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Sean's got the new X trailer up (QT5 or higher required and it's about 18MB). I am jonzin' for strong coffee.

Guy was amazing... I should just stop saying it. He never gives less that 150% at all his shows. One particular event that was incredible was when the band blew the fuse for stage power at Chuy's. Guy laughed and start tearing into this blues solo... no power... started singing... still no power... the band started backing him up... still no power... then power came back and they played the rest of the show like it never happened. Guy just rocks. Keith and Mandy came out with their new little man. It was so good to see him in person. He's a cutie. Sommar brought her daughter and niece. Sommar's daughter is, without question, the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen. Everyone had a good time at the show... even the kids. Harry and Eric were playing at Baker St. Pub last night. I took Greg over for a few sets and to meet the guys. What a great day.

I was so tired last night. I love just sleeping until I wake up naturally. It's one of the most appreciated simple pleasures in my life. Greg, Éclair, and I went to Jean-Paul's and swam for a bit last evening before crawling into the ferociously hot jacuzzi for cuba libre relaxation. The drinks were poured strong and convinced were excellent debaters. My drink convinced us that we needed a half a bottle of strawberry bubble bath in the hot tub. This was a great idea. It started to rain. Greg and I were sitting in steamy (yet olfactory palatable) bubbles perpetuated by these turbo-jets of the hydrogen oxide equivalent to molten lava... all the while, an army of tiny cool raindrops were enveloping the exposed us and making the smooth surface of the pool anything but smooth. The pool and jacuzzi at Jean-Paul's are connected by a decoratively tiled waterfall-ish barrier. An excellent place to set your drink or go between the pool and hot tub with ease. I am going to assume the designer had the former in mind... how convenient! Maria-Elena made salsa verde from her families secret recipe and we had dinner with them before going back to my place to change. Her green sauce is the best ever... I always have to take a container home with me. Greg and I met Kim, Audra, and Fred at Griff's. We stayed for one beer before continuing to Front Porch Pub (Sky Bar was our original destination, but it was closed last night). Irfan and Angela were there and Gil showed up later. Things were uncomfortably drama filled last night. Wow. I mean, this was even more drama than the usual drama that surrounds the drama group. How many times can I say drama in one sentences? Anyway, Taqueria Tapatia took care of us on the way home with some old school burrito milenesa and then it was sleepytime. Today has got to be some more window shopping and maybe a matinee, but only to be completed with enough time for Guy Forsyth tonight. He's playing at Chuy's on Richmond... it's a free show from 7:00 to 9:00 and all acoustic. I don't think I can miss it.

Home. Drunk. Dead.

Greg and I met Irfan and Gil at Blowfish for sushi around noon before some spectacular manicures. It's all about pressure points. I am little stressed still about work and the rental house thing, so after a quick stop for me to get a haircut on the way home, Greg and I are jacuzzi bound. T-minus 10 minutes to hot tub and cocktails. Let the weekend begin (early)!

"I used to be able to inflict pain on my husband because I was so strong down there..."
Pain? That's incredible... imho.

The office is quiet this morning. Some of the consultants and engineers that I have been covering for are rolling in off vacation. Today is my last day at work until Monday. Stress. I need a break.

'nuff said... (3.8MB)

Laughs and giraffes... the movies were good, but not as good as the martinis. I recited a lot of original writing for Greg. It must have been the alcohol because I never do that... I would be upset about having to get up for work in a few hours, but it's the last day of the week for me.

I wish I could be the me that everyone tells me I am sometimes. "The Idiot Kings" (Soul Coughing)
Everything is going up.
Everything is going as planned, yeah.
Everything moves along.
Everything is fine, fine, fine.

Oh I could be
Condemned to Hell for every sin but littering.
I could
Slip on the East River and crash into Queens all skittering.
I've seen the
Cops and the robbers, and I know they dance the same.
I've seen a
Half a zillion girls and haven't spoken to a single one of them.

Batting in the light,
My reptile-lidded eyes.
And all this strung end to end,
Is wider than the mind.

And this cool I've been playing I have been
Playing too long now my
Capacities are dwindling 'til they're
Gone Gone Gone.

Baby can I change my mind?
I just want to change my mind.

I took a nap when I got home. I have not read Greg's blogournal since he's been here because I didn't think he was online to update. Today, I stopped by out of curiosity and found that he had been updating after all and here's a snippet:

"Traveling to Texas to see my old friend. I have not seen Clayton in FOREVER! He is a good guy and an original thinker. I don't know many of those. I know a lot that think they are. I know a lot who are and are freakin' weird. I know I am not one either. But Clayton... He has got a way. We were in the Navy together. Many of you who have been in the military know the saying, "Trust him with your life but not your money or your wife." Well, Clayton could be trusted with all. Though, you might want to keep an eye on your sister. ;-)"

WTF is that sister comment all about? He will explain this to me.

We went to Lupe Tortilla tonight and split the fajitas grandiosos for two. They had to roll us out to the car. I am stressed out about some stuff going on with my rental property in Virginia Beach and just need to gather my thoughts and I know Greg is tired... he asked me for a quiet night at home, so we stopped on the way home and got a couple of romantic comedies and ice cream for couch vegetation. Of course, Greg has this recipe for completely decadent black martinis that are made from raspberry Stoli, cranberry juice, and Chambord. I'm not usually a sweet drinker, but these sound absospiffly yummy.

I am rolling to the couch now.

I finally did it. All the fluorescent bulbs in my office are burned out. Only natural light from my wall of windows is illuminating the office. It's kinda dark... but in a good way.

My eyes are burning. I have been so busy this afternoon while Greg is out exploring downtown Houston. Lunch with him and Erica was great. We ate at Treebeards in the tunnel and then enjoyed the weather outside. The gazing pool in front of City Hall was a good place to contemplate not returning to work, but I really had a lot to do. The irony of the afternoon lies in my inability to contact Greg now. He has been bugging me to leave early all day and now that my work is done, I can't reach him. I knew I should have installed that hammock in my office. I need a nap.

"Pebble in the Park"
picking up a casual observation like a smooth pebble from the ground
and peering past the simple plain
to discover grand profound
life is life to be lived and smelled and tasted but just for taste
often we live gloved, with both eyes closed,
running a walk of haste
it's not the air that fills my lungs or the breath that leaves my lips
that whispers in my ear each day
of lost moments and fingertips
soft lies in hazed anamnesis shape what we all perceive as need
in the end we can't deny truth in now
yet fail to ever heed
the you and me that never were, a sweet regret only now I see,
pales in depth and height and breadth and pain
to the you and me that will never be

Random Greg quotes:
"You have a code Clayton... maybe not unlike the samurai, but it is still a code."

"I believe that Texas women are proof that God is a man."

"I can't believe there are so many restaurants here. Amazing."

"You ever watch those shows where something really crazy happens and you are completely shocked, but then you see that it was only the character's imagination and it never happened? Yeah? ...well, I just punched my fist straight through your head."

"Clayton, I am not as extroverted as you on your worst day."

"I have a little wet spot on my pants and I'm really not too happy about that..."

"He has fifteen buddhas and he thinks he's serenity garden god or something."
_____________


Greg came to work with me this morning. This is probably the closest I'll get to one of those bring-your-kid-to-work-with-you days... except he's not my kid and he is really crabby right now. Kid's say things like, "that's cool dad, I didn't know you had so much COOL stuff at work", not things like "how much fucking money will it take to get you to skip out the rest of the day right now... I'll take you shopping, I'll buy you clothes, what do I need to have in my hand to put in your hand to make this work shit go away?"... so anyhoo, yeah... umm... I did take Wednesday through Friday off. That should count for something.

"I would roll her purse, but I know there's nothing in it."
Greg and I had the all you can drink mimosa brunch at Rivas before spending the day shopping... well, window shopping. The only things actually purchased were a few cute little shot glasses from Crate and Barrel. Greg bought something at Saks, but for the most part, we just devoured the stores visually. The evening was partially spent at C&H Steak Company because Jean-Paul was playing piano there last night. We caught some great live jazz at Brasil before some mindless wandering and good conversation.

Time to kill. Time to kill. I wasn't sure how long the wedding thing was going to be and Greg was planning on skating as soon as humanly possible, so I thought I'd just swagger into a local waterin' hole and slide up to the bar for some refreshment in the interim. I met Kim at Maggiano's for a cocktail before going over to Christopher's for live jazz and fabulous wine. Greg called about 9:00 and managed to whimper in his best painful voice that they were on their third course of seven and it didn't look good for an early departure. What happened ever to hors d'oeuvres at a reception? Anyhoo, we stayed until the sax and song were no more and they were sweeping up the place before hitting Baker St. Pub for martinis and further waiting. Greg finally calls and we make for downtown at breakneck speed. One drink at the Cotton Exchange led us to the Twelve Spot where we finished off the night. I think I sang a lot on the way home. I'm glad he's feeling better.