Today’s soundtrack: I would rather, I would rather go blind
Today at 1:59am: laundry.


Nice thing about being Asian in the midst of a SARS scare is: When you want more room on the subway, just cough and place a hand on your chest while making an alarmed expression. Watch motherfuckers scooch.

Today it rained. At 9:45am I got out of the subway and opened my umbrella wide to the grey skies of midtown Manhattan.

Grey skies, grey rain and grey buildings. Grey people too. The corner of 51st and Lex was slick with rain.

The guy in the coffee cart has memorized my order. Every morning he sees me coming, and by the time I get to the front of the line my coffee’s waiting for me just the way I like it. Now that I don’t have to order we don’t even speak anymore. He hands me the coffee and I hand him two quarters. S’great.

None of my bosses came in today. I toiled in silence at my desk while it rained outside. For lunch I treated myself to a flank steak sandwich but it actually wasn’t very good. Thought about having a cigarette around eleven thousand times. I got over it by listening to some sweet, sweet Etta James. Some of her shit is so good that afterwards I feel like I just had a cigarette.

I hope “A Sunday Kind Of Love” is the last thing I ever hear. Maybe one day I’ll be rich and famous and I’ll crank this song up in my Bentley before I grit my teeth, flatten the gas and hurtle off a cliff.

Today at hapkido, the master sat me down and spoke about good, evil and our role in the world. I am good. (I don’t know you but chances are) you are evil. Steer clear or you’ll get a Nike in the mouth.

At 9:30pm I had a “meeting” up in K-town. Some years ago I met a filmmaker, same age, different gender, and recently our paths crossed again. She has the same unusual first name as an ex of mine.

Tonight we met up at some bar to chat about a potential project; says she wants to collaborate on a documentary. I don’t know much about documentaries but it looks like I’ll be on both sides of the camera if this thing really happens. Will keep you posted.

I want to go to bed now, I’m super, super-tired. But I can’t go to sleep until I listen to “I’d Rather Go Blind.” It fills the void.

If I were a doctor I’d prescribe musicians instead of drugs. If you’re feeling bad I recommend you take the aforementioned Etta James joints. Wash it down with “Stop The Wedding” to be on the safe side. If you still feel bad in the morning, call me and I’ll put you on some John Lee Hooker.