Weekend Recap

Friday: I couldn't WAIT for Friday because I'll admit, I'm a lazy son of a gun! I believe that sleep is the best thing in the world (besides eating and love) and I swear I can't get enough of it. I can sleep in on a weekend and still wake up feeling tired! But alas, I couldn't rest because there was a very important errand I had to run. Getting my eyeglasses! Wow! Wow! Wow! (sorta like Borat says it!) ... I can't believe what I've been missing! I can't see stuff far away (myopic) and on the drive back, I was reading every license plate, checking out every hot guy, reading road signs, looking at all the potholes and cracks much clearer, checking out more hot guys, actually braking for pedestrians ... and did I mention checking out all the guys?! I wish I had gotten glasses much sooner ... I also got some sunglasses so I can "window shop" guys.

Saturday: Was out the door early to get my lineup. I don't go to my barber as much anymore since I've got locks now but it's been such a quick minute since I've been, she (yes, I said she, women can cut hair!) hired some white dude. And just like in the movie Barbershop, he's got first chair. Dude was working on a head when I came in, and was still working on the same guy when I left. I'm thinking he won't last if he keeps moving at that pace. I was going to work out (it's been about two weeks since I've been to the gym) but I got lazy. I love running don't get me wrong but it's so very hard to get motivated lately. I know I'll never look like some of these skinny gay dudes running around here but I'd like to have some type of definition. Coming to work on the train today, caught a glimpse of my reflection on the windows and I've made a decision to get my fat butt motivated again and do the damn thang. Spent the rest of Saturday working on the piano Sonata in E minor (H.XVI No. 34, 1st movement). Yeah, by the way, my piano professor is trying to kill me! (more on that in another post).

Sunday: I was coming back from Dorchester (my bro and I work as custodians on the weekend) and wouldn't you believe I found my friend, Crazy, sitting on my front porch. He was the last person I expected to run into! He hung out most of the day and it was good to see him although I prefer it when people call me before they just drop in. He seems to be getting his life together and he's talking about going to college and a few other things. We had a small cookout (amidst all the grad. parties in our neighborhood) and he hung around for a while. I was a little pissed because I had planned to work on my 5 page paper (due on Tues.) so I lost a day. Well, that's what work is for! ha ha! I drove him back to South Station and as I was crossing the Zakim, there is this HUGE ass golden basketball trophy (for the NBA Finals - BEAT LA!) over the tunnel entrance which almost caused me and several other drivers to crash into each other. Quite distracting. Can you imagine telling the police, "yeah, I was too busy looking at the huge gold basketball and I didn't swerve in time"?

Today: Well, I'm tired as hell. Why? I'm a stubborn guy. First up, there were two HS grad parties on our street last night (along with a few others on nearby streets) and while I don't like using the n word it just about applies in this case. They had the music blasting till almost midnight and it wasn't like I could close my windows unless I wanted to sweat to death. Which is what I did even after these fools were gone. I probably should've got my AC out but like I said, I was too tired to go down and drag it up so I suffered all night. So I'm running on about 2 hours sleep. Yeah, and I get to write a 5 page paper! Ugh, Mondays suck! Only good thing I forsee this week, my bro's birthday, Alicia Keys concert, Chris Rock show and gay pride on Saturday! Maybe it'll get better and cooler! Stay out of the heat and if you're in the midwest, stay dry! Have a good week!

Exploring China (Pt. 3)

Well, it's been a few days since I updated the whereabouts of The Divo in China so here's the latest. He stopped in Xi'an, the capital city of the Shaanxi province, viewed the Terracotta Army and The Temple of Heaven. Then he proceeded to Beijing where he visited the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. Sorry for the excessive use of hyperlinks but I just wanted to make it easy in case anyone didn't know where or what each pic was about ... enjoy!

Above: Chairman Mao's picture at the Tiananmen Square entrance to the Forbidden City

Above: The Throne Room in the Forbidden City

Above: The Imperial Gardens in the Forbidden City

Above: View of Beijing from Summer Palace

Above: Marble boat (really made of wood) inside Summer Palace

Above: Temple of Heaven

Above: Inside the Temple of Heaven

Above: More of the Temple of Heaven

... Makes You Wanna Slap Your Momma!

To quote the great Maya Wilkes (Girlfriends), "Oh hell no!"

I know if I had even talked that way, let alone even attempted to slap my moms, I'd be six feet under and I got the marks to prove my moms didn't play games!

Is It Friday Yet?

I think this lil' guy looks just about how I feel

:: sigh ::

... one more day, one more day ...

All By Myself

I'm being a brat. I know I am. Why would I admit to something like that? This blog is about being human and you do have to acknowledge your flaws as well as your good points. I am taking two classes this summer semester (it's only a 5 week semester), one of which is just piano lessons. The other is a 200G-level course, what UMB terms my "intermediate seminar." The course is about great world leaders. The visiting prof. is a nice person, very open, sociable, down-to-earth. No quizzes, no exams and no textbooks. Just a lot of packets and a total of 3 papers. After last semester's 15+ page paper, I think I can handle anything! Okay, okay, let me get to the point.

I'm a very quiet person and I hate working in groups or discussing anything in class. I prefer to sit in class, have a lecture, do my exams, read, take notes, write papers and leave. I don't care to really interact with my classmates. I've felt that way since grade school. I'm not going to be a psychoanalyst and try to figure out where the problem started but I know it's in my nature. And as most people know, it's extremely hard to change your nature. I've always preferred to do stuff alone. I never got along with my roommates at summer camp, in college, and even my bro (when we shared a room as kids). I never really took to team sports (basketball, baseball, bowling, gym class) and when we were forced to work in groups, I always ended up doing the majority of the work in anticipation that everyone else in the group wouldn't pull their own weight. Essentially, I like being alone. Not always, but most of the time. That's hard for some people to grasp if they're social butterflies but as I usually say, "to each his own."

Anyway, the prof. had us create a circle with the desks so we could "discuss" the readings. Now, I can speak up in class and I can give my opinion if pushed but I usually prefer to just listen to what others have to say, especially when I feel there is no point in arguing your opinion because it won't change anyone's mind. In the end, we're all going to pass the class, get our lousy three credits and never see each other again. What does it matter that we have to "discuss" our "feelings" and "opinions"?! Ugh! Per that last interrogative sentence from my immature side, I've decided to just suck it up and deal with it.

Consequently, the experience is making me slowly realize something. I stated I "hate" discussions and group work and realized that all "hate" really stems from a fear. In my case, a fear of socializing and rejection. Whenever I attend functions, be them church, school, family or friend-related, I always get anxious. I tend to stay to myself, act as wallpaper or go outside to get away from the crowd. However, that's not always the case. For example, I attended my high school prom and NJ's prom (ex-girlfriend) and had a blast. I danced and socialized and overall had a great time. But there have been other occasions when I went to clubs and was just outright miserable. And even worse, if cornered I get real bitchy and childish about it (e.g. cause a scene). As much as I'd like to think himself well-adjusted in life, I think it's time to address this. I've been dealing with my personal issues (physical and mental) over the past year one at a time and I think it's time to tackle this one. I am going to check around about social anxiety and see if there is counseling or group therapy I can attend to help with this.

Weekend Recap

What a great weekend. I got a few things accomplished and I think this might be the kick in the pants I needed to attend to my personal chores (Note: I'm a huge procrastinator!)

Friday: I came home preparing to take a nap (we get out of work early on Fridays) but some of the "kids" on the block were getting ready for prom. This massive blue bus (think decked out schoolbus with a 1-800 number on the side!) pulls up and a ton of guys in tuxes and girls in dresses filled the street, excited. When the heck did I get so old as to call the "kids"? Man, 10 years flies by! And when did kids start going to prom in buses? Am I the only one who thinks this is weird??!!

Saturday: After months of putting it off, I went to pick out a pair of eyeglasses and while I'm not 100% crazy about the look, at least I'll finally be able to stop killing pedestrians! I tried out that For Eyes place and I managed to keep the price under $150 for two pairs! Not bad. I also went shopping for work pants. Now, I brought my mom along to help me with the glasses but she ended up shopping with me for the pants too. I should've listened to the little insane screaming man who was jumping up and down on my cerebellum telling me to drop her off first but I didn't ... let's just say that this event took over an hour!

Sunday: My brother and I decided to get energized and do a ton of yard work. It's freaky how we think alike at times. We think alike at times (as often as a blue moon) and I guess we just felt compelled to do something. We have an annual family cookout that usually averages 70-80 guests every year so we've only got a month to really get stuff together! I also got to talk to my cousin whom I'm starting to get to know again (we weren't raised together). She is very outgoing and easy to talk and I found myself reflecting during the conversation how sad it is that family B.S. kept us from knowing each other. We're going to the Alicia Keys concert next week and while I was initially hesitant to invite her (I suck at rejection), I'm glad I did because I know I'm going to have a good time!

Today: I'm super-sore! I haven't felt like this since that time with Kingston ... that's going to be another post entirely! Have a nice week everybody!

Exploring China (Pt. 2)

These are pics from the town of Zhouzhuang, which is about an hour and a half from Shanghai (in the Jiangsu province) and a major tourist destination. It has been called the "Venice of the East."