Last week Jennie came down with strep, I somehow managed to avoid it.

Wednesday night I tried to see a pirate themed puppet show with no avail, it was only the band from the show playing.

Friday I painted the door to our apartment, that night I did absolutely nothing.

Saturday night I “modeled” for my friend Jeff’s photo project, the only weird thing was that he kept referring to me as his model. Then we went to a dance party that was dangerously crowded and the line of people to go to the bathroom was way too long, so me and Brooke went to the empty bar next door and watched kids come in there to use the bathroom and observe the struggle of a way too drunk guy in a wheelchair. I burnt my tongue on pizza on the way home.

Today everyone went to the park and read the paper while sitting on blankets. Then I went over to Hope Street to do some more sitting. The nice weather made me less productive. Kickball started today, but I don’t think I’ll be playing this year. Back to work tomorrow.

It is Sunday night, 30 minutes til Karyn’s dance party. I am super tired.

Friday I chilled for a bit and Jennie and her visiting friend Lara stopped by and we headed for Capone’s, the place was sweating with pizza. Gross. Went to the Antique Lounge, Devin was gettin hit on pretty hard by this girl. It was a lot of fun as Devo was stoned and neurotic at that point and I kept feeding his worries about this suitor of his. It was the normal bar experience I rarely experience. We all got pretty beat around 2 and took off, I felt bad for lonely girl.

Saturday we woke up and headed to the Tainted Lady for breakfast. Biscuits and Gravy. Cold. I saw the sign on their door, and a craigslist post that they were looking for a $12/hr chef… cheap fuckers. Bought a magazine and went home. Met up with girls plus Jeff again and went to a gallery that I had been to already, neighbor to Karyn’s gallery. Saw Karyn. Went to the Whitney to see Tim Hawkinson show for the 4th time. Last time. Then to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the Diane Arbus show… we ate at the “cafeteria” I got what I thought was $10 prime rib… $24 at the checkout. Didn’t really mind as I had gotten free admission to 3 museums and my unlimited Metro card had gotten me all over town. We got home and I was pooped again, however Brooke made a convincing argument to go out. We met Mike Blaine and went to Union Pool. Super crowded, everyone was there. Convinced the posse to head to Antique again. Everyone was there. Devo’s chick from Friday night was tending bar. Kind of awkward somehow. Wanted to tell her that it wasn’t her fault she didn’t get any. We had fun and closed the bar down at 4am. I was ready to get home.

Woke up. Got food. Came home to a block party in front of my house, the whole summer hang-out gang was there. Played a casual game of kickball with some of the neighborhood kids. The ball landed on a couple roofs and was returned magically 2 of 3 times. Got a slice of pizza and headed to the park with a pit stop at the Turkey’s Nest for a to-go beer (awful). Got some tacos on the way back. I was swindled $9 for 2 tacos. Never again Bean. Gonna look up directions for the Knitting Factory now. Too tired to go, but I gotta support Karyn. Kelly is sittin next to me tryin to work teh computer machine, she wants to read my secret blog.

I have been working at an annoying office this week. The job is really boring, mostly resizing other people’s work. I don’t really mind cause there is no pressure on me and I am not doing the usual routine of making something half-way decent and then other people watering it down until it is shitty. The biggest issue I have with the job is that instant messaging is blocked. I miss chatting. How am I supposed to find out about funny websites? email? I don’t think so grandpa dinosaur.

Last night I went with Karyn to see Eagles of Death Metal. They weren’t that great. The whole thing was bizarre. The first opener was this band with cheerleaders and they thought they were funny (they were not). The second band was ok. Kind of reminded me of Soul Coughing, but rock. A few jackholes in the crowd started booing them and asking them to hurry up. One dude suggested that they shut the fuck up and go to hell. I thought “what the hell have you ever done?” EODM finally started, they were old, gay looking, and sort of rocked. I understood they are part of this half hearted rock revival, but they let on too much that maybe they weren’t sincere about it, and that turned me off. Especially since they seemed to convince more than a few people that they really rock, when they only act rocking. The same dude that was yelling early was now right behind me yelling “fuck yeah” every chance he could, and occasionally yelling “fuck hipsters,” and “fuck williamsburg!” (the neighborhood I live in). I finally turned around and said “are we in williamsburg?” and he looked to his friend real quick to get some support, then kind of laughed, then I said “are there hipsters here?” he was all yea, and I said we should “git em” and he agreed. He yelled less. I thought it was funny. Karyn was annoyed.

For lunch today I got three rectangular slices of pizza from a big sweaty man in a truck. Then I sat in a big plaza full of people wearing business casual gear. The sun was shining.

We went out for all American burgers and beers before Mike took off for Spain. I got my bike fixed and the bike dude confirmed it is a lemon, he gave it a “stop and go” tune-up… we will see how long it goes. I baked brownies. Friday night I went to see a couple bands, DMBQ and Lightning Bolt. DMBQ is from Japane and they are absolutely nuts. We determined that they watch concert videos on fast forward and just do the rocking parts. These dudes were kicking and putting guitars in there mouths and standing on top of things from the beginning. There was rock, smoke machining, and at one point the lead singer was walking on the crowd’s hands (like crowdsurfing, but standing up), then he gets back on the stage and throws the drum kit into the crowd and everyone is pounding on it and passing it all about. The drums get put stacked back on stage, and the cymbal gets tossed out and the drummer follows, she is banging on the freaking thing while being passed around the crowd. Shit man. So she gets back on stage and the whole drum kit is stacked up on the stage teeting and balanced somehow. Singer makes a “part the crowd” motion with his hands and pushes all the damn drums onto the floor. They were crazy. After that I went out for a few beers and shot some stick.

Saturday I only got out of bed for food and to rent Pootie Tang, it was raining and it seemed like the thing to do. Last night I went to Karyn’s new apartment and helped her paint it bright yellow. She has a nice little neighborhood, and her apartment doesn’t seem to leak like ours does. We walked down to Sandy’s house for some dinner. Little sandwiches, good soup, asparagus, salad and creme brule. (I am not even sure how that is spelled, I’ve never had it before. It tastes good.) We went to a cool bar but I was so beat and a little drunk from paint fumes and beers we left around midnight. I had to get up for work today anyhow. I had pizza for lunch today.

Super tired today. I never got the call for work I was waiting for, they still have my portfolio. Tuesday I got up early and bought a bike, it is a lemon. I had to push it over the Williamsburg bridge to get it home, and last Saturday night the crank just fell off as I was pedaling to get some food. Later Tuesday afternoon I was invited to see some music with Karyn. First her friend Brendon Benson was doing an in-store performance, then the Backstreet Boys at Irving Plaza. It wasn’t nearly as crazy as I had hoped it would be. They just weren’t in synch enough. Mike, Dave and Nick all got here Wednesday, the weather was awful, but we went out for a few brews anyhow. Thursday we gathered and went to the Natural History Museum, then to the Whitney for my third viewing of the Tim Hawkinson show, then to Times Square for a beer at Jimmy’s Corner. After that was art night with Jennie. She was in two gallery shows in the same night, then to a friend’s apt for some beers. Friday we got a late start and headed to the MoMA for an hour of art. Saw Mo Rocca with his mother. Went to a bar called Cheap Shots (not just a clever name) then to a house party in my ‘hood, then to Laila Lounge. Saturday I was paralyzed and did not get out of bed until 7:30pm. I was pretty amazed with myself. Met up with Peter’s birtday caravan and we got some drinks, had some people over, went out. Sunday we cooked a crazy Easter dinner. Salmon, salad, breads, stir-fry, asparagus, mashed potatoes, cookies, and wine. Everyone sat around in a daze for a bit then we went and played pool. Now it is Monday, Dave just left.

Tues and Wed I worked for this big unorganized ad agency. There was some drama on Wed with an unpaid gas bill. Friday I watched some basketball and went out for a couple drinks. Sat got up early and went to PS1 to see some art. I wasn’t too impressed. I get annoyed when there is bad craft. That night I went out late, and stayed out even later. It is hard to leave when the bartender keeps filling your glass for free. Sun I got my eyes checked and it cost $120. Last night we went to my favorite bar and played Connect Four. Today I got up and sold my car. I am now looking for a bike, I think I should have got the bike while I had the car… oh well. I am waiting to get a call for some work this week. Mike and Dave arrive on Wed.

A year ago today I was barrelling down the road from St. Louis to Kansas City. Thoughts of Vegas on my mind. So much has happened, yet I feel like I have so little to show for it.

I think I am going to title this blog “when and where I got drunk,” as that is about all I have been writing about. I think I drank every night for the past 10 days or so. Sam left Monday morning. Matt Blume arrived Thursday night. Drank. Had an interview with the studio of Jeff Koons on Friday. Don’t think I will get the job, but it was cool to visit the studio nonetheless. Very clean and expensive looking. Me and Blume spend the rest of the day walking around the city. We looked at some art. We drank. I ran out of money. I need to get paid.

Friday I went back and forth to the city three times. The first trip was to my interview for this catering company. I told them that I had no food experience whatsoever and that I had grilled cheese and tomato soup the previous night for dinner (they laughed, i didn’t, they said “are you serious?,” I was)–anyhow I can expect a call from them shortly. The second trip was meet up with once again New Yorker Karyn for dinner with her old boss. This is the same woman who paid me $40 to hang 5 pictures on her wall of her apartment. Anyhow we had our dinner at Sparks Steakhouse, which is the top steak joint in nyc apparently. I must say it was the best steak I have ever put in my mouth. While I was choking down my expensive steak, Sam arrived. The third trip was to go out for with the gang to the lower east side. Jen was go-go dancing for some band called Wierd Owl, their name was more entertaining than their music. Then we went to another bar and danced. A homosexual grabbed my ass and my girlfriend gave him the stink eye. We all came home and played music loudly at the apartment. Joining us were 4 people we have didn’t know at all, people Gino invited to stay in our apartment… meanwhile Gino is in Canada until Wednesday. One guy was ok. The other was annoying, as was this girl who caught on to our attitude towards her “you guys don’t like me,” she said.

Saturday we got up and went to the obligitory brunch. I had quiche. Then went to the Whitney and saw a very good exhibit. I am going to have to go back as I was tired and hung over and didn’t give it enough attention. Me and Sam got some pizza. We met Karyn, Sean, Matt Littlejohn, and Kelly at the bar where Greg works. It wasn’t too exciting so me and Sam went to Laila and got some discount beers. Around 1am we went to a party where you dress up as your favorite outlaw…”if fun is outlawed, only outlaws will have fun.” Most people were dressed as revolutionaries with Paul Revere hats and such, an older man was completely naked. I wore my classic “Wanted” t-shirt. We arrived in time to see Gaijin-A-Go-Go (Japanese Go-Go from Brooklyn), they were fun to watch. Went home and played dominoes.

Sunday, brunch again. Biscuits and gravy. Bought a slide projector off of craigslist. Little did I know that the slide tray would be 3/4 full of the best slides anyone could ever ask for. A mixture of urban youths with large snakes and snapshots from a camp for people with disabilities. A great buy. August, Sam, Jen, and Willow joined me for an evening of bad pizza followed by improv comedy at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater.

Friday afternoon I drove up to North Adams, Massachussetts for my friend Karyn’s going away party, she is moving to New York City next week. The party consisted of lots of binge drinking and live music. I was drunk when I woke up Saturday morning at 11am. The hangover started on the drive home at around 3pm.

I tried to sleep most of Saturday but couldn’t, I ended up watching Forrest Gump in its entirety on tv. Then I met up with Jennie to go to a party at maybe 1 in the morning, it was at a real artists’ loft further into a sketchier part of brooklyn. It was cool, but the bathroom was down the hall. I had to wonder what I would do if I had a studio space and if I could make a living selling drawings.

Sunday I finished up my submission for arkitip. You can preview it here, Hopefully they like it, I can never tell what is good and what isn’t when it comes to my own shit. I also launched mattandkellystudio.com — well, sort of, it is just a place holder for now.