positively.....

amazed by all the choices tonight----probably will simply see the movie at Reade, and see what I feel after that. God it has become cold! Spent the morning and early afternoon at Brooklyn Library---always like it there---brooklyn, still so different, still so evocative to me and fascinating; many ideas going through my head. Walked, even in this weather (well, it has gotten colder recently) from Library to BAM; stopped off at Jimmy's on Washington Avenue for a nice tuna fish sandwich---like it there, though a little crowded at first, and the clientele now is a tribute to the gentrification of the neighborhood. Would love to ask the proprietor, who seems like a friendly person, to describe what I might see if I were to walk in maybe fifteen years ago (early 94, seems like yesterday)---probably totally different clientele.
Reading short stories, that is all that I seem to handle at this moment; actually read a really good one by Danielle Evans; should get number of South Fourth so that I can call Patrick today and say I am not going to be there....probably too cold.......

since my first post....

is now totally lost in cyber space, I will try to reinvent it. Nice talk with Nancy at South Fourth last night---first night out in five days---see how important it is to get out, Bob! Got a job at a school I desired (I guess that is the right way to put it) this morning, only to have the computer tell me it was not available when I accepted it.....odd? Weekend abounds in choices (pre- Sunday afternoon, ofcourse) many plays, operas, movies, etc. should be helped by thef fact that my unmeployment from November has finally come through, though still feeling a bit austere about money choices. Does all this make sense......would love to have a nice sub job at a (preferably) elementary school tomorrow, if Friends does not call. This afternooon, it will be time to tutor chelsea, then off to............

restless.....

well, I was this moring---surprised that I was not called by Friends; checked out the few schools that called me on insideschools, only one of them was good---what to do, want to earn some money this week---this keeps me restless, as I try to parcel out the rest of my priorities. Today, maybe Cherry Orchard, if I can see it cheap---possibly, if not a movie, must go out tonight--four straight days in---quite a lot for me. Weekend...? who is to say...Updike's death, what does it evoke in me, really enjoyed his short stories, may go back to them now, atleast one.....read them the summer of 88, right after the death of my mother---remember then.....? facebook, see old names from the past, what does that mean....? Stories to tell.....we'll see.......

second day no.....

work---a little restless, but, as I suspected, no work at Friends yet this week. Today got two calls from schools in Ridgewood that are supposed to be quite good---yet didn't take it---how long will I put this off? Sort of like dating, I tell myself, when you are doing well with one woman, but she doesn't need you every day, how do you relate to the newness of another. In this case, the woman is Friends. Anyway, nice session with Chelsea yesterday, will return today, then....maybe trek to brooklyn to see Cherry orchard, with the snow coming, should not be that crowded, or so I tell myself. Have stayed in last three days, very cold, time to move around...? Sorry that I will miss South fourth's superbowl party, but promised Alvin, and I will go there. Snow tomorrow, but also no tutoring, so it should be easier for me to accept work, or so I tell myself. We will see........

got Lanessa's e-mail...

about joining facebook and have gone through a flurry of motions to join, and not stay on the old facebook account that was opened and that I thought I had closed. Anyway, the new one, just another communication vehicle...how many of them are there....how many of them are needed...is there no privacy at all....I can see that one could simply live one's life there.
Three days at Friends after all---pretty good...except for that crazay day on Thursday,that will be remedied, saw Architecting last night, then hung out with Frank and Libby, lots of fun, good conversation, will probably go to the documentary and discussion tonight, though I probably would really enjoy the Philharmonic, still after tutoring Martha in the Bronx, should show my political interest by attending this documentary and discussion at Chrystie Street---still a little shook up over the facebook incident---but hope all will be well now........tomorrow, maybe South Fourth

Monday....

still off, no tutoring---no subbing yet at Friends for tomorrow, hope that I am called, would like to participate, probably lots of work at DOE, but not sure that I want to do it. Just have to let it happen. Finished Epilogue, the book by Anne Roiphe, very evocative at moments, other times, very repetitive and self-sorrying-still she captures the sad essence of a person being cut off from routine, lifestyle and attention that she had for the past 38 years. Political aspect.....? Well, that is something different.
Yesterday, finally after a couple of really tired hours, got myself up to go to South Fourth---glad I did, enjoyed watching the game with Chris, it was quiet but I felt very much at home there. A good choice, better than a movie---left, the snow was falling, but there was a beautiful sense of things, the cold had been removed, it was really easy to walk around, a nice calm on the south side of Williamsburg. Took J train, then F then 2 back home,not difficult at all, even if kind of late. Stopped in to see Leila at Bembe; she was very sweet, but could not stay because it was really crowded and I did not want to drink anything. Wow! You would think with the recession, or whatever, business would be slow, especially on a snowy night, but Bembe was full.
Tonight, probably back to South Fourth, then return......

what now.....

Sunday morning, not much energy---could not decide what to do,,,so I am here in the computer shop, doing my blog. Yesterday-----interesting Starbucks on 145 street and Bradhurst Ave.---a mixture of homeboys, white intellects, hispanic families, very mixed. Under the new "luxury" building that covers all of 145 street between Bradhurst and Eighth Avenue. Think I may go visit again today---or perhaps not-----yesterday, visited Bronx Museum---short trip, then took Concourse Bus north on Concourse---still looks pretty grim around there---interesting---no coffee places (not even a Dunkin Donuts) until Fordham Road----did not check the large commerical streets that interesect with the Concourse, there must be some there...still, so barren...later saw Neal's play, knew from the beginning that it would be ragged---so many male on male variations----fanciful but how much can one take. Tired of playwrights who are indulged by their directors, et. al. Reading Anne Roiphe's memoir, actually finished it---some very poignant passages about functioning as one, after a death after a long and successful marriage. However other passages extremely self-indulgent. And the dating online-----well, I suppose she has to, while you have people and things coming at you at almost all times. Don't feel much like a play today, and as for a movie----simply can't get excited about going, still lots of things to do next week---would like to see Cherry Orchard sometime soon. Will probably end up at South Fourth, which I think is important today---have not been there for about a week, because of work and the cold....need to check in....still have not returned to Annie at Heights since that nice Friday evening during Christmas vacation. Thought of E.L. Doctorow yesterday, as the bus in the Bronx crossed the jagged beginning of Weeks Avenue, as it intersected with the Concourse---sometimes I wish I could just get in a bus and travel through the borough....(why can't you?) Anyway, reference is to Danny in Doctorow's book, The Book of Daniel, which is about growing up communist in the Bronx in the thirties and forties. Anyway, let's stop now---later!