Just Clarifying Why We're There (a/k/a I Am a Blogger):

Trish looks like this:


I apologize to my readers since I don’t have much to say; but I don’t like to go more than (3) or (4) days without a post. So while its probably more information then you care to know, I’m gonna give you a little rundown of my Saturday night.

My plan was to watch the Cris Arreola/Tomasz Adamek fight on HBO when my phone suddenly indicated a text message. It was from Trish.

Locked out. Need to kill some time. Want to meet me for a drink while I wait for my boss? I’m just a few blocks away.

Hmmm. A heavyweight fight or a drink with Trish?

Lodo: I could do that. Where u want 2 meet?

Trish: How ‘bout _____.”

Lodo: Be there in 5 minutes.

I got to the bar and found Trish still outside.

“You didn’t want to go in?” I asked.

“No I want you to buy me a drink.”

I laughed. “...Uh, okay.”

We got situated inside the the bar. Despite it being Saturday, were able to get a small table by the window.

“That’s how you’re dressed?” Trish asked as she took a sip of her Absolute and cranberry.

“I was just gonna stay home and watch the fights. I didn’t plan to go out.”

“Smells like you were smoking weed,” she said as she put her nose to my sleeve.

“Oh, no way.”

That got a laugh out of her.

“I’m surprised you were home,” she said, “I figured you’d be getting laid somewhere.”

“Well, as you can see I’m trying. ...What about you?” I asked. “What happened with your keys?”

“I left ‘em at the store. Everyone walked-out together, so I didn’t have to lock up. I only figured it out when I got to my car.”

“Well, you can stay at my place tonight.”

“Ha! Listen Lodo, I had to come back here so I figured I’d give you call. That’s it. Jeremy’s on his way from Queens to let me back in. Then I’m going home. Don’t read anything into this.”

“Oh I’m totally reading into it.”

“I can see that. But I’m telling you not to.”

“Well I don’t like that. And my night doesn’t sound like much fun if I have to believe that.”

“Do what you want to do. I’ve been honest, I won’t feel guilty.”

Silence ensued as we looked ‘round at the semi-crowded bar. We people-watched for a few minutes 'til I broke the quiet.

“...So I saw your poster at the bus stop last week.”

“Really! I wanted to ask you about that. What’d you think?”

“..That’s why you wanted to see me isn’t it. ‘Cause you wanted my opinion on your poster.”

“No--not at all,” Trish answered defensively. “...But I do respect your opinion. Even if you didn’t use my pictures for your blog.”

“That’s not true. In fact I just used one of ‘em a few posts back.”

“...We took that over a year ago.”

“Well if you remember, I was supposed to use those pics for my new blog. It was gonna be Tales From the Green Room and I even had the first post. It was gonna go something like:

In the Green Room I have all my photographs hung on the walls. All the places I’ve been and the special people in my life. Its where my internal self and the exterior world connect. I stare at the blown-up images of far-away places and my soul spits outward even as my mind inverts back into its own thoughts and recollections. Its a kind-of dual competing process that keeps me in a state of constant nowness...

Trish stared at me as she took another sip of her drink. She didn’t seem too impressed.

“...Something like that,” I said.

“What about my poster?” she finally asked.

“I think you look smoking hot.”

“You do?”

“Of course, its great. You know it. I wanted to call you as soon as I saw it.”

I placed my hand on Trish’s thigh but she immediately removed it.

“I have a boyfriend now Lodo.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Yeah. He’s a musician.”

“Oh, no.”

“Yep. He plays guitar and drums.”

“Christ, the two best ones to pick-up chicks.”

“Yeah they are,” she laughed, “and he’s good. So believe me, you have no chance.”

“Alright. ...So let me ask you. Why’d you call me up?”

“I told you, ‘cause I have to wait for Jeremy. Plus I wanted a drink.”

“Okay. But lets face it, we both know you could’ve found someone interesting to buy you a drink. You don’t need me.”

“No, that's true. I like you Lodo. You’re...happy.”

“I’m what?”

“You’re happy. Seriously. Not everyone is, but you are. I read that post of yours about that girl who said you’re fun. She’s right about that. You are fun. I like that about you.”

For the first time that night Trish looked like she could use a little happiness. Or maybe she was just tired as she monitored the front door for Jeremy.

“You know,” I said, “I could put a little of this happiness inside you.”

Trish hadn’t been giving me her full attention; but eventually she processed my comment.

“...What’d you say?” she finally asked as she turned toward me.

“I said I know how to inject a little happiness in your life if you want some.”

“ Ha! You are so funny Lodo. But you know what, maybe we’d better call it a night. I told you why I called. And its obvious why you answered.”

I finished my drink and got up to leave; but before I left, Trish and I exchanged a hug.

“You want me to pay for my drink?” Trish asked, “since,..you know. You’re going home empty-handed.”

I gave Trish a good look up and down. She doesn’t get that dolled-up before she goes out, but her body’s extremely tight. She kickboxes and attends pilates 3x a week. I've seen what she’s got under that skirt and its nice.

“...My hands wont be empty long,” I told her.

"Little more than I wanted to know Lodo."

"Well, I am a blogger."


* NOTE: The images of kickboxers I've used are merely included to enhance the narrative. I've never seen either of them naked.