christmas....

is always a difficult day for cityboy, all his favorite hang outs are out of operation, so what was he to do?
two movies...? Too expensive (later settled for one in the evening) Most of morning spent reading Philip Roth (always reliable, but have to skip certain endless passages) and listening to music, finally left in early afternoon for heavy woods, wanted to use my free beer pass, but only wanted coffee, so that was out. Had an Americano, interesting place, much more formalized then cobra, energy was nice but impersonal, can see myself returning there late at night to check out the scene, but will I...? Thought of meandering around Brooklyn by bus, but somehow idea did not stick, instead, went to Bedford, read a little bit at the Bedford bean (like that place) and returned home, lazed around until 7 and then went to see African Queen at Huston retrospective. A little hokey, maybe I expected more gravitas, but Bogart and Hepburn are great to watch, and Hepburn, particularly, makes a remarkable transition from held back sexless wall flower to Bogart's sex honey. Still, left a bit unsatisfied....
Wednesday evening went to south fourth and hung out with Merlin and a few theater friends, enjoyed conversations, walked a possibly inebriated female (she wasn't) to a taxi, just to make sure she did not collapse, and then returned to South fourth.
Would like to use the bar book a few times before 12/31, but wonder if I will---today might go to La flaca in evening, have not been there for a while, but should also go for a drink at one of the bars, still stuck in Manhattan until 6, well it will work itself out....