A morbid poll

In the 37 states and federal government that currently have death penalty statutes, five different methods of execution are prescribed: Lethal Injection, Electrocution, Lethal Gas, Firing Squad, and Hanging.

I've asked my friends about what method of execution they would choose...

And their last meal.

Here are five of my friends', and my own.

Mine: Firing Squad

• Arroz con gandules (PR style rice w/ pigeon peas)
• lasagna
• garlic bread
• a BBQ Double Cheeseburger from Five Guys with fried onions and mayo
• Cuban style ham croquettes
• Cucumbers with ranch dressing
• Ice cold pink lemonade
• banana milkshake

Franklin: Lethal Injection

• Lasagna
• Rice & beans

Jamie: Lethal Injection

• Turkey Cheeseburger

Andres: Gas Chamber

• Churrasco from Rancho Jubilee
• White rice
• Red beans
• Tostones
• Green salad
• Avocado
• Lemonade

Mario: Lethal Injection

• Cheese soup

Joel: Firing Squad

• Steak & Eggs platter from Presidente

Call me crazy, but now I'm pretty hungry.

All my buddies are law-abiding for the most part (well, they're not being charged with violent crimes, anyway) so this is more of a last meal post...but there's a funky black humor twist added.

Yesterday...

Wow. Yesterday was fun.

Wake up...right around noon, just knew I had to be in Compton soon! Oh wait...that's Eazy-E's day...about 20 years ago lol.

I did wake up later than expected. Got some work done.

Got one of my cravings out of the way at Hummus Place. So good. We're talking, last meal, roll up your sleeve so they can put in the lethal injection needle, GOOD. Hummus with two whole wheat pitas and five falafel balls, two lemonades, brought to me by the sweetest foreign waitress EVER.

Met up with my boy Danny and went to Shea stadium, where I met up with Karla, Denisse, their cousin and their buddy Shane.

We watched the Mets keep the streak alive (seven games, whooo!).

Ate at La Brisa (okay, so that's plus one on the naughty eating scale). BBQ chicken (Good call, Rudy!) and arroz con gandules.

Met up with Juan and Mario, drank some E&J. Danced to house music on the street with some random white girl in front of DJ Lenny B's mixtape stand.

Talked with some random Iranian dude who was really cool.

Got a free newspaper from a Post truck driver who then told me about the power of Jesus and the holy ghost.

All I can say, in my best Frank / Entertainer voice (it'll make sense in a second)...

"I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE NEW YORK!"

Where else in the world can you do all that? Really, where? It's a unique city that I'm celebrating a month of "one more times" with.

Food Cravings!

As a large fellow, I've come to realize...many of the times I chased down food (you know, "I'm in the mood for ice cream!" "I'm in the mood for nachos!" etc) it was over a stupid craving that probably would have passed in 10 minutes.

I've heard from diet / nutrition / health experts that the average craving lasts about five minutes. And that's true. You see a Long John Silver's ad, and fish and chips sounds like the way to go.

I've definitely had those quick "must have" cravings...but I've genuinely been in the mood for the following things for the past week.

-garlic bread
-falafel / hummus
-boutique candy (you know the shops with the bins of stuff) especially gummi alligators, gummi cherries and gummi blue sharks

That's about it. Everything else just comes and goes. So the moral of the story is that, I need to go to a pizzeria, get garlic bread, then go to Bereket on Houston and then go to the SeaPort's candy store.

Who's down?!?!? Of course this offer is post dated. Or maybe...maybe someone wants to join me Sunday or Monday for falafel?

Seven Hispanics in a Hyundai

The last time I was with seven people in a car, it was a Yukon. It went pretty well, I anchored the passenger seat, there were two couples in the back, allowing for optimum lap seating. Of course, it wasn't the same comfort two cars would've provided, but we didn't find the need to complain.

Last night...wow...

There was somewhat of a misunderstanding (I'm going to leave it at that...some people know the full story and my feelings on it) and I was separated from my crew that was going to Remedy Diner on Houston.

I was on 63rd and Broadway, and my friends came back for me. I was initially told the car was full, and to be prepared to squeeze in. There were six people in a Hyundai. Someone was sitting backwards...it was a modern clown car.

Eventually I drove, while my boy Louie rode in the trunk. Honestly, I don't think we'd have had a better time. Sure, I wasn't cramped in a small compartment with a shovel, as we rode over potholes. I didn't have another dude on my lap. I didn't have a girlfriend's mom draped over me. But we were all just cracking up throughout the 60 block drive.

Now, honestly I know I'm not unique in this experience, although I doubt any of my American friends have done this.

But really, I write about this because of how this made me feel.

I was in a HORRID mood when they came for me. I mean, bad bad bad bad mood. Somehow, my friends INSISTING on coming to pick me up, knowing that it was going to inconvenience them further by having to drive through Columbus Circle again, and then squeeze in the biggest guy in the car when there's really NO ROOM...that made me feel good.

What I was mad about before, melted away.

Which makes me think? Can money replace emotion? You think about corporative leaders, athletes, musicians who alienate themselves from the common man and old friends. Their best friends to them, are the who ones who (in the eyes of the money-holder) lust after their money the LEAST...bodyguards, other rich people...

At some point I'll blog about what I'd do with a large windfall, but this is more of a question posed to the rich.

You, rich man? Did your thousands and millions make you happy then, when you first obtained them? How about now? Do your Franklins make you laugh? Do your McKinleys play hoops with you? Or do you keep your friends locked away, emotionless?

Do we really envy Jay-Z? Lil Wayne? Bill Gates? The Walton Family? (Think Wal-Mart, not bad basketball commentary.)

Something to think about.

It's 4AM in New Jersey

So I'm at the Jersey Shore (Brick Township).

I'd love to be at the diner of my dreams with the following items in front of me:

Boneless buffalo wings (the ones from Applebee's)
Chicken Nachos (the ones from Tres Potrillos)
Cheeseburger (the one from TGI Fridays)
Waffle fries (the ones from Pop Diner)

Instead, at 3.45am, I washed a blender at the house where I'm staying (Shouts to Doug!) and made my final protein shake of the day...

Of course, I did it so readily because this is pleasant compared to the past few hours.

We went to this place, Jenkinson's by the water. Place is huge and guido-filled. Dudes I'd have trouble tipping over on a football line in shirts I'd have had trouble fitting into at age 3. Hair gel so abundant, Paul Mitchell could bathe in it.

The DJ was horrid, playing cheesy house remixes on some computer software nonsense, trying to "hype" the crowd. There was a cover band...I'd never heard "Thanks for the Memories" live, but it was nice. I guess it was like a live jukebox that charged 10. Because the rest was crap.

Esteban had some food, an italian sausage sandwich he liked as he ate, but hated as he finished. Eddie and Doug ate pizza without complaints. I waited patiently for my shake.

So we leave...go to some friend of Eddie's house. Total waste of time.

Leave for home...and get...pulled...over. (After it was all said and done, I was pulled over for not stopping completely at the sign).

I was super polite to the young officer, I hadn't had a drop of alcohol, squeaky clean record...he worked with the system so I wouldn't get points and now I have to pay a seatbelt violation (I totally wear my belt at all times, including tonight).

So yeah...total crap.

But, I went to a pizzeria, restaurants, ice cream shops, candy shops...didn't crack once...

Remember, without struggle, there is no victory.

Is Crunch a Gay Gym?

Well I was just thinking? Is my new gym a mostly gay gym? Lot of light steppers there. Well I'm not their type. Does anyone know if Crunch is the rainbow flag flying fortress of fruitery?

I know a few gay dudes and dames. They always treat me with the utmost respect. I don't agree with their lifestyle, but they probably wouldn't live my life either.

So you know what? They're cool with me. I'm cool with them. I'm not spending the night, but I'll work out with you.

So now I'm wondering if I'm gonna see anything wild in the locker room.

Feeling Lost vs Partying Up

With Operation Wepa off to a decent start...I want to "let my hair down" this weekend. I heard of a BBQ / Party in Far Rock, I heard about Robert Moses tomorrow...there's a girl or two I'd like to see this weekend...

I'm feeling lost a bit though, when it comes to non-fun activities. It puts a damper on my fun-meter (One flag! Six flags!) Maybe it's just because I woke up. Everything in my life is so suddenly different.

• I went from having one of the quietest roommates in history to one of the most talkative. (See photo)
  

• I went from all spanish people to all american people surrounding me.

• I went from having a million people in my house to...well, that hasn't changed, it's just different people with Esteban being the common denominator LOL.

• I went from living in working-class Queens to snobbish East Village. Of course it's only temporary.

• I went from having a loving cat to...nothing.

• I went from Powerhouse Gym to Crunch...which is cool because they have a sauna.

Basically, it's a totally new change. And even though I still have all of my friends' numbers in my phone and the same area code, I feel separated. And this is in the same city. Imagine being in another...Commonwealth (Virginia is too I think).

Something to adjust to gradually as I prepare for the big jump to La Isla Bonita.

Never mind the ickiness I may temporarily feel, for I accomplished a lot yesterday.

I went to the gym, blasted out a lot of work, and went to bed early! Potentially missing something fun with my Queens friends and DEFINITELY missing something with a hot new friend...she kept calling and texting...and I was ASLEEP. Bummer.

But it's the weekend! And have fun I shall!