moocowinthecity

Midnight Prayers

moocowinthecity 2007-01-08 No Comments

Midnight Prayers
Jericho, New York
Matthew L. Schwartz

And as I enter my synagogue, the lights on low; the eternal flame over the ark burning bright highlighting the Hebrew above the Ark with our eternal flame: Know Before Whom You Stand:as angels tremble in awe/I bow my head in respect and I begin to beat my chest as I admit my transgressions and make them known before God/my tears streak down my cheeks as they bear witness against me:I cast myself away from my sins in this midnight hour/seeking this midnight reprieve and in the darkened halls of my shule/where I was raised:I raise my voice to heaven and pray that my words are carried to God, blessed be he, on the backs of angels’ wings as synagogue mice daven next to me as equals/for we stand as one creation before the lord in our darkest hours/both made by his hands and both to return to dust/and as I scream with my head flung high to the heavens while I face East, as the clock turns so too shall I face the gallows of ignorance and hate/my voice shattering, so primordial, I hear his voice calling back to me:

I will take you, I will hold you, I will love you, I will redeem you, I will sanctify you: breathe in my scent, feel my presence behind you/if you fall I will catch you/I will count you among my portion but not among my flock:you are not a sheep passing under my staff meant to walk placidly among the many. Go forth a soldier in the service of your lord/combat hate:hunger:war:greed:apathy/do my work and within my arms you shall be secure/in my tabernacle you shall be safe from harm/my heart will be your strength and the Torah your guidance:hold it and hold me/know it and know me, stand up for the weak/feed the widow and the poor:with your body protect the children:the infirm:the weak:let your body not be used as a vessel for war but let it become a symbol for peace and a physical shield for those too weak to defend themselves for I will heal all wounds and your flesh will tell the story of righteousness.

And as I anoint myself with oil and bind myself with the words of the lord upon my hand and between mine eyes: the leather of tefillin wrapping me in safety, the sun begins to rise and from darkness comes light, from chaos comes order and as I walk outside to confront my accusers/their fingers are pointed at me, people testifying and bearing false witness as they stare me in the eye, forked tongues shouting out lies about who and what I love/but I do not fear as I am lifted up among mine enemies and though I can see their camps as they surround me I shall fear no evil for the lord is my salvation and though in their hands they hold the rocks of bigotry:ignorance:hate I know I am not forsaken for he who is exalted has his hands cupped around me as angels guard my steps, taken in trepidation as I step forth into the future, so unknown but ordained/as it is written so it shall be:as I begin to walk from the hushed quiet center of this storm, making my way through these blind fools who cannot see as lighting and thunder resonate with each step as the wind blows and they look up at me in condemnation while they hurl stones that would shatter their own windows/I respond in tongues for all to hear me and for all to understand as they tell me that I have no heroes, that I am an abomination, that I have cast myself in sin, that I am in darkness so thick that the lord cannot see me/that I lie with a man as I would lie with a woman.

My heroes are my people/the same ones who you say want me oppressed: I turn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and I live in the spirit of Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca and Leah and I walk the path between the physical and spiritual planes with Miriam as my guide: no human being is an abomination for we are all made in the divine light of God; it is our actions that determine our place among the stars as six million shed their blood so too did my brothers and sisters who bore the weight of the triangle at the camps and the sin that I am cast into is the sin brought upon by circumstance/though from a wealthy background I am but to you a second class citizen and though I hang out with Rogues and Slags and Hookers and Thieves there is honor in preaching to my congregation because I would rather be counted among those who are true to their nature and who are honest with me about who they are and what they believe than among a thousand congregations who cannot crawl through the eye of a needle/there is no darkness which can hide me from the grace of the lord, for grace is bestowed upon those who suffer persecution in the pursuit of peace and mine is the kingdom of heaven and I will not relinquish my birthright for if the lord were to make a stone which he could not lift it would be his word/his promise alone, that would leave that stone upon the ground. I do not lie with a man as I would lie with a woman and I know of no man who would lie with me in such a way: they lie with me like they would with another man:masculine and beautiful and blessed by God and though I be forsaken by some who say that they are of my flesh and my blood I am taken up by God and though I may be beaten the lord will by my salve and my healer and though I may be lost in a sea of confusion all I have to do is look up to the eternal flame and I have once again found my way.

I continue to push through the crowd as cuts appear on my skin, my clothing tattered and as I reach the outer edge of this chaos/this evil, I turn around to see nothing but an empty parking lot, the morning newspaper strewn upon the ground, blowing around: headlines so cutting, of a world gone insane and the voices, so quiet now in the leaves shrouded by free speech and opinions and spin, I walk through this mess swiftly, because I can feel the presence of another Hitler in the winds.

Midnight Prayers

moocowinthecity 2007-01-08 No Comments

Midnight Prayers
Jericho, New York
Matthew L. Schwartz

And as I enter my synagogue, the lights on low; the eternal flame over the ark burning bright highlighting the Hebrew above the Ark with our eternal flame: Know Before Whom You Stand:as angels tremble in awe/I bow my head in respect and I begin to beat my chest as I admit my transgressions and make them known before God/my tears streak down my cheeks as they bear witness against me:I cast myself away from my sins in this midnight hour/seeking this midnight reprieve and in the darkened halls of my shule/where I was raised:I raise my voice to heaven and pray that my words are carried to God, blessed be he, on the backs of angels’ wings as synagogue mice daven next to me as equals/for we stand as one creation before the lord in our darkest hours/both made by his hands and both to return to dust/and as I scream with my head flung high to the heavens while I face East, as the clock turns so too shall I face the gallows of ignorance and hate/my voice shattering, so primordial, I hear his voice calling back to me:

I will take you, I will hold you, I will love you, I will redeem you, I will sanctify you: breathe in my scent, feel my presence behind you/if you fall I will catch you/I will count you among my portion but not among my flock:you are not a sheep passing under my staff meant to walk placidly among the many. Go forth a soldier in the service of your lord/combat hate:hunger:war:greed:apathy/do my work and within my arms you shall be secure/in my tabernacle you shall be safe from harm/my heart will be your strength and the Torah your guidance:hold it and hold me/know it and know me, stand up for the weak/feed the widow and the poor:with your body protect the children:the infirm:the weak:let your body not be used as a vessel for war but let it become a symbol for peace and a physical shield for those too weak to defend themselves for I will heal all wounds and your flesh will tell the story of righteousness.

And as I anoint myself with oil and bind myself with the words of the lord upon my hand and between mine eyes: the leather of tefillin wrapping me in safety, the sun begins to rise and from darkness comes light, from chaos comes order and as I walk outside to confront my accusers/their fingers are pointed at me, people testifying and bearing false witness as they stare me in the eye, forked tongues shouting out lies about who and what I love/but I do not fear as I am lifted up among mine enemies and though I can see their camps as they surround me I shall fear no evil for the lord is my salvation and though in their hands they hold the rocks of bigotry:ignorance:hate I know I am not forsaken for he who is exalted has his hands cupped around me as angels guard my steps, taken in trepidation as I step forth into the future, so unknown but ordained/as it is written so it shall be:as I begin to walk from the hushed quiet center of this storm, making my way through these blind fools who cannot see as lighting and thunder resonate with each step as the wind blows and they look up at me in condemnation while they hurl stones that would shatter their own windows/I respond in tongues for all to hear me and for all to understand as they tell me that I have no heroes, that I am an abomination, that I have cast myself in sin, that I am in darkness so thick that the lord cannot see me/that I lie with a man as I would lie with a woman.

My heroes are my people/the same ones who you say want me oppressed: I turn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and I live in the spirit of Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca and Leah and I walk the path between the physical and spiritual planes with Miriam as my guide: no human being is an abomination for we are all made in the divine light of God; it is our actions that determine our place among the stars as six million shed their blood so too did my brothers and sisters who bore the weight of the triangle at the camps and the sin that I am cast into is the sin brought upon by circumstance/though from a wealthy background I am but to you a second class citizen and though I hang out with Rogues and Slags and Hookers and Thieves there is honor in preaching to my congregation because I would rather be counted among those who are true to their nature and who are honest with me about who they are and what they believe than among a thousand congregations who cannot crawl through the eye of a needle/there is no darkness which can hide me from the grace of the lord, for grace is bestowed upon those who suffer persecution in the pursuit of peace and mine is the kingdom of heaven and I will not relinquish my birthright for if the lord were to make a stone which he could not lift it would be his word/his promise alone, that would leave that stone upon the ground. I do not lie with a man as I would lie with a woman and I know of no man who would lie with me in such a way: they lie with me like they would with another man:masculine and beautiful and blessed by God and though I be forsaken by some who say that they are of my flesh and my blood I am taken up by God and though I may be beaten the lord will by my salve and my healer and though I may be lost in a sea of confusion all I have to do is look up to the eternal flame and I have once again found my way.

I continue to push through the crowd as cuts appear on my skin, my clothing tattered and as I reach the outer edge of this chaos/this evil, I turn around to see nothing but an empty parking lot, the morning newspaper strewn upon the ground, blowing around: headlines so cutting, of a world gone insane and the voices, so quiet now in the leaves shrouded by free speech and opinions and spin, I walk through this mess swiftly, because I can feel the presence of another Hitler in the winds.

So I Finally Figured Out What The Hebrew Graffiti Means

moocowinthecity 2007-01-07 No Comments

So it took me awhile but I was able to figure out what the Hebrew Graffiti Means (the writing on the wall, if you will). For those of you who don’t remember, I found some awesome Graffiti at the stop right after the Briarwood Station on the F line to Queens from The City; Steve (stevivor) was kind enough to take a photo for me, which I’ve now stolen from his site and added to my picture page to save him bandwidth (don’t sue me Steve =P):

The Graffiti 

The above reads:

ב”ה

Now, after some internet research as to the meaning, I came across something that helped over at FAQs.org)

B”H
	(Baruch Hashem) + Translation: Blessed be G-d (occasionally) (B’Ezras/Ezer Hashem) + Translation: With G-d’s help (i.e. at top of papers, sometimes with an ayin following the beis)

(Source)

So I Finally Figured Out What The Hebrew Graffiti Means

moocowinthecity 2007-01-07 No Comments

So it took me awhile but I was able to figure out what the Hebrew Graffiti Means (the writing on the wall, if you will). For those of you who don’t remember, I found some awesome Graffiti at the stop right after the Briarwood Station on the F line to Queens from The City; Steve (

stevivor) was kind enough to take a photo for me, which I’ve now stolen from his site and added to my picture page to save him bandwidth (don’t sue me Steve =P):

The Graffiti

The above reads:

ב”ה

Now, after some internet research as to the meaning, I came across something that helped over at FAQs.org)

B”H(Baruch Hashem)
+ Translation: Blessed be G-d (occasionally) (B’Ezras/Ezer Hashem)
+ Translation: With G-d’s help (i.e. at top of papers, sometimes with an ayin following the beis)
(Source)

Update of Spiffyness

moocowinthecity 2007-01-07 No Comments

A Big Update But You Should Read It =P

I know I haven’t updated in a while, between the splint on my hand, the holidays and the normal Mishugas of life, I was just broadsided (literally, and figuratively); however I’m back in the groove…and if you read the whole thing, I’ll give you…a cookie.

North Carolina

North Carolina was amazing, it was so good to see family friends again, Mom and I had an amazing time just hanging out with everyone and sharing in their traditions, It was so wonderful to see everyone again. We really love their family and I’m glad that they’ve become a part of ours.

Grades & Reflections

This semester’s grades are finally in:

A- in Arabic III
B- in Linguistic Analysis I
B in Linguistic Analysis II
A in Paauw’s class

And yes, they came in that order…if you’re astute you can see that this spells out ABBA which means that, like Margaret Cho, my fairy godmother is a Drag Queen. If you’re even more astute, you’ll see that Arabic has a – next to it, which means I need to work even harder next semester to bring that up to an A…bring it on.

I’m looking forward to this coming semester with great anticipation, one syllabus is online already that I’m aware of (which can be found here in *.pdf format) and it’s eight pages long with a reading list of a little over three and a half pages long and footnotes…and I’m chomping at the bit for it to start. It’s reading, writing and research intensive with options for presentations and no exams (my kind of course). The professor informs us that he’s put together a reader, but as a student who’s been at the University for five years, I’m sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, and for him to go “hahahaha, the reader wasn’t able to be printed, go buy the books.” Ahh experience…one of life’s better teachers.

In my other course I’m studying under the European Union’s lead authority and advisor on Minority Language Rights (he spends half his year in the U.S. and half elsewhere and calls three continents his home)…he’s amazing, and quite frankly, he could read the phonebook to me and make it sound interesting and I’d do what most have never seen me do – sit perfectly still in a chair, on the edge of my seat, in dazed and utter bliss – he has a wicked, tawdry, roguish sense of humor and I love every minute of it.

CPhT, IAPP, CIPP or Alphabet Soup

I’m in the process of completing my Continuing Education Requirements (I have to do 20 CEs over two years for re-certification) for the CPhT this year. I have to say, however, that of the CEs I have the option of doing, none have been terribly thrilling this time around (the next one I get to take in the line is “Safe Bowel Preparation with Sodium Phosphate”). The last time I was in the CE process they had some really fun ones, this year they’re all rather disappointing. I did find a couple of them really instructive though, the Assessing and Managing Risk in Pharmaceutical Settings one, most notably.

I sent in my application to join the IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals) yesterday, so I can begin to get ready to take the CIPP Certification Exam (Certified Information Privacy Professional); I took their practice exam blind (with no studying) and did fairly well (well enough to pass). I’m fairly astute with computers and I have a strong medical support staff background (I worked in a nursing home for three years as a volunteer, an audiologists office for four years doing clerical and insurance claims work, and at a pharmacy for four years, three of which were as their lead technician).

The IAPP says you should dedicate 15-20 hours studying for the CIPP Exam, I’m scheduling in 30 hours of study time and adding on an additional 10 so I can complete their reading list of books and case studies to make sure that I’m prepared. After that, I’m taking a follow up practice exam (to see progress over time) and if I’m satisfied, then registering to take it this Summer in Washington, D.C. (or New York City if they’re offering it there again) or this coming Fall depending on scheduling.

I have to say that the really impressive thing about the IAPP is that the study guides for the exam and practice tests are free to download on their website, compared with other certification exams that I’ve taken where you had to pay for a ton of materials (all of which had varying degrees of usability).

I’m also taking a follow up/support class for my Certificate in Paralegal studies this semester at UB from the same instructor I had when I was taking the Certificate Course through the Millard Fillmore College

Of course, things like this leave my grandmother perplexed, because I’m going into translation, so I try to elucidate it for her: Paralegal, Pharmacy directly relate to the ATA Exams (Legal and Medical Translation) and are invaluable for knowledge in the fields I’d be likely to translate in (as well as provide me with practical skills to function as support staff: the paralegal notably with the ability to use a law library, they also provide ways of getting cash until I get to where I want to be). The CIPP Exam illustrates that I know how to keep both Medical and Legal records as well as Sensitive Data properly secured, and the NIH course I took really just illustrates that I know how to not kill or maim research participants. So they’re all sort of related and all reinforce the same message: that I can be trusted with your works to be translated in confidence and will treat them with the confidentiality, security and respect that they deserve. Now I just have to finish learning the languages I want to work in.

I’m hoping Candie (covarla) will come with me sometime in the first few weeks of the semester to sit for the Notary Licensing Exam as well, I’m taking the P.I. exam at the end of the semester, which means that by graduation (providing things go according to plan) I’ll have a B.A,, CPhT, CIPP, P.I. after my name (I’ve already taken and passed quite a few of the certification and certificate exams i want, I just need to take a few more before I graduate)…alphabet soup man, alphabet soup.

Oh…I’m also taking the bartender certification course this year, I’ve been practicing my bottle flipping too.

My Left Wrist

I went to the orthopedist the other day and it turns out it was just a really, really bad sprain with a burn and it’s healing up nicely (and I’m out of the splint!) so I’m quite happy. He said if I feel any pain or need any hand therapy to come back, but I don’t foresee that in my future…first, because I don’t think it’ll be necessary, and secondly because I waited an hour and a half to see him and knowing that my number one pet peeve is when people are late/don’t respect other people’s time then I’m setting up a confrontational Doctor/Patient relationship every time I’d be going to see him and I’d probably be resistive to therapy because of that kind of relationship and therefore I’d essentially be setting us both up for failure. I’d like to avoid that, so if I need it I’ll find another professional.

New Years

blue02dude came up for New Years Eve Weekend and we had a good time hanging out in New York City, going to Four Food Studio & Cocktail Salon, and doing our thing. We attempted New Years Eve at Times Square which turned out to be a bust because we were ten blocks away (we didn’t get up at 6am…) which means not only can’t you see anything, but you can’t hear anything either, add to that the fact that my back was acting up (a side effect of the accident I had a few years ago) that it was just easier to go home (and pick up some champagne on the way) and actually get to see the ball drop from my house on the big screen T.V. in surround. Towards the end of his stay unfortunately I started getting sick so we had to take things mellow but we made it into NYC a good two or three times.

The Non-Existant Long Island LGBT Scene

Long Island has a large amount of social justice organizations that are geared towards LGBT issues and causes and I do recall a few dance clubs at one time in the past, however most of them, it appears, are no longer active. I went to a bar with Chris when he was here and it was just disappointing. Buffalo has an amazing club scene with clubs that rival some you’ll find in NYC (I know, who’d have thought?) and bars that equal or at least come close to those you’ll find in NYC. Toronto has an amazing LGBT scene (Woody’s, Goodhandy’s to name just a few) and on Long Island it’s just not existent or apparently incredibly underground (which I doubt given the prevalence of the social justice organizations that are quite in the open). Also, I enjoy the company of not only Gay and Straight men and Lesbian and Straight women, but a large portion of gender bending, inter-sexed, trans-everything people and I’m just sort of amazed that Buffalo has venues for everyone and that The Island doesn’t, it seems sort of backwards.

Medical Update

The ‘cold’ turned out t be a full blown Upper Respiratory Infection so I feel like shit (though getting better), but I was given a Z-Pack and cough medicine at the doctors so that’s good and it’s clearing up.

I did, however, ask him to prescribe me the Hepatitis B Vaccine (which also, I’m told, vaccinates you against Hepatitis A) which is a series of shots over three months; and while incredibly expensive (since insurance, bless them, doesn’t cover it) is worth it’s weight in gold. I’m a big fan of preventative medicine. I’ll be going in for my first shot(s?) this Monday.

That said, this semester I’ve scheduled a lot of training hours that I have to stick with, including weight vest training (84lbs X-Vest Weighted Training Vest & Tethered Suicides Cardio), Drop in Yoga and Pilates.

I’ve had an overall weight loss (since I started dieting the Summer of my Freshman Year) of 133lbs. I need to loose another 30-50 and more importantly, I need to build flexibility and muscle mass. Work in progress my ass…I’m ready to be the finished product.

Ruminations of a Mad Man Volume I

I head back to Buffalo this Thursday (the 11th) since Sarah had to push it back a day so she could go see Miki’s concert (Miki is her Sister).

Anyways, time to go take my next dose of Z-Pack, more updates later =)

Update of Spiffyness

moocowinthecity 2007-01-07 No Comments

A Big Update But You Should Read It =P

I know I haven’t updated in a while, between the splint on my hand, the holidays and the normal Mishugas of life, I was just broadsided (literally, and figuratively); however I’m back in the groove…and if you read the whole thing, I’ll give you…a cookie.

North Carolina

North Carolina was amazing, it was so good to see family friends again, Mom and I had an amazing time just hanging out with everyone and sharing in their traditions, It was so wonderful to see everyone again. We really love their family and I’m glad that they’ve become a part of ours.

Grades & Reflections

This semester’s grades are finally in:

A- in Arabic III
B- in Linguistic Analysis I
B in Linguistic Analysis II
A in Paauw’s class

And yes, they came in that order…if you’re astute you can see that this spells out ABBA which means that, like Margaret Cho, my fairy godmother is a Drag Queen. If you’re even more astute, you’ll see that Arabic has a – next to it, which means I need to work even harder next semester to bring that up to an A…bring it on.

I’m looking forward to this coming semester with great anticipation, one syllabus is online already that I’m aware of (which can be found here in *.pdf format) and it’s eight pages long with a reading list of a little over three and a half pages long and footnotes…and I’m chomping at the bit for it to start. It’s reading, writing and research intensive with options for presentations and no exams (my kind of course). The professor informs us that he’s put together a reader, but as a student who’s been at the University for five years, I’m sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, and for him to go “hahahaha, the reader wasn’t able to be printed, go buy the books.” Ahh experience…one of life’s better teachers.

In my other course I’m studying under the European Union’s lead authority and advisor on Minority Language Rights (he spends half his year in the U.S. and half elsewhere and calls three continents his home)…he’s amazing, and quite frankly, he could read the phonebook to me and make it sound interesting and I’d do what most have never seen me do – sit perfectly still in a chair, on the edge of my seat, in dazed and utter bliss – he has a wicked, tawdry, roguish sense of humor and I love every minute of it.

CPhT, IAPP, CIPP or Alphabet Soup

I’m in the process of completing my Continuing Education Requirements (I have to do 20 CEs over two years for re-certification) for the CPhT this year. I have to say, however, that of the CEs I have the option of doing, none have been terribly thrilling this time around (the next one I get to take in the line is “Safe Bowel Preparation with Sodium Phosphate”). The last time I was in the CE process they had some really fun ones, this year they’re all rather disappointing. I did find a couple of them really instructive though, the Assessing and Managing Risk in Pharmaceutical Settings one, most notably.

I sent in my application to join the IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals) yesterday, so I can begin to get ready to take the CIPP Certification Exam (Certified Information Privacy Professional); I took their practice exam blind (with no studying) and did fairly well (well enough to pass). I’m fairly astute with computers and I have a strong medical support staff background (I worked in a nursing home for three years as a volunteer, an audiologists office for four years doing clerical and insurance claims work, and at a pharmacy for four years, three of which were as their lead technician).

The IAPP says you should dedicate 15-20 hours studying for the CIPP Exam, I’m scheduling in 30 hours of study time and adding on an additional 10 so I can complete their reading list of books and case studies to make sure that I’m prepared. After that, I’m taking a follow up practice exam (to see progress over time) and if I’m satisfied, then registering to take it this Summer in Washington, D.C. (or New York City if they’re offering it there again) or this coming Fall depending on scheduling.

I have to say that the really impressive thing about the IAPP is that the study guides for the exam and practice tests are free to download on their website, compared with other certification exams that I’ve taken where you had to pay for a ton of materials (all of which had varying degrees of usability).

I’m also taking a follow up/support class for my Certificate in Paralegal studies this semester at UB from the same instructor I had when I was taking the Certificate Course through the Millard Fillmore College

Of course, things like this leave my grandmother perplexed, because I’m going into translation, so I try to elucidate it for her: Paralegal, Pharmacy directly relate to the ATA Exams (Legal and Medical Translation) and are invaluable for knowledge in the fields I’d be likely to translate in (as well as provide me with practical skills to function as support staff: the paralegal notably with the ability to use a law library, they also provide ways of getting cash until I get to where I want to be). The CIPP Exam illustrates that I know how to keep both Medical and Legal records as well as Sensitive Data properly secured, and the NIH course I took really just illustrates that I know how to not kill or maim research participants. So they’re all sort of related and all reinforce the same message: that I can be trusted with your works to be translated in confidence and will treat them with the confidentiality, security and respect that they deserve. Now I just have to finish learning the languages I want to work in.

I’m hoping Candie (

covarla) will come with me sometime in the first few weeks of the semester to sit for the Notary Licensing Exam as well, I’m taking the P.I. exam at the end of the semester, which means that by graduation (providing things go according to plan) I’ll have a B.A,, CPhT, CIPP, P.I. after my name (I’ve already taken and passed quite a few of the certification and certificate exams i want, I just need to take a few more before I graduate)…alphabet soup man, alphabet soup.

Oh…I’m also taking the bartender certification course this year, I’ve been practicing my bottle flipping too.

My Left Wrist

I went to the orthopedist the other day and it turns out it was just a really, really bad sprain with a burn and it’s healing up nicely (and I’m out of the splint!) so I’m quite happy. He said if I feel any pain or need any hand therapy to come back, but I don’t foresee that in my future…first, because I don’t think it’ll be necessary, and secondly because I waited an hour and a half to see him and knowing that my number one pet peeve is when people are late/don’t respect other people’s time then I’m setting up a confrontational Doctor/Patient relationship every time I’d be going to see him and I’d probably be resistive to therapy because of that kind of relationship and therefore I’d essentially be setting us both up for failure. I’d like to avoid that, so if I need it I’ll find another professional.

New Years

blue02dude came up for New Years Eve Weekend and we had a good time hanging out in New York City, going to Four Food Studio & Cocktail Salon, and doing our thing. We attempted New Years Eve at Times Square which turned out to be a bust because we were ten blocks away (we didn’t get up at 6am…) which means not only can’t you see anything, but you can’t hear anything either, add to that the fact that my back was acting up (a side effect of the accident I had a few years ago) that it was just easier to go home (and pick up some champagne on the way) and actually get to see the ball drop from my house on the big screen T.V. in surround. Towards the end of his stay unfortunately I started getting sick so we had to take things mellow but we made it into NYC a good two or three times.

The Non-Existant Long Island LGBT Scene

Long Island has a large amount of social justice organizations that are geared towards LGBT issues and causes and I do recall a few dance clubs at one time in the past, however most of them, it appears, are no longer active. I went to a bar with Chris when he was here and it was just disappointing. Buffalo has an amazing club scene with clubs that rival some you’ll find in NYC (I know, who’d have thought?) and bars that equal or at least come close to those you’ll find in NYC. Toronto has an amazing LGBT scene (Woody’s, Goodhandy’s to name just a few) and on Long Island it’s just not existent or apparently incredibly underground (which I doubt given the prevalence of the social justice organizations that are quite in the open). Also, I enjoy the company of not only Gay and Straight men and Lesbian and Straight women, but a large portion of gender bending, inter-sexed, trans-everything people and I’m just sort of amazed that Buffalo has venues for everyone and that The Island doesn’t, it seems sort of backwards.

Medical Update

The ‘cold’ turned out t be a full blown Upper Respiratory Infection so I feel like shit (though getting better), but I was given a Z-Pack and cough medicine at the doctors so that’s good and it’s clearing up.

I did, however, ask him to prescribe me the Hepatitis B Vaccine (which also, I’m told, vaccinates you against Hepatitis A) which is a series of shots over three months; and while incredibly expensive (since insurance, bless them, doesn’t cover it) is worth it’s weight in gold. I’m a big fan of preventative medicine. I’ll be going in for my first shot(s?) this Monday.

That said, this semester I’ve scheduled a lot of training hours that I have to stick with, including weight vest training (84lbs X-Vest Weighted Training Vest & Tethered Suicides Cardio), Drop in Yoga and Pilates.

I’ve had an overall weight loss (since I started dieting the Summer of my Freshman Year) of 133lbs. I need to loose another 30-50 and more importantly, I need to build flexibility and muscle mass. Work in progress my ass…I’m ready to be the finished product.

Ruminations of a Mad Man Volume I

I head back to Buffalo this Thursday (the 11th) since Sarah had to push it back a day so she could go see Miki’s concert (Miki is her Sister).

Anyways, time to go take my next dose of Z-Pack, more updates later =)

I’m alive!

moocowinthecity 2007-01-01 No Comments

Happy New Year everyone, I’ve been away from LJ for a bit what with travelling and the wrist issues and all; however I’ll be reading, commenting and posting either tonight or tomorrow and playing catch up =)

– M

I’m alive!

moocowinthecity 2007-01-01 No Comments

Happy New Year everyone, I’ve been away from LJ for a bit what with travelling and the wrist issues and all; however I’ll be reading, commenting and posting either tonight or tomorrow and playing catch up =)

– M

I Just Got Out of the E.R…and my arm’s in a splint…

moocowinthecity 2006-12-23 No Comments

I was driving to drop off some more holiday cards to the post office (nir1, your card is going to be late, so is yours starbuckx and maleficentseyes you and your mom will have to wait for presents…I know you understand lol), coming off of country drive, about to make a left turn onto Manetto Hill Road in Nassau County, I had the right of way, and was beginning to make a left, when a car decided to gun the red light, out of no where, and slammed full force into the drivers side door of the car I was driving (my Mom’s Acura MDx), deploying my airbag (I do recall screaming “Oh Shit! ” as this was occurring because…what else does one do other than brace for impact)…as soon as I realized what happened (everything happens so fast) I smelled gas and said “fuck whatever’s in the car,” unbuckled, jumped out the passenger door (my adrenaline was pumping and I was like “this shit better not explode”) and then went to the other car…where the other driver (who was younger than I am) immediately admitted fault. Fortunately, the person next to him was an EMT from Jericho…as was another person near by who was an EMT from the Plainview division and they called the police as well as the fire department to deal with the gas and chemical issues as both cars were leaking, while I called my Dad and he and Sam (my 16 year old younger brother) came (Sam so he could take digital pictures for the insurance company and dad so he could deal with the other kids dad who I had him call so they could handle insurance and I could just…stand around).

When the officer got there the other Kid admitted fault instantly, said he tried gunning the light, and this being Plainview, which has a certain small city charm to it despite the population (we’re a close knit Jewish-Italian community), my younger brothers boss (who owns the bagel store near by) was driving home, saw me and then saw dad and said “Is this accident you!?” and when he realized I had been hit, also pulled over and this started the initial town gathering and in about .002 seconds, the entire town knew (he also drove Sam home which was good because my mother was just ready to kill the other driver for what could have happened let alone for injuring me and her car, and Sam was like “this is Matt…he’s alive…this is the car…the car, not so much…”

Two EMS workers (now that the ambulance came) and my Dad said I should get my wrist looked at so I was brought by ambulance to the E.R.; where they took X-Rays, told me that my wrist was burned by the airbag and that they thought it looked like it’s been fractured; but that I had to go to an orthopedist to be sure – and they gave me a tetnus shot (which I was making an appointment to get with my doctor when I got home so that was convenient since I can now cross that off my to-do list), treated the burn, put my arm in a custom fiberglass splint (which they form to your arm) and wrapped it in a couple of ace bandages.

So, now I’m home, about to take Vicodin, watch Southpark and pack to fly on vacation tomorrow because NOTHING is going to stop me from getting on that airplane and heading to North Carolina.

every day’s and adventure.

Peace all 🙂 I’ll keep you updated as I’m updated.

I Just Got Out of the E.R…and my arm’s in a splint…

moocowinthecity 2006-12-23 No Comments

I was driving to drop off some more holiday cards to the post office (

nir1, your card is going to be late, so is yours starbuckx and maleficentseyes you and your mom will have to wait for presents…I know you understand lol), coming off of country drive, about to make a left turn onto Manetto Hill Road in Nassau County, I had the right of way, and was beginning to make a left, when a car decided to gun the red light, out of no where, and slammed full force into the drivers side door of the car I was driving (my Mom’s Acura MDx), deploying my airbag (I do recall screaming “Oh Shit! ” as this was occurring because…what else does one do other than brace for impact)…as soon as I realized what happened (everything happens so fast) I smelled gas and said “fuck whatever’s in the car,” unbuckled, jumped out the passenger door (my adrenaline was pumping and I was like “this shit better not explode”) and then went to the other car…where the other driver (who was younger than I am) immediately admitted fault. Fortunately, the person next to him was an EMT from Jericho…as was another person near by who was an EMT from the Plainview division and they called the police as well as the fire department to deal with the gas and chemical issues as both cars were leaking, while I called my Dad and he and Sam (my 16 year old younger brother) came (Sam so he could take digital pictures for the insurance company and dad so he could deal with the other kids dad who I had him call so they could handle insurance and I could just…stand around).

When the officer got there the other Kid admitted fault instantly, said he tried gunning the light, and this being Plainview, which has a certain small city charm to it despite the population (we’re a close knit Jewish-Italian community), my younger brothers boss (who owns the bagel store near by) was driving home, saw me and then saw dad and said “Is this accident you!?” and when he realized I had been hit, also pulled over and this started the initial town gathering and in about .002 seconds, the entire town knew (he also drove Sam home which was good because my mother was just ready to kill the other driver for what could have happened let alone for injuring me and her car, and Sam was like “this is Matt…he’s alive…this is the car…the car, not so much…”

Two EMS workers (now that the ambulance came) and my Dad said I should get my wrist looked at so I was brought by ambulance to the E.R.; where they took X-Rays, told me that my wrist was burned by the airbag and that they thought it looked like it’s been fractured; but that I had to go to an orthopedist to be sure – and they gave me a tetnus shot (which I was making an appointment to get with my doctor when I got home so that was convenient since I can now cross that off my to-do list), treated the burn, put my arm in a custom fiberglass splint (which they form to your arm) and wrapped it in a couple of ace bandages.

So, now I’m home, about to take Vicodin, watch Southpark and pack to fly on vacation tomorrow because NOTHING is going to stop me from getting on that airplane and heading to North Carolina.

every day’s and adventure.

Peace all 🙂 I’ll keep you updated as I’m updated.