a little frustrated on...

Wednesday morning, as I find myself working at the Saint Agnes Library, far more crowded then the Lincoln Center one, which is where I had originally planned to go. But I bought ear phones (much needed?) here, and so I went upstairs to use the computers at this library. The result? Probably a much shorter time to work here. And then there was the hassle with the ear phones, which actually now work. But I am a little frazzled as I write this. Too bad, because the last few days have been filled with work---very productive but very little time to myself. I had hoped that would change today, a little relaxation, but so far has not happened.
   So what to report? Have just found out about a forum on the Atlantic Yards project this evening at City College in midtown, the same place where, ironically, the Preludes (the theater event of free previews that I usually go to) will be taking place. No end of things to do and be at in New York. Would like to go. I also wanted to go down to La Flaca and give my friend Bob, the owner, some support. He needs it as he is being treated very badly by his landlord. He has put a great deal of work into making La Flaca work---now, because the landlord has complete control--he wants to end the lease in two years, or give Bob and two year extension at a much higher rent. Seems terribly unfair, yet it is what is happening all around NY. This is a brutal city when it comes to cost. How long will this go on? Something must be done. But how? All the power in these cases is controlled by the landlords. Must encourage city council members to change things. The only way.
   Saturday night, went with my friend Robin to see a Brian Friel play at the Irish Rep. Meaningful? Not quite sure---nice to see a play where the exposition moves very slowly because the playwright knows he can do this. Somewhat powerful towards the end---a great performance by an actress named Rachel Pickup. Did I need to see it? Does it enhance theater in the city? Should a theater doing mostly revivals be entitled to not for profit status? These are questions that are not really being addressed--they should be  A decent Saturday evening---not much more to say.
   Sunday, a day of wandering. Started off at Cobra watched some football, became restless, moved to Molasses bookstore, somewhat nearby---bought a book of Tudor plays, reading The Revengers Tragedy---ran into Myrtle Avenue, where I took the Myrtle Avenue bus into Bed-Stuy, always interesting, landed at Black Swan, watched the end of the football games there- a very loud crowd, should remember not to go there on Sundays again---at least not during football season. Continued south on Bedford to Fulton, then the bus to the area near BAN---stopped into Green Light bookstore, saw about five books that I might want to read, dreamed of reading them, but of course, did not buy any. A stop at my favorite Pizza place nearbye and then finally, off to South fourth. A little slow at the beginning, but Nick a young man worked on the Sanders campaign and now works for Vice, came in, and we talked city politics and city facts for about an hour. He seemed very interested in what I like to refer to as 'pockets of rage",  that is small groups of New Yorkers who are allowing themselves to feel more disenfranchised as the luxury high rise buildings continue to appear and who want to fight back, and elect City Council persons from their district who will fight against the developers who are building these high rises. Anyway, he may attend the next BAN meeting, so the day, which seemed a little bit unstructured and lost from time to time, ended with a meaningful conversation, which is what the whole thing is about.
   Tonight, was thrown for a loop by the announcement of the forum, but may actually go to a movie at the Lincoln Center film festival---part of the Robert Mitchum retrospective, a little earlier. No work at Friends today, so the night is free---and more interesting. Let  us see how it all plays out.