GJ Willis' Art Notes

I got up early because my return visit to the dentist’s office is on a Saturday. I had to be there at 10AM. I was rushing like a fiend to get there on time. I took a cab instead of the #5 bus which runs by his office. I did this because I hadn’t the foggiest idea how the #5 runs on Saturdays.

When I finally got to the office not a car was in sight. Usually, the place is swamped with cars. Then I looked down at my appointment card in horror my appointment is for NEXT SATURDAY!! That means that I spent $9.00 on cab fare for nothing. Well all was not lost.

Luckily, I remembered that there is a supermarket near the dentist’s office. While there I finished up my weekly grocery shopping chores. It was neat to visit a foreign supermarket. Ok, I know Stop, Shop, and Save is far from foreign, but the layout of the place was a different world to me. It was like visiting another country where everyone spoke english and you’re sure to find your favorite grocery staples like Turkey Hill Green Tea made with Ginseng and Honey or Strawberrry flavored Quick.

When I got home there was a man with a ladder in front of the house painting away at the window frames. He wore a walkman. There was a tarp on the steps. I paused for a minute. Should I go inside or wait till he finished up? My bags were getting heavy so I stepped on the tarp and went inside.

I really wanted to do my laundry today. I decided to hold off on doing it until tommorrow. I really have to call up my dad to see if the washing machine is fixed or if he bought a new one...

WHAT I’M WEARING: Today, I have on a sage green sweatshirt with jeans and generic looking tennis shoes.

A bus sped right by as I stood on the bus stop. I believe it was the #20. I can’t believe she didn’t see!

The next bus that went by was the #2. The #2 bus stopped for me. I ended up catching the light rail on time. The train is being driven by the usual gray haired man. It looks like I will be on time this morning.

I’m still upset about the election but not as upset as I was a few days ago. I suppose I’ve moved into acceptance phase of grief....

YASUR ARIFAT IS DEAD I’m not quiet sure how I feel about the death of Yasur Arifat. There are also reports out there that he is still alive. Right now I’m not quiet sure if he’s dead or alive. All I know is that he’s that old guy that wears that checkered scarf on his head.THE MOST FINANCIALLY PAINFUL MONTH: This morning I started making payments on my state and US tax returns. I’m paying them off the easiest way I know how....on the internet. I pay the majority of my bills on the internet. I pay both my college loans via the internet as well as my phone bill. I wish I could pay my rent and gas and electric bill on line as well. It would make my life easier.

The only thing I use actual money for is buying sodas from the vending machine at work and paying my Avon bill, and feeding laundromat machines.

WHAT I’M WEARING: Today I have on an oatmeal colored print mock turtleneck. It has a red design on it of flowers and little plaid squares. I’m wearing it with these oatmeal coloured jeans and black canvas shoes. I wanted to wear the beige Muppet shoes but they sort of clashed with the outfit. They looked more green than beige when paired with the oatmeal colored stuff.

Today, is my first day back to work after my vacation.

The bus was on time this morning. The bus waiting at the usual time was the #1. The bus driver signaled me to get on. I suppose she forgot about the man with the two little girls who gets off at the stop that I got on. I waited for them to get off the bus before I got on.

The light rail train is on time. It’s being driven by the gray haired man. You know speaking of which, he kind of looks a little like comedian, Leslie Neislon from the Naked Gun movies.

HOW I’M FEELING ABOUT THE ELECTION: I’m still deeply distraught and depressed over the election results. Could middle America and the south really be that stupid?

Mark my words this is the beginning of the American Taliban. The religious right has taken over. This is not America, anymore, this is The United States of Jesus.

The only thing that made me laugh yesterday was that while Live 105.7 was simulcasting Bush’s acceptance speech they played the Imperial March from Star Wars in the background. It was so appropriate. The evil Empire has taken over.

Will Obi Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, and the Rebel Alliance save us? Well, not bloody likely! Sadly, happy endings are only experienced in Hollywood movies and massage parlors....

WHAT I’M WEARING: Today, I have on a lavender pull over with a t-shirt underneath, blue jeans and black canvas shoes.

Looks like the bad guys won again. Like Florda Evans when James died on Good Times the only thing I can muster to say is, DAMN, DAMN, DAMN!!!

I left out the house to vote around 7:30AM. When I walked down the street to the polling place I was surprised to see that there was already a long line there. The line was so long that two people left in frustration. I hope that they came back later in the day. All in all I suppose they were just too wimpy to wait in line. I, however, will not be deterred!!!

While in line a few people were talking about Michael Moore’s movie and how it had motivated them. One of the poll workers there had on a P. Diddy, Vote or Die t-shirt. It was great to be line with a lot of like minded people who were devoted to getting Bush out of office. I remember thinking to myself, “George Bush, pack your bags because you are so out of here!”

A little after 8AM I left the voting area and headed to the hospital to get my blood drawn for tests that Dr. Udolff had ordered yesterday.

All the while this was going on I was listening to the Howard Stern Show. Listening to him really pumped me up. I can’t get Al Franken’s Air America so the only liberal outlet I can tune into on Baltimore’s airwaves is Howard Stern. Listening to Stern and some of his callers makes me feel that it’s inevitable, Bush will be leaving office. Only an absolute moron would keep him in office. I can feel it on my bones, President Kerry here we come!!!

After getting my blood drawn I caught a cab to the dentists office. I wasn’t quiet sure of the address of the office. The only thing I knew for sure was the street name the office is on. Not knowing the street number I gave the driver the street name and he immediately knew where I wanted to go. I had no idea that his office was that well known around the city.

While there I find that they will have to extract an tooth. That’s ok with me. I’m off today and tomorrow. Besides, I’m feeling good, the reign of Bush’s Evil Empire is in it’s twilight hours.

As usual half my family was at the dentist’s office. I said hello to my cousin and her two sons, Laurence and Marshall. I would know Laurence anywhere. He once held elected office. In the past his mug has been all over the media. However, when I first saw Marshall without the benefit of an introduction from his mother I though he was a rather good looking accountant checking the books. Imagine my shock to find out that the man I was checking out was my cousin! Yikes! I hadn’t seen him since I was a little kid and that was at a family reunion held over 20 years ago at their house.
In case your wondering they are both a few years my senior.

Anyway, after being re-inroduced, Marshall asked me if I had voted today I told him I had.

It seemed like every one, every where I went were asking each other if they had voted. I had never seen the likes of this before in the black community. There were people out on loudspeakers urging people to vote. I even saw a bit of a parade at another polling place again urging folks to vote.

WHAT I’M WEARING: Today, I have on blue jeans, black canvas tennis shoes, and lavender pullover.

Today, I had an appointment with Dr. Udolff, my endocrinologist. I haven’t seen him in over a year. The appointment is mainly to check up on my condition to see how the course of treatment is progressing.

Udolff still looks like Dr. Larry Wolek from One Life To Live. He was still as boring and lifeless as I remembered him. However, this time he had an intern with him who seemed kind of antsy to leave. He reminded me of a trapped animal looking for an escape route.

Overall, treatment seems to be progressing well. However, he wants me to get some blood work done. He wants blood drawn to check my fasting glucose, as well as testosterone, and progesterone levels. I don’t know why he didn’t also want to throw in an electrolyte panel. It wouldn’t have hurt anything. In the end I never asked him why. Like the intern trapped with him I wanted to escape.

WHAT I’M WEARING: Today, I have on a long sleeved button down white cotton shirt that has a floral design where the buttons are. I’m wearing the shirt along with blue jeans and black canvas tennis shoes.