vince ϟ blog

I took the subway yesterday with plans to meet my buddy Mario for lunch at Jay’s Deli, one my favorite sandwich spots in the city. He was already there when I arrived. “Dude, mybad for being late.” Mario said it was okay and we ordered our food. They were pretty good except that they fucked up and put one of those shitty purple mushrooms in Mario’s sandwich. He instantly shrank to half his normal height. “What-a the heck-a!” Mario exclaimed. “I want-a my money back-a!” “Calm down, ya filthy little wop,” I muttered. “This is embarrassing for me too.” I walked over to the counter and called over the employee. “Look, I’ll take one single mushroom topping — a red-spotted one.”

Feeling like crap today. It must be the lack of sleep I’ve been getting. Tonight will rectify that. Work has been slow these past several days but will pick up once new edits are needed next week. Here’s hoping that brings me up positivity-wise. But with that kind of business means less time for hobbies and third places, such as no bicycle riding next Tuesday. This bums me out since I wasn’t able to go last night either. Since Chinese classes are taking a short break, however, I am looking forward to returning for some No Lights No Lycra. Okay! Enough of the downer talk. Gratitude time. Things I’m grateful for at the moment: • I’m doing a good job of maintaining my weight. • Friends coming back into my life that I haven’t seen in a while. • Day drinking last Sunday with my friend, A. Man, I love me some day drinking when the weather is nice. • That I’m constantly improving on my social skills. One recently example is that my slip-ups don’t bother me too much anymore. This stuff is working. • That I’m into the things that I’m into. I really wouldn’t want it any other way.

It’s Wednesday. Last night’s bike ride was super fun but super short for my tastes. However our stop at the rad bar serving great brown ale and fried chicken fit my tastes damn perfectly. After no contact for a month, I just talked to Dee on the phone two days in a row. Zero idea how that’s going to turn out. Fucking Texas, man. Today I’m feeling drained and lethargic. I blame not enough cycling. At least I’ve got chicken.

Los Campesinos! // February 2017 @ The Teregram Ballroom, Los Angeles

Gratitude Friday. Things that I’m extremely grateful in life right now: • Last weekend’s Chinese school party and the Los Campesinos! Gig. • The amazing people in my life — friends, new acquaintances, people who       reach out. I need to get better at doing the same with others. • Getting back to bicycle riding. And this time in groups! Weekly! I’ve done it twice now and it’s really making my Tuesdays. • My new responsibilities at my job. I’m getting paid to write Youtube videos. It’s a helluvah awesome way to become improve my writing and use different parts of my brain. • I’m getting better at controlling my bad habits. Discipline is tough but I’m trying to get there. Another weekend is upon me. It will be a mix of some light editing and heavy Chinese studying, as well as hanging out with a friend I haven’t seen in six years. Looking forward to how that pans out.

“Hello Sadness” by Los Campesinos!

What a week it was last week. “Valentine’s Day” was made up of being invited to a group bike ride at night — one of many bike gatherings aka “crews” aka et cetera in LA. We were about ten deep full of peeps. It was super fun as we met in downtown, cycled to a Glendale brewery, shared good conversation over food and brews and proceeded to cycle back to downtown by the nighttime L.A. river. It’s nights like those that make life worth it. Following an enquiring email, I suddenly found myself back in Chinese language school Thursday night and threw myself into studying all weekend. I’m actually at a K-town cafe right now where I should be studying but instead I’m blogging right here and now. Oh shite!

Another weekend has come and gone. The highlight was having a rip-roaring good time yesterday at Six Flags with friends. In preparation for tomorrow night’s group bike ride, I decided to take my bicycle to work. With semi-warm weather finally showing up, it was a great way to start the day. Looking forward to night riding later tonight as well. I do, however, need to get off my ass and get my bike in for it’s yearly tune up.

It’s Friday. Free lunch at work today which blew my mind. Saturday will be full of work and Sunday I will be going buckwild at Six Flags. As for tonight? Date night with myself. It shall include some podcasting and watching The Empire Strikes Back. Am I too full to order pizza? Maybe. Will I do it anyway? Probably.

“Dramophone” by Caravan Palace

It’s been raining a lot lately and I’m currently on my break at work. One hour to go before I start my Wednesday night: dancing at No Lights No Lycra and then dinner/drinks at the bar next to my apartment. So far the biggest change of the year has been my return to drinking black coffee. It’s good. You should do it.

“Grass Stain” by Waxahatchee

Batwings Catwings // August 2016 @ The Smell, Los Angeles

Drive it like you stole it.

I’ve had a sore throat since Sunday and it’s been a total bummer. I get sick way too often nowadays. I’m going out drinking tonight so we shall see if it makes me get worse or if me being game for it is a sign that I will be getting better.