When last I wrote, I was barely packed, and heading south. Approximately one month later, and two trips to Atlanta logged on the frequent flier miles, I can’t tell you how good it feels to be back—but how difficult it was to leave. Technically, the only person linking me to ATL is The Beau™. But that’s a big only, and not getting to see my best friend everyday can take it’s toll on even the happiest person in the world! (See: me). He'll be here soon though, but counting the days can be frustrating. It's hard to miss my friends though, as most are so thrilled to have an excuse to visit New York, I have no shortage of prior and future houseguests.

I spent Thanksgiving in Brownsville, with The Beau™’s family and Lauren. That was an interesting experience. The hostess insisted on serving people tiny portions, and didn’t start with the food until 10:00pm! Who serves Thanksgiving at 10:00pm?! We were so famished and tipsy, Lauren wanted a piece of cake, but the hostess was so intimidating! She gave L the smallest sliver of cake in the world, and I was forced to humiliate myself by asking for not one but three servings of mac n’cheese. I was hungry, dammit! I’d caught a contact, and wasn’t concerned about tact or my waistline, pony up!

Who was she saving this food for? It was so bizarre, as most people weren’t eating at all, yet there was plenty of food to go around. Around 1:00am or so, people were still spilling into the house, and opting for the jumbo sized Hennessy & Grey Goose offerings over food. We surmised most had probably made plenty of rounds as the night went on, and this was more of a final destination.

We were asked to be nice to a gold-toothed, wide-eyed, thirty-something with a twenty-something year old son who'd just finished a 12 year bid. Being nice wasn’t so much an issue, but even I was a little put off by the constant camera flashing (go figure) and people posing w/Lauren & me like we were celebrities, or like this was Freaknik. I was also so over people not wanting to take pictures because they were wanted by the feds. But come to think of it, that probably was more truth than jokes.

New York life hasn’t been too terrible an adjustment. I haven’t missed my car one bit. I’m kind of glad it’s not here, as I’m pretty sure I’d be the recipient of one too many parking tickets. Meter maids are rather stringent w/enforcement; I certainly don’t miss the added stress of my former Hollywood residence. Oh the multiple parking tickets for letting a meter lapse for 2 minutes, or walking outside 3 minutes late for street cleaning, and ending up $60+ in the hole. I do need to pick up the car though, but it’s doing The Beau™ more good than it would me at this point. I just need it for laundry & groceries. But there’s always Fresh Direct.

I caught wind of a laundry delivery service that picks up your dirty laundry and delivers it back to you clean and folded. I admit my interest was piqued, but really who am I to utilize this type of service? All I wear are jeans, t-shirts, and hoodies. Plus, I don’t even have a fucking job, who am I to live opulently?

New York doesn’t feel like home yet. Actually no place does. It’s hard to explain, but I don’t feel an allegiance to anyplace or anything. Well, except for Tanzania. Sometimes I wish my parents never left. I wonder if I’d still be posting on messageboards, and blogging like a maniac.

I have no idea what I’m doing for Christmas & New Years, and am torn between spending it in Virginia Beach or Chicago. I might even split the holidays up, and end up both places. I’ve never been one to participate in the big crowd events such as the Peach Drop or tourist dealings in Times Square. Large crowds can be so unruly, and I have an unhealthy paranoia about personal safety that keeps me from those types of vulnerable situations. In all likelihood, I’ll probably sleep myself through NYE!

Wherever I am, the camera will be in tow!

The word of the day is lassitude.

Koku feeds Chicken to Pigeons genuflected @ 05:50:21:EST