Crazy Fingers

Thursday night

• Took my accumulated change to Commerce Bank and walked away with $115 in paper money.
• Stopped at the Gap on 23rd and 8th and purchased a red long-sleeve thermal shirt and a green striped sweater.
• Went to the Springsteen concert with Brian, which involved way too much traffic stress (an hour to get to New Jersey because of traffic at the Lincoln Tunnel), getting there way too early (it started an hour after the start time printed on the tickets), and a solo acoustic show which neither of us was thrilled to see. He played Born in the USA (one of the few Springsteen songs Brian knows) and neither of us recognized it, because of the rendition on harmonica with some weird microphone. Nice Meeting Across the River. He did play Thundercrack, but without the band, I was underwhelmed. We left during Thundercrack and missed Born in the USA, which pissed Brian off a little bit (that’s the other Springsteen song he knows).
• Argued with the Law And Order people, who had those mayor’s film office no-parking signs up on Brian’s block, effective at 3am. We were there at midnight, and I was only going up to say goodnight, but they busted my balls anyway. I busted their balls back, which upset Brian, who said something about the hypocrisy of me having a big peace sign tattooed on my shoulder. (I explained to him that it’s a reminder, because I’m prone to such incidents, so it’s appropriate to have it there and it’s doing its job.)

Friday

• Dropped my Jeep off, before work, to get detailed, because Brian’s mother refused to get into the car because it smelled like dog. Brian and his mom and his brother and I are all going to his cousin’s on Long Island for Thanksgiving dinner.
• Work was uneventful. I apologized to Tilak for raising issues on Wednesday about my frustration with the company, while he had a client on hold. He seems to have accepted my apology and my promise that I wouldn’t confuse actual work with ranting about the state of the company.
• Left work early because Brian needed my help setting up for a trade show. Which meant that I …
• Interrupted the guys who were working on my car. They had done everything but simonize it, so they agreed to let me bring it in on Saturday, and they would finish it then. The seats were still wet. It smelled good inside, though.
• Drove to Brian’s office, picked up some boxes, then drove over to The Javits Center.
• Helped Brian set up the booth.
• Dropped the car off at the garage (with Brian).
• Decided not to work out, because we were both exhausted and even though it was only 7pm, it felt late because it was dark out.
• Went to Bombay Talkie for dinner, then across the street to Billy’s to pick up dessert.
• Went back to his house, had a fire, ate the dessert, watched tv, dozed, and generally hung out. I slept over.

Saturday

• Woke up too late.
• Had brunch at The Dish.
• Dropped the car off so they could finish detailing it.
• Went into the office and worked for a productive couple of hours (it was pristinely quiet).
• Did shoulders (shoulders, shoulders) with Brian at NYSC, 23rd and 8th.
• Went back to the Gap on 23rd and 8th and purchased a black long-sleeve thermal shirt and a yellow and gray striped sweater.
• Went with Brian to a going-away party for Sid and Donna at Lyn’s house. We also saw the Kayaking goddess Bonnie, Jack (who gets more bitter and cynical every time I see him, which thankfully is not all that often), Andy, Rachel, Ilene, Dave and Diane. Both Dave and Diane have new jobs; Dave is encouraging me to apply to his new company, and I am excited about that opportunity.
• Went home with Brian.

Sunday

• Woke up too late.
• Had breakfast at The Dish.
• Went over to The Javits Center, set up for the show, then worked the show from 12 until almost 6.
• Packed up the booth, and drove all the stuff back to Brian’s office.
• We counted the lottery entries we received. Brian and I, along with Patrick and Steve, two of his employees, kicked ass. We got more entries in a single day than they ever have before. It was great working side by side with Brian.
• Didn’t work out, because we were both exhausted again.
• Went to Brian’s house, ordered dinner from Dallas BBQ at 23rd and 8th, and hung out until he kicked me out at 12:30.

Today

• Did 40 minutes of cardio before work at NYSC, 16th and 8th, during which I …
• Listened to 11/20/78 (still!). I heard the space>Jack-a-row>Playin’>Shakedown>If I Had The World To Give, which was absolutely amazing.
• Came to work, which so far has been uneventful.