Three vacations!
As I often do (or I should say, did), I am updating my journal while on an airplane. I was just looking through a bunch of my old ones and reflecting on my life. From when I started journaling until like summer 2007 I have written the equivalent of 635 pages in a Word document. And that doesn’t even include this past year, or my 5 or so handwritten journals from earlier in life. It’s crazy! I write a lot less now than I did, but maybe I will remedy that. It’s harder to write when you have a real job.
So the past three weeks or so have been crazy and exciting and interesting. I don’t know if I will go into detail about anything, but let’s see where the typing takes me.
To start off, I went to Vegas for Halloween. That was WONDERFUL. It was so great to see all my old friends. It was me, Jasmeen, Janille, Matt, Amy, Michelle, and Alisha. When we all saw each other we just started screaming and going crazy. All seven of us stayed in one hotel room at the Excalibur (cuts down on costs ya know?). It was a great time. The first day we just hung out, drank a little, gambled a little, walked around, good times.
We got ready for Halloween that night and went out. Matt and I felt it was a good idea to drink a bottle of wine each so that is what we did. Needless to say, before we even left the hotel we were all pretty messy. And had taken about 600 pictures. I was a sexy gladiator for Halloween and I really liked my costume. My first time in a skirt! And most likely the last.
We went to Coyote Ugly which is in New York New York I think and that was pretty fun. Matt and I really wanted to get up on stage, but it was ladies only. Most of the girls got up and danced and that was fun and we took pictures of them and screamed for them. We eventually left and tried to go to Rok and there was a man line and a woman line and it was long and expensive and we ended up not going. Walked to LAX and didn’t get in there either b/c of a line and by that time we were all really tired. It sounds boring but it was actually really fun and we had a great time. I’m sure the bottle of wine helped a bit.
The next morning we all woke up super early which kind of sucked. Matt, Janille, Jasmeen and I got breakfast in the hotel, nothing too exciting. Then we all went to the pool and layed in the hot tub and had 10 AM margaritas. Good times there. Did that most of the day, then we just walked up and down the strip. Got a picture of me with the Versayce store in the Forum (Showgirls reference). Amy and Michelle got yard long margaritas!
That night we went to a buffet that was pretty good, and then we got ready and went out again. Matt and I tried to do another bottle of wine each but I was not really feeling it. Went to this one place that we had free passes to and they played “Bossy” for me. Which is pretty much my new favorite song. It’s by Kelis and amazing and so trashy. That night we ended up getting in Rok and that was super fun. Just danced and went crazy. At some point someone’s drink went flying all over our group and the alcohol burned Matt’s eyes. We were also dancing on a platform kind of thing and I accidentally kicked over some people’s drinks and they glared at me and I ran away. The night was overall really fun and we were disgusting sweaty messes by the end of it.
The next morning we got up early and went to Jasmeen’s and had breakfast and that was fun times. Then everyone else left to drive home and Jasmeen and I layed around all day. We watched Charm School and Sex and the City. Eventually for some reason I had a complete breakdown and started crying about how I didn’t want to go back to Maine. I think it was just a realization that I really did live there and being with everyone else and having so much fun, I realized what my life in Maine is missing. I talked to Joe about it, as well as Steve (briefly) and I felt better the next day which was good.
Got home and settled in again, no breakdowns at my house so that is a positive! Look how strong I am! Anyway I worked for a few days and don’t really remember anything good or bad happening.
Then Friday I went out with Will and Josh and that was pretty fun, except that I sat on my camera and fucking broke it. The screen is broken so you can’t see what you are taking pictures of, but the actual camera still works. I might ask for a new one for Christmas now, because I certainly can’t afford it.
Spent the night at Will’s Friday and Saturday morning took him to work and then I was off to Boston! Drove down there and it was really pretty, though very misty and a little creepy. Got there and went to the Museum of Fine Arts, which was pretty cool. Good Ancient collection, not as much with the modern stuff. But they did have Gaugin’s most famous piece so that was fun to see. After that I got lost driving around Boston, so I just parked illegally on Commonwealth and then walked around. I went to the Public Gardens and Boston Common. That was good times it was really pretty. I got stopped by more than one person who asked if I went to Bates., because I was wearing my Bates sweatshirt. It was very random.
So then I met up with Lisa, who is one of Boston Mike’s really good friends. We hung out at her place for awhile, and then met up with some people and went out to dinner at TGI Friday’s which was a lot of fun. After that, we went to her house again and drank a little and got ready to go out.
Went out to some bar and had cheap drinks and that was good times. I got along really well with everybody so it was super fun, and it was really nice of them to take me out and let me spend the night and everything. It was fun to make more friends! I like having friends all over the place. So we ended up at a second bar, Tequila Rain I think, and just danced the night away. Emily and I had foot long margaritas, not a good idea! And the DJ played Bossy for me! I was so happy. We ended up staying until the bar closed, which I feel like I haven’t done in a really long time, so that was fun. Got home and just passed out on a couch at Lisa’s.
Took a long time in getting up and once I did, I showered and said goodbye to everyone. Then Emily needed a ride home, so I took her and that was good. We drove through Cambridge so I saw MIT. Cambridge is super duper pretty. It seemed like a great place to live.
Overall, actually, I really liked Boston. It made me a little sad that I wasn’t applying to any schools there. But I feel like I could easily get a job there post-graduation, since there are about a million schools in the city. The architecture there is wonderful too and the people were nice and the overall feel of the city was great.
So after I dropped Emily off, I was on my way to Hyannis, which is in Cape Cod. That drive was very gorgeous and I was feeling quite good about life in general and my place in it and what I’m doing with myself. So I got there and met up with Sara and we hung out and I think got something to eat and walked around the city.
Then showered and got ready and went to our first social for the conference. It was the NASPA Region 1 Conference, basically just a conference for Student Affairs professionals. My first one! It ended up being super fun.
Met this guy Matthew that Sara knew from her undergrad at the social and he introduced us to Melvin (who I later christened Melville, for no particular reason) and Shawn. Ended up talking to a few more random people, then went downstairs for a drink at the hotel bar. Talked to Melville down there and he told us to sit with him, so we met some other people (Chris and Alex I think at this point) and hung out with them.
That was good times. Most of them were slightly older queens (like late 20s early 30s) and they were sometimes bitchy to me and I couldn’t tell if it was because they liked me and just liked to joke with me or if they were just bitchy queens. For example, before the first night was even over Melville was asking everyone whether I was a twink or not and then telling me I was a bottom. I am pretty sure it was mostly in good fun and he is just a bit of an instigator.
Anyway, the next day was the first official day of the conference. I don’t think anything too fascinating happened. There were a few speakers and such. Sara and I made some new friends at a session, these students from Boston College. We talked to a good amount of them but really became friends with Jonathan and Lauren, who were both super fun. Went out to lunch and then back for more speakers and sessions.
That night we went out to dinner with Chris, Markus, and Sara. Markus is Sara’s ex-boyfriend so it was slightly awkward, specially since they only broke up like 3 weeks ago. But it was still a good time. After that, Sara and I got some alcohol from the place next to the conference center and drank a little bit with some people from her school.
After that, we went to this museum downtown where they were having a social. I felt a little trashy because I was a little drunk. But we met up with Jonathan and Lauren and the rest of the gang (Melville, Alex, Chris, Bill, Jason, Matthew, I think that’s everyone…). Anyway eventually we figured our way to this club where they were having a GLBT social. So we went there and drove with this guy Greg who was very nice.
Got there and had a drink and danced and just generally had a good time. There is a chance I got a little drunker than maybe I should have for my first conference. Luckily I knew most of the people who were there so it wasn’t that bad. Danced a lot, talked a lot, good times all around. I talked to this guy Topher who I hadn’t met yet. He was nice but I think he thought I was a little ridiculous and stupid. We talked about Top Model. Eventually we left and went back and got into bed probably past two.
The next morning I skipped the first session because I was just too tired/slightly hungover. So I took a long shower and hung around the room and just went to the other sessions. I think that day we had a lunch banquet and a dinner awards banquet. It was all pretty good. There was a big break in the day and I hung out with Chris for like 2 hours and found out we have tons in common so that was cool. I also talked a lot with Greg, the guy who had ridden with us the night before. He was also very nice and fun, he got his Master’s at Northwestern so we talked about that since I might go there. The awards banquet was long.
Afterwards, we just hung out, and did a bunch of random things. There was a trivia night so we did that-team Golden Girls! We didn’t win, but it was still lots of fun. Then all the boys took a picture and they printed it on a magazine so that was fun and random. Oh randomly when we were at the banquet our entire table took a picture together and they did just the boys and I was included, and afterwards Melville was like “Alright you are officially in now. Don’t mess it up.” So that was a little random. But I guess I’ve been accepted by the slightly older than me Student Affairs gays. In all reality though, I definitely met some people that I think I could be real friends with, and not just conference friends. Definitely Chris, Jonathan and Lauren. Maybe Topher. He seemed weird around me the rest of the conference, but then I facebooked him and he wrote on my wall and sent me a message so I guess my first impression wasn’t that horrible!
Anyway just hung out and talked the rest of the night and then went to bed. The next day we just hung out went to a session and a speaker and then it was over. We all said goodbye and it was actually somewhat sad. Which was weird because we had all just met. I was going through conference withdrawal the next day or two. Drove home and had to stop in Gorham for my class. I got there at 6 and class started at 7 and it was exam day. I only studied from 6-7. Not sure I did too hot.
Just left after that and went home, where I hadn’t been for almost a week. Worked Thursday and Friday, nothing too exciting there. Friday night I saw Will and Bridget and Bri. Didn’t do anything too wild, just a beer at the Snug. Went to sleep and got up early and Bridget took me to the airport for my next big adventure!
The weekend started out bumpy, literally. The flight from Portland to Newark was the bumpiest most horrifying flight I have ever been on. My face and body were so visibly tense and upset that the stewardess actually had to sit with me and hold my hand for the entire second half of the flight because I was completely freaking out. I mean the plane was shaking and stuff it was so scary. So I was a big mess, crying, shaking, etc. Not my finest moment. A little embarrassing.
The next flight was much better. But then I come to find out that Denton and the others hadn’t even left Austin yet! And I was already there. So that was a little frustrating. So I had to pay for a shuttle to the hotel and then I just stayed there and waited for them. I really wanted to go to this museum, The Menil Collection, but the concierge said it was a taxi ride away and I didn’t have any cash.
So they get there we hug and meet and blah blah. Denton’s friends Justin and Gabe came, neither of which I knew before, though I’d talked to Justin a few times online. So we went to the Galleria which is this crazy mall thing. Took us forever to park and then we got inside and walked around and it was so super busy. They all shopped, and I mostly jus browsed. Though I caved in and bought this shirt at Urban Outfitters because it had squid on it. It’s actually really cute, and I haven’t bought myself anything in a long time. But I really need to watch my money a little closer.
So that took forever and then we went to dinner which was an hour wait and then by the time we ate and got back to the hotel it was like 10:30 or 11. So we were trying to hurry and get ready so we could still go out. So then Denton’s other friends from Houston were coming to pick us up and Justin wasn’t ready so he told him we were just gonna go and Gabe was sleeping so we were about to leave. Anyway long story short, we ended up waiting for Justin, but I only note it here because it comes into play later.
So we go out and that was ok. We waited in line for an hour which sucked. And I had to pee really badly so we went into this other, kinda creepy bar that was really close. So I made Justin go with me because I didn’t want to go alone and then he complained the whole time about it which was a little irritating to me. So I peed and got back in line, waited some more, finally got inside, and by this time it’s like almost 1. So then I get drinks for us and they wanted doubles and it fucking cost me 30 bucks! So I was a little annoyed about that. Denton not as much because he paid my entrance which was 10 bucks so it worked out evenly. But I’m not sure why I was in charge of buying Justin’s drinks.
So anyway we go out and dance a little bit and it’s super crowded and I’m drunk and it’s all a little messy. Denton left to go to the bathroom and all of a sudden Justin just starts yelling at me for almost leaving him behind and blah blah blah. It was very obnoxious to me and I said as much to him. He just kept going on and on and I have no idea if he just needed to vent or what, but I was very irritated because it was affecting my weekend in a negative way. Like I didn’t fly here to get yelled at by you just because I went with my friend and didn’t try to convince him to wait for you, who I have known for all of five minutes. So eventually I just told him that I didn’t really need to get yelled at because this was a vacation for me and that he is at the club so he should just let it go and try to have a good time. And then he wouldn’t talk to me after that.
So Denton came back we danced a little more, and then I’m not really sure. It was like past 2 at this point. At some other point Justin and I were sitting at the bar together and he started yelling at me again and by now I was just pissed. Instead of dancing with all the cute boys and enjoying myself, I was being yelled at by this person I’d just met. So I was pissed. And so make it worse, right after that someone came up and asked us if we were together. I said no and then he looked at Justin and was like “good cause my friend over there thinks you are cute.” Ouch!
Anyway we eventually got driven home by Kenton and Corey I think (those were Denton’s friends). Fell into bed and fell asleep and woke up at 10:30. Didn’t move till like 12:30 and we didn’t get up and going until 2. I still really wanted to go to the museum but I guess that just wasn’t in the cards. So we went to this café for lunch and met up with two of Gabe’s friends, Roman and Tad. Roman is the only person I have ever met in my life who quoted Saaphyri (from Flavor of Love and Charm School) in regular conversation. And was completely serious.
Anyway we ate and then took a walk. I wasn’t really talking with Justin too much and my head kind of hurt so it wasn’t all that wonderful. After that we went back to the hotel I printed out my flight stuff and we just relaxed until the other guys came over so we could all go to Madonna together.
So I get annoyed again because Madonna’s concert is supposed to start at 7:30. So we are there at like 6:45 ish, get some foot long margaritas, and just find our seats and talk and take pictures and stuff. Which was fun. But then the time keeps going. It’s 8. 8:30. 8:45. And finally at fucking NINE THIRTY Madonna finally comes out. It’s like Hello! I was planning on the concert being over by nine thirty, not just starting then. I find it annoying that big stars think they can just do whatever they want. She didn’t even apologize or anything.
So the concert itself was ok. Honestly I wasn’t actually that impressed. I mean it was fun to sing and dance and see a big icon like her, but I didn’t really think it was anything too spectacular. Either way though we had a good time. We left a little early so that we beat the mad rush and took a cab to the gay bar because they were having an after party and it was free if you had your tickets. So we went in and got wristbands and then went to get something to eat, which took up too much time.
So we get into the club then at like 12:30. We’re all dead tired. Justin goes to get a drink and literally takes a half hour. We go to dance a little and they were literally playing the set that Madonna just played! So it really wasn’t that fun because we had just heard all that music. So then Justin finally gets his drink and finds us and Denton said we were tired and he said the night was ruined and it was all kinda blah. We left at like 2 after not really having a good time at all. I blame Madonna. Had she started on time we would have had a better time too. Thanks a lot Madge!
Back to the hotel, right into bed, then wake up and go to the airport. Now I’m in Newark again, awaiting my flight to Portland. Overall, it has been a really fun three weeks. And there is a chance I am going with Sara to Plymouth next weekend but I’m not sure. And after that it’s Thanksgiving, but I’m not going home. I’m going to be with Bridget’s family so that will hopefully be a good time. Then a few more weeks and it’s Christmas and then my birthday and then I’ll be hearing back from grad schools. Time has really been flying!
On an unrelated note, I really have been drinking a lot, so I am going to try and curtail that behavior. I think it mostly has to do with the fact that everything I did kind of was a drinking type of event (gay clubbing, Madonna concert, Vegas on Halloween, etc) and not that I was just sitting around getting drunk all the time. But either way I’m going to drink less.
I really can’t wait until the Winter semester starts. I won’t have my class I won’t be applying to grad schools and I can just enjoy my life and do things I want to do. Speaking of grad school, almost done applying. Mostly just have Northwestern left, and I have to order my GREs, which I will probably do tomorrow. And hopefully my recommendations are coming in soon. We shall see. I’m very nervous about it but I hope that everything works out ok. My boss let me read the recommendation she wrote for me, and it was pretty good. It said that I have improved the quality of the department in the three months I have been there so that is good.
Overall, life is going ok. I feel a little hungry now so I’m probably off to find some expensive airport food. I have almost no money so that is really fun. And I still haven’t paid Denton for the concert ticket or the hotel yet. Which might be expensive. So that’s great. Someone send me a million dollars please!
BREAK!
So the past three weeks or so have been crazy and exciting and interesting. I don’t know if I will go into detail about anything, but let’s see where the typing takes me.
To start off, I went to Vegas for Halloween. That was WONDERFUL. It was so great to see all my old friends. It was me, Jasmeen, Janille, Matt, Amy, Michelle, and Alisha. When we all saw each other we just started screaming and going crazy. All seven of us stayed in one hotel room at the Excalibur (cuts down on costs ya know?). It was a great time. The first day we just hung out, drank a little, gambled a little, walked around, good times.
We got ready for Halloween that night and went out. Matt and I felt it was a good idea to drink a bottle of wine each so that is what we did. Needless to say, before we even left the hotel we were all pretty messy. And had taken about 600 pictures. I was a sexy gladiator for Halloween and I really liked my costume. My first time in a skirt! And most likely the last.
We went to Coyote Ugly which is in New York New York I think and that was pretty fun. Matt and I really wanted to get up on stage, but it was ladies only. Most of the girls got up and danced and that was fun and we took pictures of them and screamed for them. We eventually left and tried to go to Rok and there was a man line and a woman line and it was long and expensive and we ended up not going. Walked to LAX and didn’t get in there either b/c of a line and by that time we were all really tired. It sounds boring but it was actually really fun and we had a great time. I’m sure the bottle of wine helped a bit.
The next morning we all woke up super early which kind of sucked. Matt, Janille, Jasmeen and I got breakfast in the hotel, nothing too exciting. Then we all went to the pool and layed in the hot tub and had 10 AM margaritas. Good times there. Did that most of the day, then we just walked up and down the strip. Got a picture of me with the Versayce store in the Forum (Showgirls reference). Amy and Michelle got yard long margaritas!
That night we went to a buffet that was pretty good, and then we got ready and went out again. Matt and I tried to do another bottle of wine each but I was not really feeling it. Went to this one place that we had free passes to and they played “Bossy” for me. Which is pretty much my new favorite song. It’s by Kelis and amazing and so trashy. That night we ended up getting in Rok and that was super fun. Just danced and went crazy. At some point someone’s drink went flying all over our group and the alcohol burned Matt’s eyes. We were also dancing on a platform kind of thing and I accidentally kicked over some people’s drinks and they glared at me and I ran away. The night was overall really fun and we were disgusting sweaty messes by the end of it.
The next morning we got up early and went to Jasmeen’s and had breakfast and that was fun times. Then everyone else left to drive home and Jasmeen and I layed around all day. We watched Charm School and Sex and the City. Eventually for some reason I had a complete breakdown and started crying about how I didn’t want to go back to Maine. I think it was just a realization that I really did live there and being with everyone else and having so much fun, I realized what my life in Maine is missing. I talked to Joe about it, as well as Steve (briefly) and I felt better the next day which was good.
Got home and settled in again, no breakdowns at my house so that is a positive! Look how strong I am! Anyway I worked for a few days and don’t really remember anything good or bad happening.
Then Friday I went out with Will and Josh and that was pretty fun, except that I sat on my camera and fucking broke it. The screen is broken so you can’t see what you are taking pictures of, but the actual camera still works. I might ask for a new one for Christmas now, because I certainly can’t afford it.
Spent the night at Will’s Friday and Saturday morning took him to work and then I was off to Boston! Drove down there and it was really pretty, though very misty and a little creepy. Got there and went to the Museum of Fine Arts, which was pretty cool. Good Ancient collection, not as much with the modern stuff. But they did have Gaugin’s most famous piece so that was fun to see. After that I got lost driving around Boston, so I just parked illegally on Commonwealth and then walked around. I went to the Public Gardens and Boston Common. That was good times it was really pretty. I got stopped by more than one person who asked if I went to Bates., because I was wearing my Bates sweatshirt. It was very random.
So then I met up with Lisa, who is one of Boston Mike’s really good friends. We hung out at her place for awhile, and then met up with some people and went out to dinner at TGI Friday’s which was a lot of fun. After that, we went to her house again and drank a little and got ready to go out.
Went out to some bar and had cheap drinks and that was good times. I got along really well with everybody so it was super fun, and it was really nice of them to take me out and let me spend the night and everything. It was fun to make more friends! I like having friends all over the place. So we ended up at a second bar, Tequila Rain I think, and just danced the night away. Emily and I had foot long margaritas, not a good idea! And the DJ played Bossy for me! I was so happy. We ended up staying until the bar closed, which I feel like I haven’t done in a really long time, so that was fun. Got home and just passed out on a couch at Lisa’s.
Took a long time in getting up and once I did, I showered and said goodbye to everyone. Then Emily needed a ride home, so I took her and that was good. We drove through Cambridge so I saw MIT. Cambridge is super duper pretty. It seemed like a great place to live.
Overall, actually, I really liked Boston. It made me a little sad that I wasn’t applying to any schools there. But I feel like I could easily get a job there post-graduation, since there are about a million schools in the city. The architecture there is wonderful too and the people were nice and the overall feel of the city was great.
So after I dropped Emily off, I was on my way to Hyannis, which is in Cape Cod. That drive was very gorgeous and I was feeling quite good about life in general and my place in it and what I’m doing with myself. So I got there and met up with Sara and we hung out and I think got something to eat and walked around the city.
Then showered and got ready and went to our first social for the conference. It was the NASPA Region 1 Conference, basically just a conference for Student Affairs professionals. My first one! It ended up being super fun.
Met this guy Matthew that Sara knew from her undergrad at the social and he introduced us to Melvin (who I later christened Melville, for no particular reason) and Shawn. Ended up talking to a few more random people, then went downstairs for a drink at the hotel bar. Talked to Melville down there and he told us to sit with him, so we met some other people (Chris and Alex I think at this point) and hung out with them.
That was good times. Most of them were slightly older queens (like late 20s early 30s) and they were sometimes bitchy to me and I couldn’t tell if it was because they liked me and just liked to joke with me or if they were just bitchy queens. For example, before the first night was even over Melville was asking everyone whether I was a twink or not and then telling me I was a bottom. I am pretty sure it was mostly in good fun and he is just a bit of an instigator.
Anyway, the next day was the first official day of the conference. I don’t think anything too fascinating happened. There were a few speakers and such. Sara and I made some new friends at a session, these students from Boston College. We talked to a good amount of them but really became friends with Jonathan and Lauren, who were both super fun. Went out to lunch and then back for more speakers and sessions.
That night we went out to dinner with Chris, Markus, and Sara. Markus is Sara’s ex-boyfriend so it was slightly awkward, specially since they only broke up like 3 weeks ago. But it was still a good time. After that, Sara and I got some alcohol from the place next to the conference center and drank a little bit with some people from her school.
After that, we went to this museum downtown where they were having a social. I felt a little trashy because I was a little drunk. But we met up with Jonathan and Lauren and the rest of the gang (Melville, Alex, Chris, Bill, Jason, Matthew, I think that’s everyone…). Anyway eventually we figured our way to this club where they were having a GLBT social. So we went there and drove with this guy Greg who was very nice.
Got there and had a drink and danced and just generally had a good time. There is a chance I got a little drunker than maybe I should have for my first conference. Luckily I knew most of the people who were there so it wasn’t that bad. Danced a lot, talked a lot, good times all around. I talked to this guy Topher who I hadn’t met yet. He was nice but I think he thought I was a little ridiculous and stupid. We talked about Top Model. Eventually we left and went back and got into bed probably past two.
The next morning I skipped the first session because I was just too tired/slightly hungover. So I took a long shower and hung around the room and just went to the other sessions. I think that day we had a lunch banquet and a dinner awards banquet. It was all pretty good. There was a big break in the day and I hung out with Chris for like 2 hours and found out we have tons in common so that was cool. I also talked a lot with Greg, the guy who had ridden with us the night before. He was also very nice and fun, he got his Master’s at Northwestern so we talked about that since I might go there. The awards banquet was long.
Afterwards, we just hung out, and did a bunch of random things. There was a trivia night so we did that-team Golden Girls! We didn’t win, but it was still lots of fun. Then all the boys took a picture and they printed it on a magazine so that was fun and random. Oh randomly when we were at the banquet our entire table took a picture together and they did just the boys and I was included, and afterwards Melville was like “Alright you are officially in now. Don’t mess it up.” So that was a little random. But I guess I’ve been accepted by the slightly older than me Student Affairs gays. In all reality though, I definitely met some people that I think I could be real friends with, and not just conference friends. Definitely Chris, Jonathan and Lauren. Maybe Topher. He seemed weird around me the rest of the conference, but then I facebooked him and he wrote on my wall and sent me a message so I guess my first impression wasn’t that horrible!
Anyway just hung out and talked the rest of the night and then went to bed. The next day we just hung out went to a session and a speaker and then it was over. We all said goodbye and it was actually somewhat sad. Which was weird because we had all just met. I was going through conference withdrawal the next day or two. Drove home and had to stop in Gorham for my class. I got there at 6 and class started at 7 and it was exam day. I only studied from 6-7. Not sure I did too hot.
Just left after that and went home, where I hadn’t been for almost a week. Worked Thursday and Friday, nothing too exciting there. Friday night I saw Will and Bridget and Bri. Didn’t do anything too wild, just a beer at the Snug. Went to sleep and got up early and Bridget took me to the airport for my next big adventure!
The weekend started out bumpy, literally. The flight from Portland to Newark was the bumpiest most horrifying flight I have ever been on. My face and body were so visibly tense and upset that the stewardess actually had to sit with me and hold my hand for the entire second half of the flight because I was completely freaking out. I mean the plane was shaking and stuff it was so scary. So I was a big mess, crying, shaking, etc. Not my finest moment. A little embarrassing.
The next flight was much better. But then I come to find out that Denton and the others hadn’t even left Austin yet! And I was already there. So that was a little frustrating. So I had to pay for a shuttle to the hotel and then I just stayed there and waited for them. I really wanted to go to this museum, The Menil Collection, but the concierge said it was a taxi ride away and I didn’t have any cash.
So they get there we hug and meet and blah blah. Denton’s friends Justin and Gabe came, neither of which I knew before, though I’d talked to Justin a few times online. So we went to the Galleria which is this crazy mall thing. Took us forever to park and then we got inside and walked around and it was so super busy. They all shopped, and I mostly jus browsed. Though I caved in and bought this shirt at Urban Outfitters because it had squid on it. It’s actually really cute, and I haven’t bought myself anything in a long time. But I really need to watch my money a little closer.
So that took forever and then we went to dinner which was an hour wait and then by the time we ate and got back to the hotel it was like 10:30 or 11. So we were trying to hurry and get ready so we could still go out. So then Denton’s other friends from Houston were coming to pick us up and Justin wasn’t ready so he told him we were just gonna go and Gabe was sleeping so we were about to leave. Anyway long story short, we ended up waiting for Justin, but I only note it here because it comes into play later.
So we go out and that was ok. We waited in line for an hour which sucked. And I had to pee really badly so we went into this other, kinda creepy bar that was really close. So I made Justin go with me because I didn’t want to go alone and then he complained the whole time about it which was a little irritating to me. So I peed and got back in line, waited some more, finally got inside, and by this time it’s like almost 1. So then I get drinks for us and they wanted doubles and it fucking cost me 30 bucks! So I was a little annoyed about that. Denton not as much because he paid my entrance which was 10 bucks so it worked out evenly. But I’m not sure why I was in charge of buying Justin’s drinks.
So anyway we go out and dance a little bit and it’s super crowded and I’m drunk and it’s all a little messy. Denton left to go to the bathroom and all of a sudden Justin just starts yelling at me for almost leaving him behind and blah blah blah. It was very obnoxious to me and I said as much to him. He just kept going on and on and I have no idea if he just needed to vent or what, but I was very irritated because it was affecting my weekend in a negative way. Like I didn’t fly here to get yelled at by you just because I went with my friend and didn’t try to convince him to wait for you, who I have known for all of five minutes. So eventually I just told him that I didn’t really need to get yelled at because this was a vacation for me and that he is at the club so he should just let it go and try to have a good time. And then he wouldn’t talk to me after that.
So Denton came back we danced a little more, and then I’m not really sure. It was like past 2 at this point. At some other point Justin and I were sitting at the bar together and he started yelling at me again and by now I was just pissed. Instead of dancing with all the cute boys and enjoying myself, I was being yelled at by this person I’d just met. So I was pissed. And so make it worse, right after that someone came up and asked us if we were together. I said no and then he looked at Justin and was like “good cause my friend over there thinks you are cute.” Ouch!
Anyway we eventually got driven home by Kenton and Corey I think (those were Denton’s friends). Fell into bed and fell asleep and woke up at 10:30. Didn’t move till like 12:30 and we didn’t get up and going until 2. I still really wanted to go to the museum but I guess that just wasn’t in the cards. So we went to this café for lunch and met up with two of Gabe’s friends, Roman and Tad. Roman is the only person I have ever met in my life who quoted Saaphyri (from Flavor of Love and Charm School) in regular conversation. And was completely serious.
Anyway we ate and then took a walk. I wasn’t really talking with Justin too much and my head kind of hurt so it wasn’t all that wonderful. After that we went back to the hotel I printed out my flight stuff and we just relaxed until the other guys came over so we could all go to Madonna together.
So I get annoyed again because Madonna’s concert is supposed to start at 7:30. So we are there at like 6:45 ish, get some foot long margaritas, and just find our seats and talk and take pictures and stuff. Which was fun. But then the time keeps going. It’s 8. 8:30. 8:45. And finally at fucking NINE THIRTY Madonna finally comes out. It’s like Hello! I was planning on the concert being over by nine thirty, not just starting then. I find it annoying that big stars think they can just do whatever they want. She didn’t even apologize or anything.
So the concert itself was ok. Honestly I wasn’t actually that impressed. I mean it was fun to sing and dance and see a big icon like her, but I didn’t really think it was anything too spectacular. Either way though we had a good time. We left a little early so that we beat the mad rush and took a cab to the gay bar because they were having an after party and it was free if you had your tickets. So we went in and got wristbands and then went to get something to eat, which took up too much time.
So we get into the club then at like 12:30. We’re all dead tired. Justin goes to get a drink and literally takes a half hour. We go to dance a little and they were literally playing the set that Madonna just played! So it really wasn’t that fun because we had just heard all that music. So then Justin finally gets his drink and finds us and Denton said we were tired and he said the night was ruined and it was all kinda blah. We left at like 2 after not really having a good time at all. I blame Madonna. Had she started on time we would have had a better time too. Thanks a lot Madge!
Back to the hotel, right into bed, then wake up and go to the airport. Now I’m in Newark again, awaiting my flight to Portland. Overall, it has been a really fun three weeks. And there is a chance I am going with Sara to Plymouth next weekend but I’m not sure. And after that it’s Thanksgiving, but I’m not going home. I’m going to be with Bridget’s family so that will hopefully be a good time. Then a few more weeks and it’s Christmas and then my birthday and then I’ll be hearing back from grad schools. Time has really been flying!
On an unrelated note, I really have been drinking a lot, so I am going to try and curtail that behavior. I think it mostly has to do with the fact that everything I did kind of was a drinking type of event (gay clubbing, Madonna concert, Vegas on Halloween, etc) and not that I was just sitting around getting drunk all the time. But either way I’m going to drink less.
I really can’t wait until the Winter semester starts. I won’t have my class I won’t be applying to grad schools and I can just enjoy my life and do things I want to do. Speaking of grad school, almost done applying. Mostly just have Northwestern left, and I have to order my GREs, which I will probably do tomorrow. And hopefully my recommendations are coming in soon. We shall see. I’m very nervous about it but I hope that everything works out ok. My boss let me read the recommendation she wrote for me, and it was pretty good. It said that I have improved the quality of the department in the three months I have been there so that is good.
Overall, life is going ok. I feel a little hungry now so I’m probably off to find some expensive airport food. I have almost no money so that is really fun. And I still haven’t paid Denton for the concert ticket or the hotel yet. Which might be expensive. So that’s great. Someone send me a million dollars please!
BREAK!