It's been a while....

Well, not that I have a viewing audience who actually gives a crap, but I've been gone on a series of mis-adventures all summer.

Basically, my 1988 toyota corolla FINALLY died. She was a good lil car...until she left me stranded in Miami for 4 hours. Thank you for Cingular (whose service sucks my butt) - although they did, eventually, come through with a tow truck...even if the tow truck driver didn't actually SPEAK english...it's Miami, what can one expect?

So yeah, I'm the proud owner of a 99 Camry LE - which was owned by a 90 something year old guy....heh heh. Someone told me when I went to a dealership to keep in mind one thing either A) your going to get f-cked or B) your going to get really f-cked...

I'm acutally not crying about it...well the insurance and the gas...but not the car...so YAY.

Aside from that, I left the country and went to PERU for my friend Mehdia's wedding...I must say, it was a blast. I couldn't understand a thing anyone said for a week, but hey "estabien."

Anyhow Peru was really beautiful. It's amazing the sense of history, you forget that Miami and the US in general is so young...but I mean, wow, it's just incrediable. The thing that really stuck was how most of the older, broken down homes (which are all townhouse and apartment style - they don't really have single family homes - at least not in Lima where I was) anyhow these old houses are all dirty -although really solid because they are almost all brick and concrete - they have the most surprising attention to detail - crown molding in every room, decorative light fixtures and doorway entrances...such an AMAZING attention to detail...and yet the outside is sort of dingy and falling apart...

The people were really friendly, unless they were behind the wheel of a car - pedestrians beware!

Well I need some sleep.

What I learned this week in South Beach

Tonight as I was driving home from South Beach I stopped at this little all night food store on Collins (around 70th), anyhow I always pass this place but I've never been inside and I was out of cigarettes, so I decided to pop in for some smokes.

I asked for some Misty brand, which I've never tried before and didn't end up trying tonight, but since I quit smoking in January, I can't seem to find a cigarette I like...don't get me wrong, I like smoking, I just can't stand Newports anymore. Anyhow, all of this is beside the point.

Somehow the cashier engaged me in a discussion about how I went back to smoking, ultimately asking some probing questions about my life, job, relationship, career path, and what I think about our society and our failure to commit to lasting relationships.

At the age of 38 the cashier, who lived in Pakistan until 2001, had a pre-arranged marriage to a 16 year old girl (she died in 2000, which prompted his move to the US). The cashier said that in the beginning he didn't think this relationship would work, and lighting a Marlboro Light, explained that the key was compromise. He didn't prevent her from continuing college - she learned to cook while he was at work, so that she could have dinner ready when he came home. If she needed something, he was always there for her.

"If you called your boyfriend right now and you told him it was an emergency, would he give you $3,000?" I paused, playing out various scenarios. My boyfriend would probably raise an eyebrow above a suspicious blue eye and grill me about why I needed the money, and depending on my answer, might grudgingly hand over the cash - but with the stipulation that I pay back every cent.

"Yes," I told the cashier, "but, my boyfriend would expect me to pay it back."

The cashier shook his head and told me that my boyfriend should take care of me, should want to help me, and should not expect the money returned, my love and loyalty should be enough repayment. These things transcend dollar value.

The past few months I've been questioning our relationship - we are so different (he's a hottie bartender who suffers from extreme Peter Pan-ism) and I'm more of an artsy intellectual. He dropped out of high school and I'm thinking about getting my masters degree. He hates to read, I want to be a writer. I like opera, he likes hip-hop. He is into body building and health food, I'm an Italian that only cooks Italian. I see plays, he plays video games. I've been wondering why it is that we are still together and how important it is that he change for me.

On the car ride home, lighting up a Newport Light 100, which by the way I hated, I began to wonder if my boyfriend called me (and I actually HAD $3,000) would I lend him the money? Would I make him promise to pay back each cent?

Upon further reflection, I realize, probably I would. And that's answer enough for me.

How the heck do I put a picture in my profile???

Picture of Me!