have been up since....

around 4---in preparation for my visit to the Whitney for my friend Sibyl's project each solstice. Second time in the morning, took a taxi (something I never do) to the Whitney, looked at West End and 11th at around 5:20---totally deserted streets. How do I feel about Sibyl's "extravaganzas"?  They are meaningful in a certain way---part of a large group experiencing it---what is my place with them? Many people there that I know----many reflections and memories during the "quiet" periods.Some good conversations---out of the Whitney and on the streets of the far west village at 8.Still much beautiful architecture there---can forget all the "craziness" of NY for a minute while I look at them. But the world of the celebration itself. Almost like entering a dream world---participating in a ritual that one knows is not really real---but. Hard to put all these thoughts into a coherent pattern. Maybe later.
  Last night: went to see the movie: P.S. Jerusalem---a telling and upsetting movie about the daughter of Amos Elon---a well known progressive Isreli thinker---uprooting her family from Brooklyn (where else? ) and moving to Jerusalem. She does not flinch from the brutal conflicts there---a real look at the Isreli hard liners who hate the leftists. She also enrolls her two sons in the only school in the city serving both Arabs and Isreli families. Lots of interesting information---hard to take all of the ugly footage---no end to the conflict there---ultimately as her marriage is disintegrating she has to admit (at least I think she does)  that moving and living there was a self indulgence (that may be putting it a bit strong) and the film ends as she prepares to return to.....well it is never said, but we can assume it is Brooklyn. Very glad that I saw the movie, for all its discomfort, I got a lot of information that I really needed and was made aware of a lot of things.
 Saturday evening: The Penitent----Mamet's new play---did not really want to see it---interesting---for most of the play, the audience is very distanced from the actors. Some interesting point, some good use of language---the denouement---a surprise---I found phony and unnecessary. A hard play to discuss if you have not seen it, because so much depends on its presentation.
 Today, possibly will attend a performateria at Baruch---several "downtown" theater companies doing selections from their work---my buddies, the Assembly among them.Should be good to see them again---I recommended Home/Sick to a playwright whom I met at the solstice celebration---will any of the students I sent from Friends see it. Hard to know.Will find out in about two weeks.
 Two weeks of off time from Friends---finally mornings without expectation or planning. Should be interesting---will report soon.