Trial Run Weekend: A Success!

Not that I was expecting the 1st weekend away w/Mr. Wonderful Stefano to be anything BUT a wild success! Man, we had a FLAWLESS, FUN, GROOVY time away together this weekend! And now we just cannot wait for Chicago this weekend. Lord have mercy! We've got so many fun things on the agenda, it's gonna be a fun challenge fitting them all in! But anyway, so to recap this past weekend...

So I worked from home on Friday which was awesome! I ran by Job #2 before heading back home to meet Stefano who was picking me up after work. We headed up north, him with a beer, me with my vanilla vodka/Sprite zero and by the time we got to the hotel I was feeling pretty, pretty, pretty good!!! We tossed our stuff into our 2nd floor room at the Drury Inn and went downstairs for the "Kickback" where they have free food and even free booze!!! I had a chili dog and chips and a Whiskey Sour, but the bartender chick demanded to see my I.D. so I had to shlep back up to the room and get it, although she didn't ID Stefano. When I gave her my I.D. I said, "I'm pushing 40, so... thanks!" After our munchies we went to the room, changed into our bathing suits and headed downstairs to the indoor hot tub after refilling our drinks w/the big bottle of coco rum I'd brought along.

Saturday we woke up in time for the final hour of breakfast downstairs, though Stefano had already been up before me and been to the exercise room. I had runny eggs w/salsa, a banana, a bagel/cream cheese, sausage, and biscuits and gravy. The trick, you see, is to not eat it all, or just eat most of everything. Then I wanted to go to the pool, lay out, read my book, and begin drinking even if it was 10am--hey man, I was on vacation! So we did just that, and had the small pool to ourselves. After a couple hours we hit the hot tub once more and then went to the room to get ready for a late lunch/early dinner. The hotel staff said we could ride a shuttle to the concert that night, so the plan was to go have dinner at Grimaldi's--our favorite pizzeria!--then come back to the hotel and catch the shuttle. It took us awhile to find Grimaldi's in the midst of all that shopping and restaurants but after a few phone calls finally we found it, just in time for them to begin the 4pm, hour-long stoking process. We decided to sit, have some wine, enjoy some antipasto and salad while waiting. It was a long but enjoyable meal!

We'd had 3 glasses of wine each while at dinner, though we ate a ton of pizza so that soaked up much of it. Back at the hotel we had a little time to relax before shuttle time. Before catching the shuttle we headed back down for the Kickback and each got a drink. Also we'd filled my 2 small flasks w/coco rum since Van Morrison demanded no alcohol sales during his show! As I said on Facebook, Richard Manuel is spinning in his grave! I badged my way into the venue w/the po-lice which is how I sneak everything in.

Stefano and I walked up to the hill and saw my Sgt. friend who said she'd be up there selling beer, and there she was! But she said they were being forced to leave once alcohol sales ceased 10 min. to showtime since they hadn't bought tickets--bummer! Stefano and I got our Diet Coke and headed to our seats. Then, amazingly, I saw another deputy friend of mine, the crazy old-school guy I used to patrol with all the time until he switched to a Mon-Fri schedule! We hugged and I introduced Stefano, then he had to get to his seat w/his wife. There were like 3 entire empty rows of seats next to us, and once the show started and the girls behind us wouldn't SHUT UP, Stefano said for us to just move over to the empty seats and we did, which was great! No one behind us, in front of us, or next to us! We made short work of both flasks quickly!

The show was really, really good. I couldn't believe how incredible Van's voice sounded after all these years! I already knew he wasn't going to talk to the audience since Stefano had been up on all the recent reviews of Van's shows. I didn't care that he didn't do the "hits" that all the stupid soccer moms and dads wanted to hear. When he did "Till I Gain Control Again" I was so tickled, as I fucking LOVE that song, and I even had to tell Stefano what that song was. And Van played for 90 minutes straight, so it was well worth it to me! People were bitching after the show that he only played 2 of his hits, but I didn't care. His fiddle player even played VIOLA for crying out loud, on a few songs! Come ON! How awesome is that?!?!?

After the show we had to walk across the street to meet the shuttle, which took its sweet time getting to all of us! Stefano and I shared a cigar. Back at the hotel we were both happy and agreed it was a great experience. We both noted how many performers from The Last Waltz we'd each seen in concert, and it was so cool to add Van Morrison to the list!

Sunday Stefano woke up early (as he often does out of habit) to go get the paper while I slept in. He came back later and I decided it was time to get up and go visit the exercise room myself. Stefano came with me and we just did a quick 40 min. workout, him on the exercise bike and me on the elliptical for 10 min. and the treadmill for the remainder. Then it was time to shower, change, pack up, and get outta Dodge. On our way out of town I'd previously made arrangements w/the whore to meet her and give her 2 big bags of stuff for S's daughter: photos, her school sweatshirt, coloring books, random dolls/toys, etc. that DA had helped me pack up when we cleaned out the 2nd bedroom.

So we met her and unbelievably, the kid was in the car with her! I totally did NOT expect that and had been actually thinking how relieved I was that it was S's weekend to have his kid so that I wouldn't have to experience seeing her and whatever emotions that might bring up in me. She glanced at me through the window and waved, but then returned to whatever had her attention in her lap, a book maybe. I asked the whore as we were putting the bags into the back of her SUV what was up w/the kid being there and she said that S gets his weekends mixed up and brings her back early sometimes. Wow--interesting.

As we all drove off Stefano asked me if I was ok and I was. I felt pretty much nothing, which is weird to think about, but oh well. I said to me that was evidence of major, serious disorganization on S's part to be treating his visitation weekends w/his daughter so haphazardly--b/c they were SACRED when I was with him and his daughter. Interesting, that's all I can say. How come S's worthless, poseur mom isn't making sure they have as much time as possible w/said child? Hmmmm???

Anyway, so we had to make one stop before heading home, Stefano had to run into the grocery store and get some cash and I waited in the car. When he came out he had a bunch of lilies for me!!! He said they were to thank for me for a wonderful weekend! Awwwwww!!! Hey, I don't call him Mr. Wonderful for nothing! He also came over last night to spend the night w/me one last time before the work week starts. We leave for Chicago on my birthday this Friday and it will be another legendary weekend together for sure!