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We spent a lot of time in Brooklyn this visit, which is kind of funny, because our sublet and future apartment are both in Manhattan. Most notably, we hung out with some punk rockers and went to a biker bar called Duffs.

The jukebox was on the level of our Austin favorites, Mugshots and Barflys. The crowd, however, appeared to have been pulled straight from Casino El Camino. So yet again, Gus and I passed the eve in a place where we stuck out like sore thumbs, simply because we don’t stick out like sore thumbs. Do I still have tattoo envy? You bet your tramp-stampy ass I do.

Speaking of tramp stamps, I was talking about tattoos with some Brooklyn folks and found that the term “tramp stamp” isn’t common used there. When I said it, my words were met with confusion and then laughter. Or maybe “tramp stamp” is just too hipsterish of a word for some people to pick up.

After the July 4th holiday (and seeing the Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Competition and the Macy’s fireworks on the East River), I worked remotely for a few days. Almost everyone my age has this ridiculously over-glamorized vision of what it means to work remotely. I had the opportunity to work remotely for Intuit after I left California for more money than a 24-year-old writer in Austin could possibly fathom. I turned it down because I like being able to go into the office, meet and greet people, go out to lunch, hang out, etc. I remember saying this to someone as I explained the reason for my current job and she replied, “I don’t need to use my job to make friends. I have plenty of friends. I’d much rather just sit in a coffee shop and do my work instead of going into the office.” As an aside, I briefly freelanced at the publication where this person was a full-time employee. I suppose it’s a good thing she doesn’t feel the need to make friends where she works, as I found her attitude rather abrasive.

Anyway, I may come off as a social mongoloid at times, but I actually take much pleasure in regular human contact. No matter who you are, I think your day is a little brighter, your mind is a little happier, and things overall are just better when you have people around you who like to stop by and see how you’re doing, or are simply physically present to offer and ask for assistance. It feels good to work on something side-by-side with another person, provided that they’re interested an easy to get along with, which most of my coworkers are.

The point of this long-winded diatribe is that working remotely is lonely. I knew it would be, and I’m hoping for the opportunity to travel for work more often so I can at least interact with customers and some of the other trainers on a somewhat regular basis.

A big reason for my extended trip, other than the innate enjoyment one feels when spending time with her signifigant other, was the Bloomberg company party. Holy fucking shit. The party was on Randall Island, just 20 minutes outside the city. To describe this party thoroughly would take all day, so I’m just going to list all the cool stuff we saw:

• A beach with a volleyball court and full bar
• A 50’s style diner
• A ferris wheel, teacup ride, and kiddie rollercoaster
• Bears
• A Cirque du Soleil performer
• A guy who painted an Elvis portrait to an Elvis song
• Elvis
• Tina Turner
• A mermaid
• A bunch of people dressed as flourescent insects on stilts
• Sharks
• Hula hoopers
• Hula-hoop making booths
• Dance lessons
• Rollerskating (with skates for rent and place to do it)
• Bumper cars
• Alligators
• Sharks
• Face painting (the artsy kind; no dippy 8-color shit)
• A living room with couches, lamps hanging from trees, and tea ‘n crumpets. Jolly good!
• Hammocks all over the place

We went into it knowing there would be unlimited food and drinks of amazing variety and proportions, but it’s still hard to imagine the surrounding events and activities until you actually get to experience them. I could compare it to the corporate parties we had at NI, but even the chip on my shoulder isn’t that big.

People keep asking me how Gus likes his job at Bloomberg. I think they should just call him and ask him. (I hear he’s very approachable.) People should ask me about the parties at Bloomberg, to which I give a big thumbs-up.

I left for Colorado the next day. I was excited about that too, as our sublet made minimal use of the modern comforts of A/C, and I was looking forward to having my own bathroom.