Once the rain stopped I sold a security system to a man named Enos. Enos is an electrican from the island of St. Vincent. He is about the nicest man you'll ever meet. When he's not working he's either playing the keyboard for his Seventh-day Adventist congregation or teaching saxophone lessons to local Islander children.
This was my view for one hour as I waited for the pouring rain to pass. I actually fell asleep sitting in front of this chapel. I think it's funny how my job prepares me to live like a bum sometimes.
Saturday night Phil, Jonathan, David and I drove into Manhattan and hung out with Comms interns Roxanne, Heather and Sara. After dining at the Times Square Chevy's we walked around Times Square. Highlights included going up the fancy Marriott hotel elevator, buying Shakira's new CD, "Fijacion Oral," and watching the Foo Fighters perform a set in the MTV building. Most of the Comms interns are taking off this week. It'll be sad to see them go.
Sunday was the big Puerto Rican parade thing. After walking around Central Park with Jonathan and the new tech Aaron, we made it to church all sweaty. Church was especially good this week. We got a good lesson on the apostasy by this girl from Eastern Europe. Our stake president spoke in sacrament meeting and explained to us how we all have an important purpose being in New York.
As luck would have it my old mission friend Daniel Parker moved to New York a few weeks ago and goes to my ward. I went with him and Anela's friend Brian Cicotelli to some girls' house in the ward. They made us a terrific dinner and were great company. After social hour, I cruised on over to Gracie and Amanda's new place on 106th. I must say it's a definite step up for Gracie. She showed me the soy milk commercial I was in last year on her computer, and I finally started working on the Writing Center logo with Illustrator.
Monday produced no sales even though I moved to a Spanish area. I think lots of people were still hung over from the Puerto Rican festival. Kinda sad. After work Wright and Taggart from Firstline corporate got us Pizza and took us to see "Cinderella Man." Awesome flick. I'm a sucker for any movie that can bring to life the cultural elements of an era in 20th century history.
Today was hot and humid. I got a sale (see below). Yeah. That's it.
This is me with my sale today: Carmen. Carmen is from Puerto Rico and lives in a city called Perth Amboy. I sold her in the backyard with her son Louis and her dog Kennedy. It was a nice end to an otherwise frustrating day.
Some days you don't get any sales at all. It's times like these when it's good to meet nice people like Manuela.
This a is a picture I took of the annual Puerto Rican pride parade that filled 5th Avenue on Sunday. I doubt there is a more exciting parade than this one anywhere in the world. Imagine 100, 000 crazy Latinos waving flags hysterically at beauty queens and wanna-be rappers as they drive by. I seriously was not prepared for that much energy. Just look at their outfits! Try to find one that is not sporting the Boriqua flag on their back. You won't find one.
Later that night I was joking with a girl I met on the subway about the event. Just how is it that Puerto Rico gets such a huge parade in New York and not other American states? Our answer comes straight from the Puerto Rican Constitution section A appendix 4:
The lack of Puerto Rican representation in U.S. legislature is to be compensated by the hosting of a festive annual parade in honor of the island.
Pretty interesting if you ask me.
This is a picture of me with former professional soccer player Eddie. Eddie used to play for Egypt's "Arab Contractors," Switzerland's "Junior Grasshoppers," and Sweden's "Dejeaux F.C." Today I sold Eddie and his wife Magdaline a security system.
Eddie and Magdaline lost their baby boy last November to a choking accident. The babysitter did all she could to get an ambulance over, but unfortunately the child died on the way to the hospital. Magdaline showed me her son's baby pictures and funeral pictures. She even showed me the baby's room--now empty. Hopefully with their new GE Simon 3 panel, the Quarcoos can get an ambulance faster next time and avoid a situation like this one.
OK, well, I still think the hood is cool. I'll never get over how much fun it is to be surrounded by the slum types. The only problem with ghetto areas is that everyone is, well, poor. Poor and irresponsible. Yesterday I checked 13 people's credit and only one lady passed. A woman named Gail. I was so happy that I gave her a high-five and a hug.
Today I ran eight credits. Two actually passed, but I couldn't close the deals. Pretty sad day. I miss my Latinos.
Today I ran into a couple of black women chilling on their porch in Irvington, NJ. That's all black people do in the ghetto--sit around and laugh at the world. For them every day is a block party.
Anyway, one of them wanted their daughter to get a security system, so she drove me across town to sell it to her. As we rode in her beat-up car through the hood, I smiled to myself. I had never before felt so welcome in such a strange and different place. It was like a movie. In the east the hood is so alive, so busy, and so ironically beautiful. I love feeling like I'm a part of it. I guess that in itself is ironic. One day I'll build my mansion in the hood. I'll give to the poor and have all the thugs to protect me. One day.
As for my weekend, Anela was here. I took her out on the town Saturday night. We ate Italian food at one of those outdoor restaurants in the Village. It was awesome. We made friends with this middle-aged painter named Sara. Sara was fascinated by our perkiness and our Mormon opinions. She seemed depressed about life and became fixated on us. It was really a strange occurrence. After dinner we walked around McDougall Street and got some sweet ice cream.
Sunday Anela, David, and I went to the Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Harlem. The Mother African church is the oldest black church in New York state--founded in 1796. It was awesome. The architecture was all classic, but the music was hip and modern. There are times I wish we too could have drums in church. Sigh, oh well.
last week john bonner came to visit, and we ate breakfast in times square.
anela is here in town, and this morning we went to see shakira in bryant park.
last friday andrew, alex, phil, and i joined up with cousin kristina in rockafeller center to see def leppard and bryan adams on the today show. yes, katie couric is just as nice in person as she seems on tv.
last saturday i took gracie to brooklyn to see apollo sunshine at northsix in williamsburg. they were amazing. i love knowing about awesome bands that have small followings. i'm sure two years from now i'll have to fight with all the indie kids to get a good spot at their shows. let's just hope they don't get too big. as a side note, it was so great to hang out in my old stomping grounds. williamsburg is really growing.
on memorial day gracie and i went to see "fearless freaks," the new flaming lips documentary. it was showing at the two boots pioneer theater in the lower east side. interesting show.
oh, sales? i think i have like 18 or 19 or something.
