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Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day [Feb 14]

 

I got home, and guess who was waiting on my stoop? No, not Kong. It was Jeffrey! He wanted to find out stuff about Kate. Ya, I was weirded out at first, too. I thought it was some kinda stalker scheme. What he really wanted was my advice and my help for a Valentine's Day surprise.

I'm not going to divulge too much info here because it's supposed to be a surprise. Kate usually doesn't read my newsletters anyway so I'm going to take some liberty and tell you guys. Jeffrey wanted to know Kate's favorite color, food, flowers, and if she liked candles--the whole works. He wanted to set the mood for Valentine's Day. "I don't want it to be on the day of, that's too predictable and she might be expecting something already, so I'm going to surprise her this weekend," confided Jeffery. That's not a bad idea actually. All you tough guys, take note! Are you ready for V-day? You know she's going to be expecting something, right?

He had some really great ideas and we talked about it for hours. I needed to take my mind off my date anyway, so I indulged in his mushy conversation. (Things we do for friends!) It was almost midnight when I was saved by the bell. I was getting tired and ready to kick Jeffery out of my place. Adrian was giving me weird looks and smiles when he came in. He had already branded me as the "Love Doc" at our Chinese New Year Dim Sum fest. The phone rang and it was Irina. She invited me to an Anti-Valentine's Day party. "You're going to be my single guy friend," she said. Oh thank goodness! No plans. No commitments. No mushy stuff--especially after I helped brainstorm ideas for Mr. Romeo in da flesh. I was in serious need of some light-hearted Irina humor. When I hung up, Jeffrey took his cue, thanked me and left. Hey, don't complain now, wait till next week and I'll tell you how the big V-Day surprise went.

This week's Zen quote comes from the fortune cookie I got at our Dim Sum feast. It said, "Your greatest fortune is the large number of friends you have." To me, it's not necessarily the quantity, but the quality of those friendships, friends like Megan, Steve and Rick... they certainly enrich my life. Take care and see you next week!

 

 

nationalday — 2008-02-12 GTM 1 @ 14:40 Tags:

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Clean Out Your Computer Day

Clean Out Your Computer Day [Feb 11]

Talk about security, Megan's computer crashed. She thought it was a virus attack and she didn't know what to do. Steve was out of town on a trip to meet his geek friends at MIT so she called me up. And boy, rescuing data from her computer was a big mess. Megan's one of those people who saves everything on the desktop. No wonder she couldn't find anything! I had to help her clean out her computer.

We put her files in different folders so she can be more organized. For a person who is so organized in real life, I thought she'd be organized on the computer too, but her files were all over the place. It turned out that her file wasn't missing--it was just saved in a folder that she didn't know about. Sometimes we're so busy with life that we can't even take time to keep track of everything. It happens to me too, it happens to the best of us. What I do is take some time off, or find some free time while I'm working and clean out my files every now and then.

Organizing doesn't end with the files on your desk or computer. Is your mail organized, too? I've been getting some mails from some of you asking why the newsletter is not arriving anymore. Are you finding it in the bulk or junk folder? Do me a favor, put newsletter@123greetings.info in your contacts list or address book. You'll get it straight in your inbox. If you're still having trouble, shoot me an email. My friends, if you don't receive my mail, who else is going to?

 

nationalday — 2008-02-12 GTM 1 @ 14:38 Tags:

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Black History Month

Black History Month

The next day I took Irina to the poetry slam. It was a big spoken word fest in honor of Black History Month. I wanted her to make a new friend and meet Frederick. I also wanted Frederick to meet Irina because they are totally on the opposite sides of the political poles but hey, that's what they call 'diversity', right? It was fantastic to see the two of them together.

They had a couple of arguments about the Super Tuesday primary vote between Hillary and Obama. "Hillary Clinton shouldn't have been so factional. She shouldn't have attacked Obama on the Social Security issue--which we all know was false," said Frederick. "Obama's way out in left field. Just because you hang out with the Hyde Park crowd and mobsters, doesn't mean you should lead the country," retorted Irina. To which Frederick responded, "Man, just because the brother's creating some waves and making change doesn't mean he's out in left field!" Maybe that wasn't such a good idea, two opposing poles meeting. I was glad another performance started. The poem was about history and change and living the American Dream.

"This is going to be a historic election for America," said Frederick. "We have a chance to have the first ever black or the first ever woman president. This could signal to the world that we are changing our views. We can be the change that we want to see in the world. Dr. King's dream could come true." Irina agreed and smiled and said, "And I can tell my grandkids that I was there!" Frederick laughed at how innocent Irina looked. Historic indeed, imagine a person like Irina all of a sudden working just to see some change. Are you anticipating change too? What's your take on this whole election?

 

nationalday — 2008-02-12 GTM 1 @ 14:37 Tags:

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Make A New Friend Day

Make A New Friend Day - Feb 11

Remember Kaitlin, my new friend, the redhead? I met her after I dropped off Aaliyah. We went on a date last week. I know a couple of you wished me luck with her and some of you warned me that I was totally on the rebound. Well, you're right--thanks for knocking some sense into me. It was on the date with her that I realized I should take it a bit slow.

We went to a nice seafood restaurant in Tribeca. The chef loves me there because I eat everything--so the desserts are always on the house. The evening was going well and we were learning about each other. By the time we were done with the appetizers, her phone rang. Now, I know that it's rude to listen in on people's conversations but she said, "I'm with my boyfriend now. Gotta go." Boyfriend? I mean, I must've missed that email because I thought we were on our first date!

So when she got off the phone, I jokingly asked her, "So, we're already going steady?" Unphased, she answered, "Ya, anything wrong with that? Oh, by the way, we're going to an all Valentine's dinner on Valentine's Day with my friends and their boyfriends and fiancés. I've already set it up for us. All my friends can't wait to meet you. One of my cousins is going to be there, too." I saw that she had already taken the job of my PDA. I was trying not to react badly. "But Kaitlin, I have some other plans..."

"What?!" she freaked out. "I thought we hit it off really well the other day. I thought you were really interested in me." Her voice was getting a little bit louder than normal. She took a breath and said, "I had plans for us, you know?" "Um... plans? What sort of plans?" I was just trying to contain the situation at this point. I felt bad but it seemed to me like she had plans for the rest of my life. I lost my appetite and didn't even finish my baked salmon. Maybe she had too much wine? I don't know. Maybe my luck is really that bad with the ladies now. It's kinda daunting for a guy like me when I'm not even fully back into the dating scene and there's already "plans." Ya know what I mean?

I kept quiet and sipped my wine for the remainder of the night. I didn't want any part in making it worse. I just waited until she was done with her dinner and asked for the check as soon as I could. We got out of the restaurant and walked in awkward silence towards Broadway. She got a cab there and left. I know you guys had high hopes for Kaitlin, but I don't think I'll be seeing her again.

nationalday — 2008-02-12 GTM 1 @ 14:36 Tags:

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Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year "Feb-7"

Adrian is taking all of us out to a Dim Sum feast in Chinatown for the Chinese New Year down on Mott Street. He said that it’s a tradition that you hang out with your family and reminisce about the past year and welcome the new. It is believed that the children can prolong their parents' lives by participating. Since he's not with his family, he's adopted us to be the family and we're going to have Dim Sum!

Since we're doing the Super Bowl Sunday at Rick's we're going to miss the Chinatown parades. So we decided to do the Chinese New Year celebrations in Flushing instead. We're going to see the steel drummers, fireworks and my personal favorites--dragon dances.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention about Megan's birthday party. My mom sent me a bunch of stuff because she was making my old room into a crafts room for her scrapbooking stuff (she prints out all my email newsletters). There was a giant Valentine made of construction paper with glitter glue, little candy hearts and lace that Megan gave to me when we were in first grade. So I got it framed and gave it to her. She got all misty-eyed on me... and acting kind of weird, but she loved it, laughing and crying at the same time! She made a comment about my date with Kaitlin, the redhead I met last week. Wait until I tell you next week how wrong a date can go… but that's another story... See you next week, folks!

nationalday — 2008-02-06 GTM 1 @ 14:49 Tags:

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Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras "Feb-5"

New Orleans also happened to be Eli Manning's hometown. Rick and I decided to go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I had never been there and wanted to see how the city has fared since Katrina. Boy was it hot, even in February! It was like walking around in front of air conditioner exhausts all the time. I grunted and complained to Rick and our cab driver said, "Nawlins is hot any time of year!" He also told us that the festivities had already started on Bourbon Street, so we headed directly there to see what all the fuss was about. It was a good thing we only had a backpack each because we barely made it out of the cab! The streets were so crowded and people were everywhere!

The sights and sounds were overwhelming. There was music everywhere and a crush of people, and police on foot and horseback. The floats were huge, but my eyes kept getting distracted by the pretty girls. I tossed a couple of coins at a saxophone player playing Miles Davis. Then we passed a half-door in the wall. Rick whistling his tune, grabbed my sleeve and pushed me closer to the door. It was literally a closet, set up as a bar, where you can buy booze in a plastic cup to walk along Bourbon Street during the evening.

"That's a custom I could get used to," said Rick. We bought lagniappe (Creole, we think, for trinket - actually cheap plastic beads) to throw at the ladies. I have to say, there were plenty of pretty ladies to be seen. We kept walking around and ended up over on Rue Royale heading down towards the Café Du Monde, a place suggested by Donna before we left.

We found a table right next to a group of lovely young ladies and ordered ourselves some beignets and chicory coffee. Rick asked me where the hotel was from there, so I went to dig the address out of my wallet. It wasn't in my back pocket. It wasn't in my backpack. It was gone. I had been the victim of a pickpocket. The coffee and beignets arrived and we discussed what to do. Rick had his own cash, but mine was gone, along with my driver's license, credit cards, everything.

"This is most unfortunate," said a rather distinguished old African-American gentleman seated at the next table. We asked him to join us and next thing you know, he's telling us to scrap the hotel and come along to his house. Now, back in New York (or Pasadena, even), children are told never to go with a stranger, but this guy seemed all right. We decided to trust him and accepted his invitation. He drove us to a part of the city called the Garden District. At this point we couldn't see much, it being late and all, but these were real mansions, with big cast iron fences and gates. We passed through the gateway to his place and entered a carriageway that took us back into a courtyard at the rear of the house. As the car passed through, we saw that the entire courtyard was lit up with hurricane lanterns. Plants and flowers of every description could be found there. A fountain was gushing forth, and get this, the guy had two peacocks strolling across the way!

We were greeted as if we were family. They took us in, fed us a huge feast of southern and Creole specialties, and made up beds for us to sleep. These were some mighty kind and generous folk, and I slept soundly and comfortably, even in the heat. Over the next few days, Henry took us on a plantation tour, and even to the bayous to look for gators. We had jambalaya, po-boys and mufalattas. He took us to fancy restaurants on Bourbon Street, showed us the best jazz clubs, and even taught us about the cemeteries. When it was time to leave, I was actually sad to go. Henry and his family had definitely shown us that famous "Southern Hospitality". We swapped contact info, but Henry said it's too cold up there in the "Nawth", but we'll always have a standing invitation to visit him again... maybe this year?

 

nationalday — 2008-02-06 GTM 1 @ 14:47 Tags:

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Football

Football

I might've missed the Packers vs. Giants game but I AM NOT going to miss the Super Bowl! Giants are going all the way baby! They had a lot of ups and downs this season. I admit, there were moments when I thought Giants wouldn't make it but they did make a comeback. I mean, did you see that beautiful pass in Chicago? That was awesome man. And the Green Bay game was the coldest game in recorded history of the Giants. Did you know that?

I'm really looking forward to Sunday. We're having a little party at Rick's place out in Jersey. Steve, Adrian and Megan are coming, but Donna's too busy with her sister. I'm rooting for the Giants, and my man Eli Manning! Megan's rooting for that pretty boy, Tom Brady, just because he's from California. Megan might be right in her instincts too, after all the Patriots have the longest perfect season in professional football. We'll see if that's still the case this Sunday.

There's more to Eli than just football, though. After Hurricane Katrina, Eli and his brother, Peyton, delivered water, pillows, baby formula, diapers, and Gatorade to the people of New Orleans.

 

nationalday — 2008-02-06 GTM 1 @ 14:46 Tags:

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Congratulations On Your Pregnancy

Congratulations On Your Pregnancy

It's all Donna's fault. One of her sisters is pregnant so she made me go to the baby shower. I mean what would I know about baby showers, right?! But she pulled this whole guilt trip on me and said, "Look Bob, I need to go to the baby shower because this kid is going to be my niece or nephew. My mom and my sisters are always complaining because I never bring a date or get married. I think you can return a favor or two by coming with me." I couldn't refuse. I did owe her a couple of favors. I thought, what the heck, it's just going to be a bunch of people hanging out right?

Boy, did I think wrong. First off, I was the only single guy at the baby shower, missing the game! I had to be nice, so I brought a gift Donna helped me pick out and congratulated the mom-to-be. For you guys who have not been to a baby shower (it was my first time, too), trust me, MAKE ANY EXCUSE YOU CAN TO GET OUT OF IT! First off, the husbands were all acting like they'd been sent to Death Row. All the ladies are talking away, giving advice about baby stuff and birth. I mean where do they get all that information? Ok, on second thought, I would rather not know. I think I learned more about babies there than I ever wanted to know!

I had to slowly edge away from 'baby talk' to where the guys were hanging out in front of the TV in the den. I introduced myself to John, who was one of the dads there. I thought maybe he'd guide me through this whole thing - at least he's experienced. He came by, handed me a drink and laughed, "Who sucked you into this?" I was shocked. I had to brace myself and said, "Donna, she's a friend." "That's a lot of love, man," John said smiling wickedly. It was weird. I didn't know what to say so I asked, "Why are you guys standing? Why can't we sit and watch the game?"

"You never, ever sit in front of the TV! That's the first commandment at baby showers. They will cut your head off." Ok. That was very important to know. "If they ask, say you're going to the bathroom or getting a drink. Never, ever say you're watching the game," advised John. Maybe the information will be vital to my survival in the future, who knows. But thank goodness Donna came and got me, "Come on in guys, we're opening the gifts, now!" I won't bore you with the rest of the details. In fact it was all a long, boring, scary blur to me. I wanted to go home to my Tivo. That was something I was really looking forward to that day.

 

nationalday — 2008-02-06 GTM 1 @ 14:45 Tags:

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Birthday

Birthday [Jan 21]

Oh ya, I didn't tell you guys yet. Megan's birthday is on Monday, but we're going to celebrate it early starting Friday! The whole gang is going to a lounge down the street, another one of my favorite hangouts. Now, I won't embarrass Megan and tell everyone her age! Let's just say, she's in her mid twenties now. Megan's a real sweetheart.

She's one of those friends that you need to have in life. And she's always there for you no matter which part of life you're passing through. She can hang with your guy friends and she would definitely listen to whatever crappy ideas you come up with. I haven't decided what to get her yet. Besides, I want it to be a surprise. Don't worry I'll tell you guys all about it next week after she gets her present!

Well, that's all that we have time for today. This week's quote comes, interestingly enough, a writer who visited a lot of pubs during his lifetime! He's also Irish. Brendon Francis Behan said, "A man is already halfway in love with any woman who listens to him." I think I may already be falling in love with Kaitlin, the redhead!

nationalday — 2008-02-06 GTM 1 @ 14:44 Tags:

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Irish Coffee Day

Irish Coffee Day [Jan 25]

Of course beer wasn't enough, so I headed out to my local pub. I love this bar. Every guy needs a local pub and mine's a Guinness one where they serve ice cold draught beer straight out the tap. I know you can get that in every bar, but when you're really in need of a cold one, you really appreciate that they are there!

So I walked into the pub and there's this redhead sitting at the bar all by herself. I was in the mood to talk to someone so I told Pete, the bartender in a volume she'd hear, "I'll have what the lady's having, and get another one for her." Then I walked over to her. "Hey there tiger," she greeted. She was drinking Irish Coffee--good thing it wasn't one of them 'mind eraser' cocktails--not that I'd have minded at that point. We struck up a conversation about Irish Coffee and traveling. I told her that I had just dropped my ex off at the airport. It was just really ironic that Irish Coffee was originally concocted for travelers who were weary of their 18 hour flights on the seaplane plus a chilling boat ride!

I don't know whether it was our chemistry or the chemistry of the Irish Coffee, but we moved from the bar to my favorite corner table. I love this bar because it has great ambience. It's all wood paneling and it feels like a tavern, a real pub in Ireland. I thought we hit it off well, so I asked her out right away. Enough of sulking for me! I invited her to Megan's birthday party at a lounge that we're meeting at, later this week.

nationalday — 2008-02-06 GTM 1 @ 14:43 Tags:

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