five days, tonight will go to Jazz Concert there (even in the rain) and see what the reaction is. Everybody seemed good to see me in the short time I was there this morning, so there seems to be no negative reaction re "incident" of April
20. Maybe there are not a lot of people being sick---it's possible. But want to sit on money until more days come in, not just two test days that I have for college AP's. Another school...? Well, I told Packer that I did not have enough days for them, maybe try next week, though we are so near the end.....procrastination...
Last night..went to Aperture gallery, a really nice atmosphere, to here my friend Harlo participate in a discussion about media and use of space on the internet. Glad I went, afterwards returned home to heatless apartment, but happily, that was fixed and heat is back.
Not much else to say, will try to find a viable book or books to read for most of the day, raining hard, should get harder, with no tutoring, might want to go to Brooklyn, but in this weather...? Not sure...

unsettling story....

just read about trial of one of the women arrested in occupy wall street march last year. No mention of it in the media--and no mention of the man who is my classmate at Hopkins, who was not bothered much by it at the reunion that I attended. Extension of liberty---not much else, can't get off this topic, even though i would
like to. Try to add some other things.
Received a phone call today from kyla's mom; she (kyla) did very well in a practice fourth grade math test yesterday, which much relieves her mom---she called me to thank me---was not expecting this, so I feel very good about it---could even do more tutoring if necessary----where does tutoring fit in against my "arts' interests. All a bit too much.
Yesterday, good session with Andrea, went to see Dylan M.s play at TNC; did not like the play much, very self-congratulatory, but enjoyed saying hi to him afterwards, really enjoy being supportive of him. Afterwards, thought of going to La Flaca---too tired, ended up with another slice of one dollar pizza at a dive on 14th street---then went to Finnerty's just in time for the San Jose sharks game which drew a lot of loud people to the bar---wanted to watch the giants game a bit, did and then left, tired, so I was not upset. Slept pretty well, probably because today is service day at Friends and I knew there would be no calls. How about tomorrow...?
Could go to visit Lucas at FUREE today, don't know if I really want to, so many theater projects in the "downtown theater" orbit in the next four weeks---it is somewhat mind boggling.
Still stewing re article, that's what happens when you sit about 10 feet from someone who allowed police to behave in this way---yet he is still honored and lionized. Well, we have a long way to go in the country.
How do you separate decency from dissent? Think about it, deal with the anger....

still, another day...

without being called at Friends, well should visit the Jazz Concert on Wednesday---see what happens, will be fresh for my tutoring session today at 5, and then finally decided to see Dylan M in neo-futurists play at TNC. Have not been there in a while, not the greatest place for me to be, but will go anyway.
Saturday, after some deliberation, did make it out to brooklyn, started at Newkirk, love that coffee place called milk and honey on the corner of Westminster Road and Newkirk. Not too crowded, which made it mellow---decided that I had to get to bushwick, sort of on the other side of the earth from Ditmas Park, but how, without returning into Manhattan? Walked to Church Avenue, waited for the bus, bus came and boarded it going east, at Flatbush it turned and for a few blocks went down Linden Boulevard. Beautiful art deco homes on those blocks, again a longing for the past, could have easily grown up there.Bus returns to Church on Nostrand---Church is a narrow avenue, filled with stores that cater to the carribean community that mostly lives there. A long trip to Utica avenue, this is an area not serviced by any subway, so buses are
so much more relevant to the lives here. At Utica, a large street, wondered if I could walk to Eastern Parkway, but decided against it, bus came very quickly, and gets to Eastern in about 10 long blocks, then goes down through Crown heights, and finally the bed-stuy part of the trip, ending at Broadway. Never realized how many beautiful brownstones there are between Utica and Patchen, first block east of same, in bed-stuy. Got off at Broadway, did not want to wait for another bus to take me accross Bushwick, instead walked through the cold rain, stopped off at Molasses, the bookstore in Bushwick, and finally arrived at
Cobra. Saw Austin, John, others and a good time was had by all.
Afterwards, thought I would try out Sweet Science, but ended up at Basik, a nice bar restaurant near the L stop on Graham. The bartender and his friend were very friendly, his friend, Curtis, was teaching in a charter school in Boston, so much to talk about. Bartender, Russell is reading at KGB tonight, thought I would go but decided to see Dylan M at theater for the new city instead.
Sunday, other things, which brings us to today. Tomorrow is service day at Friends, so no work then, maybe a late night tonight.

free at last....

yes, coming up a day without structure---Saturday morning, no tutoring planned, can do what I like. But what is that...? This morning toyed with many ideas, play, baseball game, now it seems I just want to let the day spread out in front of me and make spontaneous choices. Love to take a walk down Ocean Parkway, but that is far away from my possible later destinations in Williamsburg and/or possibly Bushwick.
Museum of Moving Image has an Anthony Mann retrospective---have always liked his work, but don't think I will go today or tomorrow. Also would like to hear Levine conduct at least the overture from Cosi, it is being broadcast this afternoon, so might wait for that. But the looseness of the day---that is what is invigorating to me. I think just not having to be anywhere at any given time turns me on.
Yesterday, after library, simply waited around until I could leave for library on 145 street. Got very restless,
antsy in the apartment, just so much sports talk or current events talk one can listen to.
At library met Andrea; she arrived from her school with two friends, also in her class, invited them to join
the tutoring, good idea, andrea loosened up I think enjoyed the company of her friends,also did some very good work. Think that she needs a lot of repetition and drills; not being a repetition person, this is hard for me, but should make the adjustment, now that I have more insight into her learning process. This will be continuing work.
Went to have coffee, unexpectedly got into a conversation with "Chuck" an actor who was in A and C at the public this year (I did not see it). Very invigorating conversation, he was very interested in my memories of the seventies at the Public. Left feeling very "up", stimulated. Went from there to Lansdown Road, (too tired to go to Brooklyn) very loud and busy, but able to watch some baseball and see my twin friend Mel. Not a great time, but a good one, then was tired and headed home, slept fairly well.

after DRA...

which was wonderful, really had a great time, great to see some of the kids I know so well, doing some very inventive choreography and dancing.  Decided not to see a movie (although Tribeca Festival was incredibly crowded at the nine o'clock show, just for a group of shorts! Walked though the East Village, trying to figure out what bar I would be the most comfortable at, watching baseball and basketball. Ended up at the one between 13th and 14th and Avenue A---I have been there many times before, treated very nicely by the bartender, but basically this is just another one of my "sterile" bars----room enough to watch baseball, but very little contact. I have to remind myself of this, on some nights I think that watching baseball in itself will be sufficient, but usually I feel played out fairly quickly. And yet choose these bars sometimes over bars in which I am known. Should be a little different tonight---after I tutor Andrea, should either go to Lansdown Road, or over to south fourth where, I hope, Kim might be working. Then maybe to Sweet Science to use the coupon book that I got from Brokelyn and chat with Danny, the bartender that I met at South Fourth on Sunday.
Richard Powers' book Orfeo is really exciting---very intense writing---should finish it by the end of the weekend.
Still have not seen anything since last Saturday...no movie...? Possibly tomorrow, though sometimes I think it is better that I do my wandering.

another day.....

with the sun out, just returned from a double tutoring session with Tamia and her classmate Kyla. Hard work, both kids have trouble retaining certain math facts--hope I see Kyla again on Sunday.
Yesterday, a nice session with Ellie, then returned home, it was cold, decided to go to the bar on Amsterdam and Eightieth street and watch sports, turns out that they had trivia, and even though I was tired, I played, did not join a team, but nevertheless had fun, and found some meaning in the bar, which I conceived as being terribly coldToday, will go to FRiends for Dancers Responding to AIDS at 7, over by eight, what then....? ৈৈ

first day off...

in a while, not counting Thursday, which was a half day. So, here I am...a little nervous because of 'the incident' with the seventh graders on Monday, but which, at this point, seems to be resolved. Would like to talk to the seventh graders tomorrow, but won't unless invited. Tomorrow I will go to the Dancers Against Aids dance concert---will see most people there, maybe get some feedback. Today, it seems that I will have two tutoring sessions, which should keep me going, and get me ready for a night in which, hopefully, I won't be too tired to move around, as I have been the last two.
Saturday night Catch---very uninteresting, disappointing, a real sense of self-indulgence, not much else, not one short segment really of interest. Saw a few of my downtown theater friends there, but did not spend much time with them, basically on my own. No problem, got what I could out of it.
Sunday, both "hangouts" turned out to be productive, good time at South Fourth as I helped Sonja talk through some of the conflicts that she was facing as she moved into her co-op. Big move for her, brought up a lot of feelings. Felt very much that I was being a "funcitional" friend--really allowing her to get out some of her feelings through her conversation with me, and creating a dialogue with her that helped her focus on some of those "heavy" feelings Left feeling very productive.
So where do we go from here...? Not sure, two tutoring sessions in store for today---again evening is full of possibilities, as long as I am not tired. Should see a movie, a play, ...or something. Big downtown theater
month in May, will probably see a lot, but now,,,,,?

cityboy is

tired....from lots of work yesterday both at Friends and tutoring afterwards. Slept a lot last night. Really good group at Friends for Anna's last period. Felt the warmth. Today, some tutoring, possibly, probably go to Catch tonight in Brooklyn, tomorrow usual trips to Cobra and South fourth. Back to Friends on Monday. Lots of things to see if I wish to...also sports, brain is kind of tired.....

so it's

over, the reunion, that is. How do I feel about it...? Not sure, maybe I expected too much. In the beginning, after my arrival at the luncheon, everyone seemed distorted, far too elderly, could not really believe that these were my classmates. Hellos were formal, memories, indifferent. Got to my place in Roland Park, I like it there, but it was a bit too far. Betsy (the very nice woman who I stayed with) drove me to the station on Sunday. Still, I remain fascinated and turned on by the city. Must visit again this summer, hopefully for a longer period of time.
Back to the reunion, returned to the campus early. Stood outside the pavilion for a while, watched the little campus trolleys bringing my classmates to the spot. Seemed ludicrous. Had two good discussions with two student helpers, both of whom were black---got a chance to let the black theater group of Hopkins read Adam Kraar's play (or at least receive it) about the freedom summer. Drinks followed and then a few speeches from recipients of awards, and then the President. I won an I pad, have no idea why...? Not sure whether to keep it or sell it---selling it would help me a lot financially. A breadth of fresh air was Paul Quin, dressed in overalls and here with his partner, a very nice guy. Finally sat down next to Nancy, wife of Bill Brown. Good conversation about the late Wendy Wasserstein, who was a classmate of Nancy's. Ate a lot, chocolate cake was really good, finally got up to leave, then talked briefly with the Phi Eps; a brief conversation with a few guys, they were really very nice, then a spontaneous conversation with Ed G, felt a lot of feeling all of a sudden. Jim Lo Gerfo, also very warm and friendly, all seemed impressed that I tutored in Harlem. Left the hotel in a taxi feeling that yes, this had meaning, a very specific meaning with guys who are really not part of my life, but share "something" with me from the past. Went home, went to sleep, woke up the next morning, looking at Roland Heights Avenue, watching the street come to life on Sunday morning.
First blog in a while, have been strenuously working at Friends, really arduous, tutoring most of the afternoons as well. But this pay group has been a break through for me---I think things are pretty good through the early summer---still obsessed with lowering my credit--never seem satisfied with that.
Will tutor renee this afternoon, after that "free".  First night I will not be too tired to move around. But go...
"where"...?Probably to Pere Ubu, unless something else turns up cheaper or more interesting.

have the...

Les Mis music going through my brain all morning, really great dress rehearsal yesterday at Friends, amazingly well organized, great to hear the score with a small orchestra---really works with that, and despite the overhype of the piece for the last 27 years, it is a really passionate score---somehow it captures the intransigence of Javert and the pull force (for want of a better word) of Valjean.
No work today, a little down, momentum is broken, but do have tutoring assignments this afternoon, should keep me busy. Probably will not attend FURIE benefit tonight, really just too much going on, need to take it easy before tomorrow's trip---clear my head.
Once again re-read the reunion magazine---still amazed at how many of my classmates, those that I knew and those that I did not know, got married in the first few years after college and have remained married to the same person, all these years. And where are you in all this, cityboy..? What will be your stance when you see these people tomorrow...well, I will try to be as friendly as possible, I guess...I don't think you will discover any secrets about the longevity of marriage.
That seems to be all for now.....should post again after the reunion.....have to get ready....

Last two...

days at Friends, actually last five days, if you count Thursday, when I got there, but did not work. Today a little different in pace, somewhat strange adjustment that I have had to make. But good that I am not working, have two tutoring sessions this afternoon, this way I will be fresh for them.
Continue to re-read Hopkins reunion alumni magazine, full of sketches of the last 50 years of most of my
classmates. Again, confronted by a lot of similar stories, feel a little left out, but this morning when I awoke, felt so in touch with the present, that going to the reunion seemed like an afterthought. Just go in and out, cityboy.
While on my way to library, saw a woman jogging, saw to my surprise, that is was "X" a woman who forty years ago, I was very interested in. Got in touch with some old feelings, some a little negative, since it was she who rejected me. I saw her, but she seemed to be in a bubble---did she not say hello because she saw it was me, or was she just too focused on her jogging? Probably the latter. Perhaps will catch her again, part of me wants to say "hello', another is satisfied with things as they are now.
Saturday night, went to Bushwick Starr, disappointed in "theater piece" if you could call it that, actually annoyed, because I really felt the lecture did not need to be in a theater. But enjoyed going out there,
saw Nick from Assembly, had a good talk with him, then Sunday, spent the day first in Bushwick, then took a long walk down Myrtle Avenue, from Wycoff (L train) to Broadway. Very interesting walk. Then checked in at South Fourth.
tomorrow, all day at Friends, including dress rehearsal for Les Mis, then Friday, if not working, will husband my resources, as I plan for the early morning departure of my bus on Saturday.

exhausted from....

yesterday...full day at Friends, and then tutoring for one hour Andrea, her grandfather was slow at picking her up, and library was closing, so stayed with her for a bit, then went with her to her apartment house, west
146 street the closest to Broadway, still seems inhabited by all hispanic people --no gentrifyers to speak of; everyone I passed in the building on my in with Andrea and out by myself, seemed very nice.
 Lots of stairs climbed yesterday, by the time I returned to the apartment I was pretty tired.
Today, as usual, lots of options, I can see Love and Information, the Caryl Churchill play, for free but can't seem to get myself interested in going. Go to Bushwick Starr tonight....? Possibly, also could help out at Gowanus Houses for FUREE, but wonder if I am too tired for that, actually have a yen (that is the right word for it) to wander around Ditmas Park, Newkirk-Cortelyou Road area. Why? Don't know, just the the tranquility of the area, also the architecture of those houses that are so familiar to me from my childhood, seems like it is calling to me.
Will see Kyla tomorrow, this is the last weekend before the reunion, next week at this time I will be on the bus to Baltimore---heading to Hopkins. but tomorrow will spend my usual time in Bushwick and maybe Williamsburg. No real fantasies about next weekend, just play it by ear.....

cityboy is....

tired, as I sit in the Lincoln Center library. And why not? I have been to Friends, then out to South Williamsburg. then to the library about ten blocks east of there to do some reading, and finally back to Lincoln Center. Arrived at Friends, only to check e-mail and see that Vanaja's class trip was canceled, meaning that I was not needed today. Vanaja does not have my phone, so apparently she assumed that I would get the e-mail before coming in. But, of course, I didn't. A little strange at first, then some frustration as I hunted down some other work in the school,only there was none. But Phil K called later and I am subbing for him tomorrow, and there is also an assignment for me next week. So things are looking pretty good.
One benefit of this morning in Williamsburg---found a nice new coffee place on Hope Street, very roomy and welcoming, called 66 Hope. Will return.
Tough article in the Times, this morning, about how Cuomo is allied strongly with hedge fund managers and the like, and this is making him protect charter schools, and standing against deBlasio. I t seems the democratic party now is really split in two--the wealthy and the activists. How does the twain meet...?
Hopkins reunion draws closer---interesting to see how interaction with all those guys and their wives will go.
That's all for now, should finish up here and try to get some rest.

a beautiful day but...

kind of depressing to read Michael White's blog and find out that deBlasio has not put the kibbosh on the plans to depress the Brooklyn Heights Library and build a luxury high rise on the spot. When will this nonsense stop...? have job for Thursday at Friends, that is good.....today free, may go out to Brooklyn to help FUREE if possible.
Yesterday, good day, two tutoring sessions, Kyla is very worried about fifth grade reading test today, took a look at some of her preparation tests---really dehumanizing, that is the only way I can call it, I would have had trouble with one of the questions, it was so obscurely related to the text. Is it designed to make kids like Kyla feel inferior? I tried to explain to her that this was really seventh or eighth grade work---that she should not be terribly bothered by it, but you can see that she is. Strange how things have changed since our day and age---hopefully today's test will be a lot easier than the assignment that she was given.
Last night, returned home after a welcoming and affectionate visit to Lansdown Road, can't believe how nice everyone is there, yesterday not too crowded, good to say hello to Sinem again. At any rate, waiting for me in the mail was the fiftieth anniversary yearbook from my class at Hopkins, with all its statements, and pictures of my classmates and stories of their lives in the past fifty years. Interesting how similar many of them are....a large majority are married for over forty years to their wives, most (at least most who wrote) seem to have found high achieving jobs in law or teaching or medicine and are reaping the benefits of such jobs. I wrote a very small piece, in comparison to the others, did not want to go through the "accomplishments" or disappointments of my life---and what of those whom I knew who did not participate in the request for autobiographical information. Why? Interesting how some very well adjusted people seem to shy away from participating in any alumni activities. These are all guys who I perceived as being very integrated into the world of Hopkins. At any rate, glad now that I am going to the reunion, don't know what to expect, but should be an interesting couple of hours, interacting with my classmates.
Time to move on to other things, dichotomy between the two parts of me---theater and education seem strong, perhaps go to the opera tonight, will have to convince myself, want to see this production of La Sonanbula because it apparently tries to explode the simple story, but don't know if it is in the cards.