Sunday, January 17, 2010
Deleted
I deleted someone today. I just looked at the 300 + number that continues to grow and thought to myself "That's a lot of people to meet..." That was the thought that started it all anyway. I thought there had to be at least a few people that I've accepted that I truly, actually don't know. I can't stand the FB spammers. The fake friend invites alerting me that someone found me via friend finder. Oh... and they really don't have any other friends yet, and everyone that is a friend has commented asking "Do I know you" So there was this guy... who had an actual page complete with friends and a full profile... who worked for a company that I knew of. Did I know the guy??? Honestly... I'm still not sure! So today... this morning... I bid him adieu. I didn't feel bad about it. I guess it's silly to think that one might. It was a mini-catharsis. I don't know you man... we wont be hangin out. Enjoy FB and your other hundreds of friends! Then again... I know that I've been given pause when noticing that my number of friends has been reduced by 1. I'm still trying to figure out why that mattered to me even for a second. Maybe it's because it could have been someone that I care about (to any extent) that was saying that they were ok without being in touch with me. So there is 1 off of the list. Back to the actual "friends". Hope to see some of you soon!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Back in the swing :)
Last night was awesome! Danielle and I had dinner with Jessica and Sean. We really had such a great time, that not only am I looking forward to hanging out with them again, but I am re-energized and inspired to set up more Face to Face meets soon!
Granted... it's already halfway through January... and I'm still under 10 friends met... so I need to be getting a move on anyway... but still... inspired!
I remember Jessica best from middle school. We would walk home together often with the same group of kids. I always thought Jess was very cool, but we were never very close friends. We shared a connection with some kids and a bench on an island in the middle of a few crossing streets, but that was about the extent of our friendship. She and my girlfriend Danielle have actually been close friends for a very long time. Here again FB jumps in and intervenes. The two of them hadn't gotten together in a while, and were looking to do so. Kismet? Works for me! Jess works in the city, has two beautiful 'poots' (cats... for those unaware), has a new knee, and loves Rufus Wainright! We share that love... though she trumps me big time, to this I will concede.
We met up with Jess and her boyfriend Sean for dinner, then went back and hung out over their place for a while. I believe it's safe to say that we all had a really good time, some really good wine, and some great laughs. Her boyfriend Sean and I discovered a mutual appreciation for video games, and the fact that we both lived in the same house during our college years (not at the same time... that would make it odd if we didn't know each other). We were also at the same concert (same time this time) at Rutgers.
As per my own rules... I can not count the hang-out with Sean, because we were not FB friends already. I really enjoyed talking with the dude though, and we found we shared quite a few things in common. Additionally, we all agreed that this would not be a one time thing, so I look forward to throwing him up on the blog after our next outing. We've thrown a ton of ideas out for next time, and I can't wait to see where we end up.
Face to Face #5: 1 friend
Friend count: 9
Granted... it's already halfway through January... and I'm still under 10 friends met... so I need to be getting a move on anyway... but still... inspired!
I remember Jessica best from middle school. We would walk home together often with the same group of kids. I always thought Jess was very cool, but we were never very close friends. We shared a connection with some kids and a bench on an island in the middle of a few crossing streets, but that was about the extent of our friendship. She and my girlfriend Danielle have actually been close friends for a very long time. Here again FB jumps in and intervenes. The two of them hadn't gotten together in a while, and were looking to do so. Kismet? Works for me! Jess works in the city, has two beautiful 'poots' (cats... for those unaware), has a new knee, and loves Rufus Wainright! We share that love... though she trumps me big time, to this I will concede.
We met up with Jess and her boyfriend Sean for dinner, then went back and hung out over their place for a while. I believe it's safe to say that we all had a really good time, some really good wine, and some great laughs. Her boyfriend Sean and I discovered a mutual appreciation for video games, and the fact that we both lived in the same house during our college years (not at the same time... that would make it odd if we didn't know each other). We were also at the same concert (same time this time) at Rutgers.
As per my own rules... I can not count the hang-out with Sean, because we were not FB friends already. I really enjoyed talking with the dude though, and we found we shared quite a few things in common. Additionally, we all agreed that this would not be a one time thing, so I look forward to throwing him up on the blog after our next outing. We've thrown a ton of ideas out for next time, and I can't wait to see where we end up.
Face to Face #5: 1 friend
Friend count: 9
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
2009 is gone and done with. Welcome to 2010 everyone. I'm very excited at the prospect of this new year, new day, new chance.
It has been a while since my last update/meet-up, and I can feel the pressure slowly starting to build for what will be a truly ambitious undertaking this year. The meet-ups so far have been great, and I've really appreciated that some people seem to be genuinely interested what is going on. Although I can already feel mounting pressure from work, and every other aspect of my own life, I really want to press forward with this attempt.
I think that so far I've learned a few things... or am beginning to think about a few things in a different way, and hope that I will learn something soon from these experiences. As soon as I'm a little more concrete about that, I'll share them with you.
Have you made any resolutions? I haven't officially. However, I am starting things out with new resolve, and so far... the first 8 hours and 38 minutes of 2010 are going right according to plan! Hopefully this keeps up. Hopefully the meet-ups pick-up.
That said, my last meet-up happened over the holiday break.
I got to chill with my cousin Chimar. Chimar lives in Atlanta, where several of my other cousins, aunts, uncles and grandmother live. As we've always lived several states apart (Chimar used to live in Minnesota) we have not spent much time talking or hanging out with each other apart from certain family functions or holidays. This break, we got a little more time, and had a little more to talk about. The main conversation we had was about getting and staying healthy (Part of which will consist of buying a Health Master Emulsifying Juicer... yessss!). Chimar has recently been changing his diet and working out more, which I happen to be trying to do as well. The conversation didn't last for hours, but afterward, I really did feel challenged and inspired to jump back into my regimen and keep working. Chimar is very cool, low key, and apparently disciplined. He's gotten great results so far. Next time we meet up, I'll have some positive results of my own.
Face to Face #4: 1 friend
Friend count: 8
It has been a while since my last update/meet-up, and I can feel the pressure slowly starting to build for what will be a truly ambitious undertaking this year. The meet-ups so far have been great, and I've really appreciated that some people seem to be genuinely interested what is going on. Although I can already feel mounting pressure from work, and every other aspect of my own life, I really want to press forward with this attempt.
I think that so far I've learned a few things... or am beginning to think about a few things in a different way, and hope that I will learn something soon from these experiences. As soon as I'm a little more concrete about that, I'll share them with you.
Have you made any resolutions? I haven't officially. However, I am starting things out with new resolve, and so far... the first 8 hours and 38 minutes of 2010 are going right according to plan! Hopefully this keeps up. Hopefully the meet-ups pick-up.
That said, my last meet-up happened over the holiday break.
I got to chill with my cousin Chimar. Chimar lives in Atlanta, where several of my other cousins, aunts, uncles and grandmother live. As we've always lived several states apart (Chimar used to live in Minnesota) we have not spent much time talking or hanging out with each other apart from certain family functions or holidays. This break, we got a little more time, and had a little more to talk about. The main conversation we had was about getting and staying healthy (Part of which will consist of buying a Health Master Emulsifying Juicer... yessss!). Chimar has recently been changing his diet and working out more, which I happen to be trying to do as well. The conversation didn't last for hours, but afterward, I really did feel challenged and inspired to jump back into my regimen and keep working. Chimar is very cool, low key, and apparently disciplined. He's gotten great results so far. Next time we meet up, I'll have some positive results of my own.
Face to Face #4: 1 friend
Friend count: 8
Monday, December 14, 2009
And we're back!!!
I'd been thinking about how slowly the project had been progressing, and wondering what I could or should do to 'fix' that. I started to think, "Maybe I shouldn't press things, and just see how it plays out. If it's slow going... it was meant to be that way." I still don't believe that there is a right or wrong answer necessarily, but I do want to pick up the pace a bit to try and be as successful as possible by the end of next year. I started debating if I should send more personal invitations or try to invite more groups of people to hang out together. Sometimes I have to remind myself that "This is Facebook. People are not constantly checking it to actually organize outings. Often their checking to see if there are any new messages or comments, drop a witty status update, post a picture, etc." So I might have to be a bit more proactive in my approach. We'll see what happens, and what works.
So yesterday, I got a Facebook message from my buddy Jesse early in the morning. He was going to be playing for a church in the next town over from me (Teaneck), and wanted to see if I was available to meet up for lunch. As my schedule for the day was very light, I was excited and 100% down!
Jesse and I have been friends since college. He is an extremely talented, versatile and in-demand musician. He plays in several bands ('Soul Cycle' just released a new CD), and is also a great producer/beat maker. We've worked together several times. The last time that I saw Jesse, I'd brought several friends to a club in the city, where his band Soul Cycle was playing. We caught up briefly and since then have sent a couple of Facebook messages/comments back and forth.
We met up at Veggie Heaven, a local vegetarian restaurant. I suggested it because it's good food, and I remember Jesse being a vegetarian. We talked at length about work, music, relationships and social interaction in the digital age. We both thought it was interesting how social networking via the internet seems to be making people more social and less social at the same time; increasing the amount of people we communicate with, and the frequency with which we do, yet limiting the "need" for actual face to face meetings (familiar, no?). We ended up discussing the beginnings of a project that the two of us would like to work on together, and I'm really excited about it (something I have not yet attempted). Will keep you posted!
Face to face #3 - 1 friend
So yesterday, I got a Facebook message from my buddy Jesse early in the morning. He was going to be playing for a church in the next town over from me (Teaneck), and wanted to see if I was available to meet up for lunch. As my schedule for the day was very light, I was excited and 100% down!
Jesse and I have been friends since college. He is an extremely talented, versatile and in-demand musician. He plays in several bands ('Soul Cycle' just released a new CD), and is also a great producer/beat maker. We've worked together several times. The last time that I saw Jesse, I'd brought several friends to a club in the city, where his band Soul Cycle was playing. We caught up briefly and since then have sent a couple of Facebook messages/comments back and forth.
We met up at Veggie Heaven, a local vegetarian restaurant. I suggested it because it's good food, and I remember Jesse being a vegetarian. We talked at length about work, music, relationships and social interaction in the digital age. We both thought it was interesting how social networking via the internet seems to be making people more social and less social at the same time; increasing the amount of people we communicate with, and the frequency with which we do, yet limiting the "need" for actual face to face meetings (familiar, no?). We ended up discussing the beginnings of a project that the two of us would like to work on together, and I'm really excited about it (something I have not yet attempted). Will keep you posted!
Face to face #3 - 1 friend
Sunday, November 29, 2009
10 year reunion
Last Saturday night was my 10 year high school reunion. I had a great time! I was originally intending to try and rack up face to face meet ups at the event, and cross off a dozen or so names from the list of friends I still want/have to meet up with. After thinking about the night though, I am very glad that I didn't. It was great seeing everyone again (everyone that was there anyway, about 40 out of a class of 300 +). I got to meet some new people, and speak with a couple of people that I wasn't really close to in high school, and am excited about the conversations we had. When I met up with my college friends it really felt like we were all just hanging out again. This felt like I was being reintroduced to a lot of people. Again, it was a lot of fun.
I talked to my former classmates Brandi, Ulysses, Chris and my good friend Tristan. I also got to meet my friend Michele's husband Ronald. Out of all of my conversations with former classmates and new people I was meeting for the first time, I felt like my time talking to these 5 people held the most potential for hanging out again.
Brandi it turns out is looking to teach, and we also share a passion for writing. She's in the midst of writing a book write now, and we talked about potentially linking up sometime to share/discuss some writing. We were friendly in high school, and we share a mutual best friend (have to call her soon!) but we weren't close friends in high school.
Ulysses (I'm sure I'm spelling that incorrectly) was another person that I felt like was a distant friend, or a friend once removed. We weren't very close with each other, but had some things in common. I learned that in college he was performing with a breakin crew. Awesome. We talked for a little while, and I learned that he married another former classmate, Suzanne. I'm interested in catching up with him some more.
Chris and I were closer than I was to the other two. We hung out with many of the same friends and were in a school play together. He is married now and has a son. He's also really funny, had me crackin up most of the night. He asked for a copy of the videotape of the play we were in. Now I'm on a mission to find it in the attic.
Then there was Ronald, the husband of my classmate and friend Michele. Currently his niece is one of the stars of my 2nd grade classroom. He told me that she often talks highly of her teacher and her class, and that she's mentioned that I remind her of him. He said that he'd heard that before from others as well. We both decided that after some brief yet good conversation, it would be worth it to explore the link and stay in touch. I made the first move by contacting Michele on Facebook, and am hoping things progress from there.
Tristan is one of my best friends since middle school. Even though we haven't hung out in a long while, I always feel like no time has passed when we do chill, however rarely. He lives close by, and an odd set of coincidences linked our activities the week of Thanksgiving. We talked about hanging out soon. I think we said bowling next sunday. Looking forward to it!
I talked to my former classmates Brandi, Ulysses, Chris and my good friend Tristan. I also got to meet my friend Michele's husband Ronald. Out of all of my conversations with former classmates and new people I was meeting for the first time, I felt like my time talking to these 5 people held the most potential for hanging out again.
Brandi it turns out is looking to teach, and we also share a passion for writing. She's in the midst of writing a book write now, and we talked about potentially linking up sometime to share/discuss some writing. We were friendly in high school, and we share a mutual best friend (have to call her soon!) but we weren't close friends in high school.
Ulysses (I'm sure I'm spelling that incorrectly) was another person that I felt like was a distant friend, or a friend once removed. We weren't very close with each other, but had some things in common. I learned that in college he was performing with a breakin crew. Awesome. We talked for a little while, and I learned that he married another former classmate, Suzanne. I'm interested in catching up with him some more.
Chris and I were closer than I was to the other two. We hung out with many of the same friends and were in a school play together. He is married now and has a son. He's also really funny, had me crackin up most of the night. He asked for a copy of the videotape of the play we were in. Now I'm on a mission to find it in the attic.
Then there was Ronald, the husband of my classmate and friend Michele. Currently his niece is one of the stars of my 2nd grade classroom. He told me that she often talks highly of her teacher and her class, and that she's mentioned that I remind her of him. He said that he'd heard that before from others as well. We both decided that after some brief yet good conversation, it would be worth it to explore the link and stay in touch. I made the first move by contacting Michele on Facebook, and am hoping things progress from there.
Tristan is one of my best friends since middle school. Even though we haven't hung out in a long while, I always feel like no time has passed when we do chill, however rarely. He lives close by, and an odd set of coincidences linked our activities the week of Thanksgiving. We talked about hanging out soon. I think we said bowling next sunday. Looking forward to it!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Meet-up #2!
Though it's taken a while, I feel like this project has really started now.
Yesterday I hung out with my friend Mike J.
Mike and I took our dads out bowling. We've been friends since we were around 4 or 5 years old. Our dads are both Pastors (Both are "Reverend Jackson") which makes the two of us PKs (Preachers' Kids). Our dads are good friends, and our families have been pretty close for a long time. We had a great time catching up on what we've been up to, work, and the upcoming 10 year high school reunion which Mike organized. We both are involved with music, and intend to work together; though so far, our efforts together haven't been produced more than good ideas. Mike is a college coach, and is really enjoying his job. Our dads ended up beating us 2 games to none, so we're already plotting our comeback. We talked about getting together again before the year is out.
Face to face #2 - 1 friend
Yesterday I hung out with my friend Mike J.
Mike and I took our dads out bowling. We've been friends since we were around 4 or 5 years old. Our dads are both Pastors (Both are "Reverend Jackson") which makes the two of us PKs (Preachers' Kids). Our dads are good friends, and our families have been pretty close for a long time. We had a great time catching up on what we've been up to, work, and the upcoming 10 year high school reunion which Mike organized. We both are involved with music, and intend to work together; though so far, our efforts together haven't been produced more than good ideas. Mike is a college coach, and is really enjoying his job. Our dads ended up beating us 2 games to none, so we're already plotting our comeback. We talked about getting together again before the year is out.
Face to face #2 - 1 friend
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Off to a great start!!
Last night I got together with several of my classmates from college at Mason Gross School of the Arts. A couple of months ago I'd suggested (through Facebook) that a bunch of us get together and hang out. It turned out great. We were about 8 strong in Jersey City and had a great time. This was the second attempt and we 6 strong plus several non-MGSAers in NYC. My friend Laurie and I were the only two that were at the last get together as well.
So here is a rundown of who I was able to spend some face to face time with:
This is me with Laurie and Lisa.
I got to meet both of their boyfriends, and they seemed like really cool guys. Lisa is thinking about going back to school, so I'm definitely applauding and supporting that idea, GO LIS! We've also got another friend who Lisa is close to, whom I randomly ran into at a friends party. He's teaching also now. Hopefully we'll all be able to get together again!
Laurie and I have been good friends since college, and we've stayed in touch on and off, always intending to meet up and chill again. She and her boyfriend are both living and working in the city, and are close by the spot where we met up last night. We had a great time catching up, and I'm glad I finally got to meet her Dave! Very cool guy. ALSO... I am anxious to expose Dave to some Taylor Mali, Saul Williams and Shane Koyzcan, as he is not a spoken word fan, and those guys are ridiculous.
Steve was there!! One of my best friends from college and still my favorite self-depricating anarchist funny man. He's living in LA right now and is visiting back in NJ for a while. I'm looking forward to visiting Steve out there one day. It's always great hanging out with Steve, was just like college. We talked and laughed about lots of stuff, and are going to try and meet up again before he heads back.
Kurtis came through!! I feel like Kurt was one of my kindred spirits in college. We didn't hang out much outside of school, but were definitely likeminded and had tons of respect for one another. Kurt is a very talented artist with an incredible mind for marketing and seeing a vision through. We used to talk about planning or working on something together, and now that we're connected again, we just might. We had some great convo w/Shawn.
Steve called another classmate who I hadn't talked to in a very long time. Shawn, my old roommate during my junior year. It was great seeing Shawn. He is a film maker and actor who has also taught overseas. Now I'm looking forward to seeing him in action. I'll be looking to make a show that he's in when it comes up.
It was an awesome night! I look forward to meeting up with everybody again! I missed the last bus by a few minutes thanks to a miscalculation on my part of which subway stop would have a train running....well... on time. THANKFULLY... Laurie and Dave saved the day, by offering me a couch to crash on. I got to tour Dave's studio and watch Yo Gabba Gabba (which rocks more than I'd known) before passing out.
Face to Face #1 - 5 friends
So here is a rundown of who I was able to spend some face to face time with:
This is me with Laurie and Lisa.
I got to meet both of their boyfriends, and they seemed like really cool guys. Lisa is thinking about going back to school, so I'm definitely applauding and supporting that idea, GO LIS! We've also got another friend who Lisa is close to, whom I randomly ran into at a friends party. He's teaching also now. Hopefully we'll all be able to get together again!
Laurie and I have been good friends since college, and we've stayed in touch on and off, always intending to meet up and chill again. She and her boyfriend are both living and working in the city, and are close by the spot where we met up last night. We had a great time catching up, and I'm glad I finally got to meet her Dave! Very cool guy. ALSO... I am anxious to expose Dave to some Taylor Mali, Saul Williams and Shane Koyzcan, as he is not a spoken word fan, and those guys are ridiculous.
Steve was there!! One of my best friends from college and still my favorite self-depricating anarchist funny man. He's living in LA right now and is visiting back in NJ for a while. I'm looking forward to visiting Steve out there one day. It's always great hanging out with Steve, was just like college. We talked and laughed about lots of stuff, and are going to try and meet up again before he heads back.
Kurtis came through!! I feel like Kurt was one of my kindred spirits in college. We didn't hang out much outside of school, but were definitely likeminded and had tons of respect for one another. Kurt is a very talented artist with an incredible mind for marketing and seeing a vision through. We used to talk about planning or working on something together, and now that we're connected again, we just might. We had some great convo w/Shawn.
Steve called another classmate who I hadn't talked to in a very long time. Shawn, my old roommate during my junior year. It was great seeing Shawn. He is a film maker and actor who has also taught overseas. Now I'm looking forward to seeing him in action. I'll be looking to make a show that he's in when it comes up.
It was an awesome night! I look forward to meeting up with everybody again! I missed the last bus by a few minutes thanks to a miscalculation on my part of which subway stop would have a train running....well... on time. THANKFULLY... Laurie and Dave saved the day, by offering me a couch to crash on. I got to tour Dave's studio and watch Yo Gabba Gabba (which rocks more than I'd known) before passing out.
Face to Face #1 - 5 friends
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