Rat watch, Celebrity watch, the harpsichord, a talk with Yankees fans
RAT Watch - 1
Saturday, August 27 - I saw my first rat, not in the subway but at night on my street running next to, and I think in and out of, Heartland Brewery. I don't like rats on my street, let alone my expensive block on my expensive street. (Last year I spotted my first rat after approximately 6 weeks in New York and he was scurrying about at night on the F & V train tracks at the 47-50 Rockefeller Center station. He was a not-small blue- blooded rodent.)
CELEBRITY Watch - 1
Sunday, August 28 - I saw my first celebrity today. She also happens to be one of my favorite actresses (usually I write "actor" but this time I didn't) - Frances Conroy, who plays "Ruth Fisher," on the HBO show, "6 Ft. Under." She looked the same as she does on the tube.
YANKEES (Evil Empire) fans - 1
I had my first long conversation (many sentences long and I won when it came to the outcome of the argument) with a few Yankees fans. Although I despise that team and its owner and their "buy happiness" approach to life, some of their fans can be fairly decent people and we baseball fans can be sort of polite and respectful. I'll go on and on later about the shortcomings of the New York Yankees.
The Evil Empire Encounter took place at an excellent little bar/restaurant at 13th & 9th called, "The Hog Pit," named because of its great barbecue and possibly another reason related to its clientele.
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"The sound of a harpsichord: Two skeletons copulating on a galvanized tin roof." - Sir Thomas Beecham (1978)
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NEW ORLEANS - I pray for their safety. I fear what will happen. Having traveled there more than 30 times, I view the city as a friend. Some of my best things I've experienced have taken place there.
Comments
About the harpsichord quote...John Ardoin said that to me soon after we first met in NY (summer of 1977), except he didn't say "copulating."
Posted by: J.Hurwitz | August 29, 2005 02:12 PM
The Heartland Brew must be a popular place for the rats cause I remeber last year when David came to visit we met you there and there was a rat then...that's when I made us all relocate to another bar.
Be safe!
Oh and I'm afraid for New Orleans too...love that place.
Posted by: Mary | August 29, 2005 04:03 PM
Jerome:
Is there another word for "copulate?" I didn't know and nor did Beecham! LOL
Hope you, your brothers and Fine are doing well.
E. Michael
Posted by: E. Michael Harrington | August 29, 2005 04:07 PM
Hi Mary:
Yes, I remember that rat. He was headed west and fast down that aisle, in the direction of the kitchen. I have not been back since, even though I like the workers and they have a great IPA and October fest. I might go in again in October with protective clothing.
NOLA did OK. Katrina's down to Category 1.
Hope you're doing great.
EMH
Posted by: E. Michael Harrington | August 29, 2005 04:11 PM