I have been REALLY terrible at this blogging thing lately.
I don't know why that is.
I actually have things to write about, you know? That's what's so weird about this.
Maybe I just don't have enough hours in the day. I spent eleven hours at work today.
Even though I won't achieve my goal of blogging every day, though, I'm still going to keep trying.
Showing posts with label bad times. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bad times. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
playing ps3 would be a lot more fun
...if it didn't take an hour to frickin' download everything.
Real post coming tomorrow, I promise. I think you'll like it.
Real post coming tomorrow, I promise. I think you'll like it.
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Monday, June 21, 2010
ten things i learned on vacation
1. I'm good at traveling
I went on a ten day excursion to Sleepy Hamlet and Las Vegas - two very different climates and two very different atmospheres. And yet I managed to fit everything into a carry-on-sized bag. Winner.
I also left my laptop at home, relying on my Palm Pre and iPod Touch, and had no internet access in Vegas other than my phone. If you've ever met me, you know that's a minor miracle.
2. I can't treat my body the way that I used to
One of the few positives of my crappy temp job is that since I don't take lunch breaks (because I don't get paid) I bring healthy food to work. I've kind of shifted into a grazing mode: a handful of almonds and cranberries here, an apple there, a turkey sandwich at lunch. Occasionally I'll have a bag of chips or some chocolate, but that's the exception to the rule. Dinners have been pretty light - mostly chicken or fish with some vegetables. I've also been working out pretty consistently these days, and I've cut back on the drinking.
On vacation?
Multiple drinks most nights. I got completely hammered at least three times, and had one of the worst hangovers of my life. On a different morning, I woke up still drunk from the night before. I ate loads of red meat and greasy food. Salt. Fat. Sugar. Very little exercise (unless you count "twelve ounce curls" as working out).
Five years ago, I could eat that without skipping a beat. Now? I feel sluggish, bloated, slow. I went grocery shopping tonight and I've never been so excited to buy fruits and vegetables. This must be a sign of me getting old.
3. I'm ready to go back to Sleepy Hamlet
The first leg of the trip was spent in my old stomping grounds, and I had a great time. My man Leprechauna Jones and his lady came up from LA. I stayed with an extremely cool chick who we'll call The Prodigy (another story for another time). I saw all my old peeps. Everyone had such nice things to say to me, and more than one person said, "They need to bring you back here." Normally I just laugh stuff like that off...but this time was different.
I hate admitting that I want acting jobs, because that opens up a whole can of worms, but I really want to live there again, to work there as an actor. Never thought I'd say that.
We'll see if it happens.
4. I miss having a community
One of the reasons that I love Sleepy Hamlet is because of the network of friends I have there. Not only do they know me, but they know and like each other. I feel like I have a real clump of people who have my back. I love them like family. It was really hard to leave them this time...but then I went to Vegas and met up with my actual clan...
5. My family is remarkable
I had a great time in Sleepy Hamlet, but it was exhausting. I really wasn't looking forward to spending four days in Vegas for a birthday party/family reunion. I've got some crazy family members who get on my nerves, and I was afraid that it was going to be a disaster.
Instead, it was delightful.
I spent some quality time with several cousins that I hadn't seen in years. We ate, we drank, we gambled, we sang, we prayed, we laughed. And I was really reminded of my legacy. I am related to some remarkable, talented, intelligent people.
One experience stands out. We had a Father's Day brunch on Sunday, and my brother had already agreed to sing one of his songs. As always, my cousin who generally plays the MC tried to get me to perform something. My attitude is generally, "Why? Who wants to see a monologue out of context?" But she kept badgering and badgering, and finally I relented. I got up in the little room we had reserved and busted out forty lines of my best Shakespeare.
I have never received such an ovation in my life.
If you've never had the change to have several generations of your family applaud you and give you hugs and pounds and kisses, you really have to do something to make that happen. It's an amazing feeling. To be able to share your art with your own flesh and blood - and to have them get it, really get it...wow.
The coolest part was that my brother played after me, and then my father got up and said that he was proud of us, and proud of the whole family for working to make it possible for us to get to the place where we're able to share our gifts. He talked about talents of previous generations who didn't get the chance to shine due to various circumstances, and said that my brother and I are reminders that you can really do anything you want to, if you're willing to work hard. It was really great to hear him verbalize that. I don't know that I've ever been prouder of my dad.
So yesterday was a great day. Then I hopped on a redeye back to New York, got home at six, crawled into bed at eight, and couldn't stop my brain from racing. Because, over the past few hours, the following realization had crept over me:
6. I'm not in a good place
While the validation from my family was great, in some strange way it magnified the misery I've been feeling lately. I hate this temp job with a passion, and I feel like it's keeping me away from doing what I want to do. I had just spent ten days with two great communities that I belong to...only to come back to New York and realize that I don't have one here. Sure, I have great friends here, but they're all individual friendships; there's no greater connection to a whole.
On the female front, I've been rejected by girls I liked twice in the past two weeks, and I kept having this visceral reaction in the pit of my stomach whenever I would see couples holding hands, or kissing. At first, I thought I was just turned off by PDA a little more than normal, but as I thought about it more and more, I kept returning to the horrible conclusion that I first blurted out to my therapist a couple of months ago, which is:
7. I want to be in a relationship
It really hurts me to admit that. I feel like I'm supposed to be independent right now - after all, I was with Maxine on and off for almost eight years, and during most of those "off" times I usually had someone around. I feel like I'm supposed to be ok with being alone. But I have to face facts, and confront the truth: I would really love to have a partner.
You know what the worst part of this is?
8. It's logistically impossible for me to be in a relationship right now
I realized that truth last night, after reading an e-mail from The Prodigy telling me that she wasn't interested in having a relationship with me. Now, there's a bit more to the story than that, but nevertheless my feelings were really hurt. After thinking it through, however, I realized that my travel schedule over the next few months and my economic condition isn't so conducive to a healthy relationship. Sure, I could make something work long-distance, but I've already done that, and I don't know if that's the kind of relationship I want right now.
9. I don't know how much longer I'm going to be in New York
Something else I realized in my talks with The Prodigy (it was an intense few days) is that I'm not sure how much longer I want to be here. I'm not living the kind of life I want to lead. My competitive nature is the one thing keeping me here; I feel a need to prove that I can compete with the best actors in the world, and land parts in high profile projects. But I'm broke, working a lousy job for lousy pay, and I'm not auditioning right now, and my apartment (while a great deal for the city) is tiny and expensive. I just keep thinking, "Why am I doing this? For what?"
Why shouldn't I move to a smaller regional city, like San Francisco or Seattle or Washington or Denver or Minneapolis and work a lot and teach on the side? I could have an apartment, get a teaching job, meet a nice girl and settle down and get married and start a family. Why not?
Because, if I never gave New York a fair shot, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I don't want to be 55 looking back and saying, "Oh, I could've done this and that, blah blah blah." I want no regrets. So, every though I deny myself pleasure after pleasure, I have to keep pushing. It's immensely frustrating.
So, in summation, what did this week teach me?
10. I have no clue where I'm going
For most of the past decade, I've been able to tell you what I'm going to be doing five years from now. Not with any freakish degree of accuracy, mind you, but I could say, "I'm going to be an actor based out of New York, and I'm going to be with Maxine." Breaking up with her last fall changed all that. Suddenly my life had no anchor. I was free to move in any direction I wanted. Sometimes that has been pleasant, but most of the time I've felt paralyzed. I suppose, however, that recognizing this is some small victory. You have to know where you are before you know where you're going, right?
Two things to close with. Yesterday, I was sitting with my mother in the hotel room. She was trying to give me money, as usual. As usual, I was trying not to take it. But my poverty trumped my pride, and I relented. My mother bent down, cradled my face in her hands, and said, "I just hope that you find whatever it is that you're looking for."
I almost bawled. I have no idea how I held it together. I think I muttered thanks and looked away quickly, but I was just in amazement that she could see right through me like that. I guess that I shouldn't be that amazed. She is my mother, after all. She just wants the best for me.
Which brings me to the other thing.
We got goodie bags for the whole weekend, and much of our swag was cancer-related. (Several of my family members have battled cancer, so many of us are involved in cancer fighting charities.) This was the night of my massive hangover, so I was feeling particularly crappy. I took the bag from my cousin, who pointed out something in their that she didn't want me to lose. Perched on top of the purple tissue paper was an elastic bracelet wrapped in plastic. In the center of the bracelet was a grey bead with a single word printed on it.
It spoke to me. It was just what I needed. I ripped open the plastic, and put it on my wrist straightaway. I'm wearing it now.
It's a reminder. Things may be tough now...but tomorrow brings endless possibility, of brightness just around the corner.
Hope.
That may be all I have, but it's a pretty powerful something.
I went on a ten day excursion to Sleepy Hamlet and Las Vegas - two very different climates and two very different atmospheres. And yet I managed to fit everything into a carry-on-sized bag. Winner.
I also left my laptop at home, relying on my Palm Pre and iPod Touch, and had no internet access in Vegas other than my phone. If you've ever met me, you know that's a minor miracle.
2. I can't treat my body the way that I used to
One of the few positives of my crappy temp job is that since I don't take lunch breaks (because I don't get paid) I bring healthy food to work. I've kind of shifted into a grazing mode: a handful of almonds and cranberries here, an apple there, a turkey sandwich at lunch. Occasionally I'll have a bag of chips or some chocolate, but that's the exception to the rule. Dinners have been pretty light - mostly chicken or fish with some vegetables. I've also been working out pretty consistently these days, and I've cut back on the drinking.
On vacation?
Multiple drinks most nights. I got completely hammered at least three times, and had one of the worst hangovers of my life. On a different morning, I woke up still drunk from the night before. I ate loads of red meat and greasy food. Salt. Fat. Sugar. Very little exercise (unless you count "twelve ounce curls" as working out).
Five years ago, I could eat that without skipping a beat. Now? I feel sluggish, bloated, slow. I went grocery shopping tonight and I've never been so excited to buy fruits and vegetables. This must be a sign of me getting old.
3. I'm ready to go back to Sleepy Hamlet
The first leg of the trip was spent in my old stomping grounds, and I had a great time. My man Leprechauna Jones and his lady came up from LA. I stayed with an extremely cool chick who we'll call The Prodigy (another story for another time). I saw all my old peeps. Everyone had such nice things to say to me, and more than one person said, "They need to bring you back here." Normally I just laugh stuff like that off...but this time was different.
I hate admitting that I want acting jobs, because that opens up a whole can of worms, but I really want to live there again, to work there as an actor. Never thought I'd say that.
We'll see if it happens.
4. I miss having a community
One of the reasons that I love Sleepy Hamlet is because of the network of friends I have there. Not only do they know me, but they know and like each other. I feel like I have a real clump of people who have my back. I love them like family. It was really hard to leave them this time...but then I went to Vegas and met up with my actual clan...
5. My family is remarkable
I had a great time in Sleepy Hamlet, but it was exhausting. I really wasn't looking forward to spending four days in Vegas for a birthday party/family reunion. I've got some crazy family members who get on my nerves, and I was afraid that it was going to be a disaster.
Instead, it was delightful.
I spent some quality time with several cousins that I hadn't seen in years. We ate, we drank, we gambled, we sang, we prayed, we laughed. And I was really reminded of my legacy. I am related to some remarkable, talented, intelligent people.
One experience stands out. We had a Father's Day brunch on Sunday, and my brother had already agreed to sing one of his songs. As always, my cousin who generally plays the MC tried to get me to perform something. My attitude is generally, "Why? Who wants to see a monologue out of context?" But she kept badgering and badgering, and finally I relented. I got up in the little room we had reserved and busted out forty lines of my best Shakespeare.
I have never received such an ovation in my life.
If you've never had the change to have several generations of your family applaud you and give you hugs and pounds and kisses, you really have to do something to make that happen. It's an amazing feeling. To be able to share your art with your own flesh and blood - and to have them get it, really get it...wow.
The coolest part was that my brother played after me, and then my father got up and said that he was proud of us, and proud of the whole family for working to make it possible for us to get to the place where we're able to share our gifts. He talked about talents of previous generations who didn't get the chance to shine due to various circumstances, and said that my brother and I are reminders that you can really do anything you want to, if you're willing to work hard. It was really great to hear him verbalize that. I don't know that I've ever been prouder of my dad.
So yesterday was a great day. Then I hopped on a redeye back to New York, got home at six, crawled into bed at eight, and couldn't stop my brain from racing. Because, over the past few hours, the following realization had crept over me:
6. I'm not in a good place
While the validation from my family was great, in some strange way it magnified the misery I've been feeling lately. I hate this temp job with a passion, and I feel like it's keeping me away from doing what I want to do. I had just spent ten days with two great communities that I belong to...only to come back to New York and realize that I don't have one here. Sure, I have great friends here, but they're all individual friendships; there's no greater connection to a whole.
On the female front, I've been rejected by girls I liked twice in the past two weeks, and I kept having this visceral reaction in the pit of my stomach whenever I would see couples holding hands, or kissing. At first, I thought I was just turned off by PDA a little more than normal, but as I thought about it more and more, I kept returning to the horrible conclusion that I first blurted out to my therapist a couple of months ago, which is:
7. I want to be in a relationship
It really hurts me to admit that. I feel like I'm supposed to be independent right now - after all, I was with Maxine on and off for almost eight years, and during most of those "off" times I usually had someone around. I feel like I'm supposed to be ok with being alone. But I have to face facts, and confront the truth: I would really love to have a partner.
You know what the worst part of this is?
8. It's logistically impossible for me to be in a relationship right now
I realized that truth last night, after reading an e-mail from The Prodigy telling me that she wasn't interested in having a relationship with me. Now, there's a bit more to the story than that, but nevertheless my feelings were really hurt. After thinking it through, however, I realized that my travel schedule over the next few months and my economic condition isn't so conducive to a healthy relationship. Sure, I could make something work long-distance, but I've already done that, and I don't know if that's the kind of relationship I want right now.
9. I don't know how much longer I'm going to be in New York
Something else I realized in my talks with The Prodigy (it was an intense few days) is that I'm not sure how much longer I want to be here. I'm not living the kind of life I want to lead. My competitive nature is the one thing keeping me here; I feel a need to prove that I can compete with the best actors in the world, and land parts in high profile projects. But I'm broke, working a lousy job for lousy pay, and I'm not auditioning right now, and my apartment (while a great deal for the city) is tiny and expensive. I just keep thinking, "Why am I doing this? For what?"
Why shouldn't I move to a smaller regional city, like San Francisco or Seattle or Washington or Denver or Minneapolis and work a lot and teach on the side? I could have an apartment, get a teaching job, meet a nice girl and settle down and get married and start a family. Why not?
Because, if I never gave New York a fair shot, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I don't want to be 55 looking back and saying, "Oh, I could've done this and that, blah blah blah." I want no regrets. So, every though I deny myself pleasure after pleasure, I have to keep pushing. It's immensely frustrating.
So, in summation, what did this week teach me?
10. I have no clue where I'm going
For most of the past decade, I've been able to tell you what I'm going to be doing five years from now. Not with any freakish degree of accuracy, mind you, but I could say, "I'm going to be an actor based out of New York, and I'm going to be with Maxine." Breaking up with her last fall changed all that. Suddenly my life had no anchor. I was free to move in any direction I wanted. Sometimes that has been pleasant, but most of the time I've felt paralyzed. I suppose, however, that recognizing this is some small victory. You have to know where you are before you know where you're going, right?
Two things to close with. Yesterday, I was sitting with my mother in the hotel room. She was trying to give me money, as usual. As usual, I was trying not to take it. But my poverty trumped my pride, and I relented. My mother bent down, cradled my face in her hands, and said, "I just hope that you find whatever it is that you're looking for."
I almost bawled. I have no idea how I held it together. I think I muttered thanks and looked away quickly, but I was just in amazement that she could see right through me like that. I guess that I shouldn't be that amazed. She is my mother, after all. She just wants the best for me.
Which brings me to the other thing.
We got goodie bags for the whole weekend, and much of our swag was cancer-related. (Several of my family members have battled cancer, so many of us are involved in cancer fighting charities.) This was the night of my massive hangover, so I was feeling particularly crappy. I took the bag from my cousin, who pointed out something in their that she didn't want me to lose. Perched on top of the purple tissue paper was an elastic bracelet wrapped in plastic. In the center of the bracelet was a grey bead with a single word printed on it.
It spoke to me. It was just what I needed. I ripped open the plastic, and put it on my wrist straightaway. I'm wearing it now.
It's a reminder. Things may be tough now...but tomorrow brings endless possibility, of brightness just around the corner.
Hope.
That may be all I have, but it's a pretty powerful something.
Monday, May 03, 2010
working boy
Hey y'all.
I've been wanting to write this post for several days, but...I've been working.
(Yaaaay!)
Unfortunately, I'm working at a temp job.
(Booooo!)
It's at a "financial services" company, and it's not great. Why?
- I got one day of training, from the nice woman who had the job before me. This consisted of going through a two page list with her, filled with things like, "Order water when it gets low," and "Make sure we have enough paper." This in-depth tutorial was occasionally punctuated by my teacher exclaiming things like, "It's my last day!" alternating with, "I'm moving to Hawaii!" Good for her. Really. Abso-fucking-lutely GREAT for her.
- The office is SILENT. Like a monastery. The people are nice, but biting into an apple feels like you've just farted in church. My brother called me at my desk today, and I could barely have a conversation with him because I felt like the whole office was listening in and judging me.
- I'm working with a lot of concepts that I'm not quite comfortable with. There's always a learning curve with a new job, and it always feels like Mount Everest when you start. Right now I'm just starting the climb, sans Sherpa. Because my Sherpa is moving to Hawaii, you see.
(Side note. I have a feeling that one of the reasons that this job is "not great" is because, whenever I'm asked how I'm liking it, I say It's "not great", you know what I mean? Perhaps we have a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy on our hands, youknowhatimsayin?)
Anyway, the one bright spot is that I do have unsupervised computer access, so I can read the occasional e-mail and check out the odd web page now and again. Despite my deep reservations, I'm committing to staying at this place through mid-July; we'll reevaluate the situation then. Let's hope that I land a fabulous acting job...
For now, I'm headed to bed. Why? Because I had to get up at six to get a workout in before heading to the office, that's why. See how hard my life is?
(Less whiny in the next post. Promise.)
I've been wanting to write this post for several days, but...I've been working.
(Yaaaay!)
Unfortunately, I'm working at a temp job.
(Booooo!)
It's at a "financial services" company, and it's not great. Why?
- I got one day of training, from the nice woman who had the job before me. This consisted of going through a two page list with her, filled with things like, "Order water when it gets low," and "Make sure we have enough paper." This in-depth tutorial was occasionally punctuated by my teacher exclaiming things like, "It's my last day!" alternating with, "I'm moving to Hawaii!" Good for her. Really. Abso-fucking-lutely GREAT for her.
- The office is SILENT. Like a monastery. The people are nice, but biting into an apple feels like you've just farted in church. My brother called me at my desk today, and I could barely have a conversation with him because I felt like the whole office was listening in and judging me.
- I'm working with a lot of concepts that I'm not quite comfortable with. There's always a learning curve with a new job, and it always feels like Mount Everest when you start. Right now I'm just starting the climb, sans Sherpa. Because my Sherpa is moving to Hawaii, you see.
(Side note. I have a feeling that one of the reasons that this job is "not great" is because, whenever I'm asked how I'm liking it, I say It's "not great", you know what I mean? Perhaps we have a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy on our hands, youknowhatimsayin?)
Anyway, the one bright spot is that I do have unsupervised computer access, so I can read the occasional e-mail and check out the odd web page now and again. Despite my deep reservations, I'm committing to staying at this place through mid-July; we'll reevaluate the situation then. Let's hope that I land a fabulous acting job...
For now, I'm headed to bed. Why? Because I had to get up at six to get a workout in before heading to the office, that's why. See how hard my life is?
(Less whiny in the next post. Promise.)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
the welcome home whirlwind
It's amazing how quickly things can change. One minute, you're on top of the world. The next, you feel like life is kicking you in the face. Repeatedly.
With that said, here's the basic timeline of my first 48 hours back in New York.
SUNDAY
appx 3:45pm: Plane touches down at LaGuardia. I briefly consider kissing the tarmac, but remember that I'm back in the city, and decide to pass.
3:50pm: My bag is heavy. My bookbag broke last weekend, so I'm stuck carting around my computer and my other essentials in my gym bag, which was not built to carry heavy stuff. My shoulder hurts.
3:55pm: Luggage arrives.
4:00pm: Get into a cab to take me home. The cab driver is a cheery African who smokes a cigarette and blares loud reggae music. I am so excited to be home that I don't mind.
4:30pm: Home! I open the door to my apartment and am greeted by the sound of my smoke detector. This means I need to buy a battery. My apartment is very dusty, and my bathroom smells funny. I chalk this up to my month-long absence.
4:45pm: Talk to the Brooklyn Squirrel on the phone in front of a drug store. It is a perfect day. There are beautiful people everywhere. I am so happy to be back in my neighborhood.
5:00pm: Equipped with batteries (on sale!) and some frozen yogurt (also on sale!), I return home. I feel like I am floating. There is no tension in my body. I am only slightly anxious about running into my ex-girlfriend. I think to myself, Perhaps this represents a turning point in your life. Perhaps things are going to totally go your way over the next few weeks. Perhaps your life will transform for the better, right now!
In retrospect, I totally jinxed myself.
5:15pm: I investigate the smell in my bathroom. It smells faintly of vanilla. I notice that I have left my vanilla-scented candle jar unscented all month. Maybe the caged-up vanilla smell goes bad when it is trapped in a small space, I think. I open the lid to my toilet. I realize that the candle has nothing to do with the smell: sewage has backed up into my toilet. It is truly disgusting. It will not flush. The only description I will give you: a layer of mold is on the top.
5:20pm: I call the front desk. They tell me that no one is around to fix it, but they will submit a work order. I will have to use the public restrooms in the building. I decide to not worry about it, and turn on the TV to watch some playoff hoops as I dust.
5:22pm: The cable goes out.
5:45pm: After two phone calls to the cable company and several attempts to reboot, I am informed that there is a problem with my cable box, and that technicians will have to come out to fix things. "How is Thursday afternoon?" the cheery cable lady asks. I wish that I could punch her in the face.
6:00pm: I dust. I call my parents. They tell me that things will get better. We talk sports.
8:40pm: I arrive at The Hot Wing's house for dinner - she has agreed to cook for me. Her cat is happy to see me.
8:50pm: I play with the cat. I don't like cats, but I'm a nice guy. We play gentle, then a little rough, then gentle.
9:30pm: We eat. We catch up. The Hot Wing is awesome.
11:30pm: I go home to work on sides for my audition. I only found about it on Friday. I am worried that, even though it is only two pages, I am not prepared enough.
12:30am: I go downstairs to use the bathroom. I feel like an idiot. There is no soap in the bathroom. Or paper towels. I feel gross.
1:30am: Sleep. I am happy to be in my comfortable bed.
MONDAY
9:15am: Rise and shine. I notice that I have bug bites on my right hand and left arm.
11:00am: I arrive for my audition. I endured train trauma, but this is already a long post.
11:10am: I perform my audition. The response is enthusiastic. I am elated.
11:15am: I speak to my temp agent, who has a job for me on Tuesday. I am elated.
12:00pm: I hang out in my building's new workout facility, where my sister-in-law is showing people how to use the equipment. We catch up. My sister-in-law is awesome. I check in with the maintenance guys, and they tell me they will be by at four to fix the toilet.
2:30pm: I buy lunch and go grocery shopping. The bug bites still itch. I put anti-itch cream on them. I check around my bed for spiders and around my ceiling for mosquitoes. I find nothing.
4:00pm: Maintenance doesn't show up.
6:00pm: I meet The Flying Squirrel for coffee. We catch up. The Flying Squirrel is awesome.
7:30pm: We eat dinner at a cool new restaurant. I keep scratching my hand. This bug bite is really bothering me.
9:30pm: Home. I resort to watching games on the internet. My bites are itching like crazy. The cream is not helping.
11:30pm: I try to get myself ready for bed, because I want to work out in the morning before my temp job. I set my alarm for six. I have to go downstairs to use the bathroom. There's still no soap or towels. Fortunately I have brought hand sanitizer. I feel slightly less gross. I search the bed and sheets again for bugs or spiders. I wonder if I was bit at my Heartland apartment.
1:15am: I finally get in bed. My hand and arm itch to the point of pain. I reset the alarm for six fifteen.
3:50am: I wake to my hand throbbing. I look at it and notice that it is swollen to a ridiculous state. I start to panic. I debate going to the hospital, but decide that I am being a wuss.
4:00am: I research spider bites online. I gross myself out.
4:30am: I remember that The Hot Wing's cat, while playing with me, nipped my hand. I wonder if that is the cause of the pain. I put ice on my hand and arm and that helps somewhat.
5:15am: I finally go back to sleep. I scrap my plan to work out at 6:15.
TUESDAY
8:15am: Rise and shine. I am exhausted.
8:30am: My hand is so swollen that I cannot bend my wrist. Under my skin I see a red streak that extends from my wrist to my elbow. The lump on my left arm is now the size of a mini candy bar. This makes getting dressed in my fancy temp clothes difficult.
8:50am: I leave for my temp job. I decide to tell them upon arrival that I will have to go see my doctor. I call my mother, who confirms my decision.
9:30am: I arrive at my temp job. I am told to wait. I sit down on the couch.
9:35am: The other employee from my temp agency arrives. She has been informed that the job has been cancelled.
9:37am: I check my phone. There is a voice mail. It is from my temp agency, telling me to go home because the temp job has been cancelled.
9:45am: I call my doctor's office. They initially tell me that there's no way to see the doctor today, but after I explain my problem they tell me they will call back.
10:00am: I eat breakfast at McDonald's (I didn't want to go all the way home, ok?). I talk to The Hot Wing, who is on a break from jury duty. She is mortified and apologetic. I tell her that it is not her fault. Or her cat's.
10:10am: The phone rings again. It is the doctor's office. My doctor can see me at one.
11:00am: I arrive home. I change out of my fancy temp clothes into my regular Rover clothes. My toilet is still not fixed. I call the maintenance guys. They say they will come up.
11:30am: My temp agent calls to apologize. During her call, the maintenance guys arrive. The toilet is fixed. The maintenance guys are awesome.
12:50pm: I arrive at the doctor's office. My doctor sees me quickly.
1:00pm: I am examined on the table. The red streak now extends from my wrist almost to my armpit. The doctor excuses herself.
1:10pm: The doctor returns. You have an infection from the cat bite, she says. We're going to start you on antibiotics, and I'm going to give you a tetanus shot.
Great, I say. I can still work out while I'm taking this right?
My doctor gives me a withering look.
Um, NO, she says. You have a VERY bad infection. You need to rest for a few days before you start exerting yourself.
My doctor is awesome.
1:50pm: My prescription is filled. This is the fourth time I am on antibiotics in the past seven months. Ironically, I still have four pills left in my pack of probiotics, which, you know, you take after a course of antibiotics. I find this hilarious.
2:15pm: I eat lunch with my brother and his drummer. We make fun of various and sundry things, including: the drummer, for her slow lunch order; the burger joint's soundtrack; internet videos and websites; the sheer size of my antibiotics. We take a picture to document the growth of my stunning man beard. It is a beautiful day. My hand and arm have stopped itching so much. I am drinking an Arnold Palmer. Things are better. My parents were right. They usually are.
With that said, here's the basic timeline of my first 48 hours back in New York.
SUNDAY
appx 3:45pm: Plane touches down at LaGuardia. I briefly consider kissing the tarmac, but remember that I'm back in the city, and decide to pass.
3:50pm: My bag is heavy. My bookbag broke last weekend, so I'm stuck carting around my computer and my other essentials in my gym bag, which was not built to carry heavy stuff. My shoulder hurts.
3:55pm: Luggage arrives.
4:00pm: Get into a cab to take me home. The cab driver is a cheery African who smokes a cigarette and blares loud reggae music. I am so excited to be home that I don't mind.
4:30pm: Home! I open the door to my apartment and am greeted by the sound of my smoke detector. This means I need to buy a battery. My apartment is very dusty, and my bathroom smells funny. I chalk this up to my month-long absence.
4:45pm: Talk to the Brooklyn Squirrel on the phone in front of a drug store. It is a perfect day. There are beautiful people everywhere. I am so happy to be back in my neighborhood.
5:00pm: Equipped with batteries (on sale!) and some frozen yogurt (also on sale!), I return home. I feel like I am floating. There is no tension in my body. I am only slightly anxious about running into my ex-girlfriend. I think to myself, Perhaps this represents a turning point in your life. Perhaps things are going to totally go your way over the next few weeks. Perhaps your life will transform for the better, right now!
In retrospect, I totally jinxed myself.
5:15pm: I investigate the smell in my bathroom. It smells faintly of vanilla. I notice that I have left my vanilla-scented candle jar unscented all month. Maybe the caged-up vanilla smell goes bad when it is trapped in a small space, I think. I open the lid to my toilet. I realize that the candle has nothing to do with the smell: sewage has backed up into my toilet. It is truly disgusting. It will not flush. The only description I will give you: a layer of mold is on the top.
5:20pm: I call the front desk. They tell me that no one is around to fix it, but they will submit a work order. I will have to use the public restrooms in the building. I decide to not worry about it, and turn on the TV to watch some playoff hoops as I dust.
5:22pm: The cable goes out.
5:45pm: After two phone calls to the cable company and several attempts to reboot, I am informed that there is a problem with my cable box, and that technicians will have to come out to fix things. "How is Thursday afternoon?" the cheery cable lady asks. I wish that I could punch her in the face.
6:00pm: I dust. I call my parents. They tell me that things will get better. We talk sports.
8:40pm: I arrive at The Hot Wing's house for dinner - she has agreed to cook for me. Her cat is happy to see me.
8:50pm: I play with the cat. I don't like cats, but I'm a nice guy. We play gentle, then a little rough, then gentle.
9:30pm: We eat. We catch up. The Hot Wing is awesome.
11:30pm: I go home to work on sides for my audition. I only found about it on Friday. I am worried that, even though it is only two pages, I am not prepared enough.
12:30am: I go downstairs to use the bathroom. I feel like an idiot. There is no soap in the bathroom. Or paper towels. I feel gross.
1:30am: Sleep. I am happy to be in my comfortable bed.
MONDAY
9:15am: Rise and shine. I notice that I have bug bites on my right hand and left arm.
11:00am: I arrive for my audition. I endured train trauma, but this is already a long post.
11:10am: I perform my audition. The response is enthusiastic. I am elated.
11:15am: I speak to my temp agent, who has a job for me on Tuesday. I am elated.
12:00pm: I hang out in my building's new workout facility, where my sister-in-law is showing people how to use the equipment. We catch up. My sister-in-law is awesome. I check in with the maintenance guys, and they tell me they will be by at four to fix the toilet.
2:30pm: I buy lunch and go grocery shopping. The bug bites still itch. I put anti-itch cream on them. I check around my bed for spiders and around my ceiling for mosquitoes. I find nothing.
4:00pm: Maintenance doesn't show up.
6:00pm: I meet The Flying Squirrel for coffee. We catch up. The Flying Squirrel is awesome.
7:30pm: We eat dinner at a cool new restaurant. I keep scratching my hand. This bug bite is really bothering me.
9:30pm: Home. I resort to watching games on the internet. My bites are itching like crazy. The cream is not helping.
11:30pm: I try to get myself ready for bed, because I want to work out in the morning before my temp job. I set my alarm for six. I have to go downstairs to use the bathroom. There's still no soap or towels. Fortunately I have brought hand sanitizer. I feel slightly less gross. I search the bed and sheets again for bugs or spiders. I wonder if I was bit at my Heartland apartment.
1:15am: I finally get in bed. My hand and arm itch to the point of pain. I reset the alarm for six fifteen.
3:50am: I wake to my hand throbbing. I look at it and notice that it is swollen to a ridiculous state. I start to panic. I debate going to the hospital, but decide that I am being a wuss.
4:00am: I research spider bites online. I gross myself out.
4:30am: I remember that The Hot Wing's cat, while playing with me, nipped my hand. I wonder if that is the cause of the pain. I put ice on my hand and arm and that helps somewhat.
5:15am: I finally go back to sleep. I scrap my plan to work out at 6:15.
TUESDAY
8:15am: Rise and shine. I am exhausted.
8:30am: My hand is so swollen that I cannot bend my wrist. Under my skin I see a red streak that extends from my wrist to my elbow. The lump on my left arm is now the size of a mini candy bar. This makes getting dressed in my fancy temp clothes difficult.
8:50am: I leave for my temp job. I decide to tell them upon arrival that I will have to go see my doctor. I call my mother, who confirms my decision.
9:30am: I arrive at my temp job. I am told to wait. I sit down on the couch.
9:35am: The other employee from my temp agency arrives. She has been informed that the job has been cancelled.
9:37am: I check my phone. There is a voice mail. It is from my temp agency, telling me to go home because the temp job has been cancelled.
9:45am: I call my doctor's office. They initially tell me that there's no way to see the doctor today, but after I explain my problem they tell me they will call back.
10:00am: I eat breakfast at McDonald's (I didn't want to go all the way home, ok?). I talk to The Hot Wing, who is on a break from jury duty. She is mortified and apologetic. I tell her that it is not her fault. Or her cat's.
10:10am: The phone rings again. It is the doctor's office. My doctor can see me at one.
11:00am: I arrive home. I change out of my fancy temp clothes into my regular Rover clothes. My toilet is still not fixed. I call the maintenance guys. They say they will come up.
11:30am: My temp agent calls to apologize. During her call, the maintenance guys arrive. The toilet is fixed. The maintenance guys are awesome.
12:50pm: I arrive at the doctor's office. My doctor sees me quickly.
1:00pm: I am examined on the table. The red streak now extends from my wrist almost to my armpit. The doctor excuses herself.
1:10pm: The doctor returns. You have an infection from the cat bite, she says. We're going to start you on antibiotics, and I'm going to give you a tetanus shot.
Great, I say. I can still work out while I'm taking this right?
My doctor gives me a withering look.
Um, NO, she says. You have a VERY bad infection. You need to rest for a few days before you start exerting yourself.
My doctor is awesome.
1:50pm: My prescription is filled. This is the fourth time I am on antibiotics in the past seven months. Ironically, I still have four pills left in my pack of probiotics, which, you know, you take after a course of antibiotics. I find this hilarious.
2:15pm: I eat lunch with my brother and his drummer. We make fun of various and sundry things, including: the drummer, for her slow lunch order; the burger joint's soundtrack; internet videos and websites; the sheer size of my antibiotics. We take a picture to document the growth of my stunning man beard. It is a beautiful day. My hand and arm have stopped itching so much. I am drinking an Arnold Palmer. Things are better. My parents were right. They usually are.
Friday, January 01, 2010
my 2009
I started this post on the subway last night, thinking that I would put it up online once I got to my friend's house, before we began our low-key New Year's celebration. I figured that, for once in '09, I'd follow through with something I'd said I'd do on the blog.
Didn't happen.
I suppose that's kind of fitting, because 2009 was not the best year for me. I'm reminded of the '80s children's book, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day".
OK, maybe I'm being a little dramatic. But I did have a rather dramatic breakup, ending an almost eight year relationship. I also suffered from declining health all year, resulting in a four day hospital stay the week of my birthday. I went through the worst financial crisis of my life - I actually had to borrow money from my parents to pay my rent more than once. And the father of one of my best friend's - someone who I considered a friend - unexpectedly passed away. And that's just the big stuff.
On more than one occasion last week, I mentioned that I just wanted to get out of 2009 "without anything else bad happening to me," which is why I wanted to wait until the year ended before writing about anything. I thought I was going to make it through unscathed...until my brand new HDTV died yesterday afternoon at 3pm, ONE HOUR after I hooked it up.
Seriously.
It just wasn't my year.
I have cause for optimism, though.
Yesterday, on the subway, I was listening to my iPod, which was shuffling through my top rated songs, and up popped an old jazz tune by Charles Mingus, called "Freedom". It's one of my favorites, and it's the only song on the album that has lyrics. The words are actually pretty depressing - but the song struck a chord for me. Even though all of those bad things happened to me last year, I managed to free myself from some unhappy and unhealthy situations.
And I suppose that's what's got me feeling the tiniest bit of optimism for 2010. I feel like an astronaut on a spaceship just launched into orbit. Everything familiar to me has fallen away behind me, like the earth disappearing behind me in the rear view mirror. Ahead of me: the beautiful, great unknown of space, in all of its splendor and majesty. My future feels like a blank slate - anything is possible. If I wanted to pick up and move to Kenya tomorrow, I could. Sometimes when I think about that fact, it makes me sad, but most of the time I just have a sense of excitement and possibility, because I know that I can fully take advantage of any opportunity that comes my way.
One last note. I don't know how this blog factors into my future. The quasi-anonymity that I've got going on here can actually be stifling at times, and, even though I love writing, I hate feeling like I'm obligated to post here, especially when I'm not sure how many people are still reading. But I'm so close to the five year anniversary of the creation of this blog, and I feel very strongly that I should follow through to at least that mark. I'm going to go back to the attempted model for 2009: one quality post a week. I'll post on Wednesdays, with an occasional something in between. I make no promises for anything past February 3.
Hope that you all start off this new decade in a positive way. See you in a few days.
Didn't happen.
I suppose that's kind of fitting, because 2009 was not the best year for me. I'm reminded of the '80s children's book, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day".
OK, maybe I'm being a little dramatic. But I did have a rather dramatic breakup, ending an almost eight year relationship. I also suffered from declining health all year, resulting in a four day hospital stay the week of my birthday. I went through the worst financial crisis of my life - I actually had to borrow money from my parents to pay my rent more than once. And the father of one of my best friend's - someone who I considered a friend - unexpectedly passed away. And that's just the big stuff.
On more than one occasion last week, I mentioned that I just wanted to get out of 2009 "without anything else bad happening to me," which is why I wanted to wait until the year ended before writing about anything. I thought I was going to make it through unscathed...until my brand new HDTV died yesterday afternoon at 3pm, ONE HOUR after I hooked it up.
Seriously.
It just wasn't my year.
I have cause for optimism, though.
Yesterday, on the subway, I was listening to my iPod, which was shuffling through my top rated songs, and up popped an old jazz tune by Charles Mingus, called "Freedom". It's one of my favorites, and it's the only song on the album that has lyrics. The words are actually pretty depressing - but the song struck a chord for me. Even though all of those bad things happened to me last year, I managed to free myself from some unhappy and unhealthy situations.
And I suppose that's what's got me feeling the tiniest bit of optimism for 2010. I feel like an astronaut on a spaceship just launched into orbit. Everything familiar to me has fallen away behind me, like the earth disappearing behind me in the rear view mirror. Ahead of me: the beautiful, great unknown of space, in all of its splendor and majesty. My future feels like a blank slate - anything is possible. If I wanted to pick up and move to Kenya tomorrow, I could. Sometimes when I think about that fact, it makes me sad, but most of the time I just have a sense of excitement and possibility, because I know that I can fully take advantage of any opportunity that comes my way.
One last note. I don't know how this blog factors into my future. The quasi-anonymity that I've got going on here can actually be stifling at times, and, even though I love writing, I hate feeling like I'm obligated to post here, especially when I'm not sure how many people are still reading. But I'm so close to the five year anniversary of the creation of this blog, and I feel very strongly that I should follow through to at least that mark. I'm going to go back to the attempted model for 2009: one quality post a week. I'll post on Wednesdays, with an occasional something in between. I make no promises for anything past February 3.
Hope that you all start off this new decade in a positive way. See you in a few days.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
internet hiatus
Because I can't reliably get online, I'm going to hold off on posting for a while. I'm writing some things in my journal, and will get them up when I get internet in my new place. And that will happen whenever Time Warner decides to stop dickin' around.
Back soon, promise.
Back soon, promise.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
"each day gets better"
Yeah, right.
Sorry for the blatant pessimism...it just hasn't been the best of days. I'm having a "bad Maxine day", meaning that I miss her a lot and can't stop thinking about her and want to call her and say why can't we work this out? Even though I know we can't.
I'm also frustrated because I don't have a job, and my New York unemployment (which was supposed to start paying me today) is all messed up. I have no idea when I'm going to get any money, and even when I do it probably won't be enough to live on. I'll be lucky if I can cover all of my bills.
And I still don't have internet at home.
I just want to fast forward to the end of May and see where I'm at. I feel like things will be better for me in a month. I'm just tired of being unhappy/frustrated/sad. I'd like an attitude transplant, please.
Sorry for the blatant pessimism...it just hasn't been the best of days. I'm having a "bad Maxine day", meaning that I miss her a lot and can't stop thinking about her and want to call her and say why can't we work this out? Even though I know we can't.
I'm also frustrated because I don't have a job, and my New York unemployment (which was supposed to start paying me today) is all messed up. I have no idea when I'm going to get any money, and even when I do it probably won't be enough to live on. I'll be lucky if I can cover all of my bills.
And I still don't have internet at home.
I just want to fast forward to the end of May and see where I'm at. I feel like things will be better for me in a month. I'm just tired of being unhappy/frustrated/sad. I'd like an attitude transplant, please.
Monday, April 20, 2009
really really over
We got together last night, ostensibly so that I could pick up my stuff from her place, but mostly so that we could have some closure. It was a good conversation, for the most part. We're pretty much on the same page, I think. Well, mostly.
It was almost fun for the first couple of hours, but the last ten minutes or so, when I was trying to leave - so painful. Lots of crying, hugging, etc. It was easily one of the worst moments of my life. I bawled like a baby.
Today, however, I feel much better than I expected to. Lighter, freer, sort of. The burden that I've been carrying around for the past three months is gone. I'm still very sad, and I know that will come in increasingly diminishing waves over the next few months, but the sun came up this morning, and I'm still alive. So that's a positive thing.
Now, if I could just get online from my apartment...
It was almost fun for the first couple of hours, but the last ten minutes or so, when I was trying to leave - so painful. Lots of crying, hugging, etc. It was easily one of the worst moments of my life. I bawled like a baby.
Today, however, I feel much better than I expected to. Lighter, freer, sort of. The burden that I've been carrying around for the past three months is gone. I'm still very sad, and I know that will come in increasingly diminishing waves over the next few months, but the sun came up this morning, and I'm still alive. So that's a positive thing.
Now, if I could just get online from my apartment...
Friday, April 17, 2009
the deed is done
I broke up with her last night. I don't have the energy to give a full blow-by-blow; besides, we're meeting on Saturday. I was just going to go over and pick up my stuff when she was gone, but she said that she "didn't want to end things like this", so there will be one more conversation. I've been crying a lot, but I think I've gone twelve hours now, so that's a positive sign.
I'm really, really sad.
I don't have internet at my place, so I will be even more scarce than usual for a couple of weeks. Looking forward to unburdening my soul soon.
I'm really, really sad.
I don't have internet at my place, so I will be even more scarce than usual for a couple of weeks. Looking forward to unburdening my soul soon.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
home sweet homeless
Sorry, folks. There's been a lot going on in my life, but I don't really comfortable blogging about much of it in detail. And since the heavy stuff is what's on my mind, I'm better off not writing anything at all.
Yesterday, however, was an all-time terrible day. Consider the following sequence of events, in chronological order:
- woke up and had a "relationship discussion" with the girlfriend; let's just say things are in a precarious position right now
- found out that I would not be moving into my apartment this week, as I had anticipated, because the federal agency that has been screwing me the past six months wanted one mo' gin
- discovered that I had given away the door key to my old apartment, meaning that I had to wait outside to be let in
- discovered that I had not received all my W-2s/1099s, which was bad news, because I needed to take them to my agency-screwing on Thursday morning, meaning I had to make an extra trip
The day did get better; my friend took me to a basketball game. That was pretty cool. Still, there were several points yesterday when I wanted to climb back in bed and start all over.
Back soon, hopefully with better news.
Yesterday, however, was an all-time terrible day. Consider the following sequence of events, in chronological order:
- woke up and had a "relationship discussion" with the girlfriend; let's just say things are in a precarious position right now
- found out that I would not be moving into my apartment this week, as I had anticipated, because the federal agency that has been screwing me the past six months wanted one mo' gin
- discovered that I had given away the door key to my old apartment, meaning that I had to wait outside to be let in
- discovered that I had not received all my W-2s/1099s, which was bad news, because I needed to take them to my agency-screwing on Thursday morning, meaning I had to make an extra trip
The day did get better; my friend took me to a basketball game. That was pretty cool. Still, there were several points yesterday when I wanted to climb back in bed and start all over.
Back soon, hopefully with better news.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
drinking woes
Finally kicked the illness. Went out for the first time in Old Village on Saturday night, which was very low-key. I drank cranberry juice. With a twist of lime.
For some reason, I decided to go out again last night. Again, I had a drink with a twist of lime. It was a Corona. The beer wasn't settling in my stomach too well, so I switched to vodka tonics. I'm not sure how many I had, but I'm pretty sure the number starts with a one.
Needless to say, I don't feel too great today.
And I'm also re-evaluating my relationship with alcohol. Three times in the past two and a half weeks I have ended up sick or violently hung over after drinking. I've blacked out twice in the same time period - and that's something that just doesn't happen. I'm still able to have one beer or one glass of wine with dinner and stop, but lately I don't seem to have the same control at the bar.
I'm concerned.
For some reason, I decided to go out again last night. Again, I had a drink with a twist of lime. It was a Corona. The beer wasn't settling in my stomach too well, so I switched to vodka tonics. I'm not sure how many I had, but I'm pretty sure the number starts with a one.
Needless to say, I don't feel too great today.
And I'm also re-evaluating my relationship with alcohol. Three times in the past two and a half weeks I have ended up sick or violently hung over after drinking. I've blacked out twice in the same time period - and that's something that just doesn't happen. I'm still able to have one beer or one glass of wine with dinner and stop, but lately I don't seem to have the same control at the bar.
I'm concerned.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
i feel like warmed-over death
Just a suggestion - if you're going to have multiple drinks - like, say, more than five - you might want to try eating something before your beverage consumption. Otherwise you could end up feeling like me.
Ugh.
Ugh.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
not enough time!
I'm having one of those frustrating days where it just seems like I don't have enough time to get anything done. You know what I mean?
I promised my roommate that I'd go help her out at 3:30. When I made that commitment, I realized that I wouldn't have enough time to go to the gym and shower.
To kill the gap, I made a couple of phone calls I needed to make and took care of some paperwork. I figured that I would have enough time to knock out a couple of episodes of my addiction du jour (the HBO miniseries "John Adams"). But, alas, now it's almost 2:30. I can't even get that done.
This vacation has not been very relaxing.
I promised my roommate that I'd go help her out at 3:30. When I made that commitment, I realized that I wouldn't have enough time to go to the gym and shower.
To kill the gap, I made a couple of phone calls I needed to make and took care of some paperwork. I figured that I would have enough time to knock out a couple of episodes of my addiction du jour (the HBO miniseries "John Adams"). But, alas, now it's almost 2:30. I can't even get that done.
This vacation has not been very relaxing.
Monday, December 08, 2008
you want me to fly when?
via text message - my castmate and i found out that the theater wants us to get on a plane at 9:30am on New Year's Day
CASTMATE: 9 in the mornin fo real
ME: Um, no. I can't leave any earlier than 1. It just won't happen.
CASTMATE: Hehehe
ME: Did you talk to her yet? I'm about to call her back...
CASTMATE: Yes
ME: You agreed? Ouch...
CASTMATE: I'm leaving early from JFK
ME: Boo...
CASTMATE: LGA had two stop but you can go out of Newark
(five hours later)
ME: I'm on the same damn flight.
CASTMATE: Yay for me boo for you
ME: Yeah. I'll sleep
CASTMATE: I'll wake you up when we get there
ME: And for the layover too, please.
CASTMATE: I thought we were flying direct which is why we were taking that early one
ME: No. We have to take a separate flight...
Needless to say, we're not happy.
CASTMATE: 9 in the mornin fo real
ME: Um, no. I can't leave any earlier than 1. It just won't happen.
CASTMATE: Hehehe
ME: Did you talk to her yet? I'm about to call her back...
CASTMATE: Yes
ME: You agreed? Ouch...
CASTMATE: I'm leaving early from JFK
ME: Boo...
CASTMATE: LGA had two stop but you can go out of Newark
(five hours later)
ME: I'm on the same damn flight.
CASTMATE: Yay for me boo for you
ME: Yeah. I'll sleep
CASTMATE: I'll wake you up when we get there
ME: And for the layover too, please.
CASTMATE: I thought we were flying direct which is why we were taking that early one
ME: No. We have to take a separate flight...
Needless to say, we're not happy.
Friday, December 05, 2008
lazy
That's me.
Too lazy to work out.
Too lazy to buy food.
Too lazy to upload my blog posts to the internet.
I think that I'll be over this in a couple of days. I think.
Too lazy to work out.
Too lazy to buy food.
Too lazy to upload my blog posts to the internet.
I think that I'll be over this in a couple of days. I think.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
based on a true story
written in a workshop - i had to tell a quick story about injustice
Once upon a time there was a handsome young black prince who wanted a romantic date for the prom.
He first asked a girl he was seeing. She said yes, but three days later her evil father said no, because the prince was black.
He then tried another girl, but her evil parents said no for the same reason.
So the prince ended up going to the ball with a boring girl that he didn't really like.
The end.
Once upon a time there was a handsome young black prince who wanted a romantic date for the prom.
He first asked a girl he was seeing. She said yes, but three days later her evil father said no, because the prince was black.
He then tried another girl, but her evil parents said no for the same reason.
So the prince ended up going to the ball with a boring girl that he didn't really like.
The end.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
my super sucks
My bathroom had a leak a couple of weeks ago. Now the leak has gotten worse. There is no water in my bathroom yet, but you can hear the constant patter of the water in the ceiling. And now the ceiling is starting to show signs of water damage, and plaster is actually falling.
I waited around ALL DAY today, because my super said that he was going to come by and check out our bathroom. I had several errands to run, but because he said he was coming by "first thing in the morning", I decided to wait.
It's now six thirty in the evening.
Have I seen him?
No.
He's an asshole.
I did call my landlord and complain, though. I feel a tiny bit better knowing that the landlord will chew the super out. But I'd feel a LOT better if someone would come fix my bathroom.
I waited around ALL DAY today, because my super said that he was going to come by and check out our bathroom. I had several errands to run, but because he said he was coming by "first thing in the morning", I decided to wait.
It's now six thirty in the evening.
Have I seen him?
No.
He's an asshole.
I did call my landlord and complain, though. I feel a tiny bit better knowing that the landlord will chew the super out. But I'd feel a LOT better if someone would come fix my bathroom.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
i need a break
written in my notebook
Did I say yet that I'm ready to go home?
Well, I am.
I'm working at a great camp, with an exceptional group of students and a talented and amazing staff in a charming town.
But I'm feeling like I need some alone time. Which is hard to get here.
There are more complications, but it's too much right now, especially since I'm in the middle of working things out. Plus I'm writing this in a notebook.
Did I say yet that I'm ready to go home?
Well, I am.
I'm working at a great camp, with an exceptional group of students and a talented and amazing staff in a charming town.
But I'm feeling like I need some alone time. Which is hard to get here.
There are more complications, but it's too much right now, especially since I'm in the middle of working things out. Plus I'm writing this in a notebook.
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