Monday 19 November 2012

October/November

October 9, 2012
In all seriousness, I love loving women. This is nothing against anyone homosexual, but completely based on my attraction for women. Is there seriously anything more beautiful and mesmerizing in this world than the perfect curves of a body, the hourglass shape with a thin stomach, the freckles on a nose, the richness and deepness within eyes, the gentle swirls of color in hair?
Sorry, I’m just blown away by my existence sometimes. Nothing drives me wild like realizing such is reality.

October 11, 2012
At night, I meet up with Aaron at Pony Bar after I go home from class and drive in. There’s this skeevy 36 year old that is bothering us and talking to us. He ends up wanting us to buy him a drink. He’s a grown ass man! Seriously? He walk away awkwardly. Screw him.
Luna ends up meeting up along with Bolanos after a few drinks, it’s late and 2:00AM and we head out

October 23, 2012
Corinne is back from Japan. Her job didn’t work out. I meet up with her and it’s a great day. We walk the city and catch up on things until we go to Westville for dinner. We then head to Johnny’s Bar, where Nikki used to work. It’s fun catching up about Japan, my travels, life, relationships, all that kind of fun stuff. She gives me a “bro” talk and tries to watch out for my back. It’s great seeing her again and hopefully she’ll be around more as she plans on working here.

October 25, 2012
Corinne’s supposed to be down for some beers tonight, but that doesn’t work out. I meet up with Stefan, Sara, Michael, Beth, and Michael’s friends. They’re suprisingly really fun and friendly. We laugh about the idea of a choli outfit and we make Stefan do that with his shirt.
I go with Tom to CafĂ© Habana, a place that I’ve been planning to go to for a while. The corn is amazing, but the food is only okay. The other split from Puck Fair and we plan to meet Stefan and Sara at Hop Devil. It’s nice walking from Nolita to East Villge. I love seeing New York change and missing the area that I used to live in.
At Hop Devil, it’s a good ol’ time. Stefan is being his super ridiculous self tonight with a really gross line of “Wet pussy dripping” and that kind of stuff, but with a slider in his mouth. It’s a sloppy gross way of saying it and I’m disgusted, but need to have a laugh about it.
Bolanos joins us and Stefan and Sara leave. We go to Proliteriat as I’ve been in the mood for some good beer. The beer was disappointing. As we walk back to Bolanos’ car, I notice all the pretty girls and dammit, why were at that place?! I think back and I need to think better about the places I go to.

October 26, 2012
I try to get Corinne out, but she needs to wake up early and her mom is not a huge fan of her going out at night on the subway. Jenn randomly texts me that there’s a b-day party at Happy Endings. I tell Aaron to come through. I drive Bolanos and I downtown. Luna meets us down there.
However, Jenn forgets her ID, so she goes home herself. We hang with James and Roslyn, who are incredibly nice. Jose and Aaron show up and Aaron laughs about how I think it’s a place that’s going to have women. I don’t think my estimate was wrong as it’s a really popular place, even on the weekeday. I was there with Aaron a while ago after hanging with Richard from a Yelp event. However, places like Fontana’s around the corner having Halloween parties and really busy tonight.
We then walk around downtown. Aaron and Jose leave. The three rest of us get some tacos and then head back.

October 27, 2012
Today is the event for Ben and Michelle’s b-day. The place is pretty nice, except the fact drinks were $20 and beers were $11. With tickets being $20-30 (the cheapest and bought 2-3 weeks before the event), fuck these people. They also don’t let you go out so I couldn’t go back out to the car to get my Psy sunglasses. My suit is decorated with a glittery skirt that Luna bought and fabric taped onto my lapel. She’s Honey Boo Boo, a dress she hand made.
It’s good and different to see Samara on Bolanos’ arm. It’s great to see people enjoying themselves. It’s a decent scene. Michelle is really happy at her party. Ben’s a good guy too and I wish both a Happy Birthday. We stay there for a few hours before going to the village to meet Stefan and Sara.
We meet them at a rooftop party. It’s decent with 10 or so people, but it’s 2:00AM already so I’m sure it was crazier earlier. We grab a beer and stand around as people are really nice to appreciate our costumes and take pictures with us. Sara is a Girl Scout and Stefan isn’t really dressed up.
We then go meet Teddy and Jesse at this bar on Bowery. It’s great being where I used to live. I’ve actually never been to the place. Great beer selection and a decent amount of people. Jesse is in a cat costume and a bit drunk. Their friends are nice and all and we hang for an hour or so before heading out.

October 29, 2012
Bolanos heads over because he’s out of power. He hangs out here for a few hours and then Internet goes out. There’s no real damage for this thing other than the Internet and this huge, huge tree that gets uprooted on my backyard. The cars were out of the driveway and it completely misses the garage and the house, so no harm really. The thing just needs to now get chopped down and moved.
At night, we make cacio e pepe for mom and grandma as well. At night, there’s Night of the Living Dead, which I’ve never seen. It’s not bad. Low budget, but it does it’s job pretty well and shot pretty well. The movie that I really appreciate that we saw was Say Anything. Jason Biggs from American Pie with Woody Allen. I wouldn’t call it “incredible,” but it’s a fun film to watch. It’s exactly what I want from Woody, especially with it shot in New York.

November 1, 2012
Day 4 of no classes. I drop Luna off in Elmhurst where she can get a ride back to New Jersey. Otherwise, getting into the city is near impossible and getting out of Manhattan is actually impossible. Buses are a no-go.
I get home, take a nap, and then go to Starbucks as the Internet has been out as long as I’ve been away from class. Having company keeps me somewhat busy and I’m able to check things here and there on my phone. However, now, it’s super boring. I change there for a few hours and I try to get people to do stuff, but nothing works out.
Creeper Story:
I go home at 8:00 and I’m walking towards my car in the parking lot when this innocent-looking man in his 40-50s walks up to me. A very regular non-descript white male with round glasses. He gives me a quick, “Do I know you from somewhere?” I’m confused and I answer in the negative. He then asks if I wrestle. Now I understand, he must have a son in high school and he must be confusing me with some other Asians. An honest mistake by a father, whatever. I again answer in the negative.
Now I’m at my car and I unlock the door and open it. As I walk by him, he raises another question, this time an unexpected one, “Do you date men by any chance?” I give him an apologetic, “No, I’m sorry,” as I feel shivers down my spine and just feel so creeped out. As I’m getting in my car, he has to continue with a, “Oh, because you’re very handsome.” I give a “Thank you” as I jump in my car, pull out, and start shouting in my car. I really could go home now and take a shower based on how creeped out I am.
The thing is that this has little to do with him being gay, but the creepiness of picking up young dudes at a parking lot. His non-descript “whiteness” also makes him such a candidate for such. Now I think about it, I’m sure he’s into weird creepy stuff like “wrestling” dudes and such. Not that this guy is a pedophile, but I’m seen this kind of creepiness before on “To Catch a Predator.” He’s just a regular looking white dude, but deep under, he’s a weird guy. So really, it’s not the idea that he’s picking up a guy. As that, I really could care less about it. It’s about how and where it’s done. Firstly, the questions were so creepy and strong like, “Do you wrestle?” Seriously!? What kind of code is that? Do people really fall for that and sleep with him after hearing just that?
Secondly, it’s a freaking strip mall. There are kids and families walking down these storefronts. They’re having dinner, going to Starbucks, and doing regular things. They really don’t need to overhear this conversation of you trying to pick up random men in public. Hell, there was a woman near him that I thought he was with, like his mother. She surely heard most of his conversation. She doesn’t need to hear this!

Anyway, the night ends up dying. No one wants to really do anything and I don’t feel like driving 40 minutes out to downtown Brooklyn by myself to just meet up with Stefan.

November 2, 2012
Today I really need to get out and I make plans for such. I’m planning to meet Aaron at Pony Bar. I catch Kenny on the same train as he’s going to grab some dinner. The walk to the station sucks as it’s fucking cold as holy hell. It’s winter already.
The train is free because of Sandy and running every hour. I get the Pony and it’s crowded as hell. Aaron shares that he was downtown without light. The bars were giving away free drinks and everything was lit by candles and flash lights. It’s a shame that I didn’t go down there. It’s a once in a life time thing and I never got to see it. I should’ve.
Matt, Chris, and Matt’s new friend meet us there. She’s a cool gal, a painter. We hang there for a few drinks. The Wet Hop Amber is crazy good. We then go to Aaron’s apartment. The roof is freezing and we only stay there for a drink. We go inside for a couple beers and then call it a night. It’s a fun chill night and I really freaking needed it as I was stuck in the house for a whole week.

November 3, 2012
I felt a cold coming on yesterday and it hits me today. I hang at Starbucks for a bit and then go back home to rest. It was much neeeded. I could be a bitch and stay home, but I’m a champ so I get out.
Lorie is from law school and she has her birthday tonight. Her friend Sammy messages me that they’re throwing a surprise for her. I get into the city and instead of paying a ridiculous cab to 100th St on the east side, I just take it easy, grab a bite on the way, and take the subway. I then have to text that I might not make the surprise. This means I have to wait around for a few minutes as it would ruin everything if I ran into her.
I make it right after the surprise and its great seeing people from class out. They don’t hang out too often and it’s been a while. Bolanos ends up coming. It’s a good time chatting with people about Sandy and such.
We then go to a nearby bar. It’s alright and there’s some dancing. Russ gets there and is a cool guy. Rami is drunk as fuck. People are having a good time. I keep selling people on “extra hour night” as a holiday. Day light savings really gives us an extra hour to party. People start leaving and I’m still down to party. The cold is being fought off and I’m drunk enough to not know what is up anyway.
I text Candace, which is at a gay bar across the street from Fat Cat. I take a cab down there. The place is pretty dead, but Candace and I have a good time catching up. Damien actually is coming in when I leave. I catch up with him for a second before taking a 4:14 train back. I definitely needed this weekend.

November 7, 2012
After Hurricane Sandy, there’s now a damn snow storm. Getting to class was a bit messy and windy, but it wasn’t too bad. I get out of class and then do an hour of reading. When I walk outside, it’s a snowy mess. I wait for the 7 train and it takes freaking over half an hour. They’re barely running and I’m freezing my ass off on the platform even though it’s covered by one wall.
Thankfully, one comes after I’m freezing my ass off. It’s full. A few people squeeze on, like in Tokyo, but I give up after walking through a few doors with my backpack one. Another goes by, same story. Finally, I get onto one. This takes forever.
On this train, it’s running local. I’ve over an hour deep into the trip and I’m still not to Flushing. I get there and I’m waiting for the bus. The line is long as fuck. My feet are freezing as I’ve stepped into slush and the wind is blowing into my feet. I’ve never felt what frost bite is like, but I literally think my feet are about to fall off.
I go to the Flushing Mall basement for a bite because I’m starving. I expected to get food at home, but now I’ve waited so long and I’m freezing. I get a bite of a bun and warm up my feet inside. I then call my mom. She for some reason went to get a haircut in Flushing after work and also got stranded. I had enough of waiting for fourty minutes to an hour. My aunt is also stuck waiting for the bus. We walk over to a restaurant after we find out that my aunt’s friend can give us a ride.
On the walk, we see hundreds of people freezing their asses off. The snow has screwed up the roads. There are surely no buses. These people are screwed.
At dinner, I eat like a mad man, as fast as I can with metal chopsticks. Those are the worst things ever possible. It’s so slow to eat with those things. The worst. I get my eating in.
We then get a ride, which is really nice of my aunt’s friend. Driving back is a dangerous mess. We eventually get back home and it’s past 10:00. I freaking left campus at 6:00. We walk into the house and it’s pitch black. Fuck me!! We throw the snow off my mom’s car and we over to my uncle/aunt’s place in the north side of Great Neck. I have my last midterm tomorrow, now fuck it. I’ll study for 2 hours, barely sleep.

November 8, 2012
The midterm goes better than I expected. It’s not bad. After that, I’m exhuasted and I pass out for 2 hours in the library. During the afternoon, I’m really depressed. I wanted a great weekend and I was supposed to throw a party on Friday since the fam is to Cali. I wanted to get my last midterm over with and relax. Now, I probably would be stuck in my uncle’s place as my place has no power.
After class, Bolanos texts me that my block has power! Shit dammit, I’m so freaking excited. I can’t wait! I just want to go out and drink right now dammit! I meet up with people from class and we go to a happy hour. Six Point Cans for $4?! Fuck yeah, gimme two of those!
We then go to another bar because happy hour ends at 7:00. It’s fun chatting with people. We get some free shots. It’s a fun time all around being with some people that I know better this year and some people that I never even talk to. It’s fun as hell.
I then go back home after people split up. I get home by 11:30. I run into the house and I’m super happy. I run around, I jump, I shout. I’m excited and I text Luna. I think of this stupid idea of walking over to Tavern, a shit bar on Northern that has a bunch of townies. Luna gives me the smarter idea of not going to such a run for no reason, and by myself.
I just watch some TV, grab a beer, chill out in my powered up house, and I love it. Hells yeah.

November 9, 2012
Today is party. I gather up some sleep and I get out of the house. Not before I clean up for 2 hours. I organize shit, vacuum, clean, etc. I then go to the store to pick up stuff after I look up what I want to make. Fam is gone for the weekend, so I have some left over avocados that are ripe for the making of guac. I head off to the store.
I start off with the guacomole and Courtney arrives. I should have started things earlier and be a good host, but I’m still cooking so I chat with her for the time being. She helps me slice up some bread. The guac turns out great.
I also make some beer cheese though I think I added too much beer and a bit too much salt. The cheese is salty enough and there’s a bit too strong of a beer flavor. I don’t have a food processor and had to use a blender, so getting it all going was a bit rough, thus the excess beer.
I then make a tea punch. Lipton, Christmas tea, cinnamon, lemon, lime, mint, Scotch, honey, sugar and a large piece of ice that I froze ahead of time. Keeps the drink cold without melting too much.
People start pouring in. Bolanos, Rebecca. Stefan and Sara take the trip in from the city. Matt, Chris, Enoch, and Adam. It’s not a huge party, but it’s nice having a decent amount of people and it’s easier to manage things.
I ordered a bottle of Rodenbach Grand Cru from a free shipment deal from the Internet. The Brooklyn girl in my school that brews beer said it was her favorite beer. Now I’m excited and the shit is so freaking good. I love me some sours and this is a nice one.
I’m rocking my FBI shirt, Bolanos has his “God Bless America,” Chris has his “Beta” shirt, Rebecca has a “Don’t Fuck with Me, I’m Amish,” Courtney has a Johnny Cash with his middle finger up shirt, Enoch has a “Nature’s Best” with a hamburger on it.
There’s music, we drink, we chat, it’s good to let loose. People leave pretty early and I clean up pretty fast so I don’t have to do anything the next time.

November 10, 2012
Luna comes over after she stayed at her friend’s place and had a Big Bang concert yesterday. We get some early dinner and crazy thing, Alon, Bolanos, and Kenny are by chance at Juliebelle’s as well.
At night, we’re trying to figure out plans. I was supposed to get this girl out from school to go dancing and Luna was looking forward to that too. I find out that Jesse and Teddy are at Whiskey Brooklyn for the night for a party. It’s a crowded place, decent time. It’s a very Manhattan place. Decent amount of girls, a DJ, and a dancing bar. It’s crowded as hell.
We actually leave there pretty late, grab some Crif Dogs at the Williamsburg one, which I’ve never been too and call it a night.

November 11, 2012
It’s the best weather we’ve had in weeks. It’s warm and I want to get out. Aaron says he’s down. I figure out that there’s a vintage sale of the shops in Williamsburg. I meet up with Aaron and we grab a drink at Greenpoint Tavern. Big foam cup of beer for $4, it’s a good time. We talk some shit, bust some chops.
We go to this warehouse/mall thing. We check out some expensive clothing shops. Some expensive vintage/antique stores. We then get dinner at Meatball Shop, which is great because the LES one is so busy and I never have been. After some “Fool Aid,” we get some tipsy going. We then walk around and then go to my new favorite place, The Levee.
Dude, love this place. Beer cozies. Outdoor area. Infinite cheeseballs. Great beer selection. Really cheap beer and shot deals. Great liquor selection. Board games. Big bar. The best place. Aaron and I agree that we should go to this place more and talk more shit as I finish an entire bowl of cheeseballs. Dude, coming back to this place.

November 13, 2012
Story time: It was Scott's attic. We all sat around a pool table as Aaron had bet Hasan he couldn't drink three cans of Asahi in a minute. Through gorging his mouth open and sucking those fuckers down, our hero with a few drops of slipping down his chin accomplishes the task. We cheer with laughter and wonderment.
The sad part of the bet is Hasan's prize, the rest of the case of beer Aaron had purchased. After painfully slurping down mediocre Japanese beer, our brazen brother walked (or likely slumped) away empty handed as we had preyed upon his winnings like the vultures we are.

November 15, 2012
Time for that sick nap in the library that I’ve been taking every Thursday as I need to catch up on sleep and I have 4 hours between classes in the middle of the day.
After class, I hang around and see people waiting around outside. I eventually tag along to go to Greenpoint, Mark Bar. It’s a great place. The Happy Hour is until 8:00 and the place is cheap as fuck. All kinds of beers and shots are $3. I grab some drinks and just hang with people.
I chat with this guy Jeff that I’ve never spoken to about food, Thanksgiving, etc. I meet his wife. I chat with others I spend a decent amoutn of time chatting with this guy that’s a super Stern fan. Dude, we’re just laughing our asses off so bad.
I then sneak off to grab a cheeseburger from a “Mexican” dinner. With all this drinking, I’m going to fall on my ass if I don’t eat something. I chat with Allison about her beer brewing and all kinds of random stuff. There’s this classmate’s girlfriend that I’ve chatted with before. We do some drunken gossip about how drunk Allison has gotten, which is pretty awkward. She’s going out with someone in our year and he’s a great guy for putting up with her bizz. I don’t know enough to judge nor should I be judging anyway.
As usual, I hang around and drink people under the table and I’m one of the last people to leave. I actually see Tatenda, who invited me to a party last week, but I had my shitty shirt party. He talks about how he knows Chinese, despite being black. It’s pretty cool he knows so. I mention how I would love to speak Spanish eventually and my history with it. I’m too drunk to deal with languages and I make a bit of a joke of myself as I keep my mouth shut. However, hearing this, people on the 7 train start easing on speaking Spanish with each other as it’s assumed that I know some Spanish.

November 16, 2012
Tim and his fiance are in NYC visiting. I go to the city to meet them at Taqueria LES. Jess and Griff join us along with a few others. It’s a good meal, we catch up and everything. One of Tim’s friends, Max I think, is really drunk at dinner somehow. He apparently drank a bunch beforehand. He’s quite slurry and I later find out that he was tapping the waitress over and over her and bothering her.
Jess is such an awesome troll as she whispers to me about how daper our hero is. He’s wearing a gray Giants hoodie that has a picture of the Giants standing around like a high school photo. Guy’s a wreck.
We then go to Sophie’s and have some shots and drinks. We continue to bash him as he drunkingly thinks that he gave a $20 bill instead of a $10. The bartender assures that he’s wrong and he slumps away. Classic drunk move. The guy really is entertaining for our night. When he leaves, I shake his hand and give him the most serious, dead pan, “I hope you have a good night.” I die when he leaves.
I then go to say Hi to Lydia for her birthday. I catch up with her friends, but then after a quick beer, I need to run to catch up with the rest as we’re taking the train.

November 17, 2012
In the morning, a tired and slightly hungover has to give a ride to Tim and Mary to a wedding in Rockville Center. I get home and go back to sleep as I’m slightly sick. At night, it’s Teddy’s birthday. I head out to Spritzenhaus, which is one of my new favorite places in BK.
I meet some of Jesse and Teddy’s friend. We laugh about music, one of the bartenders looking like Bon Iver, and how people on Twitter were confused when he won a Grammy. It’s a fun time and I have some really sick beers.
Afterwards, I’m somewhat hungry and they’re always down to eat. It’s 3:00 and places are closing so we go to Wo Hop. We have some great/fast Chinese food and get to witness all the club people who are drunk and funnel in for some late night bites. When we pay, we split it up and I mess up the math. I stupid give a 30% as I paid part of the bill and all of the tip. Whatever, the Chinese food was still relatively cheap anyway, so whatever.