Again, I am thankful for small blessings, minor miracles, and the occasional moment of awe in the middle of this post-holiday season.

Last night I moved all of my belongings into the new apartment. The "man with a van" that I hired was, perhaps, the BEST person in the world to do this job. The job that I thought would take about four hours to do (and cost me $200 with tip) was done in just over two hours and would have only cost me $70 (without tip).

By the time that the guy got to me I was his fifth gig for the day. It was around 9:30 in the evening and part of me was not looking forward to getting to bed around 2 AM but I just wanted to be out of the hell hole of my former apartment SOOOOO bad that I was willing to forgo sleep in order to accomplish it. I worked out a few plans with the moving guy when he arrived on how we would bring stuff down and get it all loaded into his van and then we just set out to get the job done. Within in a hour the entire van was loaded and in just over two hours the new apartment was filled with my belongings.

What impressed me the most with this guy was that even though I was his fifth gig of the day he was whipping stuff around as if it was the first job of the day carrying huge boxes and heavy loads that I wouldn't dare dream of carrying (been sick the past few days amongst other things) and really and truly giving this job 110% percent if not more. He never let down. He never complained, he just set out to do his job and seemed a wee bit shocked that it took over two hours to get it all done (he thought it would take much less) while I was shocked that it ONLY took two hours to get it done. The man impressed me to no levels considering the hour of night and the amount of work he had already done.

I gave him the full $200 I originally planned to give him for four hours of work.

When I handed him the cash he counted it out and looked at me as if he couldn't believe it. "You do know how much you just handed me?" he said, not sure if he should even be saying anything at all.

"Yes, actually I do," I responded determined to reward this guy for busting his ass off at close to midnight.

"You're sure about this?" he said stsill giving me a second chance to back out.

"Al," I said, "I thought this job would take four hours and you did it in two. You did a fucking amazing job and I'm eternally grateful for your help. I was still trying to figure out how I was going to get my stuff down here last week when I came across your ad on Craig's List. You've made this painless and effortless and I'm out of that hell in one fell swoop. You earned the money."

He sat there and looked at the money in his hands and I could kinda tell that he was getting choked up about it and I didn't want to make that big of a deal out of the whole situation because 1) I was truly impressed with this guy and how hard he worked and 2) he really did earn every cent of the money in my eyes. He looked back up at me and said, "All the work today was really geared towards helping pay rent for this month and this...this is going to put me well over the top. I really, really appreciate it."

Ever since the fire and the outpouring of love and support from friends, you can't help but want to give back the same to those around you. To show that same appreciation for just the small things in life which really and truly make a much bigger difference than you initially imagine. Through the smoke, debris, and ashes, I feel blessed to be surrounded by friends new and old who, if anything, are there for a kind word, a shoulder to lean on, and so much more. Despite it seeming like a shitty end to 2003, I actually think the fire was a good thing for me because it made me come to appreciate those around me all that much more.

For 2004, I wish everyone love, wealth, happiness, a shoulder to cry on, someone to help you up when you fall down, something to hit when you need a moment to vent, and a huge smile that will brighten not only your day but someone else's.

God (or whatever diety you prefer even if it's none at all) bless all of you in the coming year.

Love,

Brian, the 646 Guy

Quote of the Day

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

-- Words adapated from a traditional song
by Rabbie Burns (1759-96)

Ya know...after all the shit I went through in Florida this past week and how down I was it was nice to have my faith in my fellow man restored today...

Last night I panicked upon realizing that I left my cell phone some place other than my pocket. A friend called and learned it was in the hands of the person that found it in the back of the cab. Since I use my cell phone for EVERYTHING they said for me to call tomorrow and make arrangements to pick it up.

I freaked. I had no idea who these people were. I thought it might be the cab driver with the phone who would use it to call his friends in God knows what country. I was somewhat livid that I couldn't get it back last night. But I had no choice. I had to deal.

This morning I called up my number and got the roommate of what I assumed was the cab driver. Okay, at first I assumed it was the wife but turns out it was just the roommate someone who found it in the back of the cab (oddly enough also named Brian). I didn't know what to really make of it but they said that they would call back once Brian The Phone Rescuer was awake and I could make plans from there. Well when the call came back in Brian The Phone Rescuer wasn't going to be home for a long time after he left so my only choice was to cab over there on my lunch hour to get it. This of course was the time that I had slated for The Great Box Buying Extravaganza of 2003 but I had to choose between the two and since the phone was all the way over on the Lower East Side, it just made better sense to postpone TGBBE 2003 until after work.

Now here's where faith is restored. I rang the apartment buzzer and the roommate bounded down the stairs holding the phone in her hand and just gave it to me. Didn't ask for a reward. Didn't ask for me to pay them anything. Just handed it to me. I was floored even as I handed her $20 to say thank you not only for being so great about it all but for the honesty of it all as well. Really and truly they could have ditched the phone, kept it, run up thousands of minutes in talking, everything. But they didn't. All they did was call the last person that I had on my phone list and let them know that they had my phone and to pass the word along.

The woman I met who gave me the phone seemed shocked that I was handing her money and even said, "For real?" Hell yeah for real! 1) You saved me about $200 in buying a new phone and God knows how much headache. 2) You've been great about the whole thing and have been more than helpful. And 3) You asked for nothing in return but was expecting pleasure of doing a good deed.

As I'm about to leave she turns me to and says, "Can I give you a hug?"

It was the best hug I have had in a long time.

Sometimes it's the small things like this that can make the biggest impression.

So...let's get into the past week of my life and make it as brief as possible...

First and foremost -- My thanks to everyone who guest blogged last week. Much appreciated as there would have been too much vitriol for everyone to handle.

Grandma -- Four letter word starting with "C" and I don't mean cold. Instead of saying hello to me when I got home, her first comment was that I needed to grow my hair back because she didn't like it shaved. I told her that it was my head and my hair and I'll do with it as I please whether she liked it or not. This soon progressed in the coming days with her alternately being a raving bitch to the world's biggest martyr with my father and I alternately blowing up at her for some of her more asinine antics. To give you a more classic moment on the day I'm heading back to the airport we're driving back to my parents house as I left my phone there. Grandma has fallen asleep in the car and wakes up when she feels us pull into the driveway. She immediately starts in on how they let her sleep without waking her to say goodbye to me and starts moaning, bitching, whining, and crying.

I was sitting beside her.

Sex -- I had some. It was needed. Much needed. Helped me face the family.

SuitMan -- My one bright spot of this week. He did his best to keep my centered and focused even though he was still in NYC. Might be stopping for the New Year's party I'm attending but most likely will be out with his friends...

The apartment -- Starting the mad packing party tonight...this should be fun.

More later...I really just want to forget the last week ever happened.

Quote of the Day

Well...that was a shitty vacation. -- Yours truly to myself as I took off from the airport last night.

Quote of the Day
You are so lucky that I made you work late on Christmas Eve because it's raining outside!

Thank you, Brian, for the opportunity to run my mouth today. First, let me start out by saying that the company I work for SUCKS!  I was repeatedly informed that, not only will I not be able to leave early on Christmas Eve with the rest of the firm when it closed at 1:30, but I will have to come in today, when the firm is also closed for the entire day.  Some crap about some client's something being done before the end of the year.  I really don't care.  This is MY holiday.  My boss surely was home in her 57th Street high-rise when she called me at the office on Christmas Eve (evening) and gave me today's quote....the same boss who doesn't celebrate Christmas... hmmm.... where is the logic?

Santa was good to me this year. It was evident on my face as, while leaving my parents' house on Long Island yesterday, my mother commented: "Steven, you're happy. You didn't get a bunch of crap this year." (Yes, I usually do get a bunch of crap, and have to endure the very fake "Thank you. I love it [monotone]", or, "I saw this at the store and wanted to buy it [rolled eyes]".) Actually, my brother got me Harmon/Kardon sound sticks for my iBook, Carlos bought me a georgeous Kenneth Cole watch and an iPod (which I caught Nana, my 85-year old grandmother, jammin out with), and my parents gave me MONEY!! By far, the best gift of all.

Today it seems I have to play tour guide to Carlos' sister, who is visiting from Venezuela and doesn't speak a spit of English. I speak limited Spanish (which is hard to believe from all the Spanish I've had in me over the years...I should be fluent!) How do I tell her I have to work and she'll have to stay home? She's been looking forward to this all week! I can tell her flatly in Spanish, sure, but how do I EXPLAIN the circumstances, and get my sincere regret to come across, and how much I know my job SUCKS, all in broken Spanglish? This is NOT going to be a good day. Let me go wake her ass up.

Check on me at apt3e.com.

Quote of the Day

For unto you a child is born. . .
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country Shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them