Thicker than water

In the back of my mind I assumed that there could be problems down the road, but I never really knew exactly how things were going to play out. You see one of my roommates is cousins with my ex. Obviously this is how we met: my ex via my roomie/friend, not vice versa. I've tried being friends with my ex, but lets just say it's a work in progress.

I guess I have been feeling a bit awkward about it over the past few days: Ex visiting the apartment to stay with the roomie. In one sense I'm glad I have been at my parents place, partly to just remove myself from a potentially awkward situation, partly dealing with other life traumas. I totally understand how family is family and I'm not going to say, "I don't want X, Y or Z here," but I really wish I had talked to roomie about it before hand. I guess that's one more thing I need to do before New Years...

Breaking out

Well I'm a free man at last. In the sense that I am no longer a slave to my job... er, former job. Yeah that's right: I'm no longer working for the Hive anymore, as of this past Monday in fact. And honestly I feel somewhat at ease with this. Of course this was not how I would have planned it; moving into a new apartment and losing your job in the same month is never the way to go, but I can't say that I am disappointed. Shocked at the timing of this all, but not unhappy. Obviously I would have rather left on my own terms, but I think this is for the best. Now that I have had time to let my emotions calm down a bit, I can make an enlightened assessment.

I have not been happy with my job for the past two months or so. The fact that I have been looking, and even interviewing at other places, has made this abundantly clear to me. It's really hard to put forth the same effort into your work when you are struggling to justify why you are doing it. Maybe this was reflected in my performance or attitude? I don't know. Any way I spin it I wasn't happy with my role. One, I felt my immediate boss was utterly incompetent. And more importantly I really felt that I had reached the pinnacle of advancement in the company. Sure I feel the company will be heading somewhere, but deep down I didn't feel I would be a part of that. I felt rather pigeonholed in my department with no chance for any more responsibilities, challenges or room to grow.

Deep down I know this is simply one of the many avenues I will experience during my life. But they call 'em first jobs for a reason. This is simply the impetus (wake up call) to get my act together/ducks in a row/ass in gear... so if you are looking for or know someone who is looking for a Jr. Copywriter I'm your man.

Merry Christmas Everyone






Twas the night before Christmas...

And everyone around was still digesting the epic Italian feast. Seriously epic AND Italian. Two words that aren't normally synonymous with my Christmas Eve plans, but this year was unique for many reasons. First of all, this is my first Christmas that I have not been living at home. So in that sense it is a huge deal for me. Second, my family from VA came up for the Holiday weekend. I used to see them every summer when I was younger, but gradually as time and other commitments take its course we saw less and less of each other. Of late though, we have been keeping in contact more and more. Cousin Jon came up this past 4th of July and I made the DC bound-trek twice this past year. And been able to chat with Michelle via the Information Superhighway. It's good: Family is an important bond, which I hope to always appreciate and have. Lastly, dinner and such was held at my parent's house. It's usually always at my Uncle's across the way, but we are having Christmas day there. I'm glad we changed it up. Maybe it's the burgeoning homeowner in me, but I enjoyed having people over to entertain. The groundwork for the majestic housewarming party is underway. Come January...

But along with the good comes the bad. Everyone was here to take part in the revelry, save my cousin B. What can I say: he's in his moody teenager, "I hate my parents/world, but I can drive their car and live in their house" stage. But I guess not too long ago (ten-eleven years or so, EEEEK) I was too.

I preface you with this: it's not the shopping and mass commercialism that killed the Christmas spirit it's the parking.

Taking Christmas spirit and my sense of masochism to the next level I decided to venture out the Mall today. On Christmas Eve: HOTT. I was done with all of my shopping, but lending a helping hand to dad who's been swamped at work of late and who usually needs a helping hand when it comes to getting his shopping done. But I don't mind, mom deserves that and much more to say the least.

Anyways back to the Mall on Christmas Eve. The fact that I wasn't pressing for last minute shopping blunders relieved me. I was able to dart to and fro without being encumbered by the bulk of a bags/parcels. I was also able to take in the "American Splendor" of it all. Mass consumerism at its finest. The kicker was the line for the mall gift cards being 4-times as long as the line for the pictures with Santa pick. But when Santa is obviously some middle-aged skinny guy wearing a cheap polyester Santa beard... well kids are smarter than we think sometimes.

The server crashed at work for the umpteenth time today and I was granted a "bonus" day off. Which means I came in at 9:15 and got to go home at 10:30. Just enough time to mingle with coworkers, open the Christmas gift Keith gave me (a desktop football game ala the paper ones we used to play as kids, that we will play during break and will surely bring disdain from our boss), water the plants in the office and chat up The Architect and exchange a lovely, yet somewhat surprising, in-office embrace.

I know could have been productive today, but I'm taking tomorrow off of work and I'm done with all my Christmas shopping already. This extra time was utilized by indulging in a leisurely afternoon of tossing the football around, running amok in CTown, window shopping on Newbury St., playing video games and taking a nap before a night out with the rommates.

A wonderful start to my Christmas break.

Highlight of my day

So I scored a free eggnog latte at Starbucks today. This may not be that big a deal to most people, but to me it went a long way. I had already ordered my Grande vanilla latte, but a friendly smile and witty banter sure goes a long way in this world. Of course I wasn't planning on drinking two coffees, but brining The Architect a latte equals mad points.

You see you can have your cheerleaders and your nurses. Your Catholic schoolgirls and Silicon Valley blonds. Hooters girls do nothing for me. The one thing that gets my motor running more than anything are the girls at Starbucks. Yeah Starbucks. Maybe it's the crisp white blouses or the green aprons (it's definitely the green apron) but whatever it is, wow.

I don't even drink coffee that often.

When I was at University, I had a friend who worked at Starbucks who I would visit. All fine and good. Drop by, pick up a free hot chocolate, and chat for a bit and on my way to class. Perfectly normal. What wasn't normal was stopping by to see her manager, Tiania, making idle small talk and buying a coffee that I would invariably either throw away or give to my Profs.

I know it's last minute, but anyone who hasn't got me a Christmas present yet: I'm sure Playboy's Girls' of Starbucks is available online somewhere.

Bono's stab at Spanish

Uno, dos, tres, catorce! One, two, three.... fourteen?

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is U2's 14th album.

DISCLAIMER: This post is not a joke or a witty aside about the opening lines to the song. I know it's been said before to ad naseum. Give me some credit guys. Of all the people you know I'm probably the most pop culture and media savvy one out there. I'm merely pointing out that the reason behind "uno, dos, tres, catorce" is that this is U2's 14th album, which I was not aware of. Just trying to be your humble servant of random information.

Popular

If I was 6'3", 230, ran a 4.5 40 and could hit recievers on the fly at 60 yards I to could be dating a super model.

ESPN.com: Page 3 - Quarterbacks still get the girls

Roommate Julie made blueberry scones last night. Normally I'm not a big fan of scones, I tend to find them rather dry, but these were delish. Maybe she made them wrong. Maybe I like coming home to baked treats. Maybe I like my women domesticated. Either way, they were yummy.

Petey a Met



"They're going to have their chances to get me back in that uniform. If they don't get me, it's probably because they didn't try hard enough."
-- Pedro Martinez, after his final game with the Red Sox

Last Thursday

As most of my friends already know I managed a date with the Architect last week. It went smashingly well, exceeding all my expectations. Well not all of them, but all my expectations that I could have reasonably hoped for. She isn't that kind of girl after all. We were supposed to grab coffee together after work, but we both work until 5:30-6 and who are we kidding with the whole coffee business. We were walking to the local Starbucks, when she says to me, "What are we doing? Do you drink?" I started laughing and we decided to grab some drinks instead. Who were we kidding? "Coffee" after 3 pm translates into only one thing : I dig you. Would you like to go out and get to know each other?

I love the fact that I can say we were "consenting adults." One, it means that going out to a really expensive wine bar is ok and two, it sounds like we are much more involved than we actually are. So we went to this really trendy bar after work. Evidently I walk by it almost every day and I never have even seen it. But that's what happens when something is on the second floor of a Brooks Brothers. I thought I was going to be totally out of my element and I was. White or red? White. Crisp or Buttery? Buttery? We'll go with crisp. She really helped me through the drink choices and things went smashingly from there. All the signs Cosmo signs of a good date were there: leaning in to talk, touching your hand, yada yada.

It went really well and I was totally beaming. We hugged goodbye, but we didn't plan anything else. I know she is leaving for Miami this weekend so tomorrow's office Christmas Party will have to do. I hope we get some more time to talk. Wonder what she is going to wear? She's not only amazingly beautiful, but her sense of style is right in my wheelhouse.

Man I need to get a haircut.

8 Crazy Nights

A jew-oriented Google search becomes an issue of faith:



How shrewd.
Google Search for "I love jews"

via Gawker

Sorry I have been negligent in my blogging duties, but one of the drawbacks of moving is the lack of internet and cable. I'm trying to optimize my time at work and have been unable to write as much as I would like.

So the aforementioned lack of cable television is killing me. I missed out on this past Sunday's slate of NFL games, James Spader's brilliant turn in Boston Legal and I don't know what VH1 considered Hot in '04. But on the bright side Kate is just as addicted to Nip/Tuck as I am, so Tuesday nights we plan on watching the Season One DVD (hint, hint).

When describing how I feel about my job, what has a better ring to it trained monkey or trained seal?

Into the big house

Well I finally did it. I made my break from the homestead and am now living on my own. And own my own I mean with my two lovely roommates Julie and Kate. Ah two lovely ladies you ask. Ah, yes indeed I am continuing the tradition of living with members of the fairer sex. The theme from "Three's Company" is cuing up as you read this.

Last night was the first night in the house and if it was any indicator of things to come: smiles, hilarity and hijinks will ensue. To start it off the girls had a scrumptious meal already on the stove just as I was walking in the door. I imagine that this will not be a daily occurrence, but it was a welcoming feeling. Since we have not had a chance to move a kitchen table or any of our larger end items into the place yet, we casually dined on the kitchen floor seated around a lovely cardboard box, eating our pasta off of paper plates and sipping on lukewarm Diet Coke. A fine first meal.

Not needing any more proof that my life is a sitcom written by two junior hacks, our heat was not working. This was ok because slumber party rules were in effect. Everyone haul your pillows and blankets into Kate's room. Three air mattresses, one electric space heater and one room.... So ghetto, so perfect.

Morning in my new apartment. Cold, not a lot of rest, but happy. Happy to be living on my own and dealing with my own problems. The first problem of the day, the $15 parking ticket that was on all our cars. Advance notice to anyone who wishes to spend the night: NO OVERNIGHT PARKING. Second problem: the hour long commute via bus and Redline. Same amount of time from home, but the people who take the bus are a bit more colorful, shall we say.

All in all a wonderful first night in my very own apartment.