The End of Break

January 10, 2011
The night before, I plan on waking up at 10:00 and heading to the MET before being off to my other stuff in the city. I only have one more week left of freedom before classes start again. However, my sleep schedule is off the wall and I randomly wake up at 6AM and can’t get back to sleep. Going to sleep at 3:00 probably didn’t help. I sit around for an hour, wake up for an hour and eat some pretzels and sit at the computer, then back to sleep. By then, I decided to drop the MET for next time because they don’t even have a special exhibit (still regret not seeing McQueen) that I really want to see.
By 12:00, I’m up. I get out the door by 1:20 after egg whites, shower, and the usual slacking. I decide to take the bus to Flushing and subway route. I don’t really care because I’m in no rush, but there are about 20+ minutes of delays. People aren’t happy about it.
Obviously I’ve planned ahead so I know what I want to do, where I want to go, and even have compaions. Miah gets off work at 3:00 and my friend Vanessa gets off work at 5:30. I’m occupied. Always prepared.
I head to SoHo for Grandaisy Bakery. As usual, won’t get too specific into the food because I’d be repeating Yelp. I get a mushroom pizza, a ciabatta for home, as well as rosemary olive oil focaccia. Pretty reasonably priced.
Then around the corner to Dominque Ansel Bakery, known for their special DKA and canele. A French bakery and hit the bank a bit more at $9 for both. However, so worth it.
Then I meet Miah at Uniqlo. My brother got me a shirt for Christmas, but he got me a Small, I guess because he knows I’m a bit bigger in size than him. I end up exchanging it for an XS, but now I’m home, I still think I’ll return it. It fits, but it’s a loose fit. I’d imagine most guys would get away with it, but being thin and short, having a baggier and longer shirt just makes me look even more ridiculously short. However, I do find some sick Henley long sleeves, I actually don’t have any long sleeve shirts.
Miah and I then go to La Colombe for a proper cappuccino with a fancy flower pour and such. We then walk over to Japadog to meet Vanessa, who I haven’t seen in a few month. I get a Japanese themed hot dog and Miah splits. We catch up and then split up after Japadog. It’s still before 7:00 and I have nothing to do.
I walk around checking up if the boys are around for a drink because I’m in the city anyway. No one’s free. The dog wasn’t much, so I think about heading to this new great pizza place, Forcella. However, I’m by myself and don’t think I can finish an entire pizza. I then realize that it’s Tuesday and the only day of the week that Bowery Poetry Club does its poetry slams. I’ve always wanted to go, but then I give up. Maybe I should’ve lone wolfed it. Either way, I think this is exactly the reason I should find myself a girlfriend. Jeeeez Darwin.
Either way, I spoiled diet today and still have a small ciabatta and focaccia slice to bring home. All that food only cost me $25. All that variety, so many places. I must pat myself on the back for that because that is about what a meal at a restaurant would be in the city.

January 12, 2011
Jenn drives Bolanos and I into the city. We meet Aaron and Scott at Tile Bar. We then move to Drop Off Service. Then onto Otto’s Shrunken Head. It’s a fun time and interesting to see have Jenn around as a different perspective to our dude banter. One subject that came up was a discussion that I had with Bolanos and Kenny the night before. Bolanos is offended by the idea of dating and the possibility of having to pay for dates (as a man) and not getting any ensured return. “Cheap” can be used in many ways, but this is where Bolanos is cheap. There’s just something so offensive about it to him that it hurts the bones inside, whereas most guys just take the hit and concede it’s what you’re going to have to do if you want to go on dates with someone.
It’s also a night of Bolanos-isms. We’re talking about sending naked pictures to your girlfriend after she has sent you pictures. Personally, that’s not the best idea because it can get around to somewhere, but as long as your face isn’t on it… Hey, we’re the 21st century, sexuality has expanded its boundaries to include technology. And obviously, it’s only fair if she’s already taking part.
Bolanos on the other hand doesn’t get this idea. We explain the idea to him and he is absolutely floored by the concept that there exists reciprocation between two parties. I literally see his mind explode and it doesn’t remotely enter his mind that this idea of give and take exists. He understands the part of him benefitting from naked pictures of a significant other, but even mentioning the idea that the male would have to do it is out of this world. I die laughing because this is just a pure Bolanos-ism.

January 13, 2011
I drive with Bolanos into the city. I tried to gather more people go out because it’s Aaron and my last weekend before classes start. We go to Sophie’s, despite being there so much recently. I would’ve liked a change of pace, but it’s hard to argue moving people around. It is so ridiculously cold. We meet with Elena, Jeff, Reuben, Aaron, and Stefan.
Aaron is stuck on hitting on this girl and tells Reuben not to butt in. Funny thing, he ends up doing so and Aaron later gives him a stern command again. He’s serious about his game.
This shaggy guy runs into the bar and goes to the back with a half eaten pizza. He shoves it into another shaggy dude’s face and forces the guy to take a bite. It’s just a ridiculous sight because the guy getting fed pizza was probably just as surprised as us onlookers.
“Rock n’ Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” by AC/DC comes on and there’s these dudes that get really into it, like me, because AC/DC is some of the best bar music. They create their own air guitar band and rock out in front of the jukebox. They get some applause at the end of their “performance.” I end up putting on more AC/DC, but we end up leaving before that.
Stefan’s “date” ends up coming to the bar, which he actually met at same place, two weeks ago. She brings a friend and I try to keep her company and talk to her. However, she’s pretty dry and hard to talk to. Thankfully, Aaron steps in and takes that task. Sarah on the other hand is a really sweet gal and seems to enjoy Stefan’s wackiness. Stefan with his whole act and dancing, she seems to find it cute and precious. I’m really happy that’s the case. Good for him.
We then move to another bar, Cherry Tavern, which is a pretty shit place. When Aaron goes to buy Sarah’s friend a beer, she says out loud with a bad attitude that Aaron was hitting on her. It’s one thing if she’s not interested and says that privately to Sarah. Whatever, not everyone needs to click. However, as his pal, I find it a bit offensive that she would blatantly state that as if it were something disgusting and repulsive. My pal Aaron is a great dude and great catch, ladies would be lucky if he were giving them his attention. And I don’t need to say this, but if anything, I felt Aaron was easily working below his standards. Jeez, once the man gets into a “dry spell,” in his mind, apparently everything is free reign.
Sarah, her friend, and Stefan eventually leave because her friend got bored. Good thing Aaron kept her occupied for a while though. I still feel bad about a few weeks ago when Samara ended up leaving Bolanos’ birthday party because Samara’s roommate got bored from not knowing anyone. Being his buddy, I should ensure that everyone, especially him, is having good time and maybe speak to her roommate so she doesn’t easily get bored and need to drag Samara out of there.
Bolanos and I end up dropping by Pommes Frites and then splitting. We have our usual banter and it really doesn’t result in much. A lot of it is just little details and agreeing to disagree. Probably the biggest one was Sarah’s friend. I explained that I enjoyed trying my best to be accommodating, despite the nasty attitude. It’s generally amazing to meet new people and find out about them. Bolanos did not seem to seem to think so. He made it seem like such a ridiculously horrible burden to have to speak to her. More importantly, the fact that she wasn’t attractive made the act of a doing so just unfathomable. What’s he to gain from the experience? So it’s basically opposite views of talking to strangers and meeting new people, but that’s just a different perspective of social life.
With props to Ricky Gervais, I may not go by a religion, but I don’t need to when I enjoy humanity so much. Despite the inanimate things in life that I love, travelling, sights, and food, nothing will come close to friends, family, or just people. The relationships I make with others are by far the most important things in my life.
So to another year of: People.

January 14, 2011
I feel a cold coming along or something and just don’t want to get out of the house. It’s Tork’s birthday, but it’s all the way in Brooklyn and I just don’t have the effort to make it. There’s also other plans from Brandon, who is going to Alex Molina’s birthday. I haven’t seen her in years, maybe even high school. But still, it’d be really cool seeing people from high school again and meeting new people, etc.
I eventually give up on this plan on tell the guys to meet me in the Lower East Side. They take their time doing stuff so I eventually leave at 11:00. It’s 11:35 and I get into the area and I get a call. Aaron says that we’re going to Jake’s Dilemma.
I make the plans around here because they can’t make decisions. Not only that, they make bad ones or extremely boring ones because we’ve been there, done that. I pulled the trigger and got down there on time. These assholes won’t budge on the plan and I’m fucking furious. I took the Williamsburg instead of the 59th Street and now I have to go all the way up there. It takes me a good 30 minutes and I find them in the Gin Mill. It’s infested with mostly dudes and Bolanos just staring up at the TV screen like a dolt.
Scott’s also there, which makes the reason going there a bit more reasonable because it’s easier for Scott. Other than that, my issue is that I wasn’t dealt with correctly. They didn’t give me a reasonable explanation for why I was dragging myself all the way up there and were unapologetic about it. Give me anything reasonable like Scott will be up there and I can take it. However, I was just given no explanation and from what I can gather, it was just to watch whatever stupid games on TV.
Aaron finds a table with two girls and starts chatting them up. Apparently Reigler has 2 cents in his brain and realizes that he shouldn’t be watching the hockey game and walks over to join Aaron. Even with a couple beers, I end up getting extremely bored standing there with Scott and Bolanos and make plans to go to midtown to meet Jesse and Teddy.
Aaron and Reigler come with me after they’re done getting numbers and we go to Hagi. It’s a cool Izakaya style place, small plates, simple food, and beer. Love it. After shooting some shit and a beer. We all split up and Reigler and I take the subway back uptown where my car is and we drive back.
On the way back, I’m just about to get off the highway when I see someone pulled over. I slow down a bit and drive by. I then realize, I just broke the Move Over Law. What an unintuitive law. For those who don’t know, if someone is pulled over an a shoulder, you must move a lane over from the right lane, or go 20 miles/hour below the speed limit. They’re trying to meet officers and the people they pulled over safe, but what’s the point of pulling someone over when you’re putting people in immediate risk. I freak the fuck out and hope that nothing is going to happen. Turns out that the officer just must’ve gave up on the guy he pulled over and raced after me. I’m waiting at a light after the exit and get pulled over. I’m so freaked out/pissed now.
Officer comes over, asks for ID and registration. I can’t find the registration and he doesn’t give me a hard time about it. He asks if I know about the Move Over Law and I apologize that I do know, but it slipped my mind. He gives me a sobriety test by making me start at his pen while he moves it. I couldn’t be more nervous. I only had three beers in at least 3 and a half hours. I still don’t want to get out of the car and do all these weird test or whatnot. Stuff’s just nerve racking. Thankfully, he’s fine with the test. He’s a cool guy, doesn’t even go back to his car to check my license or anything, he just lets me on my way. Pheewwww.
Personally, I just don’t want to get a ticket in the first place. Then, I also don’t want my mom having to bear more insurance costs. And lastly, Bolanos told me the ticket is $300. Fuckkinnn hell. I mean, that won’t break me, but that’s a real amount of money. I don’t have that to just throw around. Most importantly, I would feel robbed from it. Okay, I did break the stupid law, but really… This stupid law I’m getting fined for? Robbed I would feel. Robbed.
I get home and take the biggest sigh of relief ever. I catch up some with CNF and he seems to be doing well. I chat with him about how everyone around me, including him, has something happening and how I should try to jump back on the horse and get out dating.
With a new semester in a couple days, hopefully this semester doesn’t swamp me and I have somewhat of a social life for this new aspiration. Cheers.