It's What You Get for Scratching

I feel like I live my life like most people. I get up every morning and try to make it to work on time. I stay [mostly] diligent during the day and get my work done. I eat well, I work out, I don't overspend on things I don't need. I get the recommended hours of sleep per night for a guy my age. I feel like everything that I do is being done by most people my age in my same situation.

We're getting through.

But lately? It's getting harder to just get through. I'm feeling the onset of what I've come to regard as the 2-year Itch.

Let me give you some background...

When I was younger, I played soccer. I played for two seasons and got an Itch. So on I moved to Karate. I did that for one year, got right up to Brown Belt (about a month before I would've hit Black Belt) and got an Itch. And quit. On I went to singing and dancing. Did that for three years. Got an Itch. Started doing competitive Ballroom. Did that for a few years. Got an Itch. Went to college to study pre-Med. Got an Itch. Switched colleges to become a dance major. Got an Itch. Took a job teaching arts to kids. Got an Itch. Tried to start a magazine. Got broke... which is different, but the Itch would've happened eventually. Moved to downtown SLC to just live and be free! Got an Itch...

Are you seeing the trend?

That last time, the itch was SO bad that I decided to pick up my entire existence and move to England. I'm not exaggerating - on Monday I thought "I should try being a nanny overseas" and by Friday I had accepted a job working on the British coast as an Au Pair.

We all know that didn't really work out, but it ended up being the best thing that's ever happened to me because it landed me here in New York City.

And I LOVE NEW YORK CITY!

But it's been about a year and a half. And as if Fate has me living in a revolving door -- I'm getting an Itch.

I don't mean to complain. I have a great life with great friends. I see great theater and dance and movies. I vacation all over the world (Is it time to go to Italy yet???) and have a summer share in a gorgeous house one block from the beach on Fire Island.

Life. Is. Good.

But I'm itchy, friends. And it's really becoming prominent in my daily processes.

I spent two hours the other day looking for somewhere new to live. Do I want to move? No. I like my roomie, and I like my space. But I was Itching and thought maybe that scratch could help. All it really ended up doing for me is making me wish I made more money -- which lead me to another Itchy spot.

I like my job. It's not super-fulfilling and it's definitely not what I thought I would be doing with my life. But it pays well. And I like my boss. And I like the people that I work with. AND IT PAYS WELL. And now it's making me Itchy... Am I getting complacent? Will I hide from my dreams behind my bank account, which for the first time in my life is never in default?

"HELL NO!" I scream. "I WILL NOT SETTLE!"

And my Itch laughs... "What will you do? Which of your dreams do you pursue next? What will you be naive and stupid enough to sacrifice all you've got to try your hand at?!"

And it's here my friends that my Itch begins to become my Wound.

So okay. My life's not exactly how I had pictured. There are things that I need to change.

But I've got time, right? I can still pick a direction, a goal, a different apartment, or a life-long dream in a year.

When something has changed.

When it's easier.

Fuck.

If I Won the Lottery

Last night I was flipping between the Jazz/Rockets game (sad face) and my normal thursday night tv shows when I came across a news story about a small family who just won an instant lottery. The prize was $3,000,000 - paid out over 30 years at $100,000 per year.


So if you break that down, after taxes you're looking at an extra $60,000 to $65,000 per year (I'm guessing here on the tax rates based on the fact that the government rapes my yearly bonus by upwards of 30%)


What would I do with that kind of money?


1) Move Downtown!


So I like where I live and I'm comfortable and all that jazz -- but with the extra income I could be in a much nicer place, living alone, in a neighborhood like Greewich Village on a tree lined street with maybe even a view of the Hudson. Le Sigh... someday!


2) Family Vacation!


I'm a family man - what can I say? I'd get the whole family together in Florida for a week at Disney World. I'd rent out sick suites for everyone - everything would be on me! Ya, I love my family that much :o)


3) A big foreign trip for myself


I love to travel. There's something exhilarating about throwing yourself into a culture completely unfamiliar and different from all that you know... So I'd want to take at least one month - I'm not sure where I'd go -- but my top 3 destinations would be the French Riviera, Thailand, or an African Safari. Or maybe I'd start in Thailand, go on safari, and then wind down in the French Riviera... And I'd of course take someone along with me - most likely my sister, but who knows... anyone else want to call dibs?


Surprisingly, I can't think of anything else off the top of my head that would jump to the top of my list. I mean, there's little things... like stocking my kitchen with the best utensils and appliances, buying lots of candy for Brian, revamping the wardrobe, getting lots of ColdStone, hiring a personal trainer to help me work off all that ColdStone, etc. etc.


So I put it to you, dear friend:


If you won the lottery - what would you do?

Recap!

I know, it's been forever since I've put anything up on here. But ya'll, I got busy at work! Like crazy busy where I'm pulling long hours and have almost teared up on a couple occasions. One of the great things about my job is that I'm supposed to have the down time I need to blog, shop online, watch my tv shows, and what not... and I went form plenty to ZIP.

But things will get better - they have to get better! - and I've actually got a few minutes to do a very quick recap of what's been going on in my world.

1- I went to Costa Rica. It was absolutely phenomenal. Some of the most brilliant moments included:

A parrot that scared the crap out of me when I was walking by it's bush and it decided to chat me up. F'reals... I'm walking along and hear "Hi, hello!" and it was this bird.

Chilling on a hammock with the waves breaking five feet from me in front of my hotel.

Drinking on a hammock at night with Mandie and new buddy Ryder from DC.

Crazy food!

Climbing Palm trees, that are much easier to get up than down..

And a monkey that reared up and bared it's fangs at me when I yelled at it for trying to steal my shoe! Nasty little buggars - not what I had hoped they'd be like AT ALL. Grr.

2- NY Gay Football

The season rages on. We're actually coming up to the end of it all know. To be honest, I've had a hard time staying interested. My team is great and all, but I'm getting bored. I pretty much only rush and block. There are five folks on my team that have been doing it a while and they keep most of the meaty stuff to themselves. And it's not that I'm dying to be more involved, but it's hard to stay committed when I'm getting bored.

On the flip-side: my boys from football are doing phenom. Toddy is looking at the possibility of becoming bi-residential, and splitting his time between here and Boston. It would be an awesome contract for him (though I'd miss his ass-face if he were gone Monday thru Friday...) Matty is doing well, and managed to turn seeing a scary movie into a night full of laughter and pseudo-inappropriateness. Ben hooked me up with a great volunteer opp that introduced me (and BFF) to a few great guys - one in particular that BFF got to know particularly well (tee hee...)

3- Mandy had a birthday!

Which was a lot of fun! My nephew was super-excited for her bday and was all about giving her tons of birthday love... and helping her open her presents. And I gotta say - she totally made out this year! Bro-in-law is treating her to brunch and a bway show in two weekends, gave her some gorgeous jewelry, and some sweet kitchenware; I'm taking her on a nyc culinary tour and got her a beautiful kitchen art piece from Costa Rica... I can't remember what else she got.. but it was all really nice!

4- BFF threw a bunk party that ended up turning into a totally awesome night!

For the record, it wasn't bunk by any fault of his. He won a bar party at a place called "Porky's" (everyone pretty much wins... its a promotional thing) so he invited a bunch of people out. It started out fun, but the C U Next Tuesday behind the bar ended up calling one of the guys in our group an F-ing Homo, so we bailed. I know - shocking, right?! We live in NYC... aren't things like that not supposed to happen here?

Apparently in places that thrive on business from the trash that floods the bridges and tunnels into Manhattan from places like Jersey... yes, yes it does.

Anyway, after an impromptu "walk off" Tyra Banks style, we ended up hitting up a karaoke bar at Union Square and the night was a blast!

5- [Title of Show]

BFF introduced me... and I'm a little bit in love...

Ok, so I stole away, and that's all I've got time for.

Hope all is well in the world!

No Me Diga

77%LUSH

I had no idea I knew so much about booze...

It's Fate!

ManDanie and I are coming up on our two-week mark for leaving to Costa Rica. It's coming so quickly!


So after we bought our tickets, we kinda shelved it. Like, the big thing was taken care of, and we both were so busy that we hadn't thought through many of the other details.


Well we (and by "we" I mean "she") found some motivation, and, with a little help from our Mamacita Basmita, booked our accommodations.



We're going to a very quaint village called Cahuita. It sits right on the ocean on the edge of a large forest reserve/national park. We chose this place because it's off the beaten path, offers snorkeling in the only coral reef in Costa Rica, and horseback riding through the rain forest canopies.


This is where the fate part comes in - we will be staying at Spencer Seaside Lodgings.


See? If that's not fate...


Here are a couple of pics I snagged from a backpacker's blog. He was there pretty recently, and his recommendation is what I think made ManDanie choose this place in particular.

Apparently it's like the only place in the village with Internet access. But, I'm sorry, who goes and stays on the beach and spends there time online??

A garden of palms and hammocks. Our room is apparently on the upper level, which I guess is better. I don't know why... better view perhaps?

Upper level rooms come with hot showers, two beds, and individual terraces with private hammocks.

The view (excuse the leg...)

The Beach!

So ya, needless to say I'm getting totally psyched to get out there!

Woot WOOT!

25 and Feelin' It!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes kids, that's right - the big Two-Five has finally arrived. You know what I love about getting older? I spent the whole weekend convincing people that I truly am as old as I am.

For real - Do I really look like I'm still in college? (That's a rhetorical question - feel free to not answer...)

So a little recap, eh? My actual birthday was Sunday, but the celebration began on Friday night. My dear friend Jarett had a busy weekend, so we had planned to celebrate on Friday. So it was him and me, and my friend Brian. The three of us met up down at Union Square - I have wanted to try Max Brenner's for so long so that's where I chose to have dinner. And let me tell ya - it's fantastic! I had the Salmon Wellington (yum) and... actually, it was so good that I don't even remember what it was served with. A salad? Hmm... I don't remember. After dinner came desert - which is the whole reason you go to MB's in the first place! There was a melted marshmallow chocolate crepe (w/ gummi bears for Brian) and a churro fondue - Both unbelievable rich and decadent! I'd go again just to get desert - so worth it! And the place is decently priced too. I think the most expensive entree was $15 and deserts were like $7 to $10. I'd hit it up for sure!

Just one suggestion: Don't bother drinking there. They have lots of Epicurean cocktail concoctions that seem really enticing... but in actuality they are far too weak for their price ($10-$14 each). So spend the money on desert, and then head out into the neighborhood to find a place to hunker down with a cocktail!

After dinner came a little karaoke, more drinking, and more drinking. Oh, and then more drinking. Jarett bailed early (like 1:00 AM) but Bri and I kept going. Made a quick trip to see David at Bamboo where we met a friend of his who was feeling lonely. Bri forgot we're in our mid-twenties and "called dibs"... but alas that lonely soul had other ideas. And that's all I'm going to say about that! *blush*

So now we're onto Saturday. Cue a bad hangover and an impending football game... ya, not a great morning! I got myself organized and out the door nearly on time. We played a good game against Team Jaeger. I mean, we lost, but it was still a good game. Mostly in the last ten minutes when we finally switched out our QB. I'm pretty sure that'll be a permanent change! So in the last 10 minutes we came back to do a little scoring, and kept the other team from reaching another score - aka we've still got hope for a successful season!

My team is great - I truly enjoy just about everyone on it! And there isn't a single person there that I dislike by any means. Great guys, and one unbelievable fantastic girl!

After the game, I went with Todd up to his place (Todd is Kiwi Katie's roomie) to get ready for the night - he and Katie had planned to have some people over to keep the celebrations going. All the girls and a bunch of the guys from the league showed up - it was a totally random grouping but it was so much fun! Everyone was mingling and enjoying meeting new people - gotta love it!

After some good pre-gaming we motivated out to the bars. It was a long night of drinking and laughing and enjoying each other - I couldn't have asked for anything more! Eventually I'll have to upload a few photos of the night -- but that will have to wait until I've got some more free time! (This post has taken almost two days to write! Work is killer right now...)

So Sunday morning comes around and I had to get myself motivated back up to Katie's - I ended up spending the night in Chelsea... le sigh... We caught the train and made our way out to CT to spend some time with the family. We did brunch in Westport at a cute little cafe, and then I went back to my sisters place to veg. Got back to the city around 11:00 pm, and slept oh so soundly!

So anyway, it was a great weekend. And aside from my BFF telling me over and over again how much cuter he thinks he is than me, I felt so much love! So a big ole THANK YOU to all of you who came out and made the weekend awesome!

Special shout out to my girl Katie (not the Kiwi, the other one!) who celebrated her b-day yesterday - LOVE YOU!

Also, to K - awesome meeting you on Friday night! I vaguely remember it... lol

Hope everyone had an awesome weekend, St. Paddy's Day, and remember - Easter is a'comin!

The Perfect Bedroom

Minus the strange masks and that tree-ish lookin' sculpture next to the window, I could definitely handle my room looking like this!



If only it was even slightly conceivable that I would be living in a space that could accommodate this design ANY time in the near future...

Someday... Someday...
(Source)