muted

duet

last night i was standing outside carlito's doing what i did 33 times yesterday. as i stared down the street and wondered if i'd ever come to the city again once the night was over, a man walked up to me and asked how #20something was treating me. i told him that i couldn't complain and he enthusiastically replied "yeah, i've learned that they're pretty awesome after a couple of beers." "must be a rookie," i said to myself.

"this place is pretty cool. i like how it's set up."

"yeah, me too," i said.

"it's not as cool as that place over there, though." he laughed as he pointed to a rundown trailer behind a busted-ass fence across the street.

"shit! i hadn't even noticed that. daaaaamn."

after a few more minutes of shit-shooting, another man joined us. he was carrying a classical guitar.

"you see that chick over there in the scarf?" he asked.

"yeah."

"she wants me."

"oh cool." i was honestly kinda happy for him.

"she just doesn't know it yet." he laughed and turned his attention to the guitar.

he started playing a song and within seconds, the first guy was singing along. it absolutely blew my mind. i had no idea what song they were playing nor whether these two people had ever met prior to this performance.

when they were finished making my head feel goodfunny, the first guy asked us if we knew "that song...'1965?'"

"it's a heavy metal song. you know the one. who sings it?"

"white zombie?" i suggested.

"yes! well it's so easy. look."

he began strumming ferociously.

"see?"

"yeah." i lied, but only because i don't know enough about guitar.

"i think that song was actually written on a classical guitar," i offered, trying to be funny. nobody laughed so i felt kinda dumb. oh well.

the second guy left with the guitar. the first guy and i talked for a few more minutes before he said "nice talking with you" and headed back into carlito's. i remained on the sidewalk, began #20something+1 and thought "yeah, that was pretty cool."

* * *

the number 33 came into play twice last night. matt, clarence and i took the 6 train from 33rd street...i think. i could definitely be wrong about that but every pillar at the subway station had a "33" written on it and i think that is supposed to mean something. it sucked that i remembered taking the same exact walk to wherever we were from penn as part of my one and only journey to "other music."

* * *

last night i had a dream that nicole richie and i set up a date for dinner at a restaurant...in a mall. for some reason, the mall part really stood out to me both in the dream and after waking. i also dreamt that i had set up another date for a few days later with someone i know but i don't remember who.

when i told kim about the nicole richie part of the dream (which, by the way, makes even less sense to me than it does to you), i said

"dinner with ni-ri (knee-ree) at a restaurant...in a mall doesn't sound like an expensive date."

she laughed.