much to report....

re the weekend, full of ups and downs. So let's begin with Friday evening:
Went to Bronx Documentary Center to see movie on Jackson Mississippi's last abortion clinic---a powerful movie---really harsh in that it demonstrates the fervor of the anti abortion movement (perhaps a little too much) , and shows how dedicated the abortion clinic doctors and social workers and organizers are. Very upsetting---returned home via the 2. Too tired to "hang out" and had to get ready for the next day. At Bronx Doc I sat between two middle aged women, one black, one white. Both lived in the Concourse in the 160's. The black women had been there for quite a whil;, I wanted to question the white women as to when she moved in (she was Jewish, a small possibility that she was actually raised in that apartment and never left) but she was not near me after the film, and I also felt she might be defensive about answering my questions.
 Saturday, after lesson, went to Cobra to hang with Susan, my former bartender now moved to Richmond VA, returning for a one afternoon stand at the club. Really good to see her---she discussed in detail her life as a social worker in Richmond, and also some adventures in NYC this weekend. We were joined by Chelsea and Wallace, a couple who used to live in the neighborhood and be Susan's  regulars. Wallace talked of some band dates that I might go to, and we discussed a "processing fee" that her landlord had asked the couple to pay when they signed their last lease. I said it might be bogus, and encouraged then to check it out---I gave them some web sites that help tenants where they might get that information. At the same time, had a good conversation with a painter who dropped by named Jason---he invited me to his open house when they take place in Bushwick during the first week in October. Already some many commitments during that time. Just as things were sailing along and I was feeling very popular, decided to leave---thought that I might go to Metrograph to see a Kurosawa movie that I have never seen before (High and Low) but felt too tired. Yet did not want to return home. Result: I returned to Manhattan, stopped off at Standings but found that they were watching mostly college football---not my crowd---hated the obnoxious screaming of the UCLA fans.
Wanted baseball and got hungry at the same time, so went to Professor Tom's a bar on second right off 14th that I had enjoyed previously. Got my wish---Yankee game, which I wanted to see, was on, but stuffed myself with a spinach avocado dip---left very full and at the same time, emotionally undernourished. Worried all night that I ate too much. Woke up Sunday morning feeling very full----finally let my stomach get back into good shape, vowing that I would not eat like that again.
   Sunday, first a movie "Morris From America" at the Angelica---a black father and son in Heidelberg Germany where he coaches soccer and the son has to stay. Some nice takes on hitting puberty and some good father and son talks, I was never bored, but movie was slow and deliberate---glad I saw it (it will probably leave the Angelica soon) but would have liked something a little more sophistacated.
 The plan was to arrive at South Fourth around 5---was able to do that---refused to have a beer and watch more baseball. Olivia was there and basically had a good time. Stayed until about 8:30. A nice talk with a subway engineer named Eddie and read most of the day's Times. Returned home around 10.
Monday morning, stomach much better because I really took it easy on Sunday. Would it rain? No, so it was time to go to the West Indian Parade and table with the Brooklyn Anti-Gentrification Network.
That I did---energy was very intense, but people I spoke with (almost all black) were very friendly and courteous. Overate, of course (pork!) but stayed at the table for about 3 hours. Then came an interesting walk through the northern part of Crown Heights---walking north on Rogers for about 4 blocks---the apartment houses on Rogers are not art deco---seem pretty rudimentary, maybe the poorer Jews and Irish lived on them in the 40's and 50's. When did the neighborhood change? Continue to be haunted by that question. Needed coffee---found a spot on Rogers and Park Place or thereabouts, walked in to find a completely young white crowd immersed in their computers. I took two steps, then headed out---could not deal with a completely alternative universe that seemed to be presented to me. While walking passed many black groups still on their way to the parade. Everyone very cordial and friendly. While walking on Park Place from Rogers to Nostrand, one fellow stopped me, spotted my Brooklyn is not for Sale polo shirt (I had been wearing it all day) and complimented me very warmly. All along the route from Eastern Parkway to Fulton, got some nice compliments about the shirt, including one from a black policeman. Arrived at Fulton, then took the bus to the BAM area,where I had ice coffee and read at the usual place. (I can't think of the name; it is right across the street from Green Light book store---a great place to browse. Also while I was at Greenlight, Soraya, a member of BAN, chatted with me. She asked me about the march; about the police behavior at the march (I told her they were professional, and non-harassing) and we spoke a little about BAN and life in Prospect Lefferts where she lives. Finally returned home around 7, very tired. I could have gone out, maybe to the opera movies at Lincoln Center but quite frankly did not want to take in anything "meaningful" at the time. Slept intermittently until around 3 Tuesday morning, then awoke---lived through a really restless two hours and then began my day.
   So that is it---thanks for getting through it (if you are reading this) and will report about tonight, tomorrow.