Destined for a happy little work jaunt to Greensboro (NC) and Ft Lauderdale, I head off like a happy camper, bright and early, to La Guardia airport. I am beginning to learn in this city that you never believe estimated travelling times on any form of transport. The trip through the backstreets of Little Italy, while entertaining to be following a catholic parade of a saint through the streets, meant it took two hours to get to the airport. I was thankful that Mary did not manifest herself in the crowd, I am sure this would have delayed things further.

The flights were delayed (no! really?!). The Customer Service chickie must have been related to my United Airlines friend … graduates of the School of Bitchiness. The PA systen initially amused me. Three conflicting and competing announcements at once. I understood nothing, but realised they were having problems boarding 5 aircraft at the same gate at the same time. The departure board blew up while I stood there. Chickie actually told a customer to “Piss Off”.

Greensboro airport – I kid you not, they have white wooden rocking chairs throughout the terminal – I looked for the square dancers, alas I found none. I will give Greensboro its dues, this is one fair dinkem friendly town (well they didnt know I was gay, this may have changed the blueberry pie smiles). Seriously, everyone was so friendly it wasnt funny. The taxi-driver was friendly, the hotel-staff were friendly, the shuttle driver was friendly (oh gosh and oh so cute – hmmmm I really shouldnt go down the track of chasing Southern Bois, it would just end in tears), the ticketing agent at the airport was friendly (even when my transfer flight to Charlotte was delayed 3 hours). I did have a great food experience … but thats another story.
The flight to Ft Lauderdale … gay-boi overhead prior to takeoff “Oh sweetie, I would rather chop my left ball off than stay in this Charlotte overnight”. He smiled a lot … my Southern fetish has passed, Florida bois are cute … oh la la.

Now Ft Lauderdale, well, the antithesis of Greensboro – I asked directions 3 times and each time people looked at me and ignored my request. This is one unfriendly town. I mean New York is friendly, so why isn’t Gay Central friendly … go figure. Must say I pined a little when I flew over the beach … reminded me of New Zealand (eeek I hope thats not homesickness already – maybe its the Prozac withdrawal).

So one more day of work to go and back in New York for the weekend. Which then means it only 6 days until I move into my apartment on September 1. I really need to get furniture issue sorted LOL. No really, I found more good stuff last week, but I really have to get it ordered. I know I will be floor sleeping for a bit.

Categories: Travel
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Categories: Gay Rights
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My search is over people, today, Sunday August 20, I re-discovered religion. I am officially born-again. Baptised in the elixir of nutty, rich, intoxicating Espresso. I seriously communed with a higher reality today, for but a moment I touched the ephemeral reality of the sacred. All served up in the Temple of Dean & Deluca (560 Broadway @ Prince). And such hedonism only cost me $3.00, delivered by a lovely young lady in her crisp white robes.

There are many, many things I am destined to burn for in the institutional realm of religion, but I will hold to the defence of the Wisdom Teacher, who said ‘eat, drink, be merry, for God has already accepted your work’(Eccl 9-17 or there-abouts, my memory eludes me). Amen, here ends the lesson. Live long and prosper.

Categories: Coffee, Religion
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I had the most blood-thirsty – terror filled Ugly-Dream last night – I suspect due in no good part to late pre-sleep blog readings (please only click if you are in a space to cope with strong emotions). The Ugly-Dream was on the other hand solid material for a screen-play (which given the stereotype that many New Yorkers are either wannabe writers or actors, could make for a promising sideline for me – though I consider myself to be a writer, and not a wannabe). The Ugly-Dream did involve electrode torture for no good purpose, maiming of children and general random destruction … I would need to tighten up the plot around this one.

Note to self: no more disturbing videos prior to bed.

Also, conceptually pillaging from my current read, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Jonathan Safran Foer), I promise not to listen to sad music too often, especially when walking the streets of New York alone … gives you “heavy boots” to continue the pillaged book language. Melancholy is only helpful when the sun is shining and there is a slight breeze to snap you out of it. While I do write well in this state, I may keep writing to other-yet-to-be-determined-states-of-being. The sun right now is lovely and the Hudson River is sparkling.

Categories: Dreams
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I think I was born to walk in this city … finally somewhere I can walk fast and not annoy the heck out of those around me. I now have the track record of being the first off the subway at WTC, up and out onto the street – without bumping into anyone. Next I will need to learn how you do this while holding coffee and a book in your hand at the same time … but hey, you’ve gotta learn how to walk before you run! And until I find somewhere that actually knows how to make perfect espresso I will stick to carrying a book.

Only bug-bear this week was realising that my laptop battery was only consistently holding 39% capacity – this is not a good thing – ends up giving me only 1 hour charge – especially since it is only half way through its expected life cycle. So had to fork out $125 for a new Apple battery. This baby better behave itself – I will ensure to calibrate it according to the rules – after which I should be able to plonk myself in Bryant Park on the weekend for a few hours and sort out my blog learnings.

Did someone mention Edith Piaf? Oh well, yes the Little Sputnik Sparrow of France is my music of the moment while I am hanging out at Patisserie Claude – munching my morning brioche. I would wear a beret, but I have never been a hat kinda guy – maybe that should change – a hat with a turtle on it.

Categories: Computer, Music, Park
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