Recent goings on.

My roommate moved to the OC, my old stomping grounds, recently, but while he was here he certainly made an impression on me, and more importantly became my friend (hardly a term I throw around loosely). Shady, as I called him, looked out in many a ways, smoking me out regularly, loaning me money, but his greatest parting gift (aside from his company which trumps the material) was a ’95 525 that he sold me for the super duper friend price of $800. I still owe him three bills, and the car won’t be fully registered, insured, inspected and all that good stuff for another month and a half or so, but as Shady astutely pointed out, just having it parked out front is three quarters of the battle. This is/was a major deal for me, as I have been on foot patrol for six and a half years, and I can’t wait until I can drive it legitimately. . . 

Today marks the 12^th anniversary of the “procedure.” A dozen year’s later, the rapper Common’s sentiments are still profoundly true: “$315 ain’t worth your soul.” It’s crazy to think I would have an eleven year old, and I often wonder what he/she would have looked like, sounded like, and generally how much different my life would have been with, “Pookie” (as we named our unborn). Big Sigh. . .

I called Brenda a few days ago, and she picked up, much to my surprise. Yes, I was slightly buzzed, and maybe that had something to do with the call, but it was nice to hear her unmistakable voice. We caught up for over an hour and a half plus since it had been over a year and a half since we had last talked. Though we keep in touch pretty regularly textually (i.e., FB, email, texts, etc.), the phone is more personal/favorable in my book… call me old school. . .

Speaking of old school, despite the misgivings voiced in my last post I finished my application to USC’s MSW program. All that’s left is for my recommenders to submit their letters and for my transcripts to be sent. The admissions office called me less than 24 hours after I submitted my application to see whether I was applying for the on campus program or the online one; either way, I took their speedy reply as a hopefully good sign of an acceptance to come (knocks furiously on wood!). Boston College’s program is the more logical choice as it would obviate the need for a cross country move. However, that said, I just found out yesterday that a co-worker of mine at Whole Foods has her MSW from BC (keep in mind it’s a top ten program- BTW USC ranks closely behind at #11). This struck me as odd and slightly unsettling to know that she has her degree and is still ringing groceries, but there could be an explanation for this. I still have yet to really talk to her, but I did confirm that she completed the program yesterday. Meanwhile, the two MSW’s I know from the alma mater are gainfully and very happily employed in their field of choice. Either way, come late March, early April, I’ll have an answer (and something to look forward to, keep me going) as to my admissions’ status. . .

I did some ghostwriting for an old co-worker of mine recently (and it’s on its way to being published if it hasn’t already been). I asked him about the world of literary agency, my own project, others of his, and somehow or another our talked ended with him offering me 7.5% of his split share in a small publishing company in exchange for the overseeing of his next project. Let’s just say it is pending further review on my end, though it could be the synergistic lead I’ve been looking for. . .