The Misadventures of a Native New Yorker

Whatup, LJ? I've been meaning to post updates since Sunday, and have not had the chance.

Sunday was the Pride Parade, which I was thrilled to be a part of. The ever-talented and awesome nemesisbecoming formed a group called Bridesmaids for Marriage Equality, which I joined. We were asked to be on Marriage Equality of NY's float (take a good hard look at the mother-effing float) in the parade, and I got to dance and hold my sign and have a great time, along with j_bkl at my side, and the always-awesome company of leahpia77 and dkellergrl. I had a great time, forgot the camera, but I think some other people have pictures (please let me know if you do).

It was a marvelous, surreal experience. I've never been on a parade float before, especially in an event as big as Pride. I loved waving and waving my sign to the cheering crowds. I even had a great vantage point to flip off a cranky old man who gave us the thumbs down at 23rd Street. I write and call my sentaors and congresspeople regularly to advocate for marriage equality, but it was nice to take part in something bigger.

It was especially memorable since J and I made the float at the last minute, literally seconds before they rolled out, due to some missed calls on my part. I had to do a crazy-ass Spiderman manuever to get on the float, which was interesting, considering my big, poofy dress. But we got there, and our float had a giant blue wedding cake (with two grooms on top) bouquets and bunting, a dj and a whole bunch of dancers. Apparently, we were sponsored by the entire city of Amsterdam (just see what legalizing pot and prostitution can do for you GNP!). Afterwards, we met up with different bunches of J's friends, and I changed into civilian clothes, but we crashed out for home by 7. I was so wrecked, I couldn't even stay awake for True Blood . True story.

Monday J and I had a make up Father's Day celelbration with his family, at a lovely restaurant in Midtown. A few hours after dinner, I was a trainwreck. I don't know if the clams oreganata gave me food poisoning or an allergic reaction (never had a problem with them before, and redesigner can attest that I ate a metric ton of clams and mussels at a seafood buffet in vegas last year). Either way, it was ugly. And I am feeling much better now. But yesterday was pretty much a wash.

So, I'm back today, work is crazy. And I have to get back to it. But after tomorrow I am off, and tomorrow is a pay day. With the rest of the overtime in it. And, J and I are due to go mattress shopping this weekend!!! In addition to parties and other funtimes. So yay on that.

So, it appears that my boyfriend, Mr. "did that guy just hit a touchdown?", is going to the Yankees vs. Baltimore game tonight with his friend. Said friend is supposedly in possession of really awesome seats.

I'M NOT JEALOUS, I SWEAR. >< There is no pulsating, pungent, piercing jealousy in these veins. No sir.

Still, I'm having dinner with dotfic, which will be EVEN MORE awesome.

I am also having lunch with the truly awesome Coworker V today, so that's an added bonus. And tomorrow, I'm going to be touring the new Brooklyn Bowl before it even opens. So nyah.

But in other exciting news, I found a dress yesterday!! After some debate, it was agreed it was just the thing. I'm not going to stop looking on the off chance I fall across something else awesome, but I'm pretty happy with what I came up with. It just needs a tiny button replacement in the back. But for $35, I could have done MUCH worse. Hooray Syms!

Anyway, back to forcing myself into productivity. All I want to do is go hang around outside in the sunshine, and not work.

One year ago today, it was a Friday.

My boss was out, and I had some huge photocopy project to do, but I had a decent day.

I was excited about seeing missgyder in her latest play, and even more excited about Comic Con that weekend. Hell, I was even looking forward to hanging out with blergeatkitty and help her clean out her apartment all day on Saturday. I was in high spirits.

I remember running late for the play - don't remember if I had bad train-fu or what. But I ran like hell to make it on time --- only to find that the play was running late. So I headed over to the bar they were using as a pre-show lounge to catch my breath. I hang around for a minute or two before someone comes to collect the audience. On my way out, I think I see someone I know, but I was mistaken. It was someone else.

Once in the theater, I found a seat and settled in for the show. Not long after I sat down, a guy came up to me and asked if the seat next to me was taken. I said it wasn't, and he sat down.

"I've had the longest, craziest day," he said. "If I start snoring or drooling, just jab me in the ribs really hard with your elbow." I giggled, and the show started.

After the show, he introduced himself, and offered to "buy" me a beer at the open bar.

We started talking. You could say we really hit it off.

You could say that, because one year later, we're still together. Today is our first anniversary.

It's been an eventful year, to say the least. But every event seemed to bring us a little bit closer. I can talk to him about pretty much everything. We now live together. He joined me here in the wild world of LJ. And I can say in all honesty that I love him a little bit more every day. Being with him makes me so very happy, and I can only hope I do the same for him.

Happy anniverary, darling. *mwah*

My boyfriend, the comedian.

Okay, I admit it. When someone gets me good, I'll own up to it. But I will also add that I will have my revenge. I don't know when or how, exactly. It may involve sports. It may involve cooking, or some weird tv "fact." But oh, I will have my revenge.

Day so far is annoying. But, I have lunch with lwoodbloo to look forward to, which would brighten anyone's day. In the meantime, I will do what I can to be productive.

Also, I'm wondering if they're going to put Swisher in the bullpen, or maybe find him a place in the starting rotation. He's certainly useful. Otherwise? 15-5?? WTF? These shenanegains will not be acceptable on Sunday, guys. It's my first trip to the Stadium!!

Let's see.

I shouldn't really be updating, as it's shaping up to be nice and crazy this week. Great. I suppose that was the giant looming dread I felt that made me want to stay in bed this morning instead of going anywhere or doing anything. Thankfully I have yet to be yelled at for not being in possession of a DeLorean with Emmett Brown mods on it. But as it's not even lunchtime, I suppose there's LOTS of time for that.

I feel like I might be coming down with something. I don't know if it's allergies or what, but I do not feel 100%. I do not approve. This probably is why I did not feel like doing anything except sleep today. And why j_bkl had to use dynamite and a crowbar to get me out of bed this morning.

Good weekend, though. j_bkl had the whole thing off for once (WOO!) so we got to spend time together (omg). Friday we went to drinks at the Draft Barn with some friends, Saturday we saw Coraline and had dinner with some other friends, and yesterday was a fun Easter celebration.

Coraline scared the crap out of me, and this is as someone who read the book. Stuff was changed, but I really loved it as a whole. It's nice to know that people are still willing to make visually interesting, thoughtful and compelling movies for kids (that their parents won't want to beat themselves senseless during) that aren't afraid to teach lessons by being scary. It was also very worth seeing in 3-D - it added to the visuals, instead of just being gimmicky. I highly reccommend.

Yesterday J and I got up super early to meet up with his folks, and we headed deep into the wilds of Pennsylvania for an Easter celebration at the home of one of their parents' very gracious, generous friends. I can't really argue with getting to spend the day with nice people, great food and drink, and an absolutely marvelous dog, a standard poodle named Harley, who won my affection by not JUMPING ON ME or trying to lick my face, but who still was friendly and affectionate (he nuzzled me at dinner, and loved being petted and paid attention to). I guess the general mellow-ness of the dog was due to how much exercise he gets on a regular basis in the woods surrounding the property, or perhaps it was just his personaltiy. But I liked him a lot, as I did the rest of the company. (also, fun fact -Standard [not toy!] Poodles were initially bred as hunting dogs, and Harley still has the instincts. It was amazing to see him in action.) I loved having that day in the country, even though I'm tired from all that traveling yesterday.

So now I have to get back to it. I hope the rest of this week passes painlessly, although I have no idea if it will. :P

Firstly, a very happy birthday to my very dear whtegrlwthehair. Love you darling! *mwah*

Secondly, oh, what a night last night. If you've been around long enough, you remember the pigeon incident, but last night was up there on my list of All-Time Wackiest Apartment Shenanegains.

I had dinner with the folks. It was lovely. On my way home, I get a call from j_bkl, who tells me there's a stray cat roaming our hallway in our building, and to be aware of it when I come home, as he's not sure what's going on with it. Greaaaat. So, I tell him I will, then head in.

When I get to our floor, I see J in the hall with a sheepish look on his face, and the recycling bin next to him. Our door is open.

"What happened?"
"Um, well, I thought I heard people messing with the cat, and I wanted to make sure they weren't, so I opened the door, and...the cat got inside of our apartment."
"WHAT?!"
"And I don't know where it went."
"WHAT?! @&*#$%*&$*&"

So, the next 10 minutes or so, we ransack our apartment, turn over everything, look in every corner and crevice big or small enough to possibly fit a cat. Nothing. I even roamed the halls, looking for proof of J's hypothesis that the cat had doubled back out the door. Nada.

Eventually, we found it. It was huddled in the back of our fridge, in the open part where the motor is. We tried to coax it out. We tried to scare it out. We even tried to annoy it out. Nothing. The Cat Would Not Move. I was concerned that the reason it was not moving was because it was ill, so we discussed what to do. Since it was 11:30 at this point, I knew calling Animal Control was a fruitless exercise. So I did the only other thing I could think of: I called redstapler and my Mom.

See, for the uninitiated, redstapler's roommate gaztherat is what you might call an Animal Whisperer. She has an amazing way with furry creatures great and small, and I prayed that she would be able to figure out what to do. Thankfully, she was home, and willing to come help us. At this point, J barricaded me in the bedroom (considering my eyes were swelling a touch and my throat was getting tight and scratchy) and held on to my phone, in case gaztherat needed to call. J called me to fill me in on what the cat was doing, using a voice that sounded like the dude who does the play-by-play of golf on TV.

"The cat has stuck its paws outside of the fridge...and I think...yes! It's head as well! It's coming out...no, it's back in again. It's moving...it's halfway out! It can get out!" (that had been a concern at first).

gaztherat arrives, and the cat bolts again. Since we were smart enough to close almost every door in our place (bedroom, closets, etc), the cat could have only gone so many places. J and gaztherat eventually found it in the bathroom, cowering between the vanity and tub.

This is the cat.

It let gaztherat pick it up, and seemed happy to be held (it didn't even squirm). It was friendly and socialized, and didn't seem to be (too) afraid of people. As you can see, it has a very sweet face. I would have loved to keep it, but I'm super-addicted to this whole breathing thing, so no go there. (Oh, and my eyes not swelling shut. I'm such a bitch, I know.)

We're wondering if it's not a runaway so much as a throwaway, because of how friendly and lost it seemed. It was eventually decided that E should take the cat back to the place where she works, where they will check it out and hopefully adopt it out. That is, if no one claims her from the posters J and I are going to make up and post later. We gave gaztherat some beer for her trouble, but we were all happy that this little ninja cat will in all liklihood find a nice home one way or the other.

J and I finally made it to sleep around 1:30, after he posted his version of events.

If you're in the area and in the market for a nice cat, I will pass your info along.

Things are never boring, are they?

I had a nice trip on the failboat this morning, involving dropped lunch food, missed trains, and other annoyances, some work-based. (Which included being vindicated on something I did do, but was accused of Not Doing. Could I have kept better records? Maybe. But it still Was Not My Fault. Nyah).

A moderate upswing began at 10, when I was able to procure 4 tickets (for j_bkl, blergeatkitty, kip3f and myself) to see U2 this September at Giants Stadium! While I am psyched about the show, I am less than psyched about the venue, and getting to the venue. Still, the new stage set looks like it's going to be amazing, and I know for a fact that these guys put on a great show. So yay for that.

And yay for Camera Obscura tonight! I was super-excited when I grabbed tickets to see them at the Bell House, but almost as excited when I discovered that Laura Cantrell would be opening. Now, blergeatkitty and I have being trying to see Laura Cantrell live for 2-3 years now, each time being foiled in really outlandish and bizarre ways. I'm hoping to break the cycle tonight. Sold out show, too.

But yeah. Life at home with j_bkl continues to be great - I cleaned the holy hell out of the living room this weekend, and we did other exciting things like watch tv and buy groceries! It's honestly wonderful to just have a nice cozy, relaxing nest to go home to. Work is mostly tolerable. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. I have the day off, and J and I will be receiving a guided tour of the NY Botanical Garden courtesy of his mom, who is something of an expert on the subject.

From the Sorry I Missed the First Boat Department is Reaper, which I'm catching up on now and loving. Seriously? The fourth episode (with the Magician) had me laughing so hard people were staring at me on the train this morning. Sam's okay, Sock's got some good lines, but that show belongs to Ray Wise, man. He's awesome.

And last but not least, happy belated bday feminist_poet!!!!

The only sunny spot in this dark cloud called "I have to go back to work tomorrow" is how amazingly awesome, helpful, and devoted my fantabulous boyfriend is.

That is all.  :D

(he is also the silvery, calming lining in my "HOW IN HOLY CRAP AM I GOING TO GET ALL OF THIS DONE" panic.)

I keep starting posts and not finishing them. From the mundane to the less mundane. I'll try to summup.

Last weekend, j_bkl and I celebrated 6 months together. We did so by attending missgyder's birthday party, a performance of Penny Dreadful's at the Brick Theater (had to return to the scene of the crime, after all!) and spent the day up at his parents' incredible country house in Dutchess County. On Saturday and Sunday we were also accompanied by J's friend Will, who was visiting from Colorado for a job interview.

Being in the country was a nice change of place (even if it involved interminable hours of driving on the Taconic Parkway). Still, it reminded me of how very much of a city girl I am. We were standing on his parents' property, looking at the rolling hills of land with very minimal population (comparitive to what I'm accustomed to), and I had a mini panic-attack. The whole notion of "around the corner" being 10 miles or so? Is not something I'm sure I'm comfortable with. (Also? How can it be 'around the corner' if you have no corners?? TELL ME!!)

Anyway, it was a nice day for a road trip, at any rate.

Since then there's been work (yay) and a cold (even more yay). I stayed home from work today because I felt so completely craptastic yesterday and this morning. Thankfully, after a lot of rest and a lot of doing nothing all day except blow my nose and drink fluids, I'm starting to feel better. I'm not all the way there yet, sadly. I'm hoping that tomorrow is the first day out of the cold, honestly. (Part of my mom's 3-3-3 rule about colds. Three days in, where you feel nebulously crappy but can't figure out why, three days on of non-stop sneezy, achy, coughing hell, and three days out of starting to feel better.) The only thing I'll have to decide if I'm up to going to work and going to the party I'm supposed to go to tomorrow night. I hope so.

J will be here in a little bit, so I should go pretend to straighten up.

Firstly, very happy birthdays to missgyder and herrsprengstoff!!!

j_bkl and I have been discussing New Year's Eve plans for about a month or so. Neither of us likes the idea of a night in, nor are we the type to pay ridiculous amounts for bottle service at some douchebag emporium. My hope and idea the last two years was to find a great concert to ring in the new year with. Last year I was SOL unless I wanted to see M.O.E. at radio city. (Hint: my response to that rhymes with the band's name!)

I was hopeful about this year when The New Pornographers announced they'd be playing a NYE show at Irving Plaza. Price was a tiny bit steep, but for a good band and a decent venue, I could deal. Then, they canceled. Then I heard that Yo La Tengo would be playing a New Year's Eve show! But it's in Montclair. I have no desire to trek that far. If I had a car, the idea of highways on New Year's gives me an unhappy feeling. And I don't have a car, so traveling two hours each way (or longer!) for a band I kinda like is unappealing, at best. Especially since they'll be playing at the much-closer Maxwell's for 8 nights beforehand.

I keep hoping someone really good is going to announce a great NYE show, but the odds seem unlikely at best.

I watched Project Runway instead of the debate last night. I keep trying to regret this, but I can't seem to.

Otherwise, GO PHILLIES!! \o/