Dec 9-12 - The Escalating Weekend and Friends on Stages

Work is just work but I was able have a day off on Friday so one day less for the week is a good thing. I left only a little early on Thursday and made my way towards home. I could not decide whether to go straight home or hang out in the city to await the ending of Pais and his office Christmas party. When I got to my train station at World Trade center I saw no train and decided that I would do the hangout thing instead of waiting for the train and going into BK right away. I took the train up to West 4th and had a Taco Salad at the Wendy's. The rain outside was not that much for the short distance but after I was finished with dinner I didn't feel like walking 12 blocks in the rain so it was back to the train to travel to the next stop of 14th Street. I came out of the station and walked up the block to 17th St and Splash. I said hello to the doorman and the cashier and then went downstairs to verify that my bartender was in before checking my coat. I showed up at the bar and stood watching Sir Brett until he finally noticed I was in. His first words to me were that I was not supposed to be there on a Thursday. As if something like the calendar was supposed to stop a person. Anyway we said our hellos and I sat down at the bar and started to hang. Brett was already entertaining a few seated patrons and after several traded comments we introduced. John and Andrew said hello and I let them know that I usually only came to Splash on Fridays but today made an exception because I had off from work the next day. Before too long (and three different drinks later) Pais made his appearance, so I said my goodbyes to the guys and we headed out into the rain. There were no cars in front of the place so we walked down to 6th ave. There were no rides there either so we walked down to 14th Street. When there were still no rides at 14th Street we walked over to 7th Ave to try and get a car there. We finally got a cab ride home about 15 minutes after we had left the club. A little wetter and a little more ready to get home we rode back home over the Manhattan bridge. After getting home Pais went to sleep and I chilled playing video games. Eventually it was time to sleep and so I succumbed and went there.

I awoke on Friday as Pais prepared to leave. He was going down to NC to visit his fam, and had only started to pack Fri morning. As he was only going for a few days he was able to get everything packed and ready fairly quickly so he did that and rested up before the car service came to pick him up. It was quiet in the place first and then I went into the office and remixed my newest CD to get rid of some of the quiet points and blasted my mix CD while watching cartoons. Eventually I deemed it fine to listen to and started off my afternoon playing video games. Pais called when he arrived at his destination and I wished him well in his adventures down south.

I left the house to do some shopping in downtown Bklyn. The ghetto Macy's hadn't seen me in a while so I made a rare appearance and wandered through the place. After picking up a few shirts I made my way through to the back exit to avoid the perfume and cologne pushers near the front. (Escalator up and down #1) After I was outside the fact that it was raining meant I no longer welcomed a walk to the next store. Instead I headed back to the train and used my unlimited to head 2 stops down to Pacific Street - Atlantic Avenue. Out of the station I headed across the street to Atlantic Center and the new Target. Unlike the one laid out over in NJ this one was on two floors and kinda jumbled. I eventually found what I was looking for and was able to catch the express checkout line out. I made it back through security and back out to the train station. (Escalator Set #2)

After getting to the station I first went down to the wrong track and had to change sides to head back towards home. I was carrying too much stuff to stay out any longer so it was back to home we headed. After picking up dinner I headed in and enjoyed a nice sit down while watching TV. It was time to clean up and change clothes before I made my way outside into the night. I walked down the street and made a stop at the Neergard Pharmacy for some Spearmint Altoids, cold medicine and some Zicam. Then I went a block over to the F train and headed back into the city. A book to read and my ipod were all I needed as I headed into Manhattan. The Friday Night was upon us and I needed to make all of the regular appearances. I arrived at 11:45 down the street and made my way into the club easily. I had already brought a bottled water with me so I did not have to stop before heading in. After the coat check I ordered up my first drink from Brett and got into the vibe of the place. Splash was hosting their Tribe party with DJ Eliot Dehoyos and I was ready to dance. I said hello to David and his friend AJ and talked to the guys about the crowd that frequented the downstairs lounge. After two drinks I headed upstairs and checked out the show. The music was high powered and the light show was under the direction of the mistress of lights, Liz Ligouri. I made it up to the booth and said hello once again and told her that I had not seen her there in a while. It was good to see her out and about especially without Susan or Frankie. She was totally keeping up with the lights and making sure we kept seeing something different. She said that she likes coming back but everytime she shows up she finds out something is different or out of order on the board. I told her that no one else would even notice. So many of the light guys just do a limited repertoire and don't change much or just do the same thing over and over. You just know the difference between the extremes when you see it. After that I headed out for a bottled water and back in again. The heat was on me so the outside didn't feel so bad. At least it had temporarily stopped raining. I headed back into the heat of the club and kept on dancing. When I headed back downstairs I picked up another drink and handed Brett his present CD. He thanked me and looked it over. I noticed that my new NB sneaks did not hold onto the floor as well as I would like and endeavoured to watch my step, especially on the stage. On one of my trips to the front I bumped into Grace and helped her with the door as she put her coat away in one of the closets. We then headed up to the stage and put on a dual flag show and light show. They even shined a light over us so you could see us from across the club. It was a cool effect under the red lights. We took a break as Grace stepped out to have a cigarette and I headed back out to get us each another bottle of water. After rehydrating we headed back into the club and listened to more of the tribal beats. When "Love Story" came on I headed up to the box in front of the stage and danced my last dance of the evening. All alight and ready to ignite. Afterwards I said goodnight and made my way to the front. On Friday it was much easier to get a car and I rode home in the cold rain happy to get back to BK. Sleep was calling..

I woke up the next day to a quiet house and a nice bowl of berry berry Kix. I watched VH1 for a while and "the fabulous life top 40" but then I was pulled into the high drama of "Americas next Top model" marathon. The antics of the girls made me laugh so that even when I had to step out to do some more shopping I taped the episode I was watching and the next one too and headed out. Since I had already hit up BK on my shopping trip this day I headed all the way into the city and 34th street. First I headed over to Old Navy but could not find enough to justify standing on the long lines. (escalator set #3) I turned around and made my way back across the street and into the Macy's. I made my way through the crowds and shopped until I found something nice. Waiting on the line everyone else gave up and looked for some shorter lines but the lady in front of me worked for the store and knew her way around the register. She also made sure I got a discount on my clothes so it was worth it for me to stand on the line behind her reading my book. (escalator set #4). I headed out and made my way further down the street to have an early dinner at the Wendy's up the street and a big bacon classic. After finally finding a seat I had to weave through the tables to enjoy my eating. Making my way back out was just as tight but I made it back out to the street and back into the shopping crowds of Saturday. Crossed in-between and on the green and got back to the train station a several minutes later. The crowd was not as bad going downstairs as when I arrived and I made my way to the R train platform and caught the train back home to BK. Then it was time to change up, prepare and get ready to step into the night once again. Watched a few more cuts of "Top Model" and cartoon network and then it was time to to don the new Ecko jeep shirt and catch the train.

Just after 11:20pm I caught a "D" train which I was able to take up through BK, across the Manhat Bridge and right to West 4th. I transferred to the E Train and got off at 14th. Two blocks up and two blocks over and I had arrived at my destination, Roxy. A very short line wait (forgot to take my ipod buds out) and I was in. I said hi to the wristband givers and paid at the cashier and breezed through the coat check. I said hi to a few as I stepped in but soon made my way to my bartender Barker for my first drink. And who should I find waiting for me at my place but my boy Chris. Carlos and Chris had made another trip into the city and were hanging at the Roxy once again. My night went from alone and all for one and looking for a bunch to hang with to having a pre-made gang just like I'm used to. I got my first drink and we headed out to catch a drag in the smoking area outside and make fun of the boys outside. As the evening progressed the drinks kept flowing and the energy kept building as DJ Peter Rauhofer finally made his appearance and took over the decks around 1:00am. We hung out with Barman Brett and his entourage of about a dozen as they shuttled between the bar and muscle beach. The tribal beats and music kept giving it to the crowd as the floor filled with more and more happy club going people. After 2am the mood shifted into high gear and I took to the speaker in the Asian section to dance behind two listless guys on the speakerbox. After they finally gave up and left simultaneously, leaving me alone on the box, I ignited the lights in my hands to match my leg and began to really dance. Starting with a pose during the pause in the music I began a full routine that lasted most of the next song (one that I had never heard before). While dancing I ended up with a crowd 3 people deep on the walkway behind the asian section and plenty of smiling faces on the dance floor. After that set was over it was off to see what had happened to Chris but he had left the boys of muscle beach and was no where to be seen. I checked the outside area but again no sign of the boys out there so I headed for a circuit of the dance floor and looked for them in all of the usual spots. I finally caught up to them on the stage right in front of the DJ booth. After dancing for a bit I made a run to the bar and came back with a drink for myself, an orange juice for Chris and gave Carlos one of my bottles of water. After a moment of that I noticed the music changing again and I made my way up to the speaker right between the stage and the steps and began to dance. Right at that moment the lights went down again and with the whole dancefloor in darkness I could see that two other speakers across the floor had lit up dancers at well. The boy with the white glow sticks on one and another boy with spinning red and green wands on the last speaker. I ignited my hands as well and with a simultaneous show on 3 speakers it was definitely a high point for my night. After that song was over I made my way back over to the stage and we headed back to the front as the boys went to smoke once again. I hung out dancing and waited for them to return. We made one quick passthrough of the upstairs lounge to chill in the cool before heading back downstairs to the hard beats. Chris wanted to get his coat to check his train schedule but Carlos already knew that the train was not avail until well after 4. Chris ended up chilling on the couch near the front bar as I danced and hung out with the boys as they seemed to be staying for the party well after the drink cut- off. At 4:35 am I was still out at the front bar telling the bar mistress that her theme song was playing remixed, "What You Waiting For" by Gwen Stefani. The boys bid good night shortly after to catch their train and I stayed until 5am and thanked Barker on my way out. I headed out to the front and found myself a taxi right away. The driver brought me back to BK fairly quickly and I was able to get into the house before 6am. Now to take valerian, 5HTP and St. Johns wort and fall all the way to sleep. Yes sleep.

Sunday was spent in the house. Playing Lord of the Rings - The Third Age on my Gamecube and watching cartoons I had on the DVR. Thank goodness for the DVR. When nothing was on TV I always had something to watch. I chilled out for most of the day and passed out in early evening but jumped up to make myself a pasta dinner (macaroni, home-made tomato sauce, chopped meat and mozzarella cheese), the casserole that everybody likes. Of course it came out most excellent and three plates later I was full and ready to bring the final night of my weekend to a close. I watched Cartoon Network some more and adult swim and was finally tired enough to call it a night. I did the shopping thing, the hanging out thing and the traveling all over the city by train and taxi thing. Let's see what else we can do with the return of the Pais and another three-day weekend waiting in the wings. No need to take it to the next level. The level we are visiting right now is just fine Thanks. Keep it coming.