YES!

Wow, it’s January 31st already! 

January felt like one cold, long ass Monday when the big bosses are in town one day too many, and everyone is trying to look busy, but ain’t nobody really doing shit except googling the latest news, online shopping, and planning what to do on their next vacation day. For me, January was the 13th month of 2018. It is what it is.

So I’m starting 2019 on February 1st... unofficially. I didn’t do much in January but work, go to doctor and dentist  appointments, (because I normally schedule all my adulting appointments in the beginning of the year for insurance purposes), thoroughly enjoy my long weekends when I had work from home days on a Friday and/or Monday, and catch up on my DVR when it was way too cold to venture out. I purposefully wanted to start 2019 off on a slow, leisure note. 2018 was such a whirlwind that I craved some much needed downtime to relax, reflect, and rejuvenate. That meme floating around is real af... “My new year starts February 1st. My January still had some 2018 shit going on.” Oh, the accuracy... 

And honestly, it wasn’t like January had some 2018 shit going on, I just wasn’t all full throttle with desiring to do things. As a child of the sun Leo, I hibernate when it’s winter. This lion turns into a whole bear. The couple of times I did venture out was because of my Capricorn BFF Rick. He was celebrating his birthday, and I finally got a chance to go to a longtime hole in the wall dive bar for men only (though women are allowed) in East Village with theme-night Tuesday’s and strong whiskey sours. On the day I went, January 4th, Rick was having his birthday bash, and I was the only woman there. Hello dick deli! 

He had already prepped me about what to expect, and he didn’t understate my experience. It felt like pornhub.com had come to life. There were big dick go-go dancers in barely there leather fetish gear dancing on a stage. Guys would just walk up to them and begin to suck their dicks. Other patrons were giving each other fellatio behind black curtains. And in another section, behind another black curtain, there were guys having sex. It was A LOT. It felt like I was having a Sex and the City moment when the girls gathered at Samantha’s loft to watch Jocks and Cocks 4 on the episode, “All That Glitters”. Interestingly enough, the original airdate of that episode was January 13, 2002. And the universe aligns...
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https://www.televisionofyore.com/recaps-of-sex-and-the-city/sex-and-the-city-season-4-episode-14

Being there and witnessing what I saw was more than enough for me to gain a greater understanding of why safe spaces are necessary for everyone... and for every sexual orientation. They forge community and a safe haven in a world that shuns them for simply being who they are. 

My second outing was just recently. Rick wanted to catch up and see the movie Escape Room so he convincingly talked me into going out on a rainy Tuesday night. On the 29th, we hit up Mickey Spillane’s in Hell's Kitchen for $5 mango margaritas, chicken nachos, and buffalo wings. After that, we took advantage of $5 Tuesdays at AMC 34th Street and saw the movie. I had no idea Jay Ellis who plays "Lawrence" on Insecure was in it, and it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept gripping Rick’s arm with anxiety. It’s a real cliff hanger, and I can’t wait to watch the sequel! The way it ended, there HAS to be a part two! 

After the movie we went to Raise NYC, an upscale sports bistro in Kips Bay with plenty of flat screen TVs and a laid-back vibe. Using a $15 voucher I won from one of their weekly drawings, we drank water from a fancy bottle, and noshed on shrimp and fries. I also had a Cape Cod... some may call it a vodka cranberry. We talked about current events, our lives, and the direction we saw ourselves going in. He will soon embark on a month long training in his hometown to be a flight attendant, and I’m the wanderlust wanting to shake things up and travel the world. Two peas in the same pod. ​​

The dive bar we went to before would be our fourth destination for the evening, and as soon as we walked in the door, we were approached by a well known reality TV star who repeatedly remarked how beautiful and gorgeous I was. I didn’t immediately recognize him, but Rick did, and he obviously noticed. We barely had a chance to take off our coats and get settled in before he was asking us to join him and his female friend at the bar. He said they were enjoying a night out away from the kids so I thought they were married. Turns out, they weren’t. We all made small talk and listened to the house music. He kissed my hands, still telling me how beautiful I am, and we danced. Then he danced with Rick. She and I chatted for a bit while I was posting my picture that Rick took of me in front of the Chrysler Building earlier that evening on Instagram.
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Jennifer D. Laws in front of the Chrysler Building on January 29, 2019

​I didn’t even realize Rick had snuck off, until he reappeared a few minutes later with a huge smile on his face. Let’s just say he got a saliva “Swedish” massage from Mr. Compliments. Bravo Rick! Shortly after, the female friend wished her famous friend a goodnight and departed the club. I finished off my whiskey sour, and left a short time later, too, into the cold, rainy night. It was already well after 11pm, and I had to work the next morning. On my way to the F train, I thought about how I emphatically told Rick that I didn’t want to go out, but I ended up having an amazing time! Oh, the wonderful adventures of New York City...

It happens that way doesn’t it? Great things can happen when you say “yes” to an invite out. So this is my year of YES. Yes to shaking it up. Yes to leveling up. Yes to new experiences. And YES to being the wanderlust my heart desires!

What are you saying "yes" to? ​