9/15 - 9/17 - Hanging with the Boys and then Journey into the Afterhours

I went into work early so I could leave early. Russ called me on the phone while I was in between a few tasks and it took forever to shutdown and close out my desk but I said goodbye to everyone and headed down to the car. I had packed my clothes the night before and put the bag in the car before leaving for the train. All I had to do was come down to the car and get in. Russ and Gary were already inside and we were already later than we wanted to be so we got on the road right away. No stopping for gas, lunch or drinks at all just 2 hours of driving in the driving rain. The weather was vicious at some moments with the radar feed on my Sprint phone showing we were driving the the worst of the storm on our way south. The Murano handled the weather most excellently and upon arrival to Atlantic City the weather had already passed us by and we were hanging in blue skies.

Valet parking out of the way we checked into the hotel and hung out at the tables of the Borgata for a while with Pete and Nathan. At 5 in the afternoon we went up to the room changed for the gym and headed down to the spa floor to workout at the hotel's gym. They charge $10 to workout at the gym and it was charged to the room before we started our workout. I did an abbreviated workout since the machines were not what I was used to and I usually did not work out on Friday's but the workout was good and I hung out with the guys and watched them finish up their arm workout. When it was time to go we bid each other goodbye, scheduled to meet up for dinner and headed up to the rooms. I showered first then changed for dinner. While I was waiting and watching TV I fell asleep for a brief instant before Russ woke me and told me it was time for dinner. We headed downstairs and waited for everyone else at the B Bar. We played some video poker for a bit and then headed over to Wolfgang Pucks for dinner. We had to wait a bit for a table in the section in the back where the reservations were seated. We found out the tables in the front were for walk-ins and the tables in the back near the fireplace were for the reservations and after around 30 minutes we headed back to a great table surrounded by walls of glass. However it took forever to get any bread or water sent to the table and although the appetizers were good when the dinner finally came we were sadly disappointed, It wasn't just the amount of alcohol we had already drank but the selection was lacking so we ended up going with the only choices we had left were more of the appetizers, the special (short ribs) and I myself had lamb shank. The food was just ok but considering what we were paying and where we were the food was just average. Russ and Pete both hardly ate what they ordered, stating that it was both salty and fatty. We discussed how we were going to let the management know that it wasn't all that great and we let Pete take the lead at letting the manage know it was not about the price or getting the meal comped since we all paid for the meal anyway. It was the principle of the matter and the knowledge that we would not be eating at Wolfgang Pucks at the Borgata ever again. I remember the menu in Vegas being so much better. After the dinner we headed out to the tables and proceeded to spend some more money. We were still having fun until it was time for half of us to move on to the next phase of the evening and Club Mur Mur . Nathan, Gary and I headed over to the club and found that the line was non-existent. I then had one of the most thorough looks at my ID that I have ever had. The security guard looked at my ID twice and then scanned it twice before he gave it back and I paid and headed inside and downstairs. I quickly spotted the bartender I had last time, Leah. who was nice enough to remember me and I got my first drink of the night, a Stoli Orange and Red Bull. The club was no where near as crowded as the last time, when Dave Chapelle was there for the weekend. But the music was still good and after a few drinks I was on the floor and moving with the crowd. I stayed away from the college kids and nodded over to the DJ when I liked the music and he pretty much stayed close to the formula that he had thrown out the last time. I wasn't surprised, especially with the pop revision that shook up the crowd with "Sweet home Alabama" but about 15 minutes later we were back to the R&B and Hip Hop beats. Nathan disappeared outside and retrieved Pete and Russ and we all hung out for a bit in the club before the boys decided it was time to head out around 3:35 am . Nathan and I found Gary at the B bar smoking a cigar and drinking Bailey's. After I got a few ginger ale's and we had calmed down enough it was time to say goodnight to the girls and guys at the b bar and head upstairs to sleep. However when I could not find Russ I headed back downstairs and found out the Russ had started playing Hold em poker not too far from the club. It was after 4:30 am so he too agreed it was time to say goodnight and good luck.

We packed everything in the morning and checked out downstairs. We left the bags with the bell boy and then headed over for breakfast and discussed the weekend and prepared to leave. After a great breakfast we headed down to the valet and had the bags brought down and we said bye to Pete and then the rest of us piled into the Murano and headed out. On the road the first thing we needed was gas and then we were on the road again. For both the ride up and the ride down we listened to the newest Pop Rock CD "Shades of Pop" and then let the music move on through the rest of the Pop line up. The ride back took a nice 2 hours and we made it through Staten Island, the through the traffic in Brooklyn on the Gowanus and then decided to take the Brooklyn Tunnel. Once in the city we dropped Nathan and Gary off downtown and headed back to Brooklyn. Resting up from the long trip back meant we had to miss out on some more friends waiting in the city over at Splash doing the last team awards for the end of the year of softball. But at least I was well rested for later. Dinner was ordered and after dinner it was a short rest before preparing to head out. Russ was staying home but I had promised myself this Saturday night out so I was going to go. I remembered everything except the light for my left leg and the laser but other than that I had it all going on as I headed out into the night. Early enough and Metrocard in hand I decided to take the train since the train at 11:19 was supposed to be the D train but instead I got a 11:29 N train. The train was going local so I got off at Dekalb and caught the D Train into the city. Transferred at West 4th street to the A train and got out at 14th Street. I needed an ATM stop so I headed up the street to the closest one I knew and got the Chase ATM at 21st Street. Back down the street and over to 18th street. I handed over a copy of "Danse Eternal" CD to Derek and headed inside Roxy. Said hello to Aisha also at the coat check and then headed inside. The place was done up in red lights and Sexy signage over the dancefloor and around the club. Both Louis and Jose were at the back bar and I said hello and got my first drink around 12:25am. I hung out for a bit and talked to a few new people and then made my way around the club to feel the crowd move along with Peter Rauhofer. He made sure to keep the crowd interested with tunes such as "I'm Listening". I spoke a bit with Bob H and then met up with Rob and Tres on the dancefloor. Tres was celebrating his b'day and we took pictures and kept on dancing. DJ Peter Rauhofer was nice enough to play old favorites such as Wonderbox and "Turn Me Over" and new favorites such Justin and the PR remix of "SexyBack". We enjoyed it all the way down to the end but ... I was invited to keep it going at the afterparty over at Crobar. I said I would go if everyone else was. Of course we went.

Out to the car in the lot and we headed up to 28th street were we were fortunate to find a nice space when someone was leaving. We headed down the street and picked up some sodas before heading over to the club. We waited at the front for Pat and then we headed inside. After submitting to security and paying the cashier we headed inside to the party. The place was packed but the dearth of smokers meant the place was much more inviting than the last time I was there for an afterhours and we headed out onto the dancefloor and moved into the beats. When it was time to get something to drink I headed over to the bar with Tres outside where he could get a light and there I ran into Mike who was working the bar. He made sure we stayed hydrated and we headed back into the party. I would dance some, take pictures, dance some more and then break it up with trips to the bar. The time passed nicely and I had a lot of fun dancing to the music as it sped up and kept it moving. DJ Victor Calderone definitely knows something about stuff that moves the feet. I stayed at the party until after 10am and had to say bye to everyone on the dancefloor before I headed out. Once outside I put on the hat and the glasses and walked over to 10th ave. I did not want to walk over to 9th ave so I just started walking south and then flagged down a taxi. Late Sunday morning and I got a quick ride home into the heart of Bklyn. A long long night but alls well that ends well.

I did the breakfast before I went to sleep and then I headed out on to bed. I spent the rest of Sunday sleeping then waking late to watch DVR programming and then once Russ returned from Westchester going to dinner at the ever popular KFC. Night TV was the Fox Block (from the DVR) and then over to HBO for "The Wire". Some news and then it was time to wind down for bed. Another weekend successfully navigated and nothing but better days ahead. We'll see it all again soon.