Sunday 25 March 2012

March

March 13, 2012
I decide today to go Elmhurst, where I lived until I was 9. I drive over the Queens Center and check out some stores, especially looking for green because St. Paddy’s is coming up. I eventually go to JC Penny and Macy’s and check out their “young adults” or boys section. It actually goes up to 20 years old so it’s not that weird for me. Come to think of it, some of my favorite shirts are actually from that section in Macy’s that I went to years ago.
Both stores turn out really well. It’s so hard shopping for my size and these sections are both cheap and some (not all, the lengths and builds can be a bit weird) are really amazing fits. Even just simple stuff like V neck tees and polos. Anyway, works out.
I then take a walk, leaving my car at the mall lot. It’s amazing seeing my neighborhood after not being there for almost 15 years. Lots of it I recognize, though some has changed. Loads of memories being brought back. I find this Malaysian place and get a milk based cold drink, great for this warm day. I then walk over to the other side of Elmhurst and then go to this Venezuelan place for a pacano, this really cool sandwich thing. After that, I take end my day and take drive back home.
When I get back, I turn on the Bowery Poetry Club’s stream online. I wanted to do that today and hang around the city, but it was a bit of a trek and I did not feel like going alone. I mentioned it a while ago, but this is the exact reason I should find a woman with similar interests as I. Either way, some of the poems were absolutely breath taking. I just sat with it there on full screen, open ears, open eyes, open heart.

March 14, 2012
Part Deux of New York trips. If I’m not going anywhere and being ambitious with my Spring Break, then I need to check out areas in New York. I even splurge and save loads of money. It’s also a convenient “vacation.”
I wake up early in the morning and get into Brooklyn, Park Slope. I first to go Bark Hot Dogs. The lady serving my hot dog spills my beer a little bit while I’m at the table and she offers me a refill. Before I’m done with my dog, she gives me an entire full beer. After two beer and a small lunch (just their small dog), I’m walking around Brooklyn buzzed on a hot “summer” day and boy is Park Slope gorgeous. I check out the Armory and then get the best Jamaican patty of my life, a fantastic food by the way.
I then go to the Brooklyn museum. Not a huge museum, but still expansive. A great museum. I then plan with Stefan to meet up in the East Village for happy hour. We go to Ten Degrees, a wine bar, for some cocktails. They’re good cocktails and their half price for happy hour. I haven’t eaten much all day and after the first one, we both start feeling it pretty hard. We grab another one and then move out. Stefan updates me a bit on his future and job prospects. Wish the best for him that he gets the job he wants that he’s applied to.
I meet Sam with her friends Bailey and Jules. We to go ‘inoteca and then get dessert at Labratorio del Gelato. We then go to the newish UCB in the East Village. There’s a trio of three improv women, but I have to cut it short because Bolanos is meeting me in the city for a second dinner.
It’s not exactly my cup of tea the improv. I prefer my comedy written and scripted, but I do appreciate the spontaneity and the ability for improve. It is definitely something I would have a hard time doing. Bolanos and I check out the new East Village L’Asso and then we go to Keybar because it’s still before 10:00 and they have their awesome late happy hour. Two in one night, biotch.
Both Sam and Erdem show up and we just shoot some shit and hang out. A long day, but an amazing day. I ate like a king, drank all day, but most importantly got to see beautiful Brooklyn and had a fun afternoon and night with friends.

March 15, 2012
Luna is on her way to stay for the weekend and to hang for St. Paddy’s. My friend from Australia, Emily, is also in New York. I plan to meet Luna and Emily at Chelsea Market. I was planning to hit up loads of Chelsea galleries, but I unfortunately get itno the city a bit late into the afternoon. We all grab some Thai in Chelsea Market along with Emily’s friends that are also visiting the city. We then grab a tangy sourdough from Amy’s Bread (sooo good) and then head to the supermarket on the way back for some dinner ingredients. We make some great broccoli cheese soup and make a bread bowl out of the sour dough. An easy and delicious soup.

March 16, 2012
We head into Flushing for some hand pulled noodles, good stuff. We then pick up ingredients for the family meal we’re making tonight. We made it Irish themed for tomorrow. Corned beef, cabbage and carrots, Irish soda bread, cheesy potatoes, broccoli cheese soup (made some more with yesterday’s stuff). Jenn, Candace, Kim, and Bolanos show up. It’s great having everyone over for dinner.
Erdem fell asleep and couldn’t make it. Candace has plans to go to the city for karaoke and we head out. Jenn doesn’t come and I forget that Kim was still only 20. It’s great to see her again while she’s here.
Candace drives us into the city and we have a few drinks. Aaron, Eric F, and his friend Stew show up. It’s awesome seeing Eric and catch up with how he’s doing in Michigan Law. I end up doing a Queen song with Luna and then I drive Candace’s car back because I’m the most sober of the bunch.

March 17, 2012
We end up not being able to make the parade as we planned. We end up taking it slow about getting ready and have a few drinks before getting into the city by 6:00. Luna and I are obviously decked out. I have a green shirt and a flashy green pin. She’s got a green wig and also a flashy green necklace.
We wanted to go to McSorley’s, but that line was long as hell. We end up going to 13 Step, but that’s a crowded bar because it’s part of a pub crawl. I end up meeting Eric, Stew, and a new friend Rob, really cool guys. We go to Coal Yard and grab some Irish Car Bombs. We then get a pie of pizza at South Brooklyn. The best slice in the city.
We then head to Sophie’s and meet with Scott and his roommate Nikki. There’s been someone trolling his AIM and phone as him and sending me weird texts/IMs. I thought it was some idiot roommate dude that was too childish, but it turns out that it was her. She’s just a really good troll. She’s just a blast to have out. I hope she comes out more.
I find out that Tom has been dong really well at work. I’m glad for him. He was in Boston for the weekend and came down and caught St. Paddy’s.
Aaron, Bolanos, Tom and Stefan show up. It’s a huge gang of us, it’s just a really great time. We eventually go to Company, old times. People eventually decide to split. Luna and I take the 1:19 train. We’ve been out for a while. Turns out that Tom and Bolanos missed the train barely so they’re on our train because they were planning to take the 12:19.

March 23, 2012
After class, I take a quick nap and then by 5:00, I head into the city to meet up with my friend Emily at MOMA. She ends up backing out, which is fine because I’ll just make plans later and go to the Whitney Museum myself. It’s also free on Fridays and I’ve been wanting to go forever. It turns out to be a “Biennial” or something and the exhibits aren’t the paintings they usually have. There’s some performance art stuff, a lot of more modern abstract works, I’m out of there in under an hour. It’s actually a pretty small museum in the first place.
I then go downtown and shmooze around with Emily while she waits to get a tattoo. Aaron is supposed to meet up, but he backs out. It turns out that Sam is randomly in the area and texts me. What a coincidence, we meet up and then meet up with Erdem and Miah who came into the city to get dinner. We wanted to go a new Philipino place, well at least I pushed for it, but it’s crowded. We go next door to L’Asso and having not eaten all day, I stuff my face with loads of pizza. We go across the street and grab a couple drinks.
It really feels great for it to be the weekend and have friends out. Evan comes with his friend and Tom meets up too. However, Bolanos had to pick up his parents from the airport and doesn’t want to drive into the city so decides he wants to go to Astoria. Hasan agrees so now we have to pull out of the city. At the bar, I randomly walk by these two women speaking French and damn I melted. I was about to pass out. Something about attractive women and the beautiful French language just got me weak at the knees.
Either way, it’s crazy being in the city. When I was on the subway, in the Upper East Side, and around in the museum, I fell in love at least 5 times. I’m on this blonde phase and let me tell you, my heart can’t take it. I guess you live in a pond when it’s just law school and Great Neck. Being in the city, you realize what’s out there and it’s a lot to take in.
We split up with Sam and Tom, Evan, Miah, and I jump into Hasan’s car to head to Astoria. We go to Studio Square, which is finally opened up and perfect for our warm weather. Evan is passing the hell out. Hasan and him leave. With the rest of us, I take this recording of this ridiculous conversation start. I’m not trying to be serious, but it’s better then whatever dumb arguments we usually get into so it’s great to keep the conversation jovial. For some reason, a discussion about autism arises and I ask if there could be an austic woman that is fantastic at sex. A person who is socially inept, but they have a beyond human ability in the bed. They’re trying to explain to me that doesn’t exist, but I’m just considering this sweet idea. Bolanos doesn’t like any part of this and grunts and suggests that there should be a net wrapped around me and I should be taken away like an animal. What can I say…

March 23, 2012
At night, I’m not sure about plans until Evan says he’s driving into the city with Bolanos. I join along and then I find out that it’s an 80s party and I don’t even know. It’s cool, but I would’ve liked trying deck out in 80s stuff. We get there and it’s a very small place downstairs. The music is pretty good, a decent amount of people, but we end up splitting pretty quickly.
We stand around Sophie’s for a while and then Stefa and Sara come. We leave immediately though only after a short Hello.

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Febs

February 17, 2012
It’s Stefan’s night off and I want to stay in this weekend to do work so I make today my night out. Aaron is doing work for school. I meet up with Scott and Stefan and Sarah at Sophie’s. I say Hi to Jen the bartender. Shauna’s not working tonight. I order a beer and Jen just taps the bar when I try to pay. I eventually slunk away because she’s getting other drinks after leaving a decent tip. Well I guess I learn something every day. A knock on the bar means a buy back.
Scott doesn’t have too much to say about Israel, but Stefan is convinced that he fucked all these girls and he’s just shouting it over and over. Scott’s honest though and keeps insisting that he didn’t. Plans are weird about meeting up with Candace, but Josh doesn’t end up making it. Tom meets us when we take a cab to Cornerstone Tavern uptown. Candace is there for karaoke. Stefan and Sarah leave pretty quickly.
It’s a pretty cool place, no one is upstairs really to sing karaoke. Enough people singing so that it’s not empty. Not so many so that you could get your songs in. I sing Love by Nat King Cole, a song that’s been stuck in my head all week. They also have a Yuengling liter glass of beer for $10. That’s a fucking ridiculous deal, especially when a pint or regular beer is $6.
It’s strange when we suddenly realize that we’re at America’s Got Talent. There’s this version of Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow’s Picture. The guy has a real serious deep country voice, professional level. He’s a way better singer than Kid Rock and I’m just blown away. The girl is also really good too. Then there’s also this another guy with another amazing voice. Bolanos and I are just confused as fuck. Why are the people so good here? Then there’s some drunk as people singing after that and we realize we actually live in the real world. Bolanos and I then do You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC. A real man’s song.
We then leave and I’m waiting outside for a cig while they run inside. I know that we got there fast and that it’ll be at least 30 minutes. I go get Taco Bell and then I see them under the sign and run towards the train. Bolanos splits from Tom and I. He texts me that he found a seat. I just could imagine how happy he was about that. “Yo sick, I found us a three seater.” Tom and I quickly realize that we’re on the wrong train, to Ronkonkama. I guess I should’ve thought about that, but I hear drinking messes with your thinking. Fuckin’ idiot Bolanos. It’s only 3:00. The train is at 3:19. We should’ve just waited, instead, we jumped on some random train going the way around direction. When Tom and I have this conversation, Bolanos texts me, “Man, this night is going to suck.” It’s hilarious seeing those two texts up against each other. The quick excitement of having a seat and then realizing that we have a real long night ahead of us.
We get off at Jamaica, which is an amazing station because it’s for JFK. More of New York should look like that station. Our shit is ugly. It feels like Europe, modern.
We eventually give up on the idea of taking the train back to Woodside. We just jump in a cab. It costs me $14 because we’re splitting it 3 ways. I guess it’s worth it considering I get home at 4:00 and I would’ve gotten home at 6:00 if we had done it the other way.
I end up staying up until 8:30AM chatting with Ela, who is sick as a dog. I was quite exhausted during it, but we’re just talking shit.

February 20, 2012
Alex is once and a while posting dumb things. He randomly posts a status update of someone from high school. I don’t even know why they are Facebook friends in the first place considering the animosity that Alex holds towards this guy. This is what I have to say about it.
“No, I won't. And I find it unfortunate that your life is so sad, miserable, and boring that you think you should have any opinion on a total stranger having a baby. Your attachment to an institution you began attending a decade ago is nonsense. Maybe I don't know the full story, but this is an individual who I presume you never even sat down to have a conversation with 10 years ago, let alone recently. If this is your idea of gossip, it is childish and down right despicable.

All I have to say about it is, Mazel Tov. I hope this person enjoys bringing a new life to this world and I send blessings for the arduous journey of rearing a child.”
“Jeremiah, I'm glad you can make judgments about someone you haven't even dealt with for over 5 years (or even at all in school). If that's your perception on humanity that people can't change in that amount of time, then so be it, but you must have a horrible bleak view of human beings.

Alex, all I hear is these stories about people being "twats" or something to you. Sorry to alert you, but we were nobodies in our school. I highly doubt that people treated you that differently than they did me. I have no recollection of these horror stories you have. We're lucky we didn't go to a school where people were bullied.
Pick up the little scraps of your dignity and stand up. Don't be an insect needs to bolster his own ego by making fun of the birth of a child. That is all I ask.”
“Jeremiah, I'm glad you can make judgments about someone you haven't even dealt with for over 5 years (or even at all in school). If that's your perception on humanity that people can't change in that amount of time, then so be it, but you must have a horrible bleak view of human beings.

Alex, all I hear is these stories about people being "twats" or something to you. Sorry to alert you, but we were nobodies in our school. I highly doubt that people treated you that differently than they did me. I have no recollection of these horror stories you have. We're lucky we didn't go to a school where people were bullied.
Pick up the little scraps of your dignity and stand up. Don't be an insect needs to bolster his own ego by making fun of the birth of a child. That is all I ask.”
“It's horribly pointless. I'm confused to why you have nothing to better to do. However, my biggest issue is how you are able to decide who is fit or unfit to have a child.
I'm not being pretentious here. I'm trying to be respectful. You're the pretentious one thinking you have the authority to decide this matter. I'm sure at the age of 23, he has better things to do than badger people for giving birth to a child. So you tell me, who really is the unfit parent here?”

Jon eventually joins my point. He agrees, it’s absolutely pointless. Why care about someone who might as well he an absolute stranger to you and judge their life decisions?

February 28, 2012
I’m in class and the professor asks why another student’s answer is better. The student answers, “Uh… Well it’s basically the same thing.” The balls on this guy…
If there’s someone that’s going to turn out to be a douchebag, lawyer, it’s going to be this kid. I could imagine that he would be in court and he would sass the judge, despite the fact that he might have been wrong.