We couldn't reach him by phone so I side-streeted my way down Atlantic Ave. and hit the chi-chi bars along Fifth looking for him. I caught up to him in some Euro-trash joint. He was about two minutes away from tearing the place up (he's been known to do that). The "artsy" crowd was caught up in a big "It's America's fault" circle jerk. I wanted start throwing with him and turn the place into the OK Corral, but dammit, I promised mom I'd find him and make sure he was ok. There was a fair bit of shoving and finger in the chest stuff as we got ready to leave though and we came this close. It was fun, considering.
I know the feeling about the slope. I work for New York Methodist Hospital. I've been in some of those bars, but I like the Carriage House the best! I was wearing a Naval Academy sweatshirt on my way to a bagel place one morning, (I used to live here too...) and I was hassled on the street by some stinky hippie woman who called me a warmonger. I just smiled, waved, and said, "Good Morning, Ma'am!" She stood there expecting a knuckle dragging, obscene response, I guess.
My wife & I live between 35th Ave. & Fort Totten. I used to work in Great Neck, though, at a music Store near the Post Office. Small World!
LC