Craziness

My 'hood is still reeling from the murder spree the other night. Thankfully I was seven floors above the fray...

My boy Jeremy who lives one block away, over on Sullivan Street, was unfortunate enough to look out his first floor apartment window and see the shooter firing ten feet outside his window. I can't imagine being that near to victimhood.

...Be About It

Some time ago I came across a bit of commentary regarding the difference between Europeans and Americans. The commentator said that when a European looks at a homeless person they think "...There but for the grace of God go I" whereas an American will think "...Tough luck, sucker".

While these statements are, of course, gross generalizations there was something about them that really affected me. Whenever I saw a homeless person or a person with a physical disability I began to concsciously think "...there but for the grace of God go I"

In doing this I hoped to curb the cold-hearted tendencies that I sometimes give in to. In a sense it had the desired effect as I seemed to soften my mental approach or acknowlegement of the seemingly increasing homeless presence in New York.

The other day I was at work. I looked out the window and I saw a man who was limping due to a severe deformity of his legs. As a matter of habit, I thought "...there but for the grace of God go I" but this time the true meaning of those words hit me like a bullet. God/The Universe/The Cosmos has truly blessed me. Although I struggle, as everyone does, my burdens are relatively light compared to a multitude of my fellow humans.

Why my struggles are different or less cumbersome than others is a mystery that will never be solved...As I have mentioned in a previous post, I need to perpetually remind myself that there is no shame in whatever burdens appear on any of our shoulders.

Still Legendary

Hard to believe it has been ten years since Notorious B.I.G. was murdered. Although I wasn't a B.I.G. fan at the time (Thanks to Ethan for turning me on to him years later), I have nothing but true respect for his talent now.

It is so crazy that he was only 25 at the time of his death.

Let Love Rule

In anticipation of his future tour of duty in Iraq, my nephew Cody married his girlfriend Stacy at the courthouse in Lincoln yesterday.

If I hadn't had such a mature conversation with Cody while shooting hoops last Christmas I might have condemned his decision. I mean a 23 year old is too young to get married right? But I guess my current attitude (especially regarding matters of the heart) is "Why not?"

My peeples Brian and Carol got hitched at about the same age and they have one of the sanest relationships I have ever seen...

End Of An Era

I will probably not attend the closing party of the Roxy tomorrow night. But I must admit that there is a part of me that is sentimental to see it's demise.

Steve Travolta spun there a few times a couple of years ago and tore it to shreds, but other than that the DJs they had were slaves to that overdone "tribal" sounds that only severe drug addicts really enjoy and does nothing to unite a dancefloor.

(In fact the last time I was at Roxy Saturdays, I almost got into a fight, a first at a gay club, but some young punk got upset that his boyfriend was grinding his butt into my crotchal region...don't hate me 'cuz you can't satisfy your man!)

I guess I am mostly melancholy because Roxy was one of the first big clubs in NYC I witnessed when I visited here 15 years ago...and it definitely made an impression on a smalltown boy.

Although Roxy has been a staple for the Chelsea Boy scene, it means one less superclub in the city. I think it also shows the declining importance of the gays in clubland and mainstream culture. At it's inception in 1991, Roxy Saturdays were a circus, a haven for go-for-broke partiers. Now that the gays have been commodified into Abercrombie+Fitch acceptability, a place like Roxy no longer has the same impact.

Corporate Art Can Still Be Cool

While over by Eyebeam yesterday, decided to stop into the Matthew Marks gallery to see this show by Darren Almond. This piece was in the front room.

It is a 12 foot high and 25 foot wide "digital" clock. The "L.E.D" effect was created by the metal flaps that would open and close every minute showing the new time. Very clean, modern and yet primitive at the same time...

Open City Opened Mind

Went over to EyeBeam for the Open City show. It was totally inspiring. So many different approaches to taking back "public space" and making it truly public.

Some of the creations on display (and in video documentation) really made me appreciate the level of creativity that can exist in our day and age. People are reappropriating technology for uses that were never intended.

If you have even the slightest interest in the possibilities of street art, you MUST check out this show.

Don't Hate Me 'Cuz I'm Beautiful

Two clients in a row complimented my on my latest haircut. Better not let this get out or Betty will start charging me more...

Just By Chance

Ran into my girl Heather at the CVS on Christopher St. Have not seen her in forever. She is rehearsing for this play. Can't wait to see it as she is a pretty brilliant performer (and human)

On A Future PBS Schedule

Saw Ken Burns on Broadway, then a couple of days later he was following me into my gym. The only conclusion I could draw was that he was attempting to get footage for his new documentary on the gorgeousness of my well-toned ass.

That Child Is Crazy

Stopped into Casa Magazines yesterday to do some periodical browsing. There was a woman buying a literal stack of fashion magazines. She was obviously buying these for "work" as she reminded the man behind the counter numerous times that she needed a receipt.

The man behind the counter was attempting to get her to buy more as he was pointing out various issues that were absent from her stack..."...but you are not even at the $200 mark" he implored. "I know, I know" she jokingly responded "but I don't want to spend all weekend reading magazines!"

Yeah, I couldn't believe such a comment coming from another human being either...

Product Endorsement

Since I can't track down my favorite "New Energy" incense, I have had to resort to the awesomeness of this candle. I am normally not a huge fan of musk, but it works so well with the vanilla to create a truly intoxicating aroma.

England Appreciates "the Force"

Came across this article in The Guardian. A brief view of the Disco moment and what it meant/means.

I love one of the guy's quotes about the dancefloor of the Paradise Garage being a "blueprint for the future". That is what I feel everytime the dancefloor explodes in communal exultation.

Today's Message

As I passed Judson Memorial Church today, they had the following quote by the front door...

The real voyage of discovery consists of not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.- Marcel Proust

How true is that?

The Countdown Has Begun

Only three and a half days until the planet Mercury goes "direct". Hopefully some sanity will return to my life.

Thankfully I am not alone in my disdain for the disruptive mercurial power. My boy Andrew voices his opinion on the matter here.

The bad news is that after Merecury goes direct...Andrew can no longer use that as an excuse for his lateness issues...

Survival

I somehow survived last nights festivities. I was planning on only having a couple of mild cocktails then walking the 67 footsteps to my front door, but Sisha showed up and began a tab on his credit card. Basically an open bar for the rest of the evening. Very dangerous indeed.

Ben, Jose, and Alyssa also made appearances. I think Ben had had a couple of drinks beforehand as his lips were very loose...which is great because he is normally so reserved and careful with his words. There is a reason why alcohol is America's number one social lubricant...

The Knife

On Cain's recommendation I picked up this album at Other Music. I listened to a few songs but couldn't really get "into" it.

Today, due to the 62 degree temperature I decided to go on one of my New York visionquests. Basically I just leave my apt. and start walking with no specific destination in mind. This album was my iPod soundtrack and I truly "got" the genius of these kids...it is kind of brutal yet has a light-heartedness to it. It is funny without being a novelty record. It is truly retrofuturistic. It is awesome.

Buy or download immediately.

Official Confirmation

In this article the Times officially sanctions my holier-than-thou attitude to the rest of humanity. Please note this excerpt:

Both art and fashion speak in a densely encoded visual language to a certain status, knowledge and taste. Roughly translated, that means an elitism that makes those who know the difference between, say, James Turrell and Olafur Eliasson (or, for that matter, between Prada and Lanvin) feel secure in their defense of social Darwinism.

Yes, I am at the top of the social Darwinist ladder due to my knowledge of this shit which means nothing in the grand scheme of things.

(Yet as noted in a previous post I am still going to see the Olafur Eliasson show at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.)

Will The Dove Give Love?

Going to meet Jeremy and Scott for drinks at The Dove tonight. Will be my first alcohol-fuelled "night out" since my notorious LiverMassacre of last December. The fact that this place is literally 67 steps from the front door of my apartment building will either be a blessing or a curse....details later.

Yesterday's News

Because I decided to avoid the big art fair(ie)s this weekend, I thought I should at least expose myself to some creativity. Hustled my ass down to Deitch to see this show. It was totally rad. Just color, shape and motion in the form of a projection. I literally could have watched it for days.

Left the gallery and ran into Josh, which was strange as I was in one of my "enjoying the anonymity of the big city" moment and then "poof" he is right in my face...

Return To The Source

I have said it before and I'll say it again, Anne Slater is so fuckin' stylish that it physically hurts me. I wish I could marry those blue glasses...how gangsta are they?

Give Me Ignorance

What do you do when you discover online that an old high school nemesis earns exactly three times your salary? Why do I need this information in my life. Let me remain in the dark.

Over But Still Rad

Now that every teenager in America can buy PunkRock gear at their local mall, the whole Punk thing has lost all it's initial bite....Yet this mugshot of Sid is still pretty awesome.

The Need

Spend five minutes with me and you will realize that I cannot shut up about my horrible case of Spring Fever. The past few days I have been thinking incessantly about going to the beach this summer. I am like a little kid waiting for Christmas. I am giddy with the joy that sun, sand and surf will provide me in the near future.

Truth From The Monkeys

I know that these guys were so over-hyped that they were destined to fall...but this is still the best album title in forever.

Auto Repeat

Have I mentioned that Mercury is retrograde...I am suprised I am even able to post as technology suffers when Mercury plays with communication on Earth.

There have been so many misunderstandings this week that I try to eliminate all communication that is not necessary to day-to-day survival.

Yes, I am aware that I am retarded.

This Weekend

Started off the weekend by dining with Stan and Jim at Bao 111. The meal was absolutely divine...so many fresh flavors and unique tastes. I am still thinking about the Jasmine ice cream that blew my mind.

Decided to break out of my "Casual Everyday" mode of dressing for an evening. Threw on some Dior, my Bruno Magli's and my Harris Tweed overcoat. Less you think I am a label whore there was some H&M in the mix for a bit of cheap-ass flava. And since you are reading this blog I can only assume you yearn to know every detail of my life, this was the underwear I was sporting.

Saturday I slept in until 6:15am and then hit the gym. Went card shopping and picked up some DVDs at Kim's Video. Watched the Comedians of Comedy Tour movie which was super awesome Zach Galifiankis is probably my favorite comedian right now and he is in rare form in the footage presented. Lots of delicious absurdist humor. Exactly what I needed.

Caught up on a weeks worth of TV, which sans commercials only takes a few hours.

Started reading this book before I went to bed.

Despite going to bed early I still could not get a full night's slumber. I woke up a little after 4 am and could not get back to sleep. Decided to get up watch Logan's Run, which I remember watching at my sister's house, like 25 years ago...

Wanted to go swimming, so I headed to the New York Sports Club at 49th and Broadway. They have some ridulous rule forcing all swimmer's to wear a swim cap. Needless to say that is not a cute look for me so I avoided the pool. Thankfully the gym is located 15 stories above Times Square so there were some fantastic city views afforded by the panoramic windows. Plus they have one of these machines which sort of mimic the motions of Rollerblading. It will truly kick your ass (while making your ass look gorgeous).

Came home and wrote some greeting cards and just chilled. Watched The Science of Sleep which had some beautiful visuals that I pray will infect my dreams tonight.

Along the way I chatted briefly with my sister and texted a few cats, but had limited human contact, which is exactly what I craved

Last Weekend

Still recovering from last weekend's birthday extravaganza with my girl Calla. She is always a joy to be around. Hanging out with a six-year-old certainly can break you out of your mental comfort zone.

Sad But True

Every day I savor the 1 or 2 extra minutes of sunlight that we have as we approach spring...It gets me so excited for the prospect of summer...

Yes, I am aware that it is only January 27th.

Vacation Plans Must Happen

I already know where I am going to spend my vacation this year. Going to have to get my ass out to San Francisco to see this show...

Take Your Time: Olafur Eliasson Saturday, September 08, 2007 – Sunday, February 24, 2008 SFMOMA presents the first comprehensive survey in the United States of works by Olafur Eliasson, whose sculptures, installations, and photographs elegantly recreate the extremes of landscape and atmosphere in his native Scandinavia, while foregrounding the sensory experience of the work itself. His constructions, at once eccentric and highly geometric, use crystalline tunnels of mirrors, multicolored washes or focused projections of light, and elements such as water, stone, and moss to shift the viewer’s perception of place and self. By transforming the gallery into a hybrid space of nature and culture, Eliasson prompts an intensive engagement with the world around us and a fresh consideration of everyday life.

It is going to be awesome to see Eliasson take over the SF Museum of Modern Art.

Tropicalia

Tropicália: A Revolution in Brazilian Culture
Tropicália is the first comprehensive exhibition to explore one of the most significant chapters in modern cultural history, a period beginning in the late 1960s when daring experiments in Brazilian art, music, film, architecture and theater converged—and ignited. Although suppressed by an increasingly oppressive military dictatorship, the moment produced a counterculture that has influenced successive generations of artists, even up to the present day.

Went to this show at the Bronx Museum of Art last Sunday. I must admit that I was drawn in by seeing a piece by Assume Vivid Astro Focus, but the rest of the show was just as incredible. So many awesome graphic ideas that I will be stealing in the future.

Quote of The Day

I am absolutely in love with this quote:

"Nothing is ever so good that someone somewhere won't hate it. And vice versa." - - Mark Twain

Simple Pleasures

Had a wonderful time Friday night celebrating Michael's Birthday...Had some kick ass pizza at Adrienne's and reconnected with Ana.

What more could a boy want?

The Body

Maybe it is the age I am now, or maybe it is that I have been oblivious before, but I am currently facinated by the human body. More specifically I am facinated with the tie between the human body and the concept of pain.

Over the past few years I have had these situations where I could be lying in bed, or walking down the street and all of the sudden there is instantaneous pain somewhere in my body unrelated to the motion or immotion of my body at the time. I don't understand how a headache can make an appearance in the blink of an eye. I can understand how an illness or disease can slowly infect a body. A cough or a few sniffles here and there and then you realize that you have had a low-level "cold" for a couple of days...that I can fathom. But how can you have a normal stress-free day and then all of the sudden have a piercing pain in your arm. Where was that pain before? Was it just hanging out trying to build up the critical mass to fill up the synapses in the brain's pain receptor field?

Maybe I should have one of those full body MRIs to have myself screened for everything all at once.

Drafts Undone

I have not posted lately as I have had 2 super long-winded drafts that I have been unable to complete...the ideas are definitely in my head but how to get them to go through my fingers to the keyboard is another matter entirely. Plus there is some mental detrius that is better served expressing to my therapist than to the blog-viewing public.

So I have decided that there is probably a good reason that I have writer's block in relation to those unwritten topics...I gots to move forward.

Is It 2007 Yet?

I can't believe that it is already the 13th of January and I am just getting around to writing my first posts.

The weeks before Christmas were ridiculously hectic...Then the holiday itself which, due to my presence in Nebraska, is worthy of at least 27 posts alone...then a busy new years period has left me with little time to write (or even think straight for that matter).

In someways it feels like I am just getting into that blissful winter doldrum period. The fact that is just now feeling winterlike is contributing to my "slowing down" (whatever that means)

Give Me Genius

My favorite neighborhood coffee place always has a "sandwich board" on the sidewalk. Most businesses use this form of free advertising to promote one or more of their products. The one that Think Coffee has in front always has these completely random funny sayings on it. A few weeks ago it had quote on it that literally had me laughing out loud. It said:

"To the person who I threw scalding hot coffee on...I am sorry, I thought you were on fire."

True Legend R.I.P.

The word legend is often tossed about frivolously. But a true legend has died. Van Smith's contribution to the John Water's oeuvre is obvious, but this cat affected pop culture way beyond those films.

The older I get the more I see how some truly visionary people do not get the fame or the name recognition, but their ideas slowly permeate the culture. Mr. Smith's demented vision of gorgeousness was once beyond the thought process of the mainstream. Remember a few years ago when every movie critic heaped praise upon Charlize Theron for being "brave enough" to appear ugly in that movie "Monster". Van Smith was creating those same looks decades ago with a considerably smaller budget and a smarter vision.

People of this caliber are few and far between and his view of beauty and fashion cannot be replaced.

My Favorite Day

Only twelve days until my favorite day of the year...December 21st. From that day forward the days are going to get longer. Even though it is only be a matter of a few minutes of sunlight I cannot relate how excited that makes me.

I am so sick and tired of going to, and coming from work in pitch blackness.

Is it possible to have spring fever before winter even begins?

Me, Myself and Danny and Danny

There are no adjectives to describe how thoroughly awesome this party is going to be. Two undeniable legends behind the turntables.

Mr. Krivit can be expected to provide the deep, deep soulful sounds...combine that with Tenaglia's bottom heavy tech sound and the results are going to be dancefloor heaven.

More Real Than Reality

Last Sunday, with my sister and her friend in town, we went out to the Brooklyn Museum for this show . It was so totally awesome my mind is still reeling. Mr. Mueck's sculptures are so ridiculously detailed that it hurts my head to think about the length of time it takes to create them.

I am a sucker for any creative expression that can "mess with your head" and the scale of these sculptures certainly do that. From miniature humans to figures so large that it will make the viewer perceive themselves as a tiny child, these creations cover the spectrum.

KRS-ONE Lyric Of The Day

And we're real live, we walk correctly

A lot of suckas would like to forget me

But they cant, cause like a champ

I have got a record of knocking out the frauds in a second

This came to mind when dealing with one of the owners of the business I work for. He is constantly trying to be an Alpha Male. I am constantly shutting down his nonsense and yet he still keeps coming back for more. When will the children learn?

Everyday Magic (See Post Below)

While thinking about the "everyday magic" post below I came across this link. How awesome is this guy? Call the Macarthur Foundation a.s.a.p

Today's New Words

• Samizdat
• Freshet
• Lambent

If you can work these into a conversation today, then you are 17x smarter than I am.

My Nonsense Makes Sense To Me...

After a delightful late night meal at Rosa Mexicana, I came home, chilled out for a few minutes, then went directly to bed.

Even though it was late, the extra hour of sleep afforded due to the end of Daylight Savings Time allowed for a pressure-free descent in to peaceful slumber. My mantra for the evening was more of a promise to myself...."I Will Never Stop Believing In Magic" I repeated over and over in my head.

On the recommendation of my friend Andrew I had watched "Amelie" earlier in the evening. Perhaps it was the movie that put the topic of everyday magic in my head. I love the idea of creating the beauty you want to experience simply by willing it to happen and then doing small, but deliberate acts to make it happen.

Like a lot of people, I sometimes get delusional and think Happiness is a destination. If I just earned more money, had a better body, had a master's degree, etc. etc. THEN I would be happy. Needless to say that is fantasy.

Actual happiness comes from the "small moments" in life when everything is in "sync". ..when you are open to the beauty of the Universe and allow it to come into your life.

More Is Better

Here is my new favorite band name. You cannot buy this level of genius. Either you have it or you don't.

The Topics

Some of the topics of conversation at work this week.

• Information Society
• Fetishizing homeless people
• "That's So Raven!"
• Trying to convince people to go back to saying "Keep it real"
• The benefits of a return to random violence in NYC
• John Lucero

Now some may look at this list and wonder what any of the items has to do with my actual job. The answer is "nothing", but these are the conversations that keep me sane in between all the nonsense

Something In The Air

Although Mercury does not officially go retrograde until this Sunday, I am already getting kicked in the ass by the miscommunications. What I am sensing is that there are certain people I am forced to interact with who do not have the ability to censor themselves.

Unfortunately "too much information" is sometimes a bad thing. If you have information that could potentially piss another person off then keep your mouth shut. Is it that difficult?

Addiction

I am seriously addicted to seltzer. Will someone please buy me one of these for Christmas so that I can stop giving half my paycheck to the water multinationals.

Bring Your Tambourine

This party is going to be ridiculous. Nicky Siano is a genius behind the turntables because he puts the focus on creating a celebratory vibe. If this means playing a track released two days or twenty years ago...it doesn't matter.

He is one of those DJs who you can tell it almost pains him to be in the booth rather than on the dancefloor.

Spring In October

I spent a good deal of my Saturday doing some deep cleaning in my apartment. I swear there is no better feeling than going to sleep in a freshly made bed and knowing that when you wake up everything will still be sparkling.

The sad part of this process is getting rid of magazines that have not been fully gleaned of their aesthetic or thought-provoking content. Anyone have any contacts in the
being-horizontal-in-bed-and-reading-periodicals industry? I need a job

Middle Of The Night Thought

The other night when the daily stress of existence kept me awake I had the following thought.

"Never be ashamed of your struggle"

Despite appearances otherwise...absolutely everyone has struggles in their lives. I am the first to admit that I frequently believe that others are livin' on "easy street" while I am facing difficulties (some recent, some that feel like they have been with me since birth). This is simply not true. The Universe has given each and every one of us challenges that we are to face throughout our lifetime. One should never be ashamed of the challenges that are faced.

When you think that your difficulties are insurmountable think about this guy.

Getting Back To Sanity

One of the downsides of my current job is my lack of free time. When I get home in the evening I have to eat immediately so that my food is digested before my ridiculously early bedtime.

Consequently one of the areas of my life that has taken a hit is my voracious desire for reading. In attempt to get back on track I made a special trip to my local library to pick up this book. Carol recommended it to me last weekend over brunch.

Due lack of non-stop input, my hatred of Republicans has hit an all time low. Hopefully this book will raise my blood pressure and my righteous indignation over the state of this country.

Alternate Realities Are Also Good

The other day I received an autumn/halloween/thanksgiving greeting card from my Aunt Shirley in Nebraska. I believe she has always had a poetic streak in her and it really comes alive in topics close to her heart.

In this particular card she describes what is going on while she is writing the card to me. She describes the smell of the pot roast she has put in the oven, the look of the grains being harvested outside her window and the work being done by her husband and grown sun.

She describes a world that is completely different from my day-to-day existence. It is a world that through her talent makes me wish was my world.

Although I know that "the grass is always greener..." sometimes I wonder if a "simpler" life away from all the "sophistication" of life in New York truly is better.

The Uniqueness Of The Fashion Industry

On my way to the gym today I walked passed the Jill Stuart and John Varvatos boutiques in Soho. Both stores featured this album cover in their window displays. Obviously Miss Harry is getting her revenge for this album being all but ignored when it was released twenty-some-odd years ago.

Hit In The Head

Reality has hit me in the face today. I have been forced to face the fact that I pretty much cannot drink alcohol anymore.

Fortunately this conclusion is not due to the excess drinking and irresponsible behavior that has definitely been part of my past. The fact is that the hangover absolutely kills me regardless of the intake.

Last night, over the course of about six hours, I had two dirty martinis chez nous, then one beer at Jameson's pumpkin carving party. Years ago this amount of alcohol would have been consumed at breakfast, now even this amount has devastated me with a pounding headache. When will I learn that my body does not like toxins.

"The Ocean Still Exists"

With one week left to go to during summer, I got out to Brighton Beach for the first time yesterday. Last year I pretty much went every week but this year due to overwork I have not made it out once.

Sunday was such a gorgeous day and I cannot relay how blissful it was to merely walk and have the waves gently cross my feet. The stress melted away. My mind, body, and spirit were "there". I was not thinking about all the crap I have dealt with at work lately, nor the crap I had to deal with at work the following day.

The stress reappeared at 2 in the morning as I was trying to sleep. Once I begin thinking of the stress it takes over my thoughts and I am unable to return to slumber. In the middle of my insomnia I felt like I was betraying the serenity I had experienced earlier in the day. It felt like my soul needed to be back in the water while my body was tossing and turning. In a vain attempt to defend myself against the stressful thoughts I began repeating over and over in my head "The ocean still exists", "The ocean still exists"...I reminded myself that I may not be at the beach now and I may have to deal with a ton of turmoil before I return seaside but "The ocean still exists" "The ocean still exists".

Reward

Because I have been working so damn much, I rewarded myself with some new running shoes. In addition to replacing my old Air Max Motos which have served me well, I hope these new joints serve as a talisman for a new regimen on the treadmills and streets of The NYC. Plus they make me run real fast and the color scheme makes my legs look 17% less pasty! Thank you Chinese laborers...

Gone But Not Forgotten

Sadly it is Sept. 17th and this is the first chance I have had to post since August 13th. Unfortunately this is my first day completely off from work since that date. I have my phone turned off and am not responding to a single work-related activity.

Every night before I go to bed I think about all the stuff I need to be writing down in this arena. As the potential postings pile up my motivation goes down. So much to say/vent but so little time to do so, plus sometimes I feel that venting just reminds me of the stress that I am trying to get out of my system. Bottling it up sometimes just makes economical sense. Alas, that is not a viable long-term option, so I will attempt piecemeal blog/venting bursts...

In-Stinks

I am definitely one of those people who "follow their gut". You can present me with any form of logical data, but if my gut or my heart (or whatever internal organ is in charge of my instincts) says the complete opposite, logic is useless.

My feeling is that you have to be true to what your intsincts are guiding you toward. On paper this sounds great, but what happens when your instincts are wrong. Recently I have had more than a few instances where I went with my instincts and my instincts failed me. What does one do in these situations? Do I abandon my gut and make decisions solely based on what a normal rational person would do...thereby ignoring that "feeling" that I get when I need to make a decision...

Local Icon Is Nice

The other day at work the legendary Lynn Yaeger stopped in. She was working her look. When I told her that I was a fan of her writing, she was adorably sincere...which made her more fucking awesome in my book.

Let Things "Be"

While I am on the topic of shoes...I am not sure how I feel about these joints.

My devotion to Vans is unwavering, and I hope to someday afford some cashmere from
Lucien Pellat-Finet, but I am really getting tired of these collaborations. They just seem very "forced", and it reinforces the idea that unless something is custom-made or limited-edition then it is not "special".

How about putting simple things on a pedestal for a change

Having Your Cake And Eating It Too (Corporate Edition)

I just came across these shoes when passing Blades at the corner of Broadway and Bond St. No, your eyes are not deceiving you...Nike, the company that has taken the veneration of the athlete to new heights, is now producing shoes for skateboarders that say "Jocks Suck".

I guess Nike has had a change of heart and has realized that the millions of dollars of footwear they have sold over the past couple of decades have been to people that in their own words "Suck".

...I love the idea of a teenager buying these shoes and thinking they are being rebellious. Truly, there is no better way to "stick it to the man!" than by purchasing shoes from Nike.

Realization

I just realized that it has been a month since I last "published" anything...and I only had a single post in June. Damn, that is simply ridiculous. The new job is taking up tons of my time and there have been countless other diversions to take me away from my blogging duties.

I am promising myself to make a return to the real world very, very soon.

Relentless Input

Vince Aletti came into work today and of course I had to corner him and ask him his top DJs of all time. Unsuprisingly he said number one was Larry Levan and number two was David Mancuso.

Thankfully, he showed much love when I revealed Frankie Knuckles as my top choice....in fact he stated that Frankie is one of the only current DJs he would go out to hear.

Inches Away From Flashback

This afternoon I was walking around the corner to the grocery store at the corner of LaGuardia and Bleecker. In between the store and the street there is a community garden that is maybe thirty feet by one hundred feet.

Who knows how many times I have passed this garden in the eight years I have lived in the neighborhood? Due to the nine foot chainlink fence that surrounds the garden, it is kind of visual "off-limits" area. I guess I have noticed the occaisional person tending the flowers inside the high-security fence, but it never really registered with my brain that it was an actual garden. My only analogy for my mental block is that you can be aware that there is a cobbler on your street...but if you never need your shoes repaired that fact is going to fade into the background of your consciousness.

Today as I was about to enter the grocery store there was an announcement posted on a pole informing the public that today there was a "celebration" for the 25th anniversary of the garden. That the garden had been around that long must have shocked my consciousness...and considering the fact that I didn't have any other commitments I decided to investigate this celebration.

I walked around the fence of the garden to find the gate that was allowing the general public to enter. As I walked through the gate I was instantly mesmerized by the beauty of the plants and flowers. I was also instantly shocked that five seconds earlier and five feet from where I was currently standing I was unaware of the beauty that delightfully assaulted my eyes. This gorgeous oasis had been shielded from me by an industrial grade fence.

As I was walked amongst the flowers I was transported back many years to the countless hours I had spent with my mom amidst the flower beds surrounding our house and in the greenhouses of Lincoln which we would frequent in the spring and summer.

Because of this exposure I probably knew more plant and flower names than all of my fourth grade classmates combined. Suprisingly this knowlege did not translate to instant respect on the playground....rarely did any of my peers take me aside to ask me the proper sunlight and hydration needs of the Dusty Miller.

As with most things I am exposed to in my life I developed strong opinions about the the plant kingdom. To this day my mom still brings up my rabid hatred of Hollyhocks. Some things never change and it was refreshing to be exposed to such beauty that had escaped my field of consciousness.

Mental Reinforcement

The Quote Of The Day is from my boy Joseph Campbell.

“We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come.”

Please Tell Me This Is The Shape Of The Future...

Yesterday we did a practice run at the new restaurant. We opened the doors to a few customers and tried to work out some of "the kinks" before our official opening day next week.

Due to some electrical and logistical issues it was a really rough day for most of the employees (myself included). At the the day one of the owners individually approached every employee, from the porters to the management team, and offered a sincere "Thank You" for helping out under not ideal conditions.

While this probably did not really raise an eyebrow amidst the other employees, I had the hugest grin on my face and warmth in my heart. Instantly I was reminded that over the 38 months at my previous job, my former boss gave me a "Thank You" only 3 times...I am not making that figure up...I literally kept track of the 3 instances he said these words of appreciation.

Starting a new job is always stressful, but these two words made all the difference in my attitude regarding this past week.

Fruit Virgin

I often proclaim to love fruit. While this statement is true, I must add that not all fruit is created equal in my mind. Give me a ripe banana or an apple and I am satisfied. While I have nothing against the taste of oranges, I rarely eat them. As an example of the embarrassingly carefree adulthood I live, I don't eat many oranges because in my mind it takes far too long to peel.

The sane reader will note that it can't conceivably take more than minute to peel an orange, while this is literally true, in my mind when I want to enjoy a piece of fruit I want to enjoy it this very second, and a minute seems like a lifetime.

The other day I was at the grocery store and had a craving for an orange and proceeded to purchase one. On the way home I mentally psyched myself for the arduous task of peeling that was in my immediate future.

Without any hyperbole I can state that it was absolutely the best orange I have tasted in my entire life. It felt as if every previous orange I had eaten had been a scam, a farce, an insult to my tastebuds. In short I sensed that I had only then tasted what an orange was meant to taste like.

Of course, when I returned to the same grocery the following day to procure more of these delicacies I was rewarded with the taste of a bland generic orange. Thank you Universe for crushing my spirit in one fell swoop.

Envy Or Pity?

Should people be envious or piteous of me when I mention that Jeff Goldblum was working out at my gym?

Up Is Down...Left Is Right...Black Is White

It seems as though I have fallen "through the looking glass" when today I discovered a Republican with actual common sense. Texas representative Ron Paul gave this speech and it is an absolute "must read" for anyone who wants to cut throught the bullshit of the Bush foreign policy on Iran.

One of the simplest, but most important points he makes is that the neocons in charge of the policy are not going to make any sacrifice for it's completion or "success". Anyone who has been within earshot of me over the past four years has heard my fundamental statement that you cannot claim to be for or support any military action unless you are willing to say that the war is so important that you would allow the person you love most to die for it. It is completely easy to say "Oh, I would die for my freedom, liberty, or American way" (knowing full-well that you will never have to follow through on such a commitment) but could you honestly say that the cause of freedom, liberty or the American way is so important that you would permit your husband, mother, or daughter to die for this foreign policy.

Every one of the more than 2300 soldiers that have died in Iraq was the most beloved person in someone's life.

Back To The Future

The new issue of My Comrade is out and it is awesome!

This magazine is everything New York should be/was/will be...sexy, dirty, classy, faggy, and funny as hell.

Stop by St. Mark's and pick it up, order it to be mailed...whatever you have to do to get it.

You Know Where To Find Me...

The word on the street is that Shelter is moving its legendary Saturday night/ Sunday morning party from 39th St. to 150 Varick St.

Why is this important?

Well it means that the party will be about ten blocks from my apartment. Therefore I will be able to wake up on Sunday morning hit the dancefloor until about 9:15 a.m. and still have time to make it to work on time.

It is on.

Balancing

During the drama of my knee injury a couple of years ago I learned a valuable lesson about human anatomy. When an injury occurs, muscles that are not performing as normal are oftentimes overcompensated by uninjured muscles. If you are walking with a limp, the strong leg gets stronger due to an increased workload, while the weak leg gets weaker because less is required of it. While this is perfectly fine in the short-term, if the injury is prolonged it can screw you up in the long run because your body is out of balance.

A lot of my physical therapy was focused on strengthening the weak leg in an attempt to get both legs "equal" in strength, thereby bringing balance back.

Recently I have been using one of these balance pads while working out. They are totally great because they slightly destabilize your body. In destabilizing your body your muscles are forced to compensate thereby strengthening those muscles that are taxed.

While building muscle strength is great, for me the greater benefit is simply feeling more stabile in my lower body...especially helpful in dodging taxi cabs and slow-assed pedestrians.

In The Center Of An Energy Vortex

Because I had some business in midtown this morning I decided to kill two birds with one stone and go to the gym at 34th and Sixth Ave.

While the gym itself was tiny and lacking in some equipment. It did have one advantage to it. It was located on the 25th floor...thereby allowing near panoramic views of the city from an outdoor deck. The view was so enthralling that it made the drudgery of exercise almost vanish...

More Random Stuff About Me

1. I was a Cub Scout for one year.
2. On the rare occaision I eat a Ritz cracker I am immediately transported back to sunday school at age six.
3. I was in the fifth grade when I got into my first fight...with a classmate named (I kid you not) Melvin Mudd.
4. I have blown a bubblegum bubble once in my life and have been unable to repeat this feat since.
5. I used to have my ears pierced.
6. I was 18 years old when I first travelled on an airplane.
7. In the fifth grade I won a gold medal in the "Reading-O-Lympics"
8. I have never worn anything that could remotely be described as "acid-washed"
9. I love roller coasters.
10. I have a one inch scar on my forehead from falling down on our porch as a child.

KRS-ONE Lyric Of The Day

I'll get a pen,
a pencil,
a marker
mainly what I write is for the average New Yorker

Back?

I just realized that I have only posted to items in the month of March. There are a multitude of reasons for this related to motivation levels, extraneous stress and activity levels but in all honesty one of the biggest factors has been the retrograde motion of the planet Mercury.

Anyone who has spent more than five minutes with me in the past decade and a half knows that I am perpetually referring to this astrological principle. Some may see it as a crutch or a self-fulfilling prophecy, but to me it boils down to the indisputable fact that during these periods I (and most people) are not thinking clearly...which of course causes a decrease in communication skills and an increase in stress.

That being said, Mercury goes direct this Saturday morning at 8:42 a.m. and I, therefore, no longer have an astrological excuse for my behavior. Damn!

[Astrology]

Some Things That Never Fail To Make Me Smile...

Watching Strangers With Candy...Completing a Times crossword puzzle...Thinking of my nephew Cody's excuse for falling out of bed around age five ("The window was open and the wind blew me off the bed")....Saying "Ladies and gentlemen" in the style of a drunken Kiki DuRane...When suburban white kids use black slang...the distinctive sound of my friend Natalie's laugh...Mikey Semrad's channelling of Cobra-era Sylvester Stallone.