– paying bills.
– breakfast.
– entertaining cats.
– Starbucks for Mocha Frappucino.
– pier to read “Pittsburgh Love Stories” from the gang at the New Yinzer (a buddy edits).
– ferry to S. Hoboken, Newport & finally Midtown (wasn’t my choice – they weren’t running direct, but pleasant anyway).
– bus to 42nd.
– “Supersize Me” @ Empire 25.
– bus thru tunnel to Hoboken.
– walk to pier again, never actually read this time though.
– witnessed a man reeling in a 2.5 foot shark out of the Hudson.
– walk to diner for pick-up (French dip).
– walk home to eat.
– Six Feet Under.

And in the time I was gone, Cali has learned to fetch. I throw a mouse, she chases after it, grabs it, brings it back, drops it on my chest and waits for me to throw it again. She’s really good.

So I’m sitting in this meeting called “Pre-strategy” which is all about preparing for another meeting called – wait for it – “Strategy.” It’s one of the many meetings in which I’m the only male, not that it matters, it’s just an observation. A few minutes earlier I really just wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, not any phrase in particular, just a high-pitched shriek. Instead I’m typing into my handheld like I’m taking an impressive amount of notes. It keeps me from wanting to scream. There are really only a few things I can do during this meeting: 1) scream, 2) start laughing at the girl sitting across from me who is as miserable as I am (occasionally we’ll catch each other’s eye and almost lose it), 3) play solitaire, 4) try to kill myself by digging at my wrists with my ballpoint pen, or 5) write an entry in the guise of taking copious notes. Number five seems like the best option right now, although I’ve been eyeballing my pen rather intensely. Right now at the other end of the table they’re chattering away about something, but I’m not really sure what. Hopefully I won’t get called on.

Okay I just contributed a sentence. It got shot down, which is par for the course. Typically what happens is that I suggest an idea or warn against something, it’s ignored but then in the end (weeks later) I was right. They don’t always ignore it, but enough that it’s what I expect to happen so it no longer bothers me.

Good god, the mindless drivel that makes up this meeting…

At least I get paid.

This morning on my way to the PO Box, I saw one of the AM New York newspaper guys talking to one of the Metro newspaper guys. It was nice to see that the free newspaper foot soldiers can get along. I wonder who’s gonna win this war of the mediocre morning papers? I gotta say, so far I’m an AM New York guy, but only because I’ve gotten it more often. Metro is gonna have increase its circulation to pull me in.

SONG OF THE MOMENT: Death in Vegas – “Flying”