Day 2

I arrived in Jersey with no problems yesterday. Not that I was expecting any.

Lunch with Parvin and a nap on her couch, then saw Susan and Alex at their office; Susie is not doing well, talking about suicide and how she can't escape her miserable life. So I will definitely need to keep in closer contact with her just to provide that extra bit of social matrix. She did let me borrow the T-bird, but the hard-top is on so no convertible. Still a fun little roadster to drive. I had to immediately change the radio station from the paleo-conservative bullshit being spewed, though.

I took the ferry over to midtown, met Laura and her friend Kim for dinner. Waiting for them outside Penn Station, I was struck by how goddamn trendy everyone looked. Fucking New York. Yes, I'm being stuck-up about how cool Chicago is, but everyone looked like they just stepped out of some sort of fashion magazine - people of all different stripes. You just don't get that in Chi - people don't seem to care as much, the Abercrombie/Gap/skank-tank/beer-whore-pants bar scene axis notwithstanding.

Anyway, we had good dinner with a gigantic piece of chocolate cake for desert. Delicious. Then Laura and I headed to the Lower East Side to see the Blackout Shoppers play at Manitoba's. I didn't realize until I was inside and saw all the Dictators paraphernelia that it was Handsome Dick Manitoba's place. Cool.

Blackout Shoppers were great. Hardcore like you don't see much anymore, yet without being all thrashed out. Plus nice guys; Laura knew them a bit. Real small bar, intimate show, no stage. The next band weren't that cool, though. The music was alright, but the lyrics harkened back to the same wasted misogynistic crap that punk was supposedly rebelling against. I don't care how long they've been around, it was still all vapid posing as far as I'm concerned.

I got back to Jersey and Paul asked me for help with his Skills and Competencies coursework. I didn't know how much help I'd be, seeing as I'm not a lawyer, but apparently I was good. Plus if I ever have to file for divorce someday, I'll have had some experience drawing up the documentation.

I need to get something to eat. I'm meeting Sal tonight, and I haven't seen him in three years or so. Cool.