philly

Aaand, They're Gone

They came, they saw, did they conquer? I won't know for a little while, because I don't have cable right now. Living my new apartment, which is great and all, I don't have cable at the moment because the apartment doesn't show up in the company's system. I never did get to run into any of the Real Worlders, but it seemed so blasé after like a month. From what I've heard, Illy didn't take too kindly to the Real Worlders being here. I'll have to wait until my cable is hooked up to see the special sneak peek of what is to come. I believe the special was on tonight. I do know that the season officially kicks off on September 7th. If anyone's having a Real World Illy party, lemme know. I shall come and eat your food and bring Lager.

Shoe Scrapers n Bikes

So, I bought me a mountain bike. This will help me explore Illy quicker and get my largesse some exercise at the same time- amazing. I took my bike to Bicycle Therapy for some air and to buy an allen wrench multi-tool. I've already bought me a Kryptonite Gorgon bike lock to protect my investment as well as a Bell Arc helmet to protect my noggin. I also added a gel bikeseat cover to protect my arse and a little zipper pouch that attaches to the underside of the seat so I can take my keys and some cash or whatever with me on a ride around town.

So, getting back to my trip to the bike shop... I put some much needed air into my tires and bought the allen wrenches to adjust the seat for my oddly short legs [in comparison to my overly long torso]. When I got back home, I promptly changed and went out for a ride. I rode across town to the Real World House and I saw 2 crew members walking into the side entrance. Perhaps they were taking a quick smoke break as the Real Worlders were doing something stupid and scandalous. While we're talking about the Real World, I'd like to bring it to everyone's attention that I either am or will be too old to ever be on the Real World. My plans to be the first Asian male on the show, down the drain. And I attribute most of the fault to a poor decision to go to Nation one night for a Buzz party and then going to IHOP at 7 am and not getting back to sleep until 8.30 am or so and totally missing the Washington, DC casting call at 9.30 am. Oh well. I'm sure I had a blast at Buzz and who knows what stupid stuff I would've done on that show that I may/may not have regretted doing. Another lifetime...

And changing gears...

One of the first things I noticed about Illy is these little metal things next to almost every single rowhouse in Illy. I plan to do a photographic essay on them in due time, but above is a close-up of one of them. From what I can deduce just by looking at it and the juxtapositioning of it next to the steps leading into buildings, I can only assume that it is/was a shoe scraper. Way back in tha day, they used horsies to get all around town and horsies, well, they like to crap everywhere. I'm assuming that even if you tried really hard, you were gonna step in some crap along the way back to your house and this shoe scraping thingie helped get that horse crap off of your nice shoes. And of course, the mud/dirt/whatever else gets on one's shoes during the course of the day. My favorite one I've seen so far is in the shape of a daschund which I haven't taken a photo of just yet because everytime I pass it, it is right after it rains so it's all yucky or I don't have my camera on me, but rest assured, it will be a part of my photo essay in due time.

First Day @ My New Office

Hello folks and welcome to June in Philly. A new month and I've now decided to start using CAPS when they should be used on this here blog of mine. Well, today was my first day at the new office, Philadelphia Weekly, for those who aren't caught up. It started bright and early and was busy from the minute I was in the office. One annoying thing about the office that I've discovered already is that it's too hot in the office. Now, not HOT hot, but hotter than I feel it should be, but I do know that I like things to be colder than most people. But it is annoying to be sweating for the first 15 minutes in the office after walking there in pants and a button down shirt (even though I'm only 6 blocks away- I sweat a lot). There are about 45 people in the office, I'd say 30 or so on my side of the office- the Sales/Classifieds/Production team; the Editorial staff is about 15 or so. Everyone is pretty young, as expected at an alternative weekly.

I'll have my own cubicle, phone line and business cards. I'm oh so excited about having my own phone line and business cards- I've never had either before. In my three consecutive summers at VIBE they never even so much as gave me a dinky email address. And at Spring Street Networks, where I worked for over a year before they canned my ass, no phone line and no business cards, arg. Why am I so excited about business cards? I've always wanted to drop my card into those bins at restaurants and stuff for a chance to win a stupid breakfast or a free meal or something. It's the little things in life that make me happy, oh yeah, along with this stuff (hint hint, nudge nudge).

I'll save you all from the mundane duties I do at work, but needless to say, I was hit by a deluge of stuff the first day AND, it was the busiest day of the week- Late Ad day where I am to run around and get all the late ads proofed and stuff.

But after work, I had a celebratory dinner at the Nodding Head. It has quite the menu, everything from vegan fare to a rack of BBQ ribs and great in-house brewed beers. I had the Grog which is in between a Newcastle and a Guinness.

After dinner, I passed by Striped Bass [entrance pictured] which is where the Real Worlders are working this season. It's a bit pricey, but if anyone is in town and would like to take me out to a schmancy dinner, feel free! I'm game. Perhaps at some point, as I'm leaving my office at 6pm and walking south on 15th St., I'll pass by Striped Bass on Walnut St. and watch camera crews capture one of the cast members breaking down because s/he got stiffed on a $400 table or something. I'd take out my camera and start snapping away, holding back tears and laughter.