You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is...
Ellen DeGeneres

Okay, where was I? Oh yeah, the rest of the week...

Well, it's now two weeks, and not much has happened. All-righty-then, that may not totally be accurate...
Earlier this week, my Grandmother from Trinidad came up to New York for the third time in her life to visit! She and my pop certainly had a lot to talk about, being that they both have been through a lot since this millennium started. Coincidentally, while pop was getting past his temporary illness, grandma had defeated cancer! Well, that's a bold statement, but in general that's what happened. And not only does she beat it, but she amazingly gains enough strength to travel again! She came to us on Sunday, and stayed with us until Wednesday, when a very close cousin of Grandmother's literally begged us to bring her over to their house. Well three cheers to my pop & grandma, who spent hours talking when she arrived at da crib; I was even able to get about an hour of conversation between the two on videotape. That way, we all will have that memory of pop beaming from ear to ear as they talked, and talked, and talked...
Come to think of it, Grandmother is indeed very courageous; only someone brave would travel to NYC weeks after the country's largest blackout, and days before the 2nd anniversary of the 9/11 massacre.

And yesterday, I celebrated the 2nd anniversary of 9/11 by doing something I might have done that day had it not occurred:
Shopping.
I hit J & R for some blank CD's, some stereo cables, and a scratch remover kit for CDs, with the high hopes that it will work on my iPod as well. Century 21 was next, and I got some new scents, including Azzaro's Chrome, which I must admit does smell refreshing. Then, it was on to ChinaTown, as I attempted to find the Sony Nude MDEX71L earphones in white. That was unsuccessful, so today, I go to 14th Street and try my luck there. Furthermore, I upgraded my cell phone! Finally, after two months of patient waiting, and a lot of other people's opinions, I finally walked out of 34th Street Verizon Wireless Store with my brand-spanking-new LG VX6000 Camera phone!! I will get some of my daily pics up on webshots as soon as possible.

Ah, my last year at Hunter College. It's the same old story here: cold, boring, dry atmosphere. The only catch this year is that there are new heads here; in fact, there are a lot more new faces this year than normal. I said my last year may be my most challenging, but this is ridiculous! And already, I'm getting some heat from the Hunter regulars about me being here for a fifth year. My only solace is that I changed my major three years ago, and ended up being in a totally different 4 year program. A sod off later, the conversation changes.
Also of note, the Geology 101 class I thought I registered for turned out to be Geography 101; you can imagine the anger I was feeling being in that cold, desolate auditorium at 7:15 at night, with a bunch of total strangers. I bolted out of there so fast, the professor probably thought I had a case of diarrhea! Okay, what does that mean for me, you ask? Well, it means one thing, one thing only:
I must take BIO 102 at Hunter College next spring.
Principles of Biology. Part II. Spring 2004. The Ultimate Challenge. The long highway of hell to graduation. Katz, it doesn't look good from here...

The new 20GB and 40GB iPods are now available! I must admit to you, getting 20GBs of music for the same price I paid for 10GBs is a very attractive offer. Hey, even getting 40GBs of music for $500 is amazing. But I do not see myself filling, or attempting to fill, 10,000 songs on an iPod. Then again, I also didn't see myself filling a 10GB iPod with more than 2000 songs; and now I am playing the game of eliminating the songs I do not want.

Naughty Girl
Beyoncé
Dangerously in Love

I can't believe that I have not found one song off this album that I do not like, or wish to rid of. These new artists are actually making some pretty awesome music! I also can't believe that the RIAA has turned up the heat on their war against music piracy. It's gotten to the point where they sue a 12-year old harmless honor student from right here in the city! My heart goes out to her, I can't imagine the grief they went through this week. Though my condolences won't help pay her $2000+destruction of all acquired music settlement, I still offer them, and hope that no one else has to go through similar situations. It is a shame that the war has reached this point, I can only imagine what they intend to do about bootlegged music...

My iPod turned nine-months old yesterday! And through diligent work (yeah, the scratch removing kit worked), it looks as smooth and clean as it did when I brought it out of the box in December! As of this writing, there are 2154 songs on it, and 122MB (yes, 122MB) of space left.

Got It Right Here
Sizzla
Da Real Thing

My personal life? Well, it's improved slightly over the months. The job's cool, and people sit next to me on the bus more often (why I write this, I dunno; but hey, you ask.) In fact, I wrote the draft of this post on the Q32, sitting next to this woman who I called the other day. We had some rather fascinating conversations on the bus, and on the phone; but as to whether somethin's there...
You'll find out later.


Didn't I promise you guys a freelance?
Well, it's not awe-striking, but it is something. So I bid you adieu, and hope you enjoy the rest of the week. Until next time, from the other side...

Starting Over

I had to rewind my clock this morning,
with fresh cold water running against my face.
The beginning of a new search was here,
and I, like the early bird,
wish to acquire a running headstart.
But, my baby called me during breakfast,
and said she wants to start over.
From which point she wishes to accomplish this
was the thought that stuck on my mind.
For I remember not when it all began,
and never time-lined the turning points
of this crazy and amazing relationship
whose race I thought ended yesterday.
So I replied, how far do you wish to relapse?
Back to the first date? First kiss?
Or maybe the first time,
to see if we read all the signs right in the beginning?
She smiled as her gentleness and warmth
was felt halfway across the phone line.
She realized she never had a specific point either,
but was intent on making a lasting one.
A conversation that never was supposed to occur
so early in the new day I had prepared for,
took hours to get past.
But the resolution was partially formed:
"We rendezvous later, to discuss it then."
I look at a 1PM clock and realise
starting over is easier as a thought, not as an action.