- Ralph Waldo Emerson  

This Entry Features: so goddamn much it overwhelms me, aliens, red rings, government experiments, the word "terrorism" and "Bush" so I see those lovely hits from the government's Carnivore program, misused of public resources, lack of lights, long lines, a yard of phallus, no presents, Xen gets jumped over, lamentations I will laugh at next year, angel eggs, the search for angels, Heather, KC, morals

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Gods, there is too damn much to write about. I had been putting off writing until I had the new computer installed and functional in my room. Today is the first day I can really say that.
We begin at an arbitrary point, because I personally think that it is both interesting and unusual. You do not tune in, if you will excuse the phrase, to read a mundane life. You read me, I would hope, because I am unique.
Here is the story. On the 16th, Melissa, Evan and I decided to explore Pine Bush. For those of you who do not know, Pine Bush was a UFO hot spot several years ago and is supposedly the setting for Whitley Streiber's books chronicling his abduction experiences. Melissa and Evan had taken numerous trips to Pine Bush to investigate, but never seriously (they didn't bring cameras or such). Still, they marked it unusual enough to return frequently.
We arrived around ten thirty. The entire town was essentially shut down, as they said it would be. Very few lights were to be seen in houses and it generally gave an ominous feeling. I, for one, think towns should almost always be somewhat active, being nocturnal and all.
After a little driving, we found the Jewish Cemetery. According to Evan, the Jewish Cemetery had been the spot where seekers used to wait to see UFOs. It was also said to be haunted and he stated that these two facts were probably not unrelated. There were hints at experiments with other dimensions, but nothing solid was stated. Melissa waited in the car, in case she needed to make a quick getaway should the cops arrive (she was going to tell them that she was lost or something to that extent).
Aside from being fenced in as far as I could see, the outside of the cemetery featured sporadic barbed wire that I got caught on once (not to worry, I extricated myself well). I asked Evan if he wanted to hop the fence with me to get better pictures. This idea did not appeal to him, as we had limited means and it was rather cold. We would another night. I got very dizzy and disoriented walking by the graveyard and said as much to him. It should be noted that I very rarely get dizzy and certainly didn't think a graveyard should provoke anything like that. We explored the perimeter until Melissa honked the horn accidentally and we took it to be the signal recalling us.
After this, we drove around more seeking evidence of... anything. They regaled me with a small sightseeing/story-telling session, informing me that a place we just passed was where they saw a very slow moving plane (not so unusual as planes from Stewart Airport can usually be seen) take a sharp ninety degree angle straight up. Or that they had attempted to come to Pine Bush once, but the police stopped them and said menacingly, "I think it would just be best if you turned your vehicle around now and headed home. There is nothing to see that way." We saw some odd buildings, like a large barn that was lit up from the inside and had tent-like walls (they equated it with the bee house in The X-Files movie). And all of the houses were very new and many of them were shuddered closed though obviously inhabited.
Melissa had to stop the car once because she, too, became dizzy and disoriented and didn't feel right driving. We serendipitously ended up on a street that is supposed to be important in the stories, though I didn't recall why at the time. We took many photos, though most of my digital ones did not come out well owing to the night. I did get a strange one when we were taking pictures of a plywood manger scene (Evan stated early in the adventure that we needed Jesus, thus...). One is the normal manger scene.

Above: strange red ring

As I am in the habit of taking multiple pictures because the originals do not always come out well, I took another. This one shows a glowing red ring on the upper left hand side of the screen. I did not see anything interfere with my taking a picture, and yet there definitely is an odd ring there. Evan took pictures of it as well, though his will have to be developed before we can see if it corresponds.
After I got home, I began researching Pine Bush online. Lo and behold, there was even more information that Evan had stated. All the places we had visited were practically holy sights for UFO researchers not five years ago. And I had been living not 45 minutes away from it all this time. As such, it is rather convenient that I am such a freak about the paranormal. Something like growing to the destiny your reality affords you.
I ordered movies and books about the Pine Bush UFO phenomenon through the library (this is what I am doing when I am supposed to be working). My co-worker spotted the book I pulled off the shelf about it and gave me an odd glance. It is possible I am not making the best impression upon them. But I have to be well-educated for the next time we go, with Emily in tow this time.
And there will be a next time.

Lines Behind Queues
As part of my birthday present and in attempt to get me a birthday present, Emily, Kelly, and I went to the city on Saturday of last week.
On the way down, we had the requisite conversation about how the skyline looked empty without the towers and how it was still such an enormous shock. I said something to the effect that there should be two black holes where the towers were. Emily quickly agreed, though I honestly have no idea what the skyline should look like. I more wanted there to be holes so I could tell what was missing.
We were going to look at the Christmas lights, which I naively imagined to be ubiquitous and overwhelming. I wanted the city to be blinking and undulating. It was really no better than anywhere else that I have seen. Except that it was overcrowded. Sacs actually had metal bars set up to keep people looking at their windows in line. And they were indeed in lines. Totally around the block. We had no intention in following suit. We walked by the windows and got the full effect. I started laughing when I realized that the music they had chosen to play was from "The Nightmare Before Christmas." A tasteful choice, to be certain.
We walked to FAO Schwarz, where Emily assured me my present was to be found. The line there was so bad that they honestly had a man with a bullhorn herding the crowd. And people were being herded. However, we had to play delivery boy with an item Emily's sister had left behind and didn't feel particularly bovine. So we hopped a cab far away from the cud chewing, with the reassurance that I would be getting a birthday present.
I have this thing with bad birthdays. I think a lot of people do. They just end up being disappointments. For example, the fondue in the shoe incident of a few years back, when I had to deal with Virginia hitting on Katie and me and puking. And the fact that when I had a little get-together last Sunday so my friends could have cake and whatnot, absolutely no one came. Not even Emily, because she had become too ill and tired. It was disheartening.
Anyway, back to the story. We eventually ended up in Greenwich Village. I had heard wonderful things about the Village. This is where artists were made and starved and wrote gripping plays about AIDS and painted mayors with elephant feces. This way a place to live. No, wrong. This is the home of the most sex shops per square inch. I had to shield Kelly's virginal eyes from three-foot tall dildos. This is not a nice place. I was lied to. Lied to, I tell you!!!
A present was never procured for me, though Emily got a new ball for her tongue ring that looks like a pink watermelon beach ball. I was promised a gift when Emily finds one.
On the way home, we, sans Kelly who had a bus to catch, talked about our early relationship. I think I gave voice to a lot of things I had been thinking and not saying. Like that I felt rushed into the physical side of being in a relationship before I was fully ready. She assented that I was right, though took mild offense at my assertion that she acted as though my will had little to do with the eventual outcome. Later, we expanded upon this conversation and she poured a lot of her soul out for me. As much is private and has little to do with me, let alone you vultures, I will only share what is directly pertinent. She basically told me that, in the beginning of our relationship, she forced the physical side because she was forced into the physical side in a prior, incredibly abusive relationship. In essence, I suppose, she sublimated these issues onto me. If she could do this to me, it wasn't so bad that it was done to her, likesay? She said she would apologize, though. I think she actually meant that she would apologize, but there were no words to express it. At least, I hope this is what she meant. Overall, it was one of those superb late night conversations that I thrive on when absence cannot occur to make the heart fonder.

Give Good Kia!
Friday, my technical birthday, was Emily's black belt test. I had spent the night at her house on Thursday for the express reason that she worried about sleeping. It is possible that little was accomplished by my having been there, but I didn't much mind having the pleasant company. Emily, understandably, went from being totally calm to nearly in tears all day. I mostly just reassured her when appropriate. I knew she'd kick ass at the test, figuratively speaking. She is the daughter her master never had.

Above: I am furthest to the left, fearing for my life

Positively no reason to fear.
The test itself took forever, though that may be because I was hungry and fully aware that there was a six foot sub sandwich awaiting consumption at M's house. Because she was testing for her black belt, they had her go nearly last. To my surprise, they requested that Emily do her flying sidekick (a kick over three people that breaks a rather large board on the other side) over me. I assented to the use of my body and assumed crash positions. While I have total faith in her abilities, I tend to have slight issues with any appendage that can break through wood being fired in my direction, even if it is my lover's foot. Especially then. Of course, she executed it flawlessly.
After a cute essay, her master presented M with her black belt. There was much crying. I mostly smiled and gurgled (hungry, you see).
Before leaving the gym, they had Emily cut a celebratory cake with a blunt sword. Oh, the festivities. At the actual party, Emily's therapist presented her with two $85, front row orchestra seats to Urinetown, evidently an edgy new Broadway play. I was amazed at the generosity.

Blackjack
I am 21. I can buy alcohol and rent a carpet shampooer... You'll note the lack of appeal. Most alcohol is far more reminiscent of doctor's offices and furniture polish than it is of a beverage (or, judging by my peers, lifestyle). And my monastic cell of a room (you know, one of those plush monasteries. With the computers and hordes of books. And swords) barely shows enough carpeting to even be worth a vacuuming.
I am the oldest I have ever been. What chronological milestone do I now have to look forward to? I suppose thirty? Thirty... You know, I was a teenager not too long ago. It is a good gig, though no one realizes that at the time. It is entirely possible that "college student" is equally, though differently, a good gig. It is too close to judge yet.
Twenty was such a nice round number. I was currency. I won't be currency again until I am fifty. Erm. I think a lot of my youth passed me by. I had far fewer youthful indiscretions than I think I should have had.

Nephelim
Wednesday, my final day of tests, I was spending time with Emily because I had a four-hour break. As such, we did some window-shopping in New Paltz. I had no intention of desiring anything, as I am rather in minor debt right now. (Incidentally, despite working at a job that pays be more money per hour than I have ever gotten before, I am much poorer. Erm). Of course, as I didn't want to want anything, I found something amazing. There were these two pendants. They were silver and roughly egg shaped. Inside was a picture of an angel carved into amber. I was amazed and instantly covetous of these items. I wanted one, immediately.
I fluttered over the store owner and told him I would like to look at them. The man informed me that they were old and Russian. They were intricately carved. Emily equated them with the rosary bead we had seen in The Cloisters. I needed to possess one, even if they did cost $85. Finally, I decided to call my mother and ask that one of these be made a Christmas gift for me. The man, unfortunately, would not accept credit cards, so I am still for want of one.
After this, we briefly visited Kate. She had informed me she had a birthday gift for me and I wished to collect. It turned out to be, shock of shocks, a Marcel Proust novel. Inside (after I opened it) she wrote that she hoped I loved this novel that touched her so. Or I could hate it.
We hung around for a little bit, joking and generally having a good time. We teased her about her Russophilia, as her head popped up when I mentioned the pendants were from Russia. The fun, however, ended for me when she informed me that she would be having her high school senior "friend" from Minnesota over for a week around new years. All alone. In her apartment. Essentially, this appeared to be a long distance booty call for a wee lad. Okay, granted, Eileen is a high school senior. But she is different and not the case. So I will thank you not to look at me like that. You know what a hypocrite looks like.
Anyway, I did not talk this news happily, though I think I was calm about it. I want Kate to behave in a more savory manner than soliciting sex from minors across state lines. I want her to have more depth than that. I want her to behave... well... more like Katie.
I think that this was not helped by my discovery of an e-card she sent me last year for my birthday. Bear in mind, she and I were not dating at this point and hadn't even had out kissy-cuddly-molesty stage. Yet, I got a card which read:

Happy Birthday from all of us!! ..all 5 of me. We all wish you a happy birthday from the bottom, top, and middle of our hearts. Aw hell, our whole heart. I guess your birthday already pretty much happened, but I hope it was at least a little bit happy. I hope you have a happy 20th year. You will be receiving a birthday present (and Christmas) from me after I return from London. I love you.