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cool

After my post last night, we headed out towards Burbank so Sean could change clothes. Traffic through Hollywood was heavy. We had dinner at BJ's before passing downtown on our way to Hennessey's on Hermosa beach for drinks. After quite a few cocktails, we continued on to the Doll Hut in Anaheim for the Burden Brothers. After substantially more drinks, a couple of us splitting about 500 out of a 750 of Jack, and a completely rockin' performance, we left satisfied for the trip back to Jason's in Torrance. Tipsy.

Jason woke up at an obscene hour this morning and drove for bagels. I awoke to the coffee grinder... not a bad thing to hear after living it up 'til my body clock's six. We all molded to the couch watching High Fidelity while the many pots of coffee slowly ran their course. Everyone was waiting on me and my morning Don King hair to get off my ass and get dressed. Next stop - Redondo Beach for bloody marys at Kincaid's. I'm feeling quite lazy today.

I am in LA.

I'm a little weary, but here. Jean-Paul's recital was unbelievable. I didn't even make it through the first piece before I started weeping like a child. After the recital, Melly and I went downtown to see Harry and Eric at the Flying Saucer. It was good to catch-up. Harry was getting off early and wanted to hang out, so we went to the village and grabbed a table at Baker Street. Katie, Kim, Audra, and Gil were there on the patio, so at least I got to say hello before I left again. Taqueria Tapatia afterwards put us back at my place at 3:30. I think I slept about 45 minutes or so before getting up to finish packing and head out for the airport. My flight was completely full. I tried to sleep, but I've never been one to snooze in a chair. Sean and Jason (independently) showed up to pick me up... a great surprise. We plowed some migas down the street while waiting on Greg's arrival. After we were all together and tucked away at Jason's home, I managed to sneak a shower and change... I feel much better. I'll write more later, but for now... I need to explore.

I'm going for a triple espresso. Mel is stuck in traffic just beyond west Houston and I am struggling to stay away now at the office. Busy-busy has turned into me struggling to maintain my grasp on reality and not drift into la-la-land. Coffee! Save me!

"Into the Mystic" - Van Morrison
We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic
Hark, now hear the sailors cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic

And when that fog horn blows I will be coming home
And when the fog horn blows I want to hear it
I don't have to fear it

And I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And magnificently we will flow into the mystic

When that fog horn blows you know I will be coming home
And when that fog horn whistle blows I got to hear it
I don't have to fear it

And I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And together we will flow into the mystic
Come on girl...

Too late to stop now...

You just gotta love geek humor.

Droubi's schwarma with Micah for lunch was a blur. I miss my friends when I'm away on business. I think I talked so much he couldn't get a word in edgewise. I wish I had time to play catch-up with everyone before I leave again. While we were eating lunch, this girl walked up to our table and said, "Hi Clayton." I turned to realize I had absolutely no clue this person was... none. She was dressed in a very professional suit ensemble and was wearing nice framed lenses. She said her name and mumbled something incoherent before turning and leaving as abruptly as she arrived. That really bugs me... not that she stopped to say hello, but that I didn't recognize her. It bothered me all lunch. I just realized who she is... and why I didn't recognize her. Many months ago, I used to stop on the way home from work as a bar called Blanco's. It's a very cool like country bar and although I'm not really into country, the people are always friendly and the beer is always cold. It's Joe (my occasional carpool buddy) and Dirk's (his roommate) bar. Anyhoo, the girl is a part time bartender there and apparently remembers me from there... I think I've only seen her in there a couple of times. It was flattering that she would remember a complete stranger's name from only an occasion round of beers many months ago. Maybe I didn't recognize her because she wore contacts before and I've never seen her in anything but jeans and a baby tee? I only with I would have been able to place where I had seen her earlier... I might not have had that deer in the headlights look when she said my name. No matter now... however, this is the first time in my life that I've never been able to immediately place a face. It's names that I have trouble with... always the names. You can tell me your name and within 2 minutes, I'll be asking again. It takes repetition for a name to stick. I'm sure there is some scientific reason for that... physiological brain chemistry, solar flares, you know... etc. etc. etc. <-- three times.

Have you ever just had one of those days? I had to change my domain password this morning in the office and our policy won't let you use any of the last FOURTEEN passwords you've used... give me a fucking break. My memory just isn't that reliable at this hour of the morning.





Fuck. I was thinking that this morning would go smooth and my day would pass with a few blinks of the eye and no stress. Muhahahahaha! Whateva. I am knee deep in other people's leftover BS and extremely tired to boot. I didn't sleep well last night. Melly is rollin' in this afternoon so we can go spike the punch at Jean-Paul's recital. I really excited about it. He's rehearsed 4 or 5 hours a day for months. I'm not sure how long it will be, but I heard him say he's doing Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue... that's 20 minutes alone. Unbelievable. I need more coffee and a quiet, dark room where there are no people.

No.

I continued to be incredibly tired all day after ErinLynn and I stayed out until 3:30-ish last night and I had to be up to pack this morning... I was tired all evening and the only thing keeping my from collapse was the previously mentioned and absofuckinglutely hilarious chat. Sean called me and I relayed and recounted a recent event that got me all happy and excited and now I'm jacked up on happy juice that apparently my brain served up from the internal juicer that was plugged in during our conversation. Fuck. I need sleep. Tylenol PM, here I come.

'Cept for the short pause to flap gums with Seanie, I was just chatting with Jett, Dave, Trish, and Melly in discussion that may just be illegal in some states.

Oh yeah.

I need sleep.

Normal human beings are not supposed to consume the amount of Chinese delivery I just did... I'm not sure if I'm really impressed or really ashamed. I was just going to order the little sautéed green bean veggie plate thingy. Simple.. right? When I got on the phone however, I just fucking freaked out like my fingers were doing dance dance revolution on the menu items. I heard the beeping of the industrial Chinese delivery truck backing up to the loading dock that used to be my front porch. Thanks to me, the employees at Panda Garden get the phat ass bonus check this holiday season. I am sooo not looking forward to work tomorrow. I think I'm seeing double. Can you O.D. on steamed dumplings? It feels so good to be home. I'm all snuggled up on the couch with 12 furry legs sprawled everywhere around me and 3 swooshie tails circulating the air in the living room like oscillating fans. Remote in one hand, Diet Coke in the other, and the kung fu battle of various candle scents vs. the aroma of enough Chinese food to feed a malnourished third world country filling the atmosphere in cozy little crib. Despite the Colorado Springs that has lingered in my mind all day... all I can do is exhale... I'm home.

I'm home for 30 minutes and already someone calls and hangs up as soon as I answer. My head is swimming in a virtual to-do list. I couldn't believe the stack of mail waiting for me (yes, bills included). Work actually called within 15 minutes of my plane landing to ask me to work on something from my home office when I arrive. WTF? I guess I should unlock and pop open my (now) spring loaded suitcase. I don't know how my ass got that thing shut in Colorado. If I don't improve my packing skills, I'm gonna have to gain some weight to get it shut next time. Éclair was adorable when she saw me.. tail wagging like hummingbird wings and those beautiful little eyes just looking up at me with that "I missed you daddy" look. Penny and Bianca were happy too... it warms the heart to see emotion expressed by your pets. Now, I don't even know where to begin.

"I have so much to say and I can barely breath."

My plane out of Colorado is only two weeks old according to the in-flight staff. I am getting accustom to the inside of commercial aircraft. Scheduling always causes difficulties when multiple people are involved. I feel like my life is tugged at in too many different directions these days. Between travel to Colorado Springs for work... rush back to Houston for the recital... off again immediately for Los Angeles to support the Burden Brothers... see Sean since he's moved back out... visit Jason... who I never see enough of... meet up with Greg, my dear friend that has had some bum luck with the important things recently... back to Houston to support my project work there... lobbying to fill in for Joe for a return to the Springs to see someone I would so much like to see again... patch up all the difficulties at work... find time to manage my absentee life in Houston... etc. etc. etc. <-- three times. Speaking of scheduling and me writing complete crap these days, I have no idea how I'm going to do all the laundry I need to do between now and Saturday morning. I find that when I start doing things like laundry and cleaning up around the house, I slip into this zombie state and go through all the motions on total autopilot. I completely lose track of time and almost every time, a clean house means a day slipped through my fingers.