#IMMEDIATELY ENTERING FRIDAY VIBES ZONE

[foundationsofdecay]

WAIT I JUST REALIZED I HAVE TOMORROW AND FRIDAY OFF

YEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

#IMMEDIATELY ENTERING FRIDAY VIBES ZONE

[janesaridoll]

Angel’s demand

pairing || woc!reader x mob!Chris (all readers are welcome to read tho)

genera || fluff. smutty vibe(?),

minors don’t interact please

summary || how chris evans deals with a bratt.

wordcount || 1600.

Kofi

“i’m not one of your men, you’ll not demand me, except in bed”

||

She looked at her phone for the hundredth time in the past thirty minutes checking if he sent a message explaining why he’s late on their date, but there’s none. She sighed Looking around the fancy restaurant catching a couple of pity looks from people thinking she got stood up; which she is.

she huffed again opening the messaging app maybe he sent something and she didn’t get a notification of. Again, there’s none the last message was sent were hours ago.

A sweet voice interrupted her train of thought “Excuse me Ms, are you ready to place your order?” she looked at the waitress smiling “No, im still waiting for someone” the waitress gave her a sad smile “i’m sorry, but if you don’t order i’ll have to ask you to leave other people have been waiting for this table”

She smiled at the waitress mumbling a small “okay” not wanting to embarrass herself further. Clearly, he wasn’t showing up so there’s no point in waiting.

Her eyes traveled to the men who have been assigned to be around her 24/7, her eyes fell to Ethan, her main bodyguard who’s been assigned to be around her since the beginning of her relationship with Mr. Evans. She needs to walk around with at least five men to keep her safe, chris can’t risk it again.

She got up taking a 100$ from her expensive purse leaving it as a tip for the nice waitress. Immediately Ethan got beside her escorting her outside.

“Where the fuck is he?” She angrily spat asking Ethan who has been nothing but calm. He’s so used to the princess’s temper “At the club ma’am”

She stopped in middle of the way and all the men behind her stopped she pointed a finger at Ehtan “don’t ma’am me, im okay” she knows Ethan will immediately call her ma’am when he feels she’s upset to take her mind of the main topic and focus on the thing she hated the most. Being called “ma’am”.

“When i’m 50 year old or something you can call me ma’am Okay Ethan? Not when im so young I don’t even have a a single wrinkle! Wait, do i have a wrinkled skin??????”

And just like that she forgot she’s angry at Mr.Evans it might work for a couple of minutes but it will ease up, Ethan smirked thinking how it always works.

“no Mrs.Evans your skin flawless. Don’t worry. Now let me take you home please”

“No Ethan, im not going home take me to the club” she zoned out thinking about all the things she will do to chris.

“But y/n, Mr.Evans is dealing with business at the club” he got nervous because there’s two things that Mr.Evans asked Ethan when he gave him the job which is 1) keep her safe 2) keep here away from my business.

“well he shouldn’t have made plans with me if he’s at the club handling business” she sighed looking at him annoyingly “no let’s go im tired of standing up” she entered the car and she waits till all the five men gets in their car so they can go.

Ethan got in the car “so, I can’t change your mind?, look i can call him to meet us at the house.”

“Ethan, there’s nothing you can do to change my mind, i want to see what kind of business is more important than me, more important than the plans he made with me a week ago”.

He sighed, knowing there’s nothing he can do to change her mind. Hell even chris sometimes can’t change her mind of something, He motioned for the driver to go to the club.

Minutes later they arrived at the club, the line to the entrance was long. it’s Friday so of course it’s busy day.

She went to VIP door and entered, her bodyguards made way for her to move freely, Crowded spaces aren’t her favourite.

She got into the VIP area, The first thing she noticed that there’s not much of men like usually. She recognised a couple of faces of Chris’s business partners.

Her eyes fell on chris sitting on the velvet red couch and in his hand a drink, in front of him a girl dancing seductively. his face showing sign of discomfort but he did nothing to stop her.

“Ethan. do you see what i see?” her eyes never leaving chris’s face.

“Well it could be a misunderstanding” he shrugged his shoulders.

Her eyes left chris for a second looking angrily at Ehtna “you work with me not him”

“well, Technically i get paid by him” he explained the obvious, “well you spend your time with me” she glared at him.

she moved towards chris till she’s on his eye sight, his eyes met hers and he immediately knew he fucked up bad, he motioned to the girl on his lap to go and she did.

See? Not hard to ask a woman who’s been dancing on your lap to move so you can take your ass to the date you promised your girlfriend to have at her favourite restaurant. Which now she can’t go since you embarrassed her.

“princess, what are you doing here” He was now in front of her so they can talk over the loud music “I came to see what ‘business’ made you not come to our date” he glared at Ethan for telling her about the business he has.

“Shit” he sighed and before he can say anything else a cold drink were thrown at his Face. A couple of gasped where heard even in the loud music. He looked at her face and he didn’t miss the tears filling her eyes threatening to fall and the quavering of her lips.

She’s the only person who can talk to him disrespectfully, she’s the only person who can get away with anything she does to him. But she never did it publicly or even in front of his men. now is an exceptional, he really screwed up.

Its been months since the last time they went out on a date. He’s been extremely busy with his business, at the same time the FBI were observing every move they make, they even been watching chris’s clubs and entering with false identity to make sure he’s not doing illegal business in the clubs. Finally, after a couple of weeks they succeeded to take off the FBI from their back and everything went back to normal.

before, She would ask for one night with him and he would give her his card to buy anything she want and a lingerie, so he can fuck her stupid, And that’s it.

One thing a man should understand to keep his relationship is ‘spending time with your girlfriend aren’t the same as fucking’

“I waited for you at the restaurant and you’re here spending time with some girl at the club???” now she’s screaming, she had enough of him benching her till his dick get hard.

“let’s go home” he held her hand dragging her outside and she did nothing to resist.

In the car, she crossed her arms under her chest pushing her breast up looking outside at the road, while his eyes were fixed on her cleavage, He licked his lips Wanting nothing more than to put his lips on her.

When the car stopped she immediately rushed to the house, he sighed behind her shaking his head mumbling curses. He’s not even mad at her. what there to be mad about actually? He’s the one who screwed up, he deserve more than a drink thrown at his face.

he opened their bedroom door hearing her voice complaining in the dressing room, he went there Leaning against the doorway. He smiled seeing her in nothing but her panties, “do you wanna talk about it baby?”

He said softly and she immediately stopped what she’s doing.

“Yes, i’m not sorry I throw the drink at you. You deserve it” she strenly said not looking at him.

He came closer to her putting his hands around her waist and his chin on top of her head “i know baby, i know”

She turned around facing him “am i that annoying that you can’t spend at least an hour with? am I annoying you with talking?

Because you only like me when my mouth is busy”

“No princess , of course not i love spending time with you”

she continues as if he’s not talking “i told you to get me a cat so i can not annoy you and you said no”

“Because sweetheart i know you will get busy with the cat and won’t spend time with me”

“don’t blame this on the cat!!” she glared pointing a finger at him.

He sighed “im sorry i admit I forgot I thought it was tomorrow. Look let me make it up to you. I will take a break from work for a week and we will go to wherever you like”

“Three weeks”

“Two weeks”

“oh okay i’m sorry i forgot you can’t handle your annoying girlfriend for more than a week”

He sighed for the millionth time “okay okay to prove to you that you don’t annoy me it will be a month, what do you think?”

“I don’t think i can handle you for more than two days actually" she smirked at him

“Come on princess please?” he want nothing more than to keep her happy and safe.

“Okay fine” she moved away from his embrace going to the bed “you better get me a cat when we are back”

“Fucking love her” he mumbled smiling at her attitude. he won’t admit it to anyone but he get off on her demanding him.

||

note: hope you like it 🤍, it’s my first writing and im preparing for something big but it still in the making!!🤍 please reblog and your opinion are appreciated 🤍🤍.

#chris evans #chris evans x woc!reader #chris evans x black women #chris evans x plus size reader #chris evans x fluff #chris evans x you #chris evans x wife!reader #chris evans x poc!reader #chris evans x desi!reader #chris evans x reader

[hermioneisavirgo-blog]

Lover Album Review

After listening to Taylor Swift’s 18-track album all the way through, my mind is blown. I grew up with Taylor’s music, as I first heard “Fearless” when I was 12 years old and have been an avid listener ever since. I just moved into my first apartment in Minneapolis, and I am so pleased that “Lover” can be the soundtrack to the beginning of the rest of my life.

“I Forgot That You Existed” is a banger for a first track. This song emulates a different emotion than we have heard from Taylor before. The upbeat background and snaps create a foundation of optimism, goofiness, and sheer “indifference”. The lyrics are words that anybody can relate to - who hasn’t experienced that blissful feeling when you recognize that you haven’t thought of that dreaded person who shall not be named for days, or even weeks? I was instantly pulled in with this opener.

“Cruel Summer” made me fall in love even more. The beat immediately made me feel like an August night of sitting in the back of an Uber with my friends on a Friday night, windows rolled down and hair going crazy. With this track, we get our first “blue” used in the album. If you’ve listened, you know that the word “blue” appears all over the place. Taylor exemplifies the poetess in her with lines like, “Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes, and if I bleed you’ll be the last to know.”

“Lover”...what can I even say? Not much - this is first dance wedding reception material. This gives me such flashbacks to some of Taylor’s older country-esque songs, with bright-eyed excitement. I get the same feeling here as I do when I listen to “Enchanted” or “Hey Stephen”. However, in contrast to those songs, here she is taking control and stands in a pool of her own confidence as she boldly professes that she has grown and made strides from her days of hopelessly pining for men who weren’t really worth her time.

“The Man”. Okay. Thank you so much for this, Taylor. Made me think of “If I Were a Boy” by Beyonce. This is infused with the feeling of being “tired and angry” like “somebody should be”, which is how Halsey describes similar feelings of being bothered how the lowly boys of this world seem to get whatever the heck they want. You really would be the man, Taylor. Think, for real, as she’s even said in interviews: if she were a man writing songs about even the shortest of flings, that would never be considered taboo and worthy of shaming. This is made evident by the thousands of male singer-songwriters who do just that and are widely accepted.

“The Archer” gave me “Red” album vibes, but that’s just me. “I hate my reflection for years and years...” really got me. From the very beginning of this song, the underlying line grows steadily. It almost feels like one of those never-ending videos where the tone appears to be increasing but never really does...gave me a sense of infinity. Very lush, injected with an emotional pen as she recalls different perspectives from different lovers and relationships.

“I Think He Knows” made me want to DANCE. And I did. A lot. The beat is almost hip-hop club-ish with the bass. It seemed like such an interesting song in contrast to “I Know Places”, from “1989″, which has a haunting sound and alludes to the idea that it’s hard for Taylor to ever feel like she has privacy with her private life. With this song, she isn’t focused on the people looking in at her life, but instead she delves into that private relationship. It makes me feel like she is caring less and less about what people see and what people know. She’s just LIVING her life.

And now, we have reached my favorite song of the album. Thanks for this one, Taylor. Seriously. “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince” doesn’t even sound like any “type” of Taylor we’ve heard before. With the very beginning notes, I called it that I would cry by the end of this. The first verse immediately made me picture the “You Belong With Me” music video with the band uniform and prom dress. Taylor portrays two different sides of a coin in that video, and I feel a bit of that in this song. I really hope she does a music video of this song. I have always loved her more haunting melodies, particularly in the “Red” album (or in “Dancing With Our Hands Tied” - the most underrated song on "reputation”), but this took it to an entirely new level. I am OBSESSED.

“Paper Rings” is so playful, and a great mental break after processing the absurd depth in the previous song. Gave me “Stay, Stay, Stay” vibes. She sound so jovial and happy in this song, and I am so glad to hear her this way.

“Cornelia Street” is one of the fully Taylor Swift-composed songs on the album. This type of song I see myself rocking out to as I power walk down the street in autumn. In the lyrics, she talks about how losing this love would be devastating to the point of taking eternity to heal from. It is a familiar feeling, when you are in so deep with someone who you feel has become a part of you, impermeably and forever.

“Death By a Thousand Cuts” starts off by explaining just what she means. “Saying goodbye is death by a thousand cuts...” which is an interesting line to hear right after “Cornelia Street”, which invests in the narrative that saying goodbye would be an impossible feat after experiencing connection this strong. The instruments in this song are layered (clear guitar at the beginning with shuffling beats that come in and even something that sounds like a harpsichord??) and even though the message is a painful one, this baroque-poppy feel makes me want to DANCE MORE. But maybe with a lot of moves that make it look like I am in excruciating pain lol.

“London Boy”’s beat is fire flame. It’s a give-in that this song is about Joe Alwyn and as someone who has seen “The Favourite”, I can attest to the dimples and the accent. It’s clear her relationship is not only a a deep love, but also lots of fun, adventure, stepping outside her comfort zone, and recognizing that she can find home in someone who doesn’t live in her own backyard (*ahem* “White Horse”).

“Soon You’ll Get Better” (feat. Dixie Chicks) is simply beautiful. Reminiscent of her country days, as well. Reminds me of “Never Grow Up”. Since the speculation is that this song is about her mother, I find it poignant and very “Taylor” that it’s track 12. “The Best Day” is also track 12 on “Fearless” and was always one of my favorites. Underneath the main message of trying to find comfort in a super tough and scary time, I find that Taylor is enunciating the idea that she is growing up and things will change in her relationship to her parents no matter what. That’s just the way of life. Very moving.

“False God” begins with a sexy little saxophone riff. Shortly after, we get to hear that poetic line she teased on her Spotify playlist: “And I can’t talk to you when you’re like this...staring out the window like I’m not your favorite town - I’m New York City!” The message with this song gives me a “bigger picture” sense. Even though she is making references to heaven and hell within interactions with her lover, I can also view the “times like this” that “they warned us about” as the times we are living in now: terrifying and unclear with a leader who professes division and tearing down much more than love and building up. 

“You Need To Calm Down” is by far the single that I listened to the most before the album dropped. As a queer woman who “passes” as a “straight” cis woman and who took a very long time to admit to herself and others the truth, this song greatly boosted my confidence in Taylor as she opens up about where she stands, loudly and proudly. And that beat is so VIBRANT and fun.

At the start of “Afterglow”, we get yet ANOTHER use of “blue”. (There are lots that I didn’t mention, but it just is so prominent here.) This is a beautiful, lush, apology song in which Taylor unveils how deeply she wants her lover to stay despite her shortcomings and miscommunications. I felt this one hard and wish I could play it for a lot of my ex-best friends.

“ME!” (feat. Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco) is colorful, glorious, confident, cheerful, and is something that I could see being played at a pep rally. The message is clear: being yourself will ultimately win you every prize that is yours to win. Whether that be a lover or whatever your heart desires!! This is a truth I have come to realize recently. It’s a hard, treacherous lesson, and I feel that Taylor is showing that she’s finally finding out what it means to be truly herself with this tune.

“It’s Nice To Have A Friend” is the cutest song Taylor has ever written and recorded, by far. I think I hear steel pan in the background, adding to the layered sound of playfulness. That trumpet in the middle is so triumphant and an interesting addition to the dynamic! It feels very innocent and loving, maybe she wrote this with her cats in mind :)

“Daylight” is a gorgeous closing track. As this wraps up the album, it is quite clear that Taylor feels like she can breathe more deeply now that she has met, known, and loved her lover. It appears that everything has changed, and she can see much more clearly. This song made me think of “Clean” from “1989″, due to the notion that she is leaving the darkness and fogginess and entering a world where she feels fresh and sees everything clearly. Her lover is obviously a wonderful match for her spunky, stoked, sensitive, Sagittarius self. “You are what you love.” What a precious way to close my favorite new album.

Overall - Taylor’s “Lover” incorporates many familiar Taylor sounds while also introducing lots of new things we’ve never heard. From the lush synths in “Cruel Summer” to Cautious Clay’s influence in “London Boy”, it is clear that Taylor has crafted something that signifies a new era for her. As she turns 30 at the end of this year, she has seven studio albums to be extremely proud of. Thank you, Taylor, for being such a strong beam of light as I navigated high school hallways, college parties, and the ups and downs of falling in love.

#taylor swift #lover #swifties #lover album #cats #fearless #lovers lounge #new york #west village #review #album review #lover album review #dixie chicks #brendon urie #music #music review #taylor #swift #1989 #red #reputation #speak now

[junker-town]

F1 schedule: How to Watch the Miami Grand Prix

Photo by Clive Mason - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images

F1’s arrival in Florida could be a landmark moment for the sport’s growth in America.

Exactly when a sport “arrives” in America isn’t binary, but a gradual process with pivotal moments of public awareness. Where Formula 1 currently sits on its trajectory in the States is debatable, but the direction the series is headed is undeniable.

After missing out on the 2020 F1 schedule due to COVID restrictions, over 400,000 fans flocked to the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, TX last fall. Part of that spike in interest has been thanks to Netflix’s Drive to Survive series, which is credited anytime a team principal, driver, or reporter discusses F1’s growth in recent years. The next seminal moment in the sport’s relationship with America lands this weekend with the debut of the Miami Grand Prix.

Part of a ten-year deal, Miami marks the first time in nearly four decades the US has hosted two F1 races in the same season and becomes the 11th American circuit to host a Grand Prix. Tickets sold out almost immediately with reports of a few hundred thousand on the waiting list. To echo that level of demand, on the latest F1 Nation Podcast, McLaren CEO Zak Brown stated that he had “never seen this much attention in [his] 20 years in the sport, the number of hospitality and appearance requests, celebrity guests and sponsorship interest.”

Most everyone in the series believes that Sunday will mark the next stage of America’s discovery of Formula 1. TV ratings are steadily improving on ESPN, and Miami could easily land in the top five highest-rated F1 races in US history. With the next TV deal currently being shopped around and a new Las Vegas Grand Prix down the famous Strip coming in 2023, it’s a great time to be an American F1 fan.

The Season So Far

A new set of regulations has seen Ferrari jump into the top spot, while the middle of the grid is at its most competitive point in years. Current Championship leader Charles Leclerc and 2020 title winner Max Verstappen have traded wins in the open four rounds of the season. Ferrari’s Leclerc enters the Miami weekend with a 27-point advantage. Meanwhile, Mercedes, winners of the last eight Constructors’ Titles, continue to struggle with their new 2022 car. Lewis Hamilton sits 7th in the standings after finishing 13th in Australia last time out.

The Circuit:

Formula1.com

Miami International Autodrome

The 19-turn Miami International Autodrome winds through the Miami Gardens and around Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins. There are three straights and three DRS (Drag Reduction System) zones which should provide plenty of overtaking opportunities. The 3.36-mile circuit (5.412km) is expected to have a top speed of 198mph, making it one of the fastest tracks in F1. Both Valtteri Bottas and Pierre Gasly gave the circuit positive reviews after spending time in the simulator this week. We should be in for a very smooth surface that is designed to provide a high level of grip.

And if a brand new F1 circuit in Miami wasn’t enough, the promotion team has gone above and beyond to make this an event unlike any other on the calendar. The track starts by encircling the NFL stadium from the start/finish line through Turn 4. Passing by the Fountains and through the chicane brings the drivers into the mock Marnia complete with yachts and the visual effect of water. After a long, winding, and extremely fast section heading into Turn 11, we find The Beach which will feature two levels of cabanas, two resort-style pools, and a 24,000 square foot beach. This race will certainly have the Miami vibe.

F1MiamiGP.com

Campus Map

How To Watch:

Practice 1 - Friday 5/6 - 2:25 pm - ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN

Miami GP Preview Show: Friday 5/6 - 3:45 pm - ESPN3/WatchESPN

Practice 2 - Friday 5/6 - 5:25 pm - ESPN News/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN

Practice 3 - Saturday 5/7 - 12:55 pm - ESPN News/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN

Qualifying - Saturday 5/7 - 3:55 pm - ESPN/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN

Grand Prix Sunday (Pre-race Show) - Sunday 5/8 - 2:00 pm - ABC/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN

Grand Prix Race - Sunday 5/8 - 3:00 pm - ABC/ESPN Deportes/WatchESPN

For those without cable looking to watch the Miami Grand Prix weekend, you can subscribe to F1TV directly to catch every race, qualifying, and practice session throughout the 2022 season.

DraftKings Sportsbook is offering odds on the race. Just like the season thus, far there is a two-car battle at the top. Max Verstappen is a slight favorite at +100, followed by Charles Leclerc (+125). Their teammates are currently set at +1200 for Sergio Perez and +1600 for Carlos Sainz. Farther back is seven-time Champion Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris (both at +4000) and the new Mercedes driver George Russell at +6000.

What to Watch For

With limited time in the track simulators, how will the drivers adapt to a brand new circuit?

Mercedes and Ferrari are rumored to be bringing upgrades to their cars. Will that push Ferrari to the front once more after seeing Red Bull dominate at Imola? And have Mercedes finally found a solution to their porpoising issues to give Lewis Hamilton a chance to fight at the front?

How might rain impact Qualifying and the Grand Prix? Right now the weather forecast predicts clear skies for Friday’s practice sessions and Saturday’s qualifying runs, but there continues to be a chance of potential rain Sunday afternoon during the race.

We’ve seen a much more balanced and competitive midfield so far this season, with 18 drivers already scoring points. Alpine, Alfa Romeo, and Haas all have a car in the top ten. Which midfield team will be the quickest on a brand new circuit?

And after closing the Championship gap on Charles Leclerc last week in Italy, can Max dominate the weekend once again to pull himself and Red Bull right into the top of the standings?

It all kicks off Friday afternoon as Formula 1 welcomes in the brand new Miami Grand Prix.

Before you head out, check out the F1 drivers attempting to guess the city attached to various NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS & NHL teams. There are a lot of Boston guesses.

_______ Red Sox Easy, right?! #MiamiGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/HwNw5z5siF

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 3, 2022

[thotyssey]

On Point With: DJ Ted Bishop Nieves

The newly-anointed Mr. Fire Island Bear 2018 is actually a veteran nightlifer and DJ in this city, breaking through during the days of ball houses and big clubs. He shares a bit of his history with Thotyssey, and hints at some amazing stuff to come.

Thotyssey: Ted, hello! Happy Pride! And of course, a big congrats on winning Mr. Fire Island Bear at Cherry’s on the Bay this past weekend! 

DJ Ted Bishop Nieves: Thank you so much, Jim.

How good did that win feel? It really felt amazing to win. I'll be honest, I'm still in a bit of shock. It was really quite a surprise for me to be entering the contest, and it blew my mind when I won. It was an amazing rush of joy that I really can't describe.

Have you done contests before this one?

My first "contest" was actually just a few weeks ago during the Urban Bear street festival run by Robert Valin and his Urban Bear team. They had their first ever Mr. Urban Bear Contest, and I had enough liquor in me to give me the bravery to enter. I ended up winning on the strength of my lip sync performance, lol! That contest, of course, was all in good fun and I enjoyed that immensely.

And now look at you, you’re a pageant queen! How did the Fire Island Bear contest go... what was required of you?

It was pretty intense. The first part of the contest actually took place several hours before the event at Cherry's. Each of the contestants who signed up ahead of time sat with the judges for a pretty intense Q&A.

After that we had the event at Cherry's, and there we had to present two outfits: a "bar night" look followed by a fetish outfit. That was pretty amazing and difficult. I'm sometimes very shy, and had a hard time getting up the courage to go up there. Once I dd though, there was no going back.

So the bear world--and nightlife in general--knows you best as a DJ, which we’ll get to a bit. But first, let’s start at the beginning: where’s your  hometown, and what were you into growing up?

I was born and raised here in the South Bronx, where I was surrounded by a lot of loud family and friends! Many of them were loud because they were musicians, so I developed a love of music pretty early on. And that was really what I was into as a kid: music.

The kids I grew up with in the neighborhood all played together after school, and most of the day during the summer. I was the one who always had the boom box with him, playing the loud music as we played handball, slugs, red light / green light, or all the other games a lot of us played as kids.

What were you listening to?

Back then I loved it all. My sister introduced me to disco, but I also listened to rock, country, and just about any other genre that was showcased on Kasey Kasem's American Top 40 radio show. Haha! Do people still know that existed?

I bet they don’t!

How did you discover nightlife?

I was probably about 16 years-old, and like a lot of kids in the Bronx I decided to get working papers, and had worked a few jobs around my immediate neighborhood... stock boy, and stuff like that. But at 16, I got a job at Alexander’s department store. One day while riding the train, I caught an older man checking me out, and he got off at the same stop as I. We started speaking, and he told me about a place called the Pier. He asked if I wanted to check it out. I said yes, and we exchanged numbers and we stayed in touch.  

That Friday after work, he picked me up for what I thought would be my first date with a man, but turned into my first class in NYC nightlife and drag and voguing and houses. That night I got the education of a lifetime, and he told me we'd do it again the following night.

That next night, instead of the Pier, we went to the legendary Tracks Nightclub on 19th Street. I stepped foot into that club, and it felt like I was home.That began my love affair with NYC's gay nightlife.

Over the years, I would be able to experience The Saint, Red Zone, The Copacabana, The World, Mars, my favorite of all time Sound Factory, and The Roxy. These places were my home, and I felt connected to them like nothing else.

Were you voguing yourself, and turning lewks?

Ha! No, I never did master voguing, and was very shy back then. Never tried to draw too much attention to myself. But the LEWKS my friends would turn! Gurrrrrl. They were epic! Especially at Red Zone and The Tunnel.

Did you have a favorite Ball House?

Well, ALL the houses knew how to turn it in their own way. They all had it going on, so I wouldn't say I had a favorite house. However, you were always guaranteed crazy heights of entertainment when the Magnifiques, Aviances and Extravaganzas were in attendance at Sound Factory.

Is the new show Pose accurate in its portrayal of that time, from what little has aired so far?

I would say that yes, it's quite accurate as far as depicting the scene and the struggles of the people who were part of it.  It's really quite spot on.

How did you ultimately get into DJing?

So, DJing started when I was pretty young. It's actually the reason I started working as a kid; I wanted to buy my own DJ equipment, and I did. I started teaching myself around 15-16, but it wasn't until my late 30's that I grew the balls to try and do something with it outside of it being a hobby.

Did you ever try using a DJ moniker before deciding to just go by your (presumably) actual name?

My real name is Ted Nieves. I decided to use “DJ Bishop” back in the 90s, when the X-Men introduced this character named Bishop, who absorbed energy and converted it into concussive force. I've always felt that a DJ absorbs the energy from the crowd and turns it back to them as concussive beats, so it seemed appropriate. Later on, as I started working, I added it to my own name in order to help spread my brand.

As of right now, what do you enjoy spinning most when given the freedom to do whatever?

Oooh. I'm seriously feeling my Afro and tech house vibes when left to my own devices. Those beats just get right under your skin, and drive your hips into madness.

What have been some highlights for you, or major moments, DJing venues in this city over the years? 

Oh, that's a really hard question... but I think that I can narrow it down a bit! The first major milestone for me was when G Lounge asked me to be part of their now legendary DiLF party, promoted by Mark Lander and Franco DiLuzio. 

Next would be getting to be part of the team of DJs that work with NYC promoters Antonio Cedeno and Shane Tate. It's always an honor to be listed as a part of their teams. Also, being a part of the Fire Island Bear Weekend has been amazing. I've played the opening party two years in a row, and loved every minute of it.  

Finally, now being able to have my own party in partnership with John-John Punki (Mr. Eagle 2017) at Rockbar. Those are really some of my proudest moments.

Did you ever think the bear scene would become as huge as it is today?

Yes. The bear community was built out of a need for acceptance. The level of shaming and prejudice in the gay community has always been really bad. We're all aware that, often, the oppressed become the oppressors. Well, it is certainly true in the gay community. We are oppressed, so we need to oppress those who are larger than we think they should be, or skinnier than we think they should be, or who have a different color skin than we find attractive... and it goes on and on.

That doesn't mean, of course, that it's always love and light within the Bear Community. But I have certainly experienced more love and acceptance here than I have in the other aspects of gay life that I've experienced.

And with that said, that is why I believed from the beginning it would be a growing community. Who doesn't want to walk into a room of people that all look different, and not feel like they are judging you? Man, that's heaven right there.

Okay, that brings us to the gigs. First off, there’s the Pride edition of Soaked at Rockbar in the West Village on Friday, June 15. John-John appears,  J. Rios and Matty B. host, Viva Vidalia performs, and dudes in underwear get wet for our entertainment. This monthly has been a huge success for Rockbar!

This is actually my debut with the Soaked team, so I'm super excited about it. What makes it even more special is that there is a full upgrade of the sound system at Rockbar that [manager] Jason Romas and I worked on. It's going to be the official unveiling of that, and I can't wait to blow people's socks off with that sound.

And you'll be back with John-John at Rockbar for your actual monthly, Purgatory, on June 28th! Hey, why aren''t we calling it FURgatory?

LOL, we had originally wanted to use a different name, but had to change it at the last minute. “Purgatory” was whet we came up with because that sounded sexy and naughty, and it kinda stuck. But maybe we should put it to a vote and see if people would like us to change it to FUR-gatory.  What do you think?

Either works! What's the scene like?

It's a really fun vibe. The party takes place right after RuPaul’s Drag Race, so people are really happy (usually) and very chatty after the show. We like to carry that vibe over, and slowly make it sexier. I bring a blend of pop, house, and EDM to the event, and I keep it sexy with our gogo dancers. We've had awesome response to the event, and are excited to continue and see how it goes.

And tell us about (r)Evolution at the Hangar, also in the West Village. It looks that venue is trying to have more defined nights there (named parties, established DJs, some drag, etc).

Yes. (r)Evolution Saturdays at The Hangar was born out of them wanting to have a legit, full-on house music event that catered to the classic house heads, and the new kids that are still discovering what real house music is. DJ Mando and myself talked about it, and determined the sounds we wanted. We worked with management to come up with an official name for the event to start branding it, and breathe new life into this NYC gay nightlife fixture. 

There are a few plans to really begin fleshing out some other nights as well. As you know, the Hangar has been a haven for many of our brothers and sisters of color for decades now, and yet so many people don't even know about it. I mean, can you believe that this coming Pride march, they will be celebrating 25 years of service to our community?

Amazing! 

So, anything else coming up for you?

Well, along with Soaked and (r)Evolution this week, I have Purgatory next. And Pride Sunday is a double-header for me playing at Rebar from 2-9pm for their annual Pride celebration, followed by The Hangar's Annual Pride and 25th Year anniversary celebration. So, it's a jam-packed June for me.

Nice! Enjoy the gigs! Okay, last question: What should a young, new DJ do when trying to make a career in this business?

Work hard and promote yourself.  No one will believe you if you don't believe it yourself.

Thanks, Ted!

DJ Ted Bishop Nieves spins weekly Saturdays at The Hangar NYC (10pm), and last Thursdays at Rockbar for Purgatory (10pm). Check Thotyssey’s calendar for all his scheduled gigs, and follow DJ Ted on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

On Point Archives

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[neytinintransit]

seoul talk (ed. 1)

Or more like seoul searching, but I guess some good soul talk is a solid first step. To me, Seoul was a city of relationships. And when I say that, I’m not restricting the term to romance (although it definitely makes up a large pice of the pie). There was not a single day where Eric and I hadn’t found ourselves surrounded by both new and familiar faces. Part of the reason for our newfound popularity stood in the fact that most of the people I knew in Asia just happened to be in Seoul. But what made the experience special was that everyone would always bring one or two of their own friends to tag along, and naturally, that helped our humble little two-man team evolve into a squad (underwater squaw wus good). Everyday, we formed new relationships and strengthened existing ones. 

Being in Seoul really helped me appreciate all of the friends I found myself lucky enough to be surrounded by. After traveling for a while, the concept of homesickness doesn’t feel as foreign as it should, and you begin to long for some sort of anchor that can root you in stability. I think most people have this problem, but I never felt that in Seoul. I think that I can always find myself missing some parts of the warmth and friendship that I found there.

Staying true to the theme of this post, Eric and I immediately made our way over to meet with Michelle minutes after we got to our Airbnb. Originally, we had planned to get some Korean fried chicken with her in Hongdae, but this little devil kept escalating things. Eric and I were experiencing some serious alcohol trauma (hangovers) from the previous night and had no intention whatsoever of ingesting anymore of that toxic waste. In fact, we literally made a pact before meeting up with Michelle that we were going to take it easy tonight, but it was Michelle’s last night in Seoul and I guess she wanted to rally before the big send-off. We ordered one or two bottles of soju, and after we finished the modest amount of alcohol and the not-so-modest amount of chicken, she convinced us to go to a bar and grab one or two drinks. Something I learned while abroad: never trust those friends that take you to the bar for “one or two” drinks.

We ended up at this bar called Thursday Party, which was the typical go-to pregame spot for most internationals. To be fair, we had some pretty good conversation and catch up. We also dipped our feet in that stranger danger zone and had a couple memorable interactions with some people around us (i.e. some drunk girl who was alone and kept asking for alcohol, beer pong with some Canadians, Michelle’s unwanted wing-manning). From there, everything became a blur. I love poisoning myself, destroying my liver, and making embarrassingly bad decisions.

To be honest, I don’t even remember going to McDonalds. I only know we went because I’ve got hard-photo evidence of this happening. Despite the memory loss and continuation of my never-ending hangover, being around Michelle was especially refreshing, and I think that was one of the best ways I could’ve started my stay at Seoul. It was nice remembering what it felt like to appreciate another human being as much as they appreciated you. It’s been a while since I’ve genuinely had that in my life, and I think it’s an important part of finding a sense of belonging. On an slightly unrelated, light-hearted side-note, Michelle also got us started off on our seven-day bender.

Beyond my conscious knowledge, we woke up with plans to grab bing-su with Michelle. Bing-su is basically Korean shaved snow, and that good-good looked a bit like this:

When we got to the joint, I was greeted by my arch-nemesis Stephanie, Michelle’s younger sister. According to Michelle, her sister goes on auto-hate mode for any “new guy” in her life. I don’t think there’s a single time where I haven’t seen her glaring at me. It’s okay though, because deep down, I feel like Steph actually enjoys my company even though she’s take jabs at me every little chance she gets. Because in between each insult, we manage to sneak in a nice little conversation about something going on in our lives. Well, regardless of whether or not she likes me, I think she’s cool and that’s all that matters. Plus we’re facebook friends, so it’s official

After bidding our frowns and farewells to Michelle as her bus drove off into the distance, we made our way over to Gyeongbokgung, the royal palace of South Korea. Stephanie must’ve really wanted company, because she decided to stick around us for the rest of the day. The humidity was brutal, and so were my sweat glands. For the duration of our bus ride, Steph wouldn’t stop pining about how I was basically a fountain and needed some portable fans so I wouldn’t drip everywhere. I don’t blame her.

We actually made plans to meet up with John Suh that day. Apparently, he was on some short vacation from his military vacation and had some time to spare before going back to base, so he joined us on our little expedition. Back when he was at Princeton, we never really spoke much. Even though we went to Beijing together freshman summer, I could only count a handful of memories with him. After spending so much time with him this summer, I could safely say that that’s probably one of my biggest regrets. We actually get along really well, and it’s really nice to have a friend who likes the same style of dance as you (~Cali urban vibes~). On the east coast, there weren’t that many people who were into the styles of dance that I was, so it was a bit isolating in that respect.

John’s the sharp-looking military boy to the right. Oh yeah, about my outfit. There are several vendors around the area that rent out Hanboks (traditional Korean Garb) for about thirty bucks USD. Somehow, Eric talked me into the whole immersive experience, so we hiked over the closest store and got all suited up. Somehow, Eric talked me into doing a lot of crazy things, but thankfully this was one was one of the better decisions that we made. 

Above, we have the King and the Prince. I let Eric take over with the king outfit this time since he’s the one that’s actually Korean- plus it gave me plenty of leeway for those daddy jokes that made the man plenty uncomfortable. Half the time, I couldn’t stop laughing in disbelief at the fact that we actually went out of our way to put these clothes on. As silly as I felt, I’m glad we did it. We had a taste of what it felt like to be old school Korean gangstas, and people treated us like mini celebrities. There were at least three or four occasions where strangers came up to us asking for a photo. The best part was when they came up to me speaking Korean and I had to give them that blank, shameless stare, exposing myself as a poser. About an hour and two ankle blisters later, John’s vacation time was up and Eric and I had to go return our new superhero outfits. We went scavenging for food after our failed attempt to enter the museum of modern art (since it was closed). After a short meal, we dropped Stephanie off at her bus stop and Eric and I headed home to rest and wash up. Waking up hungover and walking all day long in hot, stuffy clothing was a sure-fire way of feeding the burnout.

Oh, I almost forgot. Friday, June 30 was a very special day, because it was Michelle Jeong’s birthday! By the way, this is a different Michelle than the one mentioned above, so to alleviate the confusion, I’ll refer to her as Meesh. Meesh and I were friends way back in high school (fun fact: we actually went to Sadies together). We shared the same nightmarish internship one summer in high school, and hadn’t spoke much until we reunited in London during our junior year of study abroad. She was the closest friend I had while I was in London, and I can’t imagine what the semester would’ve been like without her support. I really wouldn’t want to, growing closer to her in London was easily the best thing that happened to me during those few months. It’s funny to look back into your past and discover all these disjoint narratives that somehow found themselves mingling and me(e)shing together. Meesh’s family moved back to Seoul after both siblings graduated college, so I haven’t seen her back on the west coast in a while.

After Eric and I washed all the humid grime off our bodies and put on some fancy clothes, we headed over to this bar in Itaewon for Meesh’s birthday party. Itaewon is the most international neighborhood of Seoul. If you’re an expat and you can’t speak Korean, Itaewon’s probably the place you’d be living. It’s also a pretty fun place to go out. When we got there, I was surprised to run into John Shin, my best friend’s boyfriend. Unfortunately he was just waiting for us to come so he could say hi, but he had to leave soon after. At the bar, I met a number of Meesh’s close friends from Cornell. Meesh would always tell me so many stories about her friends back at school, so it was really interesting to finally meet them all in person. I was also shocked at how many of them were in Korea at that time. 

A good number of drinks and a happy birthday song later, we walked across the street to this place called Club Made. Originally, Meesh really didn’t want to go clubbing, but her friends sort of coerced her into it. That night as an oddball, because I was the one who had to take care of Eric. After he puked on my arm (which is totally OK because I put him through much more stress throughout the trip), I decided it was about time to head home. We left the club at around 3AM, and after we realized that it was impossible to call a cab at that hour, we decided to go back and stay in the club until 5AM when the subway opened up again.

And so we did it. Eric and I stumbled back into Club Made, stole a handle of Absolut from an abandoned table, met some new friends (who go to NYU and USC!!!), and continued partying until the sunrise. After the club closed, we headed back to the Airbnb. Or at least I thought we were, but my trip back home was a little more complicated. I was half awake when Eric woke me up, but in that situation we definitely round down. Apparently after I stood up, Eric assumed that I followed him out of the train and onto the platform. But I didn’t. In my half-awake, drunken stupor, I sat back down in my seat and fell asleep for a good five to six stops away. I woke up in a panic and realized Eric had texted me the address and key code to get back into the apartment earlier that day. Unfortunately, my battery was at around 2% and I knew that if I wasn’t able to memorize that information before my phone died, I’d probably die along with it. 

Luckily, four years of cramming BS in college did me well, and I was able to get the information down right before it powered off. Cab drivers in Korea don’t really speak English, so I was lucky that I found one that was able to understand whatever the hell I was telling him. After I charged my phone and reunited with a very relieved Eric, I found this gem in my messages: 

I laughed, but he was pissed. 

After a long nap, Eric took me to this little slice of paradise called Hangang Park. In retrospect, strolling along the river was probably one of happiest, most peaceful memories of the entire Asia trip. We purchased some kimbap on the way there and scoped out the area for a nice, shady spot to relax. Summers are especially humid, so naturally the bulk of the crowd congregated underneath a massive bridge that overlooked the river. People had tents and blankets sprawled out along the lawn, and there were a group of people singing and performing for the crowd. They had some of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard in my life. Part of me wishes I went up to them and asked them if they wanted the photo, because they seemed so genuinely happy in that moment. Eric and I sat there for a while, enjoying the music and food while observing a few people perform these crazy tricks on bicycles. 

I also managed to snap a photo that I thought captured a “nice guy” moment for Eric. Basically, there are a number of old Korean women scattered throughout the park that are paid(?) to pass out fliers and sell snacks. They probably don’t have much money and need to work these jobs to make it to the next week, because conditions are grueling. It’s unbelievably humid out, and most people just brush them aside or ignore them. I guess Eric felt bad, because he got up out of nowhere and bought some food that we didn’t even eat. I promise this was one of those actually-candid photos. It’d be kind of fucked up if it wasn’t. 

After we soaked up enough of the peace and zen around us, we decided to go on a little stroll along the river. I don’t know if this sounds pretentious, but the large public pool-fountain construct reminded me a lot of Plaça de Catalunya in Barcelona. The surroundings were just so full of life- splashes, youthful laughter, tiny plodded footsteps could be heard from all directions. I know this is probably a misguided judgement, but I found it difficult to imagine an unhappy childhood growing up somewhere with this in the backyard. I think there’ve been less than a handful of memories where I felt that genuinely content and at awe with the world I live in, and this was one of them.

Unfortunately, our time at Hangang park came to an end. We met up with Eric’s uncle on his dad’s side of the family and a few of his other relatives for ayce (all you can eat) shabu shabu. After meeting his dad’s side and hearing about his mom’s side, I could really see both parts of their personalities in him. It was really interesting to piece the different puzzle pieces together- I wonder what people think about me when they meet my parents. Anyway, we had a long, hearty dinner and I enjoyed spending time with them. Eric seemed really happy to be able to see them, since he grew up with most of them and they moved to Korea about half a year ago.

By the time dinner finished, it was pretty far into the evening. Guess what that means. That’s right. More alcohol. We hurried home to put on a pair of pants, since that’s what we considered “nicer” clothing, and made our way out to our first night in Gangnam. We made plans to meet up with Sally Hahn, one of my friends from Princeton. Meesh was supposed to join in, but she bailed toward the end because she didn’t want to go out two nights in a row. What a party pooper. Well, she’s actually pretty fun to party with, but I’m just bitter because her company would’ve been greatly appreciated.

Having Sally around was still great, though. If I’m ever back in Seoul while she’s there, I’m definitely going to hit her up because she took good care of Eric and me. First, we went to this Korean bar-restaurant thing. I forgot the name for it, but typical Korean bars are food joints that sell alcohol. The alcohol’s relatively cheap, but the gig is that you need to purchase some food in order to purchase the alcohol. That’s where the bars make the money, but I guess it all evens out in the end. Plus that food was mad dank (Erthan Slohng lingo). We went out to this club called Octagon, which is one of the highest rated clubs in the world. It was pretty expensive- I think that night hurt my wallet the most. I guess you get what you pay for, though, because we had a ton of fun. Some guy wearing an Anonymous mask started a cypher, and you best believe I found myself at home there. Actually, who am I kidding. The only time I’m brave enough to freestyle is when I’m well-enough inebriated to the point where there’s no way my freestyle looks any good. Some tragic happenings occurred that night as well, but for the sake of everyone’s reputation, I’ll leave that a mystery for you to never figure out. 

Keeping up with the pattern, we woke up with our lovely splitting headaches and aching bodies. Eric had plans to meet up with his mother’s side, but I had promised Meesh we would spend some more time together before I left for the next destination. And thus, Eric and I temporarily parted ways for the first time (while sober, and with a clear sense of direction). 

Lovely, lovely Meesh brought me to this beautiful man-made river called Cheonggyecheon. Apparently, it used to be a massive sewage dump that polluted the streets with a rotting stench. Sort of like the smell you’d catch a whiff of walking by my college dorm. One of the Presidents realized how much public spaces affected the livelihood of its inhabitants (duh), and spent tons of money reforming it into what it is today. Sometimes, I wish cities in America would make better use of their public spaces. Even in NYC, everything has a bit of a rustic, rundown vibe to it (unless we’re talking big corporate buildings).

Meesh and I actuallly ran into a little Muay Thai tournament that was taking place near Cheonggyecheon. It brought back plenty of memories (and trauma), since Meesh was there when I started taking on Muay Thai seriously and competing in London. I made the mistake of purchasing some spicy pad thai, and found myself sweating a good amount more than I should have a few minutes into our walk. After melting a trail of sadness for a good fifteen minutes, we found a restaurant that served pigs feet. It sounds weird, but I grew up on that stuff and I can promise you that it’s something you definitely don’t want to knock until you try. We ate our fill as we caught each other up on our lives. It’s crazy how much can change in such a short time period. It’s only been a few weeks since, but I bet if I met up with Meesh for another dope, scrumptious pig’s feet feast, I’d have just as many new things to tell her.

Eric was planning on meeting us later in the day, so Meesh took me around some nice spots to kill time. I can’t remember the name of the place (mainly because so much of my brain-space was hellbent on remembering the names of locations near my Airbnb so that if I got lost again, I wouldn’t be scared of getting lost and dying), but there were all these cute little shops and boutiques littered across these stone-brick streets. If Meesh and I were dating, that would have been one of the most ideal date locations, and that’s me talking by LA standards. I thought my hometown was a place that shipped out romantics, but I guess there’s a reason why every other person’s holding hands with someone on the streets. There was this one shopping complex (The one pictured above. Look at Meesh btw, isn’t she adorable.) with shops spiraling up to the top. At the top was this little “love lock��� things where couples could go and attach locks with their names written on them to a fence. Y’know, one of those things. It’s actually pictured in my profile photo for the blog if you still don’t know what I’m talking about. And if you’re still confused, go peep my travel album on Facebook (shameless plug).

After Eric arrived, we got some shaved ice and went shopping for souvenirs. Well, more like we walked into a shop that happened to sell souvenirs- we were really there for the AC, because all three of us were literally melting through our pores. I was feeling especially tired toward the end of our time with Meesh, so I mainly stood in the background and let Eric and Meesh interact with each other. I felt so exhausted from the consecutive disasters that happened the two nights before that I couldn’t muster the energy to maintain conversation with these people, even though they were both people very near and dear to my heart.

As usual, we said our goodbyes to Meesh and moved onto our next destination. I thought it would be a crime to call myself a dancer, come to Seoul, and not take dance class. So to prevent myself from committing any crimes against humanity, I dragged Eric to his first dance class at 1Million with me. We went to a random dance class, hoping we would learn some dope choreography, but instead we took Jay Kim’s class (sorry for the hate, but I just couldn’t dig it). I still had a ton of fun dancing, though. Becoming a part of the dance community was one of the most dynamic changes to my senior year at Princeton, but I can easily say that dancing has made me a much happier person at the core. We met some guy (sorry I can’t remember your name!) from Vegas who was also traveling Asia post-grad, and grabbed dinner with him after class. 

When we were released from Jay Kim’s cornyography (get it? corny choreography = cornyography) dance-den, we were lucky and fortunate enough to enter a long, seemingly perpetual spree of torrential downpour. What made the situation even better was that the only person who had an umbrella was Eric. After waiting a good fifteen minutes, we gave up on the world and admitted defeat to the crazies that were doing the rain dance in some basement to ruin our lives. The station was about a ten-minute walk away, but somehow with all the rain, it turned out to be a fifteen-minute sprint away. Even though we all were soaked head to toe, even though I nearly slipped and cracked my head open a few times, even though that day is probably the reason why my shoes smell like shit today, I don’t think I would have chosen to not run in the rain that night even if I had a massive, protective hamster ball that would’ve protected me from any moisture from above. I don’t know if you’ve ever done it, but going out into a blanket of thundering rain with no protection is probably one of the most exhilarating corners of life. Running through it is even better. I guess I still don’t really know what it means to be alive after 22 years in this body, but I felt so incredibly alive that night. 

That long day was unfortunately the preface to a long night. Eric and I had mountains of laundry because we did a great job of overpacking, and we had to do laundry before leaving for Taipei the next day. And so as all bro-y Californian dudes do while they wait for laundry, Eric and I drank a bottle of makgeolli (Korean rice wine) and put on face masks.

The stuff of nightmares, am I right. You’ll also notice that there’s clothes hanging from the curtains in the background. That’s what made that night long. Almost everything that could have possibly gone wrong (and right) happened during our stay in Seoul, and the night before we took off, the owner came up to us with a bag of heavy, soggy, washed clothing and told us that the storm broke the drier. Under pressure, we jerry-rigged a little hang-dry system out of everything we could possibly hang clothes off of and prayed that everything would be dry in the morning. I can’t really remember if the clothes were ok in the morning, but I do remember going to Taipei. Things always sort themselves out somehow. Or you die. But usually you don’t die.

Throughout the entirety of our stay in Seoul, we had flurry of hello’s and goodbye’s to both old and new faces. I’ve always felt that part of growing up is about learning how to develop your relationships with people around you. And now, I think I’m finally beginning to understand the exact weight of those words. Developing these relationships isn’t just a one-track process of fortification. It’s a dynamic process in which we create relationships anew, build them into friendships, and loosen some old ties to make room for the new. Sometimes, the old ties tighten up again, but sometimes they don’t. And that’s totally OK. 

I think that I’ve always understood the last part, subconsciously. But to truly grasp it and accept it is something I need to learn, and something that I am still learning. It’s scary to know that something that was once so special might not be at some point in the future. But it’s also exciting to know that something that might have been a small encounter- be it someone you met at dance, someone you said hi to on a bus, or someone who was your Airbnb host- could develop into an invaluable, lifelong friendship. Of course, it is just as much a possibility that the loosening will never happen- that those relationships and friendships will last your entire life. But consciously knowing that they might not, and accepting that they will not if the situation were to arise– that’s the hard part. I guess this is a long, drawn out of learning that life moves on, and that’s I’ll eventually find some way to be content irregardless of whatever direction it may move in. 

Sorry for the long post, but I guess it just means that I was really living throughout this entire experience, collecting stories here and there to add to my little trove of memories. I always know I have an overall positive experience when I have plenty of stories to tell, even if those experiences are negative ones. Because it’s our narratives and the way we tell them which give our lives life. A few years ago during the summer, JD and I saw a quote scribbled on the back of Vesper Bar in Amsterdam that read: “Summer is the time when you drink triple, see double, and act single.” I’m glad the 22 year-old me was able to learn and apply something I learned in my college years.

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Taipei bound here we come wooowooo aww yea put that street food in my belly unf.