Falling For Chelsea

My gay-DAR starts tingling.

I look to my left then to my right. I fall in love twice. A third brushes by, he smiles hello. Another amorous misstep.

My gay-DAR starts ringing.

I look up and see Chelsea’s Cleaners. The white letters against a blue marquis scream home. The early afternoon sun sprinkles moisture across my forehead. I take a napkin from my pocket and wipe my brow. The detergent from the cleaners, the pepperoni in the Italian eatery, the exhaust from the bus, all linger in the breeze that brushes across my cheek.

A businessman, complete with briefcase and Bluetooth.

An urban socialite, wearing an oversized Mets jersey and matching orange du-rag.

A dad, wearing a Ralph Lauren polo and khaki shorts, with son on shoulders clutching his chin.

All offering the same smile. All brushing past a little too closely.

My gay-DAR starts screaming.

It only takes a few seconds to realize I’m in Chelsea, the gay district of Manahttan and just as long to realize I’ve found my future home. Thoughts of how and when are pushed aside. The studio apartment’s $2,000 monthly price tag, takes a back seat to the rainbow flags, gay friendly advertisements and scantily clad joggers clouding my black-framed glasses.

I’ve fallen. Hard.

I whisper into my friend’s ear. She giggles, her mom walking beside us pushing Heather’s 2- and 4-year-old girls in a stroller.

That night I return. A different crew. A different purpose. Shoshanna, my freshly minted homo-confidant. And my Brooklyn babe Jessica wade through the Chelsea nightlife. More color, more pride, more smiles. Three gay bars later I’ve already picked out the drapes for my apartment and accessorized the bathroom.

I’m finally home.

***

So as you can see things are starting to pick up a little bit on this crazy D&D Adventure. Heather, my friend from high school, stopped by to visit today while on her way to see her father in Philly. She came with her mother and two kids, which wasn’t the original plan, and now I know why I’ve sworn off having children, lol, but I am glad I got to see her. We all took a trip to city because Heather’s mother hadn’t been there.

Afterward I went out on the town in Manhattan with my friends Shoshie and Jessica and had an absolute blast. We ate at this Thai restaurant (yes, I ate outside the box, lol) and then sort of went club hopping. It was really good after the horribleness that has been Farmingdale.

I realized once again how much I love NYC. I feel like I can do or be anything when I’m walking the crowded streets of Times Square. I also realized how much I love crowds. I love that there’s people everywhere all the time.

And I absolutely love the immense diversity.

I love the fact that I can sit on a subway across from the Italian businessman cursing into his Bluetooth, steal a glance from the homo-thug sitting next to him, while chatting with a Middle-Eastern mother with son on her lap to my right and an old Jewish lady from who’s visiting her granddaughter sitting to my left.

Perfect case scenario after this internship is working in NY somewhere (possibly Long Island. I dare to dream), living in Brooklyn, partying in Chelsea or Greenwich Village every weekend. Then one day (about 89 years from now) when I’m making like six figures (or am engaged to that rich doctor) I’ll move to Chelsea and live happily ever after.

And then I woke up.

Though it sounds nice it is and probably will always be a fantasy. ($2,000 a month for rent! Out. Of. Control.

So on to a quick run-down of this week….

I found out my insurance won’t cover my car accident. Something about my policy having lapsed and not reinstating it in time for them to cover this accident.

It cost over $3,000 to fix my car. (It’s only worth $4,000.) So, it’s still sitting at the auto shop until I figure out what I’m going to do.

(Yes, the hits keep coming, unfortunately.)

I should have my first story in the paper next Monday and a few other things this week that are simply “complied by…” like a “Cool to Know” about the new MLK memorial that’s being built in Washington D.C. with a “what it takes to build a memorial” focus.

I may get a second “real” byline for a story I’m writing about Invisible Children. (You should check it out, it’s pretty amazing what these guys are doing www.invisiblechildren.com).

I’m having a little trouble with my editing skills. I’ve turned in some pretty sloppy stuff and they’re definitely calling me on it. So I’m now working on my self-editing, because I definitely don’t have the Poynter three-step editing process and detailed side-by-side line-edit to fall back on anymore, lol. Wish me luck next week!

Finally, this weekend has made me fall in love with New York and now I never want to leave. Nice turn around from last week I’d say, lol. Just got to find a better place to live, lol.

Hope all is well in O-town and beyond.

Miss you all bunches!

~D.A. Steward

The Big Apple Bites Back

Okay, I think it’s time for another installment of Dwayne and Dante’s Excellent Adventure. I know many of you have been wondering what’s been going on. I never thought so much could happen in a week. So sit back and buckle your seat belts because you’re in for a pretty long and rough ride….

So you all know that I drove to New York from Florida. The 20-hour trek wasn’t too bad I did get lost during the first 4 hours trying to get out of Florida but once I got past Gainesville things were okay. That was until I got to the NYC. I had taken out $20 in cash for tolls because I knew there would be quite a few. I didn’t however realize there’d be so many. I passed two tolls after running out of cash and the police officer had me pull over to check my license and registration in the middle of an extremely busy New York highway, it was insane. Not to mention that I didn’t get to Long Island until 9 p.m., two hours after I had planned because of the whole ordeal. The housing people at the dorm I’m staying in weren’t too happy with me.

So I’m there and I walk into my dorm room and things get worse really fast. 1. I don’t have a refrigerator and am unable to rent one for $25 a day because they’ve run out. 2. There’s only one microwave in the building in the lobby, 3. There are only two showers for a hall of 40 people, and finally 4. There are a ton of rules, from only being able to have visitors between 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. to no alcohol anywhere on the campus (which isn’t making Dante happy, lol). I feel like I’m a freshman in college again, staying in the worst dorms on campus, lol.

I convinced myself that I could deal with the horrible living situation because I didn’t want to move for the 5th time in two months. I also had planned on being in the city most of the time. That was until I took a trip to Manhattan to visit a friend and realized it was a $20 roundtrip each time! Out of control! So, I won’t be leaving the island as much as I thought.

Things at work are going okay. They’ve been working me like crazy. I did 12 hours each day this week because they had me covering the Harry Potter book release. The social scene isn’t the best, most of the people that work there are over the age of 35, except for the interns, whom I haven’t met because they all arrived in June. The 17 of us are spread out across the massive building. There’s one other guy in the features department that’s an intern, he’s pretty cool. One good thing is that I’ll be getting a ton of clips. Basically they have all the interns filling in for the veteran reporters who are on vacation. So we are writing their stories, not doing “intern” work, like covering small town fairs, etc. I’m going to be picking up some guys column when he’s gone for three weeks in August.

The first day I got there they put me on a story about a blind girl who just got back from a trip in Paris to visit a L’Occitane perfume factory. It should be printed next week. I’ve been doing mostly Harry Potter stuff though. So glad that’s over, lol. I wrote a web update about people who were betting on who would die in the last novel. Then I went and talked to people standing in line on Friday waiting for the book’s release at midnight. That was out of control. I never met so many Harry Potter fanatics in my life. (I won’t point you to those stories on the web because they’re hideous. I had to write them in like a half an hour. I didn’t even get a byline on one of them, I just fed the main reporter my quotes.)

Ok, so on to the calamity that seems to follow me everywhere I go. Yesterday, while I was on my way to cover Harry Potter I was in a car accident. It was a three-car pileup. The first car stopped really fast in heavy traffic on a main highway on Long Island during rush hour, and then someone rear ended him and I rear ended that guy. My airbags deployed and completely destroyed my windshield. The radio is also coming through the frame. The only real damage from the other car was a crack in the headlight. The airbags caused most of the damage.

I didn’t even think I was going to hit him, everything happened so fast. The scene keeps replaying in my head on a loop like a revolving nightmare. Anyways, my car was the most damaged so we pulled over, the first guy simply asked if we were all okay and promptly drove away. The other guy and I called the police, exchanged info, etc. My car was towed to a local car shop and I called the insurance who told me my policy had lapsed. So I basically didn’t have any insurance, but the people were really nice they let me reopen my policy, which was a major relief. Also the cop didn’t site me, like he should have, because it’s always considered your fault when you rear end someone. He was also kinda cute, but I digress, lol.

Newsday was actually really nice about the whole thing. They sent a reporter out to pick me up and tried to help me find a dealership to take my car. They had me write up what I had for the story before I left tho, which did help me take my mind off the situation. The editor even gave me a ride home, but did say that I needed a car in order to work there. So I went looking for a rental which is the next saga of this tragedy.

I called around and basically found out that I couldn’t rent a car without a credit card, which I don’t have, and debit cards are not accepted. I also can’t use my dad’s credit card it has to be from the person renting the car. I did find a Budget that would let my dad pay but he has to go to another Budget in Ohio, which must fax them the information. It’s out of control, lots of crazy hassle-ness going on. Anywho, that’s great and all but then I realized, “Uh, how am I going to get to the rental place without a car?” I would call a cab except my bank account was emptied because of the $1340 down payment on the dorms. So, I’m going to try and take the bus tomorrow, which I still have to figure out.

So that’s where I’m at right now. Poor, carless, and lonely because I still don’t really know anyone around here or at work. I’m trying to stay focused on the positive. I have amazing parents to help me through this. I’m working for the fifth largest paper in the country (so they say, lol), the insurance is going to handle all the car damages, and I’m getting paid on Friday. I’m hanging on to those four things to get me through this.

I’m sorry this turned into a “woe is me” note. I’m trying not to be miserable but I can’t seem to shake this bad luck. Car stolen, then car accident. Maybe this is a sign from God that I should no longer drive, lol. I’m almost ready to call it quits and head back to O-town. But, no I won’t do that. I’m gonna suck it up and deal with it. Just pray I get a car tomorrow so I don’t loose my job. Okay this note is getting more depressing by the sentence, lol. Oh, yay, this song helps…..

Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
Stand up and be counted
Don’t be ashamed to cry
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together

(It just came on, lol. Thanks Kenny!)

Alrighty, for those of you who stayed til the end…..you’re crazy! Lol this is the longest, most depressing, most boring note ever, lol. I’ll catch ya’ll later. Hopefully we’ll have a more uplifting D&DEA next week.

Love you bunches!

~D.A. Steward

A ‘Poynter Peeps’ Tribute

Well, tonight is the last night of the program and my second to last night in Florida. I can’t even begin to explain how amazing this exprience has been, despite the stolen car, how expensive it all was, or my stained reputation because of Dante’s various appearences. It was worth it, it was more then worth it. I’ve made 31 new amazing friends that I’ll never forget. (Oh god, I’m stating to cry, I thought I could at least get through 5 paragraphs!)

I really wish I could explain to you all in O-town how much these people have affected my life. Poynter was literally the best thing that has ever happened to me. If I had words for the experience I’d share them. (And you all know how I don’t run out of words! lol)

Six weeks of life, six weeks of love, six weeks of pain, joy, hurt, disapointment, excitement, surprises, drama, chaos, and revelation. And that doesn’t even quite cover it all. I’m laying here already balling and we haven’t even had graduation yet! lol

For my Poynter Peeps who are reading this (and I’m sure you are! lol), don’t forget me bithes! lol Becuase I definitely won’t be forgetting you. My heart has 31 more names etched into it. Thank you for all the memories. Thank you for making me a better person. Thank you for being amazing. I love you all. And really have no idea how I’m gong to get through Newsday without you!

I’ll never forget…

Drunken dance nights with Kalen and Liz.

“Dating” Arek.

Riding the whip with Jason.

ALIBI! (enough said)

Voguing with Mary.

Clowning with Shi Shi, Lee Lee and Big Bill (I LOVE YOU GUYS!)

Watching Arrested Development with the men of 504. (Thanks for introducing me to the true “bachelor pad” lifestyle! lol)

Being a “Poynter hottie” with Shoshanna.

“Dipping” with Mi Mi.

Walking it out with Joey and Chasity (And Erik!? And Kelly!?)

Gettin low with Nick and Chima at Alibi.

Getting groovy with Ashley in the lounge.

Trash talk with Marissa.

The quote board.

OUT of CONTROL!

“Girl talk” with Jeremy.

“Dance lessons” with Billy.

The Chasity Gunn classic.

Chinease with Tracy.

“Smoking” with Erin.

Regrets with I-Ching.

Discoving Matt’s true self in Ybor city.

“Satan” and Zack.

Being “Sexy Stew” with Ci Ci.

“Coming out” to Amanda.

Breaking in Jenessa.

Tranformers with Tory.

Sharing the OU spotlight with Lauren.

Being proud of Isabel.

Stressing in the VJ lab with Julia.

Lounge dance parties and work powwows, the potluck and PIRATES!

And finally,I’ll never forget falling in love with 31 people in less then 2 months.

Next I go to conqor Newsday. Or let it conquor me, lol. A new phase of Dwayne and Dante’s Excellent Adventures–Sex and the City Style coming to a facebook near you!

~D.A. Steward

Juggling Act

Alrighty, it’s been a little while so I thought I’d send an update. The following is mostly personal, rather then professional. There’s been quite a few developments in that department. So off we go….

I’m kind of dating three people! Yes, I know, but they’re all cute and it’s not my fault, cause they all approached me. Okay wait, let start at the beginning….

So the first week I get here I hit up the gay bars in the area like every night and end up meeting some really cool people. The next week some of the guys find me on MySpace and a plethora of cyber conversations on AIM and Yahoo Messenger ensues. This started with about 5 or 6 guys but only 3 have passed the threshold of the first date.

First there’s Blaine. He’s 36. (Don’t start! He’s old, yes, but gorgeous. Black/Dominican Republic mix) He also owns a restaurant in town. I met him at one of the bars the first week and we started talking online. We decided to go out about a week ago. We didn’t even end up leaving the apartment. (Elaborating wouldn’t be lady-like, lol)

Then there’s John. He’s 25. I met him at a bar as well. He’s more a of a hippie type. But oh my god ½ those abs! lol He’s such a sweetheart too and cultured. Loves modern art and weed (I was a good boy and declined, lol). We went out for lunch on Friday and went back to his place, which is gorgeous, btw. He seriously took a place that used to be a cinderblock dump and turned it into a gay oasis, and did it all by himself. He’s very good with his hands (again I won’t elaborate, lol). Actually we didn’t reallly go there. We cuddled on his couch listening to some rock band called “Tool” (I was surprised, they weren’t that bad) and talking about everything from coming out to eastern philosophy to Kelly Clarkson. It was probably one of the most romantic dates I’ve had in a while.

Lastly, there’s Louis. Oh my god! This is my future husband. The man drives a Lexus and carries a Gucci book bag. His sandals that he just wears around the house are Jordan’s! Can anyone say, jackpot!?! lol Okay, let me back up. He’s 30. He works at the local AIDS clinic and has an interior design background and I’m still not sure what the hell he’s doing with me, lol. I met him at a dance club and we hit it off right away. That was Friday night. Yes, the same day I went out with John We went to the dance bar we’d met at and it was out of control. The guy knows everyone, and there were all these guys (way more gorgeous then I) hitting on him and he wasn’t even taking a second glance their way, all the while keeping his arm around me. I felt like I was in a movie. And he won’t let me pay for anything. Our drink bill when we left was $61! Anywho…the next day is gay pride (pics to come) and he had to work the AIDS awareness booth there so I go and he kisses me! Like right there in front of everyone like we’re dating. Out of control, right?! So that night we go to dinner again and we go back to his place and once again, I won’t elaborate. But I will say I didn’t leave til 7 a.m.

Okay so let the bidding begin. Who’s your pick? And let’s not forget I’m only here for another week and a half. Who knew sooo much could happen in six weeks!?!

On the professional side, I had a couple more stories put up on the site (ww.PointsSouth.net) so go check them out. I created my own soundslide show this week! I’m soo excited. I took pictures and my own audio and everything. I even learned like three new computer programs. I feel so technological and stuff. That won’t go up until the 7th so check back then. We’ll I’d better go, I promised Louis and John I’d call before I went to bed, lol. I miss you all so much! I’ll be in New York on the 15th, so expect another set of unique adventures!

Byes!

~D.A. Steward

P.S. Happy 4th of July everyone!!!