Number of tables taken over: 3
Number of tacos consumed: 2
Number of hours it took to get back home: 1.5
Number of Stuy grads in the group: 2 (incl. M)

Originally written 28-September 2008

It’s good that I’m good at ending relationships. Maybe I should count that as one of my special skills.

I really didn’t need that particular person in my life. I was getting nothing out of it — it was primarily one-sided, benefiting only him. He contacted me on his time, making me listen to his whining; but if/when I needed a friend, he wasn’t available. That’s utter bullshit. If there’s anything I’m big on, it’s fairness. It’s not fair that I’m getting the short end of the stick. I felt it’s better to cut off the parasite before it contaminated me even further.

On Saturday, I trekked out to Brooklyn to see the new Takashi Murakami exhibit on display at the Brooklyn Museum. You know, it’s weird, I’ve been to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens several times, but never made it next door to the museum till this past weekend. Which is a shame, since the BM is beautiful, and I’m sure I would have enjoyed the other exhibits as well if I had more time.

It was wonderful going to the museum with people who are smart AND snarky, who could spout commentary about the male gaze one minute, and the next minute giggle self-consciously about a sculpture of a boy (portrayed in anime style) gripping his penis.

Top that afternoon off with a luscious dinner at Cheryl’s Global Soul, and I’d say that you have the makings of a top-notch Brooklyn outing.

And just to think, about ten years ago, as college freshmen, we were just looking forward to turning twenty-one so we could booze up legally.

Now, we’re both hitting thirty, and feel almost sheepish to admit that we once were able to finish a full bottle of tequila by ourselves. I guess that’ll be stories that we’ll tell their little girl someday… far far someday.

Address: 122 East 7th St (between 1st Avenue and Avenue A)
Type: Fondue
Price: $$

I admit that I have a list of NY restaurants that I put away, for future reference. This being New York, I really can’t hold on to this list for a long time, just in case the restaurant closes, changes hands, or is destroyed by a natural disaster. The places on my list aren’t the big-name four-star places — rather, they’re the small holes-in-the wall (generally frequented by hipsters, alas) that people visit for a few years before moving on to the next “cool” place.

The Bourgeois Pig is a perfect example. Located in the East Village, it’s really not that much bigger than an apartment in that neighborhood. It’s dark, littered with mismatching chairs and sofas, barely enough room to squeeze in.

Their specialty is fondue, so Sho and I had the raclette fondue as well as the brie wrapped in phyllo. Nothing on this earth will ever be as good as cheese. Even veggies dipped in melted gooey cheese will end up being delicious. A bottle of red wine, half-price natch, rounded up the evening.

A cool & dark place, great for a date but also nice with a good friend in tow.

Each time I spend a weekend at my mom’s place, it’s really difficult for me to want to go back to my own apartment. I haven’t seen her for over a month so I really did miss being coddled and taken care of, in addition to having someone cook for me, not the other way around.

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Huong called me around lunchtime on Saturday to let me know that she’s (finally) engaged to John. I’m extremely excited for her. After all, it’s been almost 10 years since they first started dating… and it’s a long-distance relationship, to boot! I don’t think I have the patience in order to do that; I’m having a difficult enough of a time now that Mikhail and I have to be apart, and it’s only for another year and a half that I have to endure this.

Tisha and I joined her and John for dinner at Todai later that evening. It was nice to see all of them again, and it was funny how the girls both thought that I would be the first one to get hitched. Marriage is an interesting idea, but truth be told, I don’t think now is a good time for it. I still have several items left on my life agenda before “get married.”

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Is it bad that all I want to do is gush about Mikhail each chance that I could get? He called me this morning at 7am, and my heart melts when I realize that he could have been sleeping, but he decided to talk to me instead.