A while ago I read this book.  Now I’m reading this book which has led me to listen to this song on repeat (as I will so often do when I need something to really sink in).  And if you head on over to the Wikipedia page for that song and scroll down to Legacy, you’ll see some interesting facts on just how popular that song is.  Now what I would like to know is why the fuck does everyone on the planet have such a thick skull?  The ideas provoked here obviously resonate with anyone who has half a brain, yet nothing really seems to change.

It was a few years ago that I rejected the idea of religion and any superior being that so much of the world puts their faith into.  Though they are all founded on human morality, they have been polluted with meaningless rituals and lists of rights and wrongs.  Who is to decide what is moral?  We’re all human.  It doesn’t make sense that any one person or group of people know what is ethical.  Human nature and common sense should be able to dictate those things.

As of recent, I’ve decided that this also applies to governments because whatever we’re doing, it’s not working.  There’s too much greed and, in effect, violence for someone to look at the state of the world as a whole and say, “Yes, this is okay.  Let’s keep it up.”  No way.  I don’t accept that.  It’s like we’re fighting for peace.  How the fuck can you fight for peace?  I have an idea on how to achieve that goal:  Stop.  Fighting.

That being said, I know we live in a materialistic world and I am most definitely guilty of *needing* those shiny new toys.  That glowing apple icon?  Gets me every time.  Four inch patent leather mary janes?  Sold.  $100 haircuts so that my hair is one less source of stress in my life?  Done.  Luxury condos in Battery Park City?  Give me a few years, I’ll get there.  I am certainly not above desiring all of the pretty things of the world, and New York isn’t exactly the city of frugality.  It’s tough to not want everything.

However, college/living abroad/traveling/moving apartments every year has taught me that there is a lot of unnecessary crap in our lives.  After living in Italy for 4 months and taking home the only two suitcases that I had brought with me (though stuffed with plenty more than I came with), I realized that minimalism makes life a lot easier.  My pack rat days were over.  Only take what you need, leave the rest for someone else.

In the last 6 months or so, that zen mentality of mine got lost in a mess of cool new tech products, clothes, restaurants, bars, vacations; basically all things excessive and expensive.  I’ve wanted and needed the latest and greatest and wouldn’t be satisfied until I had it.  That is, until I took a spill off my bike a couple of weeks ago.

At first glance all seemed fine.  Minor scrapes to myself, the bike was okay, and though everything fell out of my bag, it all seemed like it took the crash well.  Then I got to work, took out my laptop, and realized the case was totally warped and the latch broken.  Uh oh.  After turning it on, the machine seemed to be working properly.  Within a couple of days, though, that was not the case: the DVD drive was eating discs, the camera wasn’t being recognized, and the trackpad button felt weird to the touch.  Upon inspection at the Apple store, I was informed that yes, those things collapsed from the impact and no, the fact that I bought the machine 6 months ago doesn’t matter because the warranty has been invalidated.  The price tag for repair?  $1200.

However, the hard drive, screen, keyboard, and trackpad are not busted.  Everything I need to do my job is fine.  And for that, for not having to replace a $2000+ machine, for not even having to actually get anything repaired, I woke back up.  I remembered that this is just a tool that allows me to do the things that I do.  I’m taking my ever-so-graceful spill as a big shove from the universe to get my head on straight.  Yes, it’s sad that I can no longer take stupid Photobooth snapshots when I’m procrastinating, and it’s sad that my new machine is now a used machine, but such is life.

I’m probably getting far too big a lesson out of this incident, but if you know me, you know how attached I am to my pretty aluminum baby.  My baby that was dropped on it’s head and now has some permanent brain damage and a couple of scars to show for it.  But I’ve relearned my lesson: that you have to appreciate what you have.  Otherwise nothing will ever be good enough and you’ll turn into a greedy little bastard.

This was the opening act for Yo La Tengo at the last McCarren Park Pool Party of the summer.  They were certainly entertaining to watch, but the sound coming out of the speakers wasn’t too good and it was hard to understand what exactly was going on.  But they definitely had some good drum beats.  The kind that make you want to do this.

I’ve begun to believe that there is a direct relationship between the amount of dirt encrusted into your hair/clothes/skin and how hip you are.  Actual location: 2nd ave at St. Mark’s Place.  More photos to come on Flickr (once I get around to going through them).

Excellent places to visit on the hippest street in Manhattan:

1. St Mark’s Ale House: Lots of good stuff on tap including (my) seasonal faves by Sam Adams.  Plus, the staff is awesome.
2. Grassroots Tavern: A dark bar for a good pint.  Recommended for those bitterly cold days of winter.
3. Tahini: Formerly Chickpea, but basically the same good stuff that is dank village falafel.
4. Mamoun’s: Compare it to Tahini.  I can never decide, but I think Mamoun’s is better when drunk and Tahini is better sober.
5. Zen Sushi: Half price sushi and a late night happy hour?  SOLD.
6. Yakitori Taisho: De-sushied Japanese food and pitchers of beer to wash it down.  I’ve only been here with former colleages who knew what to order.  Great food, but beware.
7. Sing Sing: Get your karaoke on.
8. La Palapa: Hands down the best Mexican food I’ve ever had.
9. La Paella: Bangin’ tapas bar.  Go with a group and eat your heart out.
10. Continental: Cheap drinks and live music.  No guarantees the music is good, though.

Rest in Peace:

1. NY Milkshake Company which moved to Midtown… boo to Midtown.  I miss the mint chocolate chip waffle sandwiches.
2. San Marcos had the best margarita specials.  It’s now Grand Sichuan.

Yesterday I went to the last McCarren Park Pool Party of the summer.  The first two bands were a little strange, but Yo La Tengo pretty much rocked my world (as a first time listener).  You can definitely tell a professional band from amateur by the quality of sound that comes out of the mikes.  And the sound that came out was a sweet, sweet melody (interspersed with lovely harmonies).  More photos from the show to come on Flickr.

All that smog makes the skyline look pretty surreal.  Not particularly beautiful, but interesting nonetheless.

As the days are obviously getting shorter, which means we’re getting that much closer to the dreadful ice and snow, I’ve been trying to snap lots of photos of the city in the midst of its summertime goodness.  Oh, I know what you’re thinking, “Fall fashion is so great!”  Not as great as sundresses and sandals.  And definitely not as great as this watermelon.  Fuck fall; I’m rejecting it this year.

The other day I was telling someone about how I’ve become friends with an ex and that it’s the most relaxed and easy friendship I have right now.  He pointed out that it’s probably because he’s not trying to jump my bones.  And I think he’s right.

This has led me to analyze every opposite sex relationship in my life over the past few days.  The conclusion that I’ve come to is that girls can be friends with guys, but guys cannot be friends with girls unless they have already slept with them and it didn’t work out.  There are always exceptions, but I’d say about 90% of the time this is true.  My reasoning for this is that every guy that I consider a relatively good friend has come on to me at some point.  Sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it’s blatant, sometimes it catches me totally off guard.  And that’s when it goes from simple to awkward.

I don’t know how to politely say, “I just want to be friends,” when I know what will come out is, “What the shit are you doing?!”  So what do I do instead?  Avoid them like the plague.  I get busy and don’t have time to see them for awhile.  Does this solve the problem?  Doubtful.  But then when I DO see them again, I make sure it’s not too late in the evening and not too many drinks will be had.  And public places are always good, though sometimes don’t make a difference depending on the guy.

What I don’t understand is where these guys are coming from.  Are they just looking to get laid?  Is it like, “Hey, you’re my friend.  Let’s see if we can’t get a little more out of this!”  In that case, I can see their point.  It’s not a new philosophy that a guy thinks with his penis (can’t wait for the spam comments for Viagra to come flowing through now that I’ve written ‘penis’ …twice).  However, I don’t think that’s really it judging from the text messages/phone calls/emails/facebook messages that come flowing through.

This leads me to think either one of two things.  The first is that they think I’m coming onto them.  Ok.  I’ve been told that I am flirtatious in nature.  I even got ‘Coquetita’ as an award on a trip to Costa Rica my senior year of high school (translates as ‘Little Flirt’).  But I really just like to hear what people have to say; where they’ve been, where they’re going, what they’re thinking.  I don’t have any ulterior motives; I like to get to know people.  If I can’t stand you, it’s hard for me to fake it.

Number 2, however, boggles my mind and disturbs me a bit more: a false sense of chemistry.  When I meet a guy, I know within the first ten minutes if I would date him.  And this isn’t some superficial thing where I judge whether or not he’s good enough for me.  Let’s be honest here; no one is good enough for me.  Kidding!  Just joshing, my friends.  It’s just that I can instinctively tell when there is something that I’m intrinsically drawn to within a person.  Sometimes it works out, sometimes it does not.  But forcing a chemistry that’s not there is something I want no part of.  We can save that rant for another time.

What my point is in all of this, is that I’ve always valued having platonic friendships with guys.  The kind of insight you get from a guy, whether they know it or not, is astounding.  They just think so differently that it makes sense why it’s always a love/hate relationship with the opposite sex.  Girlfriends always have good advice, or at least someone who can relate to whatever you’re bitching about, but a guy’s point of view is invaluable.  Like it’s coming from another species that lives in a completely different reality.  It’s something to learn from.  And that is why I would like to keep the majority of of these guys in my good graces.  As friends.  Not more.

This girl is my cousin, former roommate, and best friend.  She is pretty much the most fun person I know and always makes me feel better if I’m having a bad day.  Or week.  Or month.  I’ve had a pretty rough few days involving, but not limited to, a bike crash and that gut-wrenching overall feeling of, “What the hell am I doing?”  Since she was supposed to come for a visit this weekend but is not, I’m channeling her smile to cheer me up.

Do you really think the Empire State Building will last 2,000 years?  I certainly don’t.  It’s too tall and skinny and made of things like glass which can break and metal which can melt.  I sure hope I get proven wrong.

Anyway, just pretend you see the lions and gladiators and women who look like goddesses.  At least that’s what I do.  It helps alleviate the frustration created by the massive amount of tourists snapping photos of the ruins.

Going through the archives of my escapades through Europe, I realized that although I have an insatiable appetite for travel, I’ve already seen some really cool things (like this sweet astronomical clock in Prague) and been to some beautiful places (like here and here).  All have been invaluable experiences.  There’s a lot of world to see out there and I’ve barely seen a square foot of it, but I’m still young and time is on my side.  That’s the thing about travel: the places you want to experience firsthand aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.