Snapshots

— Walking down over the viaduct into Hoboken. Hot shimmery morning. The skyline of New York like a mirage. Misty smudged buildings, pale pale blue.

— Listening to S & M on the ol’ iPod as I charged down the viaduct – the concert Metallica did with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Geeky moment #1 of the day: Listening to “Call of Ktulu” and suddenly TEARING UP, yes – tears rolled down my face. Why? Because I suddenly became aware of these classical musicians, I could HEAR them – and ONLY them – it was like my ears honed in suddenly on only them – working their asses off in the background. The violins were just killing me. I guess in that moment I became aware of the collaboration in that entire event, and I found it intensely moving. So I wept on the viaduct.

— Met up with my tax lady. I only had to wait for a little bit – my appointment was at a certain time. As I waited, I read Christopher Hitchens’ essay on Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis (it’s part of Hitchens’ collection Love, Poverty, and War – a truly astonishing work – you really get the breadth of Hitchens’ scope – it’s incredible. Politics, poetry, culture, Trotsky, Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh – and Joyce!! Just wait til Bloomsday – I’ll be posting his thoughts on Joyce. Amazing!!) Anyway, I’ve never read Lucky Jim – but obviously Hitchens is a huge fan – and his essay about that book is LAUGH OUT LOUD funny. I was SNORTING. I’m not kidding. Tears again, flowing down my face, in H & R Block. Tears of laughter. I am clearly volatile emotionally, and should go away to a rest home for a while. Now I need to read Lucky Jim.

— While I waited for tax lady, I heard a skirmish happen. Some bitch who had her kid in a stroller started arguing with my tax lady. I couldn’t really get the details, but emotionally I knew exactly what was going on. At the end of my appointment with my tax lady (hahaha I’ve been going to her for 3 years now) – she said something like, “I’m sorry about that argument earlier … Did you hear any of it?” I said, “Yeah. From her voice it sounded like she was one of those people who have a serious sense of entitlement – even though she waited til the last minute to file her taxes. SHE was in the wrong, but she’ll never admit it. Like – she has no respect for what you do, and she’s just all entitled about her right to be a totally awful person if things don’t go her way.” Tax lady looked at me, kind of stunned, and said, “You picked up on all that? That’s exactly right.” This is what happens when you can list “people-watching” as one of your main hobbies.

— Went immediately to Barnes & Noble following my appointment and bought Lucky Jim. No time like the present. Thanks, Hitchens!!

— Watched Riding Giants last night. Holy crap. Maverick’s – the shots of the waves at Maverick’s are just … EVIL. Mother Nature as EVIL.

— Lots of writing and research to do tonight.