That's a bad pun on Easy Duz It, but I do have to tell about what Loisa did on New Years.
Brookyln (who doesn't believe this journal exists) and I spilled significant ink over how we would spend New Years. I knew it would be for the best to avoid New York--too many out-of-towners, and I don't play the nightlife game as I once did, but still refuse absolutely to spend any money for the privilege of standing on line in the cold, the nightmare of traffic and taxis on New Years, the nightmare of millions of people in Times Square (why?)--no thanks. We determined through indifference that DC would be the best place to spend New Years, and settled on an open bar with nice food and a heated rooftop with twelve or so friends.
Loisa came, of course, as did a friend of Brooklyn's from Philly, Charlie. Loisa doesn't get out much, and when a few weeks ago Brooklyn mentioned she plans to move to Seattle to live with her boyfriend, Loisa burst into tears. Brooklyn and I were shocked, and agreed that this inappropriate behavior had much more to do with Loisa's own loneliness and despair than real concern over Brooklyn departing DC. When Brooklyn told me she planned to move to Seattle, I thought it was wonderful, and I far prefer a lengthy ride in a plane than a lengthy ride on a bus. It will be sad to see less of Brooklyn, of course, but it will also be nice to have an excuse to visit Seattle. I very much want to see Olympic National Park, and have wanted to do so for many years.
On New Year's Eve, Loisa and Charlie began to chat independent of the rest of the group, an occurrence which Brooklyn and I noted. Later, after midnight, Loisa approached us and explained that yes, she was interested in Charlie, that Charlie had asked her if he could kiss her, but that she wasn't sure what to do, was it a good idea, would Brooklyn assure her that Charlie was a good person, a responsible person, a safe person? Yes, Brooklyn could attest to Charlie's good character, and did, but Loisa remained uncertain. The bar closed around two, and Brooklyn, another friend, and I felt it was time to move on to a more crunk venue. We were twenty minutes away, on foot, and it was warm and dry. Brooklyn checked Uber, which had an 8x surge charge. "We should really walk," I said. Brooklyn reaches a stage of intoxication and becomes unreasonable and stubborn, and the more I suggested we walk the more determined she became to order an Uber, I'm sure. Eventually she insisted we take an Uber, and ordered it. This was convenient, because it enabled us to abandon Loisa and Charlie together, which we did. We felt good about it--as friends, we had done right by Loisa, this would be good for her.
The Uber, a ten minute ride at most, was $47. The reward of the stubborn!
The rest of the night was amusing if uneventful. We slept late New Years Day, and met for brunch around two. Loisa appeared, in high spirits, but looking rough. Loisa lives in a lovely home on Capitol Hill. Two floors of a beautiful old DC-style brownstone are hers, with a couple in the garden apartment below. Charlie and Loisa had returned to her apartment around two the night before. Loisa made Charlie promise he didn't have an STD: "Brooklyn is a very close friend of mine and if I catch anything she will do something terrible to you." Brooklyn, as you can imagine, reacted to this with a low shudder.
Loisa and Charlie hear a crash around 5:30 in the morning as well as the sound of rushing water; Loisa believes there is a storm and a tree has fallen on the house (this has occurred twice in the past). But when she looks out into the street, it's not raining. She runs downstairs, and in the living room an enormous piece of the plaster ceiling has fallen, narrowly missing Loisa's beloved guinea pigs, Tom and Jerry.
Sidenote: Loisa has flown with Tom and Jerry. The first time she did this, she had her veterinarian type up and sign a letter stating that these were Loisa's "anxiety animals," and that the guinea pigs must accompany her at all times. Loisa walked through airport security clutching Tom and Jerry. When she arrived at the gate, she walked up to the counter and alerted the flight attendant on duty she would be flying with Tom and Jerry, thinking this was the responsible thing to do. The flight attendant balked, and told Loisa there was no protocol for flying with such animals, and that she would have to speak with her supervisor. Loisa produced the veterinarian's letter, which according to the flight attendant, was useless--Loisa would need a letter from her therapist that stated she was mentally unstable. Loisa burst into tears, clutched Tom and Jerry, and cried, "I am mentally unstable!" Loisa was able to board the flight, and has't had issues flying with Tom and Jerry since.
In the still of the night, Charlie, running around naked, grabs some towels, and both Loisa and Charlie frantically attempt to mop up the mess and assess the damage. Loisa immediately calls a plumber, but it's the crack of dawn on New Years--no one is available. She calls her landlord, a management company--nothing. The downstairs neighbors are nowhere to be found--they're on vacation. Charlie manages to shut off the water, Loisa turns up the heat and turns on some fans, and the two of them spend the next few hours cleaning.
Loisa was in high spirits at brunch. Brooklyn and I made the right decision: Loisa seemed entirely unconcerned with the calamity of the night before. She was pleasant, fun, and alert. If Loisa and Charlie ever end up together, they'll have one hell of a "how we met" story.
Showing posts with label Casual Sex. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Casual Sex. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Halloween, DC, and Early November
On the ride home from DC last night I read, and nearly finished The Master and Margarita ("among human vices he considered cowardice the worst"), which I did finish this afternoon in bed. It was an unusually pleasant bus ride, and I felt warm, comfortable, contentedness from fellow passengers. The bus driver's talent was a rare one, and she maneuvered through snarl after snarl of traffic with insouciance. I felt warm (it's cold and I picked up the flu Friday night) and in a state of suspension; I wished the ride might never end. The soft feathers of anticipation are the most delicate, the most lovely. Tomorrow I pick up Chimamanda Adichie's Americanah; I thought Purple Hibiscus was good, serious writing and had a lot of potential, so I'm looking forward to this new book.
Brooklyn, Loisa, and I went to see "Birdman" in DC--excellent, just purely pleasurable cinema. Brooklyn I've known as long as Cash. She's a redhead who knows about the history of anti-ginger discrimination and will remark on this subject in grave tones, was wild and continues to be wild, appreciates film and fine art, loves to gossip, loves to talk politics. She is a contemporary Diane Keaton--the ideal person to have as a friend and confidant--beautiful, stylish, sharp, ambitious, smart. I can take Brooklyn anywhere. In high school, she took Klonopin, at school, blacked out, drove her car to a fancy boutique with a few friends, and woke up in her bed in a new outfit. In the dressing room, she had apparently changed out of her old clothes and walked out the store in the new set. I love to tell this story much to her chagrin. Brooklyn loves to drink, and possesses a zest for life that verges at times into depraved hedonism. Brooklyn loves hip hop, and knows the words to many of the hits, all the lyrics, and can rap along with surprising songs, (think UGK on Super Tight or Too Hard To Swallow). She idolizes Lil' Kim, and is very fond of Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s Get Money. Like I said, a contemporary Diane Keaton.
Loisa works for the ASPCA. She is a honest and kind and plain, but will on occasion surprise with savvy, connections, or shocking and bizarre deceptiveness or meanness. She dated my charismatic friend Anthony, with whom I once had an infamous night out in the Village when we were barely teenagers. That night came very closing to resulting in a stabbing. Anthony and Loisa were a strange match, but they both seemed very happy. She was good for him, brought stability and a sense of moral direction, and he gave her flavor, excitement, a project. All of my female friends are driven and very successful. Loisa is no exception.
Do you remember, several weeks ago, when everyone and their mother went to see "Gone Girl?" Well, that surprised me because I've never thought Ben Affleck could act and didn't really do serious movies. I'm glad J Lo stood him up. Well, everyone and their mother again seems to be at the theatre, this time for "Birdman," and this time it's worth it. Though Richard Brody bludgeoned the film, I think he went too far. Sure it isn't a triumph of intellect, aesthetic, or craft, but it's fun, and more importantly, the financial success of films like "Birdman" make other unusual films possible. Naomi Watts continues to impress; I feel she's at her best in supporting roles, and though I admire Emma Stone I did not admire her in the role of "petulant, capricious child who delivers monologue explaining to parent/protagonist and audience the trappings and failures of parent/protagonist." Uck! Uck! I hate these roles, and I'm tired of Hollywood selling this vision of children demystifying the problems of adults. You become an adult when, as a person, you develop insoluble, terrible problems and begin to live a damaged life in a new, abnormal world. I do not believe financial independence has anything to do with being an adult, nor living on one's own, nor having children (for most people). Adult-ness transpires when one realizes the tragedy of life. Unfortunately, we live in an age of children. But do take a night and see "Birdman."
I like DC. I don't love it. It's aesthetically appealing in sections, and I love the presence of Whistler in the city at the Freer-Sackler. I saw a bizarre exhibit at the most improbably spelled Hirshhorn, encountered a few lovely gardens, and was otherwise aghast to learn none other than Rihanna is to perform at a Veteran's Day concert--wut?!?! (there's a nod to you hipsters)--almost as improbable as the Hirshhorn's double-h's. Brookyln has the most beautiful apartment in DC, I harp on it every time I see her. But it really is enormous and clean and well-furnished. My new apartment is adequate. I now live in Brooklyn. I went through some old text conversations on my phone last night, and was happy when I read that I had said, months ago, that there were only two neighborhoods I could ever live in Brooklyn: Brooklyn Heights or Prospect Heights. I now reside in one of these two neighborhoods.
Halloween happened in New York. It makes perfect sense that in a city where everyone pretends to be something they're not--or aren't yet--Halloween is the most widely-celebrated of holidays (after Passover. Shalom). I still lived in Chelsea on Halloween and walked right over to the parade, which was amusing and much more crowded than I remember it. The presence of Whoopi Goldberg perhaps explains the crowds. I painted my face for the first time this Halloween; I was an out-of-work demon, or an unemployed demon, or etc. I found a throwaway brooks brothers dress shirt and some slacks and dress shoes, and had a stack of demon resumes (Skills: General Malevolence). I went to China's and met her boyfriend. They're just too cynical together. I adore China on her own of course and the boyfriend seems perfectly likeable, but together it's a dark mass. The mere presence of the two darkens corridors and obscures sunlight. China is a jaded narcissist who resembles Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous in every way sans her black hair. Her roommate Sadie and her little pooch pranced about, Sadie dressed up as a kitty-cat. Sadie personifies sultriness, but on the inside seems filled with a loneliness perhaps surpassed only by Charlus. I increasingly enjoy Sadie more than China. We all talked about running over to Camille's party, and I left with Cash because it really seemed for awhile China, her boyfriend, and Sadie might sit around smoking pot all night. Cash and I went to Kim's, where she had assembled a group that included: a slutty Jeff Koon's balloon animal, a monkey, a doctor, a woodsman, a flapper, a Mormon, a German barmaid, and me, the unemployed demon. This merry company parted ways around midnight, Kim had bought tickets to an event in Greepoint that ended only an hour or two after they arrived. The event is LA-based and on-tour, but surely these people knew things don't really start up in New York until after midnight?? Cash and I went to Camille's, and even Sadie was a no-show. I found out later China, boyfriend, and Sadie had gone to a friend of boyfriend's party where there was a bunch of blow. Remember: darkness. Halloween was fun. I thought at the beginning of the night when I was putting together my face and costume, "I wonder who I'll sleep with tonight?"
I sat next to two hilarious girls on the B several nights ago. Just thinking about them makes me smile. They were sisters, giggling but not in the obnoxious way, they were genuinely funny, as one caught the other up on her life of the past few days. This one, younger, the clown of the pair, had a melodious voice and perfect timing. The second was more subdued, maintained a lower pitch, and complimented her sister with low, straight-man style remarks. Jubilant sister began with a tale about a co-worker who that day had told her all about his "second life" as a male escort, how she just stood, agape, with no idea what to say after he revealed this. His clients were for the most part "mature" women and men, and of course he's telling jubilant sister this as they're behind the counter at work (either coffee shop or retail, take your pick). "That is so awkward," the second sister starts in. And they talk about it for some time, this coworker's second life as an escort.
Jubilant: "Yeah, it reminds me of that time Mom had the dinner, and Ayanna...[she breaks into laughter]..."
Subdued: "I know, I know, I remember. Well, you got started, now just go on and finish it up."
Jubilant: [through laughter] "You remember when, Ayanna, you know how she's so awkward?"
Subdued: "I do."
Jubilant: "Yeah, and she's about to leave Mom's, and she's thanking Mom and complimenting her dinner, and she goes in for a kiss--on the cheek--but then she kisses Mom on the lips!"
Subdued: "Oh Lord!"
Jubilant: "And it was even worse because she didn't leave for awhile, like another hour, and Mom just keeps looking at her like who is this? Like what? You for real just kissed me on the lips in my own home?"
Subdued: "And here we got this guy laughing [me, Marcel], you just entertaining the whole train!"
Jubilant: "Do you remember Ayanna's wedding, where everything was vegan? Like I didn't even know what I could eat because you never know what that paper mache food is made of!"
Subdued: "Oh yeah, you right. But it was a nice wedding though."
Jubilant: "Yeah she only kissed her husband on the lips."
It was a fantastic train ride, I should've obtained their info. I believe their mother is Caribbean, and they have some cousins with roots in St. Vincent, but what about Ayanna? It was the best kind of comedy, not at the expense of anyone in particular (I imagine even if Ayanna had been there she would've laughed), not shock-value, profanity-choked rants. I highly recommend this web-based series from Issa Rae, who I sincerely hope we'll see more of in the future.
I might have finally found work! I dreamt of a vignette I might turn into a screenplay, and realized also my best ideas come from music, in this case, Santana, Saint-Saens, and Fela Kuti. Ooh, I hope that isn't too affected. I do genuinely like the music of all three, and listened to Fela years before he came into vogue (Mom and Dad had tapes from the radio when they lived in West Africa in the eighties, so beat that you hipster nonpeople). I had an idea a few years ago, after the film Precious came out, of a series called "Pretentious," featuring largely the opinions, habits, and lifestyle of my friend Kim.
All for now.
Brooklyn, Loisa, and I went to see "Birdman" in DC--excellent, just purely pleasurable cinema. Brooklyn I've known as long as Cash. She's a redhead who knows about the history of anti-ginger discrimination and will remark on this subject in grave tones, was wild and continues to be wild, appreciates film and fine art, loves to gossip, loves to talk politics. She is a contemporary Diane Keaton--the ideal person to have as a friend and confidant--beautiful, stylish, sharp, ambitious, smart. I can take Brooklyn anywhere. In high school, she took Klonopin, at school, blacked out, drove her car to a fancy boutique with a few friends, and woke up in her bed in a new outfit. In the dressing room, she had apparently changed out of her old clothes and walked out the store in the new set. I love to tell this story much to her chagrin. Brooklyn loves to drink, and possesses a zest for life that verges at times into depraved hedonism. Brooklyn loves hip hop, and knows the words to many of the hits, all the lyrics, and can rap along with surprising songs, (think UGK on Super Tight or Too Hard To Swallow). She idolizes Lil' Kim, and is very fond of Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s Get Money. Like I said, a contemporary Diane Keaton.
Loisa works for the ASPCA. She is a honest and kind and plain, but will on occasion surprise with savvy, connections, or shocking and bizarre deceptiveness or meanness. She dated my charismatic friend Anthony, with whom I once had an infamous night out in the Village when we were barely teenagers. That night came very closing to resulting in a stabbing. Anthony and Loisa were a strange match, but they both seemed very happy. She was good for him, brought stability and a sense of moral direction, and he gave her flavor, excitement, a project. All of my female friends are driven and very successful. Loisa is no exception.
Do you remember, several weeks ago, when everyone and their mother went to see "Gone Girl?" Well, that surprised me because I've never thought Ben Affleck could act and didn't really do serious movies. I'm glad J Lo stood him up. Well, everyone and their mother again seems to be at the theatre, this time for "Birdman," and this time it's worth it. Though Richard Brody bludgeoned the film, I think he went too far. Sure it isn't a triumph of intellect, aesthetic, or craft, but it's fun, and more importantly, the financial success of films like "Birdman" make other unusual films possible. Naomi Watts continues to impress; I feel she's at her best in supporting roles, and though I admire Emma Stone I did not admire her in the role of "petulant, capricious child who delivers monologue explaining to parent/protagonist and audience the trappings and failures of parent/protagonist." Uck! Uck! I hate these roles, and I'm tired of Hollywood selling this vision of children demystifying the problems of adults. You become an adult when, as a person, you develop insoluble, terrible problems and begin to live a damaged life in a new, abnormal world. I do not believe financial independence has anything to do with being an adult, nor living on one's own, nor having children (for most people). Adult-ness transpires when one realizes the tragedy of life. Unfortunately, we live in an age of children. But do take a night and see "Birdman."
I like DC. I don't love it. It's aesthetically appealing in sections, and I love the presence of Whistler in the city at the Freer-Sackler. I saw a bizarre exhibit at the most improbably spelled Hirshhorn, encountered a few lovely gardens, and was otherwise aghast to learn none other than Rihanna is to perform at a Veteran's Day concert--wut?!?! (there's a nod to you hipsters)--almost as improbable as the Hirshhorn's double-h's. Brookyln has the most beautiful apartment in DC, I harp on it every time I see her. But it really is enormous and clean and well-furnished. My new apartment is adequate. I now live in Brooklyn. I went through some old text conversations on my phone last night, and was happy when I read that I had said, months ago, that there were only two neighborhoods I could ever live in Brooklyn: Brooklyn Heights or Prospect Heights. I now reside in one of these two neighborhoods.
Halloween happened in New York. It makes perfect sense that in a city where everyone pretends to be something they're not--or aren't yet--Halloween is the most widely-celebrated of holidays (after Passover. Shalom). I still lived in Chelsea on Halloween and walked right over to the parade, which was amusing and much more crowded than I remember it. The presence of Whoopi Goldberg perhaps explains the crowds. I painted my face for the first time this Halloween; I was an out-of-work demon, or an unemployed demon, or etc. I found a throwaway brooks brothers dress shirt and some slacks and dress shoes, and had a stack of demon resumes (Skills: General Malevolence). I went to China's and met her boyfriend. They're just too cynical together. I adore China on her own of course and the boyfriend seems perfectly likeable, but together it's a dark mass. The mere presence of the two darkens corridors and obscures sunlight. China is a jaded narcissist who resembles Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous in every way sans her black hair. Her roommate Sadie and her little pooch pranced about, Sadie dressed up as a kitty-cat. Sadie personifies sultriness, but on the inside seems filled with a loneliness perhaps surpassed only by Charlus. I increasingly enjoy Sadie more than China. We all talked about running over to Camille's party, and I left with Cash because it really seemed for awhile China, her boyfriend, and Sadie might sit around smoking pot all night. Cash and I went to Kim's, where she had assembled a group that included: a slutty Jeff Koon's balloon animal, a monkey, a doctor, a woodsman, a flapper, a Mormon, a German barmaid, and me, the unemployed demon. This merry company parted ways around midnight, Kim had bought tickets to an event in Greepoint that ended only an hour or two after they arrived. The event is LA-based and on-tour, but surely these people knew things don't really start up in New York until after midnight?? Cash and I went to Camille's, and even Sadie was a no-show. I found out later China, boyfriend, and Sadie had gone to a friend of boyfriend's party where there was a bunch of blow. Remember: darkness. Halloween was fun. I thought at the beginning of the night when I was putting together my face and costume, "I wonder who I'll sleep with tonight?"
I sat next to two hilarious girls on the B several nights ago. Just thinking about them makes me smile. They were sisters, giggling but not in the obnoxious way, they were genuinely funny, as one caught the other up on her life of the past few days. This one, younger, the clown of the pair, had a melodious voice and perfect timing. The second was more subdued, maintained a lower pitch, and complimented her sister with low, straight-man style remarks. Jubilant sister began with a tale about a co-worker who that day had told her all about his "second life" as a male escort, how she just stood, agape, with no idea what to say after he revealed this. His clients were for the most part "mature" women and men, and of course he's telling jubilant sister this as they're behind the counter at work (either coffee shop or retail, take your pick). "That is so awkward," the second sister starts in. And they talk about it for some time, this coworker's second life as an escort.
Jubilant: "Yeah, it reminds me of that time Mom had the dinner, and Ayanna...[she breaks into laughter]..."
Subdued: "I know, I know, I remember. Well, you got started, now just go on and finish it up."
Jubilant: [through laughter] "You remember when, Ayanna, you know how she's so awkward?"
Subdued: "I do."
Jubilant: "Yeah, and she's about to leave Mom's, and she's thanking Mom and complimenting her dinner, and she goes in for a kiss--on the cheek--but then she kisses Mom on the lips!"
Subdued: "Oh Lord!"
Jubilant: "And it was even worse because she didn't leave for awhile, like another hour, and Mom just keeps looking at her like who is this? Like what? You for real just kissed me on the lips in my own home?"
Subdued: "And here we got this guy laughing [me, Marcel], you just entertaining the whole train!"
Jubilant: "Do you remember Ayanna's wedding, where everything was vegan? Like I didn't even know what I could eat because you never know what that paper mache food is made of!"
Subdued: "Oh yeah, you right. But it was a nice wedding though."
Jubilant: "Yeah she only kissed her husband on the lips."
It was a fantastic train ride, I should've obtained their info. I believe their mother is Caribbean, and they have some cousins with roots in St. Vincent, but what about Ayanna? It was the best kind of comedy, not at the expense of anyone in particular (I imagine even if Ayanna had been there she would've laughed), not shock-value, profanity-choked rants. I highly recommend this web-based series from Issa Rae, who I sincerely hope we'll see more of in the future.
I might have finally found work! I dreamt of a vignette I might turn into a screenplay, and realized also my best ideas come from music, in this case, Santana, Saint-Saens, and Fela Kuti. Ooh, I hope that isn't too affected. I do genuinely like the music of all three, and listened to Fela years before he came into vogue (Mom and Dad had tapes from the radio when they lived in West Africa in the eighties, so beat that you hipster nonpeople). I had an idea a few years ago, after the film Precious came out, of a series called "Pretentious," featuring largely the opinions, habits, and lifestyle of my friend Kim.
All for now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)