Sunday, February 22, 2009

Trying this again

Sometimes my friends are pretty great and incredibly supportive.


I've almost completed my entertainment setup. I've got a wireless hard drive/server with all my music and video on it, and it shows up in iTunes in my library, not as a server. It also acts as a network drive. And I can also access it with my phone while on my network and play the songs directly on my phone. Or control my computer with the phone. And it also acts as an FTP server.
I'm kind of proud of the entire thing, to be honest. I've always interacted better with machines than people.

The title of this blog needs an apostrophe, but I can't be bothered changing it. Plus I think it might muck up some browser code.

I've been awake since 6:30 this morning. I haven't napped at all, either. I spent most of the day trying to stay busy and keep myself occupied. I even went for a run and watched "His Girl Friday."
"Everybody wants to be Carey Grant. Even I want to be Carey Grant." - Carey Grant.

I don't know what else to say.

Monday, July 7, 2008

mirror in the bathroom

I do not own a mirror. There is one on the medicine cabinet in my bathroom that shows my upper torso up to my face, but aside from that I do not have one.
I went clothes shopping today. Normally I do not try things on until I get home, but this particular store offers free tailoring. Not one to pass up anything free, I figured I'd give it a go with the shirts and pants I had picked out.

Well, when I got into the dressing room and slipped off my shirt, I was in for a slight surprise. The body I remember having was not the one smiling back from the mirror. This.was.shocking.
Not that I'm fat, but my stomach is starting to resemble more of a belly, which is something I just will not allow.
So as soon as I got home I put on the Wii Fit and did a 45 minute workout. I refuse to become what I've always hated!!

But yes, it was slightly shocking. Last time I saw my stomach (emphasis on stomach) I had some semblance of abs. I had no idea how bad it had gotten.
But it's not going to last. I'm much too vain to allow for that.



I want to get my first tattoo this weekend. Hold my hand?

Sunday, July 6, 2008

I have been a bad person

And not updated this frequently enough. All apologies.

I think I need to ween myself off of my coupled friends. Since this pretty much means most of my friends, it might take a while. Not that they are boring, but they tend to not be as fun as my single friends (this is true in tv reality as well as regular reality). Just look at that 'How I Met Your Mother' episode when Lily and Marshall are in their pajamas at like 11 and don't want to go out because they are tired and would have to change.
It's kind of like that. So less couples and more singles, please.

That doesn't mean I won't be friends with my friends that are couples. It just means I am going to avoid them more, I think. I mean one of them is on a cruise now!!! Who goes on a cruise other than anyone over 50?
Exactly.



I had a girl over a few weeks ago and one thing led to another etc. etc. Afterwards she asked me to help her tie the ribbon on the back of her dress into a bowtie. I said I didn't know how to make a bowtie, but I could do a shoelace. She told me I better learn to do it in case I ever have daughters. When I said 'Never!' she was like 'you're never having children?' and I said 'no' and this caused a great deal of drama, including her running out my door saying she never would have come over if she had known that.
After I calmed her down and whatnot she told me all I have in my life is my job and she feels bad for me. Then she left and IM'ed me two days later to go on another date. I said no.
How do I always find the crazies?


My friend Kristen discovered this magical world called 'Beer Island.' It is kind of like the Candy Land game has come to life, except instead of candy there is beer and instead of a board game it is all sand and instead of moving your piece you sit and drink.
Oh and did I mention there is a BBQ Island on Beer Island? Yea, it is just that mystical. We were there Friday and I can't wait to go back again one day.


I am seeing Brian Wilson this week!!! I've been a Beach Boys fan since I was 5 (when my dad had this mixtape with all their songs on it and I'd play it all the time in the car and sing along), so this is a pretty big deal for me. 20 years in the making, if you will. Can. Not. Wait.


I've been keeping to myself more than usual this summer. I think I need to end that. I'll make that part of the 'no more coupled friends' rule. Not that I am getting rid of my coupled friends - I just don't feel like pulling teeth to get them to come out, which is what it feels like sometimes.



Sunday, June 8, 2008

finally

There are certain moments in history where everyone remembers where they were when it happened/they learned about it. JFK assassination, MLK assassination, "I am not a crook," The Mets '86 World Series, and most recently (especially for my generation, 9-11. We were too young for the Berlin Wall, and contrary to popular belief, I think to anyone born after 1978 or so, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" really doesn't mean that much.
So until Tuesday, the most historical event we had was when the towers came down. I remember walking into my media class at college, and seeing it on TV around 8:45. Someone said two planes had crashed into the world trade center. We thought it meant they collided in mid-air and landed on the towers. Then we went into another room to see a demo from one of the video editing professors about this US celebration video he was working on.
Then I got home to my dorm around 11, and saw what had happened in the interim.

Newsweek had an article a couple week's back on this book that talks about how "dumb" my generation and others coming after are. How we look everything up on Google and Wikipedia, and don't remember anything. In fact, one of the main points of the book is to talk about how we don't even know why a 1960s restaurant bathroom would have a "Coloreds Only" sign, much less the meaning of the sign.
To which I can say (and left a comment affirming as much) I am proud to belong to a generation that doesn't know what it means, and maybe that's a good thing?

So now I think I'll always remember being at a Day's Inn outside Baltimore, with bulletproof glass on the lobby door and a hotel room door that looked like it may have been kicked in, watching the CNN Election Center and 'Magic Wall' and Wolf Blitzer announcing Obama would officially be the Democratic nominee.


Of course, the next day I saw a covered pick-up truck with "DEFEAT OBAMA THE SOCIALIST" written on the back window.
One step forward, six steps back.

I was told I have a man crush on Obama. It's not so much a man crush as it is admiration for someone who is finally getting the populace out to his rallies instead of watching the Tila Tequila marathon.


Monday, June 2, 2008

double bag

I like incredibly far-fetched scenarios, situations, and possibilities. For example, when we were first entering the current economic crisis, I pitched something spotlighting Church & Dwight, manufacturer of Arm & Hammer and other basic goods. Why Church & Dwight? Because they also make the Trojan condom. And I posited that if people were making less money, they would put off having children, and condom sales would improve.

These are the things I think about late at night. It made sense in my head.
Needless to say, this was rejected because I could not actually come up with any numerical data to prove this was true.
Aren't you glad to know the media is not completely based on some opinions?




I still believe this to be true, by the way.



Sunday, June 1, 2008

what do i do when my love is away

I went with a friend and some of her friends to see 'Sex and the city.' Mock me if you must.

While I am not a fan of the show, and only saw my first episode a couple nights ago, I have to say there were a couple things about the movie I liked (I did not like the movie btw).

The fact that the show/movie takes place in New York is a plus. It just made me affirm how much I love it here. Not just for the things to do -- it is completely true you wind up with a few very close friends here who will become your surrogate family. In fact, there is a group of us who get together at least once a month for 'family dinner,' so that we at least have that where we are all together at once. Contrary to what you see on the show, it is quite difficult to get six schedules to all match up with a free night.

There have been quite a few times where I (or them) have needed support after a particularly bad day, experience, week, month, etc. and they come out in full force. I am not ashamed to admit I have called people and said, "I need you now," and not in the sexual sense.
If you want to perk yourself up with a tsunami hot dog at Criff Dogs, they will be there to share your cheese fries. Sex lives are known, along with sexual history (this is fun when many of your friends have been gay at some point in their lives). Certain subjects and events will never die and always be funny (Halloween 2006, I gave them permission to tell that story to my parents), and it is just comforting to know there is help in this jungle.
And it is a jungle. This town can be incredibly lonely. It was when I first moved here. But I managed to build something out of nothing, as many others have done and continue to do. And I fully offer my support to anyone who is beginning to build, is building, or has built some sort of life here.
Because, like the man says, I get by with a little help from my friends.

Anyway, the more I watched it, the more I identified with the show. Not the plot or anything like that, just the concept of a few friends in NYC helping each other get by. Maybe I'm getting nostalgic because my four year NYC anniversary is coming up in a week, but it was really refreshing to be watching something and not envy the people on screen, because it just felt like a Hollywood version of my life.
And isn't that what we all want?

Monday, May 26, 2008

everybody get dangerous

Someone found this blog by googling "nerd persecution + examples." Should I be happy?

Sometimes I feel like blogging is a form of mental vanity masturbation. You've got all this stuff stored up and by god do you have to release it. But you don't just want to release it, you want people to read it. You wouldn't have a blog if you didn't want anyone to read it.

I had what can only be described as a fantastic weekend. Except for seeing the fourth installment of a certain movie series, everything was great. Sunday was one of the best Brooklyn days I've had in a super long time, complete with lots of walking, a nice lunch outside, annnnnnd my personal favorite, intelligent conversation. It doesn't get much better.

Except for playing WIFFLE BALL in Prospect Park yesterday evening. That was pretty great too. And having a nice dinner outside. With four gay men. Sadly the ball did not land on a group of girls that might want to play too.

Have I mentioned I bought NKOTB tickets? Because I did. I also have Petty and Brian Wilson, but I feel like the NKOTB is just going to be amazingly fun.

I am listening to the new Weezer album. How great is that video by the way!!


Wednesday, May 21, 2008

When this baby hits 88 miles an hour

You're gonna see some serious shit.

Some things are picking up, in a good way. One of the reasons I think I was sort-of spinning out of control was that I couldn't control anything, and things I could control (or thought I could) I was putting too much effort and emphasis on, making it even worse.

So now I'm on very, very slow cruise control. Trying to slow things down, from not being rushed when getting ready for work, to anything else that would just be easier and more relaxed if I cooled it.

You know, like that song.




I’m dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep

Monday, May 19, 2008

I accidentally touched my head

and noticed that I had been bleeding


I feel better
. I figure if I put effort into the things I can control, I will come out of this alright. A lot of things I was angry about (and carrying the anger, not just letting it go) got sorted out, and I feel more than a bit better about the whole situation.
And I know I'm feeling better because I no longer feel like putting on old sad bastard music, but more music with hope.
Which is what I need right now. Hope. Bob Hope floats.






Please believe that things are good with me, and even when they're not, they will be soon enough. And I will believe the same about you.


Sunday, May 18, 2008

I need to learn to finish posts

Started a few days ago, just finished now because I can't go anywhere in my apartment since the cleaning service is here.
Yea, I have a cleaning service. Actually today is the first day with them. As my Mother (I wonder if she has found my blog yet?) will tell you, I haaate cleaning. And it's pretty cheap to get someone in here for a few hours to do it much thoroughly than I ever could or would, so it is worth it.


I want to pause for a moment to talk about etiquette. This is for the ladies, but fellas, maybe you can offer some input as well.
Now I know I am a full-on advocate of the lemon law in dating (5 minutes in either one of you can enact the 'lemon law', get up and leave, and feelings aren't really hurt by a 'oh I'll call you'). Unfortunately, this is a craze that has yet to catch on, so we are still stuck with awkward first dates that can just drag on.
However, I think all first dates can be narrowed into three categories:
a. tons of chemistry, definitely seeing again
b. sort of awkward, got along alright, will see again to see how it goes
c. nothing in common, have a nice life.

This does not take into variables like one party going home with the other, because that can throw things all of whack. Observe:

I went on a 'first date' a few weeks ago. We had dinner, some nice conversation, and decided to go to a bar. We both had a bit too much, and before I knew it she was inviting herself back to my place by way of "So I don't have to work tomorrow." (it was a Thursday).
I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, so we were drunkenly on the sidewalk, hand out hailing a cab.
But then nothing happened. Readers of my blog (who are you anyway???), do you know who makes out and does nothing for two hours?
Middle schoolers. And me. Because even though she invited herself over, nothing was going to happen. Which is kind of like misleading the witness if you ask me. Or something to that effect.

Okay fine, I don't need to sleep with her on the first date. I'm okay with that. I go away for a few days and don't really see her. Come back for the weekend with plans everyday to hang with my friends. Saturday night I get a drunk text asking if she can come over.
Life lesson: Don't ever text someone drunk after the first date.
I explain I'm in a movie, I'll talk to her later. So I call, leave voicemail, go home, nothing happens.

Talk to her a couple days later, when I'm being evasive about the activities of my weekend (there was no hour-by-hour rundown), and she starts bringing up her ex-es. What an exciting topic!
Now, I'm not one to get jealous when someone brings up their ex-es, in fact, I think it is great when people are friends with them (just don't forget who's taking you home and in whose arms you're gonna be, so darling, save the last dance for me). But don't bring them up to try and make me jealous. If anything it just makes me annoyed you're even attempting such crap. I don't have time for rubbish and games, and that's what it is.
So that was warning sign number two.

Contrary to popular belief, if you can't keep up with me intellectually I have no interest in you. So maybe watching primaries as a second date was a bad idea, because whoever is at my side needs to thrust, parry, parry, as well as I do. Argue with me and give me good reasons for why I'm wrong (that's hot), or agree with me but have your own reasons why I'm right. Don't be a bobble head.

So because I did not take selection 'c' after date one, I was stuck with the awkward phase out. Which I'm not really a fan of, but I just can't bring myself to say "I'm just not that into you."




Also, I'm not just a blogger, I'm a regular fortune teller. I've been meaning to bring this up, but kept forgetting to. Remember on February 10 when I said Netflix was going to be the winner? Well if you had bought the stock the next day at $26.89/share, you could have sold it a month later for $40/share.
Yeah yea, It's hovering around $31 now (still a 20% increase), but if you didn't sell at $40 you missed out...pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.