Non Sex

Writing about sex is a good way to get people to read your blog. No really, people love reading about other people's bad sex, ways to improve their blow job technique and just smut in general. At least that is what I read. But I can't write about sex; I can only write about non-sex.
I'm sure if I went to a normal college, I would be writing about drunken hook-ups, first love (or second or third) and improving blow job technique. Instead I go to NYU and I write about drunken nights in which I find nobody remotely attractive, meet only gay guys or gay guys (in the socially unacceptable, third grade sense) and wind up home by myself. Freshman year we came up with a breakdown of guys at NYU: 50% gay, 25% taken, 10% extreme assholes, 5% Republicans, 6% thinks speedballs are a breakfast cereal, 4% are Stern nerds and 1% are actually reasonably attractive datable guys. This might seem cynical, but I don't mean to imply that no one at NYU dates. Actually I do mean that. Getting into a relationship at NYU is akin to being in the ocean just after your trans-atlantic ship has gone down. While various flotsam drifts past you and other hapless victims flail for their lives, you look about for anything, anything that will keep you afloat and out of the icy water. Yup it's a lot like the end of Titanic except without Leonardo DiCaprio, just a door.

Autumn in New York

Finally! Not that I'm complaining about the unseasonably warm weather that we've been having for the past couple of months, but fall is finally here. Today in Prospect Park was a perfect fallen leaf crunching, apple cider drinking, pumpkin carving, sweater wearing, wood smoke smelling autumn day.

This tree looked like it was on fire. Seriously. 

It was a perfect day. 

Crunching through leaves... 

Runners!  

The Long Meadow 

And of course beautiful Park Slope. 

Graduation

So there's a rumour (www.nyunews.com) that graduation might be held at Shea Stadium, because Washington Square Park will be under renovation. If this turns out to be true, I will kill someone. On the other hand, if we were to have graduation at Yankee Stadium, I will feel as if my $160,000 dollars was totally worth it.

Say Yes to M!ch!gan!

My family is moving to DETROIT! I keep saying it, but I can't quite believe it yet. In a couple of months, they will be living somewhere in the wilds of Michigan. It's what my dad calls the real America. I'm currently listening to Sufjan Steven's album. It's all songs about Michigan recorded in Brooklyn. Seems fitting.

And no, I am not following them out there.

Madness

As I've mentioned before, in most of the places I've lived during my life, I've been able to see the Empire State building from my bedroom window. It's a landmark, a symbol to me. If it's there and ok, then I'm here and I'm ok. I used to feel the same way about the World Trade Center, but well you know... I think my personal relationship with New York architecture is what led to the Metropolitan Studies major.
The top thirty stories are lit at night, normally with white lights. For most of my childhood, the tower would be lit with mulit-colored lights only on special occassions. Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Fourth of July. Seriously if you didn't garner a day off of work, you didn't get tower light recognition.
Following 9/11 the lights were red, white and blue for a good six months. The next March they went back to "normal." Except now they are hardly ever white. Everyone and their mother has the lights lit in their honor. Today for instance, tonight the lights are blue for "Keeper of NY Harbor." On November 9, they will be white and yellow for something called "NYC Honors County Music Awards." I have no idea what either of these things is and I doubt that other New Yorkers do either.
Frankly I really hate it. I hate that such a symbolic part of New York is so subject to whimsy and caprice. Sure a little color is fun, but that's for the Chrysler building or Met Life. The ESB and by extension New York is stoic and unimpressed. Should it really be acknowleding Stop Red Light Running or Corporate Philanthropy Day?

11/1/05: Blue