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January 30, 2005
Thur-Sun: Men, Cocktails, Friends, and the Mall
So much to go over since Wednesdays entry. To begin with, Thursday came and went without a problem. I got the prescription filled for the valium. They filled it generic and it was paid through my flex spending electronically, so I didnt have to lay out a dime. Very nice.
The guy on the train, from Monday and Tuesday morning, was on the train, however I was a bit tired, and he seemed to be as well. Again we didnt speak but I still couldnt help but to wonder a bit more about him.
Friday morning before work, I decided to check the "missed connections" postings on craigslist. Once in a while I look through them and Friday morning seemed as good a time as any to see if perhaps there was a posting. Guess what? there was.
"7:30am BART rides toward Pittsburg. You got on at Montgomery, off at 19th St. Monday, glasses. Today, no glasses. Let me know your name so I can say hi tomorrow."
hmmmmm, a few days late by the time I noticed but better late than never. I emailed him and got ready for work. As I entered Bart I looked for him and didnt see him. The train was full and my first thought is "Im gonna have to stand since I hate sitting next to anyone". Then I looked to my right. Sure enough, there he was looking at me and waving me to come sit with him. So I did.
He didnt get my email but it was nice to finally talk to the stranger. Here's the basics. I got his name, he's 25, went to Cornell University, has a bf of 4 years (monogomous), and also the other basics such as where he works, what he does, the area of SF he lives etc..
So my stop comes, and Im heading off the train, I notice the guy in the next car who works in the same building and Ive flirted with. I hadnt till this point told him about Josh and its been a bit hard as to how to bring it up. When is the time right? So no sooner do I get off the train, Im walking and talking with this other guy. I did manage to mention I had a bf and it didnt seem to hurt the situation. He asked me if I wanted to do lunch, and I of course said yes.
Today was his last day for a month since he is taking February off to study for his bar. Nice guy, and hopefully we will keep in touch.
Lunch was good. We went to Nicks across the street and I had the Chicken Strogenoff over rice with salmon salad. Delicious.
Friday night, I had made plans to go out with my friend Jay who had moved here just over a month ago. He hasnt had a chance to go out since he moved and wanted to get out. We originally made plans for 8:30 so I decided around 7 to lay down for a nap. 2 1/2 hours later I wake up to a voice mail that (which I just missed mind you) seeing if I still wanted to go out. Of course we agreed to meeting at 10:15 which gave me a 1/2 hour to get ready and head to the Pilsner. As I was hanging up from Jay, Ben beeps in, and I have an IM from Josh which I wanted to talk to as well. I managed it all like usual, however felt a bit bad about cutting everyone short.
We started at the Pilsner, went to The Mix, To The Edge, and finally to Daddys. I was drinking my happy drink all night (scotch and soda), and by the time we hit Daddys, I was ready to pass out. God I was a mess.
I left Jay at Daddys (hopefully he made it home ok) and went home. Steve was still up and apparently Josh was chatting with him online. He wanted me to call him which I was in no state to talk. I called him anyway only to realize I was much more intoxicated than I realized. God that sucked. Thankfully he let me go quickly (after realizing how drunk I was Im sure), and I passed out.
Saturday - Saturday I met someone new online and decided to go for a walk. We were originally planning on a walk in Dolores Park however decided on Golden Gate Park instead via Castro and up Haight. It was a beautiful day. Sun shining, about 60 degrees, and just a wonderful day for a walk.
The park was busy with people playing guitars, kicking hacky sack, volleyball, skating, jugglers, and so much more life going on. The smell of pot everywhere (it is San Francisco after all, not to mention Haight Ashbury). We sat on the hill watching people and talking for about an hour. Really nice guy and hopefully Ill have the opportunity to hang out with him again sometime.
So homeward to find Rob from San Jose here still (he came up to have lunch with Steve). The 3 of us hung out as I also finalized plans with Ben and Ian to hang out that night. Ben was coming into the city and Ian (who lives down the road a bit), I havent seen either of them in ages. I was excited to hang out with them.
All 5 of us had dinner at Nirvana which was great. First time eating inside as opposed to the back patio which is much nicer. Ben, Ian, and I started with The Bar on Castro and proceeded to The Mix. Ian seems to know just about everyone and introduced us to several of his friends we ran into. After the mix we were going to go to Badlands (not my choice), however after getting there and seeing the line it kind of changed our minds. Ian knew the guy at the door who could slip him in but definitely not all of us. There was Ben and I along with 2 of Ians friends we picked up along the way.
Ben and I decided to head to the Edge and the on the way to Moby Dicks for the last drink. We stopped to get pizza and I ran into a friend of mine who was on his way home. To Mobys and then home which we were ready for. I didnt have alot to drink so I was fine. Ben seemed to be a bit drunk which was cool that he was spending the night here. Dixon (the place he lives is about an hour and a half away).
So this morning comes and Ben leaves shortly after 8am. I called my mom and talked to my sister and my niece and nephew. I tried convincing them that its ok to be sluts and they should start sleeping around. Ok they are only 15 and 16 but hey, why not train them early lol.
Online I ran into my friend Rick who I decided to meet for coffee. He wanted to go to a bookstore. He took me to Stonestown Galleria Mall which I never knew existed nor did I know how easy it is to get to by Muni. M train, outbound, 4 stops away. WOW! an actual mall. A real mall and accessible. Did I mention WOW?
Great place with all the usual mall stores. Gap, Disney, Macy's, etc.... They even had an apple store where I got to see the mac mini's and ask some questions. YAY.... We had lunch on the food court and finally left to walk around the Castro more. We headed back to Starbucks on 18th and then to Tower. By this time I was ready to head home.
Now Im watching Dawn of the Dead (the remake) and tying my journal. God there was alot to cover. Hopefully I wont take so long in between postings so that it wont be so long to read and catch up on.
For those not bored yet or sleeping, hugs and best wishes and as always, thanks so much for reading and taking a part in my life. Its appreciated.
Posted by Des at 07:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 26, 2005
Questions & Doctors
Start this off with something I wrote while on my way to work *chuckle*
Questions Without Words
-----------------------
I look.
I see a man
He see me & smiles
He's cute
He continues to look and flirt
Just 2 of us in that moment
Does he have a bf?
Does he care if I do?
Will we meet again on another train?
Will there be that moment once more?
Will we ever speak?
Does he get off at my stop?
My stop is here.
He continues on.
Next day
I see him again, he looks my way
I notice his eyes light up as I notice him
I smile once more, he smiles too
Almost in complete unison
Im at one end, he at another
People obstruct our view
Smiles at every opportunity
Who is he?
does he have a bf?
Does he care if I do?
Id like to know more but rejection is hard.
Will there be that moment once more?
Will we ever speak.
Finally my stop.
I give a slight wave of acknowledgement.
As I head off the train.
Another day without words.
So this evening I go to the doctors. Im finally getting the bump on my head checked to make sure nothings wrong. For those of you who dont know, I noticed this bump several years ago (about 6) and thought it as odd that I had never noticed it before that. Everyone said I should have it checked but I figurd if it wasnt bothering me then it wasnt a big deal.
Its still not bothering me but it seemed to shift and perhaps got a bit bigger. Im wondering if it doesnt have something to do with my being tired more often lately. Ive also been feeling a bit dizzy lately and slightly off balance. Ive been seeing on occassion, things out of the corner of my eye, that arent really there. It could be my neglect when I wear my contacts for days on end without taking them out of cleaning them, but it could be from this bump as well. Or perhaps both are connected in some way.
Either way, I have to admit, Im a bit scared. I mean what if they want to do surgery. This is my head we're talking about. What if they do surgery and I become dull and boring all of a sudden? God that would be aweful.
---------------------------
The day begins and ends......
So this morning the rain decided to revisit us. Downpours, but this time I was ready with my trusty umbrella. The wind was blowing hard as I walked to the Muni.
As I was waiting on the platform for the train to come, I noticed across on the other platform a man. This man would appear straight in every was except for the wrist. The wrist was gently hanging limp as if a str8 man was mocking the gays. It reminded me a bit of Shaun of the Dead or a cop movie where they had to pose as someone within a specific community in order to infiltrate the group. You know, it was like he was trying to blend in with the rest of the gays. If for some reason he found himself in the gay district and in order to complete his mission he had to pose as a gay man. Comedy? Yes, as he wasn’t doing a great job of it. Reality says, this is the Castro and he was definitely gay.
This morning was a "check transfer" morning on Muni which happens on occasion. For those who are not familiar with this, the transfer pass is the ticket you get when you pay to ride. The ticket is good for 90 minutes and will allow you to reboard or transfer to a Muni bus during that time period. It also acts as proof of purchase.
Now my thought is this. Although there are signs everywhere saying "please retain your transfer as this will be your proof of purchase", so many people don’t bother taking them. Im curious to witness that person who did not take their ticket and is asked to show proof. Ive only been asked to show it about 4 times since Ive been here riding the Muni but could only think how embarrassed I would be if I didn’t have it and needed it. How would the scene play out? They would be fumbling for something they don’t have. They would then be fined and then they would most likely be made to get off the train. Glad I keep my pass.
Ok, so I get off the Muni and now heading to Bart. I hear over the Bart announcement that the Pittsburg/Bay Point train is on a 15 minute delay. This is one of the 3 trains that I can catch to get to work, one of which operates on the same track as the one that’s on delay, however does not go the full length. My first thought was *BLANK* and that I was going to be late. My only hope was 2 trains and one which ran infrequently and was very rare to catch. The other, hopefully wasn’t delayed as well. As I started down the escalator, I heard them announce the Concord train was now boarding. This was the rare one that I could take, so like a bolt of lightning, I shot down the escalator, and made the train. Made it on time with luck on my side. How lucky will the rest of the day be? Lets not forget the doctors later on.
Ok so on to the doctors....
What can I say, it was an interesting trip to the doctors. First Id like to point out that I have never been to a doctors office where I wanted to sleep with so many cute guys. The place was filled with cute, young, gay, men. It was fantastic but I couldnt help thinking "this is my doctors visit. This shouldnt be like this". Then of course the thought "Im in the Castro, of course its going to be like this".
So my doctor turns out is a great guy. He examined the bump on my head and advised me that it was only a cyst. He said he would "remove it there however the head tends to bleed alot and he didnt want the mess". Therefore he was referring me to a dermatologist for the removal. He also referred me again for my icthyosis (skin condition). He prescribed a lotion that is supposed to help so we will see. He thinks my skin will be cleared up before I ever visit the specialist.
Along with the lump on my head (previously known as "My Tuma"), I also mentioned that I was having headaches. He asked a few questions and finally determined they were tension headaches. Caused by stress of course.
So while we are talking and actually laughing (who knew Id enjoy talking with my doctor), he is writing the prescription. After he is done with the prescription for the lotion, he starts writing again. While he is writing and we are talking, he tells me he is writing me a prescription for valium. Ok, Im thinking this is weird as he proceeds to tell me "I dont usually prescribe valium to people without asking questions, but you seem like someone I can trust". Valium, can you believe it? lol... I found out from a good friend, that I should only take half a pill if I decide to get it filled.
Ok, so Im a bit nervous because Ive never taken it before. I always get worried on things like this. I mean, pills? Come on. I know what they do. This is going to turn me into a vegitable Im sure. Last thing I need is to be falling asleep at work which is already tiring enough. Josh is recommending other treatments, which I may just do. Perhaps I need more answers.
He did show me a cool technique to help with the tension. I tried the exercise and it really did help a little. It should come in handy during the work day when I feel the stress building up in the back of my neck.
So thats really all thats been going on lately. Ill try and update soon.
Posted by Des at 05:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 20, 2005
People!
Have you ever wondered whats going in a persons life? in their mind? when you look at a stranger or perhaps your best friend? Sometimes just by looking at someone, I wonder.
As I was coming home on the Muni, there was a senior citizen who got on. The woman in the seniors seat, got up and offered him the chair. He refused which made me think about why?
Perhaps its pride? Perhaps it was unintentional. But I started thinking about when I get to be that age. It seems there are benefits (such as a seat on the train which moves quickly and throws you with every bump in the tracks). So why would one refuse?
I wonder if its an insult to some people. I mean, its a direct indication of age. "you're old, therefore you must be tired and need rest". I would like to think at that age, I will still look good (for my age), I will still be able to function, and still have somewhat of my strength to stand on a train instead of taking that seat thats offered. Truth is I may not. I just hope Im not one of those dumb founded people who obviously dont even know what train theyre on. You know, the ones with the goofy faces that just look silly.
So along the lines of whats on peoples minds and what are they thinking, was a guy I saw in the laundry matt, as I passed by walking home. He was shaving while using the payphone for a mirror. Now mind you I could understand if this was someone who was obviously homeless (and he may have been), but he certainly didnt look it. My first thought would be that he has a date, is running late, and had to have clean clothes. Could be as simple as that but the question remains, what other scenarios are out there?
So Im home from a long day at work and it feels like I have been there all week even with Monday off. God thats sad after only 3 days this week. Im grateful tomorrow is Friday.
Tonight will be a relaxing night of TV. Charmed at 6, Smallville at 7, and some new show Im hoping to find at 8 which is by the creators of Buffy (so I believe if I heard correctly on the radio).
If that doesnt work out, then I have two movies that came today. The Forgotten, and The Village. The Village I will hold and watch with Josh since he wants to see it. It kind of irritates me that it came today since it said in the rental que, short wait, which is why I added it to the top to begin with. Who knew it would ship asap.
I also called Tech Skills today and left a voice mail on the womans voicemail. She was busy when I called. I left a message to call me back on the status of the job. I have yet to hear word so Im not sure if its a good thing or a bad thing.
It could be a good thing by means, they havent made a decision to hire me. I would like to think a call back saying "we decided to go with another person" would be easy if that were the case. It could be a bad thing by means that they are blowing me off so I should give up and let it go. Im not buying that one bit.
So on that note and to track back to this morning, it was great waking up to an email from a friend in Rochester who I dont hear from enough. He gave me inspiration on the job, and some info on the restaurant I ate at yesterday. The place is a Dim Sum restaurant which slipped my mind. I never knew till his email what Dim Sum meant and it kind of surprises me that people know this stuff. Dim Sum is Cantonese for “a little bit of heart”, just in case Im not the only one who didnt know.
So although I just wrote a bit ago about the job interview, I just received an email from them. I figured as much but at least now I know.
"Hi Desmond,
I want to thank you for coming in to meet with Louisa, John and myself. You did very well on the interview. However, after talking with both Louisa and John, we all agree that we need to have someone who is already certified. We wish you the best in you search!
Best regards,
So that about says it all. So much for knowledge, personality, and experience lol. Hope they rot and hope they are stuck working with someone they hate and hope that person gets fired in a month so they have to do it all over again. Ok no I dont really wish that but it makes me feel better just saying it.
So thats about it. Im not terribly disappointed so I wont dwell on it. Ill just move forward and keep looking. I always feel like things happen for a reason and in time it will prove itself. "Stepping Stones" I call them. Each moment in our life is a stepping stone to the next. Ive always thought that and even more so now. I mean, if it wasnt for the choices I made in the past, the relationships (the good and the bad), I would never have Josh in my life, and never be living in San Francisco, and would most likely never move forward. So with that, Im grateful.
On that note, todays entry is done. Best wishes all.....
Posted by Des at 04:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 19, 2005
Not a lot to say
Well not a whole lot to say. It was a pretty mellow day. I was expecting to hear back from Tech Skills on the interview yesterday but havent heard anything. My guess is that I didnt get the job. At least I tried I guess.
The interview yesterday seemed to go well however the key factor that came into play is that CA has certifications for billing and coding. Weird to me but still. Anyway, with all my experience and knowledge (which still counts for a lot), doesnt hold water without that piece of paper. I can totally appreciate where they are coming from, I mean they teach this stuff and certify people. Its like teaching HS without a diploma. There is still a chance but Im not going to count on it.
They did mention something about me working toward the certification as I work for them. If that does become the case, that would be great. I would work days (or evenings) and use my other time obtaining the certificate. I still have a bit of hope that it will happen but wont give up my day job lol.
As for the day job, things seem to be coming to a steady lull. That woman has become friendlier toward me. My guess is that one person can not go every day being miserable, sitting and sulking, with their face to their computer. So it was beat them or join them and she decided to join.
Today we went to lunch in China Town in Oakland. The place was Jade Villa and it was definitely a new experience for me. There was no real menu but in the middle of a table of 10 chairs, was a lazy susan. The wait staff rolled carts around with various stuff. Things I had never seen before. There were puffs of shrimp, and other weird stuff and they would place small servings on the lazy susan so that everyone at the table could help themselves with a turn.
Ive been thinking about the journal more too. I feel like Im losing sight of why I started this. Originally it was to document the changes and the differences between Rochester and San Francisco. Then it was different thoughts, emotions, and ideas. Now it seems to have become the regular, every day life. I guess thats how it should be but cant help but feel a loss.
Before I left Rochester, I took a training class on change. The main thing I brought out of that class was that there are 3 stages. The before, the transition, and after. The part most people are afraid of isnt the change itself, but the transition. The before is the day to day life we live, the after is where we end up, the transition however, is all that stuff in the middle. The not knowing whats going to happen, the fear of what you are leaving behind, the uncertainties of each and every moment in your life. I finally feel past the transition and in the end stages. Its no longer different, but more familiar in many ways than I ever thought possible. With that, theres that sense of loss yet a sense of stability for reaching the end.
So on to other stuff. Todays my moms birthday. Happy Birthday Mom! She also had surgery on Monday and made it home today. Hope you are feeling better.
Posted by Des at 09:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 15, 2005
I Sang....
So today was the gay.com brunch. There were about 12 people that showed up. Screen names consisted of Rickolodeon, Scott5sf, rush_me, Lord_of_the_Bling, and many more. Those were the 4 I hung out with for a bit after the brunch.
Josh's conference ran late so he made it to the brunch towards the end. He brought with him his friend Laura who he went to school with in Cornell. She lives in AZ now and is in town for the conference. He hasnt seen her in about 3 years. It was nice meeting her and better yet, having her join us for lunch.
After brunch was over, Josh and Laura headed back to the convention. I headed across the street to the Pilsner for a couple of drinks. My intention was to go shopping downtown and have coffee with this guy I chatted with online (avidinfinity), however I called him to cancel. I wasnt in the mood for coffee for some reason and more in the mood to have a few cocktails in the afternoon. I called him and cancelled which I dont think he was happy, but it was better than just not showing up at all, *and* I was honest about it. Still, somehow it doesnt change the fact that I cancelled.
So we had a few drinks at the Pilsner and then went to Karaoke at Mint on Market. My first time at this bar. It was ok, but kind of small. Reminded me a bit of the Pub and the bartender even reminded me a bit of Greg. Looks wise but not the same personality although he did appear to have worked there forever.
After a cosmo and watching my friends go sing, I decided why not. So, I got up there. Mind you the last time (and only time) I did karaoke, it was a duet with a friend in Rochester and I walked off in the middle from embarrassment. Im older and wiser now and know that I had to finish what I started. So I belted out All That Jazz from Chicago. I figure if I stick to the songs I know, Ill be fine. It was tough.
After a few more vodka and cranberries, I had also belted out Me and Bobby McGee, There are Worse Things I Could Do (from Grease), and Razzle Dazzle (also from Chicago). Peoples ears didnt seem to be bleeding by the end which was a good sign. People were kind enough to say I did ok which was better than "you were aweful". Ill most likely go back and do it again.
My biggest fears are getting up in front of people, and singing in public. Perhaps not the most feared but they are right up there. I over came both of them YAY!!!!
After Mint, back home I came to take a nap. Josh came back and we talked for a bit. He decided not to go to his last session. I felt a bit bad because I was having some issues which kind of started a chain reaction and that was the reason he didnt end up going. His friend Laura called and I think she was looking for him.
After our moment, we went to Burger Meister for some burgers to bring home. I have to say, I wasnt all that impressed with them. Everyone boasts about how delicious they are but my burger just didnt seem to cut the mustard. The garlic fries werent the best thing either. We brought the food home and watched "Shaun of the Dead".
For those who havent seen this movie, it was funny as hell. People told me it was good but I dont usually go by other peoples recommendations. I laughed at many parts and if you havent seen it yet, I would recommend renting it.
Finally.... Death.... er.... I mean bed.
Posted by Des at 07:23 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 14, 2005
My Journey for a Sub
So to begin with, I thought about the move which has now been over 7 months. Its become home and although theres several people I miss in Rochester, I feel like CA is home.
I remember when I was little, I always thought about how much I would love to live in CA. It was mostly based on my wanting to become an actor and the glamour of Hollywood. Either way, I always dreamed about it and now it really is like a dream come true.
Its almost like a destiny. Life that is. Not just mine but I suppose for many. What is destiny? I believe (and its only my opinion) that its where life will take us and where we will end up. Anyway, its kind of a spiritual feeling that I wish I could explain more in detail. If anyone else can do it justice, please feel free.
With that, living in CA isnt all its cracked up to be. Today, for lunch, I had a craving for a sub. Guess what? There really isnt any place to get a sub like the ones I was craving. The ones I used to get on the east coast. Every indication of a sub out here is a gormet sandwhich on special rolls or breads. Dont get me wrong, they are fantastic but today I wished there was someplace here where the sub was drenched in oil and mayo to the point where the paper its wrapped in is wet from the oil seeping through. But no, all we get is what looks good and is healthy. blah....
Well one good thing is that its only a craving for a day. There are so many great places to eat from Thai, Chinese, Sushi, Indian, Mexican, as well as many other cultures. It really is a great variety. It just happens today I wanted something I can only get on the east coast. On the same note though, every place out here serves sandwhiches on sour dough bread which I love and never really see on the east coast. I guess its all about balance.
So I will try and keep this part brief as not to offend anyone but I did learn today about the creation of the mexican heritage. I never knew how mexico or the nationality came to be. I was discussing with my friend Kathy at work (who happens to be Philipino) and she was explaining who and what area constitutes Pacific Islander. Since this is a term you dont hear on the east coast, I was curious. The pacific islander culture is big here on the west coast and once I understood the territories, we got on the discussion of the Mexican and Spanish culture.
She explained to me something that was disturbing, both because of the context itself as well as the fact its not in any history books. Apparently the spanish invaded america and proceded to rape the indian women who eventually gave birth to mixed children. Because they were mixed, they were not accepted by either community and driven to the southern regions. These mixed race of people became mexicans. I have to say, it just sounds too horrible to believe it actually happened like that but I guess I dont have any information that says different.
The last piece of info was emailing back and forth with my friends at Blue Cross. It was nice to hear from them and the one email that made my day was from Dorie. Now Dorie and I have this history involving my stuffed eeyore that I used to keep on my desk. This here after shall be referred to as "my ass" as in "Im playing with Des's ass" or "Ive got Des's ass and its all mine". When I left, I left my ass with Dorie.
Today in the email, she mentioned my eeyore. I explained I have a mug on my desk with Eeyore on it that I look at every day. The reply I received was exactly this. "I wish your mug was on my Eeyore". I dont need to explain the context of that joke I hope.
So Josh is here. He went to the aobta convention today and will be attending several sessions this weekend. We are relaxing at home and perhaps see what happens later. We will most likely go out for dinner which I really am looking forward to. I would like to go somewhere and sit down and eat. Perhaps dinner at Fuzios for pasta.
Posted by Des at 05:53 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 12, 2005
2005, Time for Change (hoping)
So today was a good day. I went into work and no plans of being fired. At least from my senses. I mean, they are so backed up and I produce a ton of work compared to most others. Not to mention they havent been able to fill the one position thats been open for several months now. My guess is, they need me. Ive determined however I may not need them.
So my days have been better at work. *that* woman seems to be warming up to me finally *chuckle*. My guess? Ive been becoming very chummy with all the others in the department and poor *that* woman has been being left out. Soooooo I decided its ok if she contributes to the conversation and have allowed her to laugh with us. We still laugh by ourselves behind her back. So its keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.
Well the systems were down at work today so the morning was spent relaxing. We had a meeting which was long over due. Boring to the rest of the world. Which brings me to the interview.
Yes, my interview at Tech Skills . How was it you ask? It was fantastic. I think I made a really good impression on the director and met with several other trainers there. I think I made a good impression on all of them however some more than others. The director told me at the end, she already likes me which was a good sign in my book.
Tuesday I go back for another interview. This will be the biggest test. I will meet the big boss from Las Vegas and interview with him. Keep your fingers crossed because if all goes well, Ill have a job I may actually love going to. Im pretty good with people (so Ive been told), and Ive been told I would make a great trainer. Im also great with software and computers (although I could always be better). All these add up to a great place to be. The best part will be the distance. It will cut my commute in half and I would never have to go to Oakland again.
The only other thing to mention is that my pay went up this week due to the 26 pay weeks in 2005 compared to 27 in 2004. This was a nice bonus. I am also wondering about tax time. Ive never made this amount in a year and dont really know what to expect. I will also have two state taxes to fill out. Hmmmmm, filing my first CA taxes. This should be interesting.
Lets see... This evening I updated my webpage with some Pictures I scanned of family and friends from about 10 years ago or better.
I also chatted with a friend on gay.com who gave my resume to a doctor he knows. The position is for an office manager and apparently pays $30/hr. That would be a nice salary as well but I still think Im hoping for the job I interviewed for today.
So thats about it. Life is good and I wont complain. At least not for tonight.
Posted by Des at 06:27 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 11, 2005
Sick Toothpaste but not sick toothpaste
So yesterday morning I ran out of toothpaste. I figured I would just use the one Josh left here over the weekend for a few days and get by until pay day. Ive realized one thing for me when it comes to toothpaste. I cant spit out toothpaste that isnt white. It doesnt matter to me if it is 100% natural, I just cant do it. All toothpaste should be white. Doctor Burts is just not for me. Sad :-(
So today I called in sick again which you probably know. I called and cancelled the interview for this afternoon. Tomorrows the one I really want to keep. I decided I definitely need another job. I get the feeling management wasnt too happy with me calling in because I got the brush off when I called my boss this afternoon. Guess I cant blame her, but I would have also thought she would have been a little sympathetic to my condition. Oh well, Im just gonna look for something different.
As for today, I did have my own glorious experience getting the best of it. Work sent me a check on my flexible spending account for a claim in which I believe I was already paid. Now Im really not sure how to handle it but I really think since they screwed up and since I didnt use all my flexible spending money, I should get to keep it. Especially since Ive had asperin and contact lens solution and cold medicine which I never claimed. hmmmm tough decision. I wonder what the effects would be if I kept it.
So as for the rest of the day, I went and bought toothpaste, grabbed food at Slyders, and now relaxing. Chatting online for a bit and meeting a few new people. Soon it will be Angel, Charmed, and Smallville time. God I love the evenings....
Posted by Des at 04:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 10, 2005
sick and twisted
Ill start by saying Im a slime ball. This Im sure you already knew.
Today I called in sick... With this, I decided to post my resume on craigslist and see what happened. Well, I lined up two interviews and a possible 3rd.
The first is tomorrow afternoon which I will probably cancel due to transportation issues. Although its definitely workable by bus and BART, its not all that convenient and would be traveling a greater distance, cost more, and the pay rate is unsure.
The second call I received was from an accountant who was hired by a PET imaging company. Apparently their biller hasnt sent out bills in 4 months and they hired this woman to try and fix it. It seemed to me like she was drilling me for free information on how to solve their problems. Basically asking me how the doctor can get his money quickest and easiest. She will let me know.
The 3rd one came later this evening which Im really excited about. Its here in San Francisco, down by Embarcadero which means I wouldnt have to take BART. Its a training position for a company that trains people for certification in medical coding and billing. Its funny but Ive always wanted to be a part of a training department so it would be a great thing for me. The pay is a little more than Im making now and combined with the savings in transportation, it seems to be a good opportunity. My interview is Wednesday evening. Wish me luck.
As for the rest of the day, Ive pretty much done nothing. I am most likely going to be sick tomorrow as well and use the time to relax more. I chatted online, took a nap, watched some TV, finally transferred the video from Rochester Pride 2003 onto VHS, and took a nice hot bath this morning. I started reading The Inferno which is a bit tough to get into but I made it past the first chapter and can comprehend most of it. It reminds me alot of The Odyssey which I remember well from high school.
As for other things, the rain stopped yesterday and it turned out to be a nice day. Today the rain held out for most of the day but started again around 5:30. The temperature was 58 today and it looks like Wednesday we should see a steady forecast of sunshine and upper 50s. Im told the past few weeks were out of the norm for San Francisco and that the rain usually changes to sunshine around the end of February. I can totally deal with that.
Everything else is one day at a time.
Posted by Des at 08:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 09, 2005
Friday and Saturday - rain, ants, food and cocktails
There really hasnt been anything too exciting going on this week. Pretty much stuck in the house and rarely venturing out into the monsoon weather conditions, only to go to work and such. The few breaks in the rain that we have had, Ive gone out briefly.
I did go out with my friend Logan on Friday night. We did a bit of bar hopping in the Castro. Not a lot to say on that except I met a couple of new people. It sucks meeting new people because I meet so many of them, its hard to remember who is who when I see them again. I tend to forget.
I remember when I first moved to Rochester, I had the same problem. Its so much easier for everyone else to meet one new person than it is for one person to meet hundreds. So with that in time, Im sure I will piss some people off because I cant remember them, or they will be understanding so that they will be gratious enough to endure a second introduction (perhaps a 3rd as well knowing my memory).
So we went to the Mix first. The mix is a nice little bar with a back deck and electric heaters going to keep you warm. People there always seem friendly and more than happy to talk to you and have a good time. There wasnt many people there so we decided to head to The Pilsner and check out the scene there.
Not a lot of people at there either. I had fun hanging out with Logan. He seems to know quite a few people. Stayed at the Pilsner for a drink and the went to Cafe.
By this time, I was feeling a bit tipsy, the rain started again, and I knew it was time to go home. So home and in bed around 12:30 and off into dreamland.
Saturday didnt have much to report. I met up with a few people from gay.com for brunch. We went to Bombay for Indian food where normally the meals were delicious. Ive eaten there with Ste3eve (the 3 is silent), and Josh a couple of times and always had a great meal. The buffet SUCKED!
Theres nothing worse than biting into stuff and realizing it is not boneless. Crunchy in the middle and ready to gag, I just couldnt down it. I decided to stick to the vegitable combo over rice and wasnt even satisfied with that. Ive been eating rice dishes all week (Josh would be so proud lol).
Despite the crappy food, the conversation and company was good. Ive met a few of them once or twice before, and the one person who I didnt know was going to come was a guy I met a few months back who moved from Rochester. He was the one who worked at Nasty D's and apparently was back there around the same time I was. Who knew lol. I have to say, he is cute.
So afterwards, it was back home where I napped, chatted, and watched a movie. For those who are interested, the movie was Secretary which was really different. To give you the short version, a sadomasochist woman, who continually cuts herself when under stress, finds a job as a secretary to a well known lawyer. When the lawyer discovers what she is doing, he takes on the dominant role and procedes to spank her for spelling and grammer errors, control her diet, and they begin a work environment of BDSM. *chuckle* interesting movie I must say, and I know a few people who would enjoy it. I know I did.
Dinner consisted of Firewood with Ste3eve and Calvin. My first time eating there and the food was good. A bit pricey for the portion but what do you expect in SF? For the Castro, it was moderate I guess. I dont know how often I would eat there but would definitely go back again.
After dinner we stopped at the Edge for one drink. Calvin got groped by a cute guy kissing grandpa. It reminded me of other people I know (and Im sure most of you know too). After a quick exit there, we went to Daddys for another drink. At this point, I wasnt into staying out again, and went home. Off to bed for me which now leads me to today.
Who knows whats in store.....
By the way, the ants are still marching in and still a problem. 50 degree days, ant problems, and rain. 50 degrees has begun to feel cold, and Im not so sure I could handle the drastic cold weather of Rochester anymore. Ill take the weather here despite the problems due to the conditions. At least theres no snow. *smile*
Posted by Des at 09:04 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 06, 2005
Trailer Park Trash
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Starring Johnny Depp, Directed by Tim Burton (You may have to right click and open in new window depending on the browser you are using).
Bewitched Movie Starring Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrel, Shirley McClain, and Michael Caine.
Star Wars Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith
Posted by Des at 05:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 04, 2005
A new year, new problems, and new joys as well
Let me start by saying Happy New Year to everyone. Ive been thinking about it and although its a new year, it still seems to be "the day after" which comes and goes like any other day of the year. The thing that stands out most for me is that its a chance to reevaluate my life and let go of old ties and incorporate new ones.
With this, Ive decided to let go of old issues including people who havent kept in touch. Ive realized that each phase of life, we meet people. In my case ALOT of people but very few seem to be there as we move on. In my case, theres about 5 people from my high school days, and now about 10 people from Rochester I really care about and will keep in touch with. The rest are pretty much specs in history. You guys know who you are.
Another problem that seems to have arrisen is the rain. I mentioned how the rainy season began, but with it came the ant problem we are currently facing. All the ants have been driven indoors and from what I can gather, its an issue for many people this time of year. God I hate insects and bugs. We set ant traps down yesterday and it seems to have helped but theres still a ton to go and quite frankly it makes me squeem every time I find one crawling on my arm. ICK!!!!
With all that out of the way, New Years was a blast. I cant go into details but I believe it was one of those nights (from what I *do* remember), that left everyone in good mood. Of course it had the potential to be more of an orgy which Im kind of glad it didnt turn into. Who knows, it may have been fun lol.
Work was long and hard. Its tough getting back into the swing of things after having more days off than working. Coming back after a 5 day weekend, it was hard to remember when I left off, what needs to be done, who I hated there and why, as well as the usual bullshit that comes with the job. I survived though.
I started reading a new book on BART. No billy its not the Andy Worhol Diaries (too expensive for me to buy retail). I started reading Sick Burn Cut which Josh has been waiting for me to read. I havent made it through the first chapter yet, but it seems like it has potential. Ill keep you posted on that. Im really looking forward to Harry Potter The Half Blood Prince to come out in July.
Speaking of releases, theres so much this year to look forward to. The new Star Wars which will tie episodes 1 and 2 to 4, 5, and 6. I cant wait. Also the release of the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire will be out later in the year. Read the book and its going to be rather good Im imagining. Its rumored to be a 4 hour movie with an intermission. Other possibilities of movies to be released are Bewitched, and The Willy Wonka remake. Oh boy, excitement.
Other interests that have been on my mind have been volunteer work, and getting a second job. Ive just been lazy about it in all honesty. I did manage to meet a couple of people on Sunday at the Edge who I gave my number to if they need help with any events. One guy I met, who was cute, turned out to be a sister out of drag. It was cool to meet him and hopefully we will keep in touch. Im curious to know more about how he got into it and perhaps its a venue for me to help out and do some good for the community and the world.
For those who arent familiar with The Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence should check it out. I think it would definitely be something to get into, Im just wondering about time and money. Those outfits must get expensive as well as makeup and such. But they do always seem to be the hit of the scene in SF.
As for everything else, things seem to be looking up for the year. Hopefully in the next few months Ill be able to get my new computer, new mattress, and start planning vacations. Josh and I want to take a cruise in May and I would like to head back and visit Rochester in July for pride. We will play it by ear and see what happens I guess. I cant believe Im only 5 months away from my 1 year mark in SF. Wow, time goes fast.
Thats about all to report. Hope everyone had a great holiday and hope for the best in 2005. Peace and love to all.
Posted by Des at 05:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 01, 2005
New Years
Up early, breakfast with Gregory, and on our way back to SF around noon. We made good time. We decided to see if a few people wanted to come over so we stopped by Rainbow Grocery and Safeway to pick up some snacks. Relaxed for the afternoon and finally around 9ish the fun began.
Josh's friend from Heartwood called earlier in the evening and was at the airport. Josh invited him over. With him it turned out to be 7 of us here which was about perfect for a small party. It consisted of St3ve, Jamison, Rob, Rick, a different Rick, Josh and myself.
For people who count, I had 3 cosmo's, two vodka cranberry's, and a glass of champagne. We were all pretty lit, and the pictures that were taken will be available for viewing to the company that was here soon. They arent ones that really should be shown to the public lol. Lets just say, we were in our underwear around 12:30 am. It turned out to be a blast, I just wish I could remember most of it.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Posted by Des at 07:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack