first day....

not called to Friends in seven days. Strange feeling this morning, having the time to myself, but some good things should come out of it as well. I can't say it was not expected. I was lucky to get all the work last week---people are usually always there the first week, but some unforseen illnesses and there I was. Yesterday in the library for four hours, I continued what I feel is my terrific relationship with the students of the school A real "feel good" experience. I expect to be working tomorrow, and there should be some work in the next two weeks as well. Can't predict how much--we will see.
  The rest of the weekend: Saturday afternoon---hot, hot, hot---but did get to Saint Luke theater box office and did pick up my ticket to the 60th anniversary celebration and talk of West Side Story. Strange, at this point I am not very excited about it. Seems to be just another point on my various travels. But I am glad I purchased the ticket. Afterwards, just came home and rested, then off to Fresh Salt, a laid back bar-restaurant near the seaport to meet with Assembly people. Some good conversations---a nice one with Rolls, who has appeared in several off off Broadway productions that I enjoyed. He was in Beardo---the Rasputin Musical with music by Dave Malloy---and has also worked with my friend Sibyl and Sarah Hughes. A good guy and good actor. Then some conversations with the black actress who is playing Arkadina in Assembly's Seagull-Machine, which will be performed in April at La Mama. Finally a good talk with Steve Aubrey---not about theater---but about gentrification in Brooklyn and our collective disappointment in the current Mayor. He liked my complaint about the canteloupe and coffee at the Greek Diner for (before tip) $8.40. Said that it was a good explanation for the growing cost of living in the city that could be harmful to so many people if it is not stopped in a few years. Our conversation was a good way to end the evening at the bar (which, by the way, had terrific bar food).
With some time to kill on Saturday, I decided that I must go to Lincoln Center and see the Rat Film, a film about exterminators in Baltimore, with larger implications. I got my ticket and entered the auditorium at the Bunin which had a very small audience for a nine o'clock Saturday show. The documentary itself was a weird, ironic film, that did not quite link the racial prejudice that it believed   had dominated Baltimore with the story of the exterminators. But it did include one very charming and cool black exterminator---sort of the link between the world of Baltimore and the audience---a man of about 55 with an incredible philosophical sense. Lots of fun listening to him. Left the movie  feeling a little cold---I would have liked a greater pulling together of the vision, but was worth seeing.
   Sunday, an odd day, which began with my trying to get a free ticket via lottery to ERS's Measure for Measure at the Public. When I got to the theater at 11:30, the crowd was small; I felt I would have no trouble getting in, but by 12, the crowd had increased, and my lottery ticket number was not called (off by one). I could have come back and tried to get in right before curtain, but by that time I was at South Fourth and fairly tired. I want to see it, but still have not heard from my friend Sarah, who should have a link to some discounts. I definitely cannot see it at full price (really a turnoff) and the only $20.00 tickets are by lottery, which I do not play, since I don't have a smart phone, and don't want one. How will this play out? We will see--I am anxious to see ERS's vision of the play---the first Shakespeare that they have done.
  The rest of Sunday was inconsequential---as for tonight, I am not sure where I will be. I will report soon on how it turns out.