"Damn, It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta."

So This Is The New Year. Tuesday, after a rather lovely start to the evening, went to Salt for dinner. It was an impromptu decision, good meal, but I do wish that I had made better choices and avoided the immediate aftermath. Basically, without realising it, I ate nothing but starch and was in extreme discomfort for a good part of the evening. Started with a corn and lobster chowder full of Yukon Gold potatoes, Nick got a Kobe beef slider with foie gras (which is goose liver--- how gross is that!), then for my meal, I ordered two more of the starters, the duck fat french fries (which we split) and what was described as salt cod fish cakes, but ended up being more like potato croquettes with fish mixed in the potatoes. Nick got a wonderful pork shank on top of mashed sweet potatoes with a red pepper sofrito sauce on top of the pork. It was so tender, it fell right off of the bone and he never picked up the knife. I had some of that, would definately choose that next time. While I never ate any bread (I hate to think what would have happened if I had) and we didn't get dessert (a minor victory there), as soon as we were done eating, I began to feel like I was going to explode and was struck with one of those "Black Dahlia" things I used to get fairly often--- that is to say where I felt like I was being sawed in half. It eventually went away, and Nick was terribly nice about my being miserable for a bit, which I appreciate. It was a weird crowd at The Ottobar that night. People I'd never seen, and an air of desperation, as well. I think it stemmed from the whole New Year's thing, everyone wanted to have somebody to spend it with, but seriously, the weirdos were out. In fact, we kept watching these two guys that didn't seem to know that Creepy Paul held it down for lurking there that night, and I imagined a wild west style showdown happening at some point to determine creepy guy monopoly on the bar. Rob and Lori, and then Vic, Kyle, Steph and Kristy all came, and I am really glad that everybody was talking and hanging out without me being like a go-between or glue. Had a really good time. Was suposed to only have a half a day on New Year's Eve, but ended up not getting out till close to 3. Went to dinner with my parents, which went well, I was very thankful. Nick's parents' flight got delayed till yesterday, so we had to stay at his instead. Had fantastic crabcakes for dinner, two vodka and diets, and an Irish coffee, then to The Wind-up for another Die T.V. before going to Chris' arriving right at midnight, planned on going back to Station North, The Wind-up specifically, but stayed at Chris and Beth's till 3:30. Lori's mad, I think, because we never made it to see her, and there was a back and forth of "come to Club Charles, come to The Wind-up" thing, then when we were going to go back, she had gone home, so we stayed where we were. Hopefully she gets over it. Drank champagne, and by the time we left, felt completely fine, and still have an unopened bottle at home now for a later date. Slept till close to one, Nick's parents got back from Florida (it will be so nice this weekend, as much as I love doggies, to not have to feed and walk said creatures on either front). Went home, slept again till 8:30, got up and went to The Wind-up. They were playing Chinatown (would like to see it in its entirety) and then another one called Northfork, which seemed kind of weird. Nick had to go in for a few hours today, lucky, I think I'm here all day, even though there are only patients till lunchtime. Wish I had sen Carmin on New Year's Eve, I mean, I did, but not to go out with. This was the first time in I think nine years that we did not spend it together. They didn't have money to go out, went to Darla's for dinner, then over Rob and Melanie's (of course). Still really bothers me that she finds it impossible to say no to them, when it's so easy and automatic to say it to me. I miss her, want to see her today. Will be glad to get out of here and start the weekend and see Nick.