August 2nd, 2001.  Thursday
 
 

One Year Ago Today

    Today went off without a hitch.  This is pretty easy to accomplish when you don't ever do anything.  The day went almost precisely according to schedule, following a pre-meditated plan with grim efficiency.  So let's talk about yesterday instead.

    Yesterday, I left work precisely at five o'clock and went out into the plaza at the World Trade Center.  There, I saw Luna, doing the sound check for their show later that evening.  Lead singer Dean was having some issue about having to have the spongy wind guard on his microphone.  "Do we have to use these wind guards?" he asked the sound guy in the booth?  "It's for the wind," answered the other guitarist.  In the end, Dean just said "How about I'll put this in my pocket, and we can have some secret hand signal if it gets too windy?"  Then I got on the train, came home, changed, grabbed Nora, headed for the train, remembered I forgot my metrocard, sprinted back home, walked back to where I left Nora, and got into the subway station just in time to see the F train pull out.
    Anyway, we got back to the World Trade Center without any incident, and arrived about 10 minutes before Luna hit the stage.  Matt showed up about 10 minutes later, then Jed a little while after that.  It was a pretty good show.  The first time I've seen them outside.  They played a few songs I'd never heard live before, and some new songs, as well as their standard live show songs.  One thing I like about Luna is they know how to please the crowd.  Half their set is always the old favorites.  Usually, 3/4 of the songs at least are familiar.  And they do such a lovely cover of Guns n' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine."
    After that, Jed and Nora came back to Brooklyn to do God knows what, and Matt and I hung out in Manhattan for a while.  We took the N train up to Union Square, thinking we might stop by and see James at the New School, where he's recording his new album.  But he was in reclusive artist mode, so we went to Luna Park, the bar and restaurant at the north end of the square, and had a few beers.  Matt's big thing these days is his "calorie deficit."  He's trying to shed a few pounds, so he's been keeping close track of his diet.  It's all very funny.  Anyway, the place was allright.  It's sort of snooty, but it was nice to sit outside on the steps for a while and drink Coronas and watch the various people.  they were generally all of the same variety- young turdys in button downs straight from work, etc etc.  Nothing wrong with that, I suppose, and if I hadn't gone home to change I woulda looked just like 'em.  I hate that.  An interesting conversation or two with Matt as well.

    So today after work today I went over to the New School with my trumpet.  James wanted me to play 10 seconds of music during one of his songs.  I hadn't really played the trumpet in about 10 years, and the trumpet has fallen into a state of disrepair, so it sort of sounded like crap.  But I think i managed to get a good ten seconds out of it.  Of course, I only had to play three notes, but i had to take them each on separate takes.  Sort of embarrassing really.  I still don't know if he's going to use it in the final mix.  Though that would be kinda cool.

    Anyway, I've been trying for two days to write this cover letter, and that's what's causing a lot of anxiety for me right now.  It has to be a good one.  Really good. The best letter I've ever written.  I took a long time with the last one I wrote, at least twice my normal shitty effort.  But this one's gotta be flawless. I need a regular job. I've been out of the Master's program for too long now not to have a job in journalism.  Well, that'll be something for me to do at work tomorrow.  It's getting kind of ridiculous how little time I spend doing their work versus my own little projects.  I've really been slacking off the last few days.  Only when I know my boss is sitting at his desk, with a perfect view of my computer screen, do I really do any work.  Even then, sometimes I read the paper, which is hidden underneath some office papers, and other times, usually around lunch time or the end of the day, I just sit there and surf the internet no matter who's watching.  So i'll try to write this damn letter tomorrow.  By the way, i'm still writing mixed drink reviews at mojo10.com if anyone wants to read them.  They're sort of terrible, but they make me laugh.  a little bit.  They're under "The Good Life" section.  check it out yo.

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