Shitty Christmas

In case you were wondering, holidays suck away from home. No matter how cheesy your family gatherings get, you will miss them when you’re gone. This is my first Christmas away from home and it sucks. I miss how my dad wakes us up early, and even though we’re all 17 and older, he makes us wait in the hall while he sets up the camera so that when we walk into the living room he can record our reactions to what Santa brought us. Okay, maybe I didn’t miss that. But, when I saw pictures my brother took this morning and knew I missed Christmas, I got depressed. That seemed to be the featured emotion of the weekend.

Christmas Eve - My first day off since Thanksgiving

I slept until noon, which was awesome. Collin took me to some Japanese supermarket that he loves. I bought some sake and some fresh tuna to make sushi later this week. Afterwards I went into the city to walk around and see the sights. I walked through the Village, Soho, and Little Italy where they have Christmas decorations everywhere. Then I took the train uptown where Fifth Ave. was packed with tourists as usual. All of the stores were closed so I don’t know where they were going. Then again, neither did they. I started to get hungry and decided to treat myself to a steak dinner. I knew I really deserved it so I went to Ruth’s Chris, one of the best steaks in the city. I ordered the 16 ounce New York Strip and a glass of Montgras Quattro. I’m proud to say that my dinner cost over $70 and was well worth it. Stuffed, I left the restaurant and walked towards the subway to head way uptown to a friend’s family Christmas party. On the sidewalk a homeless guy started walking with me and asked for some money, even though he was eating fries out of a McDonald’s bag I gave him one measly dollar and kept on. He told me merry Christmas and replied “Don’t forget why its Christmas.” About ten seconds later he yelled up the sidewalk, “Its because of Jesus!” All I could yell back was, “and don’t forget it!” Then I just wanted to cry. In this city that removes every ounce of truth from the holiday, only a guy on the street knows the meaning of the day. That was maybe my favorite moment from this weekend.

I got on the train and headed to 175th street. Vanessa and Theresa from Starbucks invited me to Vanessa’s family Christmas party. It was like no holiday party I’ve ever experienced. I got there close to 10 pm and was an early arriver. Her uncles, aunts and grandmother all showed up later. Things didn’t really kick off until midnight when they opened presents. By this time, Pops was drunk and everyone else was on their way. I sat in the corner and acted like I was drinking a Corona. Vanessa’s parents are Ecuadorian and Puerto Rican so the house was speaking half English and half Spanish. We ate South American cuisine as they opened presents. The classic moment was when her dad unwrapped his mini-fridge and cried. It was a touching moment for all the drunken people in the room. Unfortunately, I was still sober and wanted to leave. A little bit later, Theresa and Vanessa both handed me presents. They didn’t want me to feel bad because I didn’t have a present but it was quite the contrary. There are few things in this world that make me more depressed than a bad gift, and I received two of them at once. Vanessa gave me the movie ‘Night Shift’ with Michael Keaton. There is one good line in that movie and the rest is dreadful. It got worse when I unwrapped Theresa’s favorite book which she bought me, ‘Make Love like a Porn Star” the autobiography of Jenna Jameson. I was ruined. Soon after, at 1:45 AM, I was the first guest to leave the party. When I sat down in the empty subway station, I listened to the rats squeaking on the tracks, examined my gifts and wanted to cry myself to sleep. An hour later when I walked up to my front porch, I noticed Collin’s car right in front of the house with the hazard lights blinking. It looked like he had parked there in a hurry and planned to leave soon because the nose was jutting way out into the street. As it turns out, in the evening he came home for something and meant to go run a quick errand but Collin got sidetracked and forgot about his car. When he woke up the next morning, his car battery was dead and he had a parking ticket.

Christmas Day – Loneliness Sucks

When I woke up, it was 12:30 and that felt great. I had a ticket to see ‘The Life Aquatic’ at 1:30 so I put on jeans and a sweatshirt and headed back into town. The movie was pretty good but not as much as I had expected. Afterwards, I came home and drank half a carton of eggnog. Collin wanted me to come to his mom’s house around nine o’clock to hang out with his friends but I was hesitant after the previous night’s events. After sitting around the house though, I decided to give it a shot. However, my timing was off and I wasn’t able to buy a ticket in time to catch the next bus, so back home I went. That actually worked out well because Collin came home about an hour later. He gave me a pretty sweet Christmas present. I knew he liked to buy things for people and I hoped he wasn’t getting me anything because I had nothing to give. He had been thinking about it for a few months though and it was cool. I unwrapped the heavy package and found every newspaper from September and October that chronicled the Red Sox journey through the playoffs and ultimately to a World Series victory. It means even more coming from a conceding Yankees fan. I was thrilled and felt bad for not buying anything for him. Later on in the evening we enjoyed some wine and cherry pie while we played NHL ’93 on his old Sega we had just hooked up in our living room. I got stomped but it was a blast.

Just as I had always known, aside from the actual story of Christmas, the holiday is about being with family and friends, not about getting gifts and partying like some people do. I may not have been with my family and friends, but they all called me this weekend or talked to me online and that meant so much to me. I was definitely lonely this weekend and the weird turns of events only made me feel worse, but at least I know that next week I will see my friends and family and be able to celebrate with them the birth of Christ. Merry Christmas everyone, and don’t forget it!

Christmas Eve Eve

I am very tired. I checked my calendar this week and I haven't had a day off of work since Thanksgiving. Yikes. I finished my shift tonight at work and began my holiday weekend by coming home for rest. I haven't had a chance to totally soak in the Christmas mood yet but tonight was a good event. I got home about the same time as Collin and his friend Chuck. We had homemade peanut butter cups and had some Guiness while Chuck played the guitar. When he played 'Christmas Song' by Dave Matthews, it all sank in about Christmas. New York has displayed the epitome of commercializing the season to me this year. All I have seen and heard about is shopping for gifts and nothing even remotely religious. One thing that has really bothered me is the abbreviation 'X-mas'. Is it really that tiresome to include 'Christ' in a label. If nothing else, lets call it 'Christ-x'.

Anyway, when Chuck played the song, all of the worldly garbage about the holidays melted away and really felt the spirit of Christmas. It was a great chance to listen to the Christmas story and be thankful for God's gift. Merry Christmas and don't forget what we are celebrating.

Gay Week

All I have to say is that I'm straight. Apparently I didn't make that clear when I moved to the city and there has been some recent confusion regarding that issue. Twice in less than one week I have been hit on by another guy. Yikes.

First, Friday night with the "guys". I'll save the juicy details for coffee talk but here's the gist. I went to meet Andrew, Tom, and some other dude after work for a beer. Andrew and Tom were tired and left immediately for home. I elected to stay with the other guy. He tried to touch me. His parting sentence was, "Soho can be your home tonight." I fled.

Second, tonight at J Crew (surprised?). I walk in and Keith, the paraiah of the store informs me that an employee likes me. He gave me a clue that made me think it was the hot girl from Alabama. I was thrilled. Then he told me it wasn't a she. I wept.

So alert the media, Alex is straight. If you are gay and reading this, do not waste your time on me, it is all in vain. However, if you are a girl and can put up with me for two hours, let's have coffee some time. I'll buy.

Without Words

Well this stinks. Last week at work two of the managers were sick and one girl thought she had pink eye. I knew I was doomed. My throat hurt a little yesterday and this morning, then after screaming at my co-workers all day, it left. For the first time in my life my voice is gone, and it stinks. My dad just called but I couldn't answer. I sent him a text message to explain. I don't feel sick in any other ways, which is weird becuase the girls at work felt dreadful. At least my typing skills are still intact.

My dad just sent me a perscription via e-mail to ease my pain.

"For your voice I recommend a hot totty. Hot tea with lemon juice, honey and a shot of burbon ( no kidding) A couple of those will sooth your throat and help you sleep."

A few of those have have definitely eased the pain and made the night more enjoyable. I'm gonna go sit down with another hot totty and watch a movie now.

Work Work, Woik

Its been awhile since I last got my blog on. First of all, I wrote a good one this week, but when I published it, it went blank so I just left it. Second, I've been working more lately than ever in my life. In case you were wondering, two part-time jobs is not a fun way to enjoy city life. I'm working about 60 hours a week, and I'm still broke! Starbucks is still fun, but J Crew is not so cool. Since I started two weeks ago, no one has told me what my job is so I just wander around until someone says, "Hey! Do you work here? Go fold that everything on that table." So I do. The guys are beginning to be cool and some of the girls and mangers remember my name. Then there are the 'Crewbags'. (I just made that up for the sake of a degrading nickname) The Crewbags go around and criticize people for being out of dress code and flap their wrists at the customers. They know what they're going to wear on Tuesday three weeks from now, but they don't care what the new stocker's name is. Its Alex.

So anyway, I wish I had a new exciting experience of the week to share with you, but I'm just working my jobs and dealing with Crewbags. I'll keep you posted.

Restaurant Hopping - Rogers Style

Its the weekend which can mean only one thing for me in NYC, the guests are coming. I've had quite a few friends come to town in the two months I've lived here and many have stayed at my place. My weekends are booked through the month of November. This week Ryan and Laura are in from San Francisco. Laura flew to Boston on Wednesday to see her brother and then they drove to NY together. Ryan flew the red-eye Thursday night and arrived early Friday morning.
Last night Ryan and I went to the Met and then waited at various Starbucks for Laura and Chris. When they got to town, we went into the village and met up with the ever elusive Matt Rogers.

I ran into Matt randomly at and elevator a few weeks ago. Ryan and I gave him a call and decided to have dinner tonight. Ryan brought some coupons he got off the internet so we ate in Chelsea and I had the sirloin steak for under $10. Mmmmnm. After, Matt took us to the 'number two' restaurant in the city for dessert but the kitchen was closed. It was 11:30 pm. Since the 'number two' was closed, we walked four blocks to the 'number one' place in the city.

Gramercy Tavern is on 20th at Park Ave. South. I expected it to be full of fancy decorations and fancy people eating fancy food, fancily priced. It was nice inside but the people looked like any yuppie I've seen in the park or at Starbucks. The dessert was average dessert prices but Matt said entres were about $90. He choose a bottle of Hungarian red wine which I cannot pronounce but I can vouch that it is the best red wine I've ever had. Outstanding.

We had good conversation remembering good times in college. Ryan and Matt met in BYX and I met Matt through some friends at various events. We talked about our separate and similar paths now. Matt has been working very hard and is burnt out. We is on his way to vacation in Florida for awhile to maintain his sanity. He really wants to be purposeful in what he does and mentioned some hot topics in my mind. We talked about his desire to start a foundation of sorts to send aid to needy places. He also said he wanted to move to Sudan to fight for the people suffering virtual genocide there. Both of these are important issues in my mind and I look forward to talking about them more with him.

It was a fun night with Ryan, Laura and Chris and I'm ceratainly glad I could find Matt. I now consider him one of my friends in NYC so now I'm up to about four.

Down the Hatch

I am about to celebrate my two month anniversary in New York. Time is moving fast and things are going well. My parents came into town for the weekend and we had a great time. I took them to see all of the tourist hot spots followed by a few favorite locales of my own like McSorley's. On Saturday my dad and I watched the A&M football game with Andrew and Matt Polk while my mom shopped. That night we saw the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall which was very cool. The next day we hit up Times Square Church with Jenn and then walked to the park to see Andrew run the last mile of the NYC Marathon. I had a great time and it was hard to say goodbye to them just like in September when I moved out. I'll be back to Houston in early January on the concluding leg of my '04 Wedding Series.

On a smaller note, more serious note. I'd like to warn the readers about the dangers of eating too many buffalo wings. Andrew, Tom 'Doorbomb', and I went to a place called 'Down the Hatch' last night. Their claims to fame are 1) Connect Four boards for every table and if you're alone the bartender will play with you 2)the Monday Night Football special where $19 gets you all the wings you can eat and three pitchers of beer per person. That's a lot of food intake. Fortunately we only had a couple beers each, or else I might not be here writing this. Turns out, we all woke up at 3:30 AM with a stomach ache from the 4 baskets of wings we each downed. I was worried that they might decide to come out at work today, but I made it. I will use caution in the future and I suggest you limit your greasy orange chicken consumption too.

Cursed No More

Pigs are flying, Hell has frozen and the Bambino has rolled over in his grave. Last night my beloved Red Sox put an end to an 86 year championship drought by winning the World Series for the first time since 1918. Andrew and I viewed the game at a bar in Noho. Afterwards, Sox fans were running down the streets of New York and shouting in celebration. Just a few hours after the game was over, I awoke for my opening shift at work. On the way out the door, I donned my lucky Sox hat in order to signal my side to the locals. As I walked down the subway platform at 6:30 AM to catch the downtown A-Train, New Yorkers who were still wearing their ugly Yankees hats, glared at me in utter jealousy and embarassment knowing that I was the champion. Now they have to deal with the curse being reversed and trying to win a championship back from the defenders, the 2004 Boston Red Sox.

Espresso My Thoughts

For the first time in months I am settling back into a routine. I go to work and pour some coffee, then come home and read. Not much too it. Therefore, I am lacking material to write about. Just by looking out my window I feel like I should have a new adventure to describe but honestly, during the week I often forget that I live in New York.

If its Starbucks that you are so interested in then I'll tell you about my life as a Starbucks Barista. I am being promoted on December 1st to Shift Supervisor; $10/hr. Not bad for a college graduate, right? Most of the people I work with are 19 year old girls. There are only two other guys in the store. The girls love to bring their prissy little attitudes to work and share them with me on a regular basis. I can't even make a move with out this one girl, Monifa, criticising me for doing it wrong. Oftentimes, what I do isn't even wrong but she still tells me that it is. Just wait until December when I get my promotion. Then they'll know who the boss is; the guy with the college degree and $10 an hour. That's right, biaaatch. (I learned that at work)

Since we're on the topic of bad stories I have from work....today my manager was singing 'Gin and Juice' and when she got to the chorus, I chimed in with "Laid Back!" and she just thought that was hilarious. I guess its because I'm white and not supposed to know rap songs. Actually that's one of the four I do know.

Anyway, I'm gonna work this job for awhile. Until I run out of money or go insane. Then I'll start searching for a 'real' job. I wouldn't mind working for the Starbucks office, but that would entail my transfer to Seattle. I could look for a company in NYC that would pay me to shuffle papers and decorate my cubicle. We'll see what happens, and you'll be the first to know. Until then, "Would you like room for milk?"

Ease His Pain

Its that time of year in New York where the weather is cool, the leaves begin to change and the Damn Yankees make my insides churn. I am just 90 minutes from the start of game seven ALCS. It is the night I have been anticipating since last year's game seven when I threw a chair across my house in front of my roommates guests. The Red Sox have made an unbelieveable recovery from a 3-0 deficit and will try tonight to be the first baseball team ever to come back from 3-0 and win a playoff series. The tension is strangling me.

This year has been very different from my previous playoff experiences. I am in the city of my much loathed rival and to top it off, my roommate is a die-hard Yanks fan. We've watched 3 of the past 6 games together and have swapped enough trash talk to fill the Newark landfill.

-----

Its now 35 minutes until game time. There is an eerie dark fog hanging over Manhattan. I've donned my lucky Red Sox shirt. I'm so nervous. I'm speechless. Go Sox!