Today is the day before Thanksgiving and we only have a half a day of patients scheduled, and I'm hoping that once they are finished, everyone in the office can leave, as well. Don't know yet. Went to The Ottobar last night. It was a short night, however, since Nick didn't feel well and got sick. Poor thing must have eaten something that didn't agree with him or maybe he has some sort of stomach virus (he does work in a school and kids always have weird shit going on.). He insists that it was maybe that he ate an entire package of tortolini, or maybe that it was undercooked, but I don't think that would make one throw up, but anyways, he felt so bad and had thrown up, that we left at midnight. I said that he really must have felt bad to leave the bar that early. I wished that he didn't have to go to work, that when he brought me home he could have just gone to sleep, he said, "Thank You for taking care of me," as he was leaving. That was nice. Rob and Angel left the same time that we did, but Lori and Victor had gotten there not too long before, with Kyle and Kristy, but oh, well. When you're sick, you're sick. Not sure if anything is going on tonight, other than Top Chef and all, although this is known as one of the biggest drinking nights of the year, right up there with New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day, I imagine on account of everyone gearing up to be with their families (and consequently, the night of Thanksgiving will be a big drinking night after everyone has DEALT with their families haha.). Had a terrible fucking migraine yesterday, left work about a half an hour early on account of that and went to bed. Didn't get to go to Curves, which I'm mad about, but this week is already not a regular week because of the holiday and all (and there will be so much eating.). Will try to stop on the way home today, if we get out early, it would be awesome, because then I could stop at Target and get to Curves, as well. Really hope that Nick feels better today.

Feel pretty much like crap today. Really wish I could have stayed in bed. Have a bit of a headache and just don't feel very well. Went over Mom's yesterday after Curves. She had her first carpal tunnel surgery, the other one is next week, and while she drowsed in and out, I did my laundry and ate too much, and then made her a Lean Cuisine when she woke up and we watched some television. Sam came home from Cornell yesterday for Thanksgiving, so Nick and him had been playing video games non-stop, and I ended up going over to pick him up. Went to Club Charles. Unfortunately the place was mobbed with Wham City kids, because there was a free show next door at the old Zodiac, although we did get to talk to Peter for a bit, which was cool. Learned that he is from New York, so there's a wealth of knowledge for the next time we go up. Matt Kelly was out, so we got the pleasure of his company. Some friend of his asked Matt if either of us had jobs, because everytime he was out, wherever he was, he saw us, and imagined that when he didn't see us, we were out then, too. That was amusing. Didn't bother playing anything on the jukebox, since it was so loud and crowded and the noise from next door kept coming in and out each time somebody opened the door joining the two buildings. Talked about work and the trip, and wildebeasts, and myriad other things. Nick says that he will try to make a reservation for Abacrombie for Friday for Sam and Barrett to go with us, that way we can use that gift certificate. That should be interesting. Realised that I don't have any cash, so no going over for soup for me today. Brought an apple, and would really like to go to bed when I leave here (and after Curves, of course. Can't see any improvement yet, but hopefully soon.). Tomorrow's a half a day here as far as patients go, but I don't know if that means that we actually get to leave early, too. Would be a fine thing, though. Two For Tuesdays tonight, will be glad to see Nick. Really hated haivng to drop him off last night. Will be glad for the four day holiday.

Oh, New York Ciry's Very Pretty In The Nighttime

Last Tuesday, as I was coming out of Curves, Nick called and asked me if I wanted to go to New York this weekend.This was completely out of the blue, and unexpected, I hesitantly said yes, I guessed so, and he said, "Good, I'm buying the tickets then. Robyn Hitchcock is playing Saturday." So, with no planning, no idea where this theatre was, no real knowledge even of Mr. Hitchcock's esteemed musical career, save a couple of songs (My Wife And My Dead Wife being enough to have me sold on him), no idea of cost, directions, staying over or driving back the same night, we were going to New York City on Saturday. Thursday we decided to stay over, and Nick found a hotel nearby the Symphony Space Theatre where the show was going to be on Hotels.com. This was totally his gig, he found the tickets, it was his idea, to begin with, he found the hotel, it was nice, since all of the other trips have been my masterminding. Anyways, Saturday, after many delays, as per usual (although this time, it was separately as opposed to our being together and just getting held up stopping for cigs or atm or gas or whatever before finally getting on the road, since Nick had to go for that thing he is participating in, that study where they put the GPS in his car.), at 12:45 p.m., we finally got on the road, blasting Gogol Bordello ("I am a wanderlust king!!") as we picked up speed on the road to New York. Got up there at 4, checked into the hotel, which was directly across the street from the theatre, and got settled in. I will admit that driving into New York was nerve racking, but I did better than I thought I would, granted, I didn't do too much driving into the thick of things. The Mapquest directions were perfect, and the garage where we left the car was right around the corner from the hotel. The hotel itself was lovely. It was old, which held immediate charm for me. I would say it was built in atleast the forties if not thirties, judging by the radiators in the rooms which were the same kind I have in my house, the small elevator with a window in its door, and the stairwell. We were only on the second floor, so we took the steps mostly, marble that wrapped around in an almost spiral. It would have been even lovlier were it not lit by a horrible flourescent light. The room was adorable. It was small, actually the bathroom was huge, almost the same size as the bedroom, and had no proper tub or shower, just two drains in the floor. There was a window which looked out to another brick building within spitting distance, with barbed wire around the roof. Lovely haha. We weren't there that long before deciding on a place for dinner (had done rather well. I had an iced mocha and bran muffin from Starbucks around 9 am. and Nick had only had a pudding cup before we left.). Grabbed a taxi and went to The Lever House Restaurant. This place was bizarre. It looked exactly like a space ship on the inside. Very modern, Swingin 60's Britain. Like the milkbar in A Clockwork Orange or something. The food itself was alright. We were the only diners for quite some time (it was around 6, early by NY standards.) Started with a butternut squash soup, Nick got sweetbreads, which are disgusting, gizzards or something, then I got cod and he got a steak. Both ended up being raw, although only Nick was pleased. My fish was uncooked the further towards the middle I got. I sent it back and just got some fingerling potatoes instead (hoping I wouldn't get sick from eating raw food.). Got some ice cream for dessert (malted chocolate rum and cinnamon--- needless to say which one I ate.) and Nick got a tawny port. Took the taxi back, after taking pictures of the huge Sanrio sculptures in front of the building where the restaurant was. No idea what that was about, but hey, I got my picture taken with a huge Hello Kitty!! I must say, it was lovely having no idea how to get anyplace, just hailing a taxi and having to give an intersection and away you go. I could get used to that haha. Driving in the back of those things was an adventure, too. It was like a ride, where it was scary and exhilerating. Got back to the theatre at the perfect time. We were rather close, too, and the performance was wonderful. Really enjoyed the songs and the in between banter. He's a very amusing character. Would definately like to hear more of his music. Would have been awesome if he had played My Wife And My Dead Wife, but no. Afterwards, we took a taxi to the financial district, all the way at the other end of Manhattan (we were staying in the upper west side.), but the bar we were trying to go to was closed, and as we wandered back to Broadway, trying to decide what to do, Nick noticed a place down a dimly lit, narrow street, Le Hailles, a French place, which Nick said he was sure was the restaurant where Anthony Bourdain got his start. So we went in and had some drinks. Actually, Nick had some drinks, I just drank an entire pot of French press, and we decided to come back for lunch on Sunday. After this, we took a taxi back to the upper west side to a bar called The Dead Poet. Very much a Fells Point kind of place and crowd, Irish themed, with literary leanings (capitalize on Wilde, Yeats, and Keats for both!!). They had a signature drink, The Dead Poet, which contained seven liquors and was a secret recipe, on the menu, which entitled you to a souvenier mug should you be brave enough to partake. Needless to say, we now have two souvenier mugs. It tasted exactly like grape soda, and we left there in a lovely sort of haze. Back to the hotel to finish the evening in style. Woke up sometime in the wee hours to find the television still on and Nick having dosed off whilst reading at the foot of the bed, which explained why I nearly got kicked in the face at one point. After rousing him enough to lay at the head of the bed, fell back to sleep, till close to eleven, started the day in the best way, got packed up, checked out, and put our bags in the car at the garage. Took a taxi back to Le Hailles where we had a very good lunch (although I did send back my main course. This time it was a macaroni and cheese, which was either made from undrained pasta or simply FLOATING in grease and OIL, and was bland yet. But prior to that I had had a delicious mesculan salad and we got very good pommes frites, so I wasn't too upset.) Nick tried rooster. Definately tastes different from chicken, even dark meat chicken, a much gamier taste, although I did tell him that now he can say he loves cock haha. Anyways, had another pot of French press, and subsequent stomach cramps, as we walked the short distance from the restaurant to Ground Zero. Incredible and horrifying. It was so fucking cold and windy this weekend. rEally, it was no fun being outside even for a minute. Got back to the car, where I was pleasantly shocked that the fee for parking nearly twenty-four hours was a mere $33. Left at exactly 2 and drove straight back, sopping at the end of the New Jersey Turnpike for gas, and got home at exactly 5. That was pretty incredible time we made. Saw the largest, completely silver Blessed Mother Statue on the other side of the Deleware Memorial Bridge. Have to go back and take a picture of that, then veer over to Philly next time. Teh Deleware Memorial Bridge scared the shit out of me, though, moreso coming back than going, for some fucking reason. It was a lot of fun, and I am very glad that even though we missed a really good Ravens game (B-more kicking Philly ass!!), Nick said he thought we had more fun and was glad we did it. Went to sleep around 7 or 8, slept through to this morning. Work was slightly better todya, although I still hate it and plan on looking for something else sooner rather than later. From the fryingpan into the fire was never a more fitting saying. Anyways, went over to The Falcon's Nest for lunch, tomato florentine soup, delicious. Saw that beautiful boy for a minute, will be glad to see him later and have some drinks.

Work was so busy that I had no time to get on here. Yes, this place is something else. Had a very good weekend, shame it was so short. Will be glad for the four day holiday for Thanksgiving. Dinner at Bicycle was amazing Friday. Had the salmon again, definately the best of the places where I have had salmon of late. Was a little torn between that and a couple of other things, I know that I have been getting salmon several different times, but I so enjoyed it when we went there for Nick's B-day, and this time was no different. Started with that spicy corn chowder with blue crab, that had been intriguing on the menu. Delicious, almost like a thin refried beans, robust and, as we have learned from Chef Ramsey, you could really pick out the ingredients in the flavours, which is a good thing. Nick got his sashimi tuna tar tar, of course. Still not trying raw fish, I'm so not up for that. He got a steak, shocking, I know, practically still alive, and I got the salmon. It was seasoned perfectly and came with the yukon gold mashed potatoes and their wonderful vegetables--- brocolli, string beans, red and yellow peppers, and, of course, asparagus!! We got a bottle of Gladiator wine, one of the $18 specials (which they have at the liquor store by the old apartment for $10, have to get some.) Got deliciously drunk on that with dinner (very similar to champagne drunk, lovely.), felt stuffed, but somehow, we found room for dessert. Nick got the coffee creme brule and I got the pumpkin pie cheescake. Actually, there were several items on the dessert menu that were tempting, the coffee creme brule being one for me, as well as a cappuccino and mocha tort with chocolate mousse, but I opted for the cheesecake, because, as is a well established fact, I am all about the pumpkin. The coffee creme brule was very good, the flavour changed as you ate it, very subtle and distinct, and since Nick doesn't like pumpkin or cinnamon (how can you not like pumpkin or cinnamon?), the cheesecake was entirely mine, and it did not stand a chance haha. A terribly good meal, which left me feeling ready to explode as we headed out of Federal Hill, up the long stretch of Charles into Station North, and to the waiting arms of The Wind-up, where I nearly fell asleep several times, on account of the wine. Once Rob and Angel, and some other people showed up, I had a second wind. It was also helped before they got there by the ridiculous movie that was playing. It was a blaxlpoitation movie from the seventies titled "Petey Poststrall, The Devil's Son-in-law." I kid you not, it was unreal. Big Afros, a magical pimp cane, and a cameo by Aretha Franklin. Nick insists that he is going to buy this movie. Once it started getting more crowded, they shut that off, and people started dancing, although they didn't play anything terribly good. Still, it was cool that it felt like a Saturday night, but it was only Friday. Saturday ended up being very busy. We were going to go to B for dinner, but then Nick's parents asked if we wanted to go to Tapas Teatro and see Vickie Christina Barcelona with them. They were good enough to pay for us, which was very nice. Before that though, we picked up Christina and met the rest of the Goucher Lesbian Brigade at City Hall for a protest against the Prop 8 legislation in California which basically retracted the same sex marriage laws there. I don't care what people do, if it makes them happy, so I have long been for gay marriage, or simply, not against it. It's silly to be so opposed to something that has nothing to do with you. Anyways, it started raining, and there was a tornado watch, and just as we were emerging from the Sonar parking lot, with the 83 overpass, it started raining torresntially, and we got soaked. But it soon let up, and we eventually dried out. Luckily it was pretty warm, and the protest moved down to the end of 83, at Lafayette and President Streets. We chanted and waved, and kind people beeped, and even though it isn't my fight, it was a good experience and felt good to take part in something like that. We got to Tapas Teatro first and waited for Nick's parents in the bar, having some drinks. Got a little tipsy straight away, since we hadn't eaten. The meal was good, got several small plates, and everyone pretty much shared what they themselves ordered, so it was good. Got grilled shrimp, spinach with crab meat, grilled chicken, and a salad with chilled asparagus. Also tried some baby potatoes, and delicious potato croquettes, which had to be horribly fattening. Went to the movies afterwards. I knew that Nick had wanted to see this movie since the summer, so I'm glad we finally went. It was alright, nothing incredible. It was no Happy Go Lucky, but it had its moments, mainly with Penelope Cruz. Afterwards, we set up camp at Club Charles and waited for Rob and Angel and Lori. More drama, that I don't even want to be bothered with. Sunday, we got up, after starting the day the best way, and went to Nick's parents for him to get his Ravens jersey, where he was able to convince his dad to come to Chris' parents' to watch the game with us. It was a lot of fun, even if we ended up losing. We had reservations for B for dinner, which proved to be a delicious experience again. Started with a salad, Nick got a squash soup, which I liked, since it tasted very much like pumpkin pie, but after a while, Nick realized this, too, and took a dislike to it. Anyways, the main courses were their house ravioli for me (without the sage brown butter, just the marinara, which made all the difference this time, awesome.) and sausage tortolini for Nick. We both enjoyed our meals very much and for dessert, pumpkin creme brule for me and chocolate tort for Nick. Had that cherry lambics beer I like, Kasteel Rouge, that we got so deliciously drunk on in Philly at Eulogy when we were there to see The Kills, as well. In fact, I didn't get my cappuccino on account of having two Kasteel Rouges and feeling very ready to explode.

Monday, we went to Club Charles, got in some interesting conversations with a random hipster at the bar, played some music, had some drinks. Tuesday was Smiths/Morrissey Karaoke at The Ottobar, old-school, singing over the records. Bill was there, of course. It was so much fun. Nick sung three times, I sung twice (I Want The One I Can't Have and Suedehead.), it was awesome. Terribly good fun. Wednedsay I met Mom and Tony for dinner at Outback and received a phone call whilst waiting for them from Nick telling me that I was missing a Quacker Factory Special on QVC or HSN with a live studio audience, that looked EXACtLY like you would imagine them to. Sorry I missed that haha. Hope they run something with Palermo soon. Watched Top Chef. The very dull girl from Red Maple got voted off. Thursday, we went to The Wind-up, where even though there was a cover for a jazz ensemble, which I could have done without, it was still fun. Rob and Lori came out for a while, and eventually, without even noticing, we were the last people in there save Russell and Jason. This was the night that my Mom went to see The Eagles in D.C., and she had so much fun. I was so glad. They upgraded her and Tony's seats and they were in the second row. It was really good that they had so much fun. Friday, by far the worst day at work this week, became an unintentional evening of rest for us both, as we took naps when we got home and Nick slept through my calling at the time we said that we'd get ready to head out, and my going back to sleep, as well, but it was alright, since we had the drive to New York on Saturday.

Addicted To Bad Ideas

So glad that it's Friday. Do have to say, the work weeks have been going by quickly here at the new job. This week will be my fourth one completed, so a month. So glad that I get paid this coming Wednesday, so I can pay my fucking bills!! I really want to join Curves. May check it out after work, although, I should really just head home and start getting ready, since the reservations for Bicycle are at 7, and with downtown traffic and that, we'll have to leave a little after 6. It's a shame that I feel the need to fork out what will peobably be $50 a month or so to get the exercise that I could, concievably, get in my own home, for free. The only thing is, I know that I will not stick with it, but if I have paid for it, and am out with people, and it becomes part of my routine, then maybe I will. I'm so mad that I did not stick with walking when it was summer and stayed light for so long. Now, it's dark just about when I leave work, and walking is just out of the question. Unless I went to the mall and did laps there, but then, of course, there are mall temptations, so what can you do? Went to Red Lobster with Tia Wednesday. That was my one meal for the day. Felt stuffed, maybe my stomach shrank a little. Had fried shrimp, a plain baked potato (just salt), which was surprisingly delicious for its simplicity, a Caesar salad, and two Cheddar Bay biscuits. Tia remarked that I got my hips and butt back, but that I look so much better than when I was so skinny following everything that happened. I know a lot of people said that I didn't look healthy being that skinny, but I like the way I looked. I guess now really all that I want is to lose some of it, maybe not go all the way back to twenty pounds lighter, but the way that I looked when Nick and I started dating, when I was so fretting about starting to put it back on, that's how I want to look now. Watched Top Chef with Carmin, and Nick and I discussed it last night. So far, the girl from Baltimore is painfully dull. The Finnish guy is pretty arrogant, but I think that he's my favourite so far. Nick came down last night and we went to The Wind-up. No show and pleasantly empty. Rob was already there, and then Angel and Lori showed up. There is so much drama going on regarding the whole Rob and Angel thing, of which I am thouroughly exhausted, and now there's Lori wanting to talk to me, and then Angel turning around and wanting to talk to me, and I really don't want any part of it. Anyways, had some drinks, never felt anything though. Nick wanted a snack on the way home. I totally didn't feel hungry and wasn't going to get anything, but he said that he thought that I had been doing good and that it wouldn't hurt (which I don't agree with, but was terribly nice to hear that that is his opinion.), so we each got a bag of Combos, although I ate only a few, so I atleast feel good about that. I am excited to go to Bicycle tonight and see that beautiful boy.

Only Anarchists Are Pretty

I am supposed to go to dinner at Red Lobster with Tia today after work. I'm excited since I haven't seen her in so long, but on the other hand, I was really looking forward to coming home from work and sleeping until the premiere of Top Chef this evening, and of not eating. I have to do something about this weight, but as I have been, I am at a complete loss. Even when I have been trying, no improvement. I am seriously considering joining Curves, for real, I just hope that I can afford it. Anyways, Monday night was a lot of fun. Went to Club Charles. Nick made a new mix, which is strange and wonderful. It has one of the World/Inferno songs that they played at the show, Only Anarchists Are Pretty, on it. Have to get those albums. There were melt-downs all over the place at school that day, including the teacher! The principal remarked that he was a sea of calm in the midst of all of this drama that day, which is really good. I am so proud of him. Discussed the myriad Ryan Adams albums there are, and where one should even begin in aquiring them. The end of the night found the entire bar up dancing to Boys and Girls, which was awesome. Saw Shay and Jess. Headed home, where it was a real shame that I had to be at work at 7:30 yesterday. Had to go with my manager to the corporate office for computer training in Owings Mills. Made that steam in the bag ravioli and broccolli and garlic bread for dinner for Nick and I last night. Got to see that Gavin and Stacey show on BBC America, hilarious. Welsh people are so odd. After that, we headed to The Ottobar. Victor luckily wasn't mad that I am not going to his show in Frederick tomorrow. If it weren't in Frederick, I'd totally be there, but fucking Frederick, on a weeknight, no way. Him, Steph, Kyle, Kristy, and Lori were out, it was cool. Dacnced to A Town Called Malice, sung along with Morrissey. The karaoke is next Tuesday. Marvelled at how many horribly dressed people there were out last night. Seriously, the fucking leggings have to go. Excited to see Top Chef tonight. There is the one contestant that is from Baltimore, so that's cool. Not sure if I am supposed to make the reservation for Bicycle for this weekend or if Nick is.

Well, I got my days mixed up, and thought that The Decemberists' show was Friday, when in fact it was Saturday, so we had to reschedule dinner at Salt, again, for earlier on Saturday, which luckily was possible and caused no problems with the restaurant. Nick had been planning on trying to do a guys' night with Rob after we had dinner on Saturday, so because the show was then, he and Rob went out Friday, and I went to Hampden to hang out with Lori. It was a lot of fun. This was the first time that just she and I hung out without any boys or Angel. We had a good time. I did get another parking ticket, though, this one in a bustop, so it's $52. I didn't even know it was a bustop, because there were like four other cars parked along that stretch, and when I saw the lady writing the ticket, I tried to apologise and move it, but she said that once she scanned my tag, the computer wouldn't let her back out of it. I saw an episode of Parking Wars yesterday which said the same thing, but still, I think that she was a hateful black woman. That's technology for ya, if it were paper, you could still appeal to someone's decency. Anyways, apart from that, it was fun. Nick came over after he took Rob back to his car.Very good to get to sleep in, although, by our standards, we were up and moving pretty early, by like 1. Went to his parents for him to do some laundry and hung out for a bit, before going to Wegmann's to look at their British food section, still no Walker's, unfortunately. We did get a few things, took that back to his mother's, then went to Salt. The food was amazing. Really enjoyed every aspect of the dinner, definately a place I would like to go back to. We each started with a drink, Nick got a German beer, Krotkiker or something like that, I got one of their house drinks called an Upsidedown Cake, which was pineapple and cinnamon infused vodka with pineapple juice. Fabulous. Downed that pretty quick. They brought out some bread, asiago cheese and olive bread. The asiago was really good, the olive I could have done without. It wasn't bad, but I had to pick out the actual slices of olives that were in it. They paired the bread with some sort of tomato and red pepper chutney. That was incredibly flavourful. Our starters were their famous duck fat French fries, which, as horribly bad for you as they are, are really worth it, because they are hands-down the best French fries I have ever had, with three different aoli's, and Nick got a (large) sea scallop with pork belly and a drunken apple. Of course he doesn't eat apples, so I got that, it was like a stewed apple, and the whole thing was like marinated in whiskey. We split the fries, which were worth every calorie. Our main courses were salmon and steak. Nick finally got me to try rare steak, although I did insist that it was the most done piece of rare steak on the plate. I did not get sick, and, yes, it was juicy and delicious. Still not jumping into rare steaks myself, although I did get medium well the last time at Abacrombie, and next time will try medium. His steak came with bleu cheese tater tots (who thinks up these things?) and Swiss chard with applewood bacon. My salmon was very good (I wish I could have finished it.), served with crab, sweet potato, and chive perogies, and kale. Really enjoyed the kale, which is nearly the same as spinach, although the perogies were not so great. But that's mainly because I have never liked perogies, or dumplings or gnocci's or anything like that. For dessert, Nick got a vanilla creme brule, oh yeah, it was suble and entirely wonderful, and I got their trio of mini ice cream cones. There was dolce de leche, mocha, and pumpkin. Nick ended up having the mocha one, just too much for me to eat, but they were all delicious. We each had another of our drinks, and all totalled up, it cost $124 before tip. Nick got this one, and we both marvelled that he is now able to do that, when at UPS, that would have been his entire paycheck, on a good week. Went to Ram's Head Live. The Decemberists were awesome, really good show. This was the fourth time I have seen them. Shame they are only releasing their new ep on vinyl and online, although, now that Mom is giving me her old laptop, I am planning on trying to use it just to get music. After the show, we met up with Rob, Angel, and Lori at Club Charles. Ran into that kid Bob who lived across the street from me at Foxhall, and actually had a face to face conversation with him for the first time. Was very glad to be out with everyone, Nick especially, although we did gross out Lori by me picking something out from between his teeth haha. No going to Chris' parents' on Sunday to watch the game, so after sleeping in till 11 or so, starting the day off in the best way, we went to his parents' to watch it. Got some beer, I actually found that the Sam Adams Cherry Wheat is good, rather like a cherry lambics, which is what I was hoping for. There was a lot of snacking, and Christina and Cintya came over to watch the majority of the game. We got pizza with his parents afterward, and watched some episodes of Parking Wars, which is amusing especially since it is in Philly, primarily South Philly, and we saw a number of familiar haunts. Totally want to go back up for a weekend in the near future. Drove back to my house for Nick to get his car, Carmin and Allen were watching that scary movie, The Strangers.

Want to get some stuff done when I get out of here. Would love to do laundry, if the washer has been hooked back up. Have to write out checks to pay those two parking tickets, my long-neglected car insurance, change my sheets. I will be glad to see Nick later and hit Club Charles.

"It's Coming Through The Walls!"

Yesterday proved to be very interesting, to say the least. I got a text form Carmin around 10:30 saying to call her immediately, and when I did, I was told that water was backing up and overflowing from every plumbing thing in the house, and that she didn't know what to do. So she called Jeff, and he called a plumber, and I called Mom and had her come get me. I told my boss that the pipes had burst at my house, and at this time, I didn't know for sure that that was not the case, left work, and headed home. There ended up being two clogs, one of which was from tree roots strangling a line outside towards the alley, and that caused the back-up of filthy, disgusting brown water and matter to back up and over flow from the tub, from UNDER the toilet (not out of the bowl, but from between the bathroom floor and the base of the toilet.), the sink in the bathroom, and the sink in the kichen (that was really gross.). It also leaked through the ceiling down into the livingroom and dining room, luckily avoiding all of the electronics and all. Once it was all sorted out and the plumber left (it cost Jeff $702.00, this is why I do not want to own a house.), we went to get supplies for the disinfecting and cleaning. First, however, we had to brace ourselves for the job by having lunch at Olive Garden (just the soup, salad, and breadsticks.), then oging to Target. Cleaned everything in the house and threw so much away, but everything is super nice now, and hopefully will stay that way. Took my shower last night and everything ran alright. Hope they hook the washer back up soon though, so that I can do laundry at some point. Nick came down and I told him all about it. I reminded him about The Decemberists show tonight, which he had forgotten about, and had made reservations for dinner at Salt, which was terribly nice, but is now going to call and try to move them for tomorrow night. Failing that he may make them for Bicycle. We went to The Wind-up, which was pretty dead, like it was when we first started going there, which was a fine change. Had fun, in our own little world for the most part, goofing off, making asses of ourselves probably. The only thing was I said something about not understanding why the kids he works with at the school are the way they are, and offended him, on account of how he was as a kid, and coming from a good home but still just being born with these problems, and I felt very bad, but we sorted it out. I love him so much, and don't want to put my foot in my mouth in any way. Very excited about it being the weekend, and seeing The Decemberists tonight. Nick said that he'll probably come down around 7, since doors are at 8, and I'd like to get a good spot up on the balcony so I can see something. He said that The Falcon's Nest is having Maryland crab today, so I am toying with the idea of going over there for lunch. I will be glad to see Nick later.

Monday night Nick came down and we went to club Charles, which was considerably less hectic than this weekend. Told Nick about the drama that ensued the night before. Put $5 in the jukebox and had control of the playlist for a good deal of the evening, although it jipped us of about three or four songs for some reason. Played the Neutral Milk Hotel cd in the car on the drive, really, really like it. Nick stayed over, which was especially nice. I was surprised that he said that he ended up getting up and leaving around 9:30 in the morning. Mainly he said that was because he had some really weird dreams, nightmares, really. Something about a Chinese girl with a faucet for a nose, who kept turning up no matter how he tried to get away from her. Very strange. Anyways, it killed me to leave when I had to go to work, it is so lovely sleeping there like that. Last night we went to Ottobar, which was running the election results, and having a dance party downstairs. So yeah, Obama won and we all have been part of history. It was such a celebratory atmosphere, and there were so many people out. Actually, the troops were all assembled, Rob and Angel, then Victor, Kyle, and Steph, then the Lezzie Brigade showed up, Christina, Cintya, Rachel, Haley, and Tyler (funny thing, Steph knows Rachel, small world. Extended lesbian networks). Lori got there later on. Saw Rob and Melanie, too, when we got there. I said hello, he looked at me funny. I can't be bothered. Anyways, we had a good time. I admit, I did cry a little bit during Obama's acceptance speech. I really hope he improves things. We danced on stage and rocked out, stayed till close, took a rather drunk and sedate Nick home. Ran over to the Falcon's Nest, little lunch room thing in The Forbush school, where some of the high school students work, that Nick is always raving about their soups and sandwiches. He said that I should come over and try it, so I amazingly was able to go over there, get some food, and get back here in a half an hour, but only saw him for a second, since he had to go right back to his class after getting his lunch to take back. But boy, if the food isn't good. Minestrone soup and half a tuna sandwich with a big piece of bread for the soup for $3.50. The tuna salad was good, and the bread was so fucking fresh, they must have just baked it that morning. Did very bad for dinner, though. Carmin had to take me to drop off my car for service for today, so after that, we went to the Pat's that just opened in Carney, and had pizza and cheese fries. So bad, but again, I feel like at such a loss with trying to lose weight again, no matter what I try, I can't even begin to see the slightest improvement. I am seriously thinking about taking something, just to get started. If I could make some headway, then I'd be able to keep it off, I think, but as it is, even when I've been only eating two bowls of Life cereal for five days in a row, I haven't seen anything. I'm at a loss. Anyways, there was nothing on television last night, and Carmin had to go in to do an overnight, so I went to bed at 8:30 and Mom brought me to work today and has to pick me up to get my car afterwards, and then we'll do something. I will be glad to see Nick later.

No One On The Corner Has Swagger Like Us

Halloween was a lot of fun. Kind of lasted two nights really, since it was on a Friday this year. Right as I was getting ready to leave here, Nick texted me to ask if I wanted to go to a 7:20 showing of Happy Go Lucky, which just opened this weekend at The Charles. I said yes, but realising that getting my hair cut and coloured would take atleast an hour and a half, decided to just get it cut and save the dye-job for next time. Even then, I still ahd a lot of rushing to do, to stop at the ATM, rinse the loose hair off of me, get my costume on, and make-up, but somehow, we managed to get to The Charles in ten minutes. Nick's costume was crazy. He really looked like The Joker, and with all the make-up and wig, if I didn't know it was him, I would have never known it was him. There were several people that night who didn't recognise him. Also, there were random strangers who came up and commented on it, some black people driving next to us on North Avenue, a guy in a car across from the theatre who pulled over to say something, the guy taking our tickets in the theatre, and then a girl in the bar. He did look spot on. Of course, it sucked that we couldn't really kiss eachother, and even when we tried to be really careful and barely touch, I still got the face paint on me (also got on his phone at one point.). Happy Go Lucky was really good, for the most part. It was not even like watching a movie, it was almost painfully real, like watching a renactment of your own life, or remembering conversations you actually had, but we both really enjoyed it and it was well worth the wait for it to come to The Charles. After the movie, we ventured across the street to Club Charles, where people were just starting to turn up, but it still wasn't crowded inside and we got a table. We ordered the fish and chips from the new "brought back," albeit limited, Zodiac menu, since we hadn't had dinner, and Jamie said that it was good, although, we both found it lacking in myriad ways. By the time the food got there, and Rob came in, Club Charles had blown up, and we left before 11:30 because Chrissy and some people were at Wind-up, and, honestly, it was miserable in Club Charles by this point. It was like a wall of people. There were some clever costumes, Joan of Arc, Little Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf, that fag "Mystery" from that stupid Pick-up Artist show on VH1, a Sarah Palin, complete with a beauty pagent sash reading "Miss Road To Nowhere" and an inflatable moose head. So we stopped in Hexagon on the way, didn't see Jamie, who was supposed to be working the carnival games, did see Creepy Paul putting on a ski mask, but that doesn't necessarily mean he was dressing up for Halloween, that could just be from his normal attire for the day. Wind-up was packed, so many people spilling out onto the street. Hung out with Rob and Chrissy and Matt Kelly, everybody said we looked good. My costume, of course, was a flapper, which isn't really that much of a stretch form my normal look, but it felt good to be able to show off my new ink. Thank God it was nice weather, much warmer than it has been, and no rain or anything. Angel showed up later on, on-going drama, whatever. It was lovely to sleep in, having nothing really to do other than go out in the evening for round two of Halloween, and going over Nick's before then. I wore my costume again, Nick was just going as himself, which kind of also was the 1930's gangster thing, which complimented my costume, but then at the last minute, as we were leaving, he thought of being Robert Mitchum's character from Night Of The Hunter, so I wrote "Love" and "Hate" on his knuckles, and we stopped at his house to get his suit coat and his mom gave him one of her scarves to wear as the droopy kind of bowtie he wore in that movie. It was very clever, and looked damn good. I got a lot of compliments on my dress, even though it was way too short and not at all historically accurate for length, but I was pleased with it as a whole. Went to Joe Squared, Rob and Angel and Lori were there. Angel was Rosie The Riveter, which was very cool, and Lori was Death, wearing her skelton-x-ray shirt and carrying a sickel. Rob played in two of the cover bands. Savory James did Nirvana, and were awesome as usual, and then he was in a Queens Of The Stone Age one formed just for that show. The Misfits cover band was fronted by that guy Peter who used to work at Holy's, now at Tattoo Museum and Ottobar, and we ended up hanging out with him after the show, walking down to Club Charles (after finding out that The Wind-up was closing early since Russell and Holly had had a really rough night). There was a moment of awkwardness upon finding out that he was a founder of Wham City and still friends with Dan Deacon, and I felt bad, because it was so nice talking with him, and I have know that guy for years, and he's obviously cool, so after both Nick and I apologised separately, and trying to explain our reasons, and him even acknowledging that there is a stigma to Wham City and he doesn't know how it happened (MICA kids, I said, and flourescent colours), I said, well it must have had decent beginnings atleast, and he said that it was cool. Stayed at Club Charles till the boss lady who owns the joint kicked us all out (it was later relayed that the liquor board had been around and she's on the warpath to make sure they don't get written up.) Oh, yeah, got pizza at Joe Squared (half plain cheese, half green peppers), and Nick got calamari. Honestly, the way people rave about it, I was really expecting something, but the two times I had two different, basic pizzas from there, they were alright, but nothing to write home about. I mean, they are known for their bizzarre specialty pizzas, but wouldn't you think that if that were the case, that their basic pizzas would be atleast mildly exceptional? It wasn't bad, but nothing to rave about. Had better at BOP and Bella Roma, hands down. Sunday was The Ravens' game against The Browns in Cleveland, so we watched it in Ellicott City at Chris' parents'. It was pretty intense. They had lasagne and homemade garlic cheese bread, and I brought Doritos. We ended up winning, but it got crazy for a while. It was a good time. Stopped by Best Buy and picked up the new Kaiser Chiefs and Neutral Milk Hotel, In An Aeroplane Over The Sea. I always heard people saying that I would like them and that they were rather like The Decemberists. Nick played a song or two that I did like, so I got the cd, and I really, really like them. Want to check out Soundgarden for World Inferno cd's this week, otherwise I am ordering all three of them off of Amazon, because they are fucking amazing. Anyways, Nick had to buy Zombie Strippers and a new Tiger Woods video game, so after that, we went back to his house for a little bit before he took me home to begin playing the game on the PS3, and after watching a little television with Carmin, we went to bed. She and I were awoken around 3 from the people next door above the beauty shop having an all out brawl, sounded like they were coming through the wall, screaming and yelling, and at one point the woman saying, "Let go of me!" so we called the police. Of course, nothing happened, they didn't even open the door at first, then said there were no problems, then once the cops left it started up again. Heard the woman say at one point that it must have been "those two girls next door that called the cops." Not calling the police anymore--- people can kill eachother over there for all I care. But they woke us up and all.

So that was how my weekend ended, up till after 4 in the morning listening to white trash drama. Looking forward to Club Charles later and Nick hopefully staying over since he's off again tomorrow.