National Day http://nationalday.nireblog.com National Day, valentine's day,Global Love Day, friendship day, National Prayer Day, Swiss National Day, Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:11:44 +0100 National Day http://nireblog.com/imagenes/logo.png http://nationalday.nireblog.com http://nireblog.com Valentine's Day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/12/valentines-day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/12/valentines-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!

]]> Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:40:23 +0100 Clean Out Your Computer Day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/12/clean-out-your-computer-day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/12/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?

]]> Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:38:59 +0100 Black History Month http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/12/black-history-month http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/12/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?

]]> Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:37:29 +0100 Make A New Friend Day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/12/make-a-new-friend-day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/12/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.

]]> Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:36:22 +0100 Chinese New Year http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/chinese-new-year http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/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!

]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:49:27 +0100 Mardi Gras http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/mardi-gras http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/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?

]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:47:47 +0100 Football http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/football http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/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.

]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:46:33 +0100 Congratulations On Your Pregnancy http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/congratulations-on-your-pregnancy http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/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.

]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:45:45 +0100 Birthday http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/birthday http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/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!

]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:44:32 +0100 Irish Coffee Day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/irish-coffee-day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/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.

Comments

]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:43:18 +0100 Beer Can Appreciation Day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/beer-can-appreciation-day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/beer-can-appreciation-day Beer Can Appreciation Day [Jan 24]

I got back into the car and all I wanted to do was go home and have drinks. I felt really bitter about it all. I know I promised not to be negative but I can't help feeling hurt and angry. The person whom I thought was "THE ONE" just walked into some airport terminal and who knows whether I'm ever going to see her again. I tried tuning the radio to drown out my thoughts and concentrate on my driving until that James Blunt song came on. Traffic couldn't move fast enough. I turned off the radio and listened to one of the CDs Rick left--whatever it was it was working because it was noise and it was loud. I have to really thank Rick for always installing nice speakers!

Other things I really appreciate are beer cans. I got home and I didn't have any hard stuff. Of course I didn't! Where's the stuff when you REALLY need it?! At least I had a couple of beers left in the fridge and I finished them off pretty quickly. They were leftovers from my BYOB parties. So I had an assortment of beers. Did you know that there are people who collect the cans and bottles? Maybe you have your own collection. These collectors actually make money selling them on ebay! I mean talk about a hobby.

]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:42:31 +0100 Bon Voyage http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/bon-voyage http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/02/06/bon-voyage Bon Voyage

Aaliyah wanted me to drop her off the airport so I borrowed one of Rick's cars and picked her up at her place. I was a couple of minutes late and she was worried, "What happened to you? I was just about to call a cab!" She was furious. Her suitcases were already on the pavement right outside her brownstone. "I'm sorry, Aali... I was stuck in traffic." It was the best excuse I could come up with, but she knew it wasn't the truth. She just sighed and muttered, "Same old Bob." She wheeled her suitcases to the car, and I helped her put them in the trunk.

Our whole journey out to LaGuardia was eerily quiet. We didn't really talk. It was awkward. We both knew we might not see each other for a very long time, maybe even forever. She was worried about airport security and catching her flight on time. I didn't want her leaving, wanted to start over, patch things up--but things were out of my hands. Then Aaliyah said, "Bob, I really appreciate you dropping me off. I wouldn't have let just anyone do it. I'm sorry I lost it for a moment back home."

"Oh, don't worry about it. Traveling is stressful. I understand," I'm out of words when I need them most. "It's not that," she retorted, "I was hoping we'd get a bit more time." But time ran out, and we were beyond the point of return. I knew there was no reset button on this one. We got into the airport and I helped her with her suitcases. I turned back and she jumped and hugged me, teary-eyed. She gave me a kiss on my cheek and said, "Thank you... for everything."

I faked a smile and said, "No, thank YOU for the ride," I really didn't know what else to say. She got her cases and headed into the airport. "BON VOYAGE!" I cried out. She turned back and smiled at me then disappeared into the crowd at the terminal.

]]> Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:37:42 +0100 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/martin-luther-king-jr-day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/martin-luther-king-jr-day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day [Jan 21]
Fighting for your rights and standing up for them is what America is all about. I can't find a more patriotic cause than that. So I was really excited when I met Frederick Gray in my usual bar. He was talking to Pete - our regular bartender. He was so enthusiastic that I just had to introduce myself.

He's a seven foot tall big guy with really long dreads. He's named after the abolitionist and reformer Frederick Douglass. He was passing out postcards for a Black History Month poetry slam down at the Lower East Side poets’ cafe. We bought each other drinks and we talked about his experiences in the Civil Rights Movement. We talked about Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and the Black Panthers. It was really a great discussion of how people can change the course of history together.

For me it was uplifting, I mean here I was so concerned about my breakup and being so self-centered. Then a guy like Fred walks into my life and changes my whole outlook. It only happens in New York, I tell ya!

This week's Zen quote comes from Martin Luther King, Jr. he said, "Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it." Spread the love brother, ya know what I'm saying? I've decided to not hate or be bitter about stuff. I think no matter what the future holds, I’m going to have a positive outlook on things. I'll let you know how I'm doing next week!

]]> Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:07:12 +0100 Let's Catch Up http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/lets-catch-up http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/lets-catch-up Let's Catch Up Remember Irina my other ex that I mentioned in my last newsletter? Well, I ran into her while getting breakfast at the Comfort Diner - my favorite! Not only do they serve the traditional stuff, but they have beer too! She was on her way to work at the Clinton campaign headquarters.

I asked her, "So Irina, is this what out-of-work models do? Get out the vote?" Of course, I was being sarcastic. To my surprise she took it well, "Ya, I'm interested in politics now. There are so many rich and famous people to meet! What's more I get to talk to them sometimes, which is really cool." It was the Irina that I knew - the Irina who is always casual and has funny answers to everything. "But what about the votes and all that social change stuff? Don't you believe in that?"

"Of course I do, Bob. That's where I get my energy. The rest of it, the thrill, the excitement and meeting celebrities is just part of the package. My parents are really proud, too. It really hits home when you think of places like Chechnya, where both my parents come from. So this election is a big deal for them." It was really great to catch up with Irina. I forgot how much fun she was to be around. She can talk about issues and things without getting you down and getting too serious. "I mean think about it, there's so many people who have struggled and died just so everyone has equal rights. Voting is just one basic fundamental right," she declared.

I was taken up by her little speech. It seems she really believed in what she was doing. Talking about voting, are you registered to vote? Vote now or forever hold your peace... well, for the next four years anyway!

]]> Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:06:35 +0100 Whisper "I Love You" Day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/whisper-i-love-you-day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/whisper-i-love-you-day Whisper "I Love You" Day [Jan 19] I left Aaliyah and headed out to Brooklyn Heights where everyone was meeting up for dinner at Le Petit Marche. Adrian hadn't been there before and I really wanted him to try the lamb! There was Kate, Adrian, Megan and me. It was one of our weekly "catch up meets". And of course, Kate had a big announcement.

Kate and Jeffrey have benn going out for a week or two now and they're totally in love. They knew it but hadn't said it to each other. You know how it is of the big pressure with saying those three little words! Between Christmas and New Year, they were still getting used to just being with each other. Anyway, the surprising thing is, it wasn't our Kate who said it first!

Jeffrey, being the romantic maestro whispered, "I love you" into her ear as she was leaving the subway to come to the restaurant. "Then the doors closed on me. I didn't even have the time to react! He was smiling when the train moved and then he was out of sight." Kate explained. "That is so romantic," said Megan, teary eyed.

Frankly, I wasn't ready for all this mushy stuff, so I just said, "Why wasn't he man enough to wait for your reaction?" And of course the women were appalled at my comment. "Maybe he didn't want a reaction. Maybe it was his way of saying, 'No matter how you feel, I'll still love you' kind of a thing. Ya know?" Megan continued. Adrian all of a sudden said, "Ya! Maybe he wasn't ready for a reaction." Oh great, even my best buddy's against me! I can't help being cynical. I've been through a lot and this mushy stuff was hard to hear.

I decided not to dwell on the matter and I think the others sensed my unease too. Megan took up the subject of steak fries and how fantastic the Coq Au Vin, is. Thank goodness for Megan, I was totally saved from the mushy "I love you" stuff.

]]> Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:05:03 +0100 Thinking of You http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/thinking-of-you http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/thinking-of-you Thinking of You My big "DOH!" moment was when I asked Aaliyah whether we could still be friends. Folks, it's no surprise that I can do pretty stupid stuff under duress. Just bumping into Aaliyah after I'd been thinking of her so much over the holidays was like she teleported right in front of me. I mean talk about wishful thinking!

She was hesitant to reply. "Bob I think it's going to take some time for me to get adjusted to our new situation. It happened kinda fast for me and I really need some space now. I'm trying to start a whole new life in a new city." My heart sank. I realized that we were losing whatever connection that we had... that there was a chance that she might be out of my life forever. Then she said, "I'll tell ya what, why don't you drop me at the airport on Saturday?" A sparkle of hope! I thought -- maybe, just maybe there's still a chance...

]]> Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:03:52 +0100 Miss You http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/miss-you http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/miss-you Miss You I've been completely screwed up lately. It's a surprise to be single again. The whole thing about being back on the market and the pressure to look for someone to date etc. can be really overwhelming. I don't know where life is taking me or what I'm going to be doing. What do you do when you really miss your ex and you really need to move on?

I bumped into Aaliyah last week. Her classes at the University should have started already so I thought she'd left town. It was a surprise when she walked up to me. She was doing some last minute shopping before she left. I don't really know why we decided to talk. Maybe it was the last good bye or something. It didn't really hit me until I was down at Tribeca at a blues club to see Jeffrey perform. Ya, remember Kate's infatuation with Beethoven? It turned out it wasn't really Beethoven that she was infatuated with! It's Jeffrey!

They got close over the holidays I guess, and started going out. It was really nice to see the sparkle in Kate's eyes. I guess I miss those moments when I had the same sparkle. I'm not going to say I didn't miss Aaliyah, because I do immensely. And listening to Jeffrey playing the blues just made it worse because it brings out all those nostalgic feelings that I'm trying to bury.

Aaliyah looked really beautiful under that winter glow of the sun. "I'll be leaving town in a couple of days," she said. "I'll see if I can call you... may I?" There was an awkward pause. The pause that you just hate to be in. The one beat that goes on for eternity. I didn't know what to say, or how to react. Part of me was hurt, and part of me really wanted to speak to her again and keep in touch. "Ya, sure, you can call me." I replied, in the same breath, I blurted out, "Aaliyah, I miss you. Maybe we could still be friends?"

Anyway, that's all I have time for now. Tune in next week to know what her reply was. I'll also keep you updated on Kate's new beau. I don't know if Aaliyah is going to contact me once she's in Chicago. In the mean time, I ran into Irina, another ex whom I haven’t seen in a long, long time. We're planning to catch up...

This week's Zen quote comes from Morrie Schwartz, of the "Tuesdays with Morrie" fame. He said, "The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in." Right now I'm just waiting for time to move on.

]]> Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:01:51 +0100 Tattoo Pride Day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/tattoo-pride-day http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/tattoo-pride-day Tattoo Pride Day [Jan 11] We're planning to go down to the Village at MacDougal to get a new tattoo for Rick. He's been planning this for ages and this is the '2008 tattoo' for him. He talked about his new tattoo so much that we were all really sick and tired of hearing about it.

On New Year's Eve, he got really drunk and passed out. We decided to teach him a lesson. Steve already bought a temporary tramp stamp tattoo – the one that goes on your lower back if you’re a girl. When he passed out, we took the cue and stuck it on him. It was really funny with a girly tattoo on his bum. We were all roaring with laughter the next morning when we showed him the pictures.

He thought he did it while he was really drunk and he couldn't remember anything. But it was so much better than having ridiculous Chinese letters that no one can really understand like Kobe Bryant!

I mean, what's up with that? If you're going to put something on your body you should at least know what the freak it's all about! Seriously folks, think not just twice but three or maybe even ten times before you think of having something inked on your body. Permanently! And remember, before you get that tight tattoo on your body, taking a tattoo off is a LOT more painful and expensive than putting one on.

]]> Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:01:24 +0100 Get Well Soon http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/get-well-soon http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/get-well-soon What's up with people getting so sick at this time of year? Mrs. Bradley's been down with the sniffles since New Year's Day. I usually drop by her place on my way back to my house to bring her whatever she might need. She doesn't want to go out much because of the snow and the cold.

Speaking about the cold, did you know that the flu virus has a higher infection rate because of the dry and cold weather? I read about it last month in the papers. If you're sick now, stay warm. Get well soon and please, please don’t go to the office! If you’re an employer, give people sick leave – trust me, it's gonna save you money and productivity. There's nothing like a person spreading sickness all over the office! I for one don't want to get sick. As it is, I'm not feeling so well in other areas!

That reminds me... I should pick up some chicken soup for Mrs. Bradley. Her favorite deli is on my way home.

]]> Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:00:38 +0100 Thank You http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/thank-you http://nationalday.nireblog.com/post/2008/01/23/thank-you Of course getting back on my feet after Aaliyah left wasn’t easy for me. I'm glad my old buddy Adrian was there. Sometimes we forget the little things that people do for us. Sometimes, having them there and just listening can make a big difference.

Adrian's been looking for a place to stay and not having much luck, so we agreed to share my place. Looking for an apartment in the Big Apple is a big pain. My place may be small and I don't have much to offer, but he doesn't seem to mind. I'm just glad he's here. He's good company.

I hope the holiday season wasn't too stressful for all of you, but saying "Thank You" is always in season. If you have family or a friend who helped you out during hard times, why not take some time out for them and let them know how much you appreciate them?

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