Hell, I still love you New York

If you were looking at a CT scan of my heart, this is what you'd see:


Photo ©HouseofJules


On a sunny afternoon at the beginning of summer in the mid-90's, alone (in the sense of being by yourself in a place with 7 million other people, which is possibly more alone than you could ever imagine), but excited after having relocated to the place in which I wanted to live ever since I was a kid; fresh off the train in the underground part of Penn Station, doing a trial run to see how long it would take me to get from my new apartment to my new job in my new city. I had a map in my back pocket and knew the address of the graphic design firm I was to start working at the following week, but literally had no idea how to get myself from where I was to where I needed to be.

All the anticipatory stress I felt about that had been weighing heavily on my mind since I'd unpacked the week before--if not for the entirety of the 6 months I worked after college just to save up for my big move to my new apartment in my new city-- faded away like white noise in the background as I rode one of the escalators up from lower earth to the sidewalk, and the gigantic skyscrapers on 34th street were revealed to me at a slow-boat-to-China rate of speed; my line of vision directed first at their massive entryways, and going up, up, up, and up, trying to take in all the floors of the buildings and the realization of how small I was in comparison, as I was lifted towards street-level. It was a kind of forced-acclimation through sensory overload.

I was able to be still, standing on the right side of those electric stairs, while moving upward and gaping at the buildings, smelling the food being cooked at street carts, hearing the roar of traffic and horns, people hustling and bustling; while my heart was thumping louder than ever, welcoming me home. Finally.

Some people leave their hearts in San Francisco. Even before I actually lived there, mine resided in New York.

If you were listening to my heartbeat through a stethoscope, this song is what you'd hear:

Ryan Adams. New York, New York
Well, I shuffled through the city on the 4th of July
I had a firecracker waiting to blow
Breakin' like a rocket who was makin' its way
To the cities of Mexico
Lived in an apartment out on Avenue A
I had a tar-hut on the corner of 10th
Had myself a lover who was finer than gold
But I've broken up and busted up since

And love don't play any games with me
Anymore like she did before
The world won't wait, so I better shake
That thing right out there through the door
Hell, I still love you, New York

Found myself a picture that would fit in the folds
Of my wallet and it stayed pretty good
Still amazed I didn't lose it on the roof of the place
When I was drunk and I was thinking of you
Every day the children they were singing their tune
Out on the streets and you could hear from inside
Used to take the subway up to Houston and 3rd
I would wait for you and I'd try to hide

And love won't play any games with you
Anymore if you don't want it to
The world won't wait and I watched you shake
But honey, I don't blame you
Hell, I still love you, New York
New York

I remember Christmas in the blistering cold
In a church on the upper west side
Babe, I stood there singing, I was holding your arm
You were holding my trust like a child
Found a lot of trouble out on Avenue B
But I tried to keep the overhead low
Farewell to the city and the love of my life
At least we left before we had to go

And love won't play any games with you
Anymore if you don't want 'em to
So we better shake this old thing out the door

I'll always be thinkin' of you
I'll always love you though New York
I'll always love you though New York, New York, New York

-

Luckily, I made some g r e a t friends there who give me an excuse, if I need one, to visit my heart at least once a year.

The [Cherry] Rides off into the sunset*, but is forever in my heart (and on my speed dial)

Surely you all remember my Boo**, The [Cherry] Ride. If you somehow need reminding, perhaps my 2nd favorite picture of all time will jog your memory:

I know you want to be best friends with him, but back off. I called dibs first!


He has left Chicago behind for the further pursuance of his dreams; which take him--for now--to Washington, D.C.

It is truly a gift to find people in this world who "get" you completely. It is a rare and beautiful thing when that happens, or maybe it's beautiful because it's rare. Either way, Chicago has lost some of it's magic now that he's out East. Our loss is D.C.'s gain. Somehow I've become jealous of our nation's capital. This must be a first. 

Anyway, I wanted to find him something that would accurately express how I was feeling, but it turns out the only 4-letter word that Hallmark carries is "card". Even a Google search was fruitless:

How is it possible there are no card or gift items with the, "Holy F**k, I miss you already!" sentiment?


I don't know what I was thinking. What card company could even begin to encapsulate how much I love that he understands me in ways few people do? 

Like the time I sent him a text message that told how someone spilled a beer all over me, which I summed up by saying, "I smell like college." and just like that, he got it. He gets it!

Like I said, it's a beautiful thing. Much like my #1 favorite picture of all time, as seen in the following screen capture of his flickr page:




If you know me at all, you will know that this seems to have only been created for my happiness (it wasn't, but the universe has a way of making these kinds of things happen). From his photo title, "Me on the Ding Dong", to the fact that it was taken during one of his last hurrahs at Smiths Night... (Ugh, SMITHS NIGHT! Don't even get me started on the greatness of Danny's Smiths Night)! 

And need I even mention his pose? The pose! I giggled so hard at this whole thing that I had tears coming down my face. This one screen capture brings me almost too much joy. 

If only screen captures could hug back! Aww, cue the Sad Trombone.

Alright, Cherry, you know I love you and wish you the very best. You are so deserving of all good things. Kisses and love, sibling! Now, go get 'em, tiger... and while you're at it, find out if he has a brother for me. 


*That's a little dramatic, but this occasion calls for it. Don't argue with me, you know I'm right.
**One of the most adorable moments on TV ever: See THIS video, starting at :30. "I wanna be your boo!"

All I need now is my Official Fangbanger Membership Card*

...and so it begins:


"Eric Northman is now following your tweets on Twitter"

After this, I'm sure he'll be chasing me into my bedroom.


*IfYouKnowWhatI'mSayin'AndIThinkYouDo

Or Somefin' or Nofin'

When I read this ridiculous blurb from People.com yesterday:


I immediately thought of one of my favorite Little Britain characters:

Little Britain's Matt Lucas as Vicky Pollard

I can't think of anything that describes Jon + Kate's need to keep going public with their drama better than, "Yeah, but no, but yeah, but no, but yeah....or somefin', or nofin'."

Add to Wish List?

Happy birthday to the Swedish hotness that is Alexander Skarsgård!


True Blood's Eric Northman in my bathtub? Yes, please!


If you aren't watching HBO's True Blood, WHY AREN'T YOU WATCHING HBO'S TRUE BLOOD? Not having HBO isn't an excuse. I don't have HBO, but I watch it (and drool) every week. Here's the main reason, which I'd use as my defense in court if I had to:



Now, if you'll excuse me? I need a moment.

"Socializing"

Thanks to House of Jules' remote correspondent Shula for pointing out the interesting wording People Magazine used for the tale of the non-sexytimes, sexytimes tape:


"socializing"

Paying it forward as often as possible

One of my oldest friends & I are in the initial stages of work on a big project together.

This particular undertaking is all in the name of doing something thoughtful for other people-- friends we know & love-- and I can't recommend this kind of thing enough. Seems almost silly to mention, because for all I know you're already on top of being the most giving person ever, but I'm mentioning it anyway:

Surprise people you love by being thoughtful in extremely unexpected ways. Recruit other people to help you if it isn't something you can do yourself. Do this again & again, the thrill will never get old.

Once, I surprised my sister by taking advantage of the fact that I have a copy of their house key. Read about it HERE. She would never ask me to do something like that, but it was a particularly stressful week for her. It took me half of an afternoon; I was in & out of there before she got home from work. Her phone call to me after she got home was TOTALLY WORTH IT. I'm not telling you this to get pats on the back for it. I'm the one who ends up getting the bigger adrenaline rush than the person I'm doing it for.

Look around at those you love. What do they need? What would really help them out, even if they don't realize it yet? I've often found that the things people need help with or could use a break from don't cost a lot of time or money. Think of it as the proverbial boy scout helping an old lady cross the street; something that may be no big deal for you to do, but could vastly improve (or just improve a tiny bit!) the day, week... LIFE of someone else!

As for the current large-scale project I'm working on with JJ, there are many little facets of it that have to get done in stages. I just got an email from her on something else she thought of to help the other friends we're recruiting along the way feel more attached to the end result; to allow each of them to have a personal investment to this project even though some of them don't know the friends we're doing it for. This idea she's come up with is excellent, and perfect for the tone we're trying to set.

Ultimately, it will be me who has to execute this idea from her concept to fruition because it's a design-related, creative-type of thing. I laughed forever when I read the last sentence of her lengthy email, because it shows how well she knows me. We've been friends for 20+ years, and she's aware that when attempting to add more things to my tasks list, flattery (no matter how full of B.S. it may sound) will get you everywhere:


A master at work: Flattery + Bullshit = Bullshittery.

Your the best (but not at grammar), HRH!

Oh, Hard Rock Hotel. How I love partying with you, sleeping in your bed and then leaving in the morning. Let's be honest, though. You're not the smartest hotel I've ever been with:


"Cut loose before YOUR back at school?"

He's in touch with his feminine side. Sometimes.

So, this just happened.*

Rainy night, trying to find an empty parking spot. We see 4 furry legs scurring around in the darkness, between the already-parked cars.

"Uh-oh, somebody's cat is on the loose! I'd better not back into it."

Then we see the animal's head, peeking around the tire of a truck, seemingly to gauge which way our car is going. It is not a kitty at all, but a raccoon.

"UGH! It's a raccoon! Disgusting thing probably has rabies! You do not want to get one of those nasty, diseased things angry, trust me." {dramatic, hacking noises}

The raccoon sees us just sitting there in the car watching it watching us, as rain continues to pour down. It starts to cross the parking lot toward the garbage dumpsters. Then we see 4 smaller raccoons scurrying behind the big one.

"Awwwww! BABIEEEEESSSSS!"  {clapping}

*For the record, the only sound that came from me in this little Friday night snippet was uproarious laughter, which busted out of my soul upon seeing his horrified face the millisecond he realized he was clapping.

Emphasis on "Bone"

At Mr. Spriggs BBQ, the meat falls off the bone, alright...



I have a feeling you don't send your woman to Mr. Spriggs for some ribs BY HERSELF. He might satisfy everything else along with her hunger, if you know what I'm sayin' and I think you do. 

Somebody light me a cigarette*!




*I don't smoke, but after a commercial like this one, I might**!

**Not really.