July 15-18 - Starting so early, finishing so late, who needs sleep? I do..

I went out after work right downstairs after having enjoyed a great dinner of rice and beans and pernil. Hung out with Vitaly, Brenda, Richard, Tim, Maria, Terry, and Ray people I usually see behind desks and were now throwing down the drinks like professionals. I only had to pay for my first drink after that happy go lucky regular Ray had us all covered. I came to the party late so he mostly had me covered when everyone else begged off from the drinks. We stayed there until 11pm (wow) and then Vitaly drove me into the city. Through the Holland Tunnel and then up to 23rd Street. We said goodnight and I wished him well on his adventures. I then strolled down the street and since I had maintained telephonic contact with Pais, I walked down to 20th Street and bumped into Pais and the Jimmy right after I crossed 20th Street where they had parked the truck. We all walked down to Gym and after getting in the way of some girl taking a picture (rude me sorry) I was inside the bar and walking all the way to the back. Barman Brett was on vacation so I instead wandered to the back to hang with DJ Smoky. He was in a happy mood playing mixes of "Don't Cha" and "Glamorous Life" as well as other classics from Vanessa Williams and Teena Marie. We traded CDs and I picked up a Stoli Orange and cranberry and hung out with David, Pais, the Jimmy and Ty in the back watching kickboxing and other random sports on all the screens. Around 12:50 we finally headed out into the night and went to the car. After a short discussion with Ty we then headed over to Splash where Doorman Ray took care of me by letting me in when I didn't have my entry card with me (straight from work) once inside I headed downstairs to hit the bathroom and get myself a Smirnoff Ice from the bartender downstairs. I headed back upstairs to check out the dancing on the dancefloor and noticed that the DJ was someone new. After dancing on the stage giving him the thumbs up and returning to the dancefloor and hanging with the crowd and keeping the boxes clear for the dancers, I finally went up to the DJ booth waited behind the light guy for a bit and then shook hands with the DJ and introduced. The DJ of the eve was Jamie Sanchez who was doing a great job of keeping the boys interested and watching us dance just a little bit more. I hung out with the Jimmy and Ty until 4:10am when Ty and I finally headed out to the front and said our goodnights. After a few cars just drove by I flagged down a taxi right in front of the place and he obeyed my directions and got me home very easily and safely. Another great night that started too early (straight from work) but when your friends bring your dancing shoes (sneakers) to meet you in the city you are capable of so many things.

Saturday morning I awoke. It was 11:50 and it was time to get up. I went into the dining area and ate my delivery breakfast and took a shower in preparation to get dressed and that in preparation for the arrival of the new window treatments. The vertical blinds were finally coming down and the new regular blinds with the curtain overlay done by the architect Ernesto. I was just the educated observer as Pais and Ernesto did the removal and repair and installation of the new windows. First the wash and restoration then the taking down and then the new holes inside and out. I mixed CDs, did final layouts and burned them while the drama occurred in the living room and master bedroom. A few helpful hints, transportation downstairs of the detritus of the old window stuff and my recovery from the night before was completed. Pais went out and brought back some Quiznos and my bourbon chicken on wheat was a great lunch to enable my afternoon relaxation. After it was all said and done the new windows did look good, took up less real-estate in the room and allow for changing of curtain colors rather than the forever white of the old vertical blinds. Ernesto had to hurry back to assist with housework in Long Island so we bid him goodbye. We were supposed to see him later (maybe) visiting with friends from out of town but we're not banking on it. We spent the evening in the new look and quieter (since last week) living room and as Pais was going to a barbecue later with the Jimmy I dug into the leftover over steak dinner that Pais had ordered the previous night that I never got to enjoy. It was good re-heated and I was happy the dinner was right there and did not have to be ordered on this night. After dinner I said a temporary goodbye to Pais and the Jimmy as they headed out to the barbecue out in Bklyn. I took the time to cut my hair and clean up before suiting up and heading out into the night.

I had spent too long to take public transportation so I walked over to Castle and began my 20 minuted wait for a car to take me into the city. The first bucktooth driver was not a usual and was not ready for the prime time of a drive into the city. The next car right behind however was one of the usual good drivers and he was more than happy to leave BK and take me into the city. The road was crowded but he took my advice and headed crosstown below City Hall Park and then over to the west side. The traffic on the west side was a lot but the driver weaved in and out of the traffic with practiced ease and we made it up to the Roxy in just 20 minutes. I paid the driver, waved goodbye and headed over to the line in front of Roxy. Doorman Derek had it well in hand and I was past the crowd and up the stairs to the wristbands and cashier with no trouble at all. Once inside I could hear the strains of music coming from DJ Tony Moran well in hand. A quick move over to the front bar and I confirmed that Barman Barker had returned from his vacation and was back to help us party at the place we were all at for Saturday Night. The music slowly swelled to encompass us all as the night progressed and despite some text messages back and forth to Pais I was mostly focused on the party and seeing what everyone was up to. When I did not run in to Erica I found that I did in fact have the perfect gift for the security guy I always said hi to at the front bar. The Fly Spanish CD was perfect and he thanked me for the gift and I headed onto more and more fun with the more and more boisterous crowd in attendance I said hello to designer Terrell and J as well as Tom and european boy I usually hung out with on the stage. Pais and the Jimmy showed up around 2am and were fully ready to dive into the party with the rest of us. I hung out with the security guys at the back as well and even compared notes as we talked about the sorry denizens who thought they could get away with general shadiness and starting fights right in front of the security. We continued to have a great time with the night and I continued to drink far more than was necessary but my friends seemed to be able to remember where I was and made sure I didnt stray too far from the party center. I will give hats off to the DJ for keeping the mood hot and the floor crowded as we heard every level of big party favorites and plenty of energy to keep the party going. We left around 4:30 once again but Pais was able to get us a car ride right in front of the place. The trip back to BK was safely done and within the bounds of a normal night out.

I awoke early Sunday afternoon but was able to recover from most of the effects of the previous night due to having gotten rid of most of what I drank in the bathroom when I arrived back home. Nothing like clearing your stomach so you can get a good nights sleep. Anyway it was time for delivery breakfast and then watching DVR programming before we started watching DVDs. Hitch first, which was funny and the story good but no where near as engaging as Hide and Seek which seemed to start slowly but once it jumped off the cliff the trip down the hillside was all the more entertaining. That movie was crazy. But after that was over we enjoyed some lighter fare as we watched a vintage Green Hornet episode I had taped off of the Encore Action channel. The show was kinda cheesy but it renewed my interest in Bruce Lee as well as the main character Van Williams (who knew?). Anyway the night ended with Pais going to bed and I stayed up watching TV while reheating some refrigerated Turkey from last week. It was still good and turkey wing was especially juicy. Gotta do that again. But anyway the weekend finally drew to a close and July is almost over. Hopefully I will remember to keep my prep time and sleep time up and the weekends will naturally form and the music will keep flowing. Just don't break any bones. I still have a lot of partying to do.