New Job

Dear Jack,

Well today I began a new job through Winston. I am working at Amalgamated Bank. The people there are very friendly, and I think this will be a decent assignment.

I wish something had gone through with the Episcopal Church Center, but so far I've heard nothing whatsoever. I guess I will just do my best with this job, and see if anything comes of it.

Other than that, there is not much new going on.

Michael's Birthday was on St. Patrick's Day, and we celebrated twice. On Friday, I cooked dinner and baked a cake. Dan, one of our new friends, as well as Dean and Jason. I think it went well. Then on Sunday, after Church, Michael and I met Bob and Brendan at Spice in Manhattan for lunch. So we were nearly able to see all our friends for Mike's Birthday, 'cept Empy, Kim, Josh, and Albert who were unable to make it...all had good excuses.

Well that is all for now.

End of the Month

Dear Jack,

Well it is the end of January all ready. 1/12 of the year has already past. It is moving too quickly. I still haven't heard back from Jeff C. regarding visiting Georgia with a Buddy Pass. It is sort of aggravating, as I can't plan ahead much and get Michael's ticket.

Dean will be moving here within the week. I'm excited about it, as it will be nice to have another friend nearby, especially one as friendly and funny as him. He will be coming probably on Thursday or Friday, driving. I don't envy the trip.

Father Dan is going to talk with the Bishop about finding out what all I should be doing during my time off, as I've still heard nothing from Atlanta about what my responsibilities and expectations are during my sabbatical. It would be helpful to have some idea other than "gain life experience".

Today is pretty boring--it is cold outside, but hot in here, and I am falling asleep as I work, bored out of my mind, and sick of reading checks and inputting data. I need a long weekend already again.

It is sad to note that Mrs. King died today. There is not much more to say to that, other than I hope the legacy lives on in the children.

St. Bart's has been going well. Albeit Michael and I have to get up at the crack of dawn on Sunday to sing in the choir, we both enjoy it. Last week we went to a parish presentation with a guy who claimed to have found "positive" insight on his "fundamentalist" background. I was disappointed, as he didn't seem to speak anything positive, nor share a common "fundamentalist" background. In addition he kept on labeling everything, and sat there smug, as though his whole life were hurt, and as though he were an expert on all forms of fundamentalism and evangelicalism. The priest, who often comes off as very liberal to me, even said, "We Episcopalians should be careful not to wrongly and arrogantly assume that we are better or more mature because of our understanding". And with that the speaker then said just the opposite, saying that universalism is the more mature faith. It was very disappointing.

Later that day, Michael and I attended a the LGBT group (all but one were gay men...most over 35). The speaker there was Raymond Bagnuolo, who was recently ordained in the Presbyterian Church being open about his homosexuality. It was very interesting to say the least. Mike H. and Steven from Choir were also there, so it appears they too are gay. I'm guessing only our section leader isn't. LOL.

Josh N. should be in town visiting Jason N. this weekend, and we are all supposed to meet up. I look forward to friend time.

Can't Sleep

Dear Jack

It is 5 AM on Tuesday 23 of November and I can't sleep. Over the weekend and yesterday I had some migraines. I am blaming them on Dad and the stress I'm under with him.

Friday I went to dinner with Matthew G., Stephen S., and Rob S. at a horrid pizza hole called Hot Spot. I was less than impressed. Then Matthew and I went to see what was playing at the local cinemas, but neither went to watch a movie. I spent the night in my room relaxing.

On Saturday I met Brendan for the first time. We were intending on going ice skating. Unfortunately it was raining pretty heavily and around 40 degrees, so it was not a good idea. Instead we met up for coffee at the Big Cup. We talked for a good long time about all kinds of stuff. I will say he is a cute guy with nice blue eyes. He has become more and more intriguing, as I've learned of his many interests which include hockey, soccer, stained glass, crocheting, Jagermeister, languages (he knows several), microbiology, and vocal performance. I feel so dumb around him LOL. On top of it all he is a very sensitive and manly guy, despite the cat ears winter hat he wore. (I thought it was cute, he thought it was gay) LOL.

After meeting Brendan, I went with Shai and Shalom (that's SHA-lom) to a thing called Date Bait. I did not expect to get much out of it, and guess what, I didn't. Not a single damned match. Shai got one, and Shalom took tons. Then after some deliberation we went to Daioh for sushi. After that I met up with Andrew, Marcus, Adam, and Andrew's friend Gregg. We went to a place called Boy's Room. It was a crappy place...extremely extremely hot and humid inside, and crowded. I recognized a guy named Andres from Date Bait there. There were strippers doing pole dances on the bars... very sketch. We did not stay long, despite we paid $15 each to get in. There is no website for it...proves it's crud.

The next place we went to was called Spalsh. It was a little bit more ritzy, but still was pretty much the same thing as Boy's Room... just a cleaner setting, cooler setting, and a larger venue. I will say that I did not completely dislike the models strutting there stuff, I am not sure I would want to go back to it. Maybe I'd go with guests to "shock" them into the gay life of NYC. But that would be about it. I left and came home around 1 AM. I talked online with Josh and Brendan.

The next day, Sunday, migraine two hit. BLARG!!! I had gotten up and showered for church, and wham. It was gone by 6 that night. At 10 I decided to go to Shalom's birthday party. I wasn't sure I was going to go because of how I felt, but since I had said I was going, I figured I should. On my way there, I ran into Andrew and Gregg... small gay world so to speak. Shalom held his party at Avalon. Avalon is an old church that was converted into a club in the seventies or something like that, called Limelight. I heard some tale that the original owner chopped up visitors, but it could just be an urban legend. Well my trip to Avalon was unique. In the main dance area (the former Nave), we looked into a secluded, guarded area, and saw Madonna. The Madonna. I would have to say this is my first big-time celebrity to see in person. I know there are probably tons of people who would have flipped out, but I was like "eh, who cares." LOL. Avalon was huge, and filled with too many people. I found myself loafing around Marcus and Andrew, not bad, but I still felt like a loafer. I went home around 1:45 and chatted with Brendan and Josh online (again).

Enter Migraine Three. Having not drank anything, you would think I would not wake up with a headache...ah but that is where you'd be wrong. This was the worst of the three, and hopefully the last of the three. Since it is nearly 5:30 now, and I feel fine, I assume as much.

Having done nothing all day, not eat, not drink, not sleep, not defecate... I joined Rick T. for dinner around 7:30 PM. I ate some soup and then met up with Shai, Shalom and Jason around 9. Then I felt more hungry and had a petite Sirloin at Uno. Then we went to Polar Express (which I had already seen). Then I came back home and, you guessed it, talked with Josh and Brendan online... this time you can add Shai, and Jason too. Brendan was crocheting stockings for Christmas. So domesticated, yet so manly. Josh is coming in tomorrow from New Hampshire which also adds to my light mood.

In addition to this, I am feeling good emotionally... like happy happy... I hope it lasts.

Tomorrow I should also begin moving to my new room... so who knows what will happen with the internet until I get it figured out with Time Warner or Verizon. I hope to be in full operation by the end of the week...who knows for sure though.

It is now nearly 6AM, and I still can't sleep... I get up in an hour LOL to shower before Morning Prayer.

Oh, in addition to all the migraines and partying and paper writing, I read The DaVinci Code. I will be posting on that later.

It's Nov 12 Already???

Dear Jack,

The last post I had was Halloween.

Allen B. came up for a visit. He hung out with my friends and all was good. I am very happy how all of them have gotten along with each other. They all complemented me in my choice of friends. And yes, ALL OF MY FRIENDS ARE COOL. I love them. They make an urban family. Allen hung out with my friend Jason while Shai and I went to the gay bar G. At G, Shai and I ran into Mike from Halloween and his friend Paul. I found myself feeling sort of sad because Mike and Paul seemed to ignore me and really really were pushing themselves on Shai. In the end we learned more than we wanted to about Paul and Mike and their "friendship" which included sex at an AIDS camp. Now we figure they were trying to get Shai to join them for some fun. Luckily Shai is not like that in any way. So we (having met up with Jason and Allen for dinner) just heard their stories and ignored them, and let them go about their lives. It is silly how upset I was feelign being ignored by people who really were nto people I needed to worry about.

In addition that weekend Allen and I saw Rent. I loved it. It made me cry a lot though. I felt really touched by the story and especially by Angel. It was a great time all in all, despite the fact that I was in tears LOL.

On Tuesday Josh came in to town and Jason went into the hospital. Not how things were planned to happen. Jason had an infection from a spider bite. On Wednesday Josh, Shai, and Sha-lom and I went to Sezchwuan Restaurant. After that we went to the Big Cup.

THen we met up with Andrew, Julia, and another friend of theirs and went to see Ray. It wasn't that bad of a movie, but a little long. It was a good thing Josh opted out of the movie, as he needed to be back early, and the movie did not let out until 1:30 AM.

Yesterday I went to Tribeca for spiritual direction. Then I went to visit Jason in the hospital and stayed there till he was discharged. Then we met up with Shai and ate dinner in the Upper West Side.

Today there's not much else going on.