The Waterfront Diary

The Walk of 3,000 Calories

TimeSnap — Sat, 15 May 2010 21:28:17 +0000

Are my post titles starting to become more senseless? I don’t think so – unless you stop reading my entries the minute you read the title.

But anyways, today is a special day in the history of my time here in DC. I know you aren’t gonna believe me – and I now regret tossing out the receipt that would validate my claim – but I’ve found the impossible: an all-you-can-eat Italian restaurant in the DC area. Yes – all-you-can-eat. More importantly, it is cheap. Has your mind been collected off the floor and desk after it was blown, following the obtaining of this knowledge? Once you’re able to wrap your head around this outlier of a restaurant, please continue. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.

…

Alright! Let’s begin! So today is the first truly nice day outside that we’ve had in awhile; most of this past week was a combination of March-like temperatures and gloomy, overcast days with spots of rain thrown in for good measure. Being that I haven’t had the chance to flex my muscles in a bit, I decided to walk westward today until I effectively left the District and entered Maryland. I was also walking, versus my usual biking, because it gave me a reason to use my new media player, the Cowon S9, the entire time. Just an extra smidgen of information: My parents purchased what I considered the “ultimate gift” for my birthday this year, which was the S9. I seriously didn’t think they’d shell out the money for it, but they did. And because they’ll be on vacation during my birthday they decided to buy the S9 a month ahead of schedule. YAY!!! Needless to say, I’ve been going nuts since it arrived.

So back to my westward walk. I decided ahead of time to make Georgetown a walkthrough destination since I haven’t been there in over a year. As I was doing my New York thing, walking in the streets to avoid the slow-moving crowds of yuppies, college students, and tourists on the sidewalk, some of whom looked at me as if I was crazy for moseying alongside active traffic, I looked over some restaurant menus and bars just to get a sense of the pricing around there. Surprisingly, I did find a number of places that I’d like to hit up one evening, in part because the prices were reasonable. Don’t ask me to recall the names of any of them – I totally forget. And I didn’t grab business cards because the only thing I had on my jogging outfit was the iPhone holder which attached incredibly tight on my shorts – a very good thing since I had no intention of wearing a belt with something that didn’t require one.

About a good hour and change later, after I walked across the Key Bridge and walked to the northern tip of Arlington Cemetery, I realized that I entered Virginia (I was really absorbed into my media player…) and proceeded to walk back. Once I re-entered DC, I decided to postpone my epic walk for another day and started my walk back home. However, as I walked east on M Street NW I made the decision to turn right on Wisconsin Ave… I don’t quite know why. When I reached the bridge that crossed Rock Creek, that’s when I saw it: a plain-looking chalk board with those magical words, “all you can eat: $12.95″, in redish chalk. After observing teh taped explanation of their buffet menu and the pricing, I decided to take a chance – after all, most places nearby sold burgers for 8 bucks and full plates of food for much more, so I figured “What the hell” and see how this place was.

The restaurant is Filomena Ristorante, and I was hesitant to enter at first because the decor looked very nice – and I was wearing a sleeveless jogging outfit with pretty short shorts. But my stomach, combined with my curiosity, relented, and I entered. Once I was seated, the first thing on my mind was “holy crap, I am seriously standing out like a hot sore thumb right now” – almost everyone else in the restaurant were either in suits, fairly dressy (think Sunday church-like clothes), or the equivalent of business casual. Though there were a couple of people in casual wares, but I was the only one who looked like I ran about ten miles. All my concerned were washed away by the aroma of italian dishes and the view of buffet tables. Once I felt pretty confident my S9 and iPhone wouldn’t disappear if I left them at my table, I practically speed-walked to the nearest stack of plates, grabbed two of them, and proceeded to plop large quantities of everything on them. Giant meatballs with spaghetti; pizzas; alfredo pasta; chicken – I went nuts. I must’ve eaten enough food for about two or three people, but I definitely got my 13 bucks worth of food in my stomach, that’s for sure! I tipped generously, in part because I know I was underdressed and I didn’t want them to think about banning me from coming back. Little do they know, I’ll be making a return trip one day…

After the unexpectedly large meal I walked back home, which was pretty uneventful – not that I was paying much attention to my surroundings, as my long-lost music was singing sweet tunes into my ears the entire way.

And now, one relieving shower later, I am ready to continue what should be a very interesting Saturday. Good bye everyone!

Let’s Do It Again

TimeSnap — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:17:40 +0000

We’re approaching the end of April, folks, which will effectively knock out one-third of 2010! Man, this year is just flying by – I guess that’s what happens when things work out for you. It definitely sucks that when you are having nothing but good times, it seems that time certainly goes significantly faster than when, say, you’re in a rut. Nevertheless, we’re here, so let’s recap the business and exploration end of things in the DC area!

The “Golden Triangle” area, the name of the section of DC I now work, has quite a bit of variety where food is concerned. (Don’t you love it how my first thoughts on a given area tend to gravitate towards the satisfaction of my stomach?) Aside from the obligatory fast food chains that are nearby, McDonalds being my most frequented of them all, I’ve mostly been spending my lunch money on this organic joint called Freshii and at this awesome sammich joint called Potbellies. Potbellies I know I’ve discussed here before, but I’m just glad they are right across the street from my office, I’ll repeat that much again! Freshii hasn’t been around too long, but after a failed attempt to find a falafel place on 18th Street I just wandered westward until I saw their sign. I recently was crushed by a very nice serving of chicken teriyaki from there, something that doesn’t happen to me much around here without doubling up on orders of food (such as my gluttonous “two double-cheeseburgers and a McDouble” order from McDonalds), so I know I’ll be going there again soon. If anything, I want to place a custom order (something they allow) that’ll consist of a rice bowl and all the meats they offer there – with no vegetables. I really hope I get some raised eyebrows and remarks from the guy who takes my order about it since I’d effectively be negating their entire “let’s serve healthy dishes” stance that they seem to have. It’ll probably cost $15 bucks, but I don’t care – gotta do it!

One of my co-workers mocked my inability to consume a meal that consisted mostly of rice and vegetables (he ordered the same thing from Freshii today and promptly crushed it in under ten minutes), but my reminding him that I can practically eat whole cows in a single sitting quieted his boasting! But yes, although I can eat a near-endless supply of animals (as was briefly discussed over laughter, “animals have the right to be tasty,” a great slogan from a demotivational poster), the simple addition of wheat products, rice, or pasta will make my time at a dinner table end very quickly.

On the breakfast front, I found my favorite spot in International Plaza: this Chinese-run place that makes some wicked sausage, egg and cheese sandwiches for $2.50. The woman that frequently runs the place in the morning is always there to greet me with a smile and is quick to get started on my order before I say anything more (well, other than “Good morning!”). I am really tempted to try out other things on their breakfast menu but usually I bring my mega-sandwich to the office so I can start working at my self-imposed 8am arrival time! Too early? Not when I can leave the office just after 4pm, which has been great, as I’d rather travel around town weekday afternoons than when the sun sets. Plus, getting out early like that gives me plenty of time to prepare for any “evening activities” that may have been planned out.

As for the dinner options, there’s also a fair amount that’s offered, though you really have to walk up a few blocks to really open those doors. Being a stone-throw away from the Dupont Circle area makes for bar or restaurant-hunting a breeze since there’s a lot of both. I recently went to Recessions at the recommendation of one of my housemates, which I can see would have potential on a Friday night (they seem to have all you need for a alcohol-fueled session of karaoke), but the service was pretty painful at 6:30pm on a Wednesday. Not to mention the interior was pretty run-down – but like Calvin’s father always says: “It builds character.” Will I be going there again? Most likely!

Oh, and a new and greatly-improved Safeway supermarket finally opened up in place of the old, ghetto-blasted Safeway. Two points to make here: They have alcohol and they have self-checkout. Thank god!

In other news, the recent attendance of Too Many Games in Reading, PA, was a success! Not a total success for me, if only because out of the six games I had on my wishlist I only found one of them, but the game found is quite the gem: “Aerobiz Supersonic” for the SNES. And it is as challenging as I remember it! I also picked up the NES version of “Tetris”, thus completing my collection of all major Tetris games for the old-school Nintendo consoles and handhelds. I also met one of my favorite artists in the gaming scene, Aimee Dingman, and got a chance to ogle at her latest works (one of which was an amazing piece from “Chrono Trigger”) and discuss how her art business is going. At the end of the day, I commissioned her to create another custom piece for me – I cannot wait to see the results! The trip to Too Many Games was a ton of fun, though out of the five guys that were supposed to join, one of them dropped out at the 11th hour. Fortunately, he was more than willing to still pay for his share of the car expenses and felt pretty bummed about missing out. In retrospect, it’s better that he didn’t go because I think the back seat would’ve been a crush for three people. But that’s something we’ll figure out for 2011…

So far, 2010 has been a brilliant year, and though it’s almost 1/3 complete, I cannot wait to see what else is in store for me down the road! Take care, everyone!

Exploring Around the Job

TimeSnap — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:52:31 +0000

After the end of Week 2 at my new job, there’s a few things I’ve learned related to the neighborhood I’m in. During my 30-minute break on Thursday, I decided to walk around for the majority of the time since the weather was actually nice – at least compared to days prior. This time, I walked northward, as far as Dupont Circle which, surprising me, was much closer to my building than I originally thought. Not only that, but on 19th Street there are a lot of restaurants – and one bar – that caught my eye. And being that it was the middle of the day, I didn’t realize I walked to the Dupont Circle station until I saw the large CVS and Krispy Creme. This also means that the restaurants and bars I have been to, over on Connecticut, are also walking distance from my job! Seriously, things just keep getting better and better with the exterior perks related to my job location!

Speaking of food, I decided to also try out breakfast that is served in International Square on Tuesday. Although a number of the lunch joints served breakfast, from pancakes and toast to your egg and cheese on a roll, I went to the chinese place (next to Five Guys, which was definitely still closed) for a simple egg and cheese on a roll, a staple breakfast that is both cheap and usually filling. I assumed that they charged $1.50 for it, but apparently what they advertised on their board was NOT what they gave me because I got billed three dollars for egg and cheese on a friggen roll! When I asked why they have $1.50 listed for this, the guy said that was egg and cheese on toast for a buck fifty, and confirmed that asking for a roll was the extra money. BULL-SHIT. Wow. I paid, but hoped that the price would be made up in quality. Unfortunately, the breakfast roll was not good at all, which I even found surprising because you can’t really mess up something like egg and cheese. But indeed, I did not complete the roll satisfied. Oh yes, I did finish it, but that’s because I spent three dollars for it! I could’ve paid for two pancakes and toast for less! After that experience, I will not be going back to them again for anything. Perhaps the burrito place that advertises pancakes will be my next experiment for International Plaza breakfast. Right by the metro station entrance is also a buffet place that also serves breakfast, and it was pretty crowded when I looked in, so I’ll have to ultimately go there to give their food a stab.

With that, I’m gonna call it a day with this entry, as I am presently back in NYC to attend my mom’s retirement party!

Mapping Things Out

TimeSnap — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:18:54 +0000

I tried out a different route to my job today, as I had no intention of passing through that damned Chinatown stop, which leaves you in a train stuffed like a sardine can, except that it can smell worse because at least sardines can be kept at room temperature and smell good after opening them. Today, I transferred at L’Enfant Plaza to catch the orange/blue train to Farragut West. I briefly considered transferring at Metro Center for the redline (by then, the red train practically empties out so during rush hour you’ll actually be able to grab a seat there, if not a lot of standing room), but once I was on the train, which pulled in almost as soon as the last one left, I got lazy and decided to just ride the whole trip to see how long it would take. Getting out at 17th and Eye (the signs read “I” but most of the buildings spell “Eye” for the street… yeah, DC is weird like that), the ride took, from my door to the ground level of the station, about 25 minutes – not bad, considering I had to now walk an extra block north. However, I walked along Eye Street before hitting 19th, checking out what was around there, particularly in terms of food. The first thing that caught my eye was a Bank of America, which is not food, I know, but at least now there’s an ATM near me upon getting out the train station at Farragut West that won’t charge me three friggen dollars to take money out. Not much at the street level where food was concerned, but I did walk past “International Square,” an underground plaza with banks and a large food court. The word “pizza” glared at me from the restaurant and fast food chain list, so I knew where I was going for lunch.

Let’s fast-forward to that part of the day, shall we?

Yay, lunch!!! I walk over to 19th and K when I see the same sign for International Square, except that it was on K. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, that was also an entrance to the same food court, which I would utilize both when leaving to go back to work and to go home. But anyways, once I’m in the food court, it was pretty much what I expected, except that there wasn’t a single true fast-food place there, unless you count places like Au Bon Pain and Five Guys fast food. The lines for most places, which ranged from burgers and pizza to Chinese and Greek, weren’t that long, even for a lunch hour, but I was here for one reason: to try their pizza! Finding the place was easy enough, but as I stood on line, I scrolled through their menu only to see what they were charging for a slice: $3.40! What. The. FUCK. There is no pizza in a hundred miles that is worth $3.40 – I’d rather spend that much on a round from Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn because at least that is worth that much – and they charge only two dollars! Cursing under my breath, I bypass the pizza place and look for an alternative, but because I started to become indecisive in my next choice, I settled for Five Guys and got a double-cheeseburger. No place to sit once I got my food, so I ate while slowly walking to the exit.

Another great day! And I decided to finally resume doing what I should’ve started to do on Day 1: purchased meats, cheese, and a loaf of bread so I can make myself some sammiches for lunch! Now instead of spending $30 a week on food, I can spend $7 every two weeks on food. At least for lunch. Dinner I go all out when I actually have something of a decent meal.

Day 1 (Again!)

TimeSnap — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:35:18 +0000

A new year, a new workday... (taken from my bedroom window)

Today was my first day on the job, working for a non-profit organization that strives to provide the elderly proper health coverage throughout the nation and representation within the US government. I got home about 30 minutes ago and am still riding high from the rush of having a new, full-time job! I will say this though: today’s commute was horrible. Just painfully horrible. The greenline train rolled in pretty quickly, so I figured “Great, I now have 20 minutes before 9pm, but I’ll still get there 5 minutes early,” but then I decided to ride the redline from Chinatown. When I approached the platform, I knew that either 1) a train would be coming at any moment, or 2) there are massive delays. Yes, it was #2. If it weren’t for the book I was reading, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, the 20-minute wait – yes, twenty minute wait – would’ve been just agonizing. And because Chinatown is a major subway hub, my platform basically doubled in population every seven minutes. I took position perilously close to the edge of the platform, thus blocking anyone’s attempts at quickly navigating from one end of the platform to the other, but once I did it, about ten other guys followed suit, so I didn’t feel too bad about it. Around 8:55am, I called work to tell them I’d be running late… I felt pretty bad about that, calling in late for my first day on the job, though it wasn’t my fault at all. Once the train pulled in, it was pretty packed already, but memorizing the door’s opening position on the platform, I was in the most ideal place, though once I was able to enter the car I was damn-near trampled. I think if I was not as tall as I was, people would’ve crushed me! It was a sardine can going to work, but that’s ok – once I was on the train I felt a little better.

Enough about that commute – let me tell you about the immediate neighborhood I’ll be working in because the area is suh-weeeeeeeet! Potbellies (think high quality subs + low prices, something Quiznos wishes it could do), a fully-stocked wine and liquor store and large deli across the street; a Staples next door; Borders book store one block away – and those are just the places that immediately caught my eye because of my high interest levels in all of them! I didn’t bother exploring the area during my 2pm lunch break because of this blisteringly cold weather, but I did speed-walk straight to that Potbellies I mentioned before. And I did what I wanted to do last week: order their PB&J sammich! Ehh, sub, rather, but still! It was also the first time I’ve had PB&J together on toasted bread.

Oh. My. GAWD. The first bite into this sub was a ticket to board the nostalgia train, 12-years-old-bound on the express track. The second bite, some jelly squeezed out of not one but two sides of the sub, getting on my fingers and plopping onto the wrapping it came in, boarding the train in the process. The third bite, this time from the other side so I could catch the excess jelly this time, and a blob of mixed PB&J jumped out from the side I previously bit into and fell to the wrapper on the table below, the purple and peanut-buttery textures mixing into a swirly blur of holy matrimony. At the same time, one of my forefingers slid across a part of the top of the sub; apparently, a smear of jelly got on top when wrapped. WHOO-WHOOOOOOO!! That train pulls out, full-steam ahead! I didn’t even care that some of my fingers were covered by jelly and spots of peanut butter got on various parts of my hands; that large drops of PB&J were landing on my wrapper with each bite, regardless of where I was biting into (I frequently turned the sub every which way to best determine my next point of attack); that I was wearing a suit and tie, risking their getting dirtied up. Face it, about five minutes into eating that sub I reverted to a 12-year-old boy again, with nary a care in the world!

After lunch, I went back to what I might as well start calling my daily grind, except that I’m actually enjoying the work I’m doing – because it’s actually challenging! I’m going to see if I can have my hours extended by one so I can have an 8am-5pm workday. I’m seriously stoked that I landed this gig. Will my tune change over the next couple of months? It’s always possible, but for now, I’m riding this wave of success and full-time employment, living by the day!

A Final Post for 2009

TimeSnap — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:13:47 +0000

I know I posted an entry earlier this month that pretty much summarized 2009; the good, the bad, and the ugly. However, there is one thing that happened on Christmas Eve that has defined how 2010 is going to start. And if this event’s predecessor, which occurred on Christmas Eve 2007, is any indication, 2010 is going to be yet another boom year for me! What happened on Christmas Eve in both 2007 and now 2009?

I GOT A JOB!

Yes, after several months of looking, hunting, getting shot down constantly (and that was when I actually got responses back), and landing interviews that ultimately flopped for one reason or another, that elusive full-time job that I’ve wanted so badly has now been locked in, the starting date being January 4th, 2010! What a gift, too: I got the phone call at 11am Christmas Eve, while I was on the bus to NYC. I practically hit the ceiling when I got the news from the agency that the interview I had was not just a success but a blowout. I’ll provide more details on the new job description once I’ve begun working there, so don’t worry folks – you’ll get your detailed feeding soon! Of course, if you know my phone number or email address you can ask me that way…

Back in 2007, I received a text message from the recruiting firm I worked with to land my last full-time job. The text was received Christmas Eve as well; as they say, the rest is history. The year of two thousand and eight, from beginning to almost the end, was brilliant. I am looking forward to how 2010 plays out… and so far, I am liking the direction things are now going!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

TimeSnap — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 06:17:53 +0000

Official: It’s WINTER!

TimeSnap — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:18:09 +0000

Looking down 4th Street SW

YES! Finally, a real winter! Haven’t seen snow like this in probably two years, maybe a little more than that! Those weather forecasters were definitely on-point regarding the amount of snow that would come down today!

When I woke up, I never expected this! About 30 minutes after I got out of bed, I rushed into some warm clothes, tossed on my hoodie and coat, my Tim’s (about time – they’ve been sitting in a plastic bag since before I moved out to DC), grabbed my camera and ran outside to take a flurry of pics! My first step into the snow, which was just beyond the back exit of our house, was easily 8 inches deep! Once I got out onto the parking lot, a foot of snow was easily the average amount everywhere, but in many spots it was deeper. SNAP-SNAP-SNAP! My camera went nuts at the scenery as I ran out onto the normally-busy 4th Street SW; today, the only sound was the wind blowing and the crunching of snow under my feet as I walked from the sidewalk into the middle of the street. The first person I ran into was coming from the nearby Safeway supermarket, covered up good and with two big shopping bags in hand. I asked him jokingly, “How were the lines?” His response: “Man, I was in and out in five minutes!” We briefly exchanged laughter about how people last night were freaking out over the coming storm, creating lines 20 people deep per register (I just heard about that from Jillena, but I’d believe it, considering how businesses in DC have closed over just a few inches of snowfall, let alone a foot or more – who knows how these natives would react), and then he continued on his way.

I also met a nice, old couple walking in the middle of the street, also with Safeway bags in tow. As we crossed paths, the guy asked me if this was my first time seeing snow. “Nah, but I haven’t seen it snow like this in DC since I moved out here,” I said with a big smile. They slightly bowed and continued on their way. (The pic above is them, by the way.) Although the street was lightly traveled, not a single vehicle of any kind went up and down it as I snapped pics of the transformed land.

I’ll be heading out to Safeway in an hour or so with my housemates to take full advantage of everyone else staying home, but I’m really going just to be outside some more! I just love the snow when it’s like this!

Here’s the rest of the photos I’ve taken so far today. Odds are good more will be added before the day has concluded. (Webshots)

First Major Snowfall

TimeSnap — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:53:46 +0000

I just looked outside my bedroom window after watching Machine Girl and Altered States via Netflix – two movies that I definitely would recommend, the former for those campy action foreign types (it’s SO over-the-top on the violence it’s hilarious) and the latter for the message it conveys and, more importantly, how it’s conveyed, which will rip your mind to pieces. But I digress… the first snowfall is upon us, sticking to everything, including the pavement, thus making this official. Looks like we already have a few inches already settled everywhere, and it’s scheduled to continue well into tomorrow, so I look forward to seeing if they’ll be enough snow to have a snowball fight – haven’t done that in awhile! Hopefully my housemates will be up to a little horseplay in the parking lot beyond our backyard.

In the never-ending glow that this city has hovering over itself, far different from New York City, the snow looks very inviting. Maybe that’s because, as comic book creator Bill Watterson would tell you, fresh snow covering the world essentially makes the world a fresh canvas, waiting to be re-painted into something new. Huh… great symbolism, especially considering that this year is almost over, especially today. Anything is possible in the coming year, and that’s something that both excites and frightens me at the same time. I guess I wouldn’t be human if I wasn’t capable of such conflicting emotions occurring at the same time.

I looked out my window again, peeking through the black curtains, perhaps hoping that the amount of snow enveloping everything is, in fact, there and not a figment of my imagination. I must really want some change in my life to have the world become a fresh canvas for me to do what I want with. I am confident that I will make that change happen, especially in 2010, and in more than just my landing a new job. We shall see what happens as the bell strikes midnight, heralding in a new year… a fresh, white canvas.

I looked out my window again…

Cloudy with a Chance of Awesome

TimeSnap — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:30:37 +0000

Ahh, the Christmas season! I must say, for a day that started off with me down in the dumps, it’s ending magnificently! Actually, this whole week so far has been pretty good overall! Where to begin… well I gave my Christmas gift to Jillena yesterday – a Steelers floor mat. She was definitely blown away at the gift (as indicated by her wide eyes and huge smile upon uncovering them – yes, I asked her to cover her eyes), and maybe even at the fact that I got her anything at all. The mat’s new home is at the foot of the commonly-used back door to our house. Along those lines, I gave my other housemate, Elaine, a Christmas card – one that she laughed at a number of comments within, so I’m glad that I got my messages across! Yes, Christmas in DC has been good so far.

On the subject of gifts, I’ve completed all Christmas shopping this past Monday! Thank goodness! And the one person I was having the most trouble finding a gift for I found a gift at the most random of places – the Union Square Christmas shopping space! And I know he – or she – will just love it! (Don’t worry, you’ll know who you are in a couple of days…) I mailed out a number of cards to both close friends and family much earlier in the month, maybe too early for some, which I guess was the point. I think most people expect to receive cards in mid-December by mail, which is not a dead medium for communication! Yes, e-cards are nice, but come on, how can THAT compete with a hand-written message – with ink – along with a physical card that you can place at the center of a table with other holiday cards? OK, you can print the e-card… but really, if a printed e-card were to fight a traditional Christmas card, that Christmas card will beat the SHIT out of that e-card. I don’t care how raunchy or zingy that e-card is. No chance! Oh, and last time I checked, you can’t print animations, but some physical cards have lights and sounds embedded in them… one-two punch to the e-card gut and face, and he’s down! TKO!

Wait, New York City on a Monday during the holidays? What is this, 2007? Nope, I was actually in The Big Apple, as a number of people know. Why? Four words: Reyna Alcala’s Holiday Party. But two even more important words: Ying performed!!! In a nutshell, it was an event that had some really amazing, mesmerizing, hypnotizing, hot, belly dancing, which was accompanied by middle eastern music. Three key dancers performed that night, one I didn’t know (but ultimately had good rapport with afterward), and two dancers that I’ve known for years: Julia and Ying. I’ve been invited to this party, which has happened pretty frequently over the past couple of months, but because they were usually on weekdays I’ve never been able to come up to NYC and attend. This time around, with Ying performing for the first time, I just could not miss this, so with the help of Mahi (loves ya!) I managed to totally knock Ying to the floor with my surprise attendance! And wow, she was SO happy, which made me just as happy. Then she and Julia repaid the favor my knocking me out with their belly dancing moves. Wow… just wow. On top of that, my boy Amir was there, which surprised me because I didn’t know he’d be showing up; his present work schedule’s been pretty prohibitive where meeting up at night’s concerned, but I guess he had the same thoughts as I did. That night was just awesome, from entering Union Square to leaving Luca Bar – yes, that was fun too, because walking around the City at night is what it is… and being away from home definitely brings out the best in me.

Home… I’ll be back Christmas Eve, and then for that weekend, so my peoplez, we’ll figure stuff out for that weekend for another get-together! And with that, I must take my leave, as I have one more campaign in Left 4 Dead 2 to complete with my online crew in a few minutes. I’ll be back.