John Di Bartolo’s House of Step

After I woke up late from my nap yesterday and almost missed class, it’s odd that sleep is suddenly back in the news. Guess what? Studies show that it’s important to sleep!

About five years ago, I walked into a subway support beam, giving myself a nice conk in the head and five stitches on my forehead. The beam was painted maroon, it was vertical, and it was in plain view. I wasn’t looking ahead of me, and I was extremely sleep deprived.

So in addition to irritability, lower productivity, and lower sex drive, I’d like to add “loss of dignity” to the list of potential sleep-loss hazards.

I’m being a good Catholic son and heading home for Easter weekend, leaving Friday afternoon. Sorry for the last minute notice. Darcy is covering for me.

My prayers have been answered. The stereo technician left me a message the other day telling me that the speakers at 80th St. have been replaced!!

The Chelsea Health Center, located at 303 9th Ave. between 27th and 28th St., is giving flu shots until the end of the month. They’re open from 8:30am to 2:30pm, Monday through Friday.

I got this information from the Department of Health (212 676-2273). When I asked if it was too late in the season to bother with a shot, the woman responded that since the shots are being offered, it means it’s a good thing to get one.

UPDATE: As it turns out, we DO live in a communist society. The shot is free!

I’m in the process of fixing up another CD for use in class. It’s called “12 Inches of Pleasure.” (That’s what you get for buying your music in Chelsea.)

The flu shot was reported to be finally available to everyone last month. When I called the flu hotline (888 799-8789) today, however, they had no update on shot availability for March. They even said that the shots may have already stopped.

Fantastic. They did give me advice to wash my hands frequently, however. Thank you, New York City flu hotline!!

I’ll keep calling and update you guys on anything I find. There’s still plenty of time left in the season to get sick, so if a shot becomes available, I’d jump on the opportunity.

Thinking I was well enough, I decided to teach Nicole’s classes last night at 86+Lex. Turns out that was a big mistake. Feeling worse than ever today, so I’m definitely subbing the classes out. Sorry, you guys.

For those of you who wish to scold me for being so stupid last night, please direct your comments to Rita Di Bartolo, my mother. I’m sure she’d be happy to compile them and scream them at me over the phone.

UPDATE: Deborah Smith is covering my classes.

Folks, I’ve got a nasty fever. Darcy Bentley is covering my TBC and step classes tonight at 16th & 8th. I don’t see how I could possibly teach tonight, even with the help of drugs. Behave while I’m gone….

(As far as I know, the rest of the week will be a normal schedule, but that depends on how I feel tomorrow morning.)

Recently the break between the Club Strength class and the step class on Thursdays has been looking like an episode of Supermarket Sweep. Although I personally don’t mind the five minutes of transitional chaos, several of the Club Strength participants have complained to me about it. From now on, I’ll let the previous class out a little bit earlier, but in return I ask the steppers to please wait outside until the equipment is put away.

If not, I’ll sick the Step Nazi on you….

I’d like to apologize to those of you upset by the “Step Nazi” this past Monday. Apparently someone collided into someone else in a class last week, and now the club is being a little sensitive to overcrowding. It stands to reason that sudden implementation of rules that had up until then been loosely enforced would get members angry. Give me a chance to meet with S.N. to get a feel for the degree to which he plans to be strict. Until then, please do your best to come to class at least five minutes before it starts. Thanks!!