Autumn leaves

Hmmm.... It seems like today is not going to entirely go according to plan. I just arrived at my office to write up the midterm exam that I'm giving tomorrow, only to realize that I forgot my key. Normally this would not be a big deal, as the department secretary has a master key, but she appears to be out to lunch. I came to the copy room to wait (where I am currently using the computer) only to find a technician working on the copy machine. How the hell am I going to copy the exams in time??? I really hope the situation around here improves soon (as in the secretary returns and the machine gets fixed in short order). I'm listening to Elvis-gospel, though, so nothing can really be too ill in the world.

Remember when I was anxiously watching Oz and eating strawberries on Saturday night? The anxiety mounted to the point where I popped a Lunesta before bed. That was at about 2:00 AM. Typically, at 3:00 AM my phone rang. It was Narc. I told him I was asleep. He offered to come to my place. I told him I didn't want him to.

"Why? Because it's too messy."

"Um... yeah."

"I don't care."

"Well, I do."

So... I agreed to go to him. I got up and threw on some clothes, forgetting that I had taken the Lunesta which left me slightly disoriented and very dizzy.

Out into the breezy night to catch a cab. I started to climb into the backseat.

"Come sit in the front," the driver beckoned.

In my slightly drugged state, I guess that made sense to me, so I did. What a mistake! As we cruised down the FDR I had to constantly remove his groping hand from my leg and shoulder. I kept telling him not to touch me, yet for some reason, he still thought it was a good idea to ask for my phone number. It was super gross.

When I got to Narc's, I told him I had been molested by the cabbie. Narc was a little toasted, but in a good way. He told me to take my clothes off and we smoked cigarettes by the window. Then, the usual antics ensued. It was a nice night... a top of the line kind of night when it comes to Narc.

The next morning we didn't wake up until the afternoon. So much for my schedule. I really have to do better with all that. We laid around in bed for quite a while before finally making our way out the Sun Cafe for sushi. He ordered us a "dancing eel roll." It was delicious.

I walked him back to his place, planning on heading home, but he asked me to come back up. I fell asleep with my head on his lap. He didn't want me to go. Finally, after another hour or so of being in bed, I wrested myself away.

Later that night, I had plans to meet up with Hammer. I met her in Union Square. She arrived on her bike. I was smoking in my black hoodie. All very "2005." We walked over to the Gray Dog, a new one that just opened on University. Hammer marveled at its similarity to the one further downtown. We both wondered about the chalk menu boards. I got a sandwich and we sat down to talk. Hammer showed me her recently completed dissertation proposal. I think she has a great project. We chatted and gossiped for a while, and then I got a text from Narc. He was floating around the West village (out for the "obligatory Sunday night martini") and so I told him to come meet us.

When he got there, it was a little awkward. Narc kissed Hammer hello, but the kisses were ill-timed and Hammer did a bit of dodging. She told him about her trip to the Apple store. Hmm... the conversation was not flowing naturally. Hammer decided to take off. Narc checked out some menus at neighboring restaurants while Hammer unlocked her bike. She headed home while Narc and I went over to Saigon Grill.

Narc talked a lot about his friend Laurie. He has a habit of collecting female friends in their late 30's, all of whom are single, pretend to either be or have been models, act like they're in their early 20's and run around the city drinking too much and obsessing over relationships with married, rich bankers. All I have to say about that is "yuck."

We ended up talking about tea, though, and Narc decided that we should try to brew his $50 "King's Tea" that he got in Chinatown. We headed over to M2M to get some tapioca to make the bubbles and he got some Pocari Sweat. Back at his place, it was a cooking experiment with a mediocre result. The tapioca came out much better than last time I made it though, because I mixed some honey in. Then we watched some TV and went to bed.

This morning, before coming over here to my office, I stopped over at Hammer's place to say hi to her and the Alaskan. The Alaskan showed me his mandolin and some really awesome drawings he's working on. Hammer was IM-ing with Sissy and sharing some drama with us about Sissy's friend's fiancee. Yay. It was fun.

And now I am here, waiting for the department secretary to return. It looks like the copy technician behind me may be close to having the machine up and running.

I hate the weather right now. It feels like summer but the sun shadows are behaving like it's the late fall and the evenings are coming too quickly, but are not cold enough. I'm entirely disoriented.

I want to get out of here and go home and take a shower. I have a long night ahead with my meditation meeting and then an anniversary celebration for my friend, M.

Oh-- and if you didn't guess, Brick completely stood me up. I don't know what to say about that except that it fucking sucks, but he is who he is. I'm tired of being disappointed by people. I'm trying really hard not to take it personally.

One last piece of news-- a guy on my soap opera was just arrested for some crazy assault. My favorite part of the article? "He answered the door of his midtown apartment bare-chested, sporting a fresh bruise over his left eye." Ha ha ha ha....

Anyway, that's it for now!

love,
h