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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Friend Test

It makes sense that, unless you really know me, you'd assume I was born in the Bronx. It was one of many trick questions on my Friendtest and the one most people missed. The correct answers were: 1. What borough was I born in? Manhattan (10 points) In fact, I was born in Manhattan, at the now defunct Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital, a couple of blocks away from Mount Sinai. Supposedly, I was born in the hallway at around 5am, which possibly explains a lot of things. 2. Which High School did I graduate from? Lakeland HS (10 points) I…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Adios, Nueva York

CITY LIMITS' September/October 2004 issue has a timely article, Adios, Nueva York, about the Puerto Rican exodus from New York City during the last decade. According to the 2000 census, NYC lost 10% of its Puerto Rican population between 1990-2000! While many left for the island, a significant number have headed to surprising destinations like Lawrence, MA and Reading and Allentown, PA, doubling the overall Latino population in each city -- 60%, 37% and 24% respectively. The article itself focuses on Allentown - the metropolitan neighbor of my theoretical oasis, Bethlehem - and the troubles migrating Nuyoricans, primarily from the…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

The Mid-Range Gets the Short End of the Stick

"San Antonio makes sense for us, and has given us much that I'm grateful for ... but Austin still feels like home." Phil pretty much nails my feelings about life these days with that statement, and I don't particularly like it. The feeling, I mean. For me, where we are in the Bronx right now "makes sense for us." Financially, at least. In a really skewed sorta way. On a genetic level, being born and raised in NY spoils you for anywhere else. Makes you predisposed to accepting the ridiculously high cost-of-living; the hyper-competitive job market; the ever-increasing gap between…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Life is cyclical

Life is cyclical, a simple if debatable truism. Live long enough, you will begin to see the patterns. Stand still long enough and you might get trampled by your past. I have no idea why but I felt the need to put that into words. In other news, since I have nothing particularly interesting to offer, let's take a walk through blogland... 1) Bassey, Miss you much. I feel like I owe you an email about something but can't remember what. Let me know. Also, please set up an RSS feed so I can keep up with your journal via…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Pumpkin Seeds: Random as Ever Edition

1. An innocent compliment gone awry, or people with too much time on their hands? Depends, I guess. Poyer was simply my shorthand for poet-lawyer, aka the multi-talented hyphenate Nina Parrilla. It was spurred partly by her recent post on realizing how much her lawyer-side "has become a huge part of [her] identity." I appreciate poets (or any creative types) that acknowledge being multi-dimensional, particularly those like Nina who pursue their other facets with equal vigor and success. 2. There's a ton of "poets" out there, including some of my favorites, who have no other significant identity to claim. If…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Pumpkin Seeds: Opening Day Edition

1. Multiple entries starting @ 4:20pm; alcohol-fueled, heavily edited for typos. 2. F**k a stereotype! It's Sunday. Football's on. Wife and kids are out of the house. Fridge is full of cheap, leftover beer. The Jets just won an exciting season opener. All four of my fantasy teams are in the mix so far. I'm cheering the Eagles on against the Giants, mainly because I have several of them on one of my main fantasy teams. I'm successfully maintaining a nice buzz that shouldn't follow me into tomorrow. It may not be the American Dream but it's certainly a welcome…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Pumpkin Seeds: Gone Fishin’ Edition

1. The good thing about a five-day weekend is it gives you a chance to slow things down a little bit and get a better sense of where you are. The bad thing about it is it might confirm your discontent with where you are. 2. My volunteer stint at the UnConvention was a pleasant experience as I ended up doing the box office for two shifts and got a newfound appreciation for what a little bit louder was able to accomplish over its five year run. Theater's a tough business, political theater even more so, and the gutcheck it…

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