Weekend report:

Saturday evening: Got in to Clubbed Thumb very easily. Three one act works in progress. The first, about a lesbian, trying to find herself in NY, seemed really pretentious. The second, a tart energetic piece about legal aid lawyers using food as a way to deal with the tensions of the job, was funny and brilliantly cast---also kind of in love with itself---a great gap between the needs and hang ups of the middle class lawyers and their clients who are suffering, and are not seen throughout the piece. Great performance by Ugo as the leader of the group---hard to think of what the play would be like in the hands of a less imaginative actor. The third play, by Amina, a woman I have now known for about 20 years (amazing!) was very strong---a group of women hurting themselves and others--she writes really believable dialogue for both black and white characters. This play got a little bit out of control in the end, by it had its frightening moments---another great cast gathered to perform the play.
  Afterwards, hung out with the creative people, had a nice talk with Ugo, whom I had seen in other projects but never met. It seems we are both from the Bronx--he actually teaches at Columbus High School, my neighborhood high school---that is where I would have gone if I had not gotten into Bronx Science (my parents would never have lived that down!)---actually might have been more interesting if I had gone there (again looking back on it the embarassment would have been scary!) my first year at the Science Annex was pretty awful. Anyway I had a good conversation with Ugo and a few others involved in the three plays. All were very warm and friendly---another evening with my "community" which came out well---then back home early because the rain was intense and I did not want to risk a subway breakdown.
  Sunday--yes, all day football at La Flaca with owner Bob and others. Two really meaningful and exciting games with good company and conversation. Returned home late but pleased.
  Yesterday---a tough day because of the intense cold---a lot of time "trapped" in the apartment. Did get out for a movie at Film Forum: Capernaum--a very intense film about a homeless 12 year old in Beirut. A serious and really telling film that looks at the poverty in that city and what it causes. It is beautifully shot. I left feeling very sad---a little overwhelmed by the intensity and the "take no prisoners" mentality of the film.
  The rest of the evening was just keeping warm. Did go out once to get a parfait--not bad, was able to do it in spite of the amazing cold. But it seems like the clash of the parfait with the roast beef sandwich (a big fat one) that I had gotten from Citarella was hurtful---I was up all night making bathroom trips---still hard to figure out what is happening in my stomach. The night was a little hard to get through---but I made it into the morning.
  I had hoped to try to see Pelleas at the Met this evening---still may, but with my stomach in the tentative shape it is in, and some other things, it might be better to skip it. This would be my last chance to see the new music director conduct it---really worth going, but Pelleas is so bleak and intense and distanced---emotionally I feel very far away from it now.
  All this will be played out later--will report soon.