this weekend was my second date with lisa. for the first time since college, i brushed my teeth with a glob of toothpaste on the end of a finger. you would think with all the useless crap in my bag, that a toothbrush would be one of them, but no.

saturday night was an art show in jersey city, not far from . i bought some art (which is gonna look fantastic over my desk, despite the protests i will doubtless get from my roomate justine), and had a fantastic time. we ended up at a bar in jersey city. i forgot what it was like to smoke in a bar! despite the fact that i didn’t, it was a liberating experience. lisa and i had a really good time, and we were hanging with a very interesting crew of people. i made some really good connections to have (two lawyers, and a housing official) and managed to skirt being drunk all night. this was due mostly to the fact that we went to a liquor store with the intention of bringing the party back to someone’s apt, but ended up going to that bar instead. the evening ended at around the clock, or so i thought. i got invited back to brooklyn.

now, i’ve done brooklyn in many shapes and forms. i’ve never been to greenpoint before. you have to take a bus to the subway. i felt like i was back in hs visiting in the ass end of queens. i’m no city snob – the area had some real charm to it – heavy polish and russian influences, and some really pretty houses. i managed to solve a 3-year mystery surrounding tattoo parlors and flags, but i am getting ahead of myself.

i went home with lisa. we didn’t get back to her place until 6ish. we didn’t start moving until midafternoon. we talked incessantly. supplies were procured, and dinner was had. i intended on disembarking the borough around 10ish (after family guy, which we both laughed at incessantly), but was convinced to have another brief conversation, which ended way late.

i spent the night last night too. i was late as hell getting in to work (actually, only an hour 20).

all last night, while i lay there awake, and unsure of how to get home, enjoying the company of another person, all i could think of was the scolding voice of . truly, i was the date that wouldn’t leave.

however, it was not a bad thing. she even wants to see me again!

holy hell i am digging getting to know her. she and i have lots in common, but enough disparate that we don’t bore one another. she is very intelligent, enough so to have caught me off guard a couple times. she has good taste in books and music. did i mention (as said so gracefully) that she is hot? no?

she is.

all this, and she seems to be interested in me. fuck seems, she has said she was. on the level. in more of a fling kinda way. i’m still waiting to wake up. I was pinched, to prove the veracity of the reality I was experiencing. my doubtful philosophical nature continues to doubt this as a strong test.

she did buy me a toothbrush though, for the next time I stay at her place.

man, i hope this shit is for real on both sides of the street. from this side, it is pretty fuckin sweet.

had lunch with and his girl, out of the blue. we had crepes. they were good.

i have been doing performance review and salary increases all week for my employees. we have a very limited float to work with. there is a 3.5% TOTAL allocation for the salary budget, to cover both promotions and wage increases. not-for-profits rarely have cost of living increases. basically, it is a merit-based increase system. 1% means you better get your shit together, or you won’t see another increase. 2% means you are doing ok, but definitely have some things to work on. 3% means you are doing your job very well, and have exceeded expectations here or there.

that was what i was given to work with for my people. i’ve given all 3’s and a 2 (i was budgeted all threes). i just had MY salary increase meeting, and the motherfuckers gave me 4%! i know on a bad mathematical level that the extra % was the 2 that i gave, but the reasons they gave me for giving me the 4% were all super-ego stroking. basically, it was the best verbal blow job i’ve ever gotten, and it was coming straight from the big boss, and my boss. I know 4% sounds like shit, but in not-for-profit world, this is like getting a christmas bonus (something else that never happens).

this has been a great frigging day, even though i am still way behind on work.

Looks like i just missed the boat on ‘s real estate opening. Anyone looking for a female roommate in the 5-700$ range, or know of a studio/1 bedroom in the 750$ and less range? Yes, I know all about bigapplerentals.com, craigslist.org, etc., etc. I am putting the word out here after covering those places.No LI, SI, or Weschester please.

My old apartment is now up for rent. 1500$ a month, 3 bedroom in East Harlem. More details here:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/abo/83761217.html