New York Trip

Last weekend, Chris and I traveled to New York City for an end-of-the-summer splurge. We stayed at a cute little "lodge" in Chelsea, we went to the American Museum of Natural History, the Met, and MoMA, ate out at some good places, and saw Avenue Q on Broadway. In addition, there was some shopping involved, since we went to a massive H&M and also took in the Century 21 discount clothing store near the 9/11 blast site. What follows are some choice pictures from the trip. Over the next few days, I'll talk more about MoMA and Avenue Q with some more pix about those events.

Start spreading the news

Start spreading the news
Originally uploaded by Bigrextinct.

There's something really pathetic about this picture, but I like it nonetheless. The landscape, my expression. Years from now I will either look back on it as a "grad school expression" or I will use it to teach a course about urban ennui.

Thanks to that lady

Thanks to the nice lady
Originally uploaded by Bigrextinct.

This is the only photo from the entire trip that involves both myself and Chris. It also shows how we're both wearing really impressive jeans. A nice lady volunteered (unasked, mind you) to take it. It turned out well. It's a great picture of what should be a really good friendship...thanks Chris for using all of your skills (and your fat cash from the summer) to engineer a post-end-of-the-relationship au revoir sendoff!

Rooftop Cafe

Rooftop Cafe
Originally uploaded by Bigrextinct.

This painting is part of the rooftop cafe of the Met. I liked the way it seemed to match Chris's shirt. As you can see from the look on his face, he was very Zen about being a subject for a photograph. He seems very calm for someone who's about to go to graduate school at MIT.

Before the dinos

Before the dinos
Originally uploaded by Bigrextinct.

I know I'm supposed to be obsessed with dinosaurs, and I certainly am, but before we got to the dino displays we landed in a beautiful room of the Museum of Natural History with a giant whale and some really great, traditional, meat and potatoes museum dioramas. This one reminded me that I used to like polar bears more than dinosaurs.

My lost in translation moment...

My lost in translation moment...
Originally uploaded by Bigrextinct.

Looking at this photo, you'll notice that Spongebob is directly in the center of the photo. Well, ever since he became a symbol for homosexuality for the religious right, I've found him absolutely fascinating. Sighting him on Times Square, Chris automatically wanted a picture. The thing was, his costume was really grungy and it looked like one had to pay to get a photo with him. As we were semi-approaching him to see if he looked respectable, he stopped a woman and said, "You're the most beautiful woman I've seen yet tonight." So much for Spongebob as a queer crusader. He's straight as an arrow. Yet the photo is still pretty amazing, I think.

Talking with Rex

Talking with Rex
Originally uploaded by Bigrextinct.

Yes, this is me, and yes, I am in the gift shop at the American Museum of Natural History. I became so enraptured as a result of the dinosaur display there (and as a result of the Avenue Q performance the night before) that I couldn't resist an impromptu puppet dinosaur performance. Too bad the security guard didn't like it as much as Chris did. He told us it was against the rules to take photographs of the items in the gift shop. Thus, these are valuable (and now contraband) pictures.

Hotness!

When I got up this morning, John had left a piece of paper for me on the dining room table. He'd scribbled a note on it that indicated, with some stupefaction, that he discovered it on the doorknob when he was leaving the house for the day. Here's what had been typed on the piece of paper:

Dear Neighbors,

The ladies of residence T.I.T. would like to invite you to an "oh shit the summer is ending" party. This Friday August 12th you and everyone you know are invited to a luau at 111 Shamrock Road beginning around 10:30. Yes yes, everyone gets lei'd. The fine establishment will be serving the best in tropical trashcan punch, Jell-o shooters, and the most of exotic of cocktails...PBR? But please feel free to BYOB if you're so inclined. Forward this on to any and all lists, friends, acquaintances, and nemeses.

With love and kisses, we hope to see you there,
The ladies of TIT House


I don't think I really need to make any comments on this, do I?

Evacuating this job

Today marks the last day of my summer job (a job I've had for a number of years, and may continue to have in the future, who knows). My real summer occupation is, of course, my dissertation, but I've been registering first year students at UVa two days per week for the last month. The students come in with some possible schedules and courses, and I enter them into the computer. The job has also involved me being a pseudo-supervisor of the other grad students working the job, telling them when to go to lunch and other things. I haven't enjoyed doing this, and I'm really tired of the whole situation. There have been a few days without AC (and nearly 100 degree heat) and on Friday we had the evacuate the building due to the fact that it had filled with exhaust and CO.

While I'm making money (I just got some new pants at Banana Republic, the gay capital of Cville), I'm not making the progress I could be making on the dissertation. Over the next few weeks, I hope to remedy this. Anyway, this is a boring post, but it's coming from me, amidst a less-than-exciting job. More later when there is actually news.