10-11 The National · Oct 12, 01:33 PM

I went to the new Matador/Beggars offices to meet up with Blake before going to Terminal 5 to see the National. Terminal 5 is a former dance club on 56th and 11th and it looks like it, with four levels of seating/dancing space and blue lights everywhere. It was the largest venue I’ve seen the National play. Their sound and energy filled it though—no problem. I was sorry I only caught a few of the opener St. Vincent’s songs because I really like her. After the show, Blake and I went back stage and I told one of the guys in the band that my dream right now is to eat an orange and drink a Guinness. He looked at me and pointed to a room. I walked in and there were pre-cut oranges and cans of Guinness. Right after I said I wanted an orange though, I thought about it and got nervous because I didn’t feel like peeling one. It didn’t even come to that. I’ve got to dream bigger.

Check out the National video, “Apartment Story,” above. I’m in the lower right corner in the beginning, talking with my hands. Most of the people in the video were at the show last night.

Backstage, I talked about R. Kelly way too much and figured it was time to go. I retreated to the Spotted Pig, ran into a former ICM agent, said hi. Then I left and stopped at McDonalds on 3rd just off of 6th avenue for no good reason. I ordered a chocolate shake because they were out of vanilla. I haven’t eaten from McDonald’s since I was probably 13. I even worked there when I was 16 but I never ate the food. I only drank a few strawberry shakes and did push ups in the walk in freezer until I couldn’t take the cold.

There was a deep crew taking up all the booths. I asked if I could sit there, in the middle of everyone because it was the only open seat. One kid tripped out on the jeans I was wearing, hyped to see some real Evisu’s. He admitted his were fake. It was six guys and one girl. The girl was cute but maybe 16, with rotted, funky teeth. She asked me how much money I had and whispered, “Do you want to get crack”? I told her that I’m not her x-boyfriend, who she just broke up with’s, best friend and I don’t want to hang out with her just because I remind her of someone else which in my mind equaled a “no.” Then I drank a water that tasted like Sprite.

— Young Philosopher

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