writing – Tooleing Around America

I graduated from college in 1983 back home in Ireland and started full-time employment straight out. Hard to believe I’ve been working 43 years.

Not anymore! I am officially a man of leisure (well more leisure) as of September 4th. After 33 years at my no longer current employer, TransRe, I have officially logged off for good. I can let you all know now – I was Director of Quality Assurance, not just the Movie and Book Club Guy.

Forty-Three years working and I still look fantastic, as evidenced by the dozens of selfies below.

I could not be more grateful for my decades at TransRe. My now ex employer hosted a wonderful companywide cocktail party and a private farewell dinner at Hudson Yards. Being surrounded by images of old Queens in the former Rose Room was the perfect send off.

My last workplace task? Packing up all this shit.

It was a magnificent last month. As always, it was fabulous being the center of attention. I am forever grateful for the support, laughter and generosity of my colleagues/friends.

So – where’s North from Here? Upward and onwards.

I started retirement as I intend to continue it, with an eclectic assortment of events with an eclectic assortment of friends. As I was indeed Born Slippy, my first night of freedom started with Underworld and a rave at The Knockdown Center, a converted warehouse in Brooklyn.

This is my third event there in 2026 following Gogol Bordello and John Carpenter. Knockdown has moved well up my favorite music venue list and always has great merchandise. I needed more T-Shirts. No more jackets & trousers & razors for me.

I also joined a new gym – basic Planet Fitness – but all I need. I will be so manly by Christmas.

Saturday, another concert and my fourth time seeing Peter Hook & the Light, at the stately Brooklyn Paramount. If you want to see New Order at their best, see Peter.

It did strike me on the night that True Faith is the ultimate retirement song.

I feel so extraordinary
Something’s got a hold on me
I get this feeling I’m in motion
A sudden sense of liberty
I don’t care ’cause I’m not there
And I don’t care if I’m here tomorrow – New Order

But, to my surprise, the prime weekend event turned out to to be the House of Kong Exhibit , the Gorillaz pop up at the Brooklyn Navy Yards. It is such an inventive and uplifting experience. A mind-bending journey through the creative genius of all involved with Gorillaz.

This is my favorite event of 2026 to date. And I bought too much shit at their store. Three new t-shirts and a tote. Oh well!

I’m embarrassed to say, I’ve been a Manhattan resident for 35 years, and a lifelong cinephile, and just now discovered the Paris movie theatre right by the Helmsley Plaza. This freshly renovated cinema seats 500 plus and is the last remaining single screen theatre in NYC.

Tonight I got to see a magnificent 4K presentation of Bladerunner, my favorite film. I will be going back to this majestic old school venue a lot. This was part of their Big & Loud Annual series where they feature numerous big screen classics. Next week – Sorcerer!

Four days of retirement, four great events – I’m liking this shit.

I will not be letting the grass grow under my feet. My future will involve a lot of international travel, extended road trips, blogging, concerts, books, gardening, running online film and book clubs ,cartooning and some truly terrible golf. No fucking pickleball.

I ain’t happy, I’m feeling glad
I got sunshine in a bag
I’m useless, but not for long
The future is coming on – Gorillaz

Stay tuned! Check out our Page to Screen and Movie Clubs!

We took the turn back East yesterday and had a full on day of seeing odd crap.
And some genuine tourist sites,

Our first stop of the day was the Museum at the Indianapolis 500 track. It is such a superb location. The track hosts 300,000 plus for just eight events annually.

Kevin and myself can barely drive and know nothing about car racing. But we loved this venue. The remodeled space just reopened in April after eighteen months of renovation.

The day got less impressive from there on.

We stopped somewhere along the road for coffee and pulled pork and saw a giant candle. We were in a lot of “I” States yesterday and I got very confused.

As we continued along a badly congested highway we saw the sign for Uranus Fudge Factory. So of course we turned off.

Uranus is a gigantic ice cream, fudge and souvenir store centered around many variations of Uranus jokes. Definitely designed to play on simpleton tourists. We got a couple of ice creams, a pound of fudge, a key chain and stuck our heads out of animal’s arseholes.

Onwards to Springfield, Ohio and a genuine work of love. The Hartman Rock Garden is a folk art environment created by Harry “Ben” Hartman in the 1930s and maintained voluntarily since. This gem of a find is located in a suburban back garden. The intricate detail is stunning.

Lots of shitty driving back through shitty Ohio in shitty rain followed. Determined not to sleep in that shitty state again we drove on to Wheeling, West Virginia. Possibly a pretty town but we arrived too late and left too early to know.

We finished our trip today with a visit to Gettysburg. We both learned a lot.

We are both very happy and feeling quite accomplished for our big adventure. Kevin got to visit 15 States on this journey – that’s 30% of the Country. I’m now left with just Texas to drive, having checked off Nebraska and North Dakota.