So over Christmas, I selfishly attempted to convince my Uncle John to begin updating his weblog. He had put it on haitus due to a need to concentrate on other parts of his life. This is an understandable reason and much more justified than my own reason for my (unintentional) journal haitus. I simply didn't have the dedication to upkeep a journal. So, my Uncle, due in part to my request, began to update his journal again earlier this month. I however, up until today, I still had not convinced myself to sit down and update my journal. Well, I'm going to attempt (emphasis on that word) to begin doing so. However, as part of my attempt, I'm closing down this livejournal for good and starting a new one. My new web journal will be at http://icja.blogspot.com Now, I am fully aware that moving where I post my thoughts and daily activities has very little to do with whether I actually post or not, but I'm hoping that in some sense the move will be a refreshing of sorts. This journal will stay around so that I can read my friends pages until I move them all to my rss reader and archive all my previous posts (or at least those that need saving). However, if you expect to see any further updates at this address, you will be sadly disappointed.
Friends, I will be in Kentucky from the 22nd until the 30th of December. I will be spending most of that time in Lancaster/Richmond or Casey County with my family. I do, however, plan on a trip up to Louisville one day (though I haven't decided when) and a trip to Bowling Green (also, haven't decided when yet). So, give me a call so we can see each other. I wanted to try to get up to NKY but it doesn't look like that going to happen so I hope maybe my NKY buddies can get down to Louisville the day I visit. I miss you guys and look forward to seeing you all.
I've attempted a number of times to try to get myself to write more because I very thoroughly enjoy writing but feel that i could become significantly better at it if I would only practice more (as evidenced by my brother's extraordinary writing prowess). I've also tried with multiple people to start serious penpalships but have lacked the dedication to continue them and therefore I've decided to, in a way, combine the two. I discovered Google Documents recently and while I know about it for a while I only tonight realized it might be useful. So, here is the plan, and its not a new idea mind you, I want to begin a story and have a friend continue it. So if you'd like I'd like to write with you. Tell me and I'll start a story of some sort and start it on very neutral grounds, just some character building and setting and we can figure out plot and whatever else at some other time. You do need an account with Google to collaborate on a story with me (its the easiest way because its an online word processor that we can share documents with) but I have 98 invitations so just ask me and I'll give you an account. I've already started this project with Noah but some people in particular that I might like to write with would be: Brendan, Caitlan, Mom, UJ, Sean, Yale, Chris, Kyle etc. So I'm open to anything and I hope some people respond. Also, we don't just have to write on the story I start, I'd love it if you start a story and let me continue as well.
Ashley and Candice came to visit me on Thursday of last week. We spent the day on the south end of Manhattan seeing Ground Zero and the South Ferry but not taking it to the Statue of Liberty. We then went to Chicago (the play) and got to see Usher dance and sing. After that we toured around Times Square. The following day Ashley and Candice went to the today show and met Diane Sawyer (and Candice got interviewed by her, which will air some time this week). We spent some more time touring Times Square and went to the top of the Empire State Building. On Saturday we went to the Statue of Liberty and to Ellis Island and then on to Willie/Christine/Liz's show. Sunday we went Ice Skating at Rockefeller (or however you spell it) Center (Centre?) and to Grand Central Station. Then on to Central Park and to Lindy's Cheesecake shop, up to East Harlem and afterwards Madison Square Garden. I even found the little bodega that I spent every night in with Aaron, Maria, Mag. Conder, Megan Jones and whoever else was around when I was in New York back in Highschool. I also found the Pennsylvania Hotel where we stayed my junior year. Monday we walked around Greenwich Village, Chinatown, the Lower East Side and across the Brooklyn bridge before I escorted the ladies back to the airport. Overall, I had a wonderful time. I got to do a little of New York things that I would never have done had they not come to visit. I also got to spend five days with two beautiful girls. Five days, consequently, is the perfect amount of time for you to realize just how much you miss one of your best friends. Its also the perfect amount of time for you to adjust to seeing two beautiful ladies wake you up every morning and realize how much duller your apartment is after they've gone.
I had such a wonderful time with Ashley and Candice I just really wish they could have stayed longer. Thank you for taking me around New York, girls, you were a wonderful birthday present. I love you and miss you both already.
Here is a video Rachel showed me of a guy dancing all over the world.
Okay, so I have some news. I would have posted about it earlier but I wasn't sure how he would feel about people knowing but he's asked me to tell the world so I am. Yale is in the hospital and has been so since Tuesday of this week. He has what is called Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Basically, what it is (if you don't want to read the webmd page) is when the immune system attacks parts of the peripheral nervous system. Basically what that means is that his muscles are starting to deteriorate. However, its treatable and as opposed to a disorder like MS, once he's back on his feet it won't reoccur. It was caused by a viral infection (but its not contagious) and he's currently in the ICU at St. Luke's Hospital in Harlem. They've done two plasma exchanges and will have to do about three more in addition to physical therapy. He's going to be fine, don't worry, but he will still be in the hospital for at least four or five more days. Afterwards he will be returning to Kentucky for physical therapy. His mom is up here now and his dad will be coming up later this week. He's taking a leave of abscence from school at least until January if not September of next year. I went to visit him today and he's looking very good. Other than being a bit dirty (because he can't walk), he looks basically like regular Yale only lying in a hospital bed as opposed to on a couch. He's able to eat whatever food he wants but his hands are very weak so he has to have it fed to him. He can however talk fine and is in good spirits. He's making jokes and the like. He cannot have his phone in his room so he won't be able to answer if you call, however. If you have any questions or anything feel free to call me and I'll answer to the best of my ability. He had a message he asked me to report to everyone so here it is straight from Yale:
"Tell them, I'm in good spirits. And tell them I pounded on the thick oaken door of death and came back unscathed. Then tell them I'm still in their thoughts and that there will be jewelry and possibly tracks of land to whoever finds the bastards that did this to me. Yes, I'm watching a Kurosawa movie because it makes me feel imperious."
There was more to it than that but I didn't have a pen.
So, as a favor to me, watch the video on YouTube rather than on livejournal and if you feel so inclined, rate it and comment. If you don't have a YouTube account then sign up and do the same. I'll love you for it and since I probably love you already, I'll love you even more.
I've had a few complaints about the fact that I never update so I'm going to write a quick one this morning about last night. Last night, Amber's band "Liberation Prophecy" played at the Blue Note in Manhattan. After a bit of confusion and miscommunication about the fact that the Blue Note is on 3rd St and not 3rd Ave, I had to run about twenty blocks in order to make it to the show on time but it most definitely worth it. My only complaint was that I sat us directly next to the guitar player's (Thom Yorke look-a-like) amp so I could barely hear Amber sing when she did. After the show, Yale and I said hello to Amber then headed to some bars and decided to meet up with them later. We went to a little place less than a block away and drank a few and chatted about various topics such as the Toynbee Tiles, the Ford Nucleon concept car, Bobby Fischer, and Dave Eggers. We left that bar after a while and wandered around and ended up next to Washington Square Park (which isn't far from where we were) and I decided I'd show Yale where Colby had lived over the summer but despite the number of times I visited Colby, I still had no idea where he lived outside of "around Washington Square Park". So we didn't find that. We did, however find an NYU orientation thing going on so I tried to get into that but without success. Then we headed to another bar and waited for Amber and the rest of her gang. We eventually met up with them at the bar we were originally at and had drinks and laughs and a blast. All in all, it was a fabulous night and I met a hell of a lot of people and got to see Amber and Todd. Oh, and there was another bar for about four minutes that we had to go (Yale's fault) where I met a very sweet pit bull.
A weight lifted off my shoulders tonight. Had a new one added, however. Most importantly however, I have "Newsies" added to my Netflix queue and Rachel and I are going to watch it soon.
Now most of you are fully aware of this but I want to mention it to you for the few of you who are not. Everyone should go take a look at my new roommates' myspace site: http://www.myspace.com/williebreedingmusic. I'm going to make him a full fledged site soon but I have not yet but needless to say he's an incredible songwriter and me telling you about him is long over due. I just wish you could listen to him play every night like I do. If you can imagine one of your favorite artists playing a live show for just you and your best friends every night over and over again, that's what I'm living with.
For those of your who were unaware, I made it to New York safe and sound. I was met in Manhattan by Jesse and Willie and greeted with hugs and a flask. We drank for a while, caught up and had a beautiful night all around. The following morning Willie showed me around the city. I met his boss and some coworkers, bought a copy of "A Heart-breaking Work of Staggering Genius" and a sweet bookstore, saw Jesse's work and sat in the park. Once Jesse got off, we went to the Hifi and for happy hour. We played pool with this guy (whose name I can no longer remember) who works for MTV and used to do something similar to what Willie does (from what I gathered) so they hit it off pretty well. We went home after a while Jesse went to bed but Willie and I went down to the Soft Spot and I got to meet some terribly sweet people (aka Rachel and Matt). I also met a lady whose name I don't remember but to whom I made a promise to start playing soccer with. We went to bed fairly late and then got up and went back to the same place for a Fourth of July bbq. After eating some delicious dogs and burgers we went to Ken's (Willie's boss) and watched the fireworks. We got to stand on the roof over the river so it was a damned near perfect sight. We talked to a few people from the neighboring roof (a couple cute girls and a very Ben Allen-esque guy) and then went to Marilyn and Cara's and got to meet those two cats and the man whose room I am taking as well. Finally , I went home fairly early with Jesse and got some much needed rest and started working in the morning.
We are officially on our way. We're a little west of Flagstaff right about now (8:oo PM PST) and obviously we got a late start. Kyle got in around this time last night and we headed over to see Chad. I hadn't actually hung out with him since I'd moved out here so it was nice to see him, however brief it was. We ate pizza at a local joint with some sweet tunes and then basically just hit the hay because by the time we got home it was about midnight and obviously we had a big day ahead of us. The following day we woke up nice and early and started moving my furniture to Will's new apartment and loading the truck. This took considerably longer than I had hoped as moving generally does but we did eventually hit the road. We ate In and Out because that's a California thing and we've stopped at one little place dying to be photographed. It was an alien house. It looked like a giant golf ball sitting on a tube and had a stair case spiraling around it and flying saucers all around it. Why? I don't know but it did have a no trespassing sign outside of it so we couldn't really go up to it. We still have a hell of a drive left tonight but once we get there we're going to drink some whiskey and hopefully get out earlier tomorrow so we have more time to stop at random places than we did today. If anyone wants to meet us in Albuquerque, Tulsa or anywhere in between call me and fly out we'll pick you up on the way.
Editor's Note: So we didn't end up staying in Abluquerque. It was about 1:00 and we still had another couple hours before we would have gotten there so we are crashing in a little town called Gallup, NM. I just figure we will add the couple hours onto tomorrow since its the short day anyway.
Here's a picture of the aforementioned golfball house:
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