Five Hundred and Forty Six
At midnight, I was finishing up the album with Mike and Craig. That's the Used Kids full-length album to you, buddy! Oh man oh man, it is the best thing I've ever done. It's my pride and joy, the defiant flag and rallying cry. Proof that I didn't just make friends and enemies and influence and irritate people in 48 American states, 3 Canadian provinces, and I don't know how many prefectures of Japan. I can't wait for you all to hear it.
We listened to some records in Mike Catalano's room while several of the others smoked weed. I even had a "birthday rip." But a small one. Then, at about 1:15am, I went to the Second Chance to drink for FREE on my BIRTHDAY. Yes! So not only was booze free, but my friends didn't have to buy me drinks - which helps everyone out. Craig came (Mike sat it out), Drew and Allison were visiting and stoned, Dan had gotten really high too, and to my great happiness, friend Ari Spool came out for once! Hadn't seen her for awhile. So, we drank, and then Craig had to go with the g/f, and gradually the three stoned people left, and so Ari and I chatted amiably for awhile, and then we parted ways, me to sleep for a bit before doing Man With A Van jobs early in the afternoon, and hanging out with my parents, grandparents, and sister after they arrived in New York later that day.
I woke up a little later than I shoulda, but so what? It was my birthday! I got going around noon, up to the Upper West Side, to help eccentric and awesome Argentinian professor Carlos move some stuff to his office at the New School. Then, although I did get sort of lost on the roads through Central Park on the way (rare for me... at least Allison V called and wished me a happy birthday, that was cool), I went on up to Central Park West, to pick up a vanload of Disney collectibles and the goofy and friendly Robert Sher (sic?), a thrice-Grammy-nominated producer of soundtracks/etc. for broadway shows, and drove that all out to southern Nassau County, through the worst Friday rush hour on the Long Island Expressway I've ever experienced, although we took an alternate route (the Grand Central) for a little bit that really saved our bacon. Robert's a character. He told me that the odd-numbered years are the years you are supposed to collect Disney stuff. And he told me stories about his lesbian friend Joanna who is very sexually voracious - funny stuff. These two jobs made me plenty of cash, so even though I was working on my birthday, I was happy to have 'em.
That job wrapped up in the early evening, so I headed back to my house to shower and chill out. My grandparents had taken a cab (they arrived while I was driving to Long Island) to their hotel, and my parents were running late. I met the grands, and we decided to get hamburgers. After trying to figure out where the best burger pub near Sunnyside Queens is, with levels of "assistance" from friends Michelle and Stephanie, we headed over to one... and just as we arrived, my parents'/sister's flight landed. So, I drove grandma and gramps back to the hotel, and picked up the nuclear family from La Guardia. There was some real white knuckle driving at that airport! My poor mom and sis couldn't figure out the bench seatbelts. Heh. It was good to see them.
When we got back to the hotel, we all chose to walk to a nearby Irish pub called PJ Hargan's. That place has GREAT burgers, and we all had fun, chatting and watching a little baseball and eating delicious food. We left that bar around 11:30pm, and they all went to the hotel. I got in the van and headed back to my house, where some friends were waiting. For the rest of the night, many friends came and hung out at my house. Tab Man was in town! That ruled. We listened to the new Used Kids album - it's great (I think I mentioned that!!!). We also watched Rock'n'Roller Remote Controller, the new tv show from Milwaukee that Tab Man hosts. And Dani Golomb made me the sweetest, nicest card. She declared that it's my "birthday worthday!" And that it lasts a week.
Yes, Dani, you are correct!
The last couple people to leave were the very crunk Max Trashie and his big galoot friend Dave from Seattle. When they left, I tried to watch 30 Rock or something, but I was too exhausted from all the fun and excitement of the day. And I fell asleep sitting up. Cool, huh? It was an awesome day.
The next day, the band played a show. But that's another story...