Notes from an Island

Eighteen years later and I've landed back in Buenos Aires - I'm still taking it all in but am more than pleasantly surprised by a couple of things - my friends don't appear to have an issue with the gay thing and switching back to Castellano hasn't been too bad either.

The flight here was a chore - the departure from NYC was delayed by an hour, our arrival in Atlanta was a cluster as we didn't have a gate and then after hoofing it from E to T, our flight was delayed so the running was a waste of time. Of course, Derrick's decided to get sick, pretty much as he always does when we travel. I'm so over it and his whining, I can't even describe it. I don't understand it and at this point, don't really want to.

The flight wasn't too bad - our usual contortions in seats without enough space but we made it in one piece. Unlike other trips, our arrival argument wasn't too bad . . .

I'm not sure what I was expecting when we got here. It's been so very long ago that I don't think I had too many expecations. The last time I made the trip from Ezeiza, I was in a Peugoet 504 with three kids, a grandmother and Pancho and I didn't even know that I was going out to the countryside. This time, I enjoyed seeing somethings that weren't surprises such as the way people drive, some of the really old cars that have been updates with a new fascia or tail lights, people that simply pull over under a tree on the highway to rest up.

Our cabbie got lost on the way to the apartment (by one block) but the building he mistook for ours was a D U M P! Thankfully, the correct number wasn't posted so around the block we went and what a difference that block made. Have to say that I am impressed with the building, the roof deck with a pool and bar as well as the apartment we're renting. The owner was a nervous wreck! It's not like there's a boat load for us to know about the apartment - here's where everything is, don't smoke, water the plants and conduct a transaction. Yeah right!! An hour later, she was finally out - thank goodness.

As usual, as I'm unpacking, I find one of Derrick's drug tag alongs. Of course, same reaction - I fly off the handle and he doesn't know what's wrong. I don't know what I'm going to do but this isn't for me. I want to be heard and I want him to understand that what he's doing is unacceptable but it gets turned around and in the arguing pretty much all is lost.

We called a taxi and went over to Silvia's place - two things, the taxi guy was entertaining but took the longer route and then got a little "lost".

The highlight of the day was spending time with Silvia and reminiscing - the photos, who's where, who's doing what, the things we can't talk about (Fran's old girlfriend Carolina, Tere's old boyfriend who was beaten up by her current boyfriend when they were in school), along with empanadas (delish) and some wine. Tere and Richie came over and we caught up and chatted - we all know that a lot of time has passed but also recognize that the time we lived together was a ton of fun. I didn't do great with always translating for Derrick and will need to focus on that as we go along. We then went for ice cream - these people have that down! I had dulce de leche - surprise? Of course we had to have a coffee, make sure we have telephone numbers and called it a night.

Not too bad of a day all in - also got some groceries so we can take care of breakfast and some snacks.

His royal pain in the neck is in bed and snoring already. I have no idea what to do - all but when went to Puerto Rico, he gets sick and tonight he tells me that it's intentional, that he can let go. I also and way over the drugs, way over the stories and rationalization and way over the passive aggressive nonsense. His crap on the plane and then not wanting to move on at the airport - I don't get it and don't really want to get it.

I'm ending with returning to the day's highlight - Silvia was great, Tere was great and it made for a wonderful evening. And the shopping in their neighborhood - oh lord!! I need to check where we are with money 'cause I plan to do some damage.

Tomorrow - plan is to call Raquel Maria and see where she is, get a number for the Ocampos, get a map of Buenos Aires and book our travel to Rio Gallegos or El Calafate. I thought I would make it out tonight but that's not going to happen.

gayging process
birth
->closet
->twink
->club kid
->muscle queen
->otter
->druggie
->bear
->theater queen
->sugar daddy
->floridan
->b.o.b.
->r.i.p.

rod Homepage 11.22.06 - 11:04 am #

A set back - doesn't look like SDH is going to get the position we've been holding out for. While he has to learn his lessons, I think we have to remember our overall strategy and plan and that is to get us both here and focused. While we were making some assumptions, and were wrong on them as it appears today, we have to remember the bigger picture.

I'm bummed as hell and am also clear on the implications. Keep him up and plan for the worst.

It appears that rational thought has prevailed. Hell no, we all know that's a line. Rupert Murdoch got enough of a backlash against the OJ interview that it and the book was pulled. Two things still piss me off:
1. The murderer still will more than likely keep the advance
2. Fox still gets some push for sweeps

I can live with this so long as the interview is not aired.

More than locating an apartment, it's the securing that's the issue. The list of requirements on the applicatin was pretty extensive - prove this, credit check that, references this, cash and cheques for that.

I was up way too early this morning after having watched back-to-backs of Intervention. (Why can't they have them at least an hour earlier?) I was off to the bank to get my $200 cash for the deposit and then down to the renting office to wait for them to open. The plan was to get there at about 8:30am to wait for them to open and to head off or pre-empt any potential competitors. As luck would have it, the temperature finally dropped today. Dropped to the kind of cold where I had to turn off the white-noise fan to ensure that I got out of bed . . .

The wait was pretty boring and I definitely went for overkill. One person arrived closer to 9 and although he hung around the buidling, he didn't end up going in. It was the young lady who arrive at almost 9 who went straight for the door that had me concerned! I'm pretty sure we were thinking the same thing about each other; "I'll be damned if I don't get this apartment because of this person, what do I do to make sure I get it . . . " Waste of thinking. Once we got in to the office, it turns out we're applying for seperate apartments.

So, it's hurry up and wait time. Wednesday at eleven o'clock I am to call and get an answer.

http://www.pageapartments.com/82washingtonplace2.htm

As we were taking a break from apartment hunting in Washington Square, we noticed a homeless guy approaching one of the trash cans across the walkway from us.

He walked up to the side of the can and in as calm a fashion as he could muster, sat himself down, cross-legged, on the side of the can as if it were a fine chair at a Swiss finishing school. Sadly, trash cans and intoxication are not perfect companions but at least he managed to maintain his composure as he slowly reached into the can to search for lunch. Cross-legged, wobbling on the can rim, intoxicated - I am amazed he didn't end up on the can!

Still, it impressed me that it was important to him that he not be seen as someone who was about reaching into and rifling into trash cans, that he could offer a facade that he was just sitting there and that the Starbucks in his hand magically appeared or was there all along.

OJ is going to finally how he murdered Nicole and Ron, if indeed he had done it. All to coincide with his book that reveals the same. . . all I can say is that I hope NO-ONE buys the book or if someone does that every single last penny ends up other than an account to which OJ has access.

My heart and thoughts go out to Nicole and Ron's families. The guy is NUTS.

Selfish ass that I am got my first pay cheque today and got taxed at NYC rates - friggin' ridiculous. The part that ticks me off is that I was clear with HR and made sure that my address, which they got correct, is not a New York (neither State nor city) address. So, that's $600 down the freakin' drain.

Lesson learned - Trust, but verify!