A thorough contemplation on the last seven days (i.e., long-ass post)
Yeah, so Im a bit delayed as to the whole updating thing. I only had Internet access for about an hour between D.C. and NYC (courtesy of the great Mister Greg). But I woke up at 1 p.m. today and yesterday was eerily similar. So suck it up.
Washington D.C.
D.C. was...interesting. I have concluded that I am working with a bunch of drunks. Dry office, anyone? You already know I didnt sleep before getting on the plane, but I did make it (one of us almost didnt, but thats a different story altogether). I sat in row 5. Fuck first class. All I need is leg room. I stretched my legs like I was king of flight CO258. But I left my headphones in my suitcase which was 10 rows behind me with the handle facing the inside, so I just...actually, I cant remember what I did most the flight.
ANYWAY, when we got there, all checked baggage minus two were there. Actually, as it turned out, some lady took Cindy's bag by mistake, and Allens came in on the later flight like half an hour later. Cindy's bag lady didnt give it back to her until the night before we left, I think.
I was knocked out when we got to the hotel. I might have had one Shiner when I got to the room and after some staffers hoarded the local liquor shop. But regardless, a lack of sleep didnt help the situation and I went straight to sleep while the rest of the group headed for Dupont Circle, where Kramerbooks and Afterwords reside. I love that place. But alas, I was in bed. I later found out that I was smothered by a pillow, my pants zipper was pulled down and ice was put in my pockets. Little bastards. All I remember was hugging a pillow and a cold feeling in my pants. I should fire one of them as a message...
Next day I was at a crappy workshop from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. I also confronted a problematic staff member. Whether thats resolved or not, Im not sure, but hell if Im going to have unnecessary drama for another school year. If it's not resolved, I'm sure you'll read about it later this year. Cauldrondramarama, I tell you...
Next next day, everyone except me got drunk and they insisted on night pictures at the monuments. So we traveled (read: walked) to the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and World War II Memorial. Between making sure people didnt cross the street prematurely and being assaulted as people forced themselves on my back for piggy back rides, I took a few pictures.
New York
Stayed at Cindys granddads place in Brooklyn. Awkward, but fine. I was rarely there anyway. Lots of Jews in the neighborhood. That sounds racist, but its not. It was a very Jewish neighborhood. How the hell would you know? youre probably asking. Well, Hasidic Jews dont exactly hide their payots.
But before we got home, Cindys cousin picked us up, and as we drove by SoHo on Broadway, I saw DREW BARRYMORE and FABRIZIO MORIETTI. No one believes me because I was the only one to see them (Obviously not the picture or else no one would have doubted me). And I probably wouldnt be so happy if it was anyone else, but it was the Strokes drummer (arguable one of the only good drummers to have come out of the NYC post-post punk/lo fi movement) and E.T.s friend.
Also got me excited: I LEARNED THE GODDAMNED SUBWAY SYSTEM! I assimilated myself well enough to be asked directions more than twice.
First day on the island, we ventured into SoHo and Chinatown, which was fine, but I could only do so much there. So I ditched the girls and headed uptown to Columbus Circle where I got some sushi and water and marched over to Sheep Meadow in Central Park where I proceeded to do an impromptu picnic with my humble CD player (in the Land of Abundant iPods, mind you).
I met up with the girls at an H&M on 7th Ave and 34th St. Mind you, I was at like 5th Ave and 59th St. I actually passed by two H&Ms on the way to the one they were at, and one of them was on block NEXT to theirs. New Yorkers and their fashionable stores...
I think afterwards Alicia and I headed to Gregs brothers swanky apartment in SoHo where I met up with Mister Wasserstrom (whos interning at V2 Records). We chilled for a second and then he handed me like 10 CDs from work, among them Brendan Benson, White Stripes and Blood Brothers. I uploaded them on my computer yesterday, bringing the grand total to 138 new songs. Hes a king, I tell you. And not because he gives me free stuff.
We go to a noodle house on St. Marks, which was a kick ass little place. I had Kirin for the first time, and not the last probably. Noodles were excellent and they gave us little cups of pink sugar afterwards to make our own dessert with their cotton candy machine. Love it, I tell you.
Next day, I think, we headed back to Chinatown, but Alicia and I left early to go hang out in Central Park again. We relaxed there for a while before we went to ANOTHER H&M, the big one on 5th. The three story one. Afterwards, we get pizza at Times Square, when Greg invites us to the East Village to a bar called HiFi. Awesome. Truly awesome place. Adding to the awesomeness, band members from the Hold Steady bartend there. After getting my ass handed to be at pool by Greg's really cool friend Christine, we left and met up with Stefanie (who moved up there last year and works at Devious Planet, who does PR for Lene Lovich!) and her friend at Odessa's. I had a craving for Belgian waffles since D.C. so Is gots me some Belgian waffles. With strawberries, bitches (I also learned that Yankees eat their waffles with ice cream...next time).
Next next day, Alicia and I trek to Columbia University. Yeah, thats the one. She chatted with one of the admissions people for the creative writing program. I then proceeded to the Journalism Schools building where I was pretty much ignored but handed a bulletin that told me I would probably spend $60K for a JOURNALISM Masters degree. Hell no. HELL no. UT, here I come...
We then walk from 86th and something uptown to 86th and Lexington. I was in sandals. I got the scar to prove it. ANYWAY. I ditched Alicia unwillingly after she told me she didnt know where the bakery she was looking for was exactly, but she understood and we went our separate ways.
Being the genius I was, I walked from 86th and Lexington back to Times Square. In sandals. Trust me. Not the brightest idea. I ate pizza at the same place, then Greg texts me that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is playing a show at the South Street Seaport. Not close to Times Square. At all. So I get on the subway only to get off at the closest stop (East Broadway F; yeah look it up. Youll want to chop your own feet off) where I proceed to walk ALL along South Street to get to the place as the band is playing their LAST song. Disappointed, I soon ::TAXI:: to Union Square per Gregs suggestion, where I hang out for an hour or two. I visit the FIVE STORY Barnes and Noble and then Greg invites me over to his place since he has to recover from killer cat allergies.
Well, I take the N train to Grand St., but I was supposed to get off at Prince. So I consider backtracking until I realize that there is no stop at Prince after 11 p.m. (it was barely 11:15). I wait to go back to Union, but I wait for almost 30 minutes before I give up waiting for the train and hail for a taxi. I soon see six fire trucks at a stop. A fire, I guess. I dont know. Fuck it, I was tired, so I head to Greg's place. Its midnight when I get there, and Greg's still stuffed up. But were both hungry so we get food off of Delivery.com (I'd link it but its NYC only. But it's not like you don't have the damned address now. But it was GENIUS. Seriously. It must have been like 1 a.m. when we ordered and shit was still open). Come 3 a.m., and I dont really feel like getting on the subway to Brooklyn. So Greg, being the generous atheist soul that he is, let me crash at his place.
Come 10 a.m. and its the day I leave. I stay in Brooklyn the whole time. Which was fine, because I couldnt possibly go back to Manhattan and enjoy it seeing as how I just got back from it. So Alicia and I pack and we head out by 4 p.m. Got home at 11 p.m.
Then I see that gas went up almost 20 CENTS since I left. FUCK. I'd take public transportation if only it didnt suck...
So I had a fucking blast. Stefanie and Greg are awesome. As are Alicia and Cindy. And Christine and Cindy's family. And almost everyone else on staff.
Now take me the fuck back up there, bitches...
Washington D.C.
D.C. was...interesting. I have concluded that I am working with a bunch of drunks. Dry office, anyone? You already know I didnt sleep before getting on the plane, but I did make it (one of us almost didnt, but thats a different story altogether). I sat in row 5. Fuck first class. All I need is leg room. I stretched my legs like I was king of flight CO258. But I left my headphones in my suitcase which was 10 rows behind me with the handle facing the inside, so I just...actually, I cant remember what I did most the flight.
ANYWAY, when we got there, all checked baggage minus two were there. Actually, as it turned out, some lady took Cindy's bag by mistake, and Allens came in on the later flight like half an hour later. Cindy's bag lady didnt give it back to her until the night before we left, I think.
I was knocked out when we got to the hotel. I might have had one Shiner when I got to the room and after some staffers hoarded the local liquor shop. But regardless, a lack of sleep didnt help the situation and I went straight to sleep while the rest of the group headed for Dupont Circle, where Kramerbooks and Afterwords reside. I love that place. But alas, I was in bed. I later found out that I was smothered by a pillow, my pants zipper was pulled down and ice was put in my pockets. Little bastards. All I remember was hugging a pillow and a cold feeling in my pants. I should fire one of them as a message...
Next day I was at a crappy workshop from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. I also confronted a problematic staff member. Whether thats resolved or not, Im not sure, but hell if Im going to have unnecessary drama for another school year. If it's not resolved, I'm sure you'll read about it later this year. Cauldrondramarama, I tell you...
Next next day, everyone except me got drunk and they insisted on night pictures at the monuments. So we traveled (read: walked) to the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and World War II Memorial. Between making sure people didnt cross the street prematurely and being assaulted as people forced themselves on my back for piggy back rides, I took a few pictures.
New York
Stayed at Cindys granddads place in Brooklyn. Awkward, but fine. I was rarely there anyway. Lots of Jews in the neighborhood. That sounds racist, but its not. It was a very Jewish neighborhood. How the hell would you know? youre probably asking. Well, Hasidic Jews dont exactly hide their payots.
But before we got home, Cindys cousin picked us up, and as we drove by SoHo on Broadway, I saw DREW BARRYMORE and FABRIZIO MORIETTI. No one believes me because I was the only one to see them (Obviously not the picture or else no one would have doubted me). And I probably wouldnt be so happy if it was anyone else, but it was the Strokes drummer (arguable one of the only good drummers to have come out of the NYC post-post punk/lo fi movement) and E.T.s friend.
Also got me excited: I LEARNED THE GODDAMNED SUBWAY SYSTEM! I assimilated myself well enough to be asked directions more than twice.
First day on the island, we ventured into SoHo and Chinatown, which was fine, but I could only do so much there. So I ditched the girls and headed uptown to Columbus Circle where I got some sushi and water and marched over to Sheep Meadow in Central Park where I proceeded to do an impromptu picnic with my humble CD player (in the Land of Abundant iPods, mind you).
I met up with the girls at an H&M on 7th Ave and 34th St. Mind you, I was at like 5th Ave and 59th St. I actually passed by two H&Ms on the way to the one they were at, and one of them was on block NEXT to theirs. New Yorkers and their fashionable stores...
I think afterwards Alicia and I headed to Gregs brothers swanky apartment in SoHo where I met up with Mister Wasserstrom (whos interning at V2 Records). We chilled for a second and then he handed me like 10 CDs from work, among them Brendan Benson, White Stripes and Blood Brothers. I uploaded them on my computer yesterday, bringing the grand total to 138 new songs. Hes a king, I tell you. And not because he gives me free stuff.
We go to a noodle house on St. Marks, which was a kick ass little place. I had Kirin for the first time, and not the last probably. Noodles were excellent and they gave us little cups of pink sugar afterwards to make our own dessert with their cotton candy machine. Love it, I tell you.
Next day, I think, we headed back to Chinatown, but Alicia and I left early to go hang out in Central Park again. We relaxed there for a while before we went to ANOTHER H&M, the big one on 5th. The three story one. Afterwards, we get pizza at Times Square, when Greg invites us to the East Village to a bar called HiFi. Awesome. Truly awesome place. Adding to the awesomeness, band members from the Hold Steady bartend there. After getting my ass handed to be at pool by Greg's really cool friend Christine, we left and met up with Stefanie (who moved up there last year and works at Devious Planet, who does PR for Lene Lovich!) and her friend at Odessa's. I had a craving for Belgian waffles since D.C. so Is gots me some Belgian waffles. With strawberries, bitches (I also learned that Yankees eat their waffles with ice cream...next time).
Next next day, Alicia and I trek to Columbia University. Yeah, thats the one. She chatted with one of the admissions people for the creative writing program. I then proceeded to the Journalism Schools building where I was pretty much ignored but handed a bulletin that told me I would probably spend $60K for a JOURNALISM Masters degree. Hell no. HELL no. UT, here I come...
We then walk from 86th and something uptown to 86th and Lexington. I was in sandals. I got the scar to prove it. ANYWAY. I ditched Alicia unwillingly after she told me she didnt know where the bakery she was looking for was exactly, but she understood and we went our separate ways.
Being the genius I was, I walked from 86th and Lexington back to Times Square. In sandals. Trust me. Not the brightest idea. I ate pizza at the same place, then Greg texts me that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is playing a show at the South Street Seaport. Not close to Times Square. At all. So I get on the subway only to get off at the closest stop (East Broadway F; yeah look it up. Youll want to chop your own feet off) where I proceed to walk ALL along South Street to get to the place as the band is playing their LAST song. Disappointed, I soon ::TAXI:: to Union Square per Gregs suggestion, where I hang out for an hour or two. I visit the FIVE STORY Barnes and Noble and then Greg invites me over to his place since he has to recover from killer cat allergies.
Well, I take the N train to Grand St., but I was supposed to get off at Prince. So I consider backtracking until I realize that there is no stop at Prince after 11 p.m. (it was barely 11:15). I wait to go back to Union, but I wait for almost 30 minutes before I give up waiting for the train and hail for a taxi. I soon see six fire trucks at a stop. A fire, I guess. I dont know. Fuck it, I was tired, so I head to Greg's place. Its midnight when I get there, and Greg's still stuffed up. But were both hungry so we get food off of Delivery.com (I'd link it but its NYC only. But it's not like you don't have the damned address now. But it was GENIUS. Seriously. It must have been like 1 a.m. when we ordered and shit was still open). Come 3 a.m., and I dont really feel like getting on the subway to Brooklyn. So Greg, being the generous atheist soul that he is, let me crash at his place.
Come 10 a.m. and its the day I leave. I stay in Brooklyn the whole time. Which was fine, because I couldnt possibly go back to Manhattan and enjoy it seeing as how I just got back from it. So Alicia and I pack and we head out by 4 p.m. Got home at 11 p.m.
Then I see that gas went up almost 20 CENTS since I left. FUCK. I'd take public transportation if only it didnt suck...
So I had a fucking blast. Stefanie and Greg are awesome. As are Alicia and Cindy. And Christine and Cindy's family. And almost everyone else on staff.
Now take me the fuck back up there, bitches...