A comedy of errors

I’m back from Atlanta and I’ve learned a few things.

1. Don’t wait till the last second to book a flight

2. Don’t go to Chattanooga Tennessee for any reason ever again.

3. Get a fucking GPS

4. Book a hotel in advance

These are all valuable lessons and I hope to apply them soon when I return to Atlanta again in a month or so. The status of my move is this, I can’t move until I pass the Georgia real estate exam. Once I do that, then I can get a job. Of course we all know that real estate sucks right now and the economy is fucked, but there is always money to be made in real estate and either way I still need something to fill the “Employer” category on a lease application. Time is starting to become a factor though because If I don’t get this done and move by November  then I’m going to just go ahead and register for another semester at USF in spring. I’m actually a little pissed that I didn’t go back this semester, but that is another story in and of itself.

While I was in Atlanta I got a chance to really explore the city, and this was made possible by the fact that I got lost several times and only had a general idea of where I was going. Well, I was never truly lost. I always knew I was somewhere in the city of Atlanta. Believe it or not I’ve never used a GPS or even thought about buying one until recently. While exploring I learned that Midtown is pretty awesome, Buckhead has alot of Mexicans, and everything below and around Turner Field sucks. 

Lastly, I want to write about my bizarre misadventure in Chattanooga Tennessee and the odd and wonderful people I met along the way. But I’m too lazy to write it right now. I literally wish I could have snapped a picture of them.

The misadventures of me

At the last minute I decided not to drive to Atlanta. So I booked a flight on El Cheapo airlines and found myself in a far off magical place called Chattanooga TN this afternoon.  I then made the two hour drive to Atlanta. I got moderately lost within the Atlanta metro area because I didn’t have an actual destination seeing as how I didn’t bother to book a hotel in advance. I just figured that along the way I’d find a suitable hotel. Bad idea. After driving around aimlessly for two hours I finally gave up and shacked up in downtown Atlanta.

Umm, I don’t know how to say this tactfully, so I’ll just say it. Downtown Atlanta fucking sucks. It’s dirty, it’s disgusting, and certain areas of it are fucking ghetto. What the fuck? I had to walk down the street to get something to eat and I literally went in the most disgusting lowlife ghetto Mcdonalds I’ve ever been in. As I was walking out some dude literally gets right behind me like he was going to try to rob me or something, all the while I’m thinking to myself “i wish you would, cause I’d love to test my Boxing and Jiu-Jitsu on you”. But anyways, I’m absolutely disgusted at downtown Atlanta and I’m going to go to different Hotel tomorrow. I’ve gotta say I’m alittle down on the ATL at this moment, but tomorrow is apartment hunt day, and it’s my first chance to really get a good look at the city and truly decide if I want to live here.

Back to Atlanta

I’ll be making that long ass drive from Tampa tomorrow or Monday. I’ll be in town for the week to find a new apartment, and then I’ll officially move to Atlanta before the end of September. I’m really looking forward to the move, and most of all I’m eager to get back into the action. I feel like my life has been on hold since July. The last month or so has been absolutely boring as hell because I’ve pretty much ceased all dating pursuits in anticipation of the move. I haven’t been on a date since June, I haven’t even gone to a bar since late July. It fucking sucks! I’ve wanted to go out, but what is the point of going out and meeting someone new if you’re leaving in a few weeks? The point is, it’s no fun not going out and not seeing new people, being seen, making eye contact, flirting, getting to know someone, and all the fun shit that comes along with that. I personally think my blog has been boring over the last month because I’ve not been writing about my personal life because there hasn’t been anything to write about.  It should be more interesting in October as I begin to experience and explore Atlanta as well as meet new people and begin dating again.

A long walk rewarded

I took a rather long walk last night. Basically all the way down Peachtree, from Ponce de Leon to Buckhead. For me, insanely long walks are nothing new. I used to do it all the time in Manhattan. I would walk from Grand Central to the Village. Anyways the funny thing is as I was walking down peachtree I knew there was a Borders around somewheres, but I wasn’t sure how far. The walk was sort of a metaphor for my life. A long uncertain journey, a slightly unclear destination, then eventually I’m rewarded. As I walked I took in all of the new construction and condos, and I wondered if I would want to live in a midtown setting, or just outside the city, like I did when I lived in NY. I also couldn’t help but notice the fairly striking wealth inequality issues that this area has. I think I’ll write alittle more on that issue later.

I’ve walked midtown and downtown like I was getting paid an hourly wage to do so. 

Holy dam! Beautiful black chic!

10pm- For those of you who don’t know, I am black. I’m also half Puerto Rican. My Puerto Rican side is where my good looks comes from, thanks mom! I’m somewhat detached from my fathers side, the black side. Throughout my life i’ve dated mostly spanish girls and white girls, i’ve only dated one black chic in my life, and she was Jamaican, but before i met her i thought she was puerto rican, which is why i liked her in the first place. But the point is, I don’t listen to R-n-B, I don’t listen to much rap, I dress like some indie rock, austin hipster wannabe, or i’m dressed in the fancy pants and dress shirt, and frankly I haven’t come into contact with many black folks whilst living in Westchase Tampa Florida. Now here I am in Atlanta, and guess what? I’m seeing black people around. And I like it. Anyways tonight i had dinner at Gladys Knight/Ron Winans resturant, and for the first time in my life i had chicken and waffles. My waitress was this fine ass black chic, and as soon as she came to my table i stared at her in a way that a retard stares at a women when he is totally blown away by her. I had to ask her about what goes with chicken and waffles and should i pour sryup on it. She was sweet and kind and helped me figure out how to eat a meal that almost every black person on earth has had except for me.

I ate my meal, had a good ole time, stared at the waitress some more. And pondered this new horizon, black women! As i was leaving, i asked her to break a twenty, i gave her a five dollar tip, and then i told her she was very beautiful. She was feeling it, we had a moment. I didn’t try to ask for the number, or give her my card. I was kind of dirty and stinky from 8 hours of driving today, I’m always down to flirt, but I wasn’t really in the mood to follow up. 

 

So this is Atlanta

Not bad at all. It’s pretty much exactly what I thought it would be. I’m staying in midtown, at the Georgian Terrace hotel. Peachtree looks pretty interesting, I look forward to doing some exploring tomorrow. This whole area reminds me of home, (the suburbs of Westchester county NY/which is just outside the city for those who don’t know). I need an enviroment like this inorder to flourish. I’m ready to pack up an move right now. Over these next few days I need to process the when/how I’m going to make this move happen. I’ve wanted a place, this is the place, now here comes the challenge. 

The Road Atlanta

So finally after much hesitation and false starts I’m finally going to Atlanta. I never really had much interest in Atlanta until last year. My girlfriend at the time had lived in Atlanta and spoke very highly of it. I had been looking for an escape from this shit hole known as Tampa, but at the time I was thinking more along the lines of Miami. But anyways after a years worth of reading Atlanta forums, the AJC, Creative loafing Atlanta, and raiding public photo buckets tagged Atlanta, I’m convinced that I should and will move to Atlanta.

Now, what exactly am I looking for from Atlanta? Umm a dam job! But seriously first and foremost I want four seasons again. I want sweater weather, not sweaty weather, I want cold Decembers. I’ve got a suitcase full of awesome sweaters that I haven’t worn since I left NY. Secondly on a visual level I want to live in a place that looks more like NY or Chicago, with a mix of the new south. I don’t like Tampa, I never have, and I hate the fact that it’s always hot here, I hate the sand and stupid swamps and palms, the seasons never change, and thanks to global warming it’s now hot as hell here. 

Also with gas prices going fucking insane, it’s become a necessity that I explore mass transit options. I have an 05 Jeep Grand Cherokee aka gas guzzler, and everyday i ask myself why the fuck didn’t i buy a Jetta or an Accord? Anyways, I want to change the way I live and commute, I want to ride the train and bus, I even want to incorporate a bike into my routine. I believe that peak oil is here, and it’s going to force everyone to change their driving habits. I want to make those changes now, and I feel like I’ll be a better person for it. But of course, here in Tampa, there is no fucking mass transit, no train, no fucking nothing. There is an under funded bus service where you get the pleasure of sitting on an uncovered bench in the middle of blazing hot fucking sun while you wait for the bus. This place is so far behind Atlanta, Dallas, and Charlotte N.C, it’s like Tampa is a third world country.