Jesus Christ.

Everything was going too well, it seems. This move has been relatively painless ... until today. Lauren and I got across Staten Island OK, but as soon as we took the exit for the Belt Parkway, her car started smoking/steaming a bit. We pulled over at one of the bayview parking lots and noticed that antifreeze was leaking like a mother. But after a few phone calls, we decided to keep going. We got about a half mile before we realized we could not go any further. NO! So I had to call for a cab to pick me up on the Belt. I had no idea which company to call, so I dialed 411 and chose a random company in Brooklyn, which, fortunately, referred me to a car service closer to me. The driver was at the car within five minutes, which was good because we wound up stuck in traffic -- that no-reason traffic that seriously pisses me off. And thank God I had just enough money to cover the expensive-ass unexpected ride.

Now I'm at JFK with about 25 minutes to spare and, like a good nerd, I'm online. WiFi will cure what ails ya.

I haven't spent more than a year in a home since high school. There was a year in the dorms, a year off-campus in New Brunswick, another off-campus apartment the following year. Then I was off to the Bay Area, where I spent the summer in Rockridge, the fall in Ocean Beach, a year in Potrero Hill and nearly a year across from Dolores Park. Back to New Jersey I was, spending six months with my mom in Bergen County, six months in Highland Park and a year in Rahway. Tomorrow, I'm flying to Oakland to settle into another new home, this time in Berkeley. What are the odds that I'll still be there a year from now?

This year I'm thankful for: Bay Area temperatures, long-lasting friendships, the WB, a rapidly expanding family and one more white Thanksgiving.

And Jesus.

Fandango! Got my ticket to see Rent. Five years ago, I definitely would have been one of the folks lined up at midnight, but Lauren, Alli and I are being very adult and catching a Wednesday matinee at Lincoln Square after a nice brunch near Columbia.

I really hope this thing doesn't blow.

Princess Roberta Sanchez

Princess Roberta Sanchez
Originally uploaded by tjdee.

So, Lauren took in a stray, after massive miscommunication among her, me and some neighbors. The cat is very cute and super social -- not skittish around people at all. That leads us to believe its owners are nearby, so we're making posters. And trapping her in Lauren's bedroom in the meantime cause I ain't having no cat hair up in my space. Love you, Princess Roberta Sanchez!

Just watched the season finale of Run's House on MTV. One of the sons said he was excited to start at his new school "You're really excited about Northern Highlands?" Rev. Run asked. Northern Highlands is my high school! I guess that means they live in Saddle River, just like Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee. (I grew up a town away in Allendale and my mom's family is from Upper Saddle River.)

Northern Highlands has another MTV connection: An episode of Made (season 4, "Formal Date") was filmed there. It was super creepy to watch and sources say a lot of the interaction between the geek who wanted to be made and Highlands students was super fake.

Dear Felicity,

You just spread your legs and jump on.

Love,
T.J.

(Introducing the blog that's soon to be on everyone's must-read list: MichiganBoseekoSally. We won't be roommates after Nov. 30, but we'll always be able to discuss the WB.)