Finally got out....

and really glad that I did. Though a little tired last night, pushed myself to see Frank's play at Paradise Factory---really happy about that---this is a terrific piece---totally original, never have seen a play about jazz before---this one explores it so effortlessly. Good to see Nila, Frank's girl friend, former bartender at Cosi, and original connection to Frank at the show---she lives in Seattle now, as well as some other former Cosi service people, really after ten years they all look great. But thinking about it now, it was just so important to get out---to be somewhere else besides the apartment in the evening, a really good choice. They play should have a life after these performances at COIL, will be very unfair if it does not.
Today, only one session (so it seems) planning to go to Dixon Place this evening, need to take it easy during the day---maybe listen to some of the opera---Anna Bolena on the radio---one that I have never heard of before. Also, reading a really solid book by James Ellory called Perfidia, about LA just as the Japanese have invaded Pearl Harbor---football playoffs also begin this afternoon, should find a place to watch them, though evening game is the much more interesting one.
Not that much more to say, will probably report on Monday...

looks like....

i may get a chance to see my friend Frank's play tonight---tickets are available (according to the web site) and I have a lighter schedule today than previously this week. Not sure how many sessions I will have tomorrow, said I will go to Dixon Place for Saturday evening play recommended by Sibyl, not sure what will happen after that---good football game on that night, maybe go to La Flaca, would also like to pay a visit to South Fourth, have not been there in a while (since the precipitous New Year's Eve encounter with my friend Emily)---also will depend on Sunday schedule, not firmed up yet. Must do SOMETHING tonight, tired of just going home because I am exhausted and looking at the walls of my apartment---definitely in need of some stimulation--hope I can check out Frank's show, which is just at the right time.
Last night, after my two sessions, still felt tired, also hungry, went to two boots on Broadway and 95th for a nice slice of peppironi then off to the Dive Bar, got a space at the bar, but not much was happening, had my beer and left---returned home.
Weekend will be busy---lots of options, want to go to Jack on Sunday evening to make my contribution to the Tamar Rice fund---don't know what the afternoon will bring, would like to attend the Bronx Conference on gentrification, but don't know if I will be able to, should be in the Bronx because I have a student there, but not sure what is after the morning.
DeBlasio on the radio---took questions, spoke a lot about helping the homeless, but nothing about his ties to the Real Estate developers and their need to get as much space for themselves as possible. Wish a good discussion on this was possible.
That is all for now...will report tomorrow..

played out...

from 3.5 sessions yesterday, today should be a little easier, also slept better last night, woke up feeling stronger---certainly has something to do with the fact that my "hungry" meal was a blt, and coffee, followed by a mixed sugar cookie. Have to remember that large chicken meals are potentially harmful and should be ruled out.
Dream last night had something to do with my being part of a welcoming group in Brooklyn, some kind of open place, one of the other members there was a black man who must have been in his eighties (but he looked very well) and I recognize him as one of the original cast of West Side Story, naturally I am eager to get all the facts from him. but he is very controlled and reticent (as were the members of WSS's original cast, when one met them outside the stage door) That's all I remember, actually I think there was only one black member of the original cast (Ronnie Lee) and this was not the man in the dream. Anyway, the dream was a bit more upbeat than last night's frightening vision, so I am not complaining.
Today in my hotmail in box: An invitation to an anti gentrification meeting in the Bronx.
Above it, an invitation to a play by a friend of mine, in which she performs nude in a bathtub.
Well, two different worlds (have not made up my mind if I will go to either)
Today, a few sessions--see how I feel after that, not as strenuous as yesterday, tomorrow, a little more relaxing---nice to have all this work while Friends work is dormant, but somewhat overwhelming as well.
American Realness, Coil, Under the Radar, bric, Mac Wellman...all around, will see what the future brings...

so it...

continues...a mother just requested several sessions with her son. I have tutored him previously---demand is strong. See how it plays out.
Yesterday, I guess you could call it a "recovery" day---tutored in the afternoon, after two session extremely tired, must be fallout from epic lost phone "journey" from the night before. No opera, obviously, simply went home and rested. Slept for a while, then up and around, putting things together in my mind (that is what you do when you have no computer, smart phone, tv, or cd player in the apartment)---then off to sleep again.
Frightening dream, early in the morning, I am at some kind of lunch celebration with a group of people, including a date (whom I could not identify). Long rectangular table. Lots of conversation. All of a sudden, four men (white, lower class) who look like building workers bring in the body of a steer. They drop it on the table, make some noise and leave. That is odd, I think. But everything is going smoothly, all of a sudden meal is served some roast beef with pees---conversation continues--then a break (dd I wake up during this time or not, don't know)  I have lost consciousness somehow, wake up (in the dream) and the table is deserted, I am there by myself, table is stripped, carcas of the beef sits in the middle of the table, only other person there is tied up and can't speak. I am utterly confounded by this bizarre turn of events, where is everyone...why I am here by myself, what has become of my "date"?  I walk over to the tied up person (man or woman, I don't know) with a desire for information. As I approach this person and try to untie them, so as to find out what happened, I awake.
Feeling frightened. What does the dream mean..? Desertion...?  Able to go back to sleep, but can't get the dream out of my mind, seems to taken from an Adam Rapp play (maybe)---juxtaposition of the two worlds something that might come from an act change in a play. Yet my own bewilderment...
    Time and vision return to their normal form. I sit in the library calmer then I was this morning, planning my afternoon. Have not eaten much since the "gorge" on Monday evening, after taking back my phone (in reality it was never lost). Ate very little yesterday, stomach, at this point, seems to want nothing. Just wait it out, hunger will arrive.
    Lots of options in the coming days---not sure how work will impact them. Will continue progressing....

panic, yesterday over....

"phone loss", which actually did not happen. But when I left Friends, and checked while crossing from N to D train at 34th street, amazed to find the phone not in my pocket. Searched frantically, did not find it. Did I leave it at Friends..? Had to continue to student in Harlem, dealt with panic and what would happen if phone was lost. Got to student and explained situation, her mother very understanding, let me use the phone to contact Friends, in spite of discomfort, had a fairly productive lesson with my student, who was very sweet (and very tired). Left their apartment starving but determined to return to Friends to search library---got of at 96th street, made phone call, Mike, a great guy who supervises the custodial staff at Friends in the evening had found the phone. Returned to Friends, grabbed the phone and finally stuffed myself with lemon chicken at nearbye Chinese restaurant. All of this, from the time that I left Friends the first time, took all of 2 and a half hours.
Amazing---pushed myself incredibly from one part of Manhattan to another with little food support, but I did it. Returned home still emotionally exhausted, not relieved, slept a long time, very deep sleep, very good for me. No work today at Friends, so body has a chance to restore itself.
Tonight, was planning to see Anna Bolena, but just checked the opera web site, and lowest prices are a little bit too expensive for me. Maybe standing room, but only if  I am up to it. Have to draw the money line somewhere.
That's all for now, still chilling "in" from last nights' "adventure"--will continue report soon.

so here we are...

Monday morning, the coldest day of the year. Rest of the weekend: Saturday, returned to apartment exhausted---not much to say----did not sleep well, sort of mirrored the Sunday before, where my lack of sleep was anticipated by the Boston trip. In this case, it wasn't, but it did not stop me from having a productive session with two students. Today, no students, library work in the afternoon at Friends.
Yesterday, after sessions, went to my friend (and fellow Hopkins graduate) Michael H's birthday party, at Amirichi, an African restaurant situated in a downtown Brooklyn high rise (irony) that seemed to serve mostly afro-american middle class restaurant goers. Took me forever to find it, really frustrating, but once there, Michael and his two friends were extremely welcoming. Good conversation with one of his friends about cities changing and also recommended to him the Baltimore Sun series of articles about catching a killer.
Walked with Michael to Hoyt Street Station where I picked up the three, then got off at Houston Street on the way home, somehow, had the need to look at the Film Forum schedule. Read it on the train going home---nothing very interesting in that---slept okay, only woke up to no heat---that has been restored and hopefully there will be no more problems in that area.
Really all for now---lots of time to kill before arriving at Friends, do not want to return to the house, should stop by Old Navy and pick up some undershirts, and maybe even a better winter coat than the one that I have now. Then, on to Friends.....
Still struggling with COIL schedule, not sure which days I will be too exhausted to see these project,will try to see Frank's and Rachel's towards the end, and if possible , check out Frank's earlier as well. That's all

so, it happened, and now...

on Saturday morning, I am exhausted from the last two days. First New Year's Eve, probably the best in a long time, I did go somewhere---first South Fourth Street Bar, and though it took a little time, things got heated up--had one very meaningful encounter with a woman visiting from Australia---very important for me at this time---but then, on to La Flaca---where 2015 came to and end and 2016 began. Everyone very friendly there, Bobby, the owner will this summer have been my friend for 16 years (amazing!) and others, servers, bar people and guests whom I have gotten to know in the past few years were really nice. Returned home with somewhat of a "new vision" of myself.
  Yesterday, the first, spent the afternoon at the Singer's party---something that I have done for the past few years, has become a fun habit, even if I do eat much to much. Lots of good conversation on many topics, happy to talk Brooklyn politics with several people there, some theater talk as well. Interesting, two of the guests are Park Slope homeowner, now grandparents, both bought their homes in the late seventies and thereabouts, of course the value of their homes have exploded. As one was saying, "nobody expected this explosion to happen". Interesting stories on how sixth street near sixth avenue in the late seventies was extremely "iffy" Oh well, that is the story, none of us predicted it---now, how do we make our way out of this "mess". (Depending, of course on who your are). At any rate, good conversation continued until I left, then had to see one more Sirk film, arrived at Walter Reade just in time. The movie was "The French Thing", or something like that---a slight but charming film with a very tart screenplay, and great performances from Don Ameche (remember him) Dorothy Lamour, Willard Parker and others. Something to be said for the way they made films in the forties and fifties; tremendously stylized but the bottom line was that they were all about creating illusion---that's why the camera angles were so inventive. Still, not a very deep experience but a good time passer---might see another tonight, but not particularly motivated to do so; if I do it will just be to throw away some time.
Tomorrow, some sessions and a birthday party, my good friend Michael at a restaurant in DUMBO; tonight, not sure, will depend on how I feel, not as much work today as expected, will play it by ear, might be fun to visit The Dive Bar on 96street--that place is getting friendlier and friendlier.
  Will report back on Monday or soon after..