some problems....

at Friends, will not go into it now, better to discuss it with someone I feel is appropriate there---great day there yesterday, however, on the go from 8 to 6---much too tired to go to Bushwick for my friend John's reading yesterday evening, which is what I expected. Had 4.5 periods, two movies for French, and the chem classes with the 10th grade and 11th-12th grade. Good to see everyone, then 3 hours in the library, had some good conversations with some of the students, one particularly rewarding one with Annie L, had not seen her since last summer--really good to touch base with her finally and share some info. She, like so many of the other seniors, is dealing with this crucial time while she figures out what to do about college entrance. Remember that time in my own life, lots of pressure from parents and peer envy. Wish I could be more supportive and dialogue with the students, but  they seem to know what is happening, and accept my (somewhat superficial) support. Going back to run the library again this afternoon, really looking forward to it---then will be back for a full day again on Friday, including a more abbreviated library session.
Weekend: on the way to meet Robin at her hotel restaurant, quite by accident ran into Pete, former bartender at All State, amazingly enough he told me there was a reunion at Malachi's of much of the former All State crew. Had a nice dinner with Robin, then off to the bar---really glad Pete told me about the reunion, had a really good time there, touching base with many whom I knew well during my 15 or so years there as a "regular". Nice conversations with Kerry and former bartender Gabrielle, as well as my Facebook friend Tess. Felt really upbeat returning to the apartment.
Sunday: a tale of many neighborhoods, went to Cobra to watch football game, stayed for first half, interest was not held as much as I expected---then to where...? All Brooklyn before me! Decided to take the bus on Dekalb and Wycoff, it goes through the seven streets of Bushwick, then through bed-stuy, Clinton Hill and Fort Greene, with all the gentrification going on it is still a fascinating trip though the streets of Brooklyn. Got off around DeKalb and Cumberland, surrounded by the beautiful (and now very expensive) brownstones of Fort Greene, a little off put by all of it, had a pizza slice on Fulton, then walked into Park Slope, stopped at Coffee, a great place for a pick up on Bergen near 5th. After that walked a bit more, but decided it was time to return to the Manhattan.
Saw the movie "Nasty Baby" at IFC, a movie about gentrification (at least that is one of the issues the movie brings up). Not a great movie, but very skillful, some beautiful camera shots that define the house that the two men live on (ironically enough on Adelphi Street in Fort Greene, where I just had been). Ending very violent, not sure I buy into it, but glad that I saw the movie.
Returned home early after that, decided just to rest, so that my energy would be high for the day coming (Monday, it was)
Today, after library, looks like another BAN meeting, will see how I fit in to the current plans for the next day of demonstration....