Cold Remedy

Post-nasal drip greeted me yesterday morning upon waking and by the day's end I was convinced that a cold was imminent. Thus after arriving home from BF's personal shower (v. fun), grocery shopping (yawn) and returning videos I was ready to submit to sleep and succumb to the impending virus. Temptation called, however, as I had chilled a lovely Ekstra courtesey of Dad. I've never been a big beer fan but since Dad introduced me to pilsner and wheat beers I've taken a liking to the stuff. Sadly I have heard that acohol weakens the immune system and thus a beer did not seem like such a hot idea. I instead went for the healthy choice: a dirty martini (for which I had to run out and pick up ice!) and several gorgonzola cheese stuffed olives. Then, after a respectable amount of time had passed, I had the beer as well. After a three shot martini and a 40oz. beer I couldn't even remember what a cold felt like and am still feeling germ free as of this morning. As a side note, gorgonzola blends better with vermouth, in my opinion, as opposed to blue cheese, even Stilton, as it holds a lesser bite. From now on I will leave the Zicam in the medicine cabinet and try my home-remedy first.

I enjoyed my healing beverages while watching "The Forgotten" with Julianna Moore that was actually quite good and a great deal better than I had expected. S. called immediately after it ended. Aw! I had not heard from him since Th. and while not worried was begining to miss him (ack!). See? I told you this was bad; he is completely changing my cynical attitude towards the vast majority of men. Again, I know I'm in trouble because after hearing from him I've been walking about with an idiotic grin plastered on my face. Argh. But he is such a doll!

This is not good...

Have been walking around with stupid grin on face for past week. Knew I was in trouble when found self smiling absently at computer screen while sipping a latte this morning and thinking about S. This does not bode well for my independent-woman status. My relationships, as a rule, are disastrous and the only part of my charmed life not basking in the glow of good karma. S, however, seems to be changing all that. I saw him yet again last night after LC worked magic on my hair (blond AND red now! Quite stunning if I do say so myself!). Stressed and exhausted I almost nixed having him over but he leaves for LA today and I may not see him for a month+ unless I go visit...
His visit proved most relaxing as he gave me a backrub and held me until I fell asleep: yum. At first I was wary of his seeming aggressiveness but I am beginning to see that it is simply who he is. He wears his heart on his sleeve: what you see if what you get. There is no pretense, no show: just him. He doesn't hold back in anything including adoring me although I still do not know what I did to deserve any of this. While S is open he says I "hold my cards close". Ironically, he said I am mysterious but that "mysterious" was not quite the right word. I proposed "enigma" and he said that was dead on; the irony is that a man who once loved me used to call me a "mystery wrapped in an enigma". I have no idea what they are talking about! heh heh...
I have known S only two weeks and already it feels like a year; time is funny like that isn't it? He told me to practice dancing in his absence because when he returns we are going out every night haha! He is such fun. Speaking of fun, J and I are hitting Ra tonight and will undoubtedly cause mass destruction and heartache in our wake:-)

Swept away...

Date 1 with S went swimmingly! S, if you will recall, is the Rico Suave I met during the drinks-in-my-lap-catastrophe at Clubhouse with J. A week after meeting he took me to dinner downtown. He picked me up in his BMW (can't go wrong with the Germans and, oh yes, they have come out with a new one! To drool please visit: http://www.bmwusa.com/) On the way to dinner I learned he a) likes fast cars b) likes cigars c) has been involved with politics d) prefers, as I do, to abandon shoes at any and every opportunity e) likes warm weather. There was, of course, much more but that covers the high points...at least for the car ride.
We ate at a Latin restaurant called National where our fab table provided an excellent view of the live salsa competition. After declaring a winner the dance floor opened and S schooled me in salsa, merengue and bachata (sp?). I do not think I did well but S insisted I was graceful and had natural rhythm. I think he was being kind...
I could go into more detail, but I won't;) Suffice it to say that it was the best date I've been on in a long time...

Growing up

Since Christmas my parent's have put the kibosh on the house landline and have gone cellular. Economically this makes sense but there is something just a touch sad about no longer being able to call home....
In a quest to further erode my childhood memories, mom and dad have tossed the old family couches and made the bizarre replacement choice of red leather with brass studs: I am baffled. This weekend, however, put the crowning touch on the increasing sense that I am growing up and the world as I once knew it is fading into memory. My dad, my conservative, accountant father, has shaved his mustache! I do not know what possessed him to do such a thing, B suggested a mid-life crisis, but he is way past mid-life let me tell you! He has had a mustache since before my mother knew him; they have been married nearly 26 years and he has always had his mustache. His naked face now looks the way I remember my grandfather looking when I was a young girl: how utterly disturbing! In addition to this horrific shock I also discovered that mom and dad commissioned E to disassemble our childhood swing set: all the staples of my childhood are being pulled from beneath my feet haha!
Life is indeed so brief and fleeting and yet I feel timeless, as though I have always been here and will be forevermore.

The Adventures of J & A: The ex, a wet lap, a mobster & SS

Once again, life is never boring when J & I get together...

LB's band, Luster, was playing at The Note last night in a battle of the bands. His gf told us last week that the boys needed groupies present to win; apparently the winner is crowned based on an audience vote. J & I, always willing to support our pals, agreed to come down. The competition supposedly began at 8:00 with Luster queued for first. J & I have attended these shindigs before and they NEVER start on time. Never. I worked late and thus picked up J at 7:20, arrived in the neighborhood a little before 8:00 and then, of course, spent 15 min. looking for parking. By the time we walked to the club and got ID'ed it was 8:20 and they were finishing the last song in the set; they actually started on time! Fortunately we arrived in time for the critical vote! We also arrived in time to say hello to other fans including my ex and his not-so-lovely wife. I dared J to hug and kiss him but she had not started drinking. How unfortunate.

Since we were having so much fun J & I left The Note a mere 15 min. after arriving. We hightailed it back to the burbs in search of a drink. Margaritas at Hacienda were the game plan but then J remembered evenings at The Clubhouse might make for some amusing people watching. Rumor has it that the older (read desperate) and professional (read glorified hooker) female crowd congregates to prey on the older (read still horny) and wealthy male crowd. J and I found a seat at a small table for two on the outskirts of the bar in full view of the overdone women and aching-for-it men. We were having a ball until two Mafioso types snagged the table adjacent to ours. Unfortunately the nearer of the mobsters (Vincent) got an eyeful of us cuties and proceeded to burble and gush over our natural good looks, perfect features and perfect profiles. One thing led to another, our new found friends introduced themselves and thus we found ourselves fully engaged in conversation with V and his pal Jimmy. As it turned out they were not really mobsters but actors who played mobsters and had just finished filming a new flick called “Legit”, or so V says. Meanwhile J had informed V that she was a model (Not!) and he decided to give her, which quickly became us, career advice. Most unfortunately V was smoking a cigar, which I happen to enjoy very much, but not when the smoker is breathing his heinous breath down my neck while hitting on my friend. The painful conversation continued until our waitress came to clear our finished martini glasses. Balanced on one arm was a drink tray for another table which included a full beer mug. As she reached down to pick up our glass the tray leaned with her and toppled into my lap. J got a little wet but the brunt of the liquid fell directly in my lap. Fortunately my Old Navy jeans are machine washable. The ENTIRE bar turned to see what the ruckus was and began applauding and shouting “Opah!” Meanwhile the waitress was trying to clean up the mess, Vincent was attempting to pick up some broken glass, the busboy was warning us not to step on the glass or liquid under our feet and I was soaking wet looking for a napkin. And then things got better….

When J & I had first found our table we noticed a nice looking gentleman and his buddy sitting in the restaurant area maybe 5 yards outside the bar. The good looking one, who I dubbed Rico Suave, checked us out when we first came in but had not, that I noticed, paid any more attention to us. J & I, in the meantime, had been trying to establish his sexuality as he was quite pretty. When disaster struck I had nothing with which to sop up the beer since our bar table was not equipped with silverware rolls. It was at this point, in my dire hour of need, that Rico Suave gallantly came to the rescue: he walked over to our chaotic table and smilingly handed me an unused napkin. After drying off the manager came and offered to pay for dry-cleaning and buy us a round of drinks. I said the dry-cleaning would not be necessary and that a round of drinks would be very nice. V then excused himself for a moment and J henceforth went to the ladies room.

I was now alone at the table when Rico gracefully strolled over in his elegant suit (+1 point for being able to dress himself), crouched down and asked, in a soft euro accent (v. sexy: +1 point) if I had dried off sufficiently to which I replied that I had. He said he had wanted to come speak with me but did not want to interrupt the conversation I was so obviously enjoying (he apparently noticed the displeasure on my face as dragon breath ogled J). He then introduced himself as SS and extended his hand, which I took, and he then kissed (v. classy: +2 points). He then said he had to be at court in the morning (I was tempted to ask “defendant or counsel?” but resisted) but could he take me out for drinks some other night? I of course said that would be lovely and gave him my number. This was definitely the highlight of the evening. J returned from the restroom and we left.

As I said, always an adventure…