Christmas And That

I am really convinced that everybody but me gets to be off all this week. Took me eleven minutes to drive into work, no one was on the roads. Nick took off today and tomorrow, and is off Wednesday and Thursday anyways, since there are no kids this whole week. Went to The Ottobar Tuesday night. It was a very festive occasion. Met Rob and Angel, her sister, Athena, and his brother, Scott, and then saw Victor, Kyle, Kristy, and Steph, as well as Thejus, who I hadn't seen in a long time. He is really one of the genuinely nicest people. Found out that he actually dated Lori very briefly about 5 years ago. This city gets smaller and smaller haha. Ran into this kid I used to work with at the Gap who I had seen once before at the Nerve Center. Talked about working holiday and how it irrevocably changes you. Gave Rob his Flight Of The Concords poster, which he loved. It was a lot of fun and Nick and I lamented the fact that theD.J. had neither Fairytale Of New York or Father Christmas. But it was fun, and I was sorry when I had to get up and go to work on Wednesday. I had a debilitating headache. Not a hangover, a migraine, since my period was starting, and I still felt drunk, as well. Came in at 9, they let us leave at 11. They didn't have to ask me twice, I was out the door. My diet had completely gone for that week, anyways. Had gone to dinner at Bertucci's with Mom Tuesday night, following the putting flowers up the graves (it was so horribly freezing!!), where I'd also had an apple martini and an Irish coffee along with bread and pasta and some of her gelato. Yes, it was a bad scene. So I had Coal to watch fromTuesday night through yesterday, and when I came home from work on Wednesday, I let him loose in the livingroom and dining room with me while I laid on the couch and tried to get this fucking headache to go away. It never did, not till around 8 o'clock, while Nick and I were at this Christmas party given by friends of his parents in Stoneleigh. I hadn't really felt like going, on account of the headache (and the general holiday depression getting to me, which had reared its ugly head briefly Tuesday night.), but once we got there and I drank some more regular soda (yeah, caffiene!!), it luckily passed. I dropped Nick off after, since it was, after all, still a Wednesday, and went to bed myself. Well, I tried to. The asshole upstairs next door was blasting fucking metal again--- this time a live album, something like Ted Nugent, I imagine--- and banging on the walls, so it was supremely difficult to sleep, so I laid downstairs till Carmin came back from her mom's. What a nutter. Thursday morning, I packed up Coal and the pressies, and we headed to Nick's parents' at ten. The dogs didn't get along at first, but eventually did. We opened presents. His parents liked the wine, especially the bottle, and the ornament and tea sampler. They got me a Baltimore Architecture book, one of those fabulous fleece blankets like the one they have (the "bearskin" one of fireplace fame) and some clothes from New York and Company (although I do have to take a couple of pieces back.). I loved the stuff that Nick got me--- the entire series of Fawty Towers boxset, a new Criterion Collection version of Withnail And I, and a Crybaby t-shirt. He liked his, as well, which I was very glad about. After the presents and the muffins and mimosas (ah, champagne in the morning), I left to feed the cats and came back right before his parents left for the airport. They got Nick some lovely presents, as well. Some new Calvin Klein clothes, a pocket watch, the Kerouac and Burroughs book (in hardcover), some video game stuff, and a little video camera. After his parents left, he went down the basement to play his new game and I took a nap, since I got so little sleep the night before. For dinner, we ordered Chinese food, continued watching Mythbusters, then went to Club Charles. It was crowded when we got there, and got intolerably packed by quarter after one, when we left. But it was still nice, sitting upstairs, discussing our pressies, running into Brandon Carver, and later, Jess from Abacrombie. I, unfortunately, had to work on Friday. That night we hit The Wind-up and met Rob and Angel and Lori, and Christina and Cyntia later. Lori gave us her presents--- Subversive Crosstitches. Nick's says "Rat Bastard" and mine says "Leggings Are Not Pants." If that ain't the truth. She liked the earrings and Jack Daniels we each got her, and Rob got me a Ravens t-shirt--- Whacko For Flacco. Had one Die T.V. and two Irish coffees, then a regular diet Coke to dilute everything. Had a lovely time, wore my new Johnny Depp in Crybaby shirt that Nick got me. Had brought Coal over Nick's with me, since Dane was having his great big fucking party with a LIVE band in the basement, but he kept barking after we tried to go to sleep, so I ended up, at 3:40 in the morning, taking him home, where the party was still raging. Again, didn't really get a good night's sleep. Got up Saturday around 11, went to Grind On Cafe for an everything bagel with cream cheese, cucumber, and red pepper and coffee. Fed the cats, then hit the ATM and got gas. Carmin was sick, either she got food poisoning or the stomach virus. She ended up calling out. I finally got my laundry done, went through clothes, played with Coal, then got ready to go out. Went up to Nick's. We got Subway for dinner and watched Withnail and I. Nick really liked it, I knew that he would if he saw it, so I was very glad that he did. It is seriously one of my favourite movies, so many brilliant lines. Ventured to SoWeBo to Zella's to meet Rob and Angel and Lori and Scott, got lost, got pissed, found it, got over it. Had a drink there before going to The Ottobar for a generic 80's Dance Party. Whatever, was still fun. Mainly Nick, me, and Lori that danced though. Nick and I did an improvised but inspired and surprisingly well choreographed dance to Prince's Kiss. Two o'clock came around very quickly, stood outside chatting with people for a bit (Matt Kelly, Chris, saw Dave Betz), Rob gave Nick a bottle of Johnny Walker Red I think. Really wished I could have stayed at Nick's or him stay at mine, but such is having parents away on holiday and doggies to watch. Yesterday, I fed the cats, took Coal back to Mom's since they were coming back yesterday, went to Hampden for a bagel and hummus (not very good, should stick with cream cheese or tuna salad) and an iced mocha at Common Ground, then bummed around a bit. Ran into Russell, who was giving his relatives a tour of the city, bought a dress for New Year's at 9th Life. Went home to watch The Ravens' Game (wearing my Flacco shirt)--- Playoffs, baby!! 27 to 7, then to Target for some household things. Rather miss Coaley. Mom and Tony got back last night. Watched The Soup year-end wrap-up with Carmin when she got home from work, went to bed. Meeting Lori after work at the mall. Will be very glad to see Nick later.