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.

This Week in Review

Dear Jack,

Let's see, classes as usual. We have an exegesis due on this week in New Testament. I am not too worried about it, having done some in the past.

This past weekend I hung out with friends, and it culminated with going with Shai and Andrew and some of their friends to the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade. It was pretty cool.. TONS OF PEOPLE... and a lot of it was political. Then I went with Andrew and Shai and another friend, Marcus, to some gay bars and clubs. We hung out at Baracuda, XES, and Park. Park was the most striking, as my usual server at The Big Cup was one of the guys sitting on a swing. He looks like the actor Tag Erickson mixed with Mark Whalberg. My friend Kim calls him the boy in the red hat, as he usually wears one.

It was a late night, but classes were canceled for the majority of the day because the prof. was out of town.

All in all things are going good.

David Barton is My Hero

Dear Jack,

Let's see new friends are Jason, Shai, and Smoake. Those are the closest so far...although I've more that aren't as close yet. And then there is Josh. All of the people I've gotten to know here are pretty cool. I think they are a great group of people, and I'm glad to hang with them.

Last night I went to a modern opera called the Temptation of Anthony at the BAM. I went with a group from the school. I rode in the train back with my friend Rick from California. We ate at John's Pizza in the village, and then walked our way back to the school.

Somehow I convinced him to join me at the gym today. It forced me to have to go. And it was a great time. He knew a lot of what to do, and I had some level of comfort having a friend with me. I will say that I can now go to the gym on my own... and with the wonderous specimens in the locker room... I intend to.

After that we went to Mary Ann's Mexican on 8th Ave.

I was supposed to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art today, but have opted to go to the Jewish History Museum tomorrow instead.

Today I may meet up with some friends later on... maybe go to the Big Cup on a quasi date thing. I don't want to call it a date though.

But that's all going on nowadays.

Saint Francis and Home

Dear Jack,

Since my last post I've attended church at Saint John the Divine Cathedral for the Saint Francis Day Festival. The festival began with liturgical dancing, and banners waving. The music utilized animal sounds, more dancers, choirs, and drums, incense, and rescue animals in procession. One of the most striking features in my mind was the Kyrie which began with the howl of a timber wolf, then a cantor began to intone "kyrie" to the sound of what the had howled. The Sanctus began with humpback whale sounds and streamers waving. Then from the back came a tubular kite in the shape of a whale. The culmination of the service came with the opening of the huge bronze doors which let in another procession, this one comprised of camels, donkeys, horses, cows, owls, hawks, ducks, lizards, bees, even algae and a pet rock. The procession ended at the altar where they all gathered. Then the animals led the procession into the world, followed by the entire Cathedral. It was by far the most extravagant service I've seen so far.

I've begun making some good friends. The one who looks as if will be one of my best friends is a Georgian from Tallapoosa named Jason. He is at NYU and I hang out with him and his friends often. Shai, one of the crew, is a cantor at one of the local synagogues. In a way they are supplying an urban family.

Last weekend I went home to GA. My brother Kris recently returned from Iraq, and he and I were able to make it home at the same time. It was a shame that my other brothers could not make it. Joe was in town, but was apparently to busy to join us for much.

I will say for flying, the easiest thing to do is get e-tickets. Doing so afforded me a lot of extra time, as there was only one line I had to wait in... the security line. Otherwise I'd have to check in, and wait in that line.

I will mention that while in GA I was able to catch up with my friend Joy who has been dealing with a lot of stresses psychologically, recently. She seems to be doing well now.

Well that is all for now.

This coming week we have special lectures on Wednesday from a guest speaker, so classes are canceled. On Thursday we have Honorary Doctorate Commencement. I know we are giving four of them, all graduates of General. Although many of my parishioners at both St. Simon's and All Saints' may not be happy with one of the candidates, I am proud to announce that we will be giving a doctorate to Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson.

My next post I encourage all to read.