Today is Tuesday, June 4, 2024. I was remiss in not mentioning at the close of my blog yesterday that I was attending my gay men’s reading club meeting today at 6:30 p.m. The novel we intended to discuss was Brandon Taylor’s 2023 novel The Late Americans, set in Iowa City that tells the story of a group of graduate students, mostly in their early 20s, as they struggle with their studies and making art. So I’m always amazed at the level of erudition on display during one of these meetings, and I was not disappointed at tonight’s discussion. The men seriously discussed the book for close to 90 minutes, and it was very illuminating. Not that I enjoyed the book that much! But I now have more of an appreciation of what the writer might have set out to do, whether or not he succeeded in his intent.

Basically, I just walked into the apartment a little after 10. You can guess that I’m a little tired from attending this meeting and also going to Julius’s afterward. I had my first glass of beer there, a Stella Artois. Elliot did not accompany me since he did not read the book and was recruited instead to pick up his Beverly Hills friend who was flying into Newark Airport at 7.

So, I’m going to call it a night and inform you that I will also be unavailable tomorrow night to attend an end-of-year party at my former school in Jamaica, Queens. I received a text from a former colleague about two weeks ago informing me about the party in honor of my supervisor who was indeed retiring. I had some hesitation before I answered in the affirmative that I was going. The price of the affair was also a consideration: $85. I was also drawn to the prospect of seeing ex-colleagues who I haven’t seen close to 7 years after I left the school. I’m slightly nervous about going, though.

Have a good Wednesday if I don’t see you tomorrow.

Stay safe and be well.