Sorry, America

Next week, I'm going to India with Al, Berg and Fadge (formerly Fadilicious) to explore the country and attend a couple weddings. While I'm looking forward to the trip and the certainty of prolonged intestinal ailments, I can't help but feel a bit melancholy about the whole thing. I'm turning my back on America when she needs me most. I'm leaving on Thanksgiving day, the highest of holidays in the United States, and exchanging turkey, stuffing, and cranberries for murg, aloo, and chutney.

As if leaving on her special day weren't egregious enough, I'll be spending loads of cash in India at a time when America needs it most. If the oxygen mask deploys on an airplane, you're supposed to take care of yourself, then move onto your child. By spending my money in India, I'm helping America's baby brother, while America suffocates. You can see my quandary.

So, what can I do to make it up to America? Should I make another photo-blog of India extolling America's superiority? Refuse to buy souvenirs until I get back to Chicago (sorry day, you're not getting that Tendulkar jersey you always wanted)? Let's make this blog interactive again. Leave me comments letting me know how to right my wrong.

Roommate livin'

Hello again. How about that election? I can't promise more frequent posting. It's a busy time in the life of Mazerino, but today I'd like to talk about having a roommate for the first time in 5 years.

I moved into a new apartment with my roommate, Dr. BJ, in September. It's the first time I've had a roommate since college, but so far, its been great. The best part about moving in with someone else who lived alone is combining the abundance of stuff each of you has collected. I have a big TV, BJ has good speakers, and, voila, now we have an entertainment system. We have video game systems out the ass, plenty of controllers and more glassware than Martha Stewart. The fridge, at a minimum, is stocked with beer and there are always cereal and chips in the pantry. We also have enough hot dogs and chicken sausages to last us through the recession. And, a roommate is around to encourage you past your doubtful moments when considering an impulse buy. 5-9 business days later with Free Super Saver Shipping, we have a dartboard and "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" by Neutral Milk Hotel on vinyl.

There are, however, some drawbacks. "Gossip Girl" no longer makes the DVR cut in the hyper competitive Monday 8EST/7CST, yielding to the more post-pubescent "How I Met Your Mother" and "Chuck." Saturdays and Sundays are unbearable for Dr. "What else is on tv besides football" BJ. The hair everywhere is no longer just mine. In my particular situation, we're rarely at home at the same time lately, thanks to BJ's weird call schedule at med school. So, I've been reduced to playing darts by and against myself. When you play darts with yourself, you always win, but you're also a loser. I guess what I'm trying to say is, does anyone want to come over and play darts? We've got tons of other cool shit too.