...And I Even Drank Chocolate Beer!

So it was another great, stellar, wonderful legendary weekend although I woke up on Saturday a.m. with really bad muscle aches and just pain all over. I wasn't sure what to make of that but Stefano and I went for a run anyway. We needed it. We ran about 2 mi. R/T, running down to this coffee shop he and an old high school friend of mine had told me about. We stopped inside to cool off and have a drink (iced herbal mint tea for me, iced coffee for him) and then we poked around some of the shopping strip. We WALKED back home which I was grateful for, since I was pretty out of shape, not having run in over a week at least.

I had also gotten sick on Fri. night, after rehearsal and heading to Stefano's where he had a lovely tuna steak/nicoise salad waiting for me, plus Riesling. But something in the food didn't settle well w/me and I soon got rid of it, if you know what I mean. I was glad to end the meal w/a beautiful fruit tart from La Mad., which I'd picked up that afternoon after meeting DA for a nice pizza lunch. But I got a great night's sleep that night, though woke up with that sore body.

Today I am still sore and it hurts to walk down stairs. My mom seems to think my adrenal glands are back to working now that I'm done w/the steroid, and having to rebuild up all my cortisol. She says my li'l bro always had a bad time coming off steroids too. I hope that's what this is b/c it's very strange and a little upsetting. I have been sore all weekend long and couldn't even go on patrol yesterday. I am actually very strongly considering leaving Job #1 early today so I can go home and lie down, even though that's all I did yesterday mostly. Obviously I need more.

So anyway, after the run on Sat. Stefano and I showered and went for an absolutely wonderful dumpling lunch! Man, was that shit gooooooood... lamb dumplings, rice, and shrimp w/edamame. I ate so much I couldn't believe it and actually felt bloated and stuffed afterwards. Then Stefano took me to the Asian grocery and bought me some frozen dumplings. What a sweetheart! Finally home to rest and get ready for the big CD Release that night. But I was having a hard time moving and almost had to call Stefano to come get me dressed. I managed to muster up the strength somehow and put on a short yellow dress and cowboy boots and even managed to somehow do my hair. The ibuprofin wasn't working well though.

Stefano and I got to the gig for soundcheck about 20 min. late but I found it hard to believe everything would be on schedule anyway and I was right, of course. We ended up sitting around and just hanging out and my mom and stepdad showed up soon afterwards so we just sat w/them, I played w/my iPod, and we started drinking. Finally we did a short soundcheck and I was aggravated b/c Leo and George always play everything SO FUCKING FAST. I have told them time and time again that from my years of playing classical music and with all kinds of symphony orchestras, I learned a long time ago that the AUDIENCE does not hear/perceive the music as fast as you THINK you do!!! I am constantly having to reign those guys in and trying to force them to play it suave, not so fucking rushed like they play it! Shit, why am I surprised. They're men--it's just like sex.

Anyway, the place filled up w/folks, which was so nice to see! I had about 16 people there just for me (yes I counted--we were playing a numbers/money game to fill the hall, sell CD's/Tshirts, and hopefully even make some $ for us at the end of the night). We played first and it was really hard to hear onstage but I never want to allow that to be an excuse--I think that's the height of unprofessionalism, to make excuses when it comes to your art. We had fun though and then we made way for my friend Q's band The Haymakers, who were also having a CD release.

We played another set after they did and then I was soooo ready to get out of there. I was sore, tired, hungry again (I couldn't believe it), and was kind of over people grabbing at me and stuff. It was kinda like your wedding, where everyone wants a piece of you. So Stefano my wonderful roadie and savior took my bass outside, got the car, and whisked me away. Funnily, I only wanted some fried mozzarella sticks to eat, and maybe some hot chocolate since Lent would be over in a matter of minutes, so that's what we did, go to the Greek restaurant and I got my fried cheese, hot chocolate, and he had soup. Then home to his house to CRASH.

Yesterday morning I slept waaaaaay late and I knew there was no way in hell I'd be able to go on patrol. All I wanted to do was lounge around and read--I'd picked up 5 books at the library on Fri. eve. and I desperately wanted some reading time. So Stefano and I went to the grocery store, got fixin's for dinner, went back to his place and he cooked (grilled steak, lamb, red potatoes, grilled asparagus), we ate, we drank a little, enjoyed this fabulous chocolate stout ale, had chocolate for dessert, and he watched tv while I lay on the couch next to him and read over 100 pages of my book. BLISS. HEAVEN. And we went to bed pretty early, 10:30pm ish, and it was just what I needed. And frankly, HE is just what I need too, all the time!