Hickeys and Bananas

There's this Bloom County cartoon where Opus the Penguin is getting married and at the bachelor party Steve Dallas is giving him advice on what drives women wild. Opus says, "So that's it? Hickeys and bananas?" and Steve Dallas says, "No, I said she'll go bananas!" Haaa ha! Last night me and LTK had fun putting hickeys on each other. I have always liked hickeys b/c they look so trashy, but then again I like neck tattoos too. (BTW LTK has nautical stars behind his ears and I totally admire them!) I told him I want more hickeys so tonight he's gonna come over and we'll mark each other up some more. Well obviously things have gotten to be serious between us... so much so that last night he asked me to go steady! And for some reason I agreed. Ok, here's the reason: we are falling for each other. Well, I KNOW he's fallen for me already but I also have become so incredibly fond of him really fast! Yesterday was our 1-week anniversary and he just makes me so happy. Every other damn thing out of his mouth is fucking hilarious (even J. said so) and when I think of him I get the tickle stomach even while I feel so amazingly comfortable around him. I even let him watch me put my makeup on this morning and I would never let a guy I just met do that. He feels like my BFF and my boyfriend! It's awesome. I hope it lasts. We'll see but for now I guess I am off the market again and so far things are really fun and amazing!

We went to see an old guitar player friend of mine play last night and it was a great show. Weirdly, we ran into that tall, hot drummer there that I met at Rozz's show last month or whenever the hell that was. I don't give a shit if people think me and LTK look strange together, b/c he's so young and has the tattoos and ear plugs. Look at Shanna Moakler and her husband, the Blink 182 guy! Travis something. Anyway, I introduced LTK to the hot drummer guy and then promptly forgot all about hot drummer guy. Also I got an email from SC today that said he's becoming hung up on me. Uh-oh! Poor guy, hope he gets over it soon. I just want to go home to LTK and be with him and spend time making each other happy.

Fun With My New BFF

AKA LTK! He came over last night and stayed with me and says he will do the same tonight. We both got to my house about the same time last night and J. was there, finishing up some painting, so they got to meet. It has been nice to come home sometimes and have J. there, and I bring her food whenever I can, and last night it was really wonderful to have 2 great friends at my house with me. There have been several--ok, lots--of those long, lonely nights that country/blues musicians write songs about these past few weeks and only the box wine has made it bearable for me to be at home alone many times. And now it's made me so happy to have LTK there with me to sleep with too and he is constantly cracking me up and I feel so comfortable around him and we can tell each other anything and it's turned into such a great friendship.

I really needed him there last night to cheer me up b/c S had sent me this fucked up email on Tues. morning and I know he sent it b/c at the meeting on Monday night I had been called up by the Chief to get my SFST certificate. The first thing S said in his bullshit email is that he wants me to change my name back to my maiden name!!! Then he proceeded to say a lot of other fucked up shit/downright LIES/his usual drama queen crybaby bitching, etc. Oh my God... I can't even discuss this anymore b/c what is the fucking point?!?! Anyway, fortunately I do have LTK in my life b/c he is so much fun to be around and he is completely distracting. He brought me another bottle of coconut rum and we had a drink w/J. before she left and then we continued drinking and got in bed and stayed there! I can't wait to do more of the same tonight. He put his tongue ring back in for me b/c I said I wanted to kiss it. He totally dotes on me and won't let me lift a finger to do a damn thing and sends me so many text messages throughout the day ("I miss you baby", "You're beautiful", "You're my angel" etc. etc. etc.) I had to call and have additional texting added to my cell plan! He really has become my new BFF and I completely adore him.

Me & Little Tattoo Kid

Apparently he is now my new best friend! We had so much damn fun this weekend. He managed to get a ride to my house on Sat. and met me there when I got off Job #1. I had to get ready for my gig and the sheriff dinner. He was going to wait for me at a Starbucks or something while I was at the dinner (I felt bad about that but he didn't care)... and THEN my escort, Dep. R called to say he was having car trouble and was going to be totally late to the dinner. I said never mind, don't worry about it, I would take LTK with me. Then I began to freak out b/c I was in a nice black dress and was all done up pretty but LTK had no "formal" clothes with him. We had a drink while trying to decide what to do, and after a minute I decided that I didn't give a damn if LTK wasn't dressed up enough, although we did roll his sleeves down and button up his shirt to hide at least some of his tattoos, heh heh!

So off we went to the dinner and we walked right in and came face to face with the Sheriff--so LTK got to meet the Sheriff which I found completely amusing! And since there had been a LOT of no-shows we were at a table all by ourselves, which kind of annoyed me at first but then I decided it would be more fun for LTK and me to have our own server and could sit there and yuk it up together and be silly. Mudflap and my other pals were at a table nearby and we said hi to them but their table was full. It was better for me and LTK to be by ourselves anyway b/c he kept talking a lot of shit in my ear like he always does (how beautiful I am, how I should date him, how great we'd be together, etc. etc. etc.). It wasn't even all that "formal" anyway, my Sgt.'s husband was just wearing a button down shirt and slacks, like LTK. The food was really, really good although I didn't eat very much of it. I have lost another couple lbs. recently and in fact, my dress actually felt a little loose. I was so glad to be sharing the experience with LTK though b/c he really does crack me up all the time!

I still hadn't heard from the musicians about where the gig was although I knew they wanted me there around 9. They finally called while we were at the dinner (!) but I wanted to see the big video that had been produced about us so I told them I'd be there at 9:30. We watched the video and then me and LTK blew that joint and went to the gig. I told LTK we would be in a very Hispanic neighborhood and he asked if he might get jumped, to which I told him that wasn't nothing gonna fucking happen to him while I was around!!!

Unfortunately yes, the drunk Mexicans at the party were giving LTK a bit of the stink eye all night b/c he was a white boy and he was with me, and he had also rolled up his sleeves and I made him unbutton his shirt so his chest tattoos would show (b/c I think they're HOT!) and there were a couple of kidding/not kidding comments that I heard which pissed me off, but I was trying to just ignore it all b/c I was there to play for one of my drummer friend's 40th birthday party and it was a happy occasion. I was just nervous as hell b/c it turned out to be a trio and we just started pulling out songs and I just tried to keep up best I could. We took a break and drank and did a couple tequila shots which helped my courage. I even let them talk me into singing "I Ain't Drunk, I'm Just Drinkin'!" One very funny thing happened though: LTK came up to me and told me the drummer's wife (also an old friend of mine) had told him that she wanted us to take a shower with her. I thought that was a strange request, but I said, "She wants to take a SHOWER with us??? Uh...OK!" and he said, "No, she said she wants us to take a SHOT with her!" We told her what I thought I had heard and she thought it was funny too.

Around 1am is when we finally stopped playing and I just wanted to go home and get in bed with LTK and cuddle. As we were leaving and my guitar player friend was carrying my amp for me LTK was ahead of us carrying my bass and there were a bunch of those damn Mexicans in the street yelling at each other, threatening to shoot someone. Oh my God, give me a break. So it was definitely time to leave. My guitar player friend asked me about LTK and how old was he??? Hee hee hee. And also said that I seem to like the rednecks (guitarist is from England though!--LTK has a thick South Carolina accent) and I said yeah, my ex-husband was a redneck too. And then, right after we left I got a text message from Marvin saying he'd just missed me and that everyone wanted me to come back! Like hell.

LTK and I slept 'til about noon yesterday at which time I decided it would be fun to just stay in bed all day long and do nothing but watch movies and be vegetables. Oh, and drink a little, too! And there were so many good movies on cable, too! 1st we watched Silence of the Lambs. Then we tried to watch Snakes on a Plane but we both fell asleep. Then it was The Shining. Then School of Rock came on! Finally Gladiator but by that time we'd decided I needed to take him home b/c he had to be up so early today (6am). I totally missed him after he left, but he left me his shirt which I'd been wearing all day and he had sprayed my pillow with his cologne. I had given him a break and let him kiss me goodnight when we were home in bed after the gig and let him kiss me some more all day on Sunday. I still haven't decided how much further I'll let him go. I feel like Linda Hogan and her little boy toy that helped her after her divorce. LTK is definitely NOT dating material b/c he has some serious personal life issues going on. But he is such a gentleman and acts completely respectful towards me and treats me so sweet, which I haven't had in such a long time, and he is very cute and he makes me laugh and laugh and he is open and honest and I also haven't had that in forever, either.

Tiring Week

So it was great having Bosco in town Weds-Thurs. We had a nice time Thurs. night, and it was great going to Sambuca and eating the lamb meatballs, etc. and listening to the live music, but then we went to the blues jam and it was just kinda lame. I am beginning to think that people really don't go out during the week anymore. Bosco's theory is that people stay in more with their big tv's, their cable channels, and their Internet. I guess that's true.

I'm currently at Job #1 very very briefly. The weekend guy had to cancel and so me and my coworker split the shift today. I was supposed to be here at 1 but didn't make it in 'til after 2, chuckle! Oh well. It's better than nothing. I've got a gig tonight and still haven't heard from these slackers WHERE exactly the gig is. Unfortunately this means I will have to duck out of the Reserve dinner at 8:30 to make the gig. The good news is that my escort, Dep. R, called earlier to say that he spoke to a female Sgt. and she will be wearing cocktail attire, NOT our Class A uniform so he said we should also follow suit! Hell yeah! I was not looking forward to having to wear all that crap and then figure out a way to change clothes for the gig.

Last night I met up with Little Tattoo Kid and he came to my house, dropped off by his dad! LTK has got some drama and heavy shit going on in his life but he is pretty cute and he is definitely funny and he is totally into me. We have like, nothing in common! But we had a couple drinks at my place, then went to see my friend's band play in the Heights at a pizza joint. The place was dead, on a Friday night. So we had 1 drink there and then came back to my place, drank some more, watched Aliens, and I told him he could sleep over, sleep being the operative word. We stayed in bed 'til almost 11 after which I dropped him off at his dad's place. Now as I type he is in bad sorts with his family (he lives w/his aunt and uncle) and cannot get a ride back to my house and I am swamped with work and then getting ready for the dinner AND gig so he is apparently walking from Missouri City to my house so he can meet me there when I'm done here. OMG. Like I said, he's hilarious. But it'll be fun to hang with him all night again. He's a talker, like me. Also a smoker, unfortunately. But he's fun so I'm happy to be friends with him.

Life in the Fast Lane

Fun times! I think I am on 3 hours of sleep. Bosco and I had mad fun last night, rushing to and fro. The concert was ok, it was big band for mass audience consumption. After they played 1st we went to the Big Easy to check out the blues jam, which I haven't been to there in years! I met this little tattooed kid (25-yo) who, after he left, proceeded to send me all these gushing text messages. But as I told Bosco, the verdict is still out on the kid, so we'll see.

After the Big Sleazy we headed to Karoake. I sang Sinatra and Bosco did his famous whistling to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" which was hysterical. It wasn't very packed at Spotlight though so we headed to Blanco's for the country jam. We sped away when I saw there were only 2 cars in the parking lot though. WTF?!?! I guess I have been gone too long, and generally speaking the scenes are mellow if not outright dead during the week now. Or maybe I just have to find the happening scenes where there are NO tools. So we went to the Big Top for drinks and the 70's singalong.

We caught up a whole bunch! Also I was driving him back to his hotel when I spotted the 59 Diner and mentioned how good their hot chocolate is, so we decided to pop in and have breakfast. Several deputies came in and I saw one I knew so I went over and chatted a few minutes. I dropped Bosco off and got home around 3:30 am and sometime after 4am I got a text from another Deputy friend (one who will be in the documentary) saying he was available to go to the Reserve dinner with me on Saturday, yayyyy! That'll be fun.

I keep hearing from SC, the keyboard player. I think he is smitten. He wants me to come visit him in Baltimore and keeps sending several sweet emails and texts a day. But they don't affect me that much, just make me feel warm and fuzzy for a few minutes and then I move on. I'm sure I'll miss them when they eventually stop. I told little tattoo boy to join me and Bosco tonight for more revelry, but maybe I'll hold him off until tomorrow, when I will need someone with which to go see a friend's band play. Who knows, who knows...

I'd Rather Be Blind, Crippled and Crazy

This song is my newest obsession, after "Riley B. King" by Keb Mo, which is the ONLY thing I've been listening to in the car for several days now. "Crippled and Crazy" is being played repeatedly in my office at work though. It's my new anthem. It reminds me of the danger of weasels.

I went out last night to the Continental Club and had fun, mostly. It was awkward at the beginning though, seeing Little Drummer Boy, but I made him keep me company for a few minutes and it was friendly and casual. It's still a little tragic though b/c he is soooo cute. I had taught a class earlier in the evening at the Center for AIDS and they had Pappasitos (for the non-Texas blog readers, this is a local killer Mexican restaurant) there for dinner. I wanted NONE of it. I was SO not interested. Instead I had Orbit gum, and at the CC I had a rum cigar. Finally my cousin showed up, 45-min. late and he brought his friend who I had met last Thurs. We got drinks and I introduced them to LDB. I was so relieved everyone was in a good mood and things were groovy. Later F. showed up and a couple of his friends. I slow-danced with one of them (a cute Latina)!

Tonight one of my favorite and oldest friends ever, Bosco, will be in town playing trombone with the Army Jazz Ambassadors band. I will go see them play and afterwards take Bosco out on the town. We'll hit a few of my usual haunts and we totally need to catch up since I haven't seen him since 2004 when I was in Washington DC. Tomorrow night he is completely free so we'll do nothing but run around!

6 Out of 7 Days Are Packed

That seems to be my running social schedule lately! Tonight is free and I insist on keeping it free... b/c I need to REST UP for Tuesday night, Weds. night, Thursday night, and then the damn weekend is here already. I have been contemplating the psychology of this lately and I will totally concede that I am trying to run myself ragged so that when rare down time FINALLY comes, I can collapse, exhausted and spent and will not have the energy to think about deep, serious stuff. All this activity also distracts me from eating. I have lost even another couple pounds lately and am excited about the prospect of actually being able to fit nicely into my leather pants this fall!

Friday was interesting; Marvin called me up and invited me to lunch and I can't believe I agreed to meet him, but I did. I met him at the La Mad. near Job #1 and I have to admit it was cool to catch up with him. I made sure to tell him I was hungover b/c my drinking always did offend him and horrify him. Heh heh.

Friday evening I could only manage to work 1 hr. at Job #2 or else I was going to faint from exhaustion. J. was still at my house when I got home and she had painted the downstairs bath and it looks KICK ASS! She even gave it an accent wall and it is soooo pimp now. She got matching fixtures and everything. She's genius, I tell you, genius! We sat around for a bit and when she left I lay on the couch and passed out cold. SC was playing with A. but as I keep telling everyone, I refuse to travel outside the beltway for entertainment now so that was not really an option for me--plus I needed to Get Some Rest. SC woke me up anyway later that night w/a text asking me how I was. Then he sent me a picture of him with A.

Saturday I managed to sleep in a little (SC woke me with another text though) and then it was time to hustle to go on patrol. I rode with a cute young deputy I have worked with before and as usual, the turds knew I was out so they stayed in. The deputy bought me a salad and I managed to eat some of it, but I was kinda bummed b/c my Taser was unsatisfied and bloodthirsty. I got off early so I could rush home and get ready to go to the Big Easy with my little ex-drummer cop buddy, M., who I haven't seen in years. The place was packed and the drinks were flowing. I saw a couple other friends of ours and met M.'s girlfriend. We had fun! We took turns dancing with M. who was getting drunker and drunker. After we shut the place down we met one of his cop buddies at the taqueria and I was actually hungry. M. was so drunk he threw up a little at the table, hardy har har!

Sunday I tried to sleep in but 1. I'm not sleeping very well these days generally speaking and 2. I had hurt my big toe last week and it was absolutely throbbing in pain and would not let me sleep. Then SC sent another text around 9:30am which normally would've been a big no-no, but I was up anyway. He had left on Sat. afternoon to drop off his traveling buddy in Ohio and Sat. night they got as far as Little Rock. Now Sunday they planned to be in Ohio that night, and SC would make it home to Baltimore Monday (today). Cool road trip! Later SC called me so we could talk while he was road-trippin' it. I was doing my own version here, having forgotten to drop off the handheld radio after my patrol shift on Sat. and I had to drive ALLLLLLL the way back to the damn station to drop it off. Fortunately it was a beautiful, sunny, cool day for a long drive and a chat with a cute keyboard player!

When I got back to civilization J. was at my house hard at work painting the rest of the downstairs (save the kitchen and dining room) and I brought her lunch. Also I spoke briefly with Little Drummer Boy b/c I was trying to verify a rumor I'd heard at the Big Easy about a mutual friend of ours, a female bass player who they said is strung out on drugs these days. I couldn't believe LDB called me back b/c I thought he hated me, but he seemed civil enough. I still felt bad/guilty talking to him, and damn him, his voice is so sexy and he's so cute and there's nothing I can do about it. But perhaps the good karma I've been trying to send into the world lately was getting me some sent back since he was nice enough to call me back. And I really want to go see his band play tomorrow night too, so that's the plan. After that I tried to take a nap and unbelievably, succeeded in taking a short one.

I made evening plans to go see Where The Wild Things Are with Li'l bro and his friend but before I met them I ran by the Blockbuster to pick up a movie SC had told me about, Elizabethtown (since he'd been in Kentucky when we spoke earlier). WTWTA left us all a little stunned; we are still ruminating over it today and that's all I have to say on the subject. I watched Elizabethtown before bedtime and enjoyed it, especially thanks to Orlando Bloom! This morning SC sent me a text saying he was driving through the Pennsylvania mountains and wished I was there. Aww.

Now today I am fighting with S. who has managed to grow enough balls and nerve to try and come out of the woodwork today with a pissy email that he copied his Mommy on! Aaaaarrghhh, I feel actual HATRED for him! Is it bad karma to let someone piss you off and think horrible thoughts about them? Since I drank on Saturday I didn't drink at all yesterday, but tonight I'll be back on the box wine. And maybe even a cupcake.

Letting the Good Times Roll

Wooo! My head is pounding today! I perhaps lived life a little to excess last night. I was ticked off at SC, aka Mr. Keyboard Player b/c he couldn't make our date on Weds. night (though I suspected our friend A. had something to do with that) as they were STILL recording and were going to be doing so late into the night! See, this is the thing with musicians. They are so undependable, selfish, irresponsible, narcissistic, etc! I hate that I adore them so.

So I went to Happy Hour with P., his friends and L. P. and I got there early which was good b/c I needed to get him up to speed on my recent "dating" adventures and the philosophies involved. It's been so interesting to get the male perspectives on this shit. For example, P. thinks that "dating" and "bringing someone home" are the same things! Whereas Brandon apparently believes in all different levels of "dating", "playing the field", and "bringing someone home." And there might even be levels of those levels! It makes my head spin.

After happy hour (where I actually ate a decent amount![and drank more!]) P. and I had to bid our friends adieu so we could go to the blues jam. I sorta was hesitant to go b/c Marvin was going to be headlining and although we are on friendly enough terms, I just didn't want to be annoyed by the sight of him in any way. But actually, he didn't get on my nerves and we just chatted for a couple minutes, then P. and I went outside to hang on the patio. After a couple beers we decided we were not interested in getting up to play, and headed out.

However, I wasn't quite ready to go home, and I had checked Facebook right before we left when P. was in the bathroom and saw that my cousin was "spinning traxx" at a cool place that I hadn't been to in awhile. I called him and he said for me to come over and he'd get me a drink. Hello! That's all I need to hear! I raced over there to check out the scene. The scene was mellow and there were hardly any people there. I had an apple sangria and then Cuz and I hung at the bar when he was done with his "traxx" and just caught up. All of a sudden I got a text message from SC! Although he had totally pissed me off, I had drunk enough by then to call him back and be friendly and order him to meet me for a drink at my current location, to which he agreed. Then Cuz said he wanted to split and go to the next bar, which I was totally game for. We left and went to a nearby dance club so Cuz could see his traxx-spinning friend there. We had the well drinks that were on special, against our better judgment.

Then SC called to get directions but since I knew this club was not our scene AT ALL, I told him to meet me at my place. I got home a few minutes before he got there. BTW my living room is really looking cool with its new coats of paint and colors! J. is doing an incredible job at pimping my townhouse. Even R. wants to hire her next to spruce up their place. Anyway, so SC and I settled in with drinks and I played my new Keb Mo CD for him as well as the Curtis Mayfield tribute CD that I've been addicted to for a few weeks now. (BTW, the music of Curtis Mayfield is dangerous. It puts me in the most bad-girl moods. Especially the song "Let's Do It Again.") Somehow the subject of Townes Van Zandt came up and I had to school him on Townes' music. Sometimes even the coolest, hippest music people somehow escape Townes on occasion.

So in order to avoid this blog post becoming yet another SATC episode (starring Samantha) I'll stop there. SC is really a sweet, gentlehearted guy and he told me that A. and his other friend were giving him the business about me these past couple days. A. kept scolding SC that SC was in town for music stuff and that he needed to keep his mind on their recording project, and the other friend kept encouraging SC to go hang out with me but SC said he was scared he'd pissed me off (which he had!). Well lucky him I got over it. Before taking a nap at 6am I had to send a text to J. and tell her NOT to come early like she'd been planning to this morning! Tomorrow SC also leaves to go home to Baltimore and I hope we keep in touch.

Tonight will be rest night--no happy hour like I'd been tentatively planning. Tomorrow is full with a patrol shift and then to see a blues band tomorrow night. Sunday: more REST!!! J. will be in and out all weekend working her mad skills. The townhouse project is exciting! And makes me want to bring tons of boys over to see it!

Hey! Hey! The Blues is All Right!

Not that I heard that song last night at the blues jam, but I woke up with it in my head today anyway. Actually, my friend A. sang another groovy song, "The Blues is My Business, and Business is Good." They also did a bluesy, funky version of "Mercy Mercy Mercy" which thrilled me no end! Now I suddenly cannot seem to escape that song, which is fine with me! So this was a new blues jam I had never been to before, in downtown. I mainly went down there to get out of the house and away from the paint fumes and confront A. and give him the what-fer, since he had seen me but ignored me at the Tab Benoit/Cyrille Neville show a couple weeks ago. He had been with his girlfriend and I knew that's what that was all about, but I still didn't accept it as an excuse!!! However--lately I feel the need to earn some good karma points, so I didn't give him too hard a time last night. I even let him hug me.

A., whose band was hosting the jam, told me his keyboard player friend SC was in town visiting him and was there playing. There was like, barely anyone in the joint although the place was actually quite cool and reminded me of a David Lynch movie. They even had really nice bathrooms. So I began to drink! Then I saw the keyboard player and remembered him from years ago when he used to visit A. on and off and I would run into them at the old blues jams. I remembered that I had always thought he was so cute, but I always had boyfriends so never got to do anything about it! I decided he would be lucky enough to be invited over to my place for a drink!

When they took a break I let him approach me, which he did and he even remembered a lot about me, like I play the viola. We talked for awhile and later on I invited him over and also tried to talk him into leaving with me NOW since there were so few people in there--a few jammers aside--and he sidled up to A. to talk to him about it. I also marched right over to A. and tried to present my case, but A. wasn't having any of it. Damn him! SC had keyboards there to load up, another guy friend with him, and also no car, having ridden with A. So me and SC made a date to do something tonight, and he tried to walk me to my car until A. dragged him back for another set. When I got home I got a text from SC (good, that's what I like to see!) saying he'd call me today.

The reason I feel like I need to earn some good karma points is b/c I am terrified I may have hurt Little Drummer Boy, at least a little bit. F. and I went to see LDB's other band play on Monday night at the Continental club and that was a colossal disappointment b/c the joint was DEAD, man. Also, LDB had texted me earlier that evening saying "You gonna come see your drummer boy tonight" and that freaked me out b/c I felt like that text came out of NOWHERE, and I wasn't sure how to interpret it! What does it all mean, Mr. Natural??? And although I gave him a (side) hug when they stopped playing and he came to say hi to me, I was a little nervous about giving him the wrong idea. So after LDB walked away I asked F. to walk me to my car and I got in and I split! The next morning I was checking Facebook and LDB had posted at 3am on his wall some agonizing sounding stuff about how he's "fallen for a certain individual" and "things that make you go hmmmm" and there were a bunch of question marks and also that his head was spinning and more question marks. Of course--this could have NOTHING to do with me, but... come on. Later I posted on his wall how great the band had rocked and what a kickass drummer he is--just a friendly, cool post! After I did that, later on he removed his 3am agonizing post.

This all reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry says, "I think I may have sent her the wrong message by sleeping with her!" Ha ha. Anyway--like my close friends are saying, LDB is a big boy and if he wants to talk to me about any of this, he needs to man up and do it. However, my perspective is that he is also a recent divorcee like me and I know he is pretty vulnerable and sensitive right now and I cannot blame him and I really feel for him. He's also sooooo sweet and only 30, so is a kid in my eyes. Oh well. Two tears in a bucket, motherfuckit, as The Lady Chablis would say! So I am trying to earn good karma points JUST IN CASE. More good karma can never hurt.

And THIS is why we sing the blues!

Ouch. It Hurts

My upper bod that is, especially my arms! I don't understand how a little sparring at Krav Maga class makes me sore the next day. It was a small class, just 5 of us including the 2 Sgt. instructors. The lesson was defensive tactics from knife attacks. FUN!!!

Now I'm at Job #1 where I volunteered to work the short Sunday shift 1-6 b/c our p/t guy got sick. The weather is wet and dreary and it's quiet here on weekends and the comp time is sweet, so whatever. My weekend has flown by again and I still have a lot of shit to do. As usual, my social life got in the way.

Friday night my documentary at Discovery Green park got rained out so I met J. at a coffee shop near her house where one of my Facebook musician friends was playing. We went over the things I definitely want done at my house in terms of home improvement. She can do pretty much everything I want done except for tiling and changing out the bathroom faucet fixture.

Saturday after Krav Maga me and li'l bro went to Cactus Records for an in-store performance. We drank free St. Arnold's beer and bought a few CD's. Then I went to the Duck and picked up tickets for the Subdudes, who will be here next month! I am taking Rozzy. Then it was home to rest until the next event and I didn't get much rest b/c I was a little too wired up, but this is nothing unusual. Back to pick up li'l bro--he'd had a fight with his girlfriend and was a free agent for the night--and we went to the Big Top where my crazy friend's band was playing. I thought it might be fun to try and meet some boys (and their drummer was so cute) but later on I realized that may not be possible with my brother as my escort! He's a little protective. Good to know!!!

Today J. came over and we went through the whole house and I made lists as we went. She had a lot of great ideas as I knew she would, and she will be over 1st thing in the morning to begin. I am actually excited! It sounds like she is gonna pimp my townhouse! She did caution however that the house is gonna be a wreck for awhile, and I will concede perhaps that's a good thing b/c my Sgt. friend advised me I shouldn't be hanging out with guys yet or bringing them over. Maybe!

Home Improvement!

I decided today that if I'm gonna be having boys over to the house, there's some home improvement projects need doin'! That way my home truly reflects the uptown, classy chick that I really am. I called J. who is an expert in this stuff and has done many projects at her various homes as well as for friends and she agreed to help me out. I know many of my neighbors have done cool things like install tile, hardwoods, granite countertops, etc. Before J. comes over I need to make a list of things I would like to do, that way she can advise me on budget. But I should be able to fit all the small stuff into my current finances and maybe 1-2 of the bigger items. Small items like: Redoing the banisters. Repainting a few places. Getting my patio in order and looking nice. Updating things in both bathrooms, like the cabinets? Fixing the cabinets in the kitchen. And I'm sure J. will have other valuable input. Big items: Tile in the upstairs bathroom!!! This would be priority as I despise that horrible linoleum in there now! Replacing the upstairs carpet, though that might have to wait depending on $. A new refrigerator so I can have the icemaker I've always dreamed of! But J.'s the expert and I will listen to what she has to say.

I was good and went straight home last night and took myself to bed and made myself stay there. I fell asleep for a little while but was woken up by a text coming in from little drummer boy. Just friendly stuff, nothing heavy and I responded in kind. Then I was up for a little while longer and fell asleep soon after and slept all night which I needed to. God knows I need my beauty rest and on top of that, my body was about to collapse, revolt, go on strike.

I still need a date/escort for the upcoming Reserve dinner and I am not sure how to proceed with that. I called G. today and left a message to see if I can talk him into coming into town for it; I guess he would be my 1st choice. There's a couple of other options if G. don't pan out but I am not sure of the best way to approach the other contenders. This dinner is a big deal and it'll take a certain type of individual to be able to handle the experience.

Rated R Question

WARNING: If you are my mom you may not want to read this blog post! (and if you do anyway, I don't want to hear anything about this later, please!)

So the question is: if you're separated from your soon-to-be-ex and you take a very cute drummer home with you at midnight after his gig and yadda yadda yadda you're really tired today... is that technically adultery? I am trying to decide whom to ask: a priest, pastor, etc.? I don't want to piss off the Lord!

Anyways, last night was such incredible fun. Vince Bell played a short but beautiful set and his rendition of "Woman of the Phoenix" always moves me so. I actually let a couple tears fall! Since his gig was just one set, that left me time to race downtown to try and catch the last of The El Orbits. But when I got there they were sitting at the bar trying to decide if they would continue playing since it was kinda dead there. They bought me a drink though and then did get up and do a short set of 5-ish songs, including "Mercy Mercy Mercy"--with lyrics and singer!!!!!! I was tickled.

And again, since that was a short set that left me time to run to the Continental Club to see my other friend's band, Umbrella Man, that I have been dying to see, like, forever. And when I got there my good friend F. was there, who I haven't seen in awhile but who I've been meaning to call and tell about my divorce. (But I've kinda been putting that off b/c he has always had a little thing for me and I don't want to think he can start up... anything.) F. is a HUGE fan of Umbrella Man and he has been telling me forever to come and check them out. It was a killer show and they rocked out seriously hard. My other friend was playing guitar with them and F. told me they had a "fill-in" drummer that night--but as I told F. the drummer was kicking ass and really doing incredibly well. Then I noticed how cute he was and was even more impressed! I decided he was going to be lucky enough to be invited to come to my place and watch The Last Waltz with me.

After the show the drummer came over near me and I told him how amazing he'd done as a fill-in. Turns out he knew me from the blues jams a few years ago, when he had been a very young drummer and said that we had even jammed together! So now I felt bad for not remembering him! Also turns out he had never seen TLW and I told him that must be rectified immediately, to which he agreed. So he came over and we watched the whole thing and we talked and smoked cigars and drank and turns out he is also going through a divorce. Bitches, man!

So in order to avoid this blog becoming a Sex and the City episode, I'll stop there but consequently I only got 3 hrs. sleep. Tonight will be a night of rest! No going out (although I'm a little tempted)! He's a sweet guy but I will not pursue him anymore except as a friend, and I made plans to come see him play next Monday. He is a seriously talented drummer, and even played with the legendary Johnny Nash ("I Can See Clearly Now") and toured Europe as well. Now... to find a preacher that can answer my question.

Mucho Mas Music!

There are 5 music shows I could potentially go to tonight. I am definitely going to see my beloved Vince Bell play tonight at a venue not far from Job #2 and at which I myself played a gig many years ago! He will be accompanied by one of my bass-playing friends and mentors. Kick-ass! After that I may head downtown to see my other friends' band at that groovy jazz club/restaurant I took R.B. to back in August when he was here visiting, and/or I may go to the Continental Club to see my other friends' band! I was also invited to another thing at the House of Blues and then another friends' band is playing somewhere as well, but those last 2 are not really priority. But damn, this is one hell of a musical evening I got ahead of me tonight!

There may be a few other awesome, incredible places to live in this world, but they would be hard-pressed to top Houston any day!

Besides, I need some good music therapy today. I had a freaky nightmare last night that has me totally obsessed. S. was in it and he died, and there was battling and fighting a common enemy and violence and blood and I got a visit to the morgue to identify his body and my God, that was a trip. It was a very creepy dream and I'm pretty freaked out and I'm very disturbed by these very un-peaceful thoughts invading my mind now. So I'm gonna go let the music wash it all out of me and that should work out pretty well. A few coconut rums with Diet Coke should help too.

Excellent, Excellent Weekend!

Good times, man! I am totally exhausted today. Yesterday was supposed to be my day of rest and that didn't really happen. Instead of sleeping incredibly late like I needed to I had to get up before I wanted so I could get ready for my friend's band that was playing at the swank grocery store where I buy my chicken salad! I was going to try to meet an old friend of mine there--a kid who used to play drums in the same blues band I did when he was a teenager and who is now a 24-year old cop! But the gig got rained out which I did not find out about until after I was already up and dressed.

So instead I tried to tackle my huge pile of reading material and movies to watch and put a tiny dent in all of that before it was time to head to the Big Easy for yet another benefit for a local ailing blues old timer. This time I did not get asked to get up and play but I wasn't in the mood for that anyway--some guy at the bar bought me a "tall" coconut rum and Coke and then I went outside to smoke my cigar and catch up with a few friends and just RELAX.

I had a dream about my old college buddy T. on Saturday night so I sent him a message about it via Facebook and then last night he caught me on FB chat; but I was just about to get off the computer b/c I was so tired (and also wanted to get in bed and watch Vicky Christina Barcelona) so I told him to call me. I also thought it was time to talk since we've only been FB chatting and I haven't heard his voice in 18 years! [HOLY CRAP--18 YEARS?!?!?!] So he called and it was just like old times, joking around, flirting, etc. and 2 1/2 hours later I finally had to reluctantly get off the phone. Then I did watch the movie after all! Consequently I am still totally sleep deprived today.

Saturday was the Bomb! It didn't start out that way as I was still desperately trying to find an ACL Fest ticket and my cousins were working on it for me in Austin and then my other friend was sending out pleas to her Austin peeps and I had decided noon would be the hour of decision: drive to Austin anyway and try my luck? Or stay home and be sensible since I only had 11 hours of sleep the previous 48 hours??? As noon approached I lost the lust to go b/c I was just getting more tired by the minute and soon developed the lust for a good nap. But then I saw that ACL Fest was live-streaming the festival online and lo and behold, there was Levon at 6pm! I about cried I was so happy to see that! I thanked God and Jesus and the Virgin Mary and probably a few saints for that. And there was such a humongous crowd in front of him that I was actually sooo glad I didn't go after all, b/c it's not like I would've been able to get as close to him as I would've wanted, and being able to see the show via webcast totally sated my Levon appetite anyway!

Then it was time to rush off to Festival Chicano, where I had also been on Friday night with J. This time I made plans to meet Rozz there and I ran into some other friends who had some empty seats in front of them. Rozz spent most of his time backstage and I went back there as well briefly (my stepdad is the stage manager every year and my mom was also back there hanging out) but only to grab a cupcake and head back out where I could really see the show! Also enjoy my flask, chuckle! After the show Rozz and I went to a local groovy bar full of all kinds of fascinating, artistic characters (no tools there!) and we had drinks and caught up and played a round of Galaga and shut the place down. I adore Rozz with all my heart, and I wish I could tell him but I can't or he might take it the wrong way if you know what I mean.

He was so sweet on Friday night, as I had gone to see his jazz trio play at the Big Top after Festival Chicano was over. I asked the band to do "Mercy Mercy Mercy" for me and they said they would give it a shot and they did and it was awesome! I hope I didn't pressure them too much but that's a total standard and it was time they learned to do it anyway, heh heh!

Hell of a weekend! I am beat, and I probably must be stopped. I am going to try and get some sleep tonight finally. Got some good news at Job #1 today, that they are discontinuing the 5-6 reference desk hour. This means that I no longer have the pressure of working "my" Thursday 5-6 hour and I can probably work an hour at Job #2 on Thursdays now, which means my other evenings at Job #2 can be a little more relaxed when needed. For example, b/c I'm so damn tired today instead of working 2 hrs. there tonight I'll just do an hour and half and then get home slightly earlier so I can collapse. Ahhhh... thanks to God and Jesus and the Holy Family for that as well!

Crazy Sleepy and Tool Time!

I am really sleepy, having gotten only 6 hrs of sleep last night b/c after I got home from Greek Fest I stayed up too late doing all kinds of little things around the house. I worked from home today which was great but I had to be up at 8am in order to get on it. I spent my lunch break running over to the Greek Fest as I had extra meal tickets and since it was all soooo good last night, wanted Round 2 today! And I must be crazy b/c now I'm at Job #2 and after I leave here I am headed over to Miller Outdoor Theater for Festival Chicano with J. and after that, Rozz's jazz trio is playing at the Big Top and I must go! Therefore, I'm sure I will get very little rest tonight again.

Up early tomorrow for my drive to Austin, although I still have not been successful in getting a ticket to ACL Fest and now I am starting to feel a little desperate. My cousin is there already and is trying to find me a ticket but she had no luck today, dammit!!! I am hoping some of the emails I sent out will still be fruitful and/or cousin finds a ticket tomorrow. Please God, please.

I have a crapload of library books to read--picked up 2 more today. Also have more movies at home to watch (had a free rental at Blockbuster) and once again, I am soooo looking forward to chillin' on Sunday. As tired as I am today I keep thinking, you can sleep in on Sunday!

BTW Wednesday night was pretty cool except for the tools. The venue was nice and they had tv screens everywhere and when Paula Nelson came on they even had her on lots of the screens. Unfortunately, for such a nice venue it was full of tools. Sure the place had its share of yuppie scum but it's not like the joint was totally packed with them. But to illustrate what caliber of slime balls were there, here's what happened at one point: this guy invited me and J. over to his table with his 3 friends "for a drink." After a few minutes of chatter and no drinks appeared, it was time to show these tools what I thought of them by making our graceful exit back to our table but before I left one of the guys asked for a hug, then asked twice for a kiss "on the lips." And he's married, wearing an obvious wedding ring!!! Tools, man. They should have their own aisle at Home Depot, as one of my FB guy friends said. The other thing that bugged me was that 75% of the people there were not interested in Paula Nelson at all and didn't even pay attention to her. So although the venue was nice and had potential, it's obviously a very soulless place and I shant be returning!