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Bootie's
I'm hoping that one oversized check comes from Ed McMahon and Dick Clark on Super Sunday. I'm going to take up residence in a trailer park and get in the shower that day to better my odds since I didn't order that "White Trash Recipes" magazine. I didn't realize how complicated they make submitting your contest entry if you're not ordering. But the trouble to get a 3X5 card is worth $11M to me.
Our christmas was nice in Pittsburgh, my folks and siblings are doing great as are the nieces and nephews. Its always so nice to go home to see that their lifestyle is still the same as it ever was. Even though us cyberpunks in these big cities are catapulting ourselves into the millenium in this crazy society, its nice to know that our roots are still there. Its so good to "grounded" by the closeness of family and lifelong friends and neighbors. Helps keep this fast-paced life in perspective.
We spent New Year's here in Washington by going to a favorite Indian restaurant in the neighborhood here in Dupont Circle then we wandered over to ring the New Year in at the bar Pamela and I met at, the "Fox and Hounds." It's a terribly unromantic dive bar but has the greatest jukebox in the neighborhood along with the stiffest drinks. The ginger ale is bumpin' too since that's all the stronger I can order due to my nasty arthritis medicines. It is just one of those character bars that has all the regulars at the bar and all the new wave/punk/hiphop nineties kids at all the tables with their MTV wide fit Levi's and Vans sneakers on. Since its right around the corner from where we live and we have such fond memories, its always THE place to meet, people-watch and be seen at. It was fun, we ran into some friends and went with them over to "Windows" that little bar next to and above the Dupont Italian Kitchen, DIK) as all the "boys" call it.
Its not unlike the "Dresden" over in Los Feliz[in Los Angeles]. That was such a hoot to see that campy act by the 70's throwback couple that perform there. Only after we got back from L.A. did we learn we almost gotten thrown out of a bar that was in a feature film. (Our friend kept removing his jacket and I guess tank tops and tatooes are taboo in there now that they have so much attention). But what a cool place, it looks just like a "Cotton Club" supper club. Growing up in a very ethnic city, I remember all those Italian speakeasy clubs I grew up sneaking into with a fake ID. My hometown of New Kensington is about twenty minutes north of downtown Pittsburgh. It was known as "little Chicago" because it was the center of mob activity between New York and the Windy City. I remember the first time I saw celebrities was when a local kingpin died in the 70's we all went down to the Guinta funeral home to see who came by and sure enough, "Ole Blues Eyes" and "Red roses for a Blue Lady" Wayne Newton showed up in limos to pay their respects. You shoulda seen it, young Italian women fainting and Nunas(Italian grandmothers) kissing their crucifixes, it was quite the scene as I remember it (I was 13 at the time).
We slept in all day New Years, just watching parades then the Lifetime channel movies, Pamela loves those heart-wrenching stories they depict. at least they always end happy.
I want to remember my friend, John "Howie" Howrelook I grew up with. His birthday is today and he would have been 37 today if Cancer hadn't taken him over twenty years ago now.
January 9th, 97:I'm tired of needy people who get so ugly over simple misunderstandings. I understand it a little more when a friend becomes estranged due to a relationship. I've had that happen as a result of a love triangle I was in years ago, and also because a friend came out and I guess didn't want his old friends anymore. So much crap over such trivial things.
Having a chronic disease (arthritis, all my bicycle riding in ill-fitting shoes I bought from Dennis years ago and bad diet of my twenties finally got my toes), I just feel when "yer got yer health and loved ones, nothing else really matters." Like they say about work, it still sucks six months later.
I am very lucky in that I have my soulmate, my harbor in the storm of Life, in my wife. We never ever fight. I attribute that our being in such sync with each other and our willingness to always give to each other with whatever each other wants out of plain old respect so we never end up in want or having to take and drain each other emotionally. Its always pouring from one cup to the other's and back again.
I attribute our happiness to the fact that we both realize that we have better judgement in different areas, so we let each other decide those things that we are better at. Women seem to be much, much less stubborn at giving this control up. So since I do my best not to act like the typical male "little boy" who has to have his own way, coupled with the MUTUAL respect we give to one another in our daily routines (she thinks I vacuum and make the bed better so I do it, she doesn't like to empty the dishwasher so I try to remember to do it, she hates football so I gave it up except when the Steelers are on, or I go out to watch so she doesn't have to hear that crowd's "white" noise), we are so doggone happy as a result. We beat the gamble, and I thank my lucky stars, and her, every minute I can. We fall into each other's arms every night and let it all go. Aren't newlyweds sickening? Its such a wondrous feeling, though, knowing our souls are now indelibly etched together on the book of eternity. I hope y'all have the same sharing and caring with your "boo," too.
Well, to cheer everyone up a little, we got socked with snow, freezing rain, and sleet today here in DC, but now tonight the temps have plummented. So we're dreaming out blading past Shutters on the Beach on the path right now, wafting in the aroma of the curly fries cooking coming from the Santa Monica Pier.
January 18th, 97: So we had a wonderful day yesterday. We started the cold but sunny Saturday by waking to watch "It's Academic", a show on WRC4 here in Washington to test our knowledge. Those young adults always whip my butt on the questions, especially the math. I'm just not bright enough to do it in my head and fast like that. But that's the difference between true genius and someone who may possess the level considered, "lights on and somebody home", at least. Genius, seems to me, to be the capability to immediately conceptualize all the underlying principles of an event or process while they're in action. What comes along for the ride with being so comfortable with those principles is the ability to distill down what they are perceiving and conceptualizing and convey it at any level of interpersonal communicative interaction. Well, yesterday the only magnet school in DC, Banneker, broke the top score record that was their own. The school that possesses the second highest score is Montgomery-Blaire in Rockville, MD. I learned this tidbit from the graduating captain of their team, that I met later in the evening, so please read on.
So after the show we broke into our brand new ritual, visiting the health club. Now just any run of the mill place, mind you. "Hey babee, we're down with the JCC!" We joined because of its one block proximity to our place (in the back above the garage) on the street that gives the White House it's address number. I challenge a hill profile that rises relentlessly from deep down inside the software of the upright bike. Its nice not having stop signs, bladers and other such distractions to wreck one's focus on cadence. I figure put the heart rate at the top of the twenty-year-old's range and in 30 minutes flat I'll flush the junk off the walls of my body and mind. The imagery I use is that of righting off Normanstone Drive, NW climbing up to the tip top of Woodley Park and throwing in a topper up the back way to the [National] Cathedral.
But why we're here is the great dinner date Pamela and I had recently. For my secret Santa, I got Pamela. Now we have an added twist where one-word, gift-narrowing notes are picked separately. During dinner at A.V. Ristorante where we saw the now deceased Dave Clarke get take out, I got "Pamela" and the word "theatre." I found the Mystery on the Menu dinner theatre in Glover Park and this sounded like the ticket. We enjoyed our murder mystery games we've played so it seemed to fit. I was a little hesitant because it was at the Old Europe restaurant. The last time I was in there was with Bert and Mr. Fritz and we were bossed around by these German waitresses. It was everything to drink our oversized mugs and get ours outta there, toot sweet. But instead the food was O.K. And the theatre delightful. We were extras in a Hollywood film where you guessed it, someone was mysteriously killed the night before. Some woman named Cromwell and what looked to be her college-aged daughter really read all the clues and put it together long before the rest of the room but we had fun trying to solve it.
The most pleasant part of the evening was the family we were seated with to discuss the clues. Usually at some management "teambuilding" seminar, I cringe when I hear those words, "O.K., now let's break into groups..," but not this time. After I mentioned how although Banneaker HS was top scorer, I also said that I saw the second leading team, Montgomery Blair HS only two weeks earlier. After he pointed it out, I realized the son that was out with his parents for his 18th birthday sitting across from me was in fact that team's captain! This was his last of three years on the team as Gautam is headed to Harvard. He is destined for greatness. You could see it in his folks.