LoveInBrooklyn
12 March 2017
Hold my phone...
27 January 2016
Trust is like a vase...
Friendships are built on trust.
It may take years to build this trust. To mold and shape it like a vase.
Much like a vase, this trust may be fragile. Which, over time, may be chipped, cracked or completely shattered.
It's possible to mend the shattered trust. Carefully placing the shards together and the result is a vase very similar to what was.
Yet it is different. Never the same vase.
It is still a vase.
It may still function.
Due to sentiment it is kept. Albeit stored away. Rarely touched.
Remembered.
Yet, rarely touched.
Replaced by a new vase, perhaps. One devoid of cracks albeit without the history of the previous vase. The new vase cannot replace the one of old. They will both serve their purpose, however.
20 July 2010
Hedgehog's Dilemma
Introspect is my most frequent bedfellow. Times have been tough this pas few weeks. The people expected to be there, in only by showing concern as a proxy, have been scarce to absent. It's been those least expected to shower love with no strings. Sometimes it's as though I'm repeating behavior from my high school years. Days are much longer when spent sober consecutively. Since I have no job, I have plenty of time to myself. Once allocated primarily for nursing hangovers, I know think about everything around me.
That's all for now...
lazy_eye-jason_bently_remix.silversun_pickups.silversun_pickups-remixes{ep}
-- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
That's all for now...
LoveInBrooklyn
-- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
26 January 2010
Gotcha Day
it's been several days now and I feel like a father with a newborn. i worked at Beauty Bar Brooklyn last thursday which hosted the preparty to Kick out the JMZ - a local Brooklyn band outlet started by a couple buddies of mine. several drin-- hours into the show my boy Broke MC shows up with a dog in need of a home. The party goers were entranced only between sets and no one stepped up to the plate when Broke said he was unable to keep/care for the dog do to his building prohibiting pets.
Edmound, his name agreed upon by Broke and I, immediately took to me and so it was.
Edmound has changed how I approach the day. Countless walks and hours spent together, him sleeping next to me at night, our first couple spats and our first trip to the local pet store together has constituted nigh-entirety of my life since we met.
this story shall continue
LoveInBrooklyn
posted from my iPhone
Location:Arion Pl,Brooklyn,United States
29 August 2009
over it before it began
today started with yesterday never ending. I worked until 5 am then
went back to the opera house to chill with the leftovers of this month's Kick out the JMZ.
that lasted til about 6am. then I remembered I had brunch plans so I forced myself to bed. I awoke around noon and had to book my flight to LA. then brunch at Grey Dog in Greenwich Village. then I hopped over the New Museum to catch the David Goldblatt exhibition, "Intersections Intersected."
Goldblatt's work concentrates on the quotidian aspects of South Africa during the apartheid and shortly thereafter. it was very intimate. if I weren't so exhausted I would come up with something more thoughtful to say.
when I got home I tried to take a nap and that didn't happen. everyone decided they wanted to give me a ring as soon as I put my head down to rest.
I gave up on the nap and went to my buddies' Matt and Rebecca's House Warming for a bit before work. I had a few glasses of wine and great conversation and made my way to work. now I'm stuck at the door dreaming of sleep and dealing with drunk Williamsburg wannabe hipsters. over it.
too much attitude with too little substance.
.bad_day.darwin_deez.
-- Post From My iPhone
went back to the opera house to chill with the leftovers of this month's Kick out the JMZ.
that lasted til about 6am. then I remembered I had brunch plans so I forced myself to bed. I awoke around noon and had to book my flight to LA. then brunch at Grey Dog in Greenwich Village. then I hopped over the New Museum to catch the David Goldblatt exhibition, "Intersections Intersected."
Goldblatt's work concentrates on the quotidian aspects of South Africa during the apartheid and shortly thereafter. it was very intimate. if I weren't so exhausted I would come up with something more thoughtful to say.
when I got home I tried to take a nap and that didn't happen. everyone decided they wanted to give me a ring as soon as I put my head down to rest.
I gave up on the nap and went to my buddies' Matt and Rebecca's House Warming for a bit before work. I had a few glasses of wine and great conversation and made my way to work. now I'm stuck at the door dreaming of sleep and dealing with drunk Williamsburg wannabe hipsters. over it.
too much attitude with too little substance.
…LoveInBrooklyn…
.bad_day.darwin_deez.
-- Post From My iPhone
26 August 2009
for the early birds
today was somewhat eventful. I managed to get out of bed around 8:30 and made myself my typical breakfast of eggs-in-a-hole. read a little o he New York Post which reminded me I needed to drop kids at the pool before my run. had a pretty good run followed by an intense core workout at the gym. paid some loans. had back and orth emails regarding my trip to LA.... looks like I'm headig out right after labor day. worked on the computer a bit. did some laundry. me up with Jerrit at a shoot for Sugarcraft. came back home. made dinner than cranked out a poster for the party I'm hostin t beauty bar next weekend. now it's time for bed. brushing my teeth and some light reading and sketching than off to bed.
I get so much more done when I wake before noon.
i barely had time to Twitter my twats…
.make_over.christina_aguilera.stripped
-- Post From My iPhone
I get so much more done when I wake before noon.
i barely had time to Twitter my twats…
LoveInBrooklyn
.make_over.christina_aguilera.stripped
-- Post From My iPhone
22 August 2009
my first remote post
chillin outside Beauty Bar. doing te door thing. just accosted by a neighborhood drunkard. I have no clue why people insist on telling me their friend "is good" when they donthave ID. I work the door. I get paid a great hourly rate to do a few simple things. don't waste my time with your senseless entitlement you prick. show me your ID and we're done here.
the music is bumpin and I'm feeling it. The Beatards are spinnin and it's sounding pretty good right now. it's 23:56
and the crowd is fluctuating but the vibe is strong.
te weather is sticky humid and I'm still hungover from last night. haven't partied much lately so going hard for one night is cool. I guess. I slept most of the day away. I'm getting old I guess. definitely not recovering like I used to in college.
I'm looking to head out to LA in the next month to find representation. things have been picking up here in NY but I'm gonna follow the advice of a fellow model who says I'm concentrating too much of my energy on one market. I sent my new comp card to a buddy out there and one agent is interested in meet me so that's a good sign.
I'm mad hungry...
the DJ is killin it tonight.
...LoveinBrooklyn…
.boy_with_a_coin.iron_and_wine.the_shepard's_dog
07 April 2009
movin on down to the first floor
It's April.
I spent the month of March moving into my new apartment. I'm still in the same building, just on the first floor.
My roommates are Rob and Rachel. A nice couple i met when i moved into the building some two years ago.
they were building a new loft and extended the second floor so i won the new roommie spot.
what sucked is the construction would not be completed in time. I had to move out of my old apartment and essentially turned the new apartment into a storage room while the construction took place. Poor Rob and Rachel had to help me move my furniture and such from my old space to the new place. Then when construction began we had to move everything out of the way so the guys could work. This took 3 days and started a week later than planned, leaving me sleeping on the couch. After the loft was built we started shifting things from R&R old room to their new room and Rachel's new office. It's a cozy apartment so we had to move one room and set it up before we could move on to the other. Need i mention we spent this entire moving process wasted.....i mean we usually got the party started around 10am. No Shame.
after their room was moved we had to move my stuff into the old room. build walls and start painting. we went pretty hard for about 3 weeks straight of working on the apartment everyday. we still have more work to do: painting our rooms, finish painting the common spaces and decorating, culminating with doors and windows for our rooms.
it's a drawn out process but they are great people and i am happy to be be living here and staying in the building.
.viva_la_white_girl.gym_class_heroes.as_cruel_as_school_children
I spent the month of March moving into my new apartment. I'm still in the same building, just on the first floor.
My roommates are Rob and Rachel. A nice couple i met when i moved into the building some two years ago.
they were building a new loft and extended the second floor so i won the new roommie spot.
what sucked is the construction would not be completed in time. I had to move out of my old apartment and essentially turned the new apartment into a storage room while the construction took place. Poor Rob and Rachel had to help me move my furniture and such from my old space to the new place. Then when construction began we had to move everything out of the way so the guys could work. This took 3 days and started a week later than planned, leaving me sleeping on the couch. After the loft was built we started shifting things from R&R old room to their new room and Rachel's new office. It's a cozy apartment so we had to move one room and set it up before we could move on to the other. Need i mention we spent this entire moving process wasted.....i mean we usually got the party started around 10am. No Shame.
after their room was moved we had to move my stuff into the old room. build walls and start painting. we went pretty hard for about 3 weeks straight of working on the apartment everyday. we still have more work to do: painting our rooms, finish painting the common spaces and decorating, culminating with doors and windows for our rooms.
it's a drawn out process but they are great people and i am happy to be be living here and staying in the building.
LoveInBrooklyn
04 March 2009
WKWII VS FEDEX KINKO'S
TO:
BBB of the Mid-South, Inc.
(Memphis, TN)
3693 Tyndale Drive
Memphis, TN 38125
Phone: (901)759-1300
Fax: (901)757-2997
Email: info@bbbmidsouth.org
Web: http://www.midsouth.bbb.org
CC:
FedEx Office Corporate Customer Relations
FedEx Office, 27 Astor Pl, New York, NY 10003
att: Felicia & Taz
Mamie Allen, FedEx Office, Dallas Corporate Relations
March 4, 2009
To Whom It May Concern:
On January 17th, 2009 I, Warner King Washington II, patronized the FedEx-Kinko’s Store #0230 located on 21 Astor Pl., New York, NY 10003. I arrived and requested to have an oversized custom piece of art scanned in color and placed on a disc I provided.
The sales clerk that assisted me was pleasant and prompt. However, while I was checking out another clerk decided it appropriate to come over to an available computer behind the counter and begin doing something that appeared unrelated to work. I ignored this situation until he started getting comfortable in what he was doing and began resting his full forearm on my delicate artwork as though it were a placemat of some sort. I politely requested he refrain from leaning on my original work and he obliged. Moments later, another clerk joined in on this computer activity and she, as well, began to lean on my artwork as it lay on the counter. My friend who was accompanying me asked that the young lady not lean on my artwork. Annoyed with the fact that my work was being disrespected as I waited for confirmation that my image was burned to my disc, I sat my Black 16 Gigabyte iPhone 3G down on the Service Counter as I put my work away to avoid any damage. Acting as though I were interrupting their activities, the two employees moved elsewhere. The image was successfully placed on disc, I paid for the services rendered, and left the FedEx location. The time was approximately 4:15pm.
Less than 20 minutes later I realized I did not have my iPhone. By this time I was with additional friends and they all started calling my phone. I always have my phone set to ring audibly and vibrate, which draws attention no matter its location. I also had an application installed, which allowed me to locate my phone using GPS. This being the last activity performed on my phone to locate said friends.
While they were busy calling my phone to no response, I took another phone and called the FedEx-Kinko’s location. A woman answered the phone and I asked if anyone had “returned an iPhone.”
There was an awkward pause for a few seconds followed by, “No. No one has.”
Noting in my mind the response as peculiar I then responded, “Well, could you ask around?”
She reluctantly placed me on hold and returned no longer than one minute later and aggressively told me, “No one has an iPhone here.”
Feeling something was amiss from the initial response I informed her that I “pinged my GPS on my phone and it’s showing its current position at FedEx-Kinko’s location.”
I suggested that she take a moment to look underneath the counter since that was the last place I sat the phone. She informed me she had done all she could and I then requested to speak with someone who could do more. The lady on the phone then told me there was nothing else she could do even though I informed her I was sure the phone was there.
Appreciating the fact that she said she could not do anything more to help me or knew of anyone who could, I requested the number to FedEx-Kinko’s Corporate Customer Relations or it’s equivalent. I also stated I would be returning to the store to retrieve the information in person.
When I returned to my friends to see if they had any luck getting a response from my phone they informed me it was now “going directly to voicemail.”
This stood out to me because I always have my phone set to lock and shutdown after ten failed attempts at the passcode to access the phones full functions. That being said, if the phone receives an incoming call, it can always be answered, no matter the lock settings. Common sense and the intention of returning a found phone dictates one would answer said phone if it is repeatedly called; the person calling most likely being the owner of the phone calling from an alternate. I concluded that whomever had the phone at this point had no desire in its return to me.
I hastily returned to FedEx-Kinko’s and was greeted by Felicia, the Assistant Manager, identifying herself as the woman I spoke with on the phone earlier. I requested the Corporate Customer relations number as I previously mentioned and she rudely turned her back to me and asked the employees all at once if “anyone has seen ‘this guy’s’ iPhone?”
To which one of the employee’s, who was leaning on my artwork earlier, retorted matching Felicia in utter disregard for customer courtesy, “Oh, is it that same guy about the iPhone or whatever?”
Ignoring the fact anyone would try and find a possession, not to mention one that retails for $500, I mentioned to Felicia that there was a surveillance camera pointed directly at the spot I last saw my phone. I asked her if she could review the taps and gave her the approximate time of 4:15p to narrow the search. She said she was not allowed to do that and only the store manager had that capability. With that, Felicia began to walk away. I regained her attention and asked when I would be able to speak with the store manager regarding this issue and when the tapes would be reviewed. Felicia unprofessionally responded, “Why? It’s not like were going to show YOU the tapes.”
Acknowledging that this situation was unnecessary and I would speak with the store manager on another date, I suggested I leave alternate contact information – which included an alternate phone number, my email address, and mailing address- should the phone show up. Felicia grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down the information I provided and informed me the store manager would contact me about reviewing the surveillance footage.
On January 20th, 2009 at approximately 11:15am, after no word from FedEx-Kinko’s store manager or of my phones return, I called Store #0230 and requested to speak with the store manager. I was greeted by a gentleman calling himself “Taz” and identified as the store manager. He informed me that he has “just received the note on his desk” and would review the tapes and get back to me. I inquired if there was anyway I could see the footage for the approximate time of 4:15p for the duration of five to ten minutes to which he said, and I paraphrase, “not really, maybe if you had filed a police complaint.”
I informed him that I had done just that earlier that day but would prefer not to involve the authorities if needn’t be. Taz informed me he would look at the tapes and while he attempted to end the conversation I requested a time frame to which I should hear back from him. Taz stressfully exhaled and said, “call be back around 4pm today, I should have time to review the footage by then.” I thanked him and ended the conversation.
I called at approximately 4:15pm, noting to myself that up until that point my phone had been absent three days. When I was forwarded to Taz, he said he was just about to review the footage and would call me right back. I responded with an alternate number where I could be reached.
Some twenty minutes later, Taz calls with an explanation not mentioning the surveillance footage. The story Taz, Store Manager, told me was as follows:
On Saturday, an employee of Starbuck’s Coffee which is located adjacent to the FedEx-Kinko’s found my iPhone and returned it to an employee of FedEx-Kinko’s for safe keeping. The iPhone had been located and that it was in the employee’s locker. That employee, however, was unreachable at the moment but would be returning the following day and I would be able to come into FedEx-Kinko’s after 4pm of that day [Wednesday] to retrieve my phone.
After hearing this, I couldn’t help but point out to Taz the discrepancies in this convoluted story. To begin, I was never at Starbuck’s and if they found it there, what would possess them to leave their premises and turn it in to a completely unrelated store next door? Taz, backtracked and said, “Oh, No. The Starbuck’s employee happened to be in FedEx-Kinko’s because the two employees are friends.” I countered with the fact that when I left after paying for my scan, there were the clearly marked uniformed employees of FedEx-Kinko’s, a young man of eastern decent making copies in the back of the facility some 10 yards away and around a half glass wall, a young Asian girl in the computer stations and two Caucasian males (whom both had their own iPhones) waiting for a pick-up order ten feet away from me. There were no Starbuck’s employees standing around. Nor where there any customers waiting behind me. I also stated that the relation the iPhone had to the register, not to mention it being a black phone on a cool grey counter top, would be hard to miss by any employee who would be paying attention to the cash register. Not to mention, if the phone was returned and I left several ways to contact me for just this reason why was I not notified immediately let alone it being three days past? And if the employee was unreachable, how were they so sure it was in the employee’s locker for “safe keeping?”
Taz attempted to backtrack again and I interrupted and simply requested my phone available for return immediately. Taz informed me that he was leaving and that he was handing it over to Felicia from this point on.
I mentioned to Felicia that if they knew an employee had my property, why could the not cut the lock off the locker and be done with this situation? I reminded her I had a police report I could show and that there must be some way of getting building security or maintenance to cut the lock. Felicia said she would try to contact someone and would call me back. She called me back approximately ten minutes later and said that was not an option and I would have to wait. She informed me my phone would be there by 4pm the following day. I asked if she would be present to guarantee the return of my phone and she said, “Yes. I will be here.” I asked for the Starbuck’s employee’s name that found my phone so that I may thank that person. That information was unavailable.
January 21st, 2009 I returned to Store #0230 and requested to speak with Felicia. The employee working said she was not in but asked if I were there for the phone. I said yes and she went to the back office, made a phone call from a desk phone, closed the door, and then emerged with my phone. She handed it to me without saying a word and walked to greet a customer. I powered my phone on to see that it had been restored to factory presets. This confirmed that my phone had not been cut off to save battery but was indeed tampered with. I had an appointment set up at the Apple Genius Bar in SoHo and made that my next destination. While at the Apple Store Genius Bar, I had the Apple Genius run a diagnostic on my iPhone. The report confirmed it had been restored several times over the course of its absence. When I returned home, I called AT&T customer care and spoke with both Deborah and Vickie (full names available upon request) who both informed me that my data and internet usage had been active over the several days my phone was absent.
On January 24th, 2009 at approximately 1pm I contacted FedEx-Kinko’s Corporate Customer Relations and was transferred by random switchboard to Mamie Allen at the Dallas Branch. I informed her of the information above and stated I strongly felt that I was being misled and that the story I was told would probably not match the story that the surveillance camera tells. Mamie agreed and said she would contact the FedEx-Kinko’s location and inform them they would need to explain this situation to her in better detail because of its absurd nature or the issue would be escalated and investigated further. A couple days passed with no word, so I called Mamie at her extension and was greeted with Bonita Kegler who was covering for Mamie while she vacationed. I left a message for Mamie to respond when she returned regarding the situation outlined above. A few days later, Approximately February 2nd, I received a call from Mamie. She wanted to know what I wanted in the form of compensation for this matter, again with no mention as to what the surveillance footage revealed. I broke down my position as follows:
I am a freelance Illustrator and model and my iPhone is a vital part of both of my businesses as a private contractor. I cannot begin to mention how damaging it was to go without my phone for several days. It delayed my response with clients and agents and in turn cost me directly and indirectly. I had to spend time calling Apple and AT&T to cancel phone plans and report it stolen, not to mention the money it would cost to replace the phone or the time spent repairing relationships with my clients or trying to locate contacts that I had stored in my phone which wasn’t backed-up to my computer yet. As a model my lowest hourly rate is $150 per hour and I bill my art commissions the same.
Calculating my hourly rate with an estimated workday of 8 hrs over the course of 4 days compounds rather quickly. However, I would prefer a year’s worth of unlimited oversized color scanning and printing instead of monetary compensation. Mamie said a year might be a tad much but perhaps 6 months as there is a limit to how much they can award a claim like this. I suggested then she take my hourly rate as I outlined above and with my potential loss adding upwards of $4,800; a credit account be set up that I may be able to debit from it whenever I visit a FedEx-Kinko’s (now FedEx Office) center. Mamie said she would check on that and call me back. Mamie called later that day with Felicia on the line and asked if I would be fine with a conference call. I agreed. While on the phone, Mamie asked if I would prefer she stay on the line, I said yes. Felicia apologized with unconvincing sincerity for the situation and offered to mail a written apology along with debit-like cards for me to use, which would be the equivalent of what I asked for after she checked with her superiors. I gave my contact information and accepted the apology.
It is now March 4th, 2009 and I am as yet to receive the compensation promised to me. I stopped back into Store #0230 and spoke with Taz again regarding the situation approximately two weeks ago. He said he was “going to give me a card to use” for black and white scanning. I clarified I was promised oversized color scanning and printing. I also asked if he were “going to give me a card to use” why hadn’t I received it yet, it now being over a month after the situation took place still with no explanation as to what was seen on the surveillance footage. Taz was of little help and so I thanked him and left the premises.
I am now bringing this to the attention of the Better Business Bureau in hopes that with addition assistance I can finally resolve this situation satisfactory.
Thank you in advance,
Warner King Washington II
BBB of the Mid-South, Inc.
(Memphis, TN)
3693 Tyndale Drive
Memphis, TN 38125
Phone: (901)759-1300
Fax: (901)757-2997
Email: info@bbbmidsouth.org
Web: http://www.midsouth.bbb.org
CC:
FedEx Office Corporate Customer Relations
FedEx Office, 27 Astor Pl, New York, NY 10003
att: Felicia & Taz
Mamie Allen, FedEx Office, Dallas Corporate Relations
March 4, 2009
To Whom It May Concern:
On January 17th, 2009 I, Warner King Washington II, patronized the FedEx-Kinko’s Store #0230 located on 21 Astor Pl., New York, NY 10003. I arrived and requested to have an oversized custom piece of art scanned in color and placed on a disc I provided.
The sales clerk that assisted me was pleasant and prompt. However, while I was checking out another clerk decided it appropriate to come over to an available computer behind the counter and begin doing something that appeared unrelated to work. I ignored this situation until he started getting comfortable in what he was doing and began resting his full forearm on my delicate artwork as though it were a placemat of some sort. I politely requested he refrain from leaning on my original work and he obliged. Moments later, another clerk joined in on this computer activity and she, as well, began to lean on my artwork as it lay on the counter. My friend who was accompanying me asked that the young lady not lean on my artwork. Annoyed with the fact that my work was being disrespected as I waited for confirmation that my image was burned to my disc, I sat my Black 16 Gigabyte iPhone 3G down on the Service Counter as I put my work away to avoid any damage. Acting as though I were interrupting their activities, the two employees moved elsewhere. The image was successfully placed on disc, I paid for the services rendered, and left the FedEx location. The time was approximately 4:15pm.
Less than 20 minutes later I realized I did not have my iPhone. By this time I was with additional friends and they all started calling my phone. I always have my phone set to ring audibly and vibrate, which draws attention no matter its location. I also had an application installed, which allowed me to locate my phone using GPS. This being the last activity performed on my phone to locate said friends.
While they were busy calling my phone to no response, I took another phone and called the FedEx-Kinko’s location. A woman answered the phone and I asked if anyone had “returned an iPhone.”
There was an awkward pause for a few seconds followed by, “No. No one has.”
Noting in my mind the response as peculiar I then responded, “Well, could you ask around?”
She reluctantly placed me on hold and returned no longer than one minute later and aggressively told me, “No one has an iPhone here.”
Feeling something was amiss from the initial response I informed her that I “pinged my GPS on my phone and it’s showing its current position at FedEx-Kinko’s location.”
I suggested that she take a moment to look underneath the counter since that was the last place I sat the phone. She informed me she had done all she could and I then requested to speak with someone who could do more. The lady on the phone then told me there was nothing else she could do even though I informed her I was sure the phone was there.
Appreciating the fact that she said she could not do anything more to help me or knew of anyone who could, I requested the number to FedEx-Kinko’s Corporate Customer Relations or it’s equivalent. I also stated I would be returning to the store to retrieve the information in person.
When I returned to my friends to see if they had any luck getting a response from my phone they informed me it was now “going directly to voicemail.”
This stood out to me because I always have my phone set to lock and shutdown after ten failed attempts at the passcode to access the phones full functions. That being said, if the phone receives an incoming call, it can always be answered, no matter the lock settings. Common sense and the intention of returning a found phone dictates one would answer said phone if it is repeatedly called; the person calling most likely being the owner of the phone calling from an alternate. I concluded that whomever had the phone at this point had no desire in its return to me.
I hastily returned to FedEx-Kinko’s and was greeted by Felicia, the Assistant Manager, identifying herself as the woman I spoke with on the phone earlier. I requested the Corporate Customer relations number as I previously mentioned and she rudely turned her back to me and asked the employees all at once if “anyone has seen ‘this guy’s’ iPhone?”
To which one of the employee’s, who was leaning on my artwork earlier, retorted matching Felicia in utter disregard for customer courtesy, “Oh, is it that same guy about the iPhone or whatever?”
Ignoring the fact anyone would try and find a possession, not to mention one that retails for $500, I mentioned to Felicia that there was a surveillance camera pointed directly at the spot I last saw my phone. I asked her if she could review the taps and gave her the approximate time of 4:15p to narrow the search. She said she was not allowed to do that and only the store manager had that capability. With that, Felicia began to walk away. I regained her attention and asked when I would be able to speak with the store manager regarding this issue and when the tapes would be reviewed. Felicia unprofessionally responded, “Why? It’s not like were going to show YOU the tapes.”
Acknowledging that this situation was unnecessary and I would speak with the store manager on another date, I suggested I leave alternate contact information – which included an alternate phone number, my email address, and mailing address- should the phone show up. Felicia grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down the information I provided and informed me the store manager would contact me about reviewing the surveillance footage.
On January 20th, 2009 at approximately 11:15am, after no word from FedEx-Kinko’s store manager or of my phones return, I called Store #0230 and requested to speak with the store manager. I was greeted by a gentleman calling himself “Taz” and identified as the store manager. He informed me that he has “just received the note on his desk” and would review the tapes and get back to me. I inquired if there was anyway I could see the footage for the approximate time of 4:15p for the duration of five to ten minutes to which he said, and I paraphrase, “not really, maybe if you had filed a police complaint.”
I informed him that I had done just that earlier that day but would prefer not to involve the authorities if needn’t be. Taz informed me he would look at the tapes and while he attempted to end the conversation I requested a time frame to which I should hear back from him. Taz stressfully exhaled and said, “call be back around 4pm today, I should have time to review the footage by then.” I thanked him and ended the conversation.
I called at approximately 4:15pm, noting to myself that up until that point my phone had been absent three days. When I was forwarded to Taz, he said he was just about to review the footage and would call me right back. I responded with an alternate number where I could be reached.
Some twenty minutes later, Taz calls with an explanation not mentioning the surveillance footage. The story Taz, Store Manager, told me was as follows:
On Saturday, an employee of Starbuck’s Coffee which is located adjacent to the FedEx-Kinko’s found my iPhone and returned it to an employee of FedEx-Kinko’s for safe keeping. The iPhone had been located and that it was in the employee’s locker. That employee, however, was unreachable at the moment but would be returning the following day and I would be able to come into FedEx-Kinko’s after 4pm of that day [Wednesday] to retrieve my phone.
After hearing this, I couldn’t help but point out to Taz the discrepancies in this convoluted story. To begin, I was never at Starbuck’s and if they found it there, what would possess them to leave their premises and turn it in to a completely unrelated store next door? Taz, backtracked and said, “Oh, No. The Starbuck’s employee happened to be in FedEx-Kinko’s because the two employees are friends.” I countered with the fact that when I left after paying for my scan, there were the clearly marked uniformed employees of FedEx-Kinko’s, a young man of eastern decent making copies in the back of the facility some 10 yards away and around a half glass wall, a young Asian girl in the computer stations and two Caucasian males (whom both had their own iPhones) waiting for a pick-up order ten feet away from me. There were no Starbuck’s employees standing around. Nor where there any customers waiting behind me. I also stated that the relation the iPhone had to the register, not to mention it being a black phone on a cool grey counter top, would be hard to miss by any employee who would be paying attention to the cash register. Not to mention, if the phone was returned and I left several ways to contact me for just this reason why was I not notified immediately let alone it being three days past? And if the employee was unreachable, how were they so sure it was in the employee’s locker for “safe keeping?”
Taz attempted to backtrack again and I interrupted and simply requested my phone available for return immediately. Taz informed me that he was leaving and that he was handing it over to Felicia from this point on.
I mentioned to Felicia that if they knew an employee had my property, why could the not cut the lock off the locker and be done with this situation? I reminded her I had a police report I could show and that there must be some way of getting building security or maintenance to cut the lock. Felicia said she would try to contact someone and would call me back. She called me back approximately ten minutes later and said that was not an option and I would have to wait. She informed me my phone would be there by 4pm the following day. I asked if she would be present to guarantee the return of my phone and she said, “Yes. I will be here.” I asked for the Starbuck’s employee’s name that found my phone so that I may thank that person. That information was unavailable.
January 21st, 2009 I returned to Store #0230 and requested to speak with Felicia. The employee working said she was not in but asked if I were there for the phone. I said yes and she went to the back office, made a phone call from a desk phone, closed the door, and then emerged with my phone. She handed it to me without saying a word and walked to greet a customer. I powered my phone on to see that it had been restored to factory presets. This confirmed that my phone had not been cut off to save battery but was indeed tampered with. I had an appointment set up at the Apple Genius Bar in SoHo and made that my next destination. While at the Apple Store Genius Bar, I had the Apple Genius run a diagnostic on my iPhone. The report confirmed it had been restored several times over the course of its absence. When I returned home, I called AT&T customer care and spoke with both Deborah and Vickie (full names available upon request) who both informed me that my data and internet usage had been active over the several days my phone was absent.
On January 24th, 2009 at approximately 1pm I contacted FedEx-Kinko’s Corporate Customer Relations and was transferred by random switchboard to Mamie Allen at the Dallas Branch. I informed her of the information above and stated I strongly felt that I was being misled and that the story I was told would probably not match the story that the surveillance camera tells. Mamie agreed and said she would contact the FedEx-Kinko’s location and inform them they would need to explain this situation to her in better detail because of its absurd nature or the issue would be escalated and investigated further. A couple days passed with no word, so I called Mamie at her extension and was greeted with Bonita Kegler who was covering for Mamie while she vacationed. I left a message for Mamie to respond when she returned regarding the situation outlined above. A few days later, Approximately February 2nd, I received a call from Mamie. She wanted to know what I wanted in the form of compensation for this matter, again with no mention as to what the surveillance footage revealed. I broke down my position as follows:
I am a freelance Illustrator and model and my iPhone is a vital part of both of my businesses as a private contractor. I cannot begin to mention how damaging it was to go without my phone for several days. It delayed my response with clients and agents and in turn cost me directly and indirectly. I had to spend time calling Apple and AT&T to cancel phone plans and report it stolen, not to mention the money it would cost to replace the phone or the time spent repairing relationships with my clients or trying to locate contacts that I had stored in my phone which wasn’t backed-up to my computer yet. As a model my lowest hourly rate is $150 per hour and I bill my art commissions the same.
Calculating my hourly rate with an estimated workday of 8 hrs over the course of 4 days compounds rather quickly. However, I would prefer a year’s worth of unlimited oversized color scanning and printing instead of monetary compensation. Mamie said a year might be a tad much but perhaps 6 months as there is a limit to how much they can award a claim like this. I suggested then she take my hourly rate as I outlined above and with my potential loss adding upwards of $4,800; a credit account be set up that I may be able to debit from it whenever I visit a FedEx-Kinko’s (now FedEx Office) center. Mamie said she would check on that and call me back. Mamie called later that day with Felicia on the line and asked if I would be fine with a conference call. I agreed. While on the phone, Mamie asked if I would prefer she stay on the line, I said yes. Felicia apologized with unconvincing sincerity for the situation and offered to mail a written apology along with debit-like cards for me to use, which would be the equivalent of what I asked for after she checked with her superiors. I gave my contact information and accepted the apology.
It is now March 4th, 2009 and I am as yet to receive the compensation promised to me. I stopped back into Store #0230 and spoke with Taz again regarding the situation approximately two weeks ago. He said he was “going to give me a card to use” for black and white scanning. I clarified I was promised oversized color scanning and printing. I also asked if he were “going to give me a card to use” why hadn’t I received it yet, it now being over a month after the situation took place still with no explanation as to what was seen on the surveillance footage. Taz was of little help and so I thanked him and left the premises.
I am now bringing this to the attention of the Better Business Bureau in hopes that with addition assistance I can finally resolve this situation satisfactory.
Thank you in advance,
Warner King Washington II
05 November 2008
our generation
this generation, Generation Internet or whatever we are called has seen much.
From cross color to Cable, the dawn of the internet age, smart phones, home computers, Apples comeback, the pistons as NBA Champions, gay tolerance slowly becoming gay acceptance, Hispanics becoming the largest minority, the Tigers making a comeback (still waiting on the Lions), the worst attack on US soil on 9/11, the pending depression and worst economic scare of the century, to this:
America's First Black President, Barack Obama.
I'm not one to pull the race card, but to brush over such a significant milestone in our nations history would be absurd and grossly ignorant.
President-elect Barack Obama is a symbol of progress. of hope. a reminder that the American dream lives.
i never claimed to be political. and after 2000 and 2004, i cant say i didn't have a world of doubt and anxiety over the final result of Decision '08.
However, after seeing how the election went down, I am proud to be an American.
Sure, when I went to bed Obama narrowly won with a 5 point margin, but look at the electoral college: 338 votes to Mccain's 153 - not including the final decision from Indiana.
This is a President with power and influence to support his symbolism to numerous ideals and people.
is he going to be America's savior? maybe. maybe not. He is, however, what America needs.
here's to a Hope-Filled 4 years. Hell, hopefully 8!
LiB
From cross color to Cable, the dawn of the internet age, smart phones, home computers, Apples comeback, the pistons as NBA Champions, gay tolerance slowly becoming gay acceptance, Hispanics becoming the largest minority, the Tigers making a comeback (still waiting on the Lions), the worst attack on US soil on 9/11, the pending depression and worst economic scare of the century, to this:
America's First Black President, Barack Obama.
I'm not one to pull the race card, but to brush over such a significant milestone in our nations history would be absurd and grossly ignorant.
President-elect Barack Obama is a symbol of progress. of hope. a reminder that the American dream lives.
i never claimed to be political. and after 2000 and 2004, i cant say i didn't have a world of doubt and anxiety over the final result of Decision '08.
However, after seeing how the election went down, I am proud to be an American.
Sure, when I went to bed Obama narrowly won with a 5 point margin, but look at the electoral college: 338 votes to Mccain's 153 - not including the final decision from Indiana.
This is a President with power and influence to support his symbolism to numerous ideals and people.
is he going to be America's savior? maybe. maybe not. He is, however, what America needs.
here's to a Hope-Filled 4 years. Hell, hopefully 8!
LiB
28 October 2008
"86" Warner
it's a wrap, folks.
after 2 years and one month, almost to the day, i have been officially FIRED from theHalfKing.
it's been a long and interesting run, i must say. i started off as a busser making $80 after an eleven hour day. I quickly moved up to server in a couple months - but had to go get a second job at BLT Burger to get more experience. theHalfKing was my first server job. from server i hosted a bit and eventually became a bar back to, Eamonn - a relentless yet skilled/seasoned bartender from whom i learned much. I quickly made it up to more desirable shifts with people like Eamonn and second bartender Ami heading off.
before i knew it, two years had passed and I wasnt creating any art. Art was the man reason i left Michigan for NY. subconsciously, i was getting down on myself for months and began self medicating. internalizing my grief and numbing myself with alcohol became my modus operandi and enabled me to keep going.
hitting the second major low point regarding my drinking and it spiraling back into countless blackout nights, i realized i needed to take a break. after the above mildly intense withdrawal subsided and i began to feel clear again -my eyes opened and i had to face what i had been running from: "I didn't move to New York to be a bartender or a server."
If you're picking up on a little self-righteous judgment it's because it's there.
i am very judgmental.
I am also my hardest critic.
I had to face that I didnt have much to show for my two years of hard work.
yeah, i found a great place to live and tons of new toys but my accounts where low if not empty.
i hadnt touched my drafting table in months, but I could tell you what bar to go to for a good time any night of the week.
with this epiphany, i decided to clean up my act. literally and figuratively.
cut out drinking, cleaned up my apartment and cleared off my drafting table.
got out my sketch book and went to work.
I must admit I had a pushing hand from Harvey, who is on the board of several museums here in NY (including the MoMA and the met) and PA. He loves my work and kept on my case about producing work.
Tim, a professor at SVA (my dream school) who kept reminded me there is a place for me in the art world.
for the first time ina long while years i feel creative again.
i'll prolly venture back into the service industry to pay bills, but this time, i wont be making a career out of it.
it's time i start doing what i really want, dammit. which is art.
LiB
after 2 years and one month, almost to the day, i have been officially FIRED from theHalfKing.
it's been a long and interesting run, i must say. i started off as a busser making $80 after an eleven hour day. I quickly moved up to server in a couple months - but had to go get a second job at BLT Burger to get more experience. theHalfKing was my first server job. from server i hosted a bit and eventually became a bar back to, Eamonn - a relentless yet skilled/seasoned bartender from whom i learned much. I quickly made it up to more desirable shifts with people like Eamonn and second bartender Ami heading off.
before i knew it, two years had passed and I wasnt creating any art. Art was the man reason i left Michigan for NY. subconsciously, i was getting down on myself for months and began self medicating. internalizing my grief and numbing myself with alcohol became my modus operandi and enabled me to keep going.
hitting the second major low point regarding my drinking and it spiraling back into countless blackout nights, i realized i needed to take a break. after the above mildly intense withdrawal subsided and i began to feel clear again -my eyes opened and i had to face what i had been running from: "I didn't move to New York to be a bartender or a server."
If you're picking up on a little self-righteous judgment it's because it's there.
i am very judgmental.
I am also my hardest critic.
I had to face that I didnt have much to show for my two years of hard work.
yeah, i found a great place to live and tons of new toys but my accounts where low if not empty.
i hadnt touched my drafting table in months, but I could tell you what bar to go to for a good time any night of the week.
with this epiphany, i decided to clean up my act. literally and figuratively.
cut out drinking, cleaned up my apartment and cleared off my drafting table.
got out my sketch book and went to work.
I must admit I had a pushing hand from Harvey, who is on the board of several museums here in NY (including the MoMA and the met) and PA. He loves my work and kept on my case about producing work.
Tim, a professor at SVA (my dream school) who kept reminded me there is a place for me in the art world.
for the first time in
i'll prolly venture back into the service industry to pay bills, but this time, i wont be making a career out of it.
it's time i start doing what i really want, dammit. which is art.
LiB
24 September 2008
Last Call
this past sunday night i got into an argument with an off duty manager. long story short we both said things we shouldn't have.
now im suspended for a week and its my final notice at work. any incident from here on out is immediate termination. plus this suspension is going to cost me over 1G, managers are no longer allowed to drink and im sure more is to come. Plus Jessie and I planned on purchasing our season passes for snowboarding this winter next month.
oh, and the cost of what was up until then a good friend.
oh well.
happy two year anniversary of working at theHalf King.
up next:
yet another call from mom.
LiB
now im suspended for a week and its my final notice at work. any incident from here on out is immediate termination. plus this suspension is going to cost me over 1G, managers are no longer allowed to drink and im sure more is to come. Plus Jessie and I planned on purchasing our season passes for snowboarding this winter next month.
oh, and the cost of what was up until then a good friend.
oh well.
happy two year anniversary of working at theHalf King.
up next:
yet another call from mom.
LiB
09 September 2008
"but bar keep, he worked for Chanel!!"
fashion week has pretty much come and gone. I didn't walk in any shows but I definitely partied a bit. I'll admit, i'm a little anxious to get my go but I am confident my time will come.
regardless, it foes without fell business's, especially bars, pick up during fashion week. even more so if you are in a hot spot around the city such as meatpacking, les (lower east side), and other go to's.
short side of the story is I was working sunday night behind the bar and as you would guess around 2:30am when I am fixin' to get shutting down for home and chatting up my remaining customer, mostly regulars, here comes a troop of fashion heads.
the group of eight or so consisted of 3 older white haired men, 2/3 women, 3/4 drunk and coked up, and 1/2 questionable in age.
The one older lady comes up to me almost in tears (bad start) begging for a round of shots. Peering over the beer taps i spot two wobbly 14y/oish looking girls looking like they're playing Dance, Dance Nation in slow motion.
I ask for IDs. The crowd goes silent. (another bad sign)
"Listen, we just left the shows and just need some drinks," the mouthpiece of the group says. Keep in mind my bar is off the beaten path let alone 3 avenues west and nineteen blocks south of the fashion week epicenter.
"That's fine m'am, I just need to see everyones ID," I retort. I obviously didn't want to see the older peoples to check their age, just their motor skills.
I get about half their IDs, of course none of the questionable ones, before The Mouthpiece (MP) begins ordering.
"ok, we need shots of tequila (no number, bad sign), chilled, Patron. Stellas, and---", she stumbles out before I cut her off.
"I still haven't seen everyone's ID."
"whose else do you need to see?"
"Her, Her, Her, Him, Her, Him, and Hers," I saw, pointing to the group members who look younger than me.
"this is ridiculous," some douche says as he thrusts his ID at me.
"There's nothing ridiculous about The Law, Sir. You're in a Bar."
The Mouthpiece is tearing up (why so desperate and pleading, I think to myself. Cut off at another bar, and no one else will serve you?), "We just want some drinks, can we just -- I need you to get me drinks, we're tired of walking."
"I need to see ID"
"Their from all over the world, we just left the shows."
"Then passports."
"they don't--- please, why are you being so mean."
"There are plenty of bars in the city, I will not serve anyone without ID."
"well can I just order everyone's drinks? I have ID."
"Yes, you can order your drink. One per person with ID."
"you're being, impossible."
"im doing my job. and you're friend is lighting a cigarette. No Smoking inside in NY."
"ugh, please, I dont want to be embarrassed. I'll pay whatever, please!"
"There's another bar straight down the street, try there. I'm no serving you."
"Do you see that man over there, he's worked for CHANEL! FOR PRADA!!! FO----"
"M'am, I honestly dont care who he's worked for or what you will give me, you all need to leave. It's not worth risking the Liquor License whatever it is."
after I received a few FUCK YOUs there was silence again.
its instances like these that make me ashamed to be associated with such a vapid industry. no one cared about anything but liquor and themselves. Did they forget the laws because there were so drunk? foreign? ignorance is no excuse or exemption.
get over yourselves.
regardless, it foes without fell business's, especially bars, pick up during fashion week. even more so if you are in a hot spot around the city such as meatpacking, les (lower east side), and other go to's.
short side of the story is I was working sunday night behind the bar and as you would guess around 2:30am when I am fixin' to get shutting down for home and chatting up my remaining customer, mostly regulars, here comes a troop of fashion heads.
the group of eight or so consisted of 3 older white haired men, 2/3 women, 3/4 drunk and coked up, and 1/2 questionable in age.
The one older lady comes up to me almost in tears (bad start) begging for a round of shots. Peering over the beer taps i spot two wobbly 14y/oish looking girls looking like they're playing Dance, Dance Nation in slow motion.
I ask for IDs. The crowd goes silent. (another bad sign)
"Listen, we just left the shows and just need some drinks," the mouthpiece of the group says. Keep in mind my bar is off the beaten path let alone 3 avenues west and nineteen blocks south of the fashion week epicenter.
"That's fine m'am, I just need to see everyones ID," I retort. I obviously didn't want to see the older peoples to check their age, just their motor skills.
I get about half their IDs, of course none of the questionable ones, before The Mouthpiece (MP) begins ordering.
"ok, we need shots of tequila (no number, bad sign), chilled, Patron. Stellas, and---", she stumbles out before I cut her off.
"I still haven't seen everyone's ID."
"whose else do you need to see?"
"Her, Her, Her, Him, Her, Him, and Hers," I saw, pointing to the group members who look younger than me.
"this is ridiculous," some douche says as he thrusts his ID at me.
"There's nothing ridiculous about The Law, Sir. You're in a Bar."
The Mouthpiece is tearing up (why so desperate and pleading, I think to myself. Cut off at another bar, and no one else will serve you?), "We just want some drinks, can we just -- I need you to get me drinks, we're tired of walking."
"I need to see ID"
"Their from all over the world, we just left the shows."
"Then passports."
"they don't--- please, why are you being so mean."
"There are plenty of bars in the city, I will not serve anyone without ID."
"well can I just order everyone's drinks? I have ID."
"Yes, you can order your drink. One per person with ID."
"you're being, impossible."
"im doing my job. and you're friend is lighting a cigarette. No Smoking inside in NY."
"ugh, please, I dont want to be embarrassed. I'll pay whatever, please!"
"There's another bar straight down the street, try there. I'm no serving you."
"Do you see that man over there, he's worked for CHANEL! FOR PRADA!!! FO----"
"M'am, I honestly dont care who he's worked for or what you will give me, you all need to leave. It's not worth risking the Liquor License whatever it is."
after I received a few FUCK YOUs there was silence again.
its instances like these that make me ashamed to be associated with such a vapid industry. no one cared about anything but liquor and themselves. Did they forget the laws because there were so drunk? foreign? ignorance is no excuse or exemption.
get over yourselves.
05 February 2008
SELF-DESTRUCT:¿Deactivated?
I can't remember if I blogged about it or not and I don't feel like searching.
The least 3 half years have been rough. I moved several times, lost and gained friends, and lost some more. I've spent ungodly amounts on food and shelter. The list goes on...
Overall, I have been victorious in my crusade of independence and self-awareness but it has not come without battle scars.
I was smoking and drinking heavily for a great portion of time. I was reaching 2 packs of nat sherman's a day up until a few months ago when I noticed my teeth looked a little tented and stopped buying smokes. This only resulted in me upping the alcohol consumption to compensate.
I thought, instead of joining my compatriots for a drag on those nights out on the town, i would just order another round and sip by my lonesome. Bad Idea.
You see, college and even high school were not the best breading grounds for building a healthy relationship with drugs. Go ahead and say it: what the hell was I doing partying hard in high school? Well, I did - let's move on.
I spent the better part of 2007 drinking everyday. I'm not talking a shot of whiskey in my coffee to jump start my day - I don't drink coffee - i'm talking pints of vodka---multiple pints of vodka. There were spurts when I was polishing off fifths in a night. Or hundred+ dollar tabs at bars that I barely remember - and believe me, it wasnt because i was buying the bar rounds!
Speaking of nights i can't remember, it was mostly because I was black out. There have been more than one occasion when I have awoken in my bed fully dressed, dry-mouthed, and missing credit cards, cell phones, and recollection of how I got home - If i even woke up at home. It was getting out of hand. I finally hit my low point in November.
I took two weeks off of drinking completely and reassessed my priorities. After a few days i was thinking clearer and feeling better. I thought: problem solved.
Then came the staff parties, and holiday parties, and new year parties. Same dance, different song.
Pretty much, there isn't a "one drink and that's it" clause with me. I don't know what that makes me. What I do know....today, Sinead, my general manager and Greg, the half king chief, sat me down and told me how concerned they were. Especially when it comes to how I interact with my fellow employees. It wasn't about my performance as a Bartender, besides the occasion snappiness with a customer, my performance was "stellar" they said. It was the drinking, and coming to work hung over, and conflicts with fellow staffers. It was the fact that I didn't remember what I did the night prior and that I was blacking out a couple times a week. They were coming to me as concerned people, not as my Boss and Boss. They said take a couple weeks to figure things out and they would help me in any way they could. All I had to do was tell them how. I believe them. I've said it before, The Half King is more than just any job, it really is a family there. I've worked places where they would have just fired me, but they didn't. I mean a two week suspension sucks, but at least I got a weeks pay, and they are willing to help anyway that they can as long as I am addressing the issue.
AA? possibly. Therapy? Possibly. Do I think I'm an alcoholic? no, but borderline. Or even functional. Why am I writing this? Because I hope to look back on this in a couple weeks and see that I saw I needed to make a change in my life in a constructive way and I did.
Love in Brooklyn
The least 3 half years have been rough. I moved several times, lost and gained friends, and lost some more. I've spent ungodly amounts on food and shelter. The list goes on...
Overall, I have been victorious in my crusade of independence and self-awareness but it has not come without battle scars.
I was smoking and drinking heavily for a great portion of time. I was reaching 2 packs of nat sherman's a day up until a few months ago when I noticed my teeth looked a little tented and stopped buying smokes. This only resulted in me upping the alcohol consumption to compensate.
I thought, instead of joining my compatriots for a drag on those nights out on the town, i would just order another round and sip by my lonesome. Bad Idea.
You see, college and even high school were not the best breading grounds for building a healthy relationship with drugs. Go ahead and say it: what the hell was I doing partying hard in high school? Well, I did - let's move on.
I spent the better part of 2007 drinking everyday. I'm not talking a shot of whiskey in my coffee to jump start my day - I don't drink coffee - i'm talking pints of vodka---multiple pints of vodka. There were spurts when I was polishing off fifths in a night. Or hundred+ dollar tabs at bars that I barely remember - and believe me, it wasnt because i was buying the bar rounds!
Speaking of nights i can't remember, it was mostly because I was black out. There have been more than one occasion when I have awoken in my bed fully dressed, dry-mouthed, and missing credit cards, cell phones, and recollection of how I got home - If i even woke up at home. It was getting out of hand. I finally hit my low point in November.
I took two weeks off of drinking completely and reassessed my priorities. After a few days i was thinking clearer and feeling better. I thought: problem solved.
Then came the staff parties, and holiday parties, and new year parties. Same dance, different song.
Pretty much, there isn't a "one drink and that's it" clause with me. I don't know what that makes me. What I do know....today, Sinead, my general manager and Greg, the half king chief, sat me down and told me how concerned they were. Especially when it comes to how I interact with my fellow employees. It wasn't about my performance as a Bartender, besides the occasion snappiness with a customer, my performance was "stellar" they said. It was the drinking, and coming to work hung over, and conflicts with fellow staffers. It was the fact that I didn't remember what I did the night prior and that I was blacking out a couple times a week. They were coming to me as concerned people, not as my Boss and Boss. They said take a couple weeks to figure things out and they would help me in any way they could. All I had to do was tell them how. I believe them. I've said it before, The Half King is more than just any job, it really is a family there. I've worked places where they would have just fired me, but they didn't. I mean a two week suspension sucks, but at least I got a weeks pay, and they are willing to help anyway that they can as long as I am addressing the issue.
AA? possibly. Therapy? Possibly. Do I think I'm an alcoholic? no, but borderline. Or even functional. Why am I writing this? Because I hope to look back on this in a couple weeks and see that I saw I needed to make a change in my life in a constructive way and I did.
Love in Brooklyn
01 February 2008
mountain tops take iv
I worked wednesday night until 4am yesterday (thursday) i cabbed Jaime-Lynn home before heading back to brooklyn. I hadn't packed my 'board equipment so i knew i was in for a rough morning. I finished and took a 40 minute nap before getting the call from Jessie around 6:40a. We were supposed to be meeting at my place at 6:30a. Jessie's call was then proceeded by Du saying he was already downstairs waiting.
we're such slackers.
I crawled out of bed and got dressed and started to make my way downstairs. I got a call from Edwin saying he hadto drop his son off at school and then we had to make a quick pit stop before we headed off.
7:15a: we leave my place and head to williamsburg to meet up with Jesse and Morten.
Jessie, Edwin, and I pretty much stuck to the Vernon portion of Mountain Creek the last time we visited. Edwin wanted to introduce us to South this time.
Jessie has been skiing since she was ~3 years old, but this is her 4th or 5th time snowboarding. I had never been on a mountain, let alone a snowboard or any other kind of board before 4 trips ago (one day trip a week).
Edwin is very pleased with our education and advaning skill level, so he said he was sure we could handle it.
we chilled on our usual slope on Vernon until South opened and then headed over. There's a on-mountain trail that links Vernon to Granite and then to South but it was closed, forcing us to drive.
I was a little to confident on my first run and the mountain quickly reminded me to respect it when i toed out and "supermaned" and bruised my left hip pretty nicely.
I will be purchasing a helmet very soon.
The day was a blast forgiving when Edwin talked me into going down a more advanced terrain park with the caveat: "just stay on the left or right of the jumps and you will be fine." What he neglected to tell me, he himself nicknaming me "speed demon," was that the entire path at times were jumps, regards of hitting the kickers or not. So imagine my surprise when i'm flying down the mountain at what i am guessing is the next door neighbor to 20 mph, carving and shredding and hit my first hill.....i look down a good ~50˚ drop of i'm sure no less than 30 ft.
I went airborne for a good 3 secs, almost nailed the landing but panicked a bit while trying to carve it out and when down on my ass, sliding down the mountain for a good 15-20ft. Discombobulated and hearing other boarders flying over me screaming bloody murder, i was ready to strangle Edwin. I thought "hopefully that's the only one" and continued. I really had no other option since was just inside the run. Another jump, almost identical conditions, i just heeled down that one and found the next merge off the terrain park. A little shell shocked a sat down and calmed myself for a few minutes, talking to Du who had saved me with the merge point.
I refused to end on that note and went down the other side twice more before calling it a day. Jessie had left hours prior because she had to get Morten to the airport for his international flight.
all in all, i had a blast.
LiB
28 January 2008
this guy
i may not know who i am voting for in november, but i for damn sure know for whom i wont.
don't associate yourself with me digitally or otherwise if you support Mitt Romney.
chuuuuuuump!!!*
*post inspired by Caitlin and Maggie.
LiB
26 January 2008
NEW Artist Alert
my buddy Maggie just turned me on to LA ArtistBrandon Bird
love the style, attitude, and subject matter. he's random as hell and i dig it. Plus.....HE FUCKIN MET STAN LEE!!
Thanks Mags!!!
LiB
24 January 2008
mountain tops
packing up the gear cuz i'm hitting up windham in a few hours with Patrick and his buddy from work.
tomorrows the first day of sunshine after a few days of snowing.
enjoy your friday
LiB
¿dood, where's my car-d?
while closing out my till yesterday i noticed my debit card was not in it's usual place. now i have to back track two nights ago when Joanna and I hung out and went to momofuku for dinner before heading to UCB theatre for an improv show.
the annoying part is i memorized my number so i would hate to have to do it again with another card.
i plan to finish my commission today then snowboarding tomorrow with Edwin and Du!!!
LiB
update:
apparently i ventured off to another bar after leaving UCB with Joanna. I'm being told I ran into one of Tony's friends - He was out on a date with his asian girlfriend who is puerto rican and lives in brooklyn...
I don't remember this at all nor do i remember opening a tab at the bar nor the thirty minute diatribe about why the paparazzi should leave britney spears alone. these $200 blackout nights have got to stop.
....on my way to the lower east side (LES) to reclaim my card, and close the tab.
the annoying part is i memorized my number so i would hate to have to do it again with another card.
i plan to finish my commission today then snowboarding tomorrow with Edwin and Du!!!
LiB
update:
apparently i ventured off to another bar after leaving UCB with Joanna. I'm being told I ran into one of Tony's friends - He was out on a date with his asian girlfriend who is puerto rican and lives in brooklyn...
I don't remember this at all nor do i remember opening a tab at the bar nor the thirty minute diatribe about why the paparazzi should leave britney spears alone. these $200 blackout nights have got to stop.
....on my way to the lower east side (LES) to reclaim my card, and close the tab.
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