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Music Makes You Lose Control

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 10:51:35 GMT

Recently Acquired CD's...

AZ - Doe Or Die
Between The Buried And Me - The Anatomy Of
Busta Rhymes - The Big Bang
Cam'ron - Killa Season
Caliban - The Undying Darkness
Cunninlynguists - A Piece Of Strange
Dilated Peoples - 20/20
Dillinja & Lemon D - The Crash Test EP
EPMD - Strictly Business
EPMD - Unfinished Business
G. Love - G Loves Lemonade
Ice Cube - Kill At Will EP
Ice Cube - Lethal Injection
Ice Cube - The Predator
Immortal Technique - Revolutionary, Vol. 1
Immortal Technique - Revoultionary, Vol. 2
J Dilla - The Shining
Jay Dee (J Dilla) - Welcome To Detroit
Jill Scott - Beautifully Human
Layzie Bone - The New Revolution
Little Brother - Separate But Equal (DJ Drama Gangsta Grillz Mixtape)
Little Brother - The Commercial Free EP
Living Legends - Classic
Masta Killa - Made In Brooklyn
Method Man - 4:21...The Day After
Mobb Deep - Juvenile Hell
Mood - Doom
M.O.P. - Ghetto Warfare
Murs & 9th Wonder - Murray's Revenge
Ne-Yo - In My Own Words
Organized Konfusion - Organized Konfusion
Outkast - Aquemini
Outkast - ATLiens
Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Mecca And The Soul Brother
Quasimoto - The Further Adventures Of Lord Quas
Raekwon - The Da Vinci Code (The Vatican Mixtape Vol. 2)
Rapper Big Pooh - Sleepers
Redman - Dare Iz A Darkside
Rick Ross - Port Of Miami
Rhymefest - Blue Collar
Sadat X - Experience And Education
Sean Price - Monkey Barz
Shai Hulud - A Comprehensive Retrospective
Sigur Ros - Von
Soul Position - Things Go Better With Rj And Al
The Album Leaf - One Day I'll Be On Time
The Doors - The Doors
The Roots - Game Theory
The Warriors - Beyond The Noise

Oh maybe another rant...

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:10:36 GMT

I'm not sure how many of you out there read this, and even more so how many of you are in to politics.

But a couple of days ago, George Allen (R) from VA running for the US Senate, was caught on camera making insensitive remarks to an Indian American, referred to as S.R. Sidarth. The Washington Post, as well as The New York Times, CNN, and other media outlets (TNR, NBC4.com, etc) have posted articles on this, and I felt it was my duty as an Indian American to do the same.

First though, let me preface this by saying I have known Sidarth for the majority of my life. We go to the same temple, and when we were younger we used to go to each others birthday parties, houses to play football, he even whipped my ass in every chess match I ever played against him--our mothers are quite close as well. So when I read this story, and heard about it, I was enraged.

Allen refers to Sidarth as a "macaca," a word which no one really seems to know the meaning of. Many people speculate it is a derivation of Macaque, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaque) which is another name for a Monkey, or simply another name for the Mohawk hairstyle, which Sidarth is seeming to style. However, I don't believe the latter argument, which is Allen's argument. It was reported Allen had in fact met Sidarth and was aware that Sidarth was following his campaign around to videotape him for his opponent, James Webb. Sidarth does not even have a mohawk (I thought it was from my Mother's descriptions when she saw him at the temple a few days ago), but it is a mullet, and it is quite clear it is a mullet. Business in the front, party in the back, if you will.

In any case, this is just another case of extreme ignorance. Allen chose to make these remarks in a crowed of a hundred or so all-white faces, with Sidarth being the only non-white. If a remark such as this were made in another setting, where a white person was called a "Cracker" or something along those lines at a political campaign for an African-American, this would be even more so in the headlines.

Certain members of the Indian community are appalled, and some come to Allen's defense. The reason some are coming to his defense are because in short, Republican ideologies are what is best for Indian Businessmen, Doctors, what have you. We get to keep our money, and we get tax breaks! So, clearly, our loyalties lie elsewhere. This, coming to light ON the DAY of the 59th anniversary of Indian Independence, makes it even more so appalling to me.

Has anyone else made the connection that Allen went from speaking of Sidarth as a "Macaca" and went immediately to the War on Terror? Maybe I might be reading into things, but it seems to be a bit more than a slip-up.

Again, the papers are reporting quotes from various individuals which have statements from political pundits that go on to say Allen need not worry about his Senatorial campaign, but were he to in fact run for the Presidential Nomination in 2008, this would reappear to haunt him. Another skeleton in his closet, if you will--along with the picture of him with the Confederate flag I have been reading about.

I really don't know what I'm even trying to say here. Part of me wants to just yell and scream about how the Right Wing is taking over with their racial insensitivity and is playing into rural America's notions that Indians are to be grouped in the same category as monkeys, or because they look similar to terrorists, whatever (a side note, I was stopped and asked questions at Reagan National Airport with my father the other day for looking "Suspicious," when clearly I was taking a piss and buying The New Yorker, but I won't get into that). But a bigger part of me is thinking, Who's going to even care? The majority of the left-wing bloggers (I guess I'm quite left-wing) and people who read such papers AS the Post, the NY Times, and online papers such as the Huffington Post, or TNR, are already knowledegable enough to realize what is going on in this country. The people we are so concerned about don't read such articles, or even care about these things. I mean yes, we should keep trying to achieve our goal and educate people...but it hasn't seemed to work for the past 6 years, and it doesn't seem to make any difference right now (at least outside of the Indian Community).

So let me end this outburst. Sidarth, I doubt you'll ever read this--but we're all behind you. It was an insensitive remark, and Allen's apologies as of 8AM today do not suffice.

I have so much more I want to say...but I'll refrain.

For further information on this story:

YouTube.com has the video up, just search for George Allen, or the user is "WebbCampaign"

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/16/washington/16allen.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081400589.html

Actually, just google the term "Sidarth Allen," or any variation of. And you will read on.

Didn't I just tell ya, That you're my Cinderella?

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 12:07:33 GMT

Since I have no internet at home, I have been resigned to buying cd's for probably the first time in my life. But you know what? That is okay, as I have the means, and I am very selective. Many critics have been hello, critical, on Pharrell's new cd, saying it is repetitive, etc etc... To them, I give a big Fuck You. I happen to not mind at all Pharrell's nonsensical rhymes about skateboarding, ice cream, and the BBC, along with his "raspy shit." Plus, the beats are crazy. And for 6 dollars, can you REALLY go wrong? I've bought much worse cd's (i.e. the Batman and Robin OST). Anyway, also bought the new Jurassic 5 cd yesterday, it is freaking amazing (even though Cut Chemist left). That, paired with Mr. Lif's "Mo Mega" and The Roots "Game Theory" are my top three cds of 2006.

Game Theory is classic. I think I must have listened to it at least 3 times a day for the past week.

Anyway, on to normal shit. Work has been crazy--our August 1 deadline for our Mars Scout proposals is fast approaching, and because of that...I'm (surprise) working 9 and 10 hour days, and skipping the gym. Though today will not be like that, nor will tomorrow, when I leave work at 11 AM (holla). Woke up at 4:40 today for no reason, and figured that it wasn't worth the extra 20 minutes of sleep. So I got ready early, picked up my daily copy of The New York Times, settled down a little early at work, and here I am. Surprisingly, I have work to do right now--though we all know I'm not going to do it just yet.

Being at work for so long, and then being at the gym, kind of leave this summer with no room for a social life. But that is perfectly fine with me. This summer is almost over (thankfully)--and though my parents may feel a bit hurt that I feel this way, I really can't help it. New York will probably be much more rewarding this time around, since I can experience it all over again after 9 months of not seeing it. A daily subscription to the Times, and getting the WSJ for free will make my morning subway rides nice, along with after class sitting/studying in Bobst after I work out. Then it's whatever in the night time. At least this is what I'm hoping for--with classes from 8 AM-10:45 MW, 8-12:15 TR for the first half, and then back to 8-10:45...and of course, no class Fridays. Just over a month (about 31 days) left. And hopefully this last month will go faster than ever. The weekend is almost already here, and on Sunday my mother leaves for San Francisco for a week. So Sunday through Friday will be spent with the pops, doing whatever, drinking whatever, eating whatever, partying WHEREVER. Then perhaps little Shu-Jeng may come through next weekend, perhaps not. If she does, then that will be pretty sweet, I can take her around this part of the US of A. After that, my little cousin comes home, and then its almost time for New York.

Maybe I can get back in touch with Cooking again. That, paired with working out at the gym, kind of made my mind a little clearer. There is something about putting on a jazz cd, or Ol' Blue Eyes, while cooking up a nice meal and enjoying a tasty beverage of choice (wine, beer, etc) while cooking. Kind of rewarding. Even more so when there is someone to share the meal with, and to share that beverage with as well.

Anyways, these days as usual are repetitive. But that's life I suppose. One big routine of repetition, with an occasional deviation from the norm. It's how we deal with that deviation that shapes us (at least that is how I see it), along with those who accompany us along the way, to help us deal with those deviations, or to even become part of that routine, with a tad bit more excitement. At least that's what I'm hoping for anyways.

Chianti, anyone?

The world is ready for the one soul that encompasses me and you

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 12:57:31 GMT

38 More days.

38 more days until Summer is over? Yes, 38 more days until I return to the city which is mine. The city where anything is possible, the city where dreams come true, and reality hits you quite quickly. The city where much of my hopes lay. I miss you New York--I even miss Staten Island (Shaolin!).

Anyways, next semester should be promising, keyword should. Schedule is all in the morning, allowing me the afternoon to get my life together at the gym, and at the library or somewhere around Manhattan. So many things I'd like to do for some reason. Perhaps it is just because it has been almost 8 months since I was last in New York. Though I may or may not go to a concert on the 14th/15th at Webster Hall.

In keeping up with all things New York, I have gotten in a habit of reading the New York Times cover to cover, and if I don't get it that morning and have to read the Post instead (by all means, a fantastic paper), I just feel a little swindled. Oh well, such is life.

This summer honestly needs to be over. It has been a couple months of nothing near normalcy, not for any specific reason. Work I suppose has been normal, as has the gym. 6:30 to 3 is my shift at work, and then I'm at the gym with some friends until about 5:30. Interesting company, and it provides me with a little bit of relief to an otherwise somewhat stressed life. Shed off a couple more pounds. Weekends are spent arguing with the Mother, and pretty much avoiding her glares and prying eyes/fingers. I love her to death, but the home situation is beyond repair, definitely ready to move out.

As I said, work is okay. Defintely doing more than I did last year--more responsibility, and along with that, more consequence for my actions. The interns are cool though, and with Kevin in the building next to me, it isn't as bad as it could be.

So, 38 more days...and that pretty much means about 2.5 more pay periods, 2.5 more paychecks, and I'm out of here. Tends to be the way I think of things now; in pay periods. Because they go by quickly. And on the off chance that days aren't going by quickly? Philip Roth, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Vladmir Nabokov are my company. Along with The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest, and Common. And all other musical outlets, which are expanding as always due to the people in my life.

I long for the days where I can sit in Central Park underneath a tree with a good book, or laying in someone's lap. Much to look forward to, but as always, nothing for certain. But it is what I have to look forward to which drives me, it is what I thrive off of to get me through the day. It is knowing that what I'm going through has been shared by countless numbers of individuals, the same thoughts, the same feelings. And most of them made it out okay, right? So there shouldn't be any reason that it won't for me. Or so I hope.

38 More Days.

Rap Is Dying.

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 12:26:47 GMT

desi 4lyfe04: rap is dying because of Cam'ron
heartyitalian15: lol
desi 4lyfe04: a guy who rhymes poo-poo with moo-moo
heartyitalian15: is he the sole reason?
desi 4lyfe04: let me see if i can pull a camron like rhyme out of my ass
desi 4lyfe04: I'm in Harlem crusin down the street
Gotta get a chick from uptown to beat
We in the Lex Coupe ridin with the heat
Gotta grab those poopoo cash stashs
before those doodoo gats blasts
heartyitalian15: lol
desi 4lyfe04: not bad, if i do say so myself
desi 4lyfe04: now all i gotta do
desi 4lyfe04: is repeat
desi 4lyfe04: Dipset! Capo! Killa!
desi 4lyfe04: randomly
heartyitalian15: haha
heartyitalian15: i mean thats a formula for success

Spit yo game, talk yo shit.

Tue, 16 May 2006 07:00:23 GMT

I'm done with three out of four classes. But the next one is the one I need to worry about..I've barely studied it so far, so all of today will be dedicated to Finance, no excuses. Gotta memorize so many damn formulae and do practice problems. He's said we have to answer four out of eight questions so we don't really have to revise some topics if we don't want to ... but I doubt that, so...14 weeks of revision, here I come.

Yesterday's final wasn't too bad..though all of us essentially answered the questions by writing everything we knew, and then at the end saying what it had to do with the question. Hopefully Stephen will grade it fair..and by fair, I mean give me an A on it so I might be able to get an A- in the class. After my final, I went out to lunch with Randeep and Chelsea, had me probably my last meal of Fish & Chips, and then went to the most useless Islam & The West class..you'd think that since it was our last class and all we were essentially doing was turning in our essay, he'd just let us do that and leave early. However, that really wasn't the case. Let's talk for an hour about how we loved going to the museum last week, and how we saw our professor and the curator pretty much have a private date with us just in the background listening to them talking. So that's exactly what we did. He finally let us out at 3 after an hour of class in which all of us fell asleep..and because of that, I came home and relaxed for the rest of the day. Slept at like 8:30 last night since I was so dead tired...and woke up at like 6 this morning. Good sleep. Unfortunately I think today will be drinking Redbull and that's it.

Been listening to a whole bunch of old songs from like middle school and high school and just ridin' on the memories from those..in addition to having a bunch of people I went to middle school with who are like 3 years younger than me friending me on Facebook. It's funny to see them all older and everything, going to Proms, etc.

Anybody remember Dr. Dre's Xxplosive? Erykah Badu stole the beat and made that song that was irritating as hell with it right after the cd came out..so like 7th-8th grade for me. Point is, the original song is the shit, makes you think of the summer--the hot weather, playin ball every day, chillin with friends, all the little shit too...wakin up early and smelling the air, mowing the lawn, hittin the gym up, goin to temple. Funny, a song about weed and girls does that.

Now its Fabolous's Breathe...haha..freshman year in the cold ass weather, drinking 40s and getting wasted. What a ridiculous/bad time.

Summer before college though...the cd which was definitely getting mad rotation on my way to APL, and all of that shit..Lil Flip's "U Gotta Feel Me"...I played that shit every day before I went to the restaurant and everything..man..that was a while ago, almost fuckin halfway done with college..well undergraduate studies at least. I've had this damn LJ for like a good 3 years now I think. It's so weird to go back and read what I was thinking back then, who I chilled with, what we did, the drama and beef which pretty much defined Roosevelt..well..high school in general I suppose. Glad that's all over...

Aite enough of that. I think I need to do mad laundry today since I don't really have time to do it on Thursday or Friday. And fuckin shit, they haven't emailed us and told us when the bus is going to come pick us up on Saturday, even though we have to clear out of the apartment by 10 AM. Which I really need to do anyway to catch my flight at noon....so, get me a bus at 8AM! Or earlier, don't even matter..I'll have the opportunity to read the paper or something. Waiting at airports is my profession...

Was talkin to my friend from UVA yesterday about not being able to wait to see Dulles Airport from the Windows of the plane. Just being able to recognize the runway from a few miles away, and see the tower and everything, and then all of the little shit, getting out of the plane, going to the weird buses and getting transported to Immigration, making a bee-line for the "US Passports Only" line, and then heading out of baggage claim..then finally to the arrivals hall. Can you tell I'm excited? Apparently it's going to rain the day I land..though lets hope the forecast changes and it turns into summer weather with the quickness.

Anyway, not much else going on over here, as per usual. Gotta study study. Save me.

Here we go...

Mon, 15 May 2006 06:52:44 GMT

Another..Rohith..production.

Oh man..finals start in like 2 and a half hours, well..final one today, final two Wednesday. Let's see how this one goes..six questions out of twenty four, and we have two hours to do it. So I've been racking my brain over and over, and I think I can do it..as long as I mix the facts with speculation and use words like 'perhaps' and 'rather' I'll be okay I think. But then again, I've underestimated Professor Inwood..definitely one of my favorite professors, and he's hilarious as shit, but...he's a really hard grader from past experience this semester. So...too bad he doesn't know our names so he can do the whole "let me boost this guy up a point or two"...hahah...but after that I believe Randeep and I are going to meet up Chelsea (Hayden 5th Floor shoutout) for lunch and then head to Islam and the West to turn in our papers, and then sit and listen to whatever Will has to say..aka study for our respective midterms.

Tomorrow will consist of nothing but studying, with the occasional laundry break since I need to start packing as soon as I get out of class on Wednesday. I gotta figure the best way to pack all of the clothes and some books..I figure instead of folding everything it's more economical to roll the tshirts as it creates more space..at least thats what I did over spring break and I had room in my little dinky carry on. So we shall see.

I wish I had an iPod to listen to on the plane ride home..I know I have movies to watch, probably like 5 or 6 at my disposal...but theres nothing like relaxing with your iPod on shuffle and just closing your eyes and reflecting. Can't wait until I go shopping..most likely within the first week I'm home.

All of you Desi-Philes out there, see if you can download this song from Monsoon Wedding..I've been playing it nonstop since I've heard it. It's about 4 years old...actually probably 6 years old since I have no recollection of when the movie came out. But it was big in the US, and the song is called "Aaj Mera Jee Karda" and its one of the sweetest songs there is..definitely a dance song at a wedding. Hmm..wonder if there are any of those to be going to this summer...

So yesterday I studied..just not as much as I would have liked to in the morning hours..dedicated like 3 hours to History of London and wrote down everything I needed too..and then had the intent of studying finance..but I chose to nap for a long time instead after browsing Wikipedia for the most useless knowledge...I think I maybe got an hour (if that) of finance in...and then I had an extremely large dinner, which I shouldn't have had. Oh well..gym, here I come.

Went to bed at around 12:30 after the most wonderful phone conversation last night...though apparently I was deaf the whole time. lol.

After that however...well..this really annoying girl who can't stop asking Randeep for help on an essay started banging on the door at around 1:30 in the morning..and I didn't feel like answering, hoping she'd go away..but alas, the banging got louder. So I mosied on over tothe door, clad in wife beater and boxers..opened it, said "We are sleeping, go away" and closed the door. Felt GREAT. You'd think on a night when people have finals in like 8 hours, you would take care to NOT bother them. Gah. And then Colin (one of my suitemates) came in at around 4 drunk off his mind...which didn't matter since he's not usually loud, but..as with everyone when they are drunk, your steps are a little louder, and your breathing and laughter are also a bit louder..but, he passed out around 4:15 and that was that...though, he's in my History of London class, and whether or not he's going to wake up to take the final is another story.

So, speaking of when I get home..I was surprised to find out that little Architha's going to be coming to the airport along with my parents to receive me, which should be pretty sweet so I can just start on making fun of her since I haven't in the past 4 months..it's going to suck though, she's heading out to India the next week for the majority of the summer so I won't be able to see my little sis. Guess I'll have to pester her while I have the chance. As for how she's going to fit in the car is a whole different story, with the two massive suitcases, my carry on, and my mother in the back seat as well. Guess she'll have to deal with a little corner hahaha. Damn..she only has one week left as a freshman, that's ridiculous. Seems like yesterday it was me leaving high school for good..and she was still going into 8th grade..damn..kid's growing up too fast..I was reading her myspace and it was talking about what guys she thinks is sexy and whatever..that's when it hit me, she's not a little girl anymore..she's almost 15. All I gotta really do is think of how the girls were when I was 15, and so were the girls I was interested in...all I'm gonna say is if she ever brings a guy home, I'm definitely doing the whole "break her heart I'll break your neck" thing..I can't take seeing that girl crying. Okay enough of that.

Anyway, I should be getting back to reading about the Rise and Role of Londinium, Great Plague of 1665, The Great Fire of 1666, Transport in the 19th Century, and the Interwar Economy, along with the Spread of London in the Interwar Years...woohooo and I'm out.

"RIP to Robert Davis he the king of the south
Anything else said need to shut ya fuckin mouth
I'm down with Lil' Flip, and I'm down with T.I.P.
If the niggaz come together know how much paper we could see?
Slim Thug and Z-Ro, y'all still bullshitting
Need to sit down take a look, too much money to be get
Paul Wall and that Koopa still ain't talkin
Money speak, all that bullshit keep walkin
Yall niggaz got the game fucked up
All yall record company people need to shut the fuck up...
-Pimp C"

MUQABALA!

Ain't got any gansta in you, not even a fraction

Sun, 14 May 2006 06:41:58 GMT

So much for that whole detox thing..haha..

Yesterday I finally made my way over to the computer lab and finished up my paper. I think it came out pretty well..then I had the intention of going home and studying for History of London, but then I realized the FA Cup Final was going on between Liverpool and West Ham..so I grabbed a 4 pack of Guinness and went over to my boy John's place and him and a bunch of his roommates and I sat around and watched the rest of the game..it was ridiculous. Fuck West Ham for giving up two leads and losing. But that's all I will say about that since apparently I get a little heated when I talk about it. lol...oh procrastination.

Ended up seeing 40 Year Old Virgin yesterday for the first time...never got around to seeing it in the summer (mainly because of all the "Roh, this movie is about you!" etc etc, so all the lines everyone used to scream out now make a little bit of sense. It was the uncut version so it was like an extra half an hour, but it felt like forever..had a money PB&J though while I was watching it..damn I was so full yesterday. Can't wait to get home and get pumping haha..only 6 days left though, thank goodness.

Today will definitely consist of studying for History of London and then Finance for the rest of the time until Wed. morning...my London final is tomorrow morning at 10, and I should be finished by 12..only shitty part is that I have another class at 2..Islam and the West. We dont have any thing to do in the class but our prof is gonna make us just sit there and listen to another lecture, when none of us will be in the mood to listen as we have other shit to think about. Oh well..I'll just blatantly sit there and study Finance...which I am starting to get stresed about more and more as it approaches. Dammit.

Off to do some pushups and get studying. Gah.

I can't wait to get home

Redbull - Drink of Champions!

Sat, 13 May 2006 09:05:26 GMT

And I stay true to my subject line...chugging redbulls gets me through the day. Especially today..need to finish the essay that I only half finished yesterday, and then hit the books on History of London today, and then dedicate the rest of the weekend to Finance. Doesn't look like much, but believe me, it is.

As I said, yesterday was spent at Bedford trying to work on my essay..though we all know procrastination took over. I guess two and a half pages out of five wasnt too bad..though in reality I should have finished it. Whatever though, its gonna get done today. After I came home, I chilled for a bit with the jew crew and the two rats, John and Amanda..who all decided it was their life mission to straighten my hair out with a straightening iron..man its really long. Too long. No worries though, it will be cut by the time next Sunday arrives (One week till I come home, bitches)..and then I was given a faux hawk...needless to say I immediately washed that shit out of my hair, and came home and slept. When I woke up however...I was thinking to myself...where in the world is Randeep? Well...dude never came home last night, and as soon as I opened my bedroom door, he was opening the main door to come in and pass out in bed..mind you, this is around 6:45 in the morning..beautiful. Me, I was dead tired from doing absolutely nothing, and passed out early in the night, as opposed to risking a broken nose at Printworks. Gotta stay away from the booze for the next week anyway, do a little bit of detoxing before I get home, as it will probably be 3 months of teetotalling and bringing that whole internal balance thing down..or whatever.

Random fact..with only a week left, I JUST figured out that you can open our windows the whole way, as opposed to only a little...that would have saved us alot of trouble this past week as its been absolutely burning in our apartment, and we've all been sweating bullets. Oh well, leave them open for the next week I suppose..along with the one in my bedroom so that I don't have to shed the blanket in the middle of the night. Anyway..

Been listening to a lot of music lately that I've missed since I got my computer stolen..obviously I can't download whole albums, but I can get away with getting some songs and then transferring them to my external. This Pimp C song that I have playing is crazy, definitely will be blasting loud when I finally burn it onto a cd and get to play it in the good old Volvo. Reminds me of a long, fast drive in the blazing hot sun on the way to beach. Damn I can't wait to hit the beach up...The next mix which gets made is going to be ridiculous, and will keep me through for the first month of summer, getting me to an from work, and all sorts of places.

Speaking of driving..I absolutely cannot wait to drive again. Never have I gone so long without driving since I got my learner's permit 4 and a half years ago...damn, was it really that long ago?..hmm..Anyway..first thing to do is wash the car, and clean out the trunk (finally) so that I can perhaps get a little subwoofer action in there, and get out all of the shit that has been in there since senior year of high school..which I no longer need, or care to have in my presence. Not to mention I'll need to adjust the damn drivers seat...I know I complain about this alot, but it's a serious thing. Haha..

Little Kathleen Deadrick has taken it upon herself to come to the UK with Mama Deadrick on the day I leave, which is kind of weird in an ironic way..would have been great if both of them came up while I was here, but I guess sending her an email of what to do will suffice (Kate, don't worry the email is on its way...or will be by the time you leave). The whole touristy thing is okay, but theres alot more to do...but who am I kidding I didn't really do much this semester.

It's hard to imagine that it has almost been exactly a year since my sacred thread ceremony..its been on me so long already that I feel I've had it on forever, and its really difficult to imagine a time when it wasn't on me. I guess thats how you're supposed to feel or whatever. As religious as I am, sometimes I feel that these things that are just symbolic don't do the sprituality any justice. To many, what I wear is just a piece of string around my chest...and sometimes I feel that way too..but then sometimes I don't...anyway, Im rambling on and on..but I guess the point is that that day seems like ages ago. I was actually looking at pictures of it the other day..and I look so ridiculously different...not to mention how tired I look..to be perfectly honest, I don't remember much of that day..I know what I did, but I don't know why I was doing it, or who was around me..it was such a rush..having a huge party the night before, and having mostly everyone spend the night at our place, with me on the basement couch with a bunch of friends around me..having to wake up at 4 AM, shower and shave, and then head over to the temple by 5:30, and not being able to come home until 4 PM that day..then just passing out for the next 3 hours. And then waking up and looking around and saying to myself...is it really over? I mean..in all actuality, I essentially got "married" that day, to the thread..and according to my parents, it was just as stressful a day as a real wedding would be. Wow. Then the weird feeling it was when I looked at myself in the mirror with the thread around me, and how I felt more that it just got in my way when I was doing every day things (something which will never go away)...and then seeing myself with gold earrings on, and just the overall connection with generations past. But, that was a year ago, as I said..and perhaps it's best left as a memory, as opposed to going through the whole thing again...the next time something of that proportion goes down will be own wedding...man..as I was looking at those pictures..my parents aged a whole lot in that one day. Neither of them got any sleep, and they were doing it all for me. It really hits you...

I'll soon be starting on my second real summer at APL, but my fourth summer overall. I've learned a lot there..and have met some people who have taught me things that I'll never learn in school...not to mention the damn office politics that even drag in clueless 19 year olds, who then get yelled at by their boss. That shit definitely isn't happening this year. I'm sitting quiet in my office, doing my own thing, putting in mad output and getting my money and getting the hell out of there. I'm a grown ass man, I have better things to do than mess around with that shit. Definitely continuing the trend of dressing one up on everyone, since I got some slack for my relaxed attitude towards office attire at the beginning of last summer. Take that, bitches.

I guess the whole point of this..random entry which is going in circles, is that I know now what I value at home, and just back in the US in general. Sure when I leave here I won't be able to just walk to any bar back home and order a pint of Landlord, or Guinness Extra Cold, and I won't be talking proper London speak, but..you know what? That's perfectly fine. It's been an experience..one which will never be forgotten..it has had its very large ups, and its very large downs, and not much in between, but...as I said--thats fine. I realize how much I miss the little things about Maryland, New York, everything. From using my cell phone to the grid system in cities to the drive from 301 to 3 to 32 West to 29 to APL Drive, and then back, and most especially making the drive from my place to Sarah's in 15 minutes. I'm all ready. Well I still need to pack.

I've been going on and on about how long my hair is...well here are a few pics from my birthday..and see how out of control it is.

On an end note:
We do it big in every state.

We do it real big..as we ride by the end of the night

Thu, 11 May 2006 14:58:05 GMT

So its the home stretch...and I definitely should be doing more constructive things rather than updating my livejournal. I have a paper due on Monday for Islam & The West which should be pretty hard..so I'll tackle that today and tomorrow, and then spend the rest of tomorrow revising for my History of London final on Monday morning..then the rest of the weekend/week will be spend hardcore studying for Finance which is my last final on Wednesday morning at 9. Our professor (DIRKA DIRKA) told us he'd take us all to the pub after our final..which is great since its at 11 in the morning. Hopefully our German-British boy Nitszche will come through and buy us pints. Our in many of our cases..double scotches to calm our nerves. That final's gonna be so damn hard. He gave us a review sheet, and told us to know everything on that like the back of our hand..which wouldnt be so bad if we were allowed a formula sheet and a graphing calculator. However, none of that is allowed. We have to memorize all these financial formulae (which i suppose is a good thing since I'm going to need them if I ever interview for a job) and we are only allowed a basic scientific calculator.

So I have 14 weeks of Finance to revise like it's my job. And thats going to suck like hell. But I guess I'll pull it together..

Got a few grades in recently..my last Islam and the West paper (which was pure unadulterated bullshit) produced an A- which I was very pleased with. However, my History of London essay, which was also pure unadulterated bullshit produced a B-, which I was very not pleased with. I guess I deserved it since I spent 2 hours on it and forgot to answer the second half of the question...I needed more space to write, not the 5 page limit. Oh well..I'll hopefully rape the exam. 24 questions, and we have to only answer 6 of them, so I'll study up on 8 topics and hopefully that should be that.

Final presentation yesterday in Org Comm, I think it went real well. Knew my shit, and answered pretty much every question which was thrown my way. Only downside was my hair..too fucking long and I didn't know what to do with it so I just threw some gel in it and scrunched it up. Yuck. But apart from that I think I looked the part and pulled it off well. So we'll see what I get as a final grade for my presentation. Still need to email my professor my powerpoint and everything. After class though was pretty chill...we all went to the Queen's Head for a few rounds..had a Maker's Mark and a Guinness Extra Cold, and then I came home and just chilled.

So today I should have been doing work, and I guess I should be right now...but..whatever. I've had a pretty relaxed day...woke up a bit early and talked to Sarah on the phone for a while, and then went back to sleep for a while, then woke up and figured out what I'm gonna get when I come home..I think I'm just gonna get the same digital camera since it's still on sale at BJ's, and then for my computer I'm just going to upgrade to the best Inspiron there is..17", dual core processor, 100GB HD, and all that good stuff..and since the insurance is going to pull through I'll add some goodies to it. Then I'll hook up the 60GB iPod so I can play with that and fix up my room to look amazing with my sounddock and new computer..put the old one in the basement, clean out my room, get a new desk, make everything minimalist so I can maximize the already small room I have. Summer looks really promising, for a multitude of reasons--girlfriend, beach, weather, work, overtime, gym, and many more..gotta get back into Tennis again, get some new books and read and everything.

I need to start packing really soon..I think I'll slowly throw things in the suitcase day by day, and then from Wednesday afternoon to Friday night I'll just be packing and throwing everything else I don't need away aka useless toiletries and everything...We have a bunch of glassware that we need to figure how to take home, as well as a Hookah and tobacco. I have 2 unopened bottles of booze which need to make the journey home so those need to be wrapped in sweatshirts and what not. Good old scotch and ouzo.

9 more days and I'll be outta here, and I'll be home by 3 PM next saturday..seems pretty sweet, to leave at noon and be home by 3, though its an 8 hour flight. Hopefully the weather will be good when I get home--the forecast for the 20th says its gonna be scattered showers and 75...hopefully the latter will be the only case. Then have a nice good meal of Mom's home cooking, and relax at night with Architha and the fam. Then get a fucking haircut on Sunday morning first thing since I haven't cut my hair in five and a half months. I've never had my hair this long, its really damn annoying. Then hopefully get to hang out with Sarah either Sunday or Monday afternoon after work.

Speaking of which..work should be interesting..I no longer have the same office mate I used to, so I don't know where I'll be..but oh well. Hopefully it'll work out well. 7-3, here I come!

Okay I guess I should do some work..but in reality I know nothings gonna happen.

Cheers

So exhausted..

Tue, 02 May 2006 12:16:07 GMT

These next two and a half weeks are going to be nothing but hell. Damn...

I got nothing.

Did you know cigarette lighters were invented before cigarettes?

Sat, 29 Apr 2006 09:15:46 GMT

So I got a few new cds the other day...unfortunately I had to buy them but its all good..

T.I. - King
The Kooks - Inside In/Inside Out
The Streets - The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living

All of them are really good...funny me listening to chav-ish brit-pop...but its cool, im going home soon and i can safely wear my burberry without getting called a chav.. (woohoo!)..so Ive ripped all of the cds to my external harddrive, which I now keep in my drawer in my bedroom since we got robbed and all..so all of my music is on there thank goodness..

The TI cd is fucking amazing..probably one of the best cds to come out of the south in recent years..the cd has this one track on it that I can totally play out like hell..Front Back featuring UGK..its really the first song which was recorded as soon as Pimp C got released..and its a throwback to one of their old songs with the same title, so its tight as shit.

The Streets cd is really good as well..with his second cd I was a bit turned off by him, as nothing really was as good as his first cd, Original Pirate Material (I know that if some scenester kid reads this they will get all mad at me or whatever) but I really hated his second cd. However as soon as I popped this one in I was quite happy. Regardelss of what shitty ass Pitchforkmedia says (they gave his last cd a 9.1), this cd is way better than their 7.0..oh well..so Ill continue to listen to these cds this weekend..

So my birthday is tomorrow and everyone's telling me to be quite excited..so I guess I could do that...hahah..we bought 3 bottles of Champagne (Bollinger) yesterday, so we're going to pop them tonight and everything, Randeep's friend Rahul is coming up from Michigan, and his ex is here too so we're all gonna party somewhere and then probably go to Fabric and then end up at good old Printworks...we'll see..but the one thing that made me incredibly happy was getting a birthday package from Sarah, a whole bunch of Banana Republic clothes! So im quite happy to have a bunch of new clothes to wear this summer after I get out of work..though I did get a bunch of clothes I could tentatively wear to work as well..so that should be good..now, to only get to the gym as soon as I get home to shave off Spring Break, and add a whole shit load of muscle mass again.

Home in 3 weeks..Ill be a bit sad to leave London, but Ill be back sooner or later..yesterday was one of the sunniest days we've had here since I've been here so I really enjoyed it..but apart from that, its been glum as usual..but all the same, I'll miss it here in some ways..I'll never forget my time here--the good, the bad, the just okay..I've made some friends here who will last me a lifetime, and thats all really anyone can ask

Apparently I have a lot of work to do as soon as I get back, so that should be good, or bad..depending on just how much it is..but itll take me a few days to get back in the groove of things of waking up at 530, and not really coming home until 12 hours later after the gym etc..but its really a good life, especially those pay days that I get to enjoy...

Immediately getting a bunch of new shit when I get home..laptop, iPod, digital camera, some new shoes since I definitely need some white pumas or something...perhaps I'll get them here, I haven't really decided..and then I'm definitely just going to enjoy my summer before my long, tedious, hardworking junior year starts..and with it starts LSAT studying (probably this summer), and hardcore studying for all of the semester, and hopefully taking the LSAT's next spring..eek, scares me already. Law School? shit i have half of college left..blah. Oh well, gotta get out as soon as I can to make those dollars.

Random thing..I really miss using my old cell phone...the one I have here is absolute basic shit..so itll be good to use mine again..haha..and finally have my old number thats easy as hell to remember as opposed to telling everyone call me at 07773794022!...haha..oh well ill never forget that number I suppose.

Okay, off to do whatever..and then grab a bite to eat, and then start the partying way way early...because for the rest of the three weeks left its gonna be nothing but studying and writing papers..fuck.

Issues in Contemporary British Politics & Cultures Paper - May 15
History of London Paper - May 8
Islam & The West Paper - May 8
Foundations of Financial Markets Final - May 17
Organizational Communication Final Presentation - May 12
History of London Final - May 15

Gonna get those first three papers done all next week hopefully..wheew...definitely need to study purely for finance..50% of my grade is at stake with that final...I have a B+ right now, I need to get it up to an A-..ahh!

I slide through Maryland like I'm slipping on banana peels

Tue, 25 Apr 2006 08:54:35 GMT

So spring break is over, and to recap somewhat briefly..the three countries I went to were chill as shit..Greece was absolutely amazing, and Athens immediately reminded me of being back in India, sleeping in hostels that remind me of some relatives' houses, hearing people dry their clothes by banging it on a large stone, walking around side streets, all of that...I would love to go back sometime soon. The food was beautiful--just eating whenever, eating whatever, drinking Ouzo at every meal. The sightseeing..it was breathtaking to realize that we were walking along the same paths as those who founded the concept of democracy..relaxing on a pier on a Greek island and getting almost very very black due to the 85 degree weather..

Turkey probably was my favorite place, though the 24 hour train ride getting there couldve been way better...but its all part of the whole budget traveling thing I suppose..but Istanbul was simply beautiful..the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar...smoking hookah, drinking turkish tea, eating kebabs..all of that..then the train ride back was amazing, since it was a 2 person private sleeper with comfortable beds and tables, sinks, bathrooms, etc..good old Friendship Express.

Italy..well I've already been to the places we went to, but it was fun going 6 years later, 6 years older..all of that good stuff. Milan, Florence, Rome, Venice..shopping, eating, table wine. Good shit..

Definitely good to be back in London for the next 3 weeks, then will definitely be amazing to be back in Maryland..this semester has partly gone by mad slow, and at times has gone by way too fast...but thats the same with life I guess..

I got all of the classes I wanted for my schedule, which means that I get out of class at 10:45 every day for the entirety of the semester, and from september to october, on Mondays and Wednesdays I have a 2 credit class from 11-1215, but after october it is no more..so that should be pretty sweet..get to class in the morning, finish up by whatever time, and then hit the gym for 2 hours after that, then go home and study and what not..

Work starts on the Monday I get back--the 22nd..so that should be good, Kevin's gonna be working with me in a different department so that could potentially be bad if we just goof off..but then my boss is giving me the option of overtime, so maybe I'll do that and get some more money..who knows.

Anyway, off to work..or hardly work, whatever it is.

Everyday we take a chance for it..

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 09:11:23 GMT

Yesterday was not as bad as I thought it would be...it was quite an amazing day outside, so I was content with walking around in a T-shirt and some jeans..finally the sun is coming out in foggy Londontown, and staying sunny till about like 830 PM or whatever already..its a pretty sweet deal.

So my History of London class was probably the slowest it's ever been, but luckily during our break I hit up the cafe down the street with John and Amanda and got a panini to munch on for the rest of class, and then afterwards I ran some errands with Randeezy.

Speaking of which we are trying to go for the title of biggest ambiguously gay indian duo. Although our competition are these two guys Sarwar and Abhi..chill guys but oh yeah. its on bitches. hahahah...Sarwar wears Aviators indoors at night. I don't think I can beat that out.

But anyway, my second class was actually really relaxing..we went to this art gallery where our professor works, selling Islamic Art and stuff..saw some priceless relics and everything, and to top it off he let us out 2 hours early. So we handed in our essays and he was like - ...uhh yeah enjoy your holiday!..So that was actually one of the best parts of the day...so it was really nice so we were out for a bit, and then I went to the pub for dinner..had some Bangers and Mash (thats Sausage and Potatoes for everyone) with 2 pints of one of my favorite beers - Timothy Taylor Landlord. Quite a good bitter.

After that we had that night class or whatever..boring as fuck..the woman had some interesting points to say and what not, but none of us were having it. Femininity in Britain is a really interesting topic, but when you're a really dry person it just doesn't get interesting.

So then I kinda just went home...went to bed for like an hour, woke up and talked to Beta Fish for a few hours, and then had a pretty fitful sleep. Though I was here at 830 AM for no reason.

Definitely have to start packing today when I get home for my trip, do some last minute laundry, and get my finances in order..and email people out the ass. Blah.

So here's the itinerary for my trip and what not..we're leaving tomorrow night and spending the night at Gatwick to catch our flight at 6AM and shit..its kind of hard to read, but its sufficient.

Day Date Start at Sleep At
Thur 6 London Athens
Fri 7 Athens Athens
Sat 8 Athens Train
Sun 9 Train Istanbul
Mon 10 Istanbul Istanbul
Tue 11 Istanbul Train
Wed 12 Train Athens
Thur 13 Athens Milan
Fri 14 Milan Florence
Sat 15 Florence Florence
Sun 16 Florence Florence
Mon 17 Florence Rome
Tue 18 Rome Rome
Wed 19 Rome Rome
Thur 20 Rome Venice
Fri 21 Venice Venice
Sat 22 Venice London

Definitely topping up my cell phone with a shitload of money to keep in touch over break, and will find as many internet cafe's as possible.

Then the week after is my birthday!..and to make things better we don't have class on the 1st of May, so I will be getting sufficiently pissed with Randeep, Paki and Rahul. Then 3 more weeks and im home sweet home...starting work almost immediately (the 22nd), and then the weekend after heading up to the Jersey Shore with Sarah for Victoria's birthday..can't wait for this summer..and definitely next semester as well. If I get the schedule I want (Registration is on the 17th - Easter Monday - So Rome kind of might be closed down) then I'll be doing this...

Monday
8:00 - 9:15 - Financial Management
9:30 - 10:45 - Economics of Global Business
11:00 - 12:15 (Only First Half of the Semester) - Managerial Accounting

Tuesday
8:00 - 9:15 - Legal Aspects of Business
9:30 - 10:45 - Operations Management

Wednesday
8:00 - 9:15 - Financial Management
9:30 - 10:45 - Economics of Global Business
11:00 - 12:15 (Only First Half of the Semester) - Managerial Accounting

Thursday
8:00 - 9:15 - Legal Aspects of Business
9:30 - 10:45 - Operations Management

So I'm done at 11 every other day, and after November 4th or so, my Managerial Accounting class will be done, so then I'll be done by 11 AM every day!..sweet as shit...go to the gym for 2 hours after that, and then go home and start working on stuff. So let's hope things work out.

Anyways, I've written in this enough for the day i think..off to write emails.

Track jackets and t-shirts with jeans and sandals are my new thing.

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 08:39:33 GMT

So, this weekend has been an interesting one, to say the least (but not really)...

As I said earlier, I was supposed to go to Barcelona. But I didn't on account of my paper...which really didn't get started until yesterday at Noon and finished until 10 PM..so technically I could have gone, but I still had my relaxing time with some friends.

Wednesday we didn't end up having the meeting with the administration, and it was rescheduled for Thursday...so Wednesday night, Aaron and I went out for drinks and got sufficiently tipsy off of Double Remy Gingers and some Guinnesses...then woke up the next morning and went to this really nice bistro-esque restaurant around the corner and the first thing we had to drink were Double scotches and Gin Martinis..hahah classic. So then we went to the meeting or whatever and nothing was really solved...John just started lying incessantly, and things were said by some of us (I admit I did this too) that really didn't help the situation...but we did learn that it was useless to try and get him out of housing as it is way too late. However, what the "solution" was turned out to be the dumbest thing of life. Paul Glynn - I love you and all man..but as an administrator you need to see through everything. Signing a new roommate contract is the dumbest shit of life.

Anyway, me ranting about that isn't going to solve anything, so I won't. But the rest of the weekend was filled with quite alot of procrastination. Friday and Saturday pretty much consisted of walking around London in the beautiful weather, then ending up at The Eagle with my boy John and some friends downing Hoegaardens...oh, and laundry. Lots of laundry was done this weekend. Not to mention a little used book shopping..I don't quite know how I'm going to get all of these books home, I may have to ship them or something, but we'll get there when we get there. But what I bought earlier this weekend was:

- As You Like It (Shakespeare)
- The Pickwick Papers (Dickens)
- Lord Tennyson's Poems 1830-1858 (Tennyson)
- A Farewell to Arms (Hemingway)

The first and last books are the old Penguin editions from the 60's that were referred to as "the iPods of their day," and the middle two books are bound in the style of the early 20th century, which is amazing because they were both published in 1903...and still in great condition. The book of poems is filled with love poetry, and me being the sap I am, I just had to buy it. So we'll see how these books are, I've always wanted to read them..and I have a special attachment to As You Like It, as I played Jaques way back when, and has to memorize those long, long, long soliloquies.

So anyway, yesterday consisted of me arriving at campus at Noon (since I obviously have no other method of writing a paper)...and sitting here unitl 10 PM doing my paper. Which is 7 pages of complete and total bullshit. I'm quite disappointed in it, it really doesn't have a point, nor does it particularly go anywhere in terms of flowing. But during my procrastination stage of yesterday, I kind of figured out all the shit I'm gonna get as soon as I arrive home...aka Computer and iPod...

I figured I'm going to just go all out and get something thats really sweet for my own, and then for our family we need to get a new computer anyway, so we'll order a pretty good desktop and everything...put that in the basment. So my room should actually look alot different by the end of the summer if I can do what I want with it..I just really want one desk as opposed to the big one I have right now, and on it just have my laptop in the center, my stereo system on one corner, and my sounddock on another corner. Minimalist like hell, no?

So it's going to be a really good Insipiron laptop,and then I'm just going to get the 60GB iPod, but the white kind..I can't stand the black ones for some odd reason. I was thinking about going all Mac and just getting the new Powerbook that has the Dual Intel chips in it...but, that's a little bit too much for me right about now..as good as it looks, I'm still a strictly PC guy. (I know this is going to ellicit some comment by Sarah making fun of me for beeing such a nerd lol)

Anyhoo...today will consist of my History of London class in about a half hour, which will be extremely boring. Then a break for lunch, and we will make our way to Green Park to go to our Islam and the West professor's place of employment and just hang out there because he believes we deserve a break since we're kind of 75% done with our course (Thank God, he's boring as shit too)...and then at 6:30 we have that shitty mandatory class. So a long day..but thankfully, spring break is starting Wednesday at 5 PM! Greece, Turkey, and Italy...here I fucking come....I have mad shit to do beforehand though..blah.

Oh well..I'm out.

PS - I need to get the new TI cd very badly.

Way too stressed...or something.

Wed, 29 Mar 2006 07:42:02 GMT

So, cancelled my trip to Barcelona--I was supposed to leave tonight and not come back until midnight on Saturday...but...too much work to do, plus my gut is telling me not to go. If I did go I'd be no fun to Randeep or Bhavna, and I'd just lay around wanting to do my essay. It's my only weekend trip I had planned besides Spring Break. My "I'm going to travel every weekend" has turned into "Just spring break is when I'm leaving London"...oh well. It wasn't much money...just the idea of not spending this weekend sunbathing on the beach is killing me.

I haven't seen myself like this probably ever--Randeep even said so. He's the gradewhore, not me...I've spent probably 30 of the last 36 hours on my Finance Project...but I'm finally done with that. Looks like my extension won't be necessary. Though now I have until Sunday midnight to do my essay for Islam & The West, so I will be living in this computer lab for the next 4 days. Today though, not so much. Definitely relaxing tonight and partying somewhere at some bar. I've woken up dizzy for the past 2 days, and barely have eaten anything. Though this could be my fault.

Our whole suite has a meeting with the administration regarding John, the theft, etc. Shit better hit the fan--he has left the door open again on two occaisions in the same afternoon! Did we not SEE what happened last time the door was left open you alcoholic? So, I will fill everyone in on that after.

Then at Two today I have another presentation in Org Comm--though it's only 10 minutes for the whole group and my part is minimal in it. Still need to prepare though. So after Five, I'm just gonna go home, do laundry, and just chill.

So many things running through my mind...Registration for classes and wanting to get the ones I want though I must register while I'm in Rome..Getting the room I want in housing next year..filling out those damn proxy forms so my friend can fill them out and hopefully give us his room..Insurance company hopefully giving us some money once our claim goes through (which I am surprised we even had on my things)...ordering another computer...Spring Break without a camera...Birthday without a camera, etc...7 more weeks and I am home. Then I start work, everything should return to normalcy. Next semester should be a blast.

I need to do well this semester.

London has just gotten alot worse...

Sun, 26 Mar 2006 12:54:52 GMT

So my a couple entries ago I was talking about how life is great, things of that sort. well...an update.

It sucks.

Tuesday morning, woke up at 3AM to tell my alcoholic roommate to shut the fuck up, and realized something...we got robbed.

-Laptop
-iPod
-Digital Camera (I just fucking bought it)
-70 Pounds cash from my wallet
-Watch (I've had this shit since 6th grade)

And thats just my shit...all in all, 3 laptops, 3 digital cameras, 1 iPod, the cash, the watch, a backpack

So..I just lost about 2500 dollars worth of shit..not to mention all the shit that was on my Harddrive...every picture from London (though most are on facebook, but the quality of the images has decreased)...just overall headache.

Probably nothing can be done...cops came, forensics came, all this shit happened but none of it will help...

Parents came this weekend, so that was some solace.

FUCKING shit.

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 23:13:18 GMT

djlecavalier: weirdest thing ever
djlecavalier: I drank beet juice last night
djlecavalier: at meg's juice shop place
djlecavalier: I've been pissing red
djlecavalier: and my poop was pink
djlecavalier: this has been an akward moment brought to you by dan
djlecavalier: there ya go
djlecavalier: story of the century
djlecavalier: i almost didnt flush just for the comedy factor

Side to side...

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 08:26:53 GMT

New DJ Smallz cd is killin' it...Southern Smoke 25 (Welcome Home Pimp C)...New UGK tracks, new Pimp C features...overall gangsta as shit. Can't wait to get home and blast this out of my car on the way to and from work.

Yesterday was pretty laid back...after waking up at like Noon, didn't really do anything at all of substance...perhaps doing the dishes counts, but I just pressed a button for that...

Downloaded some cds, watched some TV, sat on my chair. That seems to be the case usually...still getting back to 100% before I can hit up the gym. Perhaps starting Tuesday again, before my parents get in Thursday...

Nily and Scarlet came around 7ish, so we all hung out and around 11 went to Printworks to grab a drink...came back around midnight, talked to Beta Fish for a bit, and then turned in...

What a lazy day...hahah

Today, not really doing much..should get some reading done at some point, and at 2 or so gotta take Nily and Scarlet to the Tube stop...Randeep and I have to go to his cousin's house to pick up his iPod so we'll accompany them till about 3 stops before Heathrow, and then that's that...looks to be as uneventful as yesterday...haha

Oh weekends, I love you.

I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die...

Sat, 18 Mar 2006 12:25:24 GMT

Me? Johnny Cash?....the hell?

New found appreciation for him, even though I despise country. Oh well, its Johnny fucking Cash.

Yesterday was St. Patty's Day, but...alas, I wasn't feeling 100 percent so I couldn't revel in my drunkenness...had 3 drinks, and decided that was enough, didn't want my sickness to get worse.

In the morning, I went to Mailboxes Etc to mail Sarah her package, then Randeep and I went to St. Paul's Cathedral to see if we could get inside without paying...but we couldnt. So then we just walked around, took crazy pictures, and walked across the Millenium Bridge to see the Tate Modern..bought a beautiful poster of "Black On Maroon" by Mark Rothko, so that will be going up in my apartment next year.

After that, we just came home and chilled, decided to go for pints and stuff, so we went to The Betsey Trotwood, which isnt such a bad of a pub as we made it out to be...small, but pretty good..had me a Maker's Mark too..wooo that shit has a kick, now I remember why I liked it so much. Definitely getting a bottle for my apt next year.

Came back and played Jenga with a few people, so that was pretty fun...hadn't played serious Jenga in years so that was pretty chill. After that, came home and turned in at like 11, and then talked to Sarah from 5 to 8 or so, then slept till noon...

Ate way too much yesterday...ugh. AKA no eating today, only water and juice...definitely need to get back to 100% this week to start going to the gym again...gotta lift like crazy again. I miss it like hell.

Parent's coming in next weekend, so that should be kinda cool...

Today involves, watching some TV and reading the rest of Moorish Spain, perhaps getting started on my Finance Project...definitely need to do that.

Weird, I just started playing Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash and had the urge to have some spicy Tex-Mex food...what a craving, what a craving.

This song is fucking FIRE

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 17:04:21 GMT

So everything I said I was going to do today...definitely haven't done at all. Watched lots of TV, read lots of The Last Templar, and then took a nice 2 hour nap...the only thing I did do however...was download some cds.

DJ Envy - Hit List 16 (South Edition)

Jay-Z & MF Doom - The MF Black Album

DJ Green Lantern - Alive on Arrival

DJ Smallz & Jody Breeze - The Game Is A Breeze

DJ Smallz - Southern Smoke 24

So I've been listening to music the whole day...so I suppose tomorrow I'll get my errands done. I do however need to go grocery shopping at some point today..so perhaps Randeep and I will go take care of that.

Downloading last week's Boston Legal, then I'll get to this weeks...then yesterday's Bones, and Monday's CSI Miami..I still need last week's too...hmm.

Everybody get that T.I. song...its straight fire, no other way to describe it

Girlfriend, I'll take you there, don't fret, don't trip

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 09:07:17 GMT

Ugh..coughing up a lung here, still congested like shit too...I should be sleeping, but for some reason I'm awake...

Didn't go to bed till about 3:45 AM last night..er..this morning, and now its 9...what the hell is wrong with me?

Kind of have stuff to do today...but probably none of it will get done. Definitely need to go pick up my drycleaning, and drop some more off. Big presentation at Cass Business School next tuesday, so I gotta get my good shirt drycleaned, etc. Also need to start doing work, the reason I came here. To study...so that'd entail me reading lots today...some history of Islamic Spain, some history of London, and finally some Finance (Excel Project that is due in 2 weeks but is very hardcore)

Yesterday was pretty chill, kind of relaxed, kind of not...I've been reading The Last Templar whenever I have free time in the mornings/between classes, etc...so I did that until I had to go to Finance...which was the slowest shit in the damn world!..after that I was so relieved to get out of there, and walked over to Regent Street (London High Fashion) and bought lots of stuff at Burberry (And by lots I mean 4 things--1 for me, 3 for Sarah)...which cost lots, so I'm gonna try and get that shipped out today. After that, I had Communications class...which went by kind of fast, we had 2 on the spot presentations to do, a mock run-through for next week's presentation at Cass.

Came home around 530, had a pretty nasty dinner of Fish and Chips, and then headed over to the Comedy Store by Leicester Square/Piccadilly Circus. That show was hilarious, it was improv night...lots of NYU kids there, even those on Spring Break visiting London, etc. So that ended around 11, got home around 11:30 or whatever, and then talked to Sarah until I went to bed, quite a good evening I must say. Definitely made up for the shitty morning.

I need to get better fast...two main reasons.

1. Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day. WHAT THE FUCK. I'm in England, and I need to drink Guiness, Bailey's (Irish Car Bombs holla) and even Irish Whisky....and I'm sick as shit! I doubt I'll be better by tomorrow...which sucks like shit.

2. Hardcore working out. I've put on a few pounds over the past 2 weeks (mainly last week when Sarah was here lol) that need to be shaved off ASAP.

Well, that's it for right now...peace.

peep this queen from philadelphia taking classes abroad...

Sun, 12 Mar 2006 10:00:12 GMT

So I havent updated this shit in awhile, lots been going on in my life.

London is quite amazing, and the weekend starts on Wednesday, so that's crazy. However I barely do any reading....and I got a B- on my fucking Finance Midterm. Bah. So I have to make up the other 75% of my grade by studying hardcore for the Final (50%) and the Project (25%)..Still should be able to make an A- . History of London is going well, I have around a B+/A- right now. Islam and The West looks to be my hardest class, I have no idea how he's going to grade our papers (which I haven't gotten yet)...We have three papers, each 33%..so we'll see how that goes. However, my last class, Organizational Communication, is the shit. I love giving presentations on the spot, and researching shit to do presentations on it, etc. I definitely have an A as of now, but....we'll see how that goes since there are only 12 kids in the class, and he can only give out like 4-5 A's....I'm competing with my friends for those spots, which sucks.

So that is everything on the School Side...Though I have mad reading to do today for Islam and The West, as well as History of London...I'm sick again so that should be easy enough to accomplish. (Running a fever, sore throat, body pains, etc.)

I have been taking crazy pictures, and if people want to see them, the facebook links will be posted up further down..

So probably the biggest thing that's happened since I've been here was that Sarah and her best friend Victoria came last week for their spring break! So a week with her was absolutely amazing, and I couldn't have asked for anything else. They arrived on the 4th, and left yesterday morning...which sucked. But we got to do the whole sightseeing thing, shopping, and lots and lots of pubcrawling. We also kept the bottles of Champagne popping all week long. Sleeping with her next to me was probably the best thing, and now that she's gone and the bed smells like her, it sucks not being next to her. The next two months should go by real fast, so that should be good when I get to go home and be with her. There are too many details of the trip to write in here, so the pictures will tell it all.

The rest of the semester should actually go fast...next weekend is probably the only one I have free. The weekend after that my parents are here (they are in India right now)..and after that I'm going to Barcelona with Randeep...then the 2 weeks after that is Spring Break, which is going to be ridiculous. Italy, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus...HOLLA...After that, there are about 3 weeks left in the semester...which will probably (who knows) include a trip to Amsterdam, or Scotland, or something else...then I'm home May 20th wooo.

I'll be starting work on the 22nd, and working all summer again..holla at having money. Too bad I've been spending my own money like crazy...though that's why I came to London, to clear my bank account. Don't really spend much money on anything but booze and stuff at pubs. Everything else the parents pay for.

Hopefully going to the Jersey shore for Memorial Day weekend for Victoria's (Sarah and I's Greek Daughter/Sarah's best friend) 19th birthday bash...Friends, Beer and Beach. Definitely looks to be a promising time.

Thats all from this side of the pond....

Album of us at Cheapskates
http://nyu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027475&l=f1d9c&id=808070

Album of us at the Sports Cafe
http://nyu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2029304&l=45b0d&id=808070

Sarah and Victoria, Part 1
http://nyu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2030402&l=53935&id=808070

Sarah and Victoria, Part 2
http://nyu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2030753&l=8cec3&id=808070

Sarah and Victoria, Part 3
http://nyu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2031039&l=e7968&id=808070

Sarah and I clubbing on her last night here
http://nyu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2031040&l=cc45a&id=808070

Peace.

Papa coming home to give you that raw...

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 22:23:42 GMT

Finished with my paper...enjoying a nice dram of Scotch.

So I've decided to turn this to an alcohol related entry. No, I'm not turning into an alcoholic...but living with 4 other guys has made our bar quite extensive. Haha..especially since we all enjoy fine alcohol.

Went out yesterday to do a quick refill of our bar, and to add more for the festivities commencing Saturday and lasting a week...currently we have...

Back Row - Four Roses Bourbon, Glenfiddich 15 Year Single Malt, 1.5 L bottle of Smirnoff Vodka, and Johnnie Walker Green Label Pure Malt
Third Row - Sierra Tequila, Absinthe, Bombay Sapphire Gin
Second Row - Hennessey Fine de Cognac, Bailey's Irish Cream
Front Row - Cointreu

When the girls come this weekend...Cosmos, Scotch, Gin and Tonics...its bout WHATEVER.

Since I've been in Europe, ive been on a Whiskey frenzy...Here's what I've tasted so far here in the UK..and I love all equally..different tastes.

-Glenfiddich 12 Year Special Reserve
-Glenfiddich 15 Year Solera Reserve
-The Glenlivet 10 Year Old
-Johnnie Walker Black Label
-Johnnie Walker Green Label
-Jameson Irish Whiskey
-Green Ore Irish Whisey

Anyhoo...peace the fuck out.

Fuck the Right Wing Coalition

Tue, 21 Feb 2006 09:48:47 GMT

I'm so damn tired of hearing about the fucking right wing. Honestly, what the hell good is going to come about if America and the world returns to the way we were back in the 'good old days' ?...Isn't America known as the nation founded on immigrants who were looking for freedom? So why the FUCK are all of these Christian, Evangelical Right wing motherfuckers so opposed to immigration? Let's see where you can trace your inbred ass to, and then talk about immigration.

It doesn't take much common sense to see that if we return to the days of the "nuclear familiy," i.e. a family which, according to me, is the family of the 50s..a good family from the looks of it on the outside, but on the inside...brutal abuse and battery. Oh but wait, thats okay because I go to church! I'm forgiven for my sins when I confess to another human being...so I will continue to beat my wife when she does not have sex with me when I desire..what the hell?

And what the hell is so wrong with same-sex marriage? Call me a hot blooded liberal, but I see nothing wrong with it...first of all the concept of marriage (though I of all people am reluctant to admit this one) in human history kind of seems weird if you break it down. We are mammals, animals...our purpose on this planet is to reproduce if we so choose to. And if those that choose not to, those who are of a different sexual orientation than the majority, decide to get married to each other--who the hell am I, or you, to say anything about that? They aren't hurting you, they aren't hurting me, they are two individuals who have decided to share a life with one another. And if they decide to adopt a kid, let them! There is no proven fact that a child brought up in a gay/lesbian household will turn homosexual, as the Right Wing likes to believe. Since it is soooo against God's word. But then we have some, not many (this isn't a rant on Christianity, just how people have blown it out of proportion with their hypocrisy) Catholic priests mentally and physically scarring young boys for the rest of their lives. What the fuck? In the words of Russel Peters, the world could use a little bit more homosexuality--we're overcrowded as it is.

Besides, would you rather suppress someones feelings? If you force them into a certain lifestyle, what good is that going to do? I live with a gay guy this semester, and I love him to death. (shoutout to longsky, bitches)...And I'd like to think that if he was forced to belive a certain ideology, like the Christian Right likes to believe, that you can drive out the feelings you have through scripture reading, or perhaps giving money to Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson, he would be quite pissed and vocal about it. And damnit, I would be too, and I'm straight! Where do these guys get these damn ideas about how to live? About how to judge people? We live in a really messed up world--look at all the poverty, look at all the genocides going on, look at your fucking "God Ordained" President, who had a "mandate" to lead America--fucking open up your eyes for fuck's sake! Why do you care about people who want abortions, want to clone stem cells so that they can make the world a better place, and the LGBT community? Fix the world's problems--not your moral oppositions.

And then this whole damn Creationism/Intelligent Design bullshit. I was watchng 60 Minutes a few months ago and there was this piece that had some guy say "According to our Lord's Bible, this God Fearing Earth was created something like 2038 years ago." Are you fucking kidding me? Who existed before that? Were the Hindus and Jews not around? Were the nomadic peoples not around? With all of this archaeological evidence surrounding you, all of these fossils and skeletons, how can you lot honestly say stupid shit like that? Jesus was Jewish, and his people, and other people had existed for centuries and centuries. So let's not talk about Creationism and all that Divine Intervention with Natural selection shit...Look at Chimpanzees, look at Apes..can you honestly not see the similarities? I think any 4 year old who goes to the Zoo for the first time can see them. Shows you where our world is going.

I dont want to turn this into some pro-other religion shit...But if you honestly take a look at the Hindu scriptures, or even the Judaic scriptures, its easy to see that people have existed for such a long time, and probably evolved from lower life forms. So don't go around and put down a whole people for your moral beliefs.

Opposition to extramarital sex. Can that one get any more hypocritical? Fuckin hell, you Christian Right can go and cheat on your wives, and then turn all born again and say - Nothing before 40 counts (sound familiar? It's the leader of the free world who said that). Do you realize what the hell you guys did when you were younger? There's a reason the 60's and 70's were so fucked up in your eyes. It was the 40's and 50's. This whole nuclear family bullshit, about concealing what really goes on, the hidden teen pregnancies, not admitting your child may be of a different orientation than you, all of that nonsense. "Oh, my daughter has consumption, she can't attend parties for the next 9 months"...and then you come out with "Oh we decided to adopt a child out of the Goodness of our Hearts, it was God's plan."... It's because of the oppression of sexuality, which is the most normal thing, that is one of the causes of that...let people do what the fucking want. If they want to have sex before marriage, let them. If they want to cheat on their wives, thats not your problem--thats a problem between the two individuals, a matter than needs to be addressed.

I could go on forever about all of this...I haven't even touched upon Abortion, Racism, the war in Iraq (the 10th Crusade) and sex education...I think that most people that know me know my opinions on those topics, much like every other topic that the Christian Right loves, that I despise with a passion that burns inside of me. Take a look at these issues, and use your common sense! Christianity is a peaceful religion, and if you so choose to follow that faith - more power to you. But don't impose your shit on me, OR the whole entire nation. And for fuck's sake, don't threaten (and actually follow up on) people to kick them out of your congregation if they want to vote for John Kerry, or create websites like godhatesfags.com ... That's just pathetic. And who are you, Alan Keyes, to say who Christ would have voted for in an election? I swear, if Jesus was alive today and saw all of the shit that was going on in his name he'd be quite sorry for you. Pathetic. Simply pathetic.