NYC
So one of my coworkers is working from NYC. The original deal was that he'd spend a week working from NYC and then 3 weeks in Raleigh. His wife is getting her PhD from Columbia and so he's got to split the difference. Then, he knocked her up. So, now he's working 3 weeks from the City, 1 week from Raleigh. Not a bad deal for him... he gets to work from home, make his own hours, attend weekly team meetings in his boxers, all of that. Works out well for me too. Let me explain. A couple of weeks ago, my boss called me into his office and said "I really want you to go to NYC to do some integration, but I can't afford to send you up there. So, if you end up going to NY to visit the parents or whatever, you can work for a week from there." Just so happens, my cousin, who tried to murder me as a small child by way of a cookie (ask me about it sometime), is getting married. She's not really my cousin, but I've known her since I was 0, so she's just abotu as close as I can get to it. Anyways, that whole situation worked out rather well. So now, I'm writing to you all from absolutely the best city in the world. Don't get me wrong, I'd never live here, I couldn't. But, it is nice to be able to work out of Times Square for a week. For some reason, the bright lights just never get old to me. So that's why I'm here, getting to work from NYC and take it easy for a week, although my commute went from 1.5 minutes to 1.5 hours. Regardless, not bad.
The Wedding.
The wedding was held at the Garden City Hotel, the most expensive hotel on Long Island. Let me tell you, you get your money's worth. DAMN, service was impeccable. The disposable towels in the bathroom were nicer than the non-disposable ones I have at home. Plus, it seemed like they took all of the most beautiful indian girls on Long Island and put them in a room. That was, well, enjoyable. They mostly seemed pretty superficial though, and of course I was with my entire extended family and although I had had a bit to drink, there was no way I was going up to anyone trying to hit on them. It was a blast though, I got to see Ashish (whom I've also known since I was 0, and pretty much the only person in the world that I trust completely and utterly). I also got to see Jay, who was by far my best friend throughout highschool. I'd even go so far as to say we were joined at the hips... Jay and Samir. Anyways, got to see him, had some drinks with him, all in all a great night.
Last night I went out to dinner with an old friend, Archie. Archie and I have always got along pretty well because I think we're so similar. We seem to reject the typical bullshit that goes with being an Indian kid that grew up in NY. These kids in that scene are so focused on drama. Everyone knows each other, talks shit about each other, and is completely fake. You're only as good as what you wear, what you drive, and what you did last friday night. I just think its bullshit, and those that know me will know that I've always rejected that scene. I did have a decent amount of Indian friends in HS, but I think I had like 2 indian friends in college. I guess I just associate with other people better, although before they really know me, they consider me an outsider. So I guess I lose either way, but oh well, c'est la vie. Anyways, Archie and I went to this place called John's Pizzeria right outside Times Square. The food was amazing and the convorsation even more amazing. I think we sat for like 2 hours after we were done eating just conversing about random aspects of our lives.
Today, I had the pleasure of going out with Rinny and Ed. Rin's got a job being an "office bitch" for some firm in the city so she's living it up -- see "Rin in the City". Ed was in town for a couple of days, so it's awesome that I got to catch up with them both. We went to some italian place on the corner of Bleecher and MacDougal (my beloved village). Food was great, service, eh, not so much, but the convorsation made up for it. I really miss those two especially out of all my friends up at school because, I don't know, they are just so real. I know I can count on them for anything, Ed has proven that to me time and time again. The kid doesn't have a bad bone in his body, and, he has gained alot of trust and respect from me. Plus, he's literally the hardest worker I know, you'd think the kid supports a family of 7 with how hard he works. Rin is awesome too, by far one of the coolest fems I know. She's about the definition of what an amazing lil sister should be. Alot of girls I know are a mixed bag of sorts, good in some ways, not so much in others. She, however, is definately awesome. It was good to see them both, especially cause I know I won't be able to see them for quite a while.
Hmm, so that's about it. I'm loving being in the city right now because everything is just so familiar, and I know so many people around me. I also did miss my parents, regardless of how crazy they drive me. Plus, Java loves my house, he's got someone to play with all day, a yard to run around in, life is good for him right now. I'm looking forward to going back home to Raleigh, but I am thoroughly enjoying the north, in all it's non-hillbilly glory. If you're still reading, thank you, my apologies for the verbosity. I can't update that often, so when I do, I write quite a bit.
Oh and one more thing. I got a nice phone call around 3:30am last night from Pete, Chuckles, Lil Tony, Joe and DMC. I didn't answer but I woke up to a lovely voice mail that involved them explaining to me their version of a "gardenburger" (which happens to be rather interesting), having the deaf kid say "What's up" to me, and then ending it with "Ya heard it... bitch". Now, I found this rather amusing and decided to put that last line in my away message. Except, it just so happens that I accidentally changed it to that on my work sn. It was like that for like 2 hours.... YIKES. Hope nobody noticed.
Anyhow, goodnight all.
Some more from the land down under
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Current Music: JT - Cry me a River (fitting)]
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Current Mood: Melancholy]
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Current Activity: at work]
Well, its not Australia, but its probably south of where you are. Anyways, it's been almost 2 months since my last post. My apologies, I've hadn't had the moment to update. If you're still reading/checking this semi-regularly, I commend you. Otherwise, I understand. Life is settling down for me here in Raleigh. I've pretty much got all of my furniture; now I've just got to put everything away and keep things clean, which proves more and more arduous with each day passing. For those that don't know, I recently got a puppy, which is alot of work, but very rewarding. I can see the paternal instincts coming out. His name is Java, and I've got pics up
here. He shits all over the place, but he's definately an awesome and really smart pup. It's funny too because I've met so many more people after getting him than before. Puppies will do that for you I guess. He's really been taking up the majority of my free time.
Other than that, my life is pretty mundane. I went canoeing one weekend which was sweet, and went hiking the one before. I've always grown up a city boy, never really had much of an appreciation for the outdoors, but its growing on me. It's nice to kind of get away for a little bit.
I've been meeting new people, but its wierd cause now I've got like these different groups of people that I'm trying to become tight with. It's difficult to balance it all, not that I'm complaining. It was easy at school because I spent most of my time with my brothers, although I had friends on the outside as well, which was nice. I'm not complaining though, its nice to know people.
I've really been missing school quite a bit now. I complained quite a bit about how rochester sucked when I was up there, but I miss the familiarity, the people, the weather (yes, the weather, it's f'in hot down here), and I definately miss RIT. The campus was my home for 5 years and I really came to love it. Just the college culture was amazing.... a bunch of young people living on their own, learning the ways of life. It really is the best time of your life. It's nice to have moved along though... the next chapter. I especially miss the people though. It sucks not being able to go to the house if I'm bored, or taking shots on a tuesday night with random people because, well, fuck wednesday morning.
I invite everyone and anyone to come visit though, I've discovered some cool bars, and there's usually a free concert somewhere on the weekend. Not to mention the lake or the park, which is nice as well.
As far as the opposite sex.... well... it's wierd, and not really like me, but I'd rather spend my time chillin with my boys than out tryin to score. That's a post for a different day though.
Thanks for reading if you made it this far. I'll try to update you all so you can be up to speed on the mundane life and times of SXJ.
I miss you all... write, call, IM, communicate.
I leave you all with a quote that, for one reason or another, has meaning to me.
"Even when you've paid enoughBeen pulled apart or been held up,By every single memory of the good or bad, faces of love.Don't lose any sleep tonight, I'm sure everything will end up alright.You may win or loseBut to be yourself is all that you can do"-Audioslave, "Be Yourself"
An update
So an update, I'm in Raleigh, I've got an apartment, and now I've got the arduous task of getting it all set up. It's fucking hard doing that. Finding/buying/assembling all this furniture as well as doing lots of cleaning, unpacking, etc. is hard work. Not to mention I work like 9-10 hours a day. Work's been good so far, everyone is really nice and the building is sweet. It's less than a mile to work, so I'm sure I'll be walking to work real soon. They also have a pretty decent gym that's free to employees available 24 hours a day, so that's pretty sweet. My boss is amazing, he's been more of a friend than a boss and is really helping me get set up up here. My parents took him and his wife out to dinner on wednesday, and I went to his house for dinner last night. His house is freaking beautiful, he lives in a country club and his home is right on the green of like the 4th hole. It's amazing, and he's got it set up rather nicely. We went drinkin in the clubhouse after dinner, my first country club experience. That was really nice, got a taste of how the finer living is ;)
The parents FINALLY left, so I got some time to myself in the new place. I've been spending the nights sitting outside on my screened in deck smoking a cigar, sippin on some single malt on the rocks and listening to some Miles Davis. It is an AMAZING feeling. I really like my new place, it's huge and has a fireplace and screened in deck. It also has a walk in closet, which makes me happy (the Long Island in me shines out). The only complaint I have is that it's kinda dark, there's lotsa trees and stuff around. Other than that, the complex seems nice. I recently found out that Ezra (my comically animated roomate from freshman year) is in chapel hill (about 30 min away I would imagine). He's working down here and is in the same boat I am (doesn't really know anyone), so I image that'll be good. We each now know someone so it'll be easier to meet people.
Anyways, I'm planning on hangin out with the Tekes at NC State tonight, I figure I should go over there and introduce myself. If they're chill I'd like to get involved with their Alumni Association or something, so that'll give me a decent social network as well. Anyways, off to get showered and go out. Come visit soon, you'll have a great time, promise!
FREAKING AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
My parents are driving me fucking crazy. They wonder why once kids move out, they never ever want to move back in. Come chill with my parents for a week. I'm being bratty, I know, but fucking seriously, they are driving me absolultely INSANE. I've never been nagged so much before in my life. Let me pose a question to you all. If I'm the one graduating, WHY THE FUCK DO I HAVE TO CALL MY RELATIVES AND TELL THEM THAT. Shouldn't I be recieving phone calls from them, congradulating me? It's nice if they call, and I sincerely thank and appreciate all that have called -- or sent gifts, for which I have made it a point to call and thank, but if they don't call, I won't lose any sleep, I promise. Apparently, however, it's absolutely pivitol to my existance that I call my former 80 year old neighbor (who moved away a couple of years ago) to say "hello" because "she always asks about me". Not to mention all of my other 75,000 relatives (I come from a rather large family). I mean c'mon, I'm 22, I think I'm old enough to decide who I need to call and when.
Sorry, you've all experienced a Samir venting episode. Usually, I don't let things phase me but the parents bring out the best in me. Don't get me wrong, for those who know me intimately, they know that my parents are by far the most important thing in my life, and I love and respect them deeply, they just drive me crazy all the freaking time.
Blog = good for venting, if you want to vent about something, leave a comment. I'm a good ventee :)
American Airlines Suck
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Current Music: Oasis - Wonderwall]
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Current Mood: Stuffed]
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Current Activity: Downloading the new Winamp]
So yesterday I secured an apartment, after a long arduous day of apartment hunting. I looked at a number of complexes, and I liked each one better than the previous, which leaves me a little nervous about this place. This was the last place I looked, and perhaps if I had looked more, I would have liked the next places better than this. Oh well, this place is nice, 810 sq ft place. My favorite features are the walk in closet, eat in kitchen, fireplace, and most of all, screened in deck. I'll have pictures for you guys once I furnish the place. And so, since I found the place so quickly, I decided to fly up a day early. Except the freaking flight was delayed for an hour and a half. I love being nagged by my mom, if any of you know my mom really well, you know that i'm convinced that she is the most nagging woman on earth, but regardless, I got through it and finally arrived back in long island, where my parents demanded I unload the cars. Now instead of just leaving the cars packed up as is so we could drive them down to NC, I have to unload all my shit, go through it and decide what i'm taking (which in my infinite stubborness will, indeed, be all of it), load it back up, then unload it all again in NC. This is as opposed to unloading EVERYTHING at NC and deciding later if I want to keep it. Logic at its finest. Anyways, afterwards, went out ot dinner w/ Sahil (an old friend of mine), which was awesome. Regardless, i'm stuffed, and pack to "sorting". Good night all.
An uncomfortable situation
So it's about 12:30 am, I'm in bed at the Crabtree Valley Marriott. Now this is by no means a cheap hotel, it's like a 4 star place, great room, etc. So I'm in bed all ready to sleep and all of a sudden, I hear moaning and screaming coming from the room next door. Now, I'm all for people doing the horizontal tango, especially in a hotel room. Being that I've lived next door to Pete "White Chocolate" Scott for 2 years, I've heard my fair share of dirtyness through the walls, so a little moaning never hurt anybody, right? WRONG. Sex sounds are OK in my book in just about every situation other than the one I was in. See, my mother was sleeping in the next bed over and well, the last thing I want to hear whilst sharing a room with the woman that carried me in her womb for the better part of a year is freaking sex sounds. I mean c'mon, that's just uncomfortable :( Thank god it was over quick though, I only heard it for like a second. Anyways, yeah, just thought I'd share. So yeah, the next time you're about to get down in a hotel room, be mindful of the possibility of a 22 year old man sleeping in the same room as his mother while apartment hunting in a brand new city.
Raleigh
I decided to split this up into two posts, so “y’all” don’t get too bored. I’m currently sitting in my hotel room in Raleigh. So far, this place has been really nice. The people here are ridiculously nice. My mom and I have been thoroughly amazed. Everyone like takes extra time to explain everything to you and make sure you’re all set with everything.
The cab ride to the airport was rather interesting. I’ve been privileged enough to have had some interesting cabbies in my day (read crazy Canadian cabby). When we first entered the cab, the guy was saying something in some indiscernible accent. All I really god from the conversation was two phrases: “Mama Mia!” and “Fuggedaboudit (watch Donnie Brasko for a thorough explanation of this phrase)”, which led me to believe that he was of Italian descent. This guy was actually Austrian, born in Vienna. Apparently, he used to work for the border patrol as a Federal INS agent. He came to America because his job was getting too dangerous. Apparently, back in the day, all they worried about was people coming over the border illegally, but now there’s lotsa drug trafficking and such, making the job a lot more dangerous. All in all, the guy was really cool although his accent made it extremely hard to understand him. It’s funny how you can randomly meet these interesting people. Tomorrow I plan on hopefully finding a place to spend the next year or more of my life. I’m really excited to be looking at apartments… from what I’ve been told, they are rather nice down here. Anyways, it’s been a rather long day, and the bed seems to be calling my name. Talk to “y’all (I’ve heard this word a million times already, don’t be surprised if I start using it regularly)” later.
Gradumatated :O
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Current Music: Mozart - Pachelbel's Canon in D Minor]
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Current Mood: Anxious/Excited]
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Current Activity: Sitting in a hotel room typing/conversing with my mother]
So that’s it… I graduated. Everything I’ve done in my life really up until now has been for the moment I walk across that stage. And what a moment, I’ve got video to prove it. Yes, I’m that asshole that walked up on stage with a video camera in my hand, receiving my diploma in the other. Regardless, there was much fanfare, THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT, whoever came. I really appreciate it, from what I heard, I had the loudest cheering section, kudos to Christina for the airhorn. My parents were waiting for me on the other side of the stage, I wish you all could have seen there faces. I hope I’ve got video of it…. I’ve never seen smiles so large. Later that night, I made it out to 17, where Matt handed me a bottle of Champagne to celebrate. I definitely drank in my cap and gown, as per the request of everyone. It was nice to see everyone out and chillin, it’s the nights where we just hung out that I’ll miss the most.
With graduating, however, came the realization that I’m done with college. For 5 years, I’ve been in Rochester learning, living, loving. It’s been the best 5 years of my life, hands down. I can’t even begin to express how much I’ve enjoyed college. I really feel as if I got the real college experience and really made the most of it. Thank you everyone for everything throughout the years. I’ve met so many people, and I guarantee that non of them will be forgotten. I can especially say that about my fellow Tekes and Deephers. Without you guys, I would have just been another CS major. I won’t forget a single one of you. Along with them, there have been many more that have left permanent imprints on my life.
Enough sappyness… the following day was filled with more graduations. I attended 3 in total, Prateek’s in the morning (Prateek, I was there, ringing the cowbells which I’m sure you heard, thank you to the Alpha Xi girls for loaning them to me), Pete’s at noon, which was really freaking long, and Allie and Kimmy’s in the afternoon. It was cool to meet the infamous Dick “Godfather” Scott (Pete’s dad) and his brother, who, I must admit, handled his first experience with Beast and a plate rather well. It was also really really nice to see Allie’s family, I do miss them quite a bit. They were so accepting of me, and treated me as a part of the family, even when they didn’t have to. So if any of you are reading, thank you kindly, I feel like I’ve got family in Reading…. and Chicago. Later that night, I went around and said my goodbyes, and then went to MacGregor’s. The original plan was to go downtown, but we decided to change it. Mostly everyone was indifferent about going downtown, except me, who wanted to stay nearby because I had to get up at like 6 in the morning and move. So we all went out to MacG’s which was fun. Sort of a last night out type of thing. Pete, Mullen and Hesky had been drinking for quite a while prior to that, so that made things rather interesting.
I could write a book about my college experiences (and someday I may, and if I do, I’ll be naming names so watch out :P), but I think I’ll keep it at everything I’ve said already. For those of you that still have some time left… enjoy it while you can. The moment is fleeting, make the most of it. Don’t study too hard, and make it a point to go out and see your friends whenever possible. Try to make as many new friends as you can, and definitely try to become better friends with your old ones. It will make leaving that much harder, but you’ll come away with AMAZING memories. And most of all, don’t look forward to graduating too much, only in college can you party in a pretty much consequence free environment while being under the financial support of your parents.
Good luck to all, and I sincerely hope I’ll get to see every one of you again. I promise the vacation money jar will get filled soon, and I’ll definitely be up in Rochester ASAP. :)
