lots of stuff has happened...

between now and the last post. Again, cityboy faces his last week "off" before labor day. It is going to be hot--not exactly the way he had hoped August would end. Also, putting a lot of pressure on myself to keep to my proposed budget---while this might be a time for many ice coffees and fruit drinks. Oh well, will have to see how it all works out.
Saturday evening--my first visit (with my friend John) to a Brooklyn Cyclone game in probably ten years. Actually I had a very good time, seats were close to the field, and it was nice to watch a game with my own eyes, meaning not guided by the tv, which is how I usually see baseball. Place was extremely crowded, but that did not interfere with my enjoyment, particularly as John and I tried to piece out who the players were with the most potential. Also, so much "garbage" between innings (races, games for children) but that still did not bother me. So what did I really like about it?  I don't know, just the fact that I could lose myself in the rhythm of the game---watching it still excites me. Will I return again, for one more game? Only about a week left---will depend on what else I decide to do, but I would like to. Cyclones won by the way, something like 10-3, the Connecticut Tigers had very poor pitching (like major league, like minor league) but their infield played very well.
 Afterwards, we took the F train back to the city. I got off at Prospect Avenue station with the idea of possibly heading to Freddy's, or one of the other fifth avenue bars in Park Slope. Walked along Prospect Park West from 16th to 17th street, a few bars and restaurants, some people on the street, but ended up at the only pizza parlor on the street, and felt too tired to hit a bar after that. So I returned home. The F moves very quickly through Brooklyn--it did not take a long time to get the upper west side.
  Yesterday, as I had planned, headed to Cobra around 12, to "hang" with my friend, bartender Olivia and watch some baseball ( a boring Met game). Got to read the paper, and watch the teams play scoreless innings. After that, headed to nearby Maria Hernandez park (named for the brave woman who had confronted drug dealers in the park in 1990, and was shot by them)  where a four hour neighborhood party was planned. It started slow, and cityboy held back, but some nice things happened towards the end. I stopped at the Starr bar, just as it opened, and had a really nice talk with the bartender there named Katie. Then I returned to the park, just as the open mike performances were beginning. Many of my friends from the Bushwick Starr were there---I had a nice chat with Vanessa, a super actress who works with the children's group that the Starr sponsors, and then was approached by a young woman named Niki, who wrote and photographed for the Bushwick Daily.She took a photograph of me in my Brooklyn is Not For Sale shirt, and asked me to state a caption for the photograph---it being: "A true NewYorker fights for everyone" That was my gut statement, I think it is good, though it does not mention the march or BAN. Niki said that the Instagram has about 20,000 followers. Will all of them see that picture?  Comments? Won't find out because I still have a flip phone. It is probably better that way, cityboy is possessive of his anonymity.
 Really miss the lack of South fourth, have not been to the Bedford part of Williamsburg since it closed. I should try to make contact with some of my friends from there: Kathy, Harlo et. al. Maybe soon.
 Tired after the park, decided just to head home. Took the L to Bedford, walked north to the Bean there, had coffee and a desert (I was having a real sugar fit) and then waited for the 62 bus---too tired to take the four block walk to the L----and took it through Greenpoint, Long Island City, to the 7. It came very quickly, moved easily to Times Square, and then I took the 3 home. I like going home this way.
Tonight the BAN meeting, then.......