You're Going To Laugh

But in my own defense ... ah, I got nothin'. It took me a year and some months before I realized how awesome my roommate situation is. I mean, I knew it was awesome, but let me show you HOW awesome.



If you follow the video to it's true home at YouTube, you will find the write-up will tell you the name of the orchestra leader of this little band here. (Yes it's in Spanish but the name is the same. I will not type it.) Just look at the second man from your left, their right. The one who kind of leads them with his bowstring to start off the piece. That's the guy I rent my room from. If you use his name and the word "orchestra" in a Google search, you will find his webpage.

While he's here in the apartment, he is constantly practicing. Listen to this YouTube of him and his peeps, and imagine that's what I get to hear en solo right down the hall from me.

Awesome sauce.

Just Met The Roomie's Girlfriend...

... and seconds later, discovered I had a people dangling in my left nostril. Big ups for the roomie, then! No way that my studmuffinness will cause a rift between us now! lol!!

As if!!

But actually, yeh! Because I'm strutting around here in flip-flops, my pajama bottoms, and a dark blue athletic T. I'm far more relaxed and exposed than I'd ever thought I'd be, say, fifteen years ago. And I was in the kitchen making Pepper Steak (Ramen Noodles, slices of green bell pepper, and sliced, braised chuck steak. YuM!), when the roomie came in with his girl. They had been in earlier, but our doors were closed as it has been for the entire week because I'm trying to finish up my project for release this Thursday, so I didn't see her. But when they caught me in the kitchen, the roomie stopped in and introduced her. She was nice! A cute little thing! She shook my hand!

I like this roommate! He's very polite and tidy! And he stays in his room, and I stay in mine, and he's not intrusive, nor appears in any way offended that I like to seal myself away too. Maybe that's actually how roommate ettiquette works?

Anyway, I love how different I am these days. I'm not scared of people, or pathologically private, or whatever the hell was my problem. And confident! I actually thought I was good looking enough to make my roommate's girl stray! HAHAHAAA!! Because what you don't know is that I was in Central Park yesterday morning and I walked/jogged the circuit from 96th and Central Park West, all the way down to 59th, and back around the east side of the Park until I reached The Reservoir on the south end, went up the east side of it, and came out of the park at 96th where I started.

How ya like me now? I'm turning Manhattan into my own personal treadmill.

My Right Eye, Lower Eyelid, Keeps Twitching ...

... for about three days now. I suppose there's some stress seeping out through there, because I've been too happy to let it bother me otherwise.

Then Worst-Case Scenario Man stopped by for a chat.

My actual moving date was delayed for a week because the roommate who has the apartment in his name wanted to let "my" room's present occupant take another week to leave. It all seemed on the up-and-up. I was at the apartment again on Friday and explored more of the neighborhood. Across the street is Isham Park which affords lush green hills, a view of the Palisades, and open air --if that's your bag. But if I don't climb the steps to get to the top of the first hill, then I keep myself surrounded by the beautiful NYC architecture (this is practical in the months when all the green turns brown and barren). So on Friday I left my security check and this coming Friday (payday) I give my July-minus-a-week rent. This way, I don't even have to borrow the money from MTFD.

Cool, right?

But Worst-Case Scenario Man came by and told me that it's all a scam. They took my check and will never let me move in. They line up prospective renters all week, approve every one of them, then take their security deposits and leave Inwood never to be traced again.

That's an elaborate scam, I'll admit. Worthy of David Mamet. I hope it doesn't apply to me, though. I don't make a good movie hero. Wait, yes I do. Samuel L Jackson-style. Kicking doors down and cussin' m-f'ers out until they GIVE ME BACK MAH MONEY!!

But the lessor's room looked far too cluttered to have been a sham. And I have his name and his profession, and saw proof of his occupation in his room, and can track him down on the internet (done) because he is a semi-famous musician.

So take THAT, Worst-Case Scenario Man. I have defeated you again!

Meanwhile, I'm growing more and more melancholy about giving up my cat. I've had her for at least 7 years now. I got her in Springfield, MO when she was just a kitten, straining through the bars of the shelter with paw outstretched and protesting mouth wide open in high meow. How can I toss her back to the bars? Is her life nothing more than an amusement for me to use and discard? Is she a person, or just a pet?

And will she recover in a new environment, or will she wither and die, heartsick by our separation?

Best case scenario--she's just an animal, and animals survive. She likes people--she'll thrive with others.

But I'll miss her. That's the thing.

No, I gotta move on. I got to replace cats with Woman. If I'm lonely without my cat, then GOOD. Maybe that'll give me the strength to step up to the plate and get this life of mine filled.

But SHHH! Don't tell my Woman-To-Be that she's just a replacement for a feline. :)