My brother quotes Morissey in tense situations...

My mom and I talked on the phone for a while during which she expressed relief and gladness that my brother and I talk to each other when the parents are not there. Yes, yes we do - we talk about the parents! My brother and I long ago managed to create a shorthand way of communicating: a mix of childhood references and pop culture and the the expression of love etc. through the giving of strange but very appropriate presents. Two examples:

1. The summer I taped Silver Spoons everyday and gave the VHS tapes to him at Christmas because it was his favorite show.

2. The time my brother found out there was mint Yoohoo and decided to buy me the YooHoo because I like mint and also bought about 20 other drinks and set them up on the table for me to have an official taste test.

Last night I had dinner with some people from grad school and some of their friends. Essentially everyone was an arts administrator. There was a great deal of "shop talk" and then the passing of business cards. These are people who really want to be arts administrators, who name drop and talk about how rebranding is overrated. I never saw me getting an arts administration degree as the be-all end-all of anything. I view my degree as a way to have some skills and do other things besides theater.

Then I took my debit card receipt and wrote business dinner on it. I'm gonna deduct that shit. My friends were mystified by the concept of quarterly filing for freelancers.

There was also much talk about flu shots. I felt like I was forty but it was nice to see these people.

Liz and Michelle's apartment has been labeled with Spanish stickers....I know when I use a cup now I am using "la taza" and "la affrombre" is outside my room and you are supposed to wipe your feet on it (it's a rug fools!). I helped label and learning is fun.

Sour Cream Smells Like Bad News She Said

I saw a girl in yellow plastic boots passed out in a car racing video game booth. The bouncer carried her out, an ambulance came, there was some vomiting, a glass bottle was thrown, then she disappeared.

I hope she was ok. What did she think tonight when she put on her yellow plastic boots - "Tonight will be fun" - did she think the racing video car game was her own car and she was going home? I never want to be in that kind of situation, but I can't help but think maybe she thought "I'm just going to have a really fun night" and it went belly up.

I watched crazy music videos in French today by an artist named Anais (there should be that little double dot thing over the "I" in her name, but I don't know how to do that). I'm living in a house with a 501 French verb book and two fluent French speakers. I think is time to learn for reals this time.

I got another "you can live with us" offer for a very cheap place in Harlem... people are really nice. And a lead on a place in Astoria...real estate moves fast, my friends move faster.

Due to debris at 77th Street the 4/5/6 all but shut down. It took me way too long to get anywhere last night. I desperately need my phone. A phone...a smoke signal...some way to contact people.

I know two people taking Arabic for fun! I know someone who spent a Saturday morning playing rugby with little kids. I met someone from Carnegie Mellon who recognized me from working at the Art Store at a show. I also walked into a writer's group meeting at the KGB Bar (they are not communists there even though they sell Russian beer and have the Communist Flag- the bartender thought I seemed over concerned so I told him about my Communist Party T-shirt). I talked to someone who works in medicine and writes for fun because he was intrigued by the fact I didn't have a cell phone and was trying to use a broken pay phone.

I think the point I'm trying to make is that New York is kind of wonderful in its mixed up own way.

In the words of Dave, you haven't lived until someone has fucked you over.

I've decided that feelings are too complicated. I'm trying to figure how anger, regret, joy, and somehow feelings for another man all can mix up together in any sort of functional fashion.

Dear Dave and Mike P.,

Thank you for the beers and the probably not idle violent threats against a certain boy.

Go Texas.

Love,

Andrea

I got all my bank details for London in the mail....I have two cards with two different account numbers and I'm not sure what that means.

I also found out one of my friends is possibly in a pyramid scheme selling some sort of juice....

I can only ask...how did we all get here?

I don't want to be sad about someone that didn't let me be me. I also don't feel ready to deal with any kind of romantic inklings towards other people.
It's almost 6 am and I am still awake.

Peace kids, I'm pretty freakin' tired.

I buy special edition sneakers.

I bought a pair of ridiculously high priced converse on sale. I stand by my Jack Purcells.

Someday if you really want to know about my sneaker obsession ask me about Pro Keds circa 2001 - 2003. If you like shoes like I do then you will know what I say when I refer to the brightly colored Keds with the different colors on the toe. They were pretty popular in Japan and sometimes you can find a pair on Ebay though never in my size.

Pro Keds has now been sold to Roca Wear so the entire look of the division has changed.

Regular Keds (which I never liked until one or two styles until last year) has changed its image with the whole Mischa Barton invasion.

Anyways, I finally found a pair of pants. Yes, I am obsessed with clothes, just not in the way you think...it's all about details. FYI, if you ever want to buy me a present just head to Anthropologie - I am considering getting a job there specifically for a discount....or maybe just befriending one of the shop girls.

Shopping is very useful at times, but not when you are trying to get into the MAC cosmetics store and 2 out of 3 doors are locked and the salesperson thinks that it is fun to mess with over this fact. My compact was dropped last night and shattered in the chaos at the Neo Futurists show so I bought a new one. All of this shopping was done on about 3 hours of sleep.

Tomorrow I will redeem myself with a post about 365 days of theater, why I love the Public Theater in NYC, and generally a review of the cabaret I saw. And a story about the shortest stupidest cab ride I ever took and why I like Bed Sty. And a little piece about Communists, Writer's Clubs at the KGB bar, and why broken pay phones help you make friends.

I think a pack of wild dogs may have gotten into the trash between 12th and 16th Street around 5th Avenue.

To the TORTIES!

Having been at the Galapagos Art Space last night in Williamsburg, it seemed only appropriate to toast the tortoises (as in the Galapagos Tortoise) which became the war cry of "to the TORTI" because who doesn't like a little innocent creative plural making.

I also enjoyed the moments of "Look at that dude....Look at all his HAIR!" and I began to judge every boy/man in the bar only based on their hair. There is a lot of creative hair on mans in Williamsburg.

http://www.jezebelmusic.com <--- If you live in NY or sometimes like to visit check out this website. They have neat stuff. I am officially a fan of both their bands and their venue spaces.

When I got home I sat and stuffed my face with more free catered sandwiches...it was awesome.

Things I Need to Do
1. Figure out who has my "Cheap Bastard's Guide to New York" because I need it back.
2. HAIRCUT - like it's my job
3. I either need to buy another pair of pants or do laundry....my head says do laundry.....my gut says buy some pants.
4. Finally start that band. I figure I need to do about 3 performances to really get it out of my system.

I am glad my friends let me rant and then yell "play some tuuuuunes".

Bars in Brooklyn, Good Times on Tap

Recovery 101.

I went to a free show with several bands, one of which is the Lisps and they are quite enjoyable! Basically seeing all these bands made me think that having a band wouldn't be so hard and the experience encouraged me to write...so it was a good time.

I scoped out the Williamsburg stock of men and realized for the first time in a while, I can do whatever I want. I had a wonderful time speaking with Liz and Michelle and friend Kate (Cate?!?). There are plans for a brunch which will include others....

The great thing about NY is that every night has the potential to be an adventure. This one was low key but it felt good. I'm very much looking foward to a theater festival this summer of some sort....and if all the boys in NY look like the Williamsburg crew then I am in for some fun.

I now have a new found respect for the tambourine and a little bit of a crush on the drummer of the Lisps. And cheers to fun bartenders too.

If this is my new life, bring it on....I ate catered food from Michelle's work for dinner and post drunk snack...awesome.

I heart my options. They are great.

Holding Court in Union Square

I spent the afternoon of my first day back dodging the snowfall and leaping the snowdrifts and then proceeded to look at jobs for a few hours in the Union Square Barnes and Noble.

Essentially I ended up holding court there whilst my friends came through one by one.... a few emails were sent because people asked what country I was in and soon enough people to have a sports team came over to kick it in the cafe.

I never did apply for jobs although there are many because I'm waiting for my phone in the post. Moms is on it and already sent it to my new home. My cup overfloweth in fact with options...

I'm sleeping on an air mattress again but this one was purchased for my arrival and set up quietly for a surprise by some of the best people I know in NY - the kind and caring Liz and Mikki, my own Statues of Liberty welcoming me back.

I've already run into a friend unexpectedly. It was a bit awkward as I was returning unshowered and dirtball to Brooklyn with the morning commute. She expected me to be in London, and I replied that I too had expected to be there as well. With a hug and some well executed verbal barbs towards the other side of the ocean, she said that she was ecstatic to see me again.