Yesterday was pretty cool and unexpected. I got up around 11 or so and Mark was getting ready to head out.

"We're going out for brunch, wanna come?"

I figured he meant at the dinner a few blocks from our house. Just like the last time. I pulled some something halfway decent and headed out with him. That's when I saw Laura and Mercedes waiting at the bus stop. We were going into the city. Fuck! I wasn't wearing deodorant, I hadn't showered and I had simply dragged my toothbrush across the front of my teeth to take the taste of morning out of my mouth. The last thing I felt like doing was getting on a bus and going into Manhattan. I was somewhat saved when Mark forgot his work ID. I came back home with him while the others waited at a bus stop a few blocks away. That was my chance to change my shirt, roll on a little deodorant and grab my camera.

It was nice, most of the day. We had brunch at this place in the Village. Casimir. Brunch was good. Pretty much everyone's plate was a 'community' plate. Each of us swapping and eating off the other's plate. Laura even made a comment at how much she loved the way we were all together like that. I have to agree. Mercedes and I hopped over to this vintage store when we got out of the cab in front of Casimir. We dragged Mark and Laura over right after we ate.

Mark needed shirts so we went to Kenneth Cole SoHo. I guess that's the part of the day that wasn't so nice. Sitting and watching everyone else try on stuff they can actually afford. Mercedes asking my opinion on a leather jacket that's almost my month's rent. Still, the guys waiting on our little group hand and foot ...they were cute. And having people give us all the 'you must be models or very important people'-look was fun. Ranger pretty much consumed me and I had to wait on the sidewalk while the others checked out.

Met a couple of Mercedes' friends, went over to Mark's office and listened to some music while he grabbed stuff he needed for his trip this morning. He's in L.A. for a couple days. Stopped at the Amish Market on our way to Port Authority. Mercedes offered to cook dinner for our little 'Sopranos' night. That brought me back up. Standing there in the market, listening to Mark and Mercedes' friend talk about music. Standing there and eating samples of bread dipped in olive oil. Our own little hang out spot.

Getting home was hell. By the time we got to Port Authority the line for the next little van to Jersey was pretty much all the way down the block. So then we figured we'd take the shuttle to the ferry. That wasn't happening. We finally got a cab, five of us. Mark in front. The rest of us crammed in the back. All was fine until we pulled up at a stop light and this other cabbie heading the other way saw us in the back.

"Hey! Are you getting paid for five?" he asked our driver. "If you're not getting paid for five throw 'em out right now. Just throw 'em out right on the street." His lips flared as he spoke, the rest of him very relaxed.

I wanted to hit him.