Saturday, August 06, 2005
うまい！！
Wow, I just ate at an incredible restaurant with Mom and I had to blog about it. It's called 炙り屋錦乃介 (Aburiya Kinnosuke) and it's tucked away on 45th St near 3rd Ave. Check out this blog post for some more info. I've never eaten that kind of food before; indeed, I can't even find the names of the dishes/cooking styles in any of the dictionaries I frequent.
First of all, the place just is cool. The look of the decor is distinct and the whole night the was some groovy, non-disruptive music playing in the background. We had to wait a bit for a table but for a Saturday night a half-hour is not too bad.
The menu was full of things that I've never heard of. Most everything is grilled, some by the staff and some by the diners! I had a "crab salad" topped with mayo-based dressing (big enough for us to share), a foil tin full of cooked mushrooms (with other veggies mixed in) and a spread of scallops on an open shell. Mom ordered the "pris fixe" meal which was very generous: homemade tofu, sashimi, some duck she got to grill herself, a "chicken meatball" on a stick with an egg for dipping, a small cut of steak, miso soup and a mochi sweet cake for dessert! I had a share of all her dishes, so the "pris fixe" is actually big enough to satisfy two light eaters.
Anyway, everything was absolutely delicious and fun to experience. Frankly, the prices were pretty good too. It just goes to show you that, in New York, you've never seen it all. I'm also proud that Mom finally tried some genuinely new foods this time (she hated the mochi, BTW). Afterwards, she felt tired and went back to her hotel. I hugged her goodbye; she leaves tomorrow and I won't see her again until next year.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
First of all, the place just is cool. The look of the decor is distinct and the whole night the was some groovy, non-disruptive music playing in the background. We had to wait a bit for a table but for a Saturday night a half-hour is not too bad.
The menu was full of things that I've never heard of. Most everything is grilled, some by the staff and some by the diners! I had a "crab salad" topped with mayo-based dressing (big enough for us to share), a foil tin full of cooked mushrooms (with other veggies mixed in) and a spread of scallops on an open shell. Mom ordered the "pris fixe" meal which was very generous: homemade tofu, sashimi, some duck she got to grill herself, a "chicken meatball" on a stick with an egg for dipping, a small cut of steak, miso soup and a mochi sweet cake for dessert! I had a share of all her dishes, so the "pris fixe" is actually big enough to satisfy two light eaters.
Anyway, everything was absolutely delicious and fun to experience. Frankly, the prices were pretty good too. It just goes to show you that, in New York, you've never seen it all. I'm also proud that Mom finally tried some genuinely new foods this time (she hated the mochi, BTW). Afterwards, she felt tired and went back to her hotel. I hugged her goodbye; she leaves tomorrow and I won't see her again until next year.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Friends and Feast
Sorry for not posting yesterday. I ended having a late night out of town. Allow me to elaborate!
I went to work out early yesterday because my mom had talked about getting together in the afternoon. When I missed her calls around noontime, she opted to do something on our own and instead made plans to go up to Westchester to visit my sister for dinner. I guess Mom thought Salena had come down to the city two nights in a row so we should go up to see her for a change; plus, Mom had not seen Salena's home yet.
Late in the afternoon, as I prepared to leave, Ben called and told me his mom was away for a few days so he was going to host a little BBQ action at his house. Since I was already planning on going to Westchester, I figured it would a good plan to eat with the family and then meet my friends.
Dinner with said family was very nice. We ate at an Italian restaurant in Katonah, right next to the train tracks. There was the occasional rumble when the trains passed, but the food was really delicious. I felt good about everything I ate yesterday, sticking closely to all of my ideals, including dinner.
Once at Ben's, I got to hang out with some folks I hadn't seen in a long time. First and foremost was my friend Scott who has been living and working in Japan for five years now. He has been a big part of my inspiration to pursue a future in Japan and he has also given me much advice by telling me of his good and bad experiences. He last came home two years ago so it was a thrill to see him. Also in attendance was Rene, another one of my sisters friends whom I hadn't seen it at least a year, as well as Ben's sister Kate and her boyfriend Josh.
Even though I had eaten dinner, I couldn't help but partake of some of the grilled delights. They had big cuts of salmon and shark on the grill and shrimp with mixed veggies on skewers. Pretty lean, healthy stuff but I also had a few beers which I know I shouldn't be drinking. Everything was delicious and I don't regret a thing.
It ended up being a very long evening. Kate and Josh left relatively early but the remaining four of us spoke about a variety of subjects for hours. Politics, religion, careers, responsibilities...everything came up at least once. We're all in the same age group (mid-late 20s) so it was reassuring to hear everyone had some similar issues trying to find themselves right now. One very interesting theory Rene offered was that our generation has so many choices in life, it's almost as hard as having no choices at all. All of us grew up knowing that we had (still have, I suppose) the potential to do anything we want(ed) in life. That's an awful lot of pressure to put on a teenager or even a twenty-something youth. Contrast that with someone growing up in the past who was told from day one by their parents, "You're going to be a blacksmith." Thankfully I have direction now but there are still ideas that I wonder if I should put more effort into pursuing. Acting is one of them, which is particularly relevant because Rene and her brother have worked in show business. I'd mention his name but I think that would be a little crass; let's just say that you might have seen him in some character roles but he's hardly famous.
Rene eventually left around midnight, Scott stayed until 4AM, perhaps later. Ben and I stayed up a little while after that. He's been investing some serious time in organizing the scores of Magic cards that I left in his care when I moved out last summer. His goal is to get an accurate-enough inventory of the cards so that he can sell them on eBay. Of course, we would share in the profits because while I spend untold amounts of money on those cards, he is "spending" long hours sorting them all out which is no simple task. If you've never played Magic, don't start. It's an incredibly deep, intellectual and engrossing game BUT it requires an unrealistic investment of money to enjoy.
I returned to the city this afternoon and tried to work out again. I've been very sore since meeting with that trainer which is kind of frustrating. How sore is too sore? Am I in danger of hurting myself if I continue to work out every day? Should I stick to my earlier routine which successfully allowed me to lose weight or do I need to work harder to emulate the trainer's ideas? I wish I had an expert's opinion on this. For free, that is.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
I went to work out early yesterday because my mom had talked about getting together in the afternoon. When I missed her calls around noontime, she opted to do something on our own and instead made plans to go up to Westchester to visit my sister for dinner. I guess Mom thought Salena had come down to the city two nights in a row so we should go up to see her for a change; plus, Mom had not seen Salena's home yet.
Late in the afternoon, as I prepared to leave, Ben called and told me his mom was away for a few days so he was going to host a little BBQ action at his house. Since I was already planning on going to Westchester, I figured it would a good plan to eat with the family and then meet my friends.
Dinner with said family was very nice. We ate at an Italian restaurant in Katonah, right next to the train tracks. There was the occasional rumble when the trains passed, but the food was really delicious. I felt good about everything I ate yesterday, sticking closely to all of my ideals, including dinner.
Once at Ben's, I got to hang out with some folks I hadn't seen in a long time. First and foremost was my friend Scott who has been living and working in Japan for five years now. He has been a big part of my inspiration to pursue a future in Japan and he has also given me much advice by telling me of his good and bad experiences. He last came home two years ago so it was a thrill to see him. Also in attendance was Rene, another one of my sisters friends whom I hadn't seen it at least a year, as well as Ben's sister Kate and her boyfriend Josh.
Even though I had eaten dinner, I couldn't help but partake of some of the grilled delights. They had big cuts of salmon and shark on the grill and shrimp with mixed veggies on skewers. Pretty lean, healthy stuff but I also had a few beers which I know I shouldn't be drinking. Everything was delicious and I don't regret a thing.
It ended up being a very long evening. Kate and Josh left relatively early but the remaining four of us spoke about a variety of subjects for hours. Politics, religion, careers, responsibilities...everything came up at least once. We're all in the same age group (mid-late 20s) so it was reassuring to hear everyone had some similar issues trying to find themselves right now. One very interesting theory Rene offered was that our generation has so many choices in life, it's almost as hard as having no choices at all. All of us grew up knowing that we had (still have, I suppose) the potential to do anything we want(ed) in life. That's an awful lot of pressure to put on a teenager or even a twenty-something youth. Contrast that with someone growing up in the past who was told from day one by their parents, "You're going to be a blacksmith." Thankfully I have direction now but there are still ideas that I wonder if I should put more effort into pursuing. Acting is one of them, which is particularly relevant because Rene and her brother have worked in show business. I'd mention his name but I think that would be a little crass; let's just say that you might have seen him in some character roles but he's hardly famous.
Rene eventually left around midnight, Scott stayed until 4AM, perhaps later. Ben and I stayed up a little while after that. He's been investing some serious time in organizing the scores of Magic cards that I left in his care when I moved out last summer. His goal is to get an accurate-enough inventory of the cards so that he can sell them on eBay. Of course, we would share in the profits because while I spend untold amounts of money on those cards, he is "spending" long hours sorting them all out which is no simple task. If you've never played Magic, don't start. It's an incredibly deep, intellectual and engrossing game BUT it requires an unrealistic investment of money to enjoy.
I returned to the city this afternoon and tried to work out again. I've been very sore since meeting with that trainer which is kind of frustrating. How sore is too sore? Am I in danger of hurting myself if I continue to work out every day? Should I stick to my earlier routine which successfully allowed me to lose weight or do I need to work harder to emulate the trainer's ideas? I wish I had an expert's opinion on this. For free, that is.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Hard Work
The workout with the trainer this afternoon was very interesting. Naturally, it was a free trial in the hopes that I will pay an exorbitant fee to continue working with him. I can't afford that but I do hope to try and incorporate his ideas into my daily routine. Basically, he emphasized slow, controlled movements over lots of reps. He also didn't seem to high on the cardio but I suspect that's in part because he can't earn any money when I exercise by myself. By the way, my weight is back to its pre-wedding level.
Mom came uptown and we ate at the local Szechuan joint. It was absolutely delicious! I really love that stuff and I managed to hold off on eating any rice. Salena met us at the restaurant and we ended up going downtown to Washington Square Park to relax. The heat and humidity has reached unbearable levels after a relatively mild weekend. Although the sun had already gone done we were begging for a decent breeze.
We ended up walking a few blocks south to meet Salena's boyfriend at some kind of art show/musical performance. There were some light snacks sitting around including my two favorite words: Free Brie. Ohhh...it was warm, melty Brie to boot. Again, I didn't put it on any crackers, I used some mixed veggies instead.
Then the real test came: Mom and Salena both wanted some ice cream. I tried to guide us to a Ben & Jerry's on 3rd Ave which is next to a nice little tea house where I could pick up some bubble tea. Sure, tapioca isn't exactly health food but it's better for me than ice cream. However, when we started to get too far from the gallery (where my sister had to return to so she could meet her boyfriend), Mom and Salena felt we should stop somewhere closer. So I took a seat and the two of them ordered some Cold Stone and I had a few tastes.
I'm a weak, weak man.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Mom came uptown and we ate at the local Szechuan joint. It was absolutely delicious! I really love that stuff and I managed to hold off on eating any rice. Salena met us at the restaurant and we ended up going downtown to Washington Square Park to relax. The heat and humidity has reached unbearable levels after a relatively mild weekend. Although the sun had already gone done we were begging for a decent breeze.
We ended up walking a few blocks south to meet Salena's boyfriend at some kind of art show/musical performance. There were some light snacks sitting around including my two favorite words: Free Brie. Ohhh...it was warm, melty Brie to boot. Again, I didn't put it on any crackers, I used some mixed veggies instead.
Then the real test came: Mom and Salena both wanted some ice cream. I tried to guide us to a Ben & Jerry's on 3rd Ave which is next to a nice little tea house where I could pick up some bubble tea. Sure, tapioca isn't exactly health food but it's better for me than ice cream. However, when we started to get too far from the gallery (where my sister had to return to so she could meet her boyfriend), Mom and Salena felt we should stop somewhere closer. So I took a seat and the two of them ordered some Cold Stone and I had a few tastes.
I'm a weak, weak man.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Under Construction
They turned off the water in the building at nine A.M. today for some kind of maintenance. I set my alarm to go off early so I could take a shower beforehand but I somehow loafed in bed until 9:10. So now my only option is to shower at the gym...not my favorite thing in the world.
I got the photos developed from the wedding this weekend. You can see a selection on this page. I'll also be making a few changes to the main page soon. Nothing major, I don't have the resources or the knowledge for an overhaul of my (admittedly) flawed design. Just a shifting of links, really.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
I got the photos developed from the wedding this weekend. You can see a selection on this page. I'll also be making a few changes to the main page soon. Nothing major, I don't have the resources or the knowledge for an overhaul of my (admittedly) flawed design. Just a shifting of links, really.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
"Great Story! What Do You Call It?"
My weight is heading in the right direction again, thank goodness. I'm almost back to my pre-wedding level after two days of working out so it seems the weight is disappearing about as quickly as it manifested itself.
Mom came to town for the weekend and she wanted to eat dinner at one of "my" Japanese restaurants around town. Since she's staying downtown I thought a good choice would be Yakitori Taisho. Of course, Salena came down to join us. The food was very tasty but I was little disappointed Mom didn't try something new. The menu at that restaurant is chock full of things neither of them has ever eaten. Salena took a chance or two but Mom just ordered "spare ribs," like you see in Chinese restaurants. Fortunately, she did have a little sake instead of her usual white wine.
After dinner a trip to the movies was proposed. Salena and I had been discussing the new documentary The Aristocrats over the weekend. We both wanted to see it and we gambled that Mom would too. We were right! All it took was the regrettable investment of buying one copy of the New York Post (yuck). The movie was actually playing at the nearby Union Square cinemas, one of the theaters I went to for an interview this summer. Not getting hired still pisses me off but I don't want to deviate from the story at hand.
Anyway, the movie is fucking hilarious. Do yourself a favor and don't do too much research into the film. I'll give you the basic premise: it's a documentary featuring comedians discussing and telling a dirty joke that has apparently stood the test of time by being retold and reimagined over and over and over. While you can know many versions of the joke and still be surprised by the next version, I think the movie works best when you don't have any preconceived notions of what the joke is about. So don't look it up online and ruin it; just go see this movie.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Mom came to town for the weekend and she wanted to eat dinner at one of "my" Japanese restaurants around town. Since she's staying downtown I thought a good choice would be Yakitori Taisho. Of course, Salena came down to join us. The food was very tasty but I was little disappointed Mom didn't try something new. The menu at that restaurant is chock full of things neither of them has ever eaten. Salena took a chance or two but Mom just ordered "spare ribs," like you see in Chinese restaurants. Fortunately, she did have a little sake instead of her usual white wine.
After dinner a trip to the movies was proposed. Salena and I had been discussing the new documentary The Aristocrats over the weekend. We both wanted to see it and we gambled that Mom would too. We were right! All it took was the regrettable investment of buying one copy of the New York Post (yuck). The movie was actually playing at the nearby Union Square cinemas, one of the theaters I went to for an interview this summer. Not getting hired still pisses me off but I don't want to deviate from the story at hand.
Anyway, the movie is fucking hilarious. Do yourself a favor and don't do too much research into the film. I'll give you the basic premise: it's a documentary featuring comedians discussing and telling a dirty joke that has apparently stood the test of time by being retold and reimagined over and over and over. While you can know many versions of the joke and still be surprised by the next version, I think the movie works best when you don't have any preconceived notions of what the joke is about. So don't look it up online and ruin it; just go see this movie.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Does He Hate Facts?
From the New York Times: Bush Remarks Roil Debate Over Teaching of Evolution
I suppose it's no surprise that in a debate over science versus religion, Bush picked religion. But I can't help but feel insulted by his position that this is merely a move "to expose people to different schools of thought." It's a calculated move to give a baseless concept equal weight with a scientific theory that has been the foundation of biology for over a hundred years now. Not to mention the fact that there are literally hundreds of different cultural views on the creation of our world, so why stop at teaching just one version? Let's teach 'em all! I'd wager we'd all be a lot more accepting of other religions if every school child knew about Izanagi, Vishnu and Ahura Mazda.
And if I hear that "just a theory" crap again, I'm going to vomit. Scientific theories are not mere conjecture or speculation, they are meticulously researched and continuously challenged by other scientists. Darwin didn't just pull that shit out of his hat.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
I suppose it's no surprise that in a debate over science versus religion, Bush picked religion. But I can't help but feel insulted by his position that this is merely a move "to expose people to different schools of thought." It's a calculated move to give a baseless concept equal weight with a scientific theory that has been the foundation of biology for over a hundred years now. Not to mention the fact that there are literally hundreds of different cultural views on the creation of our world, so why stop at teaching just one version? Let's teach 'em all! I'd wager we'd all be a lot more accepting of other religions if every school child knew about Izanagi, Vishnu and Ahura Mazda.
And if I hear that "just a theory" crap again, I'm going to vomit. Scientific theories are not mere conjecture or speculation, they are meticulously researched and continuously challenged by other scientists. Darwin didn't just pull that shit out of his hat.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
How Do I Spell Relief?
C-R-A-I-G-S-L-I-S-T, that's how! I wasn't in a great mood this evening. I spent a good deal of time trying to deal with my feelings for Hyde and her immediate departure for a vacation. I won't lie to you: I shed a tear or two while considering my actions and writing comments on my blog as well as hers. Obviously, I needed a distraction and I needed one right away. I figured the best idea was to see the popular comedic film Wedding Crashers but the last thing I wanted was to see a funny movie by myself. So I turned to CL and asked if anyone wanted to go with me (link will expire very soon).
I got in touch with a young woman named Alice who wanted to see the film tonight. A quick volley of e-mails established a location and time to meet and we were off. I walked down 2nd Ave to the theater, finding myself very sweaty in the latest wave of humidity. I arrived and started wiping myself off with a napkin when I realized Alice was already there. She suggested we go Dutch and I had no problem with that. The only problem of significance was the curious lack of air conditioning in the surprisingly crowded auditorium. It's August, goddammit, cool us off already!
The movie, I'm happy to report, is pretty funny. Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are funny and spontaneous so much of the dialogue between them has a free-spirited, ad-lib feel to it. Of course, anything Walken says or does these days comes across as hilarious. There are problems, however. There's an abundance of romantic comedy clichés including my pet peeve, the "unlovable boyfriend." Whenever a "hero" character falls for a woman who's already dating/engaged/married/whatever in these movies, that other guy is always the biggest jerk in the entire world who couldn't possibly have landed such a sweet, beautiful woman in the first place. He also brags about his affairs with other women and routinely (and openly) expresses radically conservative, borderline misogynistic behavior in front of her. This allows the hero to "steal" the woman without appearing like a cad. If you can ignore these cheesy moments, the movie should keep you chuckling enough to make it worth your while.
After the film we left thesauna auditorium, went for a stroll and hit up a bar for a drink or two. Unfortunately, we ended up walking about ten blocks and poor Alice was wearing heels. I should make a greater effort to familiarize myself with more bars around town so I don't have to go wandering around looking for a refreshing beverage. We ended up at some Irish-type place on 42nd & 2nd where the bartender nearly ignored me until I waved him down. Then he managed to give me two different drinks instead of refilling the first. Custom sadly dictated that I give him a dollar tip per order.
Besides my gripe with the service, I did get an opportunity to chat with Alice. Meeting people at the movies is odd because you can't really go through "getting to know you" stuff while the movie is playing, you just stare at the screen and postpone the conversation until later. She told me about juggling two very different jobs, one of which she pretty much started and runs herself. I was very impressed by her double career and, if I may be frank, her appearance. She was a lot more attractive than the other dates I've been on lately, almost an "out-of-my-league" feeling. I'm not going to say I was intimidated by it but I wasn't as responsive in the conversation as I could have been. Maybe it was her work ethic contrasting with my care-free student lifestyle? Did I have career envy? What a creepy thought.
In any case, we parted ways without either of us drinking too much. It was a lot of fun to hang out with her and see a movie. I'm glad I took another spin on the CL wheel of odd fortune and made another connection with a fellow New Yorker. Our evening finished, I walked home and, well, started typing.
The next few days should be a little more active for me with my mother coming to town. Less time for me to ponder the intangibles I suppose, and that's a good thing. If anyone can help me enjoy summer in New York and feel better about everything, it's Mom.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
I got in touch with a young woman named Alice who wanted to see the film tonight. A quick volley of e-mails established a location and time to meet and we were off. I walked down 2nd Ave to the theater, finding myself very sweaty in the latest wave of humidity. I arrived and started wiping myself off with a napkin when I realized Alice was already there. She suggested we go Dutch and I had no problem with that. The only problem of significance was the curious lack of air conditioning in the surprisingly crowded auditorium. It's August, goddammit, cool us off already!
The movie, I'm happy to report, is pretty funny. Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are funny and spontaneous so much of the dialogue between them has a free-spirited, ad-lib feel to it. Of course, anything Walken says or does these days comes across as hilarious. There are problems, however. There's an abundance of romantic comedy clichés including my pet peeve, the "unlovable boyfriend." Whenever a "hero" character falls for a woman who's already dating/engaged/married/whatever in these movies, that other guy is always the biggest jerk in the entire world who couldn't possibly have landed such a sweet, beautiful woman in the first place. He also brags about his affairs with other women and routinely (and openly) expresses radically conservative, borderline misogynistic behavior in front of her. This allows the hero to "steal" the woman without appearing like a cad. If you can ignore these cheesy moments, the movie should keep you chuckling enough to make it worth your while.
After the film we left the
Besides my gripe with the service, I did get an opportunity to chat with Alice. Meeting people at the movies is odd because you can't really go through "getting to know you" stuff while the movie is playing, you just stare at the screen and postpone the conversation until later. She told me about juggling two very different jobs, one of which she pretty much started and runs herself. I was very impressed by her double career and, if I may be frank, her appearance. She was a lot more attractive than the other dates I've been on lately, almost an "out-of-my-league" feeling. I'm not going to say I was intimidated by it but I wasn't as responsive in the conversation as I could have been. Maybe it was her work ethic contrasting with my care-free student lifestyle? Did I have career envy? What a creepy thought.
In any case, we parted ways without either of us drinking too much. It was a lot of fun to hang out with her and see a movie. I'm glad I took another spin on the CL wheel of odd fortune and made another connection with a fellow New Yorker. Our evening finished, I walked home and, well, started typing.
The next few days should be a little more active for me with my mother coming to town. Less time for me to ponder the intangibles I suppose, and that's a good thing. If anyone can help me enjoy summer in New York and feel better about everything, it's Mom.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Torn
Yesterday I resumed my workout without incident. If anything, I seemed to work out harder than I did last week: the elliptical trainer estimated that I burned more calories than usual.
Last night I met Hyde for a few drinks. She's going on a week-long trip soon and I've only got three weeks left so I'm eager to see her as often as possible. We ended up spending quite a few hours together in the bar, talking, drinking and occasionally smoking. It's funny how much we have in common emotionally even though we seem so very different on the surface. I'm not sure how much to elaborate on this because (believe it or not) Hyde is actually very private and I don't know how much of our conversation she'd want me to share. I leave it her to disclose want she wants on her blog.
At one point she told me about this guy she had seen who she felt was "boring." Curious, I asked her if she thought I was boring. She didn't think so but she admitted that she felt like she didn't really know me. I told her that was perfectly natural because we only actually met a few weeks ago. As interesting as it may be, reading a blog is not the same as knowing someone. We all self-edit, especially when we type.
Eventually the conversation did turn to my affection for her. She told me I "shouldn't" be in love with her because she's in love with this Narc fellow. I told her that didn't matter because she's been in love with him since the first day we met. Of course I wish she cared about me as much as she cared about him, but just because that isn't going to happen doesn't mean I can hide or ignore how I feel about her.
We had talked about stopping around 2 AM but ended up running closer to 3. Suddenly, Narc called (he has a habit of calling her late at night) and Hyde wanted to go see him. I started walking her home but then she opted to just get in a cab and go straight to his place. She told me she was "bad" but I disagreed. I gave her a hug goodbye and a kiss on the cheek; she did the same.
My mom's coming to town for a few days starting tomorrow. This will be my last chance to see her before my trip. Luckily her visit coincides with Hyde's excursion; I'd hate to have to decide who I want to see more of.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Last night I met Hyde for a few drinks. She's going on a week-long trip soon and I've only got three weeks left so I'm eager to see her as often as possible. We ended up spending quite a few hours together in the bar, talking, drinking and occasionally smoking. It's funny how much we have in common emotionally even though we seem so very different on the surface. I'm not sure how much to elaborate on this because (believe it or not) Hyde is actually very private and I don't know how much of our conversation she'd want me to share. I leave it her to disclose want she wants on her blog.
At one point she told me about this guy she had seen who she felt was "boring." Curious, I asked her if she thought I was boring. She didn't think so but she admitted that she felt like she didn't really know me. I told her that was perfectly natural because we only actually met a few weeks ago. As interesting as it may be, reading a blog is not the same as knowing someone. We all self-edit, especially when we type.
Eventually the conversation did turn to my affection for her. She told me I "shouldn't" be in love with her because she's in love with this Narc fellow. I told her that didn't matter because she's been in love with him since the first day we met. Of course I wish she cared about me as much as she cared about him, but just because that isn't going to happen doesn't mean I can hide or ignore how I feel about her.
We had talked about stopping around 2 AM but ended up running closer to 3. Suddenly, Narc called (he has a habit of calling her late at night) and Hyde wanted to go see him. I started walking her home but then she opted to just get in a cab and go straight to his place. She told me she was "bad" but I disagreed. I gave her a hug goodbye and a kiss on the cheek; she did the same.
My mom's coming to town for a few days starting tomorrow. This will be my last chance to see her before my trip. Luckily her visit coincides with Hyde's excursion; I'd hate to have to decide who I want to see more of.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Monday, August 01, 2005
Moral Outrage
If you're a baseball fan, I'm sure you've heard by now that future Hall of Famer Rafael Palmiero was suspended after he tested positive for steroids. Naturally, the commentators have been talking about it non-stop, speculating how it might affect his reputation, his career, even his chances at getting into the Hall of Fame.
I'd like to go on record here and say SHUT THE FUCK UP about steroids already! I don't care if Palmiero took steroids, they didn't magically grant him his athletic ability. He still has to practice everyday to maintain himself. There is nothing inherently wrong with steroids. It's a risk to take them. If athletes wants to risk their health (and ultimately, their lives) to outperform their competitors, that's their decision.
Illegal drugs are entirely a result of government imposing morality on our society. Steroids, marijuana, alcohol, caffeine, whatever; none of these are so dangerous that we need to be prevented from possessing them. All drugs can be used safely just as all drugs can be abused. Illegal/legal are purely arbitrary, man-made distinctions.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
I'd like to go on record here and say SHUT THE FUCK UP about steroids already! I don't care if Palmiero took steroids, they didn't magically grant him his athletic ability. He still has to practice everyday to maintain himself. There is nothing inherently wrong with steroids. It's a risk to take them. If athletes wants to risk their health (and ultimately, their lives) to outperform their competitors, that's their decision.
Illegal drugs are entirely a result of government imposing morality on our society. Steroids, marijuana, alcohol, caffeine, whatever; none of these are so dangerous that we need to be prevented from possessing them. All drugs can be used safely just as all drugs can be abused. Illegal/legal are purely arbitrary, man-made distinctions.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
I Can't Believe It
Crazy Fact #1: I'm leaving for Japan in three weeks. I'm more than a little disappointed that I didn't accomplish much this summer but I had a lot of fun living in New York City for the first time ever. I'm still not sure if I'm excited or terrified about my upcoming adventure.
Crazy Fact #2: I gained five pounds this weekend! Only two days of deviation and my body pulls a 180. What's going to happen to me once I get to Japan? I won't be able to workout everyday or abstain from eating rice and noodles. I guess it's my destiny to be overweight. Fuck.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Crazy Fact #2: I gained five pounds this weekend! Only two days of deviation and my body pulls a 180. What's going to happen to me once I get to Japan? I won't be able to workout everyday or abstain from eating rice and noodles. I guess it's my destiny to be overweight. Fuck.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
Sunday, July 31, 2005
The Wedding Party (and Afterparty)
WOW...that was some trip! Unlike any I've had before and maybe ever again.
I arrived in Westchester on Friday night and met my sister, seeing her home for the first time. Along with her boyfriend, Brendan, the three of us had dinner at some local Japanese restaurant which was nice although the food took a very long time to receive. The meal was enjoyable despite the unusual circumstances. We ended up spending the night at Brendan's parents house because it was much closer to Dylan's house, making the next day a little easier.
Saturday morning we were up early to meet Dylan and get going. Mike had spent the night at Dylan's place. The four of us got together around 10AM, grabbed some breakfast sandwiches and were on the road by 11. The drive was very straightforward; we spent most of the trip just hauling ass across I-84. It only took about two hours to get to the Publick House, which doubled as our motel as well as the reception hall. Very convenient!
The ceremony wasn't until 3 so we had enough time to change clothes and go shopping for a few things the other boys forgot. Dylan needed a belt to match his suit and none of us had a camera so I bought a pair of disposables. We made it to the church about fifteen minutes in advance, arriving before most of our other friends. We all met Dan outside, congratulating him in person before taking our seats.
I haven't been to very many weddings before and this was only my second wedding in an actual church. The whole thing was fascinating and awkward at the same time. First of all, the bride's side was much larger than the groom's side and during the ceremony the bride's side knew all the right things to say while us heathens on the groom's side seldom knew what was going on. The priest (preacher maybe?) was an older, heavy set man who seemed to stumble in certain moments when you'd assume he's done this a million times before. Every time he said the names of the bride and groom he would pause as if he was struggling to remember who they were. However, it was very sweet when Erica got a little sniffly when she and Dan recited their vows.
Outside everyone shook everyone's hands. Lots of photos were taken of various pairings. My favorite (I hope) will be the photo of the seven of us: Dan, Ben, Dave, Dylan, Mike, Jason and myself. Only a few years ago it would have been common to get "the seven" together for a party or just to hang out. These days, it's a very rare occurrence as nearly all of us have left Croton, with two of us living in different states now. Dan's wedding is the first for our group of friends but certainly not the last; Jason has been thinking about setting a date for next Fall.
Heading back to the hotel before the reception, we made a pit stop to pick up a variety of booze for our own afterparty in my room. Having no fridge, we bought lots of ice and packed my sink with drinks and ice before walking over to the main building of the Publick House.
In the dining room there was a nice little plaque on the table honoring Dan and Erica with a little family tree outlining their roots. It was obviously simplified as there were no brothers or sisters but I thought it was a cool feature to have. Another fun idea was a disposable camera at each table. The idea was to fill them up with pictures but not to take them away; Dan and Erica would have them developed and added to the wedding album or something. On my suggestion, we did our best to make every photo include Dave. Our "crew" from Croton was seated together at Table 9, coincidentally very close to the open bar. Speaking of the bar, it was only "open" for the first hour so we all made it our business to get lots of drinks, usually two at a time. I think I had at least three Vodka Cranberries in that hour, plus the champagne for the toast plus a glass of white wine with dinner.
A crazy idea was born during dinner. I believe I started the ball rolling when I (half-jokingly) suggested I should sing "New York, New York" with the band. Everyone at the table latched on except Salena who I can only assume thought I was drunk and acting irresponsibly. My friends went and checked with Dan & Erica who apparently thought it was a great idea. So did the band. Very nervous, I told them I didn't want to rush into anything and insisted that if it happened, it wouldn't be until after everyone had finished eating. Still not convinced I would actually do it, I took small steps to prepare myself: I ordered another Vodka Cranberry and began rehearsing the song by myself at the table. Sensing my nerves, Mike wanted to help me so we took a walk outside and went over the song a few times together. Outside, we were spotted by a member of the band taking a break who encouraged us. Inside, I later learned that Ben and Jason actually negotiated a time slot for us to sing around 9 PM.
Around 8:40 the official photographer asked us if we would consider singing a little earlier because he was going to leave soon but he wanted to capture our performance. I agreed and quickly found myself facing the entire dining room with a mike in my hands. For those of you who enjoy karaoke now and then, I must tell you that singing into a microphone with a band behind you is completely different. I assumed it wouldn't be but it really was. I couldn't really hear my voice very well and the first two or three lines were way off pitch as a result. I gradually got more confident, sang with more power and the crowd responded. Several people (most of them from Table 9) got up and started a kick line on the dance floor. I never got over my nerves but by the end of the song my adrenaline was soaring as well as my voice.
Following my vanity performance, I was thanked by many people including the bride and groom, which made the whole thing worth it. Drunk with success (and alcohol!) I sent a celebratory text message to Hyde. She has yet to respond but I know she went out of town for the weekend so there's no reason to assume she's even received it yet. We've been talking about singing together so I really wished she could have been there. Call me a sap but I miss her when she's not around.
The reception ended within an hour of my performance; I hope I didn't kill the party! We all said our goodbyes to the happy couple, especially me because I probably won't see them before I leave the country in a few weeks. I'm gone for nine months so Dan might have a kid by the time I get back! That would be a crazy idea to get my head around; my friends, having children of their own.
The afterparty was surprisingly chill. I was nervous because my room had been chosen to host the party and I hate trying to be responsible while trying to enjoy myself. After a while I settled down a little because I came to realize that hotels were used to cleaning up after parties. So long as we didn't break anything, our party would not inconvenience anybody else. I relaxed by drinking a 40 oz. bottle of High Life. We spent a lot of time playing poker with Jason's impressive poker set with real clay chips. He has a cool briefcase to hold it in and everything! I was actually winning for once but there was no money at stake and eventually everybody gave up. I fell asleep sometime around 1 AM which is earlier than usual but it had been a very long day at that point.
Today was, obviously, very relaxed. There was some excitement early when no one could find Dylan or Kate but they showed up before check out time so no harm was done. We had a big breakfast at someplace called "Annie's Country Kitchen" which was cheap and tasty; still on "vacation" from my responsibilities, I had the steak and eggs. I went home with Dave, Ben and Mike and we had some hilarious conversations on the ride; I really can't repeat much of it here because our "guy talk" would almost surely offend everyone (especially my sister).
Dad's out of town tonight. I thought about exercising but I don't feel up to it. I'll have to get back on track tomorrow with both working out and dieting because last week had a lot of deviations. Especially the wedding, where I ate and drank to great excess without regret; it's a celebration, bitches! Be merry! Hopefully the next three weeks will be enough time to lose more weight. I want to hit Japan with my feet moving, so to speak.
8/4 EDIT: Photos from the wedding are now available here.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
I arrived in Westchester on Friday night and met my sister, seeing her home for the first time. Along with her boyfriend, Brendan, the three of us had dinner at some local Japanese restaurant which was nice although the food took a very long time to receive. The meal was enjoyable despite the unusual circumstances. We ended up spending the night at Brendan's parents house because it was much closer to Dylan's house, making the next day a little easier.
Saturday morning we were up early to meet Dylan and get going. Mike had spent the night at Dylan's place. The four of us got together around 10AM, grabbed some breakfast sandwiches and were on the road by 11. The drive was very straightforward; we spent most of the trip just hauling ass across I-84. It only took about two hours to get to the Publick House, which doubled as our motel as well as the reception hall. Very convenient!
The ceremony wasn't until 3 so we had enough time to change clothes and go shopping for a few things the other boys forgot. Dylan needed a belt to match his suit and none of us had a camera so I bought a pair of disposables. We made it to the church about fifteen minutes in advance, arriving before most of our other friends. We all met Dan outside, congratulating him in person before taking our seats.
I haven't been to very many weddings before and this was only my second wedding in an actual church. The whole thing was fascinating and awkward at the same time. First of all, the bride's side was much larger than the groom's side and during the ceremony the bride's side knew all the right things to say while us heathens on the groom's side seldom knew what was going on. The priest (preacher maybe?) was an older, heavy set man who seemed to stumble in certain moments when you'd assume he's done this a million times before. Every time he said the names of the bride and groom he would pause as if he was struggling to remember who they were. However, it was very sweet when Erica got a little sniffly when she and Dan recited their vows.
Outside everyone shook everyone's hands. Lots of photos were taken of various pairings. My favorite (I hope) will be the photo of the seven of us: Dan, Ben, Dave, Dylan, Mike, Jason and myself. Only a few years ago it would have been common to get "the seven" together for a party or just to hang out. These days, it's a very rare occurrence as nearly all of us have left Croton, with two of us living in different states now. Dan's wedding is the first for our group of friends but certainly not the last; Jason has been thinking about setting a date for next Fall.
Heading back to the hotel before the reception, we made a pit stop to pick up a variety of booze for our own afterparty in my room. Having no fridge, we bought lots of ice and packed my sink with drinks and ice before walking over to the main building of the Publick House.
In the dining room there was a nice little plaque on the table honoring Dan and Erica with a little family tree outlining their roots. It was obviously simplified as there were no brothers or sisters but I thought it was a cool feature to have. Another fun idea was a disposable camera at each table. The idea was to fill them up with pictures but not to take them away; Dan and Erica would have them developed and added to the wedding album or something. On my suggestion, we did our best to make every photo include Dave. Our "crew" from Croton was seated together at Table 9, coincidentally very close to the open bar. Speaking of the bar, it was only "open" for the first hour so we all made it our business to get lots of drinks, usually two at a time. I think I had at least three Vodka Cranberries in that hour, plus the champagne for the toast plus a glass of white wine with dinner.
A crazy idea was born during dinner. I believe I started the ball rolling when I (half-jokingly) suggested I should sing "New York, New York" with the band. Everyone at the table latched on except Salena who I can only assume thought I was drunk and acting irresponsibly. My friends went and checked with Dan & Erica who apparently thought it was a great idea. So did the band. Very nervous, I told them I didn't want to rush into anything and insisted that if it happened, it wouldn't be until after everyone had finished eating. Still not convinced I would actually do it, I took small steps to prepare myself: I ordered another Vodka Cranberry and began rehearsing the song by myself at the table. Sensing my nerves, Mike wanted to help me so we took a walk outside and went over the song a few times together. Outside, we were spotted by a member of the band taking a break who encouraged us. Inside, I later learned that Ben and Jason actually negotiated a time slot for us to sing around 9 PM.
Around 8:40 the official photographer asked us if we would consider singing a little earlier because he was going to leave soon but he wanted to capture our performance. I agreed and quickly found myself facing the entire dining room with a mike in my hands. For those of you who enjoy karaoke now and then, I must tell you that singing into a microphone with a band behind you is completely different. I assumed it wouldn't be but it really was. I couldn't really hear my voice very well and the first two or three lines were way off pitch as a result. I gradually got more confident, sang with more power and the crowd responded. Several people (most of them from Table 9) got up and started a kick line on the dance floor. I never got over my nerves but by the end of the song my adrenaline was soaring as well as my voice.
Following my vanity performance, I was thanked by many people including the bride and groom, which made the whole thing worth it. Drunk with success (and alcohol!) I sent a celebratory text message to Hyde. She has yet to respond but I know she went out of town for the weekend so there's no reason to assume she's even received it yet. We've been talking about singing together so I really wished she could have been there. Call me a sap but I miss her when she's not around.
The reception ended within an hour of my performance; I hope I didn't kill the party! We all said our goodbyes to the happy couple, especially me because I probably won't see them before I leave the country in a few weeks. I'm gone for nine months so Dan might have a kid by the time I get back! That would be a crazy idea to get my head around; my friends, having children of their own.
The afterparty was surprisingly chill. I was nervous because my room had been chosen to host the party and I hate trying to be responsible while trying to enjoy myself. After a while I settled down a little because I came to realize that hotels were used to cleaning up after parties. So long as we didn't break anything, our party would not inconvenience anybody else. I relaxed by drinking a 40 oz. bottle of High Life. We spent a lot of time playing poker with Jason's impressive poker set with real clay chips. He has a cool briefcase to hold it in and everything! I was actually winning for once but there was no money at stake and eventually everybody gave up. I fell asleep sometime around 1 AM which is earlier than usual but it had been a very long day at that point.
Today was, obviously, very relaxed. There was some excitement early when no one could find Dylan or Kate but they showed up before check out time so no harm was done. We had a big breakfast at someplace called "Annie's Country Kitchen" which was cheap and tasty; still on "vacation" from my responsibilities, I had the steak and eggs. I went home with Dave, Ben and Mike and we had some hilarious conversations on the ride; I really can't repeat much of it here because our "guy talk" would almost surely offend everyone (especially my sister).
Dad's out of town tonight. I thought about exercising but I don't feel up to it. I'll have to get back on track tomorrow with both working out and dieting because last week had a lot of deviations. Especially the wedding, where I ate and drank to great excess without regret; it's a celebration, bitches! Be merry! Hopefully the next three weeks will be enough time to lose more weight. I want to hit Japan with my feet moving, so to speak.
8/4 EDIT: Photos from the wedding are now available here.
つづく... (Click here to read more)
unpaid advertising...I'm no sell out!
