davidpwilson2564

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Kenichi phones and says tonight is the last of the Naumburg Concerts. Asks if I want to come.

An email re Thursday night. The young lady who was jailed by ICE has been freed, ergo no rally for her at Scarsdale. Concert as usual.

Something scary: Pete Hegseth, your worst nightmare, has said he is interested in running for governor of Tennessee. A dangerous, religious crazed, heavily tattooed Christian Nationalist.

Concert at Naumburg very nice. Weather ideal.

Trump seen on the roof of the White House, contemplating, we guess, the changes he's going to make. (His big gold ballroom, etc.)

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

The Republicans (most of them) still waiting for the Epstein thing to go away. J D Vance plans a kind of "Epstein Dinner" at his house (?) during which to discuss this. Later we learn it is canceled.

Weather nice. Errands. See a few people in the neighborhood.

Note: More bad news from Tennessee. Now Marsha Blackburn (right wing harridan) has decided to run for governor.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Saturday, August 2, 2025

Ghislaine, after two days of talking to Trump's lawyer, Blanche, is moved from Tallahassee to Bryan, Texas, a much nicer prison. She might be pardoned. This would be quite a year for Trump is he were to pardon her and Diddy too.

Very nice weather. Errands. Same routine.

Plans are in place to observe Julie's twenty-first birthday. Tempus fugit. As usual I have no ideas re a gift.

Two more concerts before I go back into retirement.

Sunday, August 3, 2025

Trump has paved over Jackie Kennedy's Rose Garden, making the lawn look like a parking lot. Plans are in place for building a ballroom, completely changing the look of the White House East Wing. One thinks of North Korea and of Stalin. The building of things to keep the Dear Leader forever in memory.

Ideal weather. Errands. Restocking. Provisions.

Monday, August 4, 2025

This Sydney Sweeney ad is causing a stir. The phrase "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans" has quickly earned the admiration of our president, for obvious reasons, he says he is a fan.

I have another trip up to Scarsdale this evening. Hope things go well.

Later: Things go okay. Rehearsal is all right except for that kid (I learn that he is older than he looks...) who is always underfoot. Poor boy.

I get a ride back into the city with a young trumpet player. I learn a new adjective. He describes some of the younger trumpet players as being "disgusting," meaning stellar. (We remember in the old days the cats said "bad" to mean exceptionally good.)

Dropped off at Grand Central. Home by subway. Nice to be home. Only one more of these rehearsals.

Note: We learn that on Thursday night there is to be a rally for the young lady who was nabbed by ICE when she showed up for immigration hearing. This is to happen in Chase Park at 9:00. So...we play an hour and then there are speeches? Could be an interesting night.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Heat wave continues. I attend to errands. The news continues to be quite awful.

Note: I have heard from my friend in Kerrville, Texas. He and his family are okay. He says (I of course wouldn't know this) his house is on a hill. Ergo, safe from the deadly Guadalupe River flood.

Thursday, July 31, 2025

On days I work I seem to spend the entire time getting ready to head out. It rains in the afternoon, but not the torrential downpour we were anticipating. I take the bus up to meet David Cox. We head north. The traffic is terrible. In one hour we are at Scarsdale Middle School (our rain sight, no Chase Park tonight) but the school is locked. We wait for someone who has the key.

Later: Concert, for a determined few who showed up, goes okay.

On the way back into the city David and I listen to Mahler's Third. Great fun. The highlight of the day. (I remember playing this piece, with the New Jersey Symphony.) Before I get out of the car, we wait to hear the final notes.

Home. The heat wave has subsided. Great relief, this.

Friday, August 1, 2025

The weather so much nicer. Head out.

Home. The news continues to be horrible. Trump is constructing a ballroom, all gold, big and ugly, as part of his D C headquarters.

Later: I Zoom with the boys. Very enjoyable little interlude.

Not liking the "numbers"...saying they were rigged...Trump fires the commissioner of the statistics bureau. This Epstein thing really has him rattled. He has to flex his muscles.

Speaking of which, he has brought back something called the presidential fitness test. For this bit of showmanship he was brought some famous athletes to talk it up, among them Lawrence Taylor, who, like Trump, has a damaged record when it comes to sexual abuse.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Catching up on my laundry. I am told that (my neighbor) Joan died. A very nice lady. So sad to hear about this. I think (though a ridiculous thought) I wish I'd been able to tell her goodbye.

Breaking with routine I go to Birdland to hear Dan Block. This time it is a piano-less quartet, bringing to mind (or ear) the Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker ensemble of the late Fifties. Music I listened to in high school.

Some music buddies are there. Afterwards we do a bit of catching up. Talk about music and books and such. Very nice visit.

Monday, July 28, 2025

Note: Tom Lehrer dies. 97. I can remember listening to his first recording (not available in record stores) when I was in high school. I would go to Ken Lyon's and we would listen to this record over and over. I remember many of the lyrics. Clever guy.

Odd how on these rehearsal days I spend most of my day getting ready to head out. Later: I take a bus uptown. Meet David Cox. We get up to Scarsdale in plenty of time. The rehearsal goes okay. But young Aaron is underfoot and won't shut up. Here's the good part: David drops me off in my neighborhood

I have a drink and smoke my pipe. News of a shooting in midtown. A disgruntled ex-football player, having driven from Las Vegas (!), walks into a Park Avenue office building carrying a high-powered rifle (the kind that should be outlawed), kills a policeman...chaos ensues...he is seeking the NFL offices, takes the wrong elevator. Does some more shooting and then shoots himself. Ye Gods, what next.

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Terrible heat wave (again!?). What sort of mischief will our president come up with today? He was in Scotland. His new golf course. As he was mouthing off a bagpiper went to work. Very funny scene...

I run into my nextdoor neighbor. She tells me she is now cancer free. What a relief it to hear this. Nice lady.

Run errands. The heat...

Later: More news about yesterday's shooter. Several deaths, among them, a young policeman. Very sad story.

Powerful earthquake in Kamchatka, causing much turbulence in the Pacific Ocean.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Rumors of Kennedy Center's change of name. Could be renamed for Melania? Oh boy.

Candace Owens keeps promoting the story that Macron's wife is a man. Candace is real trouble. Sassy little thing...another of those little ladies wearing crosses (Bondi, Leavitt, et al).

Can't do much but get ready for work. Later: Head out. David Cox gives me a lift to Scarsdale. The concert goes okay. David drops me off in my neighborhood. Later: Glad to get home.

On the news: Hulk Hogan (an integral part of the Trump chest-thumping manosphere) dies. 71. George Santos, disgraced ex-congressman, begins his jail sentence. They've given him seven years, after which he promises to be back on the scene. Chuck Mangione dies. One thinks of those tunes he played, over and over. More known for his melodies than his improvisation. And this: To keep from dealing with more Epstein stuff, congress begins its August recess. Todd Blanche, Trump toady, has gone to Florida to speak with Ghislaine. Her jail sentence may be considerably lessened if she says the right thing. Will Trump pardon her? He says he hasn't thought about it. Says: I could if I wanted to.

Friday, July 25, 2025

We hear that another heat wave is on its way. I have not quite recovered from the last one.

Head out. Uncomfortably hot. Run numerous errands. Home to recuperate. Later: Head out again. Some rain. Not enough to cool things off.

Later: Zoom call with Kenny D and Ray. Very nice call, talk of music and such.

Saturday, July 26, 2025

Read that Leonard Bernstein's son, Alexander, died. But very little detail.

The weather coolish but we are told another heat wave is coming.

Later: Breaking with routine...I see much of "Rififi," the classic French heist movie. That sequence in which the jewels are stolen...all in silence...a classic bit of cinematography. Other heist movies come to mind, among them "Sexy Beast"...with Ben Kingsley. (Someone said this role, the epitome of even could be called the anti-Ghandi.)

Note: I have three more Scarsdale concerts, after which I shall go back to retirement.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Sunday, July 20, 2025

Julie's seventeenth birthday. I head down to meet Kenichi and family in Times Square. The heat is terrible. I am going deep into tourist country. The way kids on group trips walk in lockstep, walking as if they were back home, making it near impossible to get by. The area quite chaotic. I link up with Kenichi and family at Hard Rock Cafe. Lots of rock and roll memorabilia. A festive time. Sort of a reenactment of last year at this time (Vegas, also quite hot).

Mercifully, Kenichi Ubers me back home. Nice to see the gang. Nice to get home.

Monday, July 21. 2025

Anything to divert: Trump says he wants original sports team names to be restored: The Indians, The Redskins. He hints that both teams will be punished if they don't comply.

More excitement. I take the train up to Scarsdale. Get a lift to the Middle School. Greatly relieved to see David Cox, who will give me a ride back into the city. The rehearsal goes okay. Well...once again there is a problem with that meddlesome kid, the hanger on...sometimes standing next to me when I am trying to concentrate. I don't know his story. Poor kid.

David drops me off at 96th St and soon I am home, an hour earlier than if I took the train.

Note: I brought home a couple of pieces to practice. I am getting rusty.

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

The heatwave lets up. What a relief.

Rumors that they're going to allow Ghislaine to talk. Would this win her freedom? If so she would have to go into hiding. But everything imaginable is happening to delay her talking. Wash D C is going on a summer break. Delay, deflect...same old b.s.

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Relieved to see my Social Security come in. I keep thinking that, after Musk's meddling, it could stop.

Kohberger is sentenced. Details of the grisly murders (four of them) are reviewed. He chose not to speak.

More excitement: I go for a urine test and discover, much to my alarm, that I am dehydrated. This is not the first time I have failed a urine test; it happened, like this, many years ago. I drink an enormous amount of water. Very little success, however. I am dismissed, thinking I might be asked to come back. How embarrassing.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

B loglet

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Note: Pam Bondi going to Alcatraz (not "Alligator Alcatraz" but the real one) to have a look around. God, what next. (Distraction is key. Distraction from the dustup about the supposed "Epstein File"...which we will never see.)

Heat and humidity. Walk to Carroll's Studio and hear a bit of Roger's band. Nice to see a few friends. And the band sounds great.

Home, to collect my stuff b/f meeting Patrick, who's driving to the gig.

Scarsdale. The tradition of playing a few notes on the chime (to let people know we are starting the concert) provides a sort of funeral air.

I get through the concert okay. Nice seeing a few people.

Patrick drops me off. Nice to be home.

Later: I attempt to turn in. Wacky dreams, of course.

Friday, July 18, 2025

Note: Big talk in D C about budget cutting. Steven Colbert is being let go. His show is going off the air. Cuts for PBS and NPR. The loyalists have no use for this sort of thing. Too left-leaning, we are told. Boasts re the money saved. Trump will spend far more on than this on golf trips.

Hot. Humid. I have discovered the pedometer setting on my phone.

Looking forward to Sunday...dinner with the family.

Saturday, July 19, 2025

The heat wave continues. I head out to run errands wondering if I'll run into colleagues from the ballet. It happens from time to time.

Much excitement re "Epstein File"...that (bottle blonde) Ms. Bondi said was "on her desk." An examination of this file (if we are going to fall for this story) will take years. We'll never know what's in it.

Breaking with routine, channel surf. The Turner channel..."Suddenly Last Summer." Liz Taylor at her most beautiful. Monty being Monty. But too grim to watch much of.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Monday, July 14, 2025

Hot. Rain predicted. Errands. Home and prepare to head out.

Meet my ride at 5:30. Nice trip up to Scarsdale. More predictions of rain and possible flooding.

The rehearsal goes okay.

Later: Home and glad to be. A drink and smoke my pipe and try to watch some of the news. The cannibals are eating each other.

Note: Great relief that we didn't run into flooded highways on the way home. The "Hutch" is famous for it.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

The heat and humidity continues. It doesn't really hit me until I am headed out to get my hair cut. This mission goes well.

Several stops and home. Turn on the news, which continues to be quite awful. Trump taking questions while standing near the White House. Is he getting hard of hearing. Ms. Leavitt standing beside him, constantly giving him admiring looks. The poor girl. Trump saying he is not happy with Putin. We are sure Putin and his pals are having a good laugh on hearing it.

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Waiting for the heat wave to break.

Check in with my son. There is to be a family event on Sunday (Jenna's seventeenth birthday). The girls are growing up. Julie is soon to be twenty-one.

Trump pissed off because a "Epstein File" is supposed to exist, but Trump says it is made up. Lately Trump is pretending to be fed up with Putin. We can be sure the Russians are having a big laugh.

The Orange Man wants to shut down NPR. These are not his people, not Fox people.

Errands. The heat...

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Friday, July 11, 2025

Weather continues to be hot and humid.

Note: Don Bongino, your worst nightmare, threatens to leave his job (?) as Patel's assistant. He will not be missed. What a jerk. Apparently he is upset re Pam's announcement that (this is a whopper) there "is no Epstein file." (This, after saying it was "on her desk.") Why is Bongino so upset? Ah...he wanted to go after Bill Clinton. Now the "file" has vanished. Suprise! (Will Trump, another old Epstein buddy, pardon Ghislaine?)

Trump and Melania down in Texas, hanging out with Abbott. They skip around the issue of the locals not being warned. instead, they play up the "fine work" of the rescuers. More b.s. Melania even says a few "deeply felt" words. Real made for TV stuff. Those poor kids...

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Trump making more noises about how he is deserving of a Nobel Peace Prize. (Bibi"...criminal though he is, was talking it up.) Again, we think of the Steven Wright line: "I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize."

It's been a year since the Butler incident. Trump still playing up to his base that he was spared by God in order to save our country. We suppose the books are closed on the young man with the rifle. Trump's ear looks untouched. (Staged? Fake blood?) The doomed young man won the election for DJT.

Hot and humid. Errands.

I ask Alexa for a symphony by Martinu. (Seems like I've made this request before). I get Martino. But it's nice to know she listens to me.

Sunday, July 13, 2025

Trump and Melania at FIFA for club world cup contest, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Trump vigorously booed. Chelsea defeats Paris Saint-Germain. Odd scene. Trump involves himself in the award ceremony. Won't leave the stage, even when they want a photo of the winning team. It has to be about him.

Still hot and humid.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Trump re Momdani: "He'll have to behave." Trump owns our present mayor. This pseudo tough talk. Big threats from a very weak man.

The death toll in Kerrville grows steadily. Governor Abbott says: we are not about to assess blame. That is for losers, he says. We are Texans, etc. God, what a blowhard.

Much excitement re Epstein files. Now Pam is saying there is no Epstein file (not long ago she said she was about to review it). Trump says: Are we still talking about that creep? Hmm. And why is Ghislaine Maxwell still in jail (for sex trafficking)?

Laura Loomer, yet another Trumpy girl, says she wants Pam (bottle blonde) to be fired (over the Epstein files). Jealousy.

Note: I venture to the East Side and see Dr. Harmon (more doctor stuff!). It goes successfully. (That photo of Dr. Harmon and the Pope. But I can't tell which Pope. You have to love it.)

Apropos of very little: At last night's rehearsal we played "MacArthur Park." Timely, because earlier in the day ICE agents and the National Guard raided the eponymous park looking for immigrants. Fully armed, they are said to have shooed off some kids who were playing there.

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Unrelenting heat. Didn't my mother used to say "Hot as the hinges"? Meaning, of hell. Quite an image.

I set out in the afternoon and walk to St. Malachi's for a memorial service for John Carbone. I worked with him for fifty years or so. Mic troubles make things less than ideal. But nice music and I see John's cousin and chat a bit. Many memories of John. Always fun to be around.

The death toll in Kerrville grows. Terrible. The climate has gone crazy. Climate deniers continue to deny.

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Afternoon. Head out to Scarsdale. Kill time at Starbucks (I could have gotten a later train). The concert goes okay. I am able to get the train that will get me home 11:30ish.

An odd scene. Nightmarish. On the train I am trapped with the young man who hangs around the band. Aaron. The conductor tolerates him, as long as he doesn't do too much damage. Young Aaron tells me he is a student at Hunter (high school? College?). But...how is this possible? (I don't think he can recite the alphabet.) He keeps talking until his stop (Botanical Gardens)...Relief, then, from his constant talking.

Later: Home and glad to be. Funny how I couldn't get my head into this and later got my second wind. Now it is time to turn in and I'm wide awake.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Friday, July 4, 2025

Cook out. Many guests. A sort of housewarming. Swimming in the pool (not me).

Unlike previous visits, I have my own bathroom. An upgrade.

We observe the Macy's fireworks on a huge TV screen Kenichi sets up by the swimming pool. Such awful music.

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Head out early.

Later: Kenichi drops me off. I am exhausted. He's going to the Mets vs Yankees game (!). The subway series. I'm bushed.

Note: Terrible flooding in Texas. Kerrville hit very hard. My old friend lives there. A retired N Y C fireman. I shall look for his email address. We always exchange cards at Christmas.

Later: Mets win. Much joy out at Citi Field.

Sunday, July 7, 2025

Breaking with tradition I head to the grocery store quite early. The cupboards are bare.

A bit later: I am finally back at my desk. Have gotten so far behind with everything.

Elon says he wants to start a third party. Not since Ross Perot in '92.

Weather continues to be hot and humid.

Note: Re Kenichi's house. Can never remember the name of the town. Kenichi says he wants to retire there.

Monday, July 7, 2025

Unrelenting heat and humidity. I go to the cardiologist. He checks me out. Things look good but he has one of his helpers put a heart monitor on my chest. I have to wear it for a week.

Home for just a little while and then head out. Train to Grand Central. Train to Scarsdale. Kill time at Starbucks until picked up to go to rehearsal. The rehearsal goes okay. (I play a bit better than I'd have expected. Surprise.) Later: A ride to the train. Eventually home. A long day.

More bad news from Kerrville. Those poor kids. No warning re flood.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Monday, June 30, 2025

Phone rings quite early. Alan offering me a string of gigs in Westchester. (Someone must have dropped out.) This changes things. (Am I too old for this?)

Later: I meet Wally for lunch. He now has heath issues (he's 91). Moves around his beautiful (spacious) apartment with a walker. Has a "care" person who comes in a couple of times a week. I hate to see him suffer.

Home for a bit and then head to Grand Central. Train to Scarsdale. I get a ride to the school where the rehearsal is held. Good to see a few friends. Much moving of equipment but I'm okay with it. The rehearsal goes without incident.

Good news. I get a ride back into the city.

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

I hear from Kenichi. He's giving me a ride upstate early Thursday a m. I have a ride back on Sunday (?). We will observe the 4th.

Trump, wearing a red Gulf of America cap, goes to the Everglades to talk up Alligator Alcatraz. Speaks with a special delight about the possibility of a migrant trying to outswim an alligator. Little Ms. Noem is with him. And...DiSantis. A joyous little party. Yukking it up.

We await a verdict in the Diddy trial. Comes the realization that Trump could pardon him.

Bobby Bonilla Day. Mets fans will know what this means. Quite a story.

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Jimmy Swaggart, religion con man of note, dies at 90.

Trump's horrid bill passes.

I get a ride up to Scarsdale. We play a gig by the swimming pool. Fireworks. The usual.

Home very late .

Thursday, July 3, 2025

I head upstate with Kenichi. Back in the day, working in the Catskills, I made this trip many times.

Afternoon: My first glimpse of Kenichi's new house! Yikes. Swimming pool, the works!

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Very slow getting started. Difficult getting my head into playing this gig (I think because I haven't been paid for the last one [at Lehman].)

But I pull myself together and head out. Surprise...I check my mail on the way out and find a check for the last Lehman concert. It is a bit less than I'd have liked (much taken out). But...it is some consolation.

The long ride up to the college. Walking to the campus from the train I realize I am running on fumes. I feel this way until I have arrived at the rehearsal and see a few friends. This greatly lifts my spirits.

We rehearse, but not in the location where the concert is to be held. This means a lot of moving of percussion equipment. Dammit.

The concert is okay. It's in the theater. Which has a staff of three But I have counted this correctly there are only two people in the audience (!). (I am thinking of all the jokes about this sort of thing. And of the conductor who said, "We've got nothing to worry about. We've got them outnumbered.")

Much wrangling of equipment after the concert. ("1812" was cut. Small blessing.) And the good news: David Cox, bless him, has offered me a ride home..

Later: Home, and glad to be. A drink and the Turner channel. "Chinatown." 1030s L.A. bringing to mind Hammett and Chandler. Too depressing to watch.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

The annual Gay Pride Parade today. Downtown will be a zoo. We can bet that Trumpsters will do everything to stop having this event. Too "woke."

Later: Breaking with routine, I watch "Fargo" on Netflix. Those Coen Brothers are often brilliant. Great movie. Don't know how many times I've seen it.

Still in recovery from yesterday.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Happily, Social Security comes in. I always think it will disappear.

Heat wave continues. Try to watch the news. Zohran Mamdani has edged out Andrew Cuomo in the Democrat primary. The Right livid about this. Zohran is much hated in some circles. Our (somewhat tarnished) Mayor, Mr. Adams, calls him a "snake oil salesman." Though I didn't vote for Mamdani this makes me like him all the more.

Trump, big mouth, making a fool of himself at a NATO conference, calls Mamdani a "communist lunatic." It is to laugh.

The Republicans have a mayoral candidate: Curtis Sliwa. A beanie wearing thug.

The heat. The only remedy: taking another shower.

I meet Roger at D J Reynolds. Have a beer and a few laughs.

Thursday, June 27, 2025

The heat wave finally breaks. What a relief. Turn off the fan for the first time in days.

Eric Adams (now in Trump's pocket) says he will run for reelection as an independent. Andrew Cuomo says he will do likewise.

Nice weather, for a change. Walk.

Note: Very pleasant conversation with my son. He has invited me to come upstate with him next week, to observe July 4 with him and family (gone are the days when I had a July 4 gig).

Note: Hegseth started out the day by berating the press. Pathetic.

Friday, June 27, 2025

More nice weather. More walking.

Very successful Zoom call with my friends in the afternoon.

Still of two minds about tomorrow's gig. I think it will be my last up at Lehman College.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Sunday, June 22, 2025

Awaken thinking it's Monday (because I usually go to Queens on Sundays). More in the news about the bombing of Iran. Trump wanted to bomb them into peace (that never works). Did not get congressional approval. That's not the way he does things.

Heat wave coming but this morning isn't too bad. Aromas wafting through open window, coming from the bakery down the street.

More horrible news on the TV. Don't know how many stories Trumpsters are promoting are true. Not many, we guess.

Later: A break with routine: "Missing" on Turner. I kept trying to remember if this movie had something like a happy ending. It doesn't. Wow, a real downer. A kid goes to Chile and gets killed.

I have made it through another week.

Monday, June 23, 2025

Comes the heat wave.

Making the rounds, I run into Charles Barker, conductor at ABT. We go back decades. We catch up. One of his sons dances in the company, the other is an accomplished pianist. I remember then as toddlers. Nice conversation with Charles.

More nonsense re Iran. Trump claims to have completely destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities. He wants (insists on) a ceasefire.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

No ceasefire. That was Donnie's fantasy. Re Iran and Israel: "They don't know what the fuck they're doing." Classy guy. Real diplomat.

Breaking with routine I head out early in the morning, in an attempt to beat the heat. Vote. Little red, white and blue arrows guide us to the polls. Make more stops.

Home. Though it is early in the day I am exhausted from the heat.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Trump threatens Iran. Serious stuff babbled by an unserious man. Says he wants "unconditional surrender" says he could "take out" the Ayatollah. Real crime boss talk. Don says he is sitting on a "bunker buster" bomb.

Errands. Walking. Good to get out and move around.

Note: Shotei threw a few pitches. His first pitches as a Dodger. He did okay. Got a few hits as well. His interpreter, Ippei, got twenty seven months for stealing Shotei's money. Quite a story. Rumor has it that Shotei could beat Barry Bonds's home run record. (The Bonds record somewhat skewered due to steroids.)

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

A break with routine, have lunch with Roger. We talk about Tennessee. Fun to reminisce.

Errands.

More stupidity from the White House. Trump is putting up two flagpoles. What next. (Note how the Oval Office, with all those added gold ornaments, looks like a Las Vegas gift shop.) Moreover, he is paving the Rose Garden, to make the place look more like Mar-a-Lago.

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Juneteenth. A federal holiday. Trump complains about there being too many holidays. (Of course.) This, from a man who likes to play golf.

A break with routine. I have a beer at the newly reopened Emerald, with AB, after his show.

Friday, June 20, 2025

We are told there is a heat wave on the way. I am on the phone re a couple of gigs. Somewhat disconsolate about not yet being paid for the last one.

My usual routine. A Zoom call in late afternoon. Good to touch base.

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Head out to Queens. Huge party in observance of the little Joy's first birthday. Much fuss over the baby, who is as wide and she is tall.

It is a long day. Good seeing Kenichi and the girls.

Home without too many complications. Turn on the TV. Alas, that idiot of president has bombed Iran. "Operation Midnight Hammer." One wants to scream.

to be continued

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Friday, June 13, 2025

Friday the thirteenth.

Nice weather but rain predicted for tomorrow, the president's birthday (he'll be 79) and the day of the big parade. All over the country there are to be "No Kings" rallies.

Saturday, June 14, 2025

In Minnesota a man dressed as a cop (more cosplay) kills a pol and his wife. Shoots another pol. A manhunt is on.

Huge anti Trump rallies coast to coast. Washington D C rather quiet. Small crowd. At long last the parade begins. Creaking tanks brought out of storage. Rather sloppy marching, no lockstep...the boys just don't want to be here. Donny and Melania in the reviewing stand, along with sycophant Hegseth. No Ivanka or Barron. They sat this one out.

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Father's Day.

Talk to Kenichi. Will see him next Saturday.

The nation awakes with the realization that millions of dollars has been misspent on that ridiculous parade.

Minnesota shooter still not apprehended. Trump comments on the shooting and says (he couldn't resist) Governor Tim Walz is "Incompetent." Breathtaking insensitivity. But what do we expect?

The Right has promoted the story that the shooter is a Democrat. He is, of course, a Trumpist.

I head out to Brooklyn. The trip isn't bad. We rehearse. A break. Talk to my section mate about the ridiculously embarrassing parade.

The concert goes okay. See a few friends. Talk to the former conductor (nice fellow), and one of the ABT conductors. Awfully nice seeing them.

Home by train. Glad to be home.

I have made it through another week.

Monday, June 16, 2025

Bloomsday. Can't find my copy of "Ulysses" and guess that I loaned it out. It has gone the way of all books.

Minnesota shooter apprehended. The conversative press tried to promote the story that he is a leftist. No true, of course.

Note: Today marks ten years since Donny and Melania made that famous descent on the escalator. Cheering (paid) crowd. Ivanka spoke. That was the first time I saw and didn't know who she was. I thought maybe she was a contestant in one of Don's beauty contests. Ten years of Don and his b.s.

to be continued