Empire State of Mind

I didn't think I would write again until 2010 and here I am. This is why I don't like to make long term plans: you can plan whatever you want; but ultimately, the universe can have other plans and that's the end of that.

I expected to end the decade with a bang. As I write this, I should be getting ready to join my friends for the last happy hour of the year. Instead, I am in bed recovering from what has been the most nightmarish flu I've ever had. Quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if I had the swine flu. Today I left home for the first time in 3 days only to have to return 10 minutes later. Terrible story...but at least during those 10 minutes I got a chance to step into Starbucks, buy a tea and one of their compilation CDs. Some of them are so amazing!

This time I bought One For My Baby and am listening to it now. Wow!

For most of my life (or at least since I've been able to speak) I've wished I could break into song when the mood strikes. My memory works by associating moments with songs so my life has a soundtrack. An unlikely soundtrack at that.

As I listen to this CD, I'm reminded of one of the best first dates I've ever had...

Years ago, when I lived in NYC, Dan and I went to the 10 year anniversary party of the release of Weezer's blue album. There we met a guy. He was beautiful and just my type: a nomadic writer with the bluest eyes I had ever seen (this was before I found redheads). At that point my gaydar was still off and my self-esteem not where it should have been so naurally I thought he wanted to hook up with Dan. I was wrong.

While we talked, I mentioned that my favorite spot in the city was the median on Broadway and 81st. He asked for my email address. I gave it to him but I didn't think he'd write...

He did the next day and asked me out. "A nighttime picnic", he said.

He picked me up and together we took the crosstown bus to the Upper West Side. He had a paper bag full of stuff he claimed was dinner and he took me to my median.

It was dark out but we were illuminated by the lights of traffic. When we sat on the bench, he fed me a turkey sandwich and hot chocolate. We ate, talked and laughed. He asked me to dance. I reminded him that there was no music. And so he pulled me up and started singing in my ear one of those old classic songs that require a red dress and a suit... and we danced and laughed in the median of Broadway and 81st...

Starbucks just brought me back there.

One of my favorite memories of the decade that ends tomorrow.

I don't see the top of my head very often...

In addition to that, I don't see myself taped/wired up often either...

I guess that joke about my heart beating too fast wasn't really a joke after all...
but no worries. I will survive.

Holiday musings...

It feels like I haven't written on this thing for a very long time...

I've been sick. For a couple of weeks my kidneys took it upon themselves to ruin my life. Luckily, I went to the doctor when I did, got my meds on time and was diligent about taking them because this could have been REALLY bad.

Moral of the story: Take your kidneys seriously and cranberry juice is your friend.

That said, the holidays are fast approaching and other than the few pounds I've gained from all the pie eating I've been doing, I have nothing to show for it. Not even Holiday spirit. It's been a difficult year so for that alone I should be happy that the end is fast approaching; however, it's not happening [and I care that I don't care].

Again, I feel like something is going to happen soon. You know, one of those life altering somethings that one day you'll look back on and say "yeah, that was pretty definitive". I can't imagine though what this could be because this past year alone my life was flipped upside down.

I guess we'll see.

Meet my tonsils.

They are usually red and happy looking like the above posted picture; however, I've got strep [and to be completely honest, I feel like shit!]

...and as if this weren't enough, according to the doctor I'm contagious until tomorrow night :(

I'm lonely!

[I don't know why I have this picture. Please go ask Bracuta]

I am sick [again]

Apparently I really have grown allergic to HWMNBN!
[don't ask]

Anyway, I have been talking it over with Princess Pandita, and I am now certain that the only thing that would make me feel better right now is this.

Anyone want to get it for me?

Party like a rockstar...

...and then get sick.

I knew it was only a matter of time until my body stopped trying to keep up with me, and here I am: sick as a dog.

Officially, I've been sick for 48 hours. Unofficially, I've been sick for like 4 days. The difference between "officially" and "unofficially" is the presence of fever: I've had a 102 fever for almost 2 days now. It was because of this fever that I walked out of Nobu on Wednesday and missed Nelly Furtado at Mansion. Damn it! And I still would have gone had it not been for Kari and Vincent yelling at me to go to bed so I could party yesterday [which I didn't do because I was so sick I was puking my life out].

I really should have paced myself last week. At my age, the whole not sleeping for days and partying every night thing will get to you...I partied for a week straight...on the upside though (or downside if you are one of those people who think I look better with a few extra pounds) I have lost 3 pounds this week...And to think that technically I still have 3 more days of potential partying...

This week has been a week of old friends...some have come, some I saw on my trip last weekend, some I have simply found the time to see. This is nice. It's a bit of a relief actually as well as a welcome distraction. I have missed these people, even though I am always saying "lo que no esta, no hace falta".

I've made some new friends here, but I appreciate the old. I find comfort in what I already know well and what knows me. Right now I feel terrible and wish I could just die; however, if I had to get sick like this again just to feel for one more week the way I felt this past week, I'd do it again...It may sound like a cliche but some things in life are just priceless...