After 30 mins of Charlotte traffic, I am finally south of the boarder and on my way to Columbia. Not so much that I love Columbia, it’s my old friend that is passing through and Columbia is the closest she will get to Charlotte. I called the Nation back at work for directions but as I was driving at high speeds and talking on my cell, I couldn’t muster the dexterity to write down what he told me. So when I got close to my destination, I called Kathleen, my waiting friend. She talked me in and waited on the side of a road in light rain. A friend in light rain is like pears in heavy syrup, you don’t get it very often, but every time you savor each bit of it. So I rolled up in my sexy car and fancy library clothes ready to dazzle my friend with my coolness. But like I said she is an old friend and didn’t buy into my “coolness” at all. We walked around on the University campus for a while and talked. The pace made me realize I need to get back into running. We circled back to where we had both parked and went into a coffee shop. After the “personality plus” staff; nothing but smiles for me, gave us our drinks we sat down at a table and chatted more. (NOTE: the booths at these tables where church pews cut in half. I thought that looked cool.) She told me of her boy friend’s upcoming adventure to Africa. I bless the rains down there. And told me of the dirty world of Alumni magazines, she is and editor. I got her caught up on the wild events of the past two years. She knew the basics but details need to be told. She still had a five hour drive to Alabama ahead of her so the guilt of keeping her any longer made me want to wrap things up. I hope she didn’t think I was trying to get rid of her. So we walked back to the cars; mines the sexy one, and after a firm embrace we went our different ways. I got an Email from Kathleen this morning letting me know that she gothome okay.
Saturday, November 09, 2002 Japanese Crack
After breaking my back helping Nation bring home his new 36 inch TV yesterday, I was rewarded with lunch at Chile’s and some quality Playstation 2 (Japanese crack) gaming time. Grand Theft Auto Vice was my fix and Nation happily supplied it to me. I finished GTA 3 several months ago and have been jones-in for another hit of violence, car chases, and hookers to kill (after I have had my way with them). GTA Vice hit the spot. So far we have all the same madcap fun. Plus now you can steal motorcycles, scooters, and choppers. “Zeds dead baby, Zeds dead.” And there are a mix of hand to hand combat weapons including, hammers, knives, bats, my favorite chainsaws, and many many more. Another bonus is that this game takes place in 1986 in a Miami like town. Detailed backgrounds and the music on the radio from that year, complete the feel good theme of the game. One of my personal favs of the game is now you can jump from a car or motorcycle while drive at high speed, you get hurt a little, but it makes the car a weapon too. I would not tell any parent to buy this for their child. I am sure the music and overall look is for the gen-Xers.
A few hours later:
Nation wants to stop and look at used games and we are both ready to eat again. So a burrito later, Nation didn’t buy any games but… I bought a Playstation 2 and two games (GTA Vice, and The Two Towers). And I am borrowing Tony Hawk 3 from Nation. It was hard not to call in “sick” to work today. But I'm a real trooper.
Wednesday, November 06, 2002 The Fallen Gladiator
Maximus followed me up to Eva’s (My Ex-girlfriend) apartment. He was no more than 14 weeks old. I asked Eva if we could keep him and we did long enough to find him a home with my friend the Howards. We would have kept him for ourselves but we were about to leave for Germany, and would be gone for 3 weeks. Leaving bacardi and Eva’s cat Franklin with my parents was no problem but to let them with a kitten would not be fare for my parents or the animals. After being back in the US for about a Month Bob Howard called me to let me know that his daughter is allergic to Max. We happily took Max back and he became a member of the family. When Eva and I broke up, I wanted to take Max but it would have been hard on my family and even harder on Eva.
Sense the fire at my old house I have been glad that I lost custody of my cat when we broke up. With the loss of Bacardi, I could take comfort in knowing that my cat Maximus was safe and in good hands. About two weeks ago I heard that Eva had gone home to her house (somewhere in S.C.) and the garage door would not open. She when around to the back of the house and saw that her house was on fire.
I don’t know how much damage there was but I do know that both my cat and Eva’s cat Franklin were both lost to the fire.
Maximus Desimus Newman Spring 2000 to Fall 2002
Franklin Benjamin Newman Summer 1998 to Fall 2002
Sunday, November 03, 2002 Watching Monsters Ball with Mista jazz
During the scene in which P-Diddy is about to have his last meal.
Mista Jazz: Oh man look and the size of that sunday.
Me: You know if I was in that situation, I would have a whole bunch of high fiber foods. Cause you know you shit yourself when you die. I’d make them have to clean up a big-ol-fuckin mess.
The next scene is a guard putting an adult diaper on P-Diddy.
