I got a letter under my door last night. That is the popular way for my land lord (aka. some big management company) to communicate to me. It contained my lease renewal information. I am glad I finally got it, since I was wondering what the deal was. At first I thought I read the price increase wrong and was thinking of where I was moving to, but then read it again and relaxed a bit. that is what I get for an overactive imagination and bad vision. The rent is only going up like $65 per month. On top of what I am paying now, I am not happy. But it is not unmanageable for me. It would be more money for me to move than pay out the increase each month, so I will probably stay. I have said that all along. I like where I am. quick trip to work. Relatively easy to get around. Near the subway. So I am happy for now.
Personal
Drinks Out
Went with Jayson and Danny to Becky’s by Jayson’s place. We like going there. Tonight we had a really pretty (at least to me) waitress. Thank goodness for her that she was pretty since she was really slow and didn’t seem to be the brightest bulb in the bunch. We drank, ate greasy appetizers and had an all around good time. I called Gus as we got there hoping he was around for dinner. As I was in a cab on the way home I got his call back. he was ready to eat, and I was ready for bed since we already drank. Maybe next week.
I had a funny cab driver on the way home. Who would have thought I would find an old white jewish cabbie in NYC? Well I did. that guy was just too funny. I normally don’t like talking to strangers. It just feels weird most of the time. Cab drivers, car service guys, and others are probably the worst. Don’t get me wrong they are good working people, but I just don’t have anything to say to them. What if you don’t have the same interests or opinions on something they feel strongly about. Then it just gets really weird, and they are the ones driving. I tend to just agree and let them drive. The alternative is talking about the weather, or the news. Both are generic and boring topics that everyone talks about when there is nothing else you can discuss. Not sure what my point was, but that is my opinion of small talk with strangers.
Birthday Lunch
At work when someone has a birthday, usually 10-20 or so people get together and we go out to eat. We can only goto like 3 places nearby that can accommodate that amount of people. It always turns out that no matter what you buy ($5 grilled cheese perhaps) you always end up paying at least $20. You also end up waiting like an hour to get your food since they bring everyone’s out at the same time. Don’t get me wrong we usually have fun, but it is a circus.
It was Jayson’s birthday today. He is an old 30 today. With all of the above information in mind, Jay decided he didn’t want any big lunch feast. Instead of a big group going to a mediocre restaurant, Danny, Jay and I went to Angelo & Maxi’s for the steak lunch special. Well jay and I had it, danny had a baked potato. For $20.99, you get a soup or salad, steak (i had an 8-oz fillet), and desert. I had (of course) the black and white cheese cake. it was awesome.
if you are keeping score I went no where when I had my birthday. that is what I get for being sick that week! Turns out Dan scheduled something on my birthday, and then rescheduled it for that friday. I was out both days. Opps.
We had a good time today. It was unfortunately busy at work. I didn’t get home until 20 minutes ago.
Solo Today, And Road Trip Tomorrow
I was by myself in my office today. Jay had the day off. I am solo again tomorrow on a trip upstate. That is all I can say here, but will write more on my private work blog.
Mothers day was nice. Saw my mom, sister, dad, morgan, and others. Morgan is so funny. And the dangerous thing is she knows it. I think she is also a bit jealous of the new twins. My mom said it shouldn’t matter since the twins are not her grand kids so she will continue to spoil Morgan as much as she has. My dad quickly agreed.
After 2 changes of venues we ended up at mikes mom’s house for mothers day. I ended up taking metro north up and back. No rides for me this trip. it was not so bad. Metro north is even easier than the LIRR since it is on the east side.
I passed on desert in little Italy. Jayson wouldn’t commit to doing it until like 8PM when I got his call. By then I had just ate and I didn’t really want to trek out for a 30 minute train ride to have sugary (ohh, so good) desert at 9PM to not sleep the night because I am on a sugar high! Maybe next week.
Rethinking The West Side
I really shouldn’t be bashing the west side anymore. We went to a bar near Miguels on the upper west side for Cinco de Mayo. I used to be all worried about how to get home afterward. To take the subway would require me to go down half the dam island to go cross town and then up again to my place on the east side. I originally thought a cab ride from the west side would be crazy expensive. Well it is not. Late at night it is easy to go uptown, and then really simple to shoot through the park. I was home in less than 10 minutes. I had an easier time getting home than others living downtown since they had to go down on the train.
Another reason to like where I live!
Updating Stuff
I have been really bad over the past year or so on keeping up with my moves. I have had a few statements, and an insurance policy point to old address’s. I never called to update the companies with my new address’s. I have no excuse except for I was lazy. I finally broke down today and called everyone I forgot to call in recent history and updated all my information. I feel better now. Procrastination is a lifestyle but it gets to you over time:)
Lazy Saturday
I hung out at home yesterday. I watched a bunch of TV off my Tivo, and finished installing Mac OS 10.4 on my mini’s. I am almost done on that front. I moved my iTunes music collection to my work mini before I went to bed.
I didn’t do as much cleaning of my apartment as I would have hopped. Maybe tomorrow.
Today I am planning on going to John’s for some Halo on the Xbox. Not sure what time I am leaving. I should probably get showered and dressed now just to be sure I am ready. More later.
Police Disturbance
After picking up my copy of Mac OS 10.4 (see last post) I was off to my office to pic up my Mini there so I could install the new OS over the weekend. As I got out of the subway at union square I was greeted with more crazyness. Some sort of bike protest was planned (i think) and the cops were out in force to deter the people from doing it. It was the second time in 2 months that I saw that many Police bikes in one place.
I got my mini from work and then met up with Cari, Jack, & Rajive for drinks around the corner from work. Jay & Gretchen meet up with us and J, G, Cari, & I went to dinner. It was a nice end to a very interesting day.
OS Tiger (10.4)
I told myself I would wait, or I didn’t need it. But when Apple finally released tiger, I decided I wanted to go get it. I didn’t realize that it wasn’t available until 6pm Friday. I thought it would be available Friday. Turns out it was available just around the time I was done dropping the rental car off and able to go down to SOHO to the Apple store.
I got to the store and I told myself I should flee right now. The place was mobbed. There was a line around the corner and halfway down the block to get in. This was probably like 6:30PM. I figured I would get on line and see how long it would take. I could always leave.
I am glad I stayed. it was weird. There were tons of people. A guy in a tiger suit (sorry no photo’s). People with video camera’s. It was an interesting spectacle. People kept walking by going I wonder what is going on at the apple store that had such a line. By waiting on line I think I may have become one of “those” Mac people.
Thankfully I didn’t listen to myself and I stayed on line. After less than 15 minutes I was in the store, grabbed my copy of Tiger and was on my way to the line. A store employee “suggested” I go upstairs because of less of a line as he moved me towards the stairs. I am glad I listened. it was crowded upstairs but I got on line and only 1 other person was in front of me. With less than 30 minutes passed from the time I got on line, I was on my way out of the store. Not bad. I didn’t linger to look at the warez since it was crowded.
Not Too Chatty
I haven’t been too chatty recently. it is not because I don’t have anything to write. It hasn’t (this week at least) been because I have been too busy to, I have just been having wrist pain and have been refraining from typing unless it is for work. The wrists still hurt a bit as I write this but I wanted to get something on the site.
I am off upstate for work for 2 days. I will write more about the trip (i hope) on my work blog. Sorry it is password protected. I got the pictures from Jenn the other day. I have not had a chance to post any yet. Soon, I hope. I should be getting ready for bed since I have to get up early tomorrow to get the rental car, but as usual when it comes time for bed I am not tired.