To Live is to Fly, Cont.

Ok, lessee, where did I leave off...

Sunday: Left Jon's, went home to get showered/changed for the benefit at Big Easy for a local beloved old black blues piano player. (He has emphysema, or as I made up on the spot on Sat. night when talking to my li'l bro and Phillipo about it, "Black Key Lung." Guffaw!!!) We'd gotten the gig just a few days before and I was totally tickled to be involved in this huge day, also b/c Jon would be running it and playing as well. I promised Leo we'd play much better than we did on Sat. and we did! We also all dressed in black, it being warm enough again outside for me to wear a short, cute black dress. Jon watched us play and it's a good thing too b/c the stupid backline amp went OUT on me during our last 2 songs and Jon had to run up there and bang it--annoying!!!

Anyway... it was a great time and although Jon and I had planned to NOT debut as a couple in front of all those blues scene people and musicians, I was hanging around him enough for people to figure it out anyway. His friends came out to see us, including his ex-gf and her husband and 2 kids and I ended up getting along really well with all of them and even dancing w/the 14-yo boy in front of the whole club while Jon and his singer were playing, and she made up lyrics about us on the spot. Hi-larry!!!

After the long day of music and merriment and drinking (my 2-drink maximum in FULL effect--and shorts, even! Not talls!) Jon and I repaired across the street to attempt to get some Crave cupcakes but alas, they were closed, so we went and dropped off my car at his house and had a nice quiet dinner nearby. Then we ended w/a cozy relaxing night at his place.

Monday night I had my monthly sheriff meeting and Jon ended up meeting us at dinner since we always eat at this Mexican restaurant that happens to be right around the corner from his house. Mudflap was telling war stories all night, but later on that night when Jon and I were in bed he sent me a text saying he likes Jon, that Jon seems like a good guy. Which is funny b/c Jon couldn't even get a word in edgewise all night and I barely could!

Tuesday night Jon came to stay w/me at my house; I'd left my extra gate clicker in his car accidentally on purpose over the holiday weekend as I'd deemed him "gate clicker-worthy", so he let himself in after he was done stuffing envelopes w/his new CD that just came out. I'd just that day gotten a last-minute gig w/Phillipo for Weds. night at the St. Arnold's Brewery, a company holiday party and I was trying to find a drummer. After I'd struck out with like 3-4 drummers Jon made a couple phone calls and got me a damn good one! He rocks!!! Then the next morning he even loaded up my gear to take to his house so that I could go straight to the gig after work instead of having to go down south to my house to get everything.

The other momentous thing about Tuesday night was Jon told me to my face that he loved me. He said it a lot. He also said he wants to be with me forever! I told him I loved him too, and I do. He knows I've been crazy about him since Day 1. I think we all knew. I gave him my house key the next morning. (I've already had access to his house all this time, via the key he keeps in his mailbox for when he accidentally locks himself out, hee hee.)

Something else significant happened on Tues. night and that is that Stefano and I had a really great, therapeutic phone conversation. We talked for awhile, each professing how much we both still love and care for each other and how we want to continue to be in each other's lives. Stefano apologized for the harsh words he had for me last Friday but I maintained that I deserved them. He played a song for me on his guitar that he'd written about this whole situation called "Yellow Rose in the Wind"--since I love yellow roses and he bought them for me often. It was so sweet and touching. I cannot WAIT to begin hanging out with Stefano again. I've really missed him and I know he's missed me.

So the gig last night went fine. I went to Jon's beforehand to get my gear and change clothes. It was awesome to be gigging in the brewery although the acoustics were horrible since it's a warehouse, but it was a nice little party w/decent food. The pumpkin cheesecake was great. I had 2 of the Christmas ales which were sooo yummy! (Just 2!) And the songs went well and the drummer, who is a FB friend of mine and who I know from years ago, did wonderfully. A real pro! Our party songs ("Blue Christmas", "Kiss", "Johnny B. Goode" etc.) were fun and cheesy but whatever. I made an easy 3 figures (Phillipo also tipped me for finding a drummer--I'll use that $ to buy Jon breakfast this weekend!) so that'll go towards paying off the new amp and I'm also looking to buy a 5-string bass as well. Killer! I got home around 10:30pm and Jon let himself in around 2am after the blues jam was done.

Rehearsal tonite, followed by Justin Townes Earle in concert! I'm gwine w/li'l bro, and then I'll stay at Jon's since he lives right near the club. Working from home tomorrow--well, working from Jon's. We can't get enough of each other. Was it Confucious or Barry White who said, "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Baby?"