Barcelona... one week later

The stone streets smile back at me as they give a beating to my tired but reliable boots.

I'm finally in the city I've been dreaming about for the past two years. I am living on a little street in the Borne area of Barcelona. I live with a few people; it's very l'auberge espagnole-ish on the outside. I live with a German girl who works for a non-profit and a male funk musician from the UK. We total a range of ages in the flat, but get along well.

Right now there is a lull and I am walking the streets at 2am. Men approach me to sell me single cans of beer, as drinking on the streets is done here.

I have a balcony in my room and I can look at the people as I hear a noise from the street.

Last night I had a dream there was a party in my building and tonight our next-door neighbors are certainly throwing something loud. In the dream there was bread and red wine flowing, and lots of folks teetering in and out. Neighbors and new friends were in attendance. It seems like the party is always there when I need it. Perhaps I need that tonight.

Girls get home at 3; Boys get home at 5

So I've been meaning to write this for the past few days and of course I always want to update my blog with something interesting and honest. Everyone who knows me well and probably the readers of this blog know what I am going through right now.

This blog has always been used for my personal anecdotes and ideas wherever I am. I am always honest and show the truth without compromising the potential of my dreams.

So right now I am still living in Brooklyn, but I am on the move. In fact, to Chinatown next month which I am more than excited about. I really, honestly never thought I would be able to afford that borough. Sad as it may be, Manhattan is not a place that people can live anymore. But I found a cheap place to call my home for a little while.

I have a couple of shows coming up in Bushwick and Queens. If you are a band and would be interested in playing, comment here and I will let you know what slots I have left.

In travel news, I can finally take vacation off from work, so if you have travel recommendations, also let me know. Janna suggested San Diego, and I was also thinking of going to LA to visit Melissa or Seattle to see Laura. I will be going somewhere. It's the summer, travel season.

I have much to look forward to, I really do. Get ready.

Leaving 223 13th street again

It's permanent. I'm actually doing something permanent, not in the usual sense. I fear the permanent, the static; it's a lot of adulthood to deal with. But this move is me letting go again, getting to a healthy point. I'll have new responsibilities on my plate, but no longer a landlord, I ain't no slumlord. I've been waiting and hoping for this moment for almost a year, a smile should be creeping over my face. I'm complacent.

Welcome to my apartment. I hope you enjoy it and wear it well like I did. I'm packing up almost any remnant of my experience and throwing out a lot of things I never thought I'd part with. It's better this way, live with less, grow in new surroundings.

Not poetic, methodical. I'm amazed by my friends who travel and leap from one place to the other, and I wish I could do it more. I miss you all right now: Luke, Lauren, Aurora, Connie, Janna, Amanda, Alex, Laura (both of you), Melissa (all of you), and time escapes me. I love reading your blogs, Lauren and I miss you a lot. I hope I see you all soon. Oh I will. I'm making this plan to do everything I can to be the friend I miss (don't be confused).

I was supposed to go to DC this weekend but packing takes precedence, so I'm in Brooklyn. I want to be done with this, I'm lazy yet determined yet thoughtful, how does this work? Sorry all, this is my babbling, I'm leaving my home drivel. There must be some morsel of intrigue in this entry. Do keep reading, though.

I care about you.

A cat comes into my room and my hunger is stifled briefly. I breathe deeply, look longingly at my notebook for respite, nothing there. Blank pages abound, I am on a mission. I will return.

Countdown to Philly

On Friday night I'm heading on that Chinatown bus back down to Philly and you should come with me. I'm couchsurfing with Teresa, home of many comfortable couches and the most welcoming host I've met. We met at a UPenn college party where I taught Ross how to ride a bike.

Saturday night is the show that we worked very hard getting for Worst Case Ontario on their way back from playing the Launch Festival in Lancaster, PA. It's going to be at the Khyber in Old City, so please stop by if you are in the city that night.

Vacation will be such a sweet respite from a challenging week, another challenging week. No boyfriend on this trip, just girls, my band and Ross. Sometimes the bus relaxes me, so familiar. I know the right moment to call to say "I'm in town, when are you free?" I go through my phone and see who is philly, not like Facebook or CouchSurfing, but my own personal locator. I organize chat lists like this (by location). I have friends all over the world, even if their locations change, this method satisfies me.

Once I get into town, I walk through the city from one end to the other. Why oh why can't there be a good transit system? It's okay, I'd rather walk. I have a favorite bookstore and many restaurants and coffeehouses that I have yet to try. It's a liveable, comfortable city that I have been a frequent visitor of (used to call it my 2nd home city) since I met Ross and his friends in 2003.

I'm looking forward.

CS 101

Love everyone you meet. Explore universal ideas. Make friends with someone in every part of the world. 

From Bastien: "meet up with friends' friends so you have news to share."

Stay awake as long as you can. You don't want to miss a moment.

Always visit.

I miss couchsurfing, a lot. I'm going to travel this summer and there's nothing that can stop me. I recently told my co-workers about my penchant for cheap travel. They were interested and excited to have me as a resource. I can look forward which is really important. I look forward to new places and people and sharing everything I've got.

UPDATE

Let's go for a massive update. I am so sorry for not writing in six months. It's been hectic, boring, poor and some other adjectives that I really don't care to mention. I have barely traveled which is very sad. However, I went down to DC and Philly as per usual and have had wonderful experiences there. In the next two weekends (outside of this one) I will be heading to both cities and my first weekend back I will be in NYC celebrating Eric's birthday.

I have a job now, writing about wed sites. I have a boyfriend now, that's Eric, yeah. I'm going to start writing now. I promise.

My friend Mandy just moved to South Korea and she seems to be having the best time. I'd really like to go there, as I would most places. But I'd especially like to explore Asia (in general), which sounds crazy. I know it's a whole continent, but I've really only been to two continents. Europe is beautiful too of course and I want to return oh so badly. With this new job, I am paying off my debt and saving with cheap rent at a house nearby.

This time in my life right now is going to make me understand why I came back, what I had left to give to NYC. Cliches avoided, I am biding my time here, waiting for another chance to leave. That's not fair but I can't help wanting to see it all.

Faithful

Travel in the US is, well, very different. I'm all beached out, New Jersey-ed out, or even New Jersey beach-ed out. I have gone non-stop since I left DC again, which is good, bad, and exhausting. I felt like I was in limbo with intense ups and downs in my hometown. You remember what it's like in familiar geography but sights and sound have changed. No original radio stations remain from high school days, no associations with those close friends from the past, it colors everything I've seen there. New experiences in this city confuse me as I always think from the past when I'm in DC, my past. Good friends remain which I am fortunate to have. How have I known someone for over 15 years and still remain close?

Then I went to New Jersey again and spent money, the first time since I returned from Europe. With the money I have receieved for this trip to Arizona, I am now even for that trip.

With my monetary spending, I have to keep that in mind: faith. Gary taught me that term a few days ago in regards to some anxiety I had. I have faith in my next adventure. Always pushing forward, never regressing.

But screw Delta, seriously. I am writing as we take off from Atlanta, my short delayed layover. So much bustling around, southern accents and nothing helpful.

I find it harder to travel within the US, but I still am spirited along the way. More companions will emerge and I will go where I've always wanted.