Going on 22 Hours

Today was a long day. After only about 4.5 hours of sleep, it was time to wake up and head into the city for the Autism Speaks walk. From there was a drive back home and a screening of the social network. Then a late lunch and an unintentional nap before hitting the city again. Went to AKA and picked up Titus on vinyl before heading to the TLA and seeing Tallest Man (show didn't even start until 9). Finally, and without surprise, the night ended at Llanerch. Now, before I get any closer to the 24 hours without sleep mark, I am climbing in bed.

Goodnight.

At The Fair

If you were to go to a fair, what would you look forward to the most? The rides - probably not (although everyone loves the Gravitron). Maybe the games - they can be fun, but they tend to be expensive for little reward.

The best part of a local fair/carnival is the food. Fair food is never food you pursue outside of the fair, nor does it ever feel as appetizing as it does while walking around there. But, once you are in that atmosphere, corndogs and cotton candy just sound perfect. But above those foods, the most important fair food is the funnel cake.

Tonight Alex and I were headed to the diner to grab some late night grub when we passed a fair in Upper Darby. We both had a look of 'why not' on our faces and Alex swung the car around and headed into the fair. As I expected, it was filled with kids. Most in groups ranging from around 5th grade to high school, leaving Alex and I officially in the out-of-place limbo between being too old and not old enough to have our own kids there.

As soon as we walked up we both decided, most importantly, we needed to get funnel cake. The problem with this being something so universal is that the line for funnel cake was probably 30 minutes long. It was a small fair and so there was only one stand selling it. We, unfortunately, decided to pass on the delicious fried food and circled the fair, played one game (won a prize) and then headed on to the diner. The entire excursion took about 15-20 minutes but it was worth it.

A Active Sunday, An Active Weekend

I have fallen into the downward spiral of being antisocial. My job leaves me too tired to do much all week long, and getting comfortable there has left me with feeling that 1 trip to the diner for an entire weekend is enough time to see and spend time with friends.

This weekend, however, was completely different. Kristen was up from New Orleans, and from the time I woke up Friday until right now I was with people to some degree and did a lot. Friday after being gone for work from 630 am until almost 7 pm, I was back out the door within 20 minutes to watch the Eagles 1st preseason game and hang out at a friend's house. I ended up leaving and getting back home around 1:30. Kristen ended up staying here the rest of the weekend.

I woke up Saturday morning around 10 am. An hour later it was time for pancakes and then a series of texts and phone calls to plan for the show that night. Past that I spent the next 2 hours trying to come up with a set list, once Joe came over, and memorizing more lyrics for the show. By 4 is was time to pack the cars and head out. We were at the pool from 5:30 until 11 pm. I then went back to my friend Tom's until about 1 or so. Finally got home and got to bed a little after 2:30 am. Both Joe and Kristen stayed over Saturday night.

Today I woke up and soon after Joe headed out. Kristen had already been up and showered and I showered soon after. Almost immediately after getting out we headed out the door for the diner to meet up with those that slept at Tom's. After the diner, our friends from NY/NJ hit the road and I headed back home. Not for long, though. We were back out the door at 1 pm to see, with Alex, a 1:30 screening of Scott Pilgrim (which was awesome - see it). Home around 4, dinner at 6, and then it was time for one more outing. As if two outings on a Sunday was not enough (and believe me, considering how this summer has gone - that was a lot) my sisters, Kristen and myself went out to get frozen yogurt and met some long time friends there. Finally, I called it a night/weekend around 9:30 pm. The rest of the night I spent lying on the floor reading through/catching up on some news and watching the Phils.

All in all I would say it was an incredibly solid weekend. Also, for once, the weather was pretty bearable throughout.

Off By A Day

When I started the breadcrumbs project, my first picture was taken at Llanerch Diner. We were supposed to go last night as my friend who is moving to Texas leaves this week and we were to hang out there. The outing was postponed to tonight. So while the Lost-like start and end being the same did not occur, I think it's still fair game.

Plus, it goes to show how little has changed despite how much as changed. This place which I still frequent on weekends summer after summer, year after year is now one of the few constants that span that time. Friends have moved away, we have graduated college, careers have started, some friends are engaged, one is pregnant and I am at the eve of my 23rd birthday. Sheesh. No need to reflect anymore on that.

Goodnight!

Moving

A very good friend of mine has been talking about moving away for a while now. Initially it was immediately after finishing college. He graduated in December, but was still here in the spring. The next date was June. He is a filmmaker and can't leave until he finishes his movie. As of June there was still a lot of editing to do.

Tonight we met up at the diner. I have been spending time and seeing friends of mine at the Llanerch Diner since Junior Year of high school. It has changed management, changed decor, changed menus, and even customers. No longer do we see our mini celebs like Denim Gandalf sitting at the counter. Friends of ours that used to be regulars with us have too ceased coming. Still, there remains a few core people who I can count on to get a cup of coffee at 11 pm and talk movies, music, and whatever else we can ramble on about.

John told us that the movie is done. He leaves August 5th. This is not just some short distance move. He is not moving back to Boston (where he went to school) or New York. In a few weeks John will be relocating to Austin, TX permanently. I think because I have been so busy, so wrapped up in my job that not seeing people much this summer has not felt at all strange. I've made several NY trips and have had visits as well. As far as seeing my home friends, my high school friends, goes - there has not really be much time for it.

I knew John would be leaving soon, but again with my schedule, having not seen him since my first week home after graduation, I felt like I had plenty of time. Now knowing that he'll be gone after a few more outings, I am really upset. Reasons to relocate to TX for grad school just got another one in it's column. There is no one else who can tolerate and engage my film ramblings quite like he can. If we had the money and the time we would spend a full 24 hours straight in that diner just chatting film and theory. People like that are few in my life and worth keeping close.

Anyone else up for Texas?

Relaxation

I slept in!

Today I slept in until 11 am. I woke up voluntarily. I had a mostly very laid back morning. Followed by an incredibly successful grad/memorial day party including playing The Black Keys as the party's music. Witnessing Roy Halladay's perfect game. Playing volleyball. Getting to know and play with Cooper (My sister's nephew). And topping it off with a trip to Llanerch.

All in all - very successful. Now, before I get behind on sleep again, I am getting in bed. Will open cards from people tomorrow and find out if I can afford that computer/have money again.

Following Up

So every once in a while on this blog I will mention something that I might follow up on, continue later, get back to, etc. Typically in these situations I am in the middle of explaining something or want to elaborate/discuss something and for one reason or another I end up ending the blog instead. Last night is an example of this - it was late and while I had more that I wanted to say, I also wanted to get in bed like no other. Thus my blogs end up looking like Arrested Developments 'Next time on Arrested Development' segments without the humor or intelligence.

Anyway, yesterday thanks to my aunt I was able to sit in one 3 ECT procedures. If you do not know what ECT stands for then let me tell you. ECT stands for Electroconvulsive Therapy, better known as Electro-shock therapy. Most people are only familiar with the procedure from its pop-portrayals in films like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or the more modern but no friendlier Requiem For A Dream. ECT is when your brain is shocked as a form of treatment.

After a conversation about my feelings on the procedure my aunt decided I needed to sit in on a procedure in order to better assess it. I was told that it is not the violents procedure we see and it is extremely effective. Coming out of the procedure I will say that my views partially changed - no it is not as violent (most of the time) as it appears to be in movies. The patient is knocked out for the procedure and most of them show now visible signs of seizure other than a twitching foot.

It is, however, still barbaric to me in what it is. While I will acknowledge that it is effective and that especially in major depressive patients who are basically catatonic from the depression no other treatment is as effective and with such little side effects (medicine cannot claim either of these), it still does not make it great. Its the arguments that just because its the best thing that exists does not mean its good, it only means we have nothing better - yet.

ECT is literally electrocuting an individuals brain in order to induce a seizure. I learned that the seizure, and not the electro-shock is what actually creates a treatment effect. Doctors discovered this when looking at epileptic patients who were depressed. These patients were found to be in much better states following a seizure. As with most discoveries, no one was looking or assumed this would have an effect.

Yesterday was also my only trip to the diner and luckily it was a really solid trip. Nothing like sitting down with people on your last night home, having a cup (or 5) of coffee and just shooting the breeze for a few hours about nothing. I wish I had gotten to go more - but this trip did not disappoint.

My last note I had said last night was 'more on where i am in life right now'. I am not sure what was on my mind at the time to elicit that but as of right now I have nothing to elaborate on in that area.

Moved back to NY today and settled in. Played a game called Wizard which is a bit complicated initially but is really a great card game. Record player works and I listened to two vinyls already.

2 more football games tomorrow. Colts are through to the next, though, so I can watch in a more relaxed manner.

Talk to you later.

breadcrumbs

so i thought itd be a good idea, and maybe that's relative, to try something with this blog in addition to my regular updates. maybe this is for me, maybe its for both of us but i thought about this as kind of a development from some other blogs i check regularly.

the idea is to try to, if possible, update a picture a day - possibly when im at school theyll be taken with my actual camera, but as in most cases when im home - i dont have my camera with me because im typically at work or at home. so for now - ill try to take a picture a day with my phone and post it on here as a sort of book mark in a way of a definitive - i was here at some point today - this is what i saw as both a visual reminder for myself of the days events and also a breadcrumb of sorts that eventually i can retrace my steps, because lets face it - memories fade pretty damn quickly or atleast get alot fuzzier.

so with that said...