synapses

First you turn right on C Expressway.

I hopped into the car. We drove for a while before stopping at some neighborhood. It was hard finding my way back into the car. There were people walking their dogs in the middle of the night. I thought that was completely hilarious. Why was everybody at Check-n-Go?

And then you make a left at S Ave.

I took out my phone book and started going through it. Eventually, we were at Karen's house. Everything was so, so hilarious. I don't remember why. I tried to touch my scalp. Nothing.

You go down for a really long time before you make another left at ST Road.

Nobody was home. Nobody's ever home on Friday nights. A call later, and we were at Yogurtland. Everyone was there.

Once you hit the hospital, you make a left at L.

Hugs all around. I was so happy to see everyone, just one more time. Even Cynthia was there! All the way from Stockton, what the hell. Stumbling. But then everyone looked differently. Looked at me differently. And nothing was as funny anymore.

Make an immediate right.

Driving down Capitol. I knew this road. Really well. All night whenever I recognized a road, I'd talk about the ways to get there. When I finished, I was silent to keep from babbling like an idiot. This time, I started and couldn't stop. Oh god. It hurt so badly. It was the strongest, most crippling pain I'd experienced. It was gone. All gone. I started to remember the first time I drove there alone, after I got my license: I was so terrified of driving, but I pushed on. It started raining on the way there, but eventually I found myself in his room, where I'd nap away the stress. It was the first of many great heights that I conquered. Let me keep this memory, I begged.

Follow the road past the park and make another left when it ends.

I don't remember stopping those sobs. I got home and had a few bananas. Spent the next few hours watching Jake and Amir.

Turn right at G circle and its the house with the bench.

There was a lot of driving and crying last night. But what I remembered most were friends. Thanks everyone for putting up with me and continuing to put up with me.

Day 14 - Day 28

After this post, I should be caught up. Enjoy September! I know I sure have.

Day 014



Park by Brian's. It was only about 7, but it was already getting dark. We go here often because of the lush greenery, though you can barely see it here. It truly is a Suburban paradise.

Day 015



It's amazing what the human body can accomplish. I managed to catch this while Brian was at full air.


Day 016



Brian wanted to take some *~serious~* photos to make an X-files poster for his dorm room. We ended up taking over 40 pictures because of my crappy photography skills.

Day 017




That's me in the photo. Brian wanted to take some photos with a spooky/supernatural feeling to them. This is the result.

Day 018



On the way to Stockton, we came across beautiful hills and windmills. I had to resist the urge to run out of the 4runner and roll down the hills. It didn't help that we were in intense traffic.

Day 019



After a three hour drive, we arrived at Caswell, our campsite. It wasn't bad...after it got dark. During the day, there was absolutely no shade and the bugs were relentless. The plus side was that our site was right across the bathroom.

Although, that just meant we were disturbed by flashlights during the night as piss-ridden campers stumbled their ways here.

Day 020



The fire took forever to ignite. Three paper plates, three logs, and seven pieces of kindling was sacrificed in the quest to sustain a fire.

Day 021



Poor lizard. It was caught by Huy. He tried to feed it a piece of shrimp but it only stared at it. That's probably because it was half the size of the creature.

Day 022



Eastridge, flagship mall of East Side, and one of the more ghetto malls in San Jose. A year of working at the Hollister here has left me unwilling to come back. Ever.

Day 023



Peter and Brian sitting outside Barnes & Noble. We were celebrating our ninth monthiversary at Red Robin's. Why celebrate? One month = one year in gay time. So Brian and I have been together longer than most celebrity marriages. Fo reals.

Day 024



Blossom Hill Crossroads. They ended up buying none of the clothes we bought in. Nothing from the four bags we brought in. NOTHING.

Day 025



We found this lovely corner of a kitchen at Home Depot and decided to claim it.

Day 026



El Amigo was a lovely colorful surprise in the middle of an otherwise dilapidated plaza.

Day 027



Brian and I made some croque-madames (grilled ham & cheese sandwiches with a fried egg on top.) They were as delicious as they looked. In other words, they were godly.

Day 028



First time going to Fuz (gay event) at the Abyss. It was pretty awesome: we met up with a bunch of friends, danced for four hours straight, suffered dehydration and sore backs, but most of all, we met these crazy ass drag queens. Or I don't know what to categorize them. I just know I wouldn't want to run into them in a dark alley, lest my unfashionable self be torn to shreds by their fierce, five-inch fingernails.

Day 1 - Day 13

I've been taking pictures for quite a while but I've uploaded little of it outside of Facebook. I skipped about eight days of picture-taking in my last month or photo-ing so I'm going to have to cheat and backlog them. I promise there will be enough variety. Warning, the "Days" are arbitrary, some of the pictures I included here came from the same day/set. I only doubled/tripled up to compensate for some of my missed days.

Beginning on August 19, 2008:

Day 001



Guess Outlet at Great Mall in Milpitas, CA. I was waiting for my boyfriend to finish in the dressing room when I saw this sale section behind the register.

Day 002



San Francisco, Glen Point, outside the BART station. Looked for the zoo, but the journey was fruitless.

Day 003



BART station in Fremont. It was about 8:30 pm. Few days left of summer.

Day 004



1 AM ish, Brian's. He got himself some shoes and he got me a stuffed animal from UC Irvine.

Day 005



My sister zipping up a beautiful purple dress for my mother to try on at a family party. The mole on her back is a remnant of a skin cancer scare fourteen years ago. I remember, as a four year old, my mom was sitting on the doctor's inspection recliner: in her eyes were tears and a terrible fear. I remember being frightened.

Now, at nearly 50 years old, she still wears decadent dresses and clothes as if the world was her award show. Go ahead mom, let them stop and stare. I'll be sad the day you retire to be frumpy.

Day 006



This is the window high up near the ceiling at Brian's. I thought it was an interesting contrast, the small prison of color and the severe shapes and angles of the white. I'm here way too often. I wonder if his parents complain about it.

Day 007



Old man watching a baseball game. I wonder what he's thinking about.

Day 008



Tree at the park in Brian's neighborhood. The lichens are the snow of summer.

Day 009



An overview of Berkeley at the rooftop of Sharmeen's apartment. Views like these send tiny pangs of regret down my spine.

Day 010



John being acquainted to Miranda's dogs. They were large, fascinating creatures. Taller than me.

Day 011



There was a scent in Brian's room that we couldn't quite place. After digging around for a bit, we uncovered some Tupperware that had been festering in his room for some time. And this isn't the first time: we found a Kurtz-ified banana once.

Day 012



Here are Brian's expensive shoes walking, walking, walking. It's something people need to do more often.

Day 013



Calapalooza at Berkeley. It was invigorating and got me excited for prospects of UCLA.

And that finishes off August! Onto September.